During the week in which he left home, Don José, the son of the Dictator, caused his favourite, Lucas Zanja, to be beheaded in the ivory room, “so that he might enjoy,” as he said, “the beauty of the blood upon the ivory.” Don Lopez’ papers called this a
DASTARDLY ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE
OUR PRESIDENT’S SON
and added in smaller type
ASSASSIN PERISHES IN THE ATTEMPT.
The Whites did nothing. Zanja was infamous, even for a Red of the palace set.
II
Hi had planned to learn “enough Spanish to rub along with” on the voyage out, but fate disposed of this plan. He was seasick till after Lisbon; then they started cricket; then, by chance, he met the third engineer, who was as fond of cog-wheels as himself. After this, he passed most of his time either in the third engineer’s cabin or in the engine-room. He learned no Spanish whatever. “You’ll not need it,” the third engineer said, “they’re very intelligent people: they’ll make out what you want.”
Ten mornings later Hi was roused from sleep by his cabin steward.
“The dawn is just breaking, Mr. Ridden,” he said. “We are just entering the outer harbour now.”