Señor Congosta smiled. "You will pardon my saying so, Sir Antony, but an accurate knowledge of Continental affairs is not one of your great nation's strong points." He paused. "Our party is more powerful now than at any time during the last fifteen years." "But how about the government?" said Tony. "Surely they don't look on you any more affectionately than on Pedro and his little lot?" "The government!" Señor Congosta repeated the words with the utmost scorn. "I will be frank with you, Sir Antony. The Republican government is doomed. Too long has that collection of traitors battened on my unfortunate country. It needs but one spark to kindle the flame, and--" With a sweep of his arm he indicated the painful and abrupt fate that was awaiting the President of Livadia and his advisers. "I see," said Tony slowly. "Then your somewhat original method of calling is connected with State affairs?" Señor Congosta spread out his hands. "There is no point in further concealment," he observed. "I think you will agree with me, Colonel Saltero, that we had better tell this gentleman the entire truth." That Colonel grunted doubtfully, as though telling the entire truth were not a habit that he was accustomed to approve of, but the reply, such as it was, seemed good enough for his companion. "For some time past," he said, "the Loyalists of Livadia have only been waiting their opportunity. The Republic is rotten--rotten to the core. It must soon fall like a bad fruit, and then--" he paused--"then will come the chance for which we are ready." "And for which," added Tony, "the Marquis da Freitas is also eminently ready." Congosta's eyes gleamed. "So!" he said softly. "You know him?" "Not intimately," said Tony: "just well enough to know that he is likely to be around when the prizes are given out." Congosta nodded his head. A malevolent expression had crept into his face that made him look almost as sinister as the Colonel. "It is with Da Freitas," he said slowly, "that we have to settle. With Da Freitas and one other. Until a month ago everything had been arranged for. We knew that here in England the usurper was plotting and planning for his restoration. We knew that he had many friends in the army and navy--that any moment the revolution might break out. But we were prepared. The very moment trouble came we intended to strike--and strike hard." He stopped. "What were you going to do?" asked Tony with interest. "We should have seized the Palace before Da Freitas' hirelings and traitors were ready, and proclaimed Francisco's daughter as the rightful heir to the throne." There was another pause. "It was a good idea," said Tony; "but I gather there has been a slight hitch somewhere." "We were betrayed," said Congosta sullenly. "We made the mistake of trusting to a coward and a fool. It is the price that one always pays for such mistakes." "Who was the gentleman?" asked Tony innocently.