Portiforo nodded. “Yes; that significant fact naturally did not escape our notice. Still----” he paused, and a puzzled frown darkened his beefy countenance--“what you have told me is most interesting, Señor Gale,” he said, leaving unspoken the thought that had been in his mind. “I am deeply indebted to you for the information you have given. It has enabled me to decide what course I shall pursue regarding that wretched young man.” “I am glad of that,” said the reporter, a glint in his eyes. “You can go as far as you like with him, Señor Presidente, without any fear of angering the government of my country.” The president smiled sardonically. “It seems to me, my dear friend, that you are not exactly fond of your countryman.” “I must admit that I haven’t any use for him,” the other responded. “But I am not alone in my prejudice. Every self-respecting newspaper man in New York who has had dealing with the fellow feels the same way about him. We regard him as one of the black sheep of our profession.” Portiforo appeared pleased to hear this. “If that is the way your brother journalists regard him I presume that his fate will not cause a great outcry from the press which is so influential in your country?” “Of course it won’t,” the newspaper man eagerly assured him. “The scamp has been mixed up in so many shady transactions that we’ve all been expecting to see him come to a bad end. Of course, you must expect that his own paper, the _Sentinel_, will try to stir up a fuss about him; but, then, nobody pays any attention to what that sensational sheet says or does.” Portiforo expressed surprise at this. “I had been under the impression that the New York _Sentinel_ was one of the most influential journals in the United States,” he said. “You have been misinformed,” Gale returned. “It has a fair-sized circulation, but its readers consist mostly of the more unintelligent classes.” He leaned forward in his chair. “You can take it from me, Señor Presidente, that if that rascally camera man gets his deserts the better portion of our press will heartily approve of what you have done as soon as the facts become known. And I shall make it my business to see that the facts are known,” he added significantly. “I am returning to the United States on next Wednesday’s boat--my editor has sent me word that he positively cannot get along without me any longer--and when I get to New York it will give me great pleasure to combat with my pen any adverse sentiment which the _Sentinel_ may try to create against your government.” “That is most kind of you, my dear Señor Gale,” the president declared gratefully. “You are indeed a true friend of Baracoa. With such a distinguished journalist enlisted on the side of truth I have no fear of being misunderstood by the people of your great nation.”