“I trust you were not deceived,” remarked Doctor Bonsal gravely. “If you will be good enough, Mr. Hawley, to accompany me into the next room, I think you will immediately realize the wisdom and necessity of these extreme precautions.”
He drew aside some sliding doors, and the Camera Chap followed him into the room adjoining. A woman was seated there. She rose as they entered, and, as he gazed into her dark, sad eyes, Hawley gave a start of astonishment. Although he had suspected ever since entering the house that Señora Felix was connected in some way with this mysterious summons, he had not expected to find her there.
CHAPTER XV.
THE PLEA.
Although only a few days had elapsed since the Camera Chap had last seen Señora Felix, he was shocked at the change which had come over her in that time. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her face was drawn and haggard. She seemed to be on the verge of a nervous collapse.
“I suppose it is a surprise to you to find me here, Mr. Hawley?” she began, with a pathetic smile.
“Somewhat, I must confess, señora, in view of the warning you sent me not to attempt to communicate with you,” he replied.
“I felt that I must see you, in spite of the great risk,” she said. “I feared that there was slight chance of persuading you to grant the great favor I am compelled to ask of you, unless I made the appeal in person. I am confident that no matter what it will mean to you, you will not refuse to be moved by the pleadings of a most unhappy woman. So I induced our good friend, Doctor Bonsal, to arrange this meeting.”
The venerable physician acknowledged this reference to himself by a bow. “It was the only safe way, sir,” he explained simply to Hawley. “The señora’s home is watched so closely that it would have been out of the question for her to receive you there. As I am in attendance, professionally, upon her father, and it is known that she calls here frequently to consult me about his condition, it looked to me like a feasible plan to have you meet here.”
“An excellent idea,” the Camera Chap returned. “You spoke of a favor you wished to ask of me, señora. Without waiting to hear what it is, I assure you that if it lies within my power to grant it——”
“It does,” she interrupted eagerly. Then, with startling abruptness: “I want you to leave Baracoa immediately, Mr. Hawley. I want you to give up this mad attempt to help my unfortunate husband. No good can come of it—nothing but a great deal of harm. The steamship Panama, bound for New York, is due to arrive at Puerto Cabero to-morrow. If you are sincere in your desire to be of service to us, you will prove it by engaging passage on her.”