"You need not be afraid," he said. "I am not going to harm them. As a matter of fact I intend making them very good friends—not for to-day, but for all time. What assurance can I give you?"
I could not see that there was any. What was more, I could not see how my refusal to write the letter could save Hermaños, if Fernandez were determined to be revenged on him. I accordingly took up my pen and did as he requested. When I had finished, he read the letter carefully, possibly to make sure that I had not said anything in it that might serve as a warning to the conspirators. Would his ruse succeed? Would Hermaños fall into such a very simple trap? The mere fact that Silvestre had not written it himself would surely make him suspicious. Fernandez, however, evidently thought otherwise. When I had addressed the envelope he placed the letter inside, and then, begging me to excuse him once more, left the room. When he returned a quarter of an hour later, he informed me that he had dispatched the letter by a trustworthy messenger.
"You should have seen the worthy Antoine's face when I woke him," he said. "He thought he was looking at a ghost. In an hour or so our friends should be here."
To while away the time of waiting we made a raid upon the palace larder, carried the spoil we obtained there to the smaller dining-room, where presently the curious spectacle might have been observed of a lady in a sadly-dilapidated ball-dress, the President of the Republic of Equinata, and your humble servant, demolishing cold chicken with considerable gusto.
Our meal was barely finished before the door opened and a little grey-haired man entered the room. He was Antoine, the old major-domo of the household, who had served more Presidents than any other official in Equinata.
"Well, Antoine, what is it?" the President inquired.
"They are coming, your Excellency," said the little man.
"And they do not suspect?"
"No, Excellency," the other replied. "I told Señor Hermaños that if he desired to be the first to welcome President Silvestre, he must make haste."
"Excellent! Immediately they arrive, meet them yourself, and conduct them to the small audience chamber. I will receive them there!"