byRichardHardingDavisMygoingtoValenciawasentirelyanaccident。ButthemoreoftenIstatedthatfact，themoresatisfiedwaseveryoneatthecapitalthatIhadcomeonsomesecretmission。Eventhevenerablepoliticianwhoactedasourminister，thenightofmyarrival，afterdinner，saidconfidentially，\"Now，Mr。Crosby，betweenourselves，what’sthegame？\"
\"What’swhatgame？\"Iasked。
\"YouknowwhatImean，\"hereturned。\"Whatareyouherefor？\"
Butwhen，forthetenthtime，IrepeatedhowIcametobemaroonedinValenciaheshowedthathisfeelingswerehurt，andsaidstiffly:\"Asyouplease。Supposewejointheladies。\"
Andthenextdayhiswifereproachedmewith:\"Ishouldthinkyoucouldtrustyourownminister。MyhusbandNEVERtalks——noteventome。\"
\"SoIsee，\"Isaid。
Andthenherfeelingswerehurtalso，andshewentabouttellingpeopleIwasanagentoftheWalker—Keefecrowd。
MyonlyreasonforrepeatingherethatmygoingtoValenciawasanaccidentisthatitwasbecauseSchnitzeldisbelievedthatfact，andtodragthehideousfactsfrommefollowedmebacktoNewYork。
ThroughthatcircumstanceIcametoknowhim，andamabletotellhisstory。
ThesimpletruthwasthatIhadbeensentbytheStateDepartmenttoPanamato\"go，look，see，\"andstraightenoutacertainconflictofauthorityamongtheofficialsofthecanalzone。WhileIwastheretheyellow—feverbrokeout，andeveryself—respectingpowerclappedaquarantineontheIsthmus，withtheresultthatwhenI
triedtoreturntoNewYorknosteamerwouldtakemetoanyplacetowhichanywhitemanwouldcaretogo。ButIknewthatatValenciatherewasadirectlinetoNewYork，soItookatrampsteamerdownthecoasttoValencia。IwenttoValenciaonlybecausetomeeveryotherportintheworldwasclosed。Mypositionwasthatofthemanwhoexplainedtohiswifethathecamehomebecausetheotherplaceswereshut。
But，because，formerlyinValenciaIhadheldaminorpostinourlegation，andbecausetheStateDepartmentsoconstantlyconsultsourfirmonquestionsofinternationallaw，itwasbelievedI
revisitedValenciaonsomemysteriousandsecretmission。
Asamatteroffact，hadIgonetheretosellphonographsortostartasteamlaundry，Ishouldhavebeenasgreatlysuspected。
ForinValenciaeveneverycommercialsalesman，fromthemomenthegivesuphispassportonthesteameruntilthepolicepermithimtodepart，issuspected，shadowed，andbegirtwithspies。
IbelievethatduringmybriefvisitIenjoyedthedistinctionofoccupyingtheundividedattentionofthree:acommonorgardenGovernmentspy，fromwhomnoguiltymanescapes，aWalker—Keefespy，andthespyoftheNitrateCompany。ThespyoftheNitrateCompanyisgenerallyamanyoumeetatthelegationsandclubs。Heplaysbridgeandisdignifiedwiththetitleof\"agent。\"TheWalker—Keefespyisostensiblyatravellingsalesmanorhotelrunner。TheGovernmentspyisjustaspy——ascowling，importantlittlebeastinawhiteducksuitandadiamondring。Thelimitofhisintelligenceistofollowyouintoacigarstoreandnotewhatcigaryoubuy，andinwhatkindofmoneyyoupayforit。
Thereasonforitallwasthethree—corneredfightwhichthenwasbeingwagedbytheGovernment，theNitrateTrust，andtheWalker—
Keefecrowdforthepossessionofthenitratebeds。Valenciaissoneartotheequator，andsofarfromNewYork，thattherearefewwhostudiedtheintricatestoryofthatdisgracefulstruggle，which，Ihastentoadd，withthefearoflibelbeforemyeyes，Idonotintendtotellnow。
