Tim had gone off with Don Miguel, to attach himself to the personal staff of the President, and take shorthand notes of the speech. It had been the intention of Peter to follow his Irish friend, but, unfortunately, he lost him in the crowd, and therefore returned to the side of Philip, who caught sight of him at once. "Where's Tim?" asked the baronet, quickly; "gone off with Don Miguel?" "Yes; to the Palacio Nacional." "I thought you were going?" "I lost sight of them." "An excuse, Peter," interposed Jack, with a twinkle in his eye. "You remained behind to look at the Señoritas." Peter indignantly repudiated the idea. "His heart is true to his Poll," said Philip, soothingly; "thereby meaning Doña Serafina. Darling!" Philip mimicked the old lady's pronunciation of the word, and Jack laughed; not so Peter. "How you do go on about Doña Serafina?" he said fretfully. "After all, she is not so very ugly, though she may not have the thirty points of perfection." "Eh, Peter, I didn't know you were learned in such gallantries; and what are the thirty points of perfection?" The doctor was about to reply, when Cocom, wrapped in his zarape, passed slowly by, and took off his sombrero to the party. "A dios, Señores," said Cocom, gravely. "Our Indian friend," remarked Jack, with a smile. "Ven aca Cocom! Have you come to hear the assurance of peace." "There will be no peace, Señor Juan. I am old--very old, and I can see into the future. It is war I see--the war of Acauhtzin." "Ah! Is that your own prophecy or that of the Chalchuih Tlatonac." "I know nothing of the Chalchuih Tlatonac, Don Juan," replied Cocom, who always assumed the role of a devout Catholic; "but I hear many things. Ah, yes, I hear that the Chalchuih Tlatonac is glowing as a red star." "And that means war!" "It means war, Señor, and war there will be. The Chalchuih Tlatonac never deceives. Con dios va usted Señor." "Humph!" said Jack, thoughtfully, as Cocom walked slowly away; "so that is the temper of the people, is it? The opal says war. In that case it is no use Gomez saying peace, for they will not believe him." During this conversation with the Indian, Philip had gone on with Peter, so as to keep the ladies in sight. Jack pushed his way through the crowd and found them seated near the bandstand, from whence the President was to deliver his speech. As yet, His Excellency had not arrived, and the band were playing music of a lively description, principally national airs, as Gomez wished to arouse the patriotism of the Tlatonacians.