“Oh, no.  Just a temporary cessation of civilities between the two nations.  If it weren’t indiscreet—­”

“Oh, do be indiscreet!” implored the girl, with clasped hands.  “I admire indiscretion in others, and cultivate it in myself.”

Mr. Carroll looked pained, as the other laughed and said:—­

“Well, it would certainly be most undiplomatic for me to hint that the great and friendly nation of Hochwald, which wields more influence and has a larger market here than any other European power, has become a little jealous of the growing American trade.  But the fact remains that the Hochwald minister and his secretary, Von Plaanden, who is a very able citizen when sober,—­and is, of course, almost always sober,—­have not exerted themselves painfully to compose the little misunderstanding between President Fortuno and us.  The Dutch diplomats, who are not as diplomatic in speech as I am, would tell you, if there were any of them left here to tell anything, that Von Plaanden’s intrigues brought on the present break with them.  So there you have a brief, but reliable ’History of Our Times in the Island Republic of Caracuna.’”

“Highly informative and improving to the untutored mind,” Miss Brewster complimented him.  “I like seeing the wires of empire pulled.  More, please.”

“Perhaps you won’t like the next so well,” observed Carroll grimly.  “There is bubonic plague here.”

“Oh—­ah!” protested Sherwen gently.  “The suspicion of plague.  Quite a different matter.”

“Which usually turns out to be the same, doesn’t it?” inquired Mr. Brewster.

“Perhaps.  People disappear, and one is not encouraged to ask about them.  But then people disappear for many causes in Caracuna.  Politics here are somewhat—­well—­Philadelphian in method.  But—­ there is smoke rising from behind Capo Blanco.”

“What is there?” inquired the girl.

“The lazaretto.  Still, it might be yellow fever, or only smallpox.  The Government is not generous with information.  To have plague discovered now would be very disturbing to the worthy plans of the Hochwald Legation.  For trade purposes, they would very much dislike to have the port closed for a considerable time by quarantine.  The Dutch difficulty they can arrange when they will.  But quarantine would bring in the United States, and that is quite another matter.  Well, we’ll see, when Dr. Pruyn gets here.”

“Who is he?” asked Carroll.

“Special-duty man of the United States Public Health Service.  The best man on tropical diseases and quarantine that the service has ever had.”

“That isn’t Luther Pruyn, is it?” inquired Mr. Brewster.

“The same.  Do you know him?”

“Yes.”

“More than I do, except by reputation.”