Briefly，itwasatriangularfightbetweenopponentseachofwhomwasinthewrong，andeachofwhom，togainhisend，bribed，blackmailed，androbbed，notonlyhisadversaries，butthoseofhisownside，theendinviewbeingthepossessionofthosegreatdepositsthatlieintherocksofValencia，bakedfromabovebythetropicsunandfrombelowbyvolcanicfires。Asoneoftheirengineers，onenightinthePlaza，saidtome:\"Thosemineswereconceivedinhell，andstinktoheaven，andthereputationofeverymanofusthathastouchedthemsmellslikethemines。\"
AtthetimeIwastherethesituationwas\"acute。\"InValenciathesituationalwaysisacute，butthistimeitlookedasthoughsomethingmighthappen。OnthedaybeforeIdepartedtheNitrateTrusthadcabledvehementlyforwar—ships，theMinisterofForeignAffairshadrefusedtoreceiveourminister，andatPortoBanosamobhadmadethetinsignoftheUnitedStatesconsulatelooklikeasieve。Ourministerurgedmetoremain。Tobebombardedbyone’sownwar—ships，heassuredme，wouldbeathrillingexperience。
ButIrepeatedthatmybusinesswaswithPanama，notValencia，andthatifinthismatterofhisrowIhadanyweightatWashington，asbetweenpreservingthenitratebedsforthetrust，andpreservingforhiscountryandvarioussweetheartsonebrown—
throated，clean—limbedbluejacket，Iwasforthebluejacket。
Accordingly，whenIsailedfromValenciatheageddiplomatwouldhavedescribedourrelationsasstrained。
Ourshipwasaslowship，listedtotouchatmanyports，andasearlyasnoononthefollowingdaywestoppedforcargoatTrujillo。ItwasthereImetSchnitzel。
InPanamaIhadboughtamacawforalittlenieceofmine，andwhileweweretakingoncargoIwentashoretogetatincageinwhichtoputit，and，fordirection，calleduponourconsul。Fromaninnerroomheenteredexcitedly，smilingatmycard，andaskedhowhemightserveme。ItoldhimIhadaparrotbelowdecks，andwantedtobuyatincage。
\"Exactly。Youwantatincage，\"theconsulrepeatedsoothingly。
\"TheStateDepartmentdoesn’tkeepmeawakenightscablingmewhatit’sgoingtodo，\"hesaid，\"butatleastIknowitdoesn’tsendathousand—dollar—a—minute，four—cylinderlawyerallthewaytothisfeverswamptobuyatincage。Now，honest，howcanIserveyou？\"
Isawitwashopeless。Noonewouldbelievethetruth。Toofferittothisfriendlysoulwouldmerelyoffendhisfeelingsandhisintelligence。
So，withmuchmystery，Iaskedhimtodescribethe\"situation，\"andhedidsowiththeexactnessofonewhobelievesthatwithinanhoureverywordhespeakswillbecabledtotheWhiteHouse。
WhenIwasleavinghesaid:\"Oh，there’sanewspapercorrespondentafteryou。Hewantsaninterview，Iguess。Hefollowedyoulastnightfromthecapitalbytrain。Youwanttowatchouthedon’tcatchyou。HisnameisJones。\"IpromisedtobeonmyguardagainstamannamedJones，andtheconsulescortedmetotheship。
Ashewentdowntheaccommodationladder，Icalledovertherail:
\"IncasetheySHOULDdeclarewar，cabletoCuracoa，andI’llcomeback。Anddon’tcableanythingindefinite，like’Situationcritical’or’Warimminent。’Understand？Cableme，’Comeback’or’Goahead。’Butwhateveryoucable，makeitCLEAR。\"
Heshookhisheadviolentlyandwithhisgreen—linedumbrellapointedatmyelbow。Iturnedandfoundayoungmanhungrilylisteningtomywords。HewasleaningontherailwithhischinonhisarmsandthebrimofhisPanamahatdrawndowntoconcealhiseyes。
