It was an extraordinary attitude, and as far as the drummer could analyze it, seemed informed with a fine chivalry. He sat looking rather numbly at the dictator with the gorgeous peon girl in his arms. He gave up that point of attack, and shifted the topic of conversation, American fashion, by saying suddenly and rather loudly:
"Well, not to change the subject, General, I dropped around to-night to set right a little mistake we made the other day."
The President abandoned South America's favorite topic, Woman, with evident reluctance.
"Yes?" he questioned.
"Yes, it's about Josefa."
The President repeated the name emptily.
"The little clerk you put in prison the other day; don't you remember? You jailed him because he told me how you ran your government."
Even the diplomatic general showed surprise.
"Josefa? How do you know I imprisoned a man named Josefa?"