Duval was so overcome by the loss of Dolores that he submitted to Philip's orders like a child, and obediently drank the wine poured out for him. In most emergencies, Jack would have been ready to act at once with a cool head, and iron nerve; but Dolores was very dear to him, and her loss had rendered him useless for the moment--in other words, the shock had paralysed his will. After Philip had succeeded in putting some heart into the poor fellow, he insisted on his coming on deck, and they ascended thereto just in time to see the return of the officer sent by Tejada to Don Hypolito. The messenger walked straight up to Don José, and gave the reply of Xuarez, on hearing which, Tejada turned towards the waiting Intendante. "His Excellency Don Hypolito Xuarez will see you at his palace." Don Alonzo almost choked with rage at hearing these terms applied to a rebel like Xuarez, but managed to bow with tolerably good grace. He moved towards the side of the yacht, and scrambled down into the boat in a somewhat ungraceful fashion for an ambassador. Colonel Garibay, Don Rafael, and the Englishmen followed, together with Tejada and his staff. Tim, who had been fraternising with the rebels, showed his note-book to Jack, filled with shorthand notes. "I've got no end of information," he said gleefully; "and when I get back to Tlatonac, it goes to the _Morning Planet_ straight." "That is if we ever do get back," said Jack, gloomily. "Of course we will, you pessimist; and, what's more, we'll take back Doña Dolores with us." "Do you think she is here, then, after all?" asked Duval, with reviving hope. Tim winked in a vulgar fashion. "A word in your ear, Jack," he said, jerking his head in the direction of the pompous Tejada. "That old man's a liar. The pretty colleen is here, and Don José knows it? but she's not with Don Hypolito." "Then where do you think she is?" "With Rafael's sweetheart, no less; the old man's daughter." "Doña Carmencita?" "You've hit it." Jack would have questioned Tim further, so as to learn his grounds for such a belief, but just then the boat touched the stone steps of the wharf. The embassy stepped ashore, and waited till the soldiers of Tlatonac arrived. Don Alonzo, with a due regard for the dignity of the Republic, refused to move until his bodyguard came on shore. In a few minutes, the soldiers landed, under the command of Captain Velez, and thus escorted, the ambassador of the Republic moved slowly forward, beneath the mighty arch which led into the heart of the rebel capital. "We've got in, Señor," whispered Rafael to Philip with sudden doubt; "but I hope we shall be able to get out." Philip pointed back to the Union Jack, which could be seen in the distance at the yacht's masthead. "While that flag is there I have no fear, Don Rafael." CHAPTER III. DON HYPOLITO XUAREZ.