"What is it, querida?" asked Señora Calderon, coming to the outer hall. "A señor caller to see Señora Valentino, mamita." "She is nearly dropping for sleep, señor, as are we all. Besides, her hand is wounded." "I saw your horse, Captain Farquharson, from my window, between winks. I had thought to catch an hour's sleep before you came. I am glad you are so prompt, though." Señora Valentino stood in the doorway. Then to Señora Calderon and her daughter, she said, "Friends, I made an engagement to speak with the señor caballero this morning." "Pardon, señora. Pardon, señor," from the Calderons together. "We leave you." "Well?" from Farquharson, when the others were gone. "You have said it," Señora Valentino replied. "It is well." "Tell me about it." "In the first place, the Friar Lusciano Osuna has decided for active service." "Good news, señora." "The power of his words is overwhelming. He will be most valuable in winning Baja California to our cause. He came to see that English rule would be a fostering one to his Indian wards. On no other ground would he take part with us." "But why do we need his work in Baja California more than in Alta California?" "Good señor, this part of the province has been carefully worked over, and is responsive. In comparison, the lower half has scarcely been touched. I have made some representations touching sentiment there which may need bolstering." "How?" "Last night, at the baile, the young men, the most of them, were rapturously in favor of the English protectorate." Farquharson smiled. "The elders ardently followed; that is, the majority. A few hard-headed ones were obdurate. Mendoza, as I expected, was as set as a sheet anchor." "Yes, señora." "The greater number had arrived at that acute moment of mental tenseness when some outward act becomes a positive necessity. The dynamic, while thus agitating them, had set their consciousness in direction of an English protectorate. They became enthusiastic, perfervid, deadly determined on that protectorate. "Then Mendoza voiced his desire of further consideration. So strongly did his personality affect the company that they were wavering, though still they shouted for England. Mendoza's very will was swaying them. The moment of our success was passing. Once let it slip, and all the king's horses could not bring it back to power again." "Go on, señora." "Then I used a letter which Señor Carillo recently sent me--not reading it, but interpreting into its contents a meaning which might be fairly given, though I think it overtranslated the writer's position. The smoldering enthusiasm of our señors blazed again. "Still Mendoza held them. I began to fear that nothing would come of the meeting which had begun so auspiciously." Farquharson was very intent. "Perhaps you remember, Captain, reading in your school days from that old Latin lesson book, 'Viri Romæ,' how the cackling of geese saved Rome?"