Onthepier—head，fromwhichwenowweredrawingrapidlyaway，theconsulmadeamegaphoneofhishands。
\"That’sHIM，\"hecalled。\"That’sJones。\"
Jonesraisedhishead，andIsawthatthetropicalheathadmadeJonesthirsty，orthatwithfriendshehadbeencelebratinghisdeparture。Hewinkedatme，and，apparentlywithpleasureathisowndiscernmentandwithpityforme，smiled。
\"Oh，ofcourse！\"hemurmured。Histonewasoneofheavyirony。
\"Makeit’clear。’Makeitcleartothewholewharf。Shoutitoutso’severybodycanhearyou。You’re’clear’enough。\"Hisdisgustwastoodeepforordinarywords。\"Myuncle！\"heexclaimed。
BythisIgatheredthathewasexpressinghiscontempt。
\"Ibegyourpardon？\"Isaid。
Wehadthedecktoourselves。Itsemptinesssuddenlyremindedmethatwehadtheship，also，toourselves。Irememberedthepurserhadtoldmethat，exceptforthosewhotravelledovernightfromporttoport，Iwashisonlypassenger。
WithdismayIpicturedmyselffortendaysadriftonthehighseas——
alonewithJones。
Withadramaticgesture，asonewouldsay，\"Iamhere！\"hepushedbackhisPanamahat。Withanunsteadyfingerhepointed，asitwasdrawndrippingacrossthedeck，atthesternhawser。
\"Youseethatrope？\"hedemanded。\"SoonasthatropehitthewaterIknockedoffwork。S’longasyouwasinValencia——me，onthejob。
Now，YOUcan’tgoback，Ican’tgoback。Whyfurtherdissim’lation？WHOAMI？\"
Hisconditionseemedtoprecludethepossibilityofhisknowingwhohewas，soItoldhim。
HesneeredasIhaveseenmensneeronlyinmelodrama。
\"Oh，ofcourse，\"hemuttered。\"Oh，ofcourse。\"
Helurchedtowardmeindignantly。
\"Youknowperfec’lywellJonesisnotmyname。Youknowperfec’lywellwhoIam。\"
\"Mydearsir，\"Isaid，\"Idon’tknowanythingaboutyou，exceptthatyourareadamnednuisance。\"
Heswayedfromme，painedandsurprised。Apparentlyhewasuponanoutbreakoftears。
\"Proud，\"hemurmured，\"ANDhaughty。Proudandhaughtytothelast。\"
Ineverhaveunderstoodwhyanintoxicatedmanfeelstheclimaxofinsultistohurlatyouyourname。Perhapsbecauseheknowsitistheonechargeyoucannotdeny。Butinvariablybeforeyouescape，asthoughassuredthewordswillcoveryourretreatwithshame，hethrowsatyouyourfulltitle。Jonesdidthis。
Slowlyandmercilesslyherepeated，\"Mr。——George——Morgan——Crosby。
OfHarvard，\"headded。\"Proudandhaughtytothelast。\"
Hethenembracedapassingsteward，anddemandedtobeinformedwhytheshiprolled。Heneverknewashiptorollasourshiprolled。
\"Perfec’lysatisfact’ryocean，butship——rollinglikeastone—
breaker。Takemesomeplaceintheshipwherethisshipdon’troll。\"
Thestewardledhimaway。
Whenhehaddroppedthelocalpilotthecaptainbeckonedmetothebridge。
\"IsawyoutalkingtoMr。Schnitzel，\"hesaid。\"He’salittleundertheweather。Hehastoolightaheadforliquors。\"
Iagreedthathehadalighthead，andsaidIunderstoodhisnamewasJones。
\"That’swhatIwantedtotellyou，\"saidthecaptain。\"HisnameisSchnitzel。HeusedtoworkfortheNitrateTrustinNewYork。
Thenhecamedownhereasanagent。He’sagoodboynottotellthingsto。Understand？SometimesIcarryhimunderonename，andthenextvoyageunderanother。Thepurserandhefixitupbetween’em。Itpleaseshim，anditdon’thurtanybodyelse，solongasI
tellthemaboutit。Idon’tknowwhohe’sworkingfornow，\"hewenton，\"butIknowhe’snotwiththeNitrateCompanyanymore。
