"Do you think she is here, then, after all?" asked Duval, with reviving hope.
Tim winked in a vulgar fashion.
"A word in your ear, Jack," he said, jerking his head in the direction of the pompous Tejada. "That old man's a liar. The pretty colleen is here, and Don José knows it? but she's not with Don Hypolito."
"Then where do you think she is?"
"With Rafael's sweetheart, no less; the old man's daughter."
"Doña Carmencita?"
"You've hit it."
Jack would have questioned Tim further, so as to learn his grounds for such a belief, but just then the boat touched the stone steps of the wharf. The embassy stepped ashore, and waited till the soldiers of Tlatonac arrived. Don Alonzo, with a due regard for the dignity of the Republic, refused to move until his bodyguard came on shore. In a few minutes, the soldiers landed, under the command of Captain Velez, and thus escorted, the ambassador of the Republic moved slowly forward, beneath the mighty arch which led into the heart of the rebel capital.
"We've got in, Señor," whispered Rafael to Philip with sudden doubt; "but I hope we shall be able to get out."
Philip pointed back to the Union Jack, which could be seen in the distance at the yacht's masthead.