Clay was very happy in picking out what was most characteristic and picturesque, and every street into which he directed the driver to take them seemed to possess some building or monument that was of peculiar interest.They did not know that he had mapped out this ride many times before, and was taking them over a route which he had already travelled with them in imagination.
King knew what the capital would be like before he entered it, from his experience of other South American cities, but he acted as though it were all new to him, and allowed Clay to explain, and to give the reason for those features of the place that were unusual and characteristic.Clay noticed this and appealed to him from time to time, when he was in doubt; but the other only smiled back and shook his head, as much as to say, ``This is your city; they would rather hear about it from you.''
Clay took them to the principal shops, where the two girls held whispered consultations over lace mantillas, which they had at once determined to adopt, and bought the gorgeous paper fans, covered with brilliant pictures of bull-fighters in suits of silver tinsel; and from these open stores he led them to a dingy little shop, where there was old silver and precious hand-painted fans of mother-of-pearl that had been pawned by families who had risked and lost all in some revolution; and then to another shop, where two old maiden ladies made a particularly good guava; and to tobacconists, where the men bought a few of the native cigars, which, as they were a monopoly of the Government, were as bad as Government monopolies always are.
Clay felt a sudden fondness for the city, so grateful was he to it for entertaining her as it did, and for putting its best front forward for her delectation.He wanted to thank some one for building the quaint old convent, with its yellow walls washed to an orange tint, and black in spots with dampness; and for the fountain covered with green moss that stood before its gate, and around which were gathered the girls and women of the neighborhood with red water-jars on their shoulders, and little donkeys buried under stacks of yellow sugar-cane, and the negro drivers of the city's green water-carts, and the blue wagons that carried the manufactured ice.Toward five o'clock they decided to spend the rest of the day in the city, and to telephone for the two boys to join them at La Venus, the great restaurant on the plaza, where Clay had invited them to dine.
He suggested that they should fill out the time meanwhile by a call on the President, and after a search for cards in various pocketbooks, they drove to the Government palace, which stood in an open square in the heart of the city.
As they arrived the President and his wife were leaving for their afternoon drive on the Alameda, the fashionable parade-ground of the city, and the state carriage and a squad of cavalry appeared from the side of the palace as the visitors drove up to the entrance.But at the sight of Clay, General Alvarez and his wife retreated to the house again and made them welcome.The President led the men into his reception-room and entertained them with champagne and cigarettes, not manufactured by his Government; and his wife, after first conducting the girls through the state drawing-room, where the late sunlight shone gloomily on strange old portraits of assassinated presidents and victorious generals, and garish yellow silk furniture, brought them to her own apartments, and gave them tea after a civilized fashion, and showed them how glad she was to see some one of her own world again.
During their short visit Madame Alvarez talked a greater part of the time herself, addressing what she said to Miss Langham, but looking at Hope.It was unusual for Hope to be singled out in this way when her sister was present, and both the sisters noticed it and spoke of it afterwards.They thought Madame Alvarez very beautiful and distinguished-looking, and she impressed them, even after that short knowledge of her, as a woman of great force of character.
``She was very well dressed for a Spanish woman,'' was Miss Langham's comment, later in the afternoon.``But everything she had on was just a year behind the fashions, or twelve steamer days behind, as Mr.MacWilliams puts it.''
``She reminded me,'' said Hope, ``of a black panther I saw once in a circus.''
``Dear me!'' exclaimed the sister, ``I don't see that at all.
Why?''
Hope said she did not know why; she was not given to analyzing her impressions or offering reasons for them.``Because the panther looked so unhappy,'' she explained, doubtfully, ``and restless; and he kept pacing up and down all the time, and hitting his head against the bars as he walked as though he liked the pain.Madame Alvarez seemed to me to be just like that--as though she were shut up somewhere and wanted to be free.''
When Madame Alvarez and the two sisters had joined the men, they all walked together to the terrace, and the visitors waited until the President and his wife should take their departure.Hope noticed, in advance of the escort of native cavalry, an auburn-haired, fair-skinned young man who was sitting an English saddle.
The officer's eyes were blue and frank and attractive-looking, even as they then were fixed ahead of him with a military lack of expression; but he came to life very suddenly when the President called to him, and prodded his horse up to the steps and dismounted.He was introduced by Alvarez as ``Captain Stuart of my household troops, late of the Gordon Highlanders.Captain Stuart,'' said the President, laying his hand affectionately on the younger man's epaulette, ``takes care of my life and the safety of my home and family.He could have the command of the army if he wished; but no, he is fond of us, and he tells me we are in more need of protection from our friends at home than from our enemies on the frontier.Perhaps he knows best.I trust him, Mr.Langham,'' added the President, solemnly, ``as I trust no other man in all this country.''