“Very likely they do.  Frankness and plain-speaking being, as you doubtless know, the distinguishing mark of the Caracunan statesman.”

The sarcasm was not lost upon Mr. Brewster, but it failed to shake his skepticism.

“There are some business matters that require that I should go to the office of the Ferro carril del Norte this afternoon,” he said.

“I beg that you do nothing of the sort,” cried Sherwen sharply.

The magnate hesitated.  He glanced out of the window and along the street, close bounded by blank-walled houses, each with its eyes closed against the sun.  A solitary figure strode rapidly across it.

“There’s that bug-hunting fellow again,” said Mr. Brewster.  “He’s an American, I guess,—­God save the mark!  Nobody seems to be interfering with him, and he’s freaky enough looking to start a riot on Broadway.”

Further comment was checked by the voice of the scientist at the door, asking to see Mr. Sherwen at once.  Miss Polly immediately slipped out of the room to the patio, followed by Carroll and Cluff.

“My business, probably,” remarked Mr. Brewster.  “I’ll just stay and see.”  And he stayed.

So far as the newcomer was concerned, however, he might as well not have been there; so he felt, with unwonted injury.  The scientist, disregarding him wholly, shook hands with Sherwen.

“Have you heard from Wisner yet?”

“Yes.  An hour ago.”

“What was his message?”

“All right, any time to-day.”

“Good!  Better get them down to-night, then, so they can start to-morrow morning.”

“Will Stark pass them?”

“Under restrictions.  That’s all been seen to.”

At this point it appeared to Mr. Brewster that he had figured as a cipher quite long enough.

“Am I right in assuming that you are talking of my party’s departure?” he inquired.

“Yes,” said Sherwen.  “The Dutch will let you through the blockade.”

“Then my cablegram reached the proper parties at Washington,” said the magnate, with an I-knew-it-would-be-that-way air.

“Thanks to Mr. Perkins.”

“Of course, of course.  That will be—­er—­suitably attended to later.”

The Unspeakable Perk turned and regarded him fixedly; but, owing to the goggles, the expression was indeterminable.

“The fact is it would be more convenient for me to go day after to-morrow than to-morrow.”

“Then you’d better rent a house,” was the begoggled one’s sharp and brief advice.

“Why so?” queried the great man, startled.

“Because if you don’t get out to-morrow, you may not get out for months.”

“As I understand the Dutch permit, it specifies after to-day.”

“It isn’t a question of the Dutch.  Caracuna City goes under quarantine to-night, and Puerto del Norte to-morrow, as soon as proper official notification can be given.”