第16章

The Langhams were to arrive on Friday, and during the week before that day Clay went about with a long slip of paper in his pocket which he would consult earnestly in corners, and upon which he would note down the things that they had left undone.At night he would sit staring at it and turning it over in much concern, and would beg Langham to tell him what he could have meant when he wrote ``see Weimer,'' or ``clean brasses,'' or ``S.Q.M.''

``Why should I see Weimer,'' he would exclaim, ``and which brasses, and what does S.Q.M.stand for, for heaven's sake?''

They held a full-dress rehearsal in the bungalow to improve its state of preparation, and drilled the servants and talked English to them, so that they would know what was wanted when the young ladies came.It was an interesting exercise, and had the three young men been less serious in their anxiety to welcome the coming guests they would have found themselves very amusing--as when Langham would lean over the balcony in the court and shout back into the kitchen, in what was supposed to be an imitation of his sister's manner, ``Bring my coffee and rolls--and don't take all day about it either,'' while Clay and MacWilliams stood anxiously below to head off the servants when they carried in a can of hot water instead of bringing the horses round to the door, as they had been told to do.

``Of course it's a bit rough and all that,'' Clay would say, ``but they have only to tell us what they want changed and we can have it ready for them in an hour.''

``Oh, my sisters are all right,'' Langham would reassure him;``they'll think it's fine.It will be like camping-out to them, or a picnic.They'll understand.''

But to make sure, and to ``test his girders,'' as Clay put it, they gave a dinner, and after that a breakfast.The President came to the first, with his wife, the Countess Manuelata, Madame la Presidenta, and Captain Stuart, late of the Gordon Highlanders, and now in command of the household troops at the Government House and of the body-guard of the President.He was a friend of Clay's and popular with every one present, except for the fact that he occupied this position, instead of serving his own Government in his own army.Some people said he had been crossed in love, others, less sentimental, that he had forged a check, or mixed up the mess accounts of his company.But Clay and MacWilliams said it concerned no one why he was there, and then emphasized the remark by picking a quarrel with a man who had given an unpleasant reason for it.Stuart, so far as they were concerned, could do no wrong.

The dinner went off very well, and the President consented to dine with them in a week, on the invitation of young Langham to meet his father.

``Miss Langham is very beautiful, they tell me,'' Madame Alvarez said to Clay.``I heard of her one winter in Rome; she was presented there and much admired.''

``Yes, I believe she is considered very beautiful,'' Clay said.

``I have only just met her, but she has travelled a great deal and knows every one who is of interest, and I think you will like her very much.''

``I mean to like her,'' said the woman.``There are very few of the native ladies who have seen much of the world beyond a trip to Paris, where they live in their hotels and at the dressmaker's while their husbands enjoy themselves; and sometimes I am rather heart-sick for my home and my own people.I was overjoyed when Iheard Miss Langham was to be with us this winter.But you must not keep her out here to yourselves.It is too far and too selfish.She must spend some time with me at the Government House.''

``Yes,'' said Clay, ``I am afraid of that.I am afraid the young ladies will find it rather lonely out here.''

``Ah, no,'' exclaimed the woman, quickly.``You have made it beautiful, and it is only a half-hour's ride, except when it rains,'' she added, laughing, ``and then it is almost as easy to row as to ride.''

``I will have the road repaired,'' interrupted the President.

``It is my wish, Mr.Clay, that you will command me in every way;I am most desirous to make the visit of Mr.Langham agreeable to him, he is doing so much for us.''

The breakfast was given later in the week, and only men were present.They were the rich planters and bankers of Valencia, generals in the army, and members of the Cabinet, and officers from the tiny war-ship in the harbor.The breeze from the bay touched them through the open doors, the food and wine cheered them, and the eager courtesy and hospitality of the three Americans pleased and flattered them.They were of a people who better appreciate the amenities of life than its sacrifices.

The breakfast lasted far into the afternoon, and, inspired by the success of the banquet, Clay quite unexpectedly found himself on his feet with his hand on his heart, thanking the guests for the good-will and assistance which they had given him in his work.``I have tramped down your coffee plants, and cut away your forests, and disturbed your sleep with my engines, and you have not complained,'' he said, in his best Spanish, ``and we will show that we are not ungrateful.''

Then Weimer, the Consul, spoke, and told them that in his Annual Consular Report, which he had just forwarded to the State Department, he had related how ready the Government of Olancho had been to assist the American company.``And I hope,'' he concluded, ``that you will allow me, gentlemen, to propose the health of President Alvarez and the members of his Cabinet.''

The men rose to their feet, one by one, filling their glasses and laughing and saying, ``Viva el Gobernador,'' until they were all standing.Then, as they looked at one another and saw only the faces of friends, some one of them cried, suddenly, ``To President Alvarez, Dictator of Olancho!''