eptacle of any kind, or any money belonging to the
Republic of Anchuria. If President Miraflores decamped with any funds
belonging to the treasury of this country, or to himself, or to
anyone else, I saw no trace of it in the house or elsewhere, at that
time or at any other. Does that statement cover the ground of the
inquiry you wished to make of me?"

Colonel Falcon bowed, and described a fluent curve with his cigar.
His duty was performed. Goodwin was not to be disputed. He was a
loyal supporter of the government, and enjoyed the full confidence
of the new president. His rectitude had been the capital that had
brought him fortune in Anchuria, just as it had formed the lucrative
"graft" of Mellinger, the secretary of Miraflores.

"I thank you, _Senor_ Goodwin," said Falcon, "for speaking plainly.
Your word will be sufficient for the president. But, _Senor_ Goodwin,
I am instructed to pursue every clue that presents itself in this
matter. There is one that I have not yet touched upon. Our friends
in France, _senor_, have a saying, '_Cherchez la femme_,' when there
is a mystery without a clue. But here we do not have to search. The
woman who accompanied the late President in his flight must surely--"

"I must interrupt you there," interposed Goodwin. "It is true that
when I entered the hotel for the purpose of intercepting President
Miraflores I found a lady there. I must beg of you to remember that
that lady is now my wife. I speak for her as I do for myself. She
knows nothing of the fate of the valise or of the money that you
are seeking. You will say to his excellency that I guarantee her
innocence. I do not need to add to you, Colonel Falcon, that I do not
care to have her questioned or disturbed."

Colonel Falcon bowed again.

"_Por supuesto_, no!" he cried. And to indicate that the inquiry was
ended he added: "And now, _senor_, let me beg of you to show me that
sea view from your _galeria_ of which you spoke. I am a lover of the
sea."

In the early evening Goodwin walked back to the town with his guest,
leaving him at the corner of the Calle Grande. As he was returning
homeward one "Beelzebub" Blythe, with the air of a courtier and the
outward aspect of a scarecrow, pounced upon him hopefully from the
door of a _pulperia_.

Blythe had been re-christened "Beelzebub" as an acknowledgment of the
greatness of his fall. Once in some distant Paradise Lost, he had
foregathered with the angels of the earth. But F