Page:Rowland--The Mountain of Fears.djvu/143

  her, like the child he is. They go together to Caracas, and while there she falls in with an old flame, General Trocas, and the two of them plan to get possession of the bag of gems which I left with Jacob while in the States.'

Bad business,' said I. 'I know Trocas also.' He was the chap, Doctor, who broke up my Orinoco expedition and landed me in the prison at Cumana.

" 'Is it not, mon cher? But the little Jacob is no fool; they have had him arrested and searched on a charge of conspiring in Curaçao, but they have been unable to find the gems'

" 'And so have lodged him at Porto Cabello until the stones are forthcoming?'

" 'Rather through spite, and it is to get him out that I wish to engage your services, my dear Doctor.'

" 'Indeed?' said I.

" 'My plan is this,' said Rosenthal. 'The fortress is, as you know, full of political [ 127 ]