Kit obeyed and found Francisca gracious.  She danced with him and afterwards allowed him to sit by her.  By and by she remarked:  “I have not seen Senor Askew for some time.”

“He was not very well,” said Kit.

Francisca studied his face.  “I hope his illness is not serious.  I thought I saw Doctor Martin.”

“Fever.  My uncle gets it now and then.”

“I think I warned you against our fevers,” Francisca replied meaningly.  “There are two or three kinds, but all are not dangerous.”

“Some are?” Kit suggested.

“Yes; to foreigners.  We others take precautions and are acclimatized.”

“Well,” said Kit in a thoughtful voice, “I have not had fever yet, but I suppose an unacclimatized adventurer runs some risk.”

Francisca played with her fan and Kit imagined she was pondering.

“A risk that leads to nothing is not worth while,” she remarked.  “I think it would be prudent if you left the country while you are well.”

“I should be sorry if I thought you wanted me to go,” said Kit.

“That is cheap, senor.  I gave you good advice.”

“Oh, well,” said Kit, “I really think you did.  There are matters about which we do not agree; but I believe you are too kind to let a rather ignorant antagonist get hurt.”

Franciscans eyes twinkled as she rejoined:  “I like the compliment better than the other.  But I am engaged for the next dance and as you are intelligent there is not much more to be said.”

Kit went away, thinking rather hard.  The girl had some part in the intrigue against the president, and it would obviously be an advantage to her friends if he could be persuaded to leave the country now Adam was ill.  Admitting this, he thought her warning sincere.  On the whole, he liked Francisca Sarmiento and believed she did not want him to be hurt.  If Adam did not get much better and he had to look after things, he would certainly run some risk of a cunning attack by the president’s enemies.

When the guests began to leave, Kit went to his room and after some hours of broken sleep was told that Adam wanted him.  He found Alvarez in the room and Adam lying, with a flushed face and wet forehead, in a big cane chair.  When Kit came in Adam gave him a friendly smile and turned to Alvarez.

“If I’d taken that drink at a wineshop, I’d have deserved all I got,” he said.  “I allowed I was safe at the presidio.”

“It is a stain on my hospitality for which somebody shall pay.”

“That’s all right,” said Adam; “you’re not accountable.  Looks as if the other fellow was too smart for both of us; but I had a feeling I’d better stick to tinto and siphon.  You can generally taste anything suspicious in that mixture and I’ve been doped before.  But, as I’m an American citizen and American influence is powerful, I didn’t expect they’d be bold enough to get after me.”