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 "Ah, that child's a wonder," said Hilary Vance with appreciation.

"Well, will you come to tea this afternoon and meet the Esmeralda? Then we can arrange to do everything in our power to wash the Lion of Montevideo," said the Honorable John Ruffin in a businesslike tone. "He must be lured to the bath."

"I shall be charmed—delighted," said Hilary Vance with even warmer enthusiasm. "I'll bring James with me, if I may. I think he had better be with me at the fountain. He keeps so cool."

"Bring him by all means," said the Honorable John Ruffin. "The meeting with the Esmeralda will make him enthusiastic, too; and when it comes to bathing the Lion, he will have all his coolness about him."

Hilary Vance and Mr. James came to tea; and the Esmeralda set their patriotic detestation of the foreigner burning furiously. She was always charming; but to friends of the Honorable John Ruffin she was charming indeed.

After she had gone, the three men arranged the details of the bath of Señor Perez. They did not