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General Paredes, a military leader, had manifested his determination to overthrow the Government of Herrera by a military revolution, and one of the principal means which he employed to effect his purpose and render the Government of Herrera odious to the army and people of Mexico was by loudly condemning its determination to receive a minister of peace from the United States, alleging that it was the intention of Herrera, by a treaty with the United States, to dismember the territory of Mexico by ceding away the department of Texas.
The detective grunted. "Funny!" Paredes went on. "Observation doesn't seem to interest you. I'd rather fancied it might." He yawned again and put his cigarette to his lips. Puffing placidly, he turned and left. "What do you suppose he means by that?" the detective said to Graham. Without waiting for an answer he followed Paredes from the room. Graham went after him.
The black surface of the water seemed to Bobby like an opaque glass, hiding sinister things. Suppose Paredes, instead of coming to a rendezvous, had been led? "It's deep enough in the centre," he answered. "Shallow around the edges?" "Quite." "Then he knew we were after him," Groom said. Rawlins nodded and ran his light along the shore.
"I have told Katherine what to do," Doctor Groom said. "The woman may be all right in the morning. What's she been up to here?" "Then," Bobby cried, "there was a connection between the dinner party and the murders. But what about my coming here unconscious? What about my handkerchief?" "I can see no answer yet," Graham said. Paredes smiled. "Not when you've had the answer to everything?
The detective, however, failed to find the hatpin or any other weapon. "You see," Paredes smiled. "That's something in my favour." He stepped back, brushing his clothing with his uninjured hand. He lighted a cigarette. He drew back the coat sleeve of his left arm and readjusted the bandage. He glanced up as heavy footsteps heralded Doctor Groom. "Hello, Doctor," he called cheerily.
Paredes shrugged his shoulders. "You weren't there. You don't know how sly Bobby was." "I suppose it's useless to ask," Graham said. "You saw nothing put in his wine?" Paredes laughed. "Is it likely? Certainly not. I should have mentioned it. I should have stopped such a thing. What do you think I am, Mr. Graham?" "Sorry," Graham said. "You must understand we can't let any lead slip.
He had to hide the truth or face the electric chair. If he disappeared he was infinitely worse off than though he had settled with his brother a man without a home, without a name, without a penny." Jenkins nodded. "He had to come back," he said slowly, "and he knew how scared you were of the old room." "The funeral and the snow," Paredes said, "gave him his chance.
The partisans of Paredes, as our minister in the dispatch referred to states, breathed the fiercest hostility against the United States, denounced the proposed negotiation as treason, and openly called upon the troops and the people to put down the Government of Herrera by force. The reconquest of Texas and war with the United States were openly threatened.
He was, in fact, almost full-grown as a Mexican conspirator, and he was sure to do whatever he could against either a monarchy under Paredes or a dictatorship under Santa Anna. It was a full hour later when they were joined by Señora Paez. She came on a special errand, for almost her first remark was: "General, there will be danger from robbers of all sorts.
"It may have been Mr. Paredes," the doctor said. But Bobby wasn't convinced. "Did you see or hear anything coming through the hall, Carlos?" "No," Paredes said. He had brought the light. With its help they explored the tiny cellar and the upper floor. There was no sign of a recent occupancy. Everything was as Bobby had found it on awakening. A vagrant wind sighed about the place.
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