es; on the contrary, we determined
to make hay while the sun shone, and, if Aureataland was doomed to
succumb once more to tyranny, I, for one, was very clear that her
temporary emancipation might be turned to good account.

Accordingly, on arriving again at the Golden House, we lost no time in
instituting a thorough inquiry into the state of the public finances.
We ransacked the house from top to bottom and found nothing! Was it
possible that the President had carried off with him all the treasure
that had inspired our patriotic efforts? The thought was too horrible.
The drawers of his escritoire and the safe that stood in his library
revealed nothing to our eager eyes. A foraging party, dispatched to
the Ministry of Finance (where, by the way, they did not find Don
Antonio or his fair daughter), returned with the discouraging news
that nothing was visible but ledgers and bills (not negotiable
securities--the other sort). In deep dejection I threw myself into his
Excellency's chair and lit one of his praiseworthy cigars with the
doleful reflection that this pleasure seemed all I was likely to get
out of the business. The colonel stood moodily with his back to the
fireplace, looking at me as if I were responsible for the state of
things.

At this point in came the signorina. We greeted her gloomily, and she
was as startled as ourselves at the news of the President's escape;
at the same time I thought I detected an undercurrent of relief, not
unnatural if we recollect her personal relations with the deposed
ruler. When, however, we went on to break to her the nakedness of the
land, she stopped us at once.

"Oh, you stupid men! you haven't looked in the right place. I suppose
you expected to find it laid out for you on the dining-room table.
Come with me."

We followed her into the room where Carr lay. He was awake, and the
signorina went and asked him how he was. Then she continued:

"We shall have to disturb you for a few minutes, Mr. Carr. You don't
mind, do you?"

"Must I get out of bed?" asked Johnny.

"Certainly not while I'm here," said the signorina. "You've only got
to shut your eyes and lie still; but we're going to make a little
noise."

There was in the room, as perhaps might be expected, a washing-stand.
This article was of the description one often sees; above the level of
the stand itself there rose a wooden screen to the height of two feet
and a half, covered with pretty tiles, the presumable ob