Then, having invited us to follow him, and bidding his men continue their patrol, he led us across the beach by a rough footpath to the high road above.
"If your Excellency will do me the honour to wait here," he said, "I will hasten to the house of my friend, Señor Rodriguez Cardaja, and obtain from him the loan of a carriage in which to convey you to the palace."
"We will await your return," answered the President. "I may, of course, rely upon your impressing the necessity of silence upon Señor Cardaja?"
"He will be as silent as the grave, Excellency," the other returned, and added somewhat inconsequently, "we are old friends!"
Then, begging us to excuse him, he hastened on his errand.
"I trust he will not be long obtaining the carriage," said Fernandez, offering me a cigar, and lighting one himself. "As I said a short time ago, I have a large amount of business to get through before daylight. Dolores, my dear, I fancy you will not be sorry to exchange that dress for another."
"If you knew how I hate it," she replied passionately, "and yet—" she stopped suddenly, and I fancied that she shivered. "Oh, how glad I am to be back!"
A long silence fell upon us, which was eventually broken by the sound of carriage-wheels. A few moments later a lumbering vehicle made its appearance round the side of the hill. To our surprise it was driven by the lieutenant himself. He explained that he had not brought his friend's coachman, having regard to the desire for secrecy expressed by the President. He would himself drive us into the Capital, and return the carriage to his friend afterwards. Then we took our places in it and set off. During the journey the officer informed us of all that had transpired in the country during our absence. General Sagana, it appeared, had assumed the office of President—much against his will—while Hermaños and his band of patriots boldly announced the return of Silvestre to power.
"Hermaños and I must discuss the matter together," said the President quietly, and I fancied I could see the smile upon his face as he said it.
In something under half-an-hour we reached the palace. We descended from the vehicle at a side door, thanked the lieutenant for the services he had rendered us, and then watched him drive off on his return journey. So far matters had prospered excellently; but I am prepared to admit that I did not quite see what was going to happen next. Fernandez, however, seemed to have made up his mind. Taking a bunch of keys from his pocket, as calmly as if he were only returning after a short stroll, he approached the door and opened it. A small gas-jet illumined the vestibule. We entered and softly closed the door after us. From the vestibule we passed into a narrow passage, which in its turn communicated with the great hall and the State apartments. Surely never had the ruler of a country returned to his palace in a more unostentatious fashion. We made our way through the great glass doors into the magnificent entrance hall, between the lines of statuary, and finally entered the President's private study. So far our presence in the house had not been discovered. General Sagana, his wife and daughters, their aides-de-camp and secretaries, to say nothing of the household, were all in bed and doubtless asleep.