Virginia’s blue eyes flashed indignantly. “And that is why you are taking this attitude toward Mr. Hawley,” she said bitterly. “Just because the paper he represents has been unkind to you in its editorial columns you have made up your mind not to interfere in his behalf. It is incredible to me, father, that you could be as small as that.”
The diplomat frowned. “I think you forget yourself, my dear Virginia,” he said with dignity. “Your insinuation is not only disrespectful, it is preposterous. I hope that I am conscientious enough not to allow my personal prejudices to influence me in the discharge of my duty. By the way,” he added sharply, “might I inquire why you appear to be so greatly interested in the fate of this spy? Surely it cannot be possible that you number him among your friends?”
“I do,” the girl answered warmly. “He is the bravest, most unselfish man I have ever met, and I am proud to be able to say that he is my friend. And what’s more,” she added, a light of determination in her blue eyes, “whether you will do anything for him or not, he’s not going to be made the victim of Portiforo’s vengeance if I can help it.”
Her father’s frown deepened. “My dear child, you are talking most intemperately. The object of your misplaced sympathy is not going to be made the victim of anybody’s vengeance. You can rest assured, as I said before, that he will have a fair and impartial trial. As the representative of his country I shall see to that. And that is all that he or any other fair-minded person could expect me to do for him.”
“It isn’t all,” the girl protested. “There needn’t be any trial at all if you don’t wish it. You have sufficient personal influence with the Portiforo administration to have him set free even though he were guilty.”
Minister Throgmorton shrugged his shoulders. “I fear that you overestimate my power, my dear,” he said deprecatingly. “However, even if I had sufficient influence, I don’t think I should feel justified in using it in that way. The prisoner’s demeanor is scarcely such as to entitle him to clemency. His bearing toward the authorities is almost defiant; and, as for his attitude toward me——”
Virginia interrupted him with an excited exclamation. “You have been to see him?” she inquired eagerly.
“Yes; I called at the arsenal immediately after his arrest. I deemed it my duty to interview him.” He paused, and an expression of annoyance came to his face. “But I could get absolutely nothing out of him. The fellow was almost contemptuous in his refusal to answer my questions. No; I certainly shouldn’t feel like doing any more than my duty calls for to help him.”
After some further pleading and argument, Virginia went out of the room convinced that so far as her father was concerned the Camera Chap was a doomed man. For a while she was in despair; then an idea came to her which caused her to order the touring car and journey therein to Puerto Cabero. Arrived at the seaport, she went down to the wharf which the Kearsarge’s launches were using for a landing. One of the battleship’s graceful little fifty-footers had just come in with a liberty party of jackies. Virginia addressed a natty young officer in charge of the men. “Is this boat going right back to the battleship?” she inquired.
“In a few minutes, miss. Do you wish to go?”