desires you to carry a message to Colonel Onate.
He is writing it now. You will give Colonel Onate my compliments and ask
him to make as much haste as is convenient."

Megales signed and sealed the note he was writing and handed it to
O'Halloran, who in turn passed it to Rodrigo.

"Colonel Onate should be here in fifteen minutes at the farthest. May I
in the meantime offer you a glass of wine, Dictator O'Halloran?" At the
Irishman's smile, the Mexican governor hastened to add, misunderstanding
him purposely: "Perhaps I assume too much in taking the part of host
here. May I ask whether you will be governor in person or by deputy,
senor?"

"You do me too much honor, excellency. Neither in person nor by deputy,
I fear. And, as for the glass of wine--with all my heart. Good liquor is
always in order, whether for a funeral or a marriage."

"Or an abdication, you might add. I drink to a successful reign, Senor
Dictator: Le roi est mort; vive le roi!"

The Irishman filled a second glass. "And I drink to Governor Megales, a
brave man. May the cards fall better for him next time he plays."

The governor bowed ironically. "A brave man certainly, and you might
add: 'Who loses his stake without striking one honest blow for it.'"

"We play with stacked cards, excellency. Who can forestall the treachery
of trusted associates?"

"Sir, your apology for me is very generous, no less so than the terms
you offer," returned Megales sardonically.

O'Halloran laughed. "Well, if you don't like my explanations I shall
have to let you make your own. And, by the way, may I venture on a
delicate personal matter, your excellency?"

"I can deny you nothing to-night, senor," answered Megales, mocking at
himself.

"Young Valdez is in love with your daughter. I am sure that she is fond
of him, but she is very loyal to you and flouts the lad. I was thinking,
sir, that--"

The Spaniard's eye flashed, but his answer came suavely as he
interrupted: "Don't you think you had better leave Senor Valdez and me
to arrange our own family affairs? We could not think of troubling you
to attend to them."

"He is a good lad and a brave."

Megales bowed. "Your recommendation goes a long way with me, senor, and,
in truth, I have known him only a small matter of twenty years longer
than you."

"Never a more loyal youngster in the land."

"You think so? A matter of definitions, one may suppose. Loyal to
the authorized government of his country, or to