Consider!--how could I shave a man and not see his
face? He sent for me to shave him in a small house. He had a beard
very black and thick. Had I ever seen the president before? Why not?
I saw him once ride forth in a carriage from the _vapor_ in Solitas.
When I shaved him he gave me a gold piece, and said there was to be
no talk. But I am a Liberal--I am devoted to my country--and I spake
of these things to Senor Goodwin."

"It is known," said Colonel Falcon, smoothly, "that the late
President took with him an American leather valise, containing a
large amount of money. Did you see that?"

"_De veras_--no," Esteban answered. "The light in the little house
was but a small lamp by which I could scarcely see to shave the
President. Such a thing there may have been, but I did not see
it. No. Also in the room was a young lady--a senorita of much
beauty--that I could see even in so small a light. But the money,
senor, or the thing in which it was carried--that I did not see."

The _comandante_ and other officers gave testimony that they had been
awakened and alarmed by the noise of a pistol-shot in the Hotel de
los Estranjeros. Hurrying thither to protect the peace and dignity of
the republic, they found a man lying dead, with a pistol clutched in
his hand. Beside him was a young woman, weeping sorely. Senor Goodwin
was also in the room when they entered it. But of the valise of money
they saw nothing.

Madame Timotea Ortiz, the proprietress of the hotel in which the game
of Fox-in-the-Morning had been played out, told of the coming of the
two guests to her house.

"To my house they came," said she--"one _senor_, not quite old, and
one _senorita_ of sufficient handsomeness. They desired not to eat or
to drink--not even of my _aguardiente_, which is the best. To their
rooms they ascended--_Numero Nueve_ and _Numero Diez_. Later came
Senor Goodwin, who ascended to speak with them. Then I heard a
great noise like that of a _canon_, and they said that the _pobre
Presidente_ had shot himself. _Esta bueno._ I saw nothing of money or
of the thing you call _veliz_ that you say he carried it in."

Colonel Falcon soon came to the reasonable conclusion that if anyone
in Coralio could furnish a clue to the vanished money, Frank Goodwin
must be the man. But the wise secretary pursued a different course in
seeking information from the American. Goodwin was a powerful friend
to the new administration, and one who was not to be care