"How exceedingly nice of you!" half sarcastically from the señora, not yet quite mollified after her husband's reference to the princesses. "I had climbed to a place where high honor was almost mine. Mexico goes out of California and England comes in. I had aimed to gain for myself governorship of the province, as well as the commandership-in-chief of all the land forces. Under England such a position should satisfy anyone. It would have satisfied me--at least, for the present; that is, my love, when you would be at my side sharing the honors." "Where else would I be?" her wide-open eyes darkening a little. "Nowhere else; nowhere else, my love--not with my consent." "Nor mine either," firmly. The Colonel floundered a moment. "Where was I when interrupted? O yes. At last I had attained a place proper and fitting for me--and for you, too, Clarinda. When I say 'I' I mean you also." "Crisostimo, why didn't you say that at first?" "First! Say it first! Well, I meant it first. Now, comes this Morando, this villainous Morando----" "Crisostimo, he is no such thing," defended the señora with indignation. "A man whom I have often fed at my own table----" "You never did but once," again interrupting. "Other than that he has never eaten a bite in this house, except the coffee and cake sister Silvia gave him early one morning when he happened to be here." "Well, he didn't deserve even that." Señora Valentino came on the veranda. "Why, my dear brother, what has happened? Your face is red and perspiring, and you seem excited." "O, Silvia, sweetheart. Crisostimo has been saying mean things about your friend Captain Morando." "And with reason," interjected Barcelo, gruffly. "How so?" queried the sister. "My confidence in this Morando has been shattered to pieces." "And how?" "Just what I've asked him," from the Colonel's wife. "I've just come from an interview with the English consul here. Found him closeted with that Farquharson. Well, they told me the English admiral is to take possession of Monterey to-morrow," from Barcelo. "Why should that make you say mean things about the Captain?" asked his wife. He puffed his cheeks and rested his palms upon his hips, in characteristic pose. "This Morando has been laying plans to capture for himself the combined office of governor and commander-in-chief of this province." "O, Crisostimo," faintly from Señora Barcelo, "this cannot be true. You must be mistaken." "Mistaken, wife! Mistaken! Why, that Farquharson told me himself, in cold blood, that Morando is to be given the office, and the English consul seconded the fellow." "We all thought so much of the Captain," from his wife, nearly overcome. "You'll see I'm right about the man," a triumphant note in the Colonel's voice. "I know you are always right, Crisostimo, love." "Well, poor little Clarinda, you are not to be governor's wife, nor yet wife of the commander-in-chief," he commiserated.