Hodson bowed and went out. Ames continued his meditations. “Lucile already has Gannette pretty well wound up in his Venezuelan speculations––and they are going to smash––Lafelle has fixed that. And I’ve bought her notes against Mrs. Hawley-Crowles for about a million––which I have reinvested for her in Colombia. Humph! She’ll feed out of my hand now! La Libertad is mine when the trap falls. So is C. and R. And that little upstart, Ketchim, goes to Sing Sing!”
He turned to the morning paper that lay upon his desk. “I don’t like the way the Colombian revolution drags,” he mused. “But certainly it can’t last much longer. And then––then––”
His thoughts wandered off into devious channels. “So Josè de Rincón is––well! well! Things have taken an odd turn. But––where on earth did that girl come from? Lord! she was beautiful last night. All religion, eh? Ha! ha! Well, she’s young. There’s a lot of experience coming to her. And then she’ll drop a few of her pious notions. Lucile says––but Lucile is getting on my nerves!”
Monsignor Lafelle found Mrs. Hawley-Crowles and her ward awaiting him when his car drove up at two that afternoon. Carmen had not left the house during the morning, for Elizabeth Wall had telephoned early that a slight indisposition would necessitate postponement of the contemplated ride.
“Well,” reflected Carmen, as she turned from the ’phone, “one who knows that God is everywhere can never be disappointed, for all good is ever present.” And then she set about preparing for the expected call of Monsignor Lafelle.
When that dignitary entered the parlor Mrs. Hawley-Crowles graciously welcomed him, and then excused herself. “I will leave her with you, Monsignor,” she said, indicating Carmen, and secretly glad to escape a presence which she greatly feared. Lafelle bowed, and then waved Carmen to a seat.
“I have come to-day, Miss Carmen,” he began easily, “on a mission of vastest importance as concerning your welfare. I have been in Cartagena. I have talked with the acting-Bishop there, who, it seems, is not wholly unacquainted with you.”
“Then,” cried Carmen eagerly, “you know where Padre Josè is? And the others––”
“No,” replied Lafelle. “I regret to say I know nothing of their present whereabouts. Leave them with God.”