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232 standing. I was one of the two delegates but I was forced to go alone. As soon as I arrived I was received with open arms by the persons whom Captain Beers had seen. I was to go to Washington to see Mr. Hay, Secretary of State, in order to conclude the final transaction.

"But suddenly the attitude of the person who was to take me to Washington entirely changed.

"Whenever I went to see him, strict orders had been given to the effect that he was not in. I had to install myself in the hall, to camp there, and, so to speak, besiege his office. Nothing resulted from it. And there I am. All is lost. At any moment the conspiracy may be discovered and my friends judged, sentenced to death, and their property confiscated. * * *"

And the older man stopped speaking, nearly choked by his intense emotion.

"Dr. Amador," said the Frenchman, "you are telling me a very sad story, but why did you withhold the name of the man who thus