"I hope so," replied Uncle Brian. "Up to the present, we have had little time to discuss matters."
For some moments there was an awkward pause. Apparently Don Ramon wanted to ask a question, but hesitated to do so. Peter, having taken a dislike to the man—although he refrained as much as possible from showing it—was quite in the dark as to who and what Don Ramon Diaz was, and whether his uncle regarded the Rioguayan merely as an acquaintance, or a person with whom he had business relations.
"Don Ramon is the Minister for Aviation in the Republic of Rioguay," explained Uncle Brian. "I suppose you didn't know that out here there is a well-organized commercial air-service?"
"I saw a flying-boat when we were entering San Antonio harbour," replied Peter.
"It interested you, then," remarked Don Ramon.
"Naturally," agreed young Corbold.
By degrees, Diaz steered the conversation into a channel that Peter wished particularly to avoid in present circumstances, and soon the latter found himself engaged in a controversy about the respective merits of the navies of the Great Powers.
Presently Peter heard the Rioguayan refer to the "German victory at Jutland".
"I beg your pardon, Don Ramon," he said quietly, "but did you say 'German victory'?"
"Was it not so?" asked Diaz, with his irritating leer.