"Their authorities bear us no love," I rejoined. "Those in so remote a province as Nuevo Mexico may well argue that it will be quite safe to hang a spy, war or no war."
He took up the document, with a frown. "Then you do not care to venture it?"
"Your Excellency mistakes me. I wish merely to point out the risk. In my opinion, the danger could be no greater if hostilities had already begun."
"And if I admit the risk?" he demanded.
"It is, in a sense, a military service. Supposing it successful, is it not Your Excellency's opinion that a recommendation to a commission might be in order?"
He studied me for some moments. Then: "A commission as a subaltern—possibly."
"Sir, I could obtain that by means of a little political begging. I had in mind a captaincy."
"Captaincy!" he repeated, taken aback by my audacity. "Captaincy! That is beyond all reason."
"Yet if I succeed beyond reason—?"
"In such event—But let that wait until your return."