The following morning, the Hon. Charles Pendleton, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, read Saxon's letters of introduction. The letters sufficiently established the standing of the artist to assure him his minister's interest. Partridge was dispatched to the hotel to bring the traveler to the legation. Partridge came back within the hour, greatly perturbed. Having found that Saxon had not returned during the night, and knowing the customs of the country, he had spent a half-hour in investigating by channels known to himself. He learned, at the end of much questioning and cross-questioning, that the senor, together with another gentleman evidently also an _Americano del Nordo_, had passed the street-door late in the evening, with military escort. Mr. Partridge hastened to his legation at a rate of speed subversive of all Puerto Frio traditions. In Puerto Frio, haste is held to be an affront to dignity, and dignity is esteemed. The Hon. Charles Pendleton listened to his subordinate's report with rising choler. His diplomacy was of the aggressive type, and his first duty was that of making the protecting pinions of the spread eagle stretch wide enough to reach every one of those entitled to its guardianship. Saxon and Rodman had the night before entered the frowning walls of the Palace through a narrow door at the side. The American minister now passed hastily between files of presented arms. Inside, he learned that his excellency, _el Presidente_, had not yet finished his breakfast, but earnestly desired his excellency, _el ministro_, to share with him an alligator pear and cup of coffee. In the suave presence of the dictator, the minister's choler did not cease. Rather, it smoldered while he listened perfunctorily to flattering banalities. He had struck through intermediary stages; had passed over the heads of departments and holders of portfolios, to issue his ultimatum to the chief executive. Yet, in approaching his subject, he matched the other's suavity with a pleasantness that the dictator distrusted. The dark face of the autocrat became grave until, when Mr. Pendleton reached the issue, it was deeply sympathetic, surprised and attentive. "I am informed that some one--I can not yet say who--wearing your excellency's uniform, seized an American citizen of prominence on the streets of Puerto Frio last evening." The President was shocked and incredulous. "Impossible!" he exclaimed with deep distress; then, again: "Impossible!" From the diplomat's eloquent sketching of the situation, it might have been gathered that the United States war department stood anxiously watching for such affronts, and that the United States war department would be very petulant when notification of the incident reached it. Mr. Pendleton further assured his excellency, _el Presidente_, that it would be his immediate care to see that such notification had the right of way over the Panama cable.