"Perhaps I am hasty, Miguel, but there is a limit, even between----" He was going to say _friends_ but Miguel interposed _accomplices_. "Well," said Molara, "I do not care what you call it. What is your proposition?" "The Philistines," replied Miguel, "spoiled Samson, but Delilah had to cut his hair first." "Do you mean that she should implore him to hold his hand?" "No, I think that would be useless, but if he were compromised----" "But she, she would not consent. It would involve her." "She need not necessarily know. Another object for making his acquaintance might be suggested. It would come as a surprise to her." "You are a scoundrel--an infernal scoundrel," said the President quietly. Miguel smiled, as one who receives a compliment. "The matter," he said, "is too serious for the ordinary rules of decency and honour. Special cases demand special remedies." "She would never forgive me." "The forgiveness would rest with you. Your charity would enable you to pardon an uncommitted crime. You have only to play the jealous husband and own your mistake later on." "And he?" "Fancy the great popular leader. Patriot, Democrat, what not, discovered fawning to the tyrant's wife! Why, the impropriety alone would disgust many. And more than that,--observe him begging for mercy, grovelling at the President's feet,--a pretty picture! It would ruin him; ridicule alone would kill him." "It might," said Molara. The picture pleased him. "It must. It is the only chance that I can see, and it need cost you nothing. Every woman is secretly flattered by the jealousy of the man she loves, even if he be her husband." "How do you know these things?" asked Molara, looking at the ugly pinched figure and glistening hair of his companion. "_I_ know," said Miguel with a grin of odious pride. The suggestion of his appetites was repulsive. The President was conscious of disgust. "Mr. Secretary Miguel," he said with the air of one who has made up his mind, "I must request you not to speak to me of this matter again. I consider it shows less to the advantage of your heart than of your head." "I see by Your Excellency's manner that further allusion is unnecessary." "Have you the report of the Agricultural Committee for last year? Good,--please have a _précis_ made of it; I want some facts. The country may be kept, even if we lose the capital; that means a good part of the army." Thus the subject dropped. Each understood the other, and behind lay the spur of danger. After the President had finished the morning's business, he rose to leave the room, but before he did so he turned to Miguel and said abruptly: "It would be a great convenience for us to know what course the Opposition intends to pursue on the opening of the Senate, would it not?" "Assuredly." "How can we induce Savrola to speak? He is incorruptible." "There is another method." "I tell you physical force is not to be thought of." "There is another method."