Kirk looked the speaker squarely in the eyes as he answered:  “I don’t understand what you’re driving at.  I haven’t the least interest in any married man’s affairs—­never have had, in fact.  I’m in love with Gertrudis Garavel, and I’m engaged to marry her.”

“The devil!”

“It’s a fact.  I didn’t know until last night that I’d been accepted.”

“Then just forget what I said.  I was going north on a south-bound track—­I ran ahead of orders.  I really do congratulate you, old man; Miss Garavel is—­well, I won’t try to do her justice—­I had no idea.  Please pardon me.”

“Certainly!  Now that it’s settled I’m not going to let any grass grow under my feet.”

“Why, say!  Garavel is to be the next President!  Jove!  You are lucky!  Cortlandt told me last night that the old fellow’s candidacy was to be announced Saturday night at the big ball; that’s how he came to accept our invitation.  He said his work would be over by then and he’d be glad to join us after the dance.  Well, well!  Your future wife and father-in-law are to be his guests that night, I suppose you know.”

“Then they have patched up a truce with Alfarez?  I’m glad to hear that.”

“It’s all settled, I believe.  This dance is a big special event.  The American Minister and the various diplomatic gangs will be there, besides the prominent Spanish people.  It’s precisely the moment to launch the Garavel boom, and Cortlandt intends to do it.  After it’s over, our little crowd will have supper and thank him for what he has done for us.  Oh, it will be a big night all around, won’t it?  Do you realize the skyrockety nature of your progress, young man?  Lord!  You take my breath.”

“It does seem like a dream.  I landed here with a button-hook for baggage, and now—­Say, Runnels, her eyes are just like two big black pansies, and when she smiles you’ll go off your trolley.”

“Your promotion came just in time, didn’t it?  Talk about luck!  We ought to hear from Washington before Saturday and know that our jobs are cinched.  This uncertainty is fierce for me.  You know I have a wife and kid, and it means a lot.  When you give Cortlandt that watch you’ll have to present him with a loving-cup from the rest of us.  I think it’s coming to him, don’t you?”

“I—­I’d rather you presented it.”

“Not much!  I can run trains, but I can’t engineer social functions.  You’ll have to be spokesman.  I suppose jobs and increased salaries and preferments, and all that, don’t count for much with a young fellow who is engaged to the fabulous Miss Garavel, but with the Runnels family it’s different.  Meanwhile, let’s just hold our thumbs till our promotions are ratified from headquarters.  I need that position, and I’m dying of uneasiness.”