"And how long is that likely to be?" asked Tony.
Congosta drew himself up.
"Señor!" he replied dramatically. "It rests with you."
There was a short pause.
"Well?" said Tony encouragingly.
"There are two things in which our brave army is lacking—ammunition and money. If we can help them with these——"
Tony nodded. "What's the idea—exactly?" he asked.
Congosta took a step forward, his dark eyes gleaming with excitement. He began to speak in a low, rapid voice.
"A week ago, by the instructions of General Almaida, I gave an order to one of your English houses for a supply of cartridges. The money was to have been sent to me, and we had arranged a plan for getting them safely across. Had the revolution not broken out they would now be on their way. As it is—!" he made a quick expressive gesture with his hands—"The money has not come, and even if I could pay there is no vessel that could take them to Livadia."
He paused for breath.