"I regret I was able to give your brilliant work here such inefficient aid."
"My work here has been a brilliant failure," with a little laugh that was half a sigh.
"Señora, except for an altogether unforseeable combination of adverse circumstances California to-day would be English territory."
"Yes, if the wind had not blown; if the fog had not obscured, and if night had not come; or, to put it in different words, if Fairbanks had not been Fairbanks."
"The magnanimity of these squadron commanders is overpowering, Admiral Fairbanks having his equal in Commodore Billings. Why, the capital simply rolled into Billings's hands. Then, he and Mendoza are seen in the castle holding some sort of a conference. The first thing we know, the castle is evacuated, and the Administrator of Mission San José is left cock of the walk."
"That is history as it is written, Captain."
"What do you mean?"
"O, nothing of any consequence. I was merely thinking aloud; that is all."
"My lady, I assure you I was standing at the old parade ground, an interested spectator of the exhibition of the manual of arms, when the occurrence of which I have spoken took place."
"My peon friend, Alberto, crept up under a window, within earshot of Commodore Billings and Señor Mendoza as they were having that little conference of theirs. What Alberto heard has cost him many a nightmare since."