shall sail from Spain
to Mexico and reach here as soon as may be. It will take a long while,
the best part of two years; but I have your word--"

"You have," the three asserted with solemn emphasis.

"Very well. But there is one thing more. I am not in a diplomatic
humor. My Sitkans are starving. I must leave here with a shipload of
breadstuffs."

Again the Governor drew up his slim soldierly figure; deposited his
cigarette on the malachite ash tray. "You may be sure that we have
given that momentous question our deepest consideration. Father
Abella's suggestion that we buy your commodities for cash, and that
with our Spanish dollars you buy again of us, did not strike me
favorably at first, for it savored of sophistry. I may have failed in
every attempt to benefit and advance this Godforsaken country, but at
least I have been the honest agent of my King. But the circumstances
are extraordinary. You are about to become one of us, to do our
unhappy colony the greatest service that is in the power of any mortal,
and personally you have inspired us with affection and respect. I
have, therefore, decided that the exchange shall be made on these
terms, but that your cargo shall be received by Don Jose Arguello,
Commandante of the San Francisco Company, and held in trust until the
formal consent of the King to the purchase shall arrive."

Rezanov glowed to his finger tips. Not even the assurance of his union
with the woman of his heart, which after all had met but the skeleton
of his desires, gave him the acute satisfaction of this sudden
fulfilment of his self-imposed mission. He dropped his own official
demeanor and throwing himself across the table gripped the Governor's
hand while he poured out his thanks in a voice thick with feeling, his
eyes glittering with more than victory. He did not lose sight of his
ultimate designs and pledge himself to external friendship, but he
unwittingly conveyed the impression that Spain had that day made a
friend she ill could afford to lose; and his three visitors rose well
pleased with the culmination of the interview.

"You must stay here no longer, Rezanov," said Don Jose, as they were
taking leave. "My house is now literally your own. It will be some
weeks before the large quantities of corn and flour and other stores
you wish can be got together--for we must lay a requisition on the
fertile Mission ranchos in the valleys--and you will exchange these
narrow quarter