Page:Gaston Leroux--The bride of the sun.djvu/185

Rh Runtu is in it If he really has carried off Señorita de la Torre, the outlook for us at Lima is bad."

The door opened, and an officer announced the British Consul. This official was a big tradesman o£ the town, who had secured the commissariat contracts to Garcia's army by promising him the support of Great Britain.

Garcia began to speak of his soldiers, and the consul put in that the worth of an army resided more in the general who commanded it than in the men themselves. His compliment provoked a self-satisfied bow from Garcia, but he made the mistake of trying to improve it, and added:

"For, between you and me, Excellency, those troops of yours are not worth much, and if you had not been there to …"

"Not worth much! What the devil do you mean! Do you know what kind of fighting they have been doing in the mountains? Not worth much, indeed! Did you see a single laggard …"

"No, but the guard are all sound asleep now."

"Asleep!" Garcia swore, and ran to the door.