Hesoldthemout。\"
\"Howcouldhe？\"Iasked。\"He’sonlyaboy。\"
\"HehadaberthastypewritertoSenatorBurnsides，presidentoftheNitrateTrust，sortofconfidentialstenographer，\"saidthecaptain。\"Wheneverthesenatordictatedanimportantletter，theysay，Schnitzelusedtomakeacarboncopy，andwhenhehadenoughofthemhesoldthemtotheWalker—Keefecrowd。Then，whenWalker—
KeefelosttheirsuitintheValenciaSupremeCourtIguessSchnitzelwentovertoPresidentAlvarez。Andagain，somefolkssayhe’sbackwiththeNitrateCompany。\"
\"Afterhesoldthemout？\"
\"Yes，butyouseehe’sworthmoretothemnow。HeknowsalltheWalker—KeefesecretsandAlvarez’ssecrets，too。\"
Iexpressedmyopinionofeveryoneconcerned。
\"Itshouldn’tsurpriseYOU，\"complainedthecaptain。\"Youknowthecountry。Everymaninitisoutforsomethingthatisn’this。Thepilotwantshisbit，thehealthdoctormustgethis，thecustomstakeallyourcigars，andifyoudon’tputupgoldforthecaptainoftheportandthealcaldeandthecommandantandtheharborpoliceandtheforemanofthecargadores，theywon’tmovealighter，andthey’llholduptheship’spapers。Well，anAmericancomesdownhere，honestandstraightandwillingtoworkforhiswages。Butprettyquickhefindseveryoneisgettinghissqueezebuthim，sohetriestogetsomeofitbackbyrobbingthenativesthatrobbedhim。Thenherobstheotherforeigners，anditain’tlongbeforehe’scheatingthepeopleathomewhosenthimhere。
Thereisn’tamaninthisnitraterowthatisn’trobbingthecrowdhe’swith，andthatwouldn’tchangesidesformoney。Schnitzel’snoworsethanthepresidentnorthecanteencontractor。\"
Hewavedhishandattheglaringcoast—line，atthesteamingswampsandthehot，nakedmountains。
\"It’sthecountrythatdoesit，\"hesaid。\"It’sintheair。Youcansmellitassoonasyoudropanchor，likeyousmelltheslaughter—houseatPunta—Arenas。\"
\"HowdoYOUmanagetokeephonest，\"Iasked，smiling。
\"Idon’ttakeanychances，\"exclaimedthecaptainseriously。\"WhenI’mintheirdamnedportIdon’tgoashore。\"
IdidnotagainseeSchnitzeluntil，withhaggardeyesandsuspiciouslywethair，hejoinedthecaptain，doctor，purser，andmyselfatbreakfast。InthephrasesoftheTenderloin，hetolduscheerfullythathehadbeengrandlyintoxicated，andtorecoverdrankmixturesofrawegg，vinegar，andredpepper，thesightofwhichtookawayeveryappetitesavehisown。Whentothishehadaddedabottleofbeer，hedeclaredhimselfanewman。Thenewmanfollowedmetothedeck，andwiththetruculentbearingofonewhoexpectstoberepelled，heaskedif，thedaybefore，hehadnotmadeafoolofhimself。
Isuggestedhehadbeensomewhatconfidential。Atonceherecoveredhisposeandpatronizedme。
\"Don’tyoubelieveit，\"hesaid。\"That’sallpartofmygame。
’Confidenceforconfidence’isthewayIworkit。That’showI
learnthings。Itellamansomethingontheinside，andhesays:
’Here’saniceyoungfellow。Nothingstandoffishabouthim，’andhetellsmesomethingheshouldn’t。LikeasnotwhatItoldhimwasn’ttrue。See？\"
Iassuredhimheinterestedmegreatly。
\"Youfind，then，inyourlineofbusiness，\"Iasked，\"thatapparentfranknessisadvisable？Asarule，\"Iexplained，\"secrecyiswhata——apersoninyourline——a——\"
TosavehisfeelingsIhesitatedattheword。
\"Aspy，\"hesaid。Hisfacebeamedwithfatuouscomplacency。
\"ButifIhadnotknownyouwereaspy，\"Iasked，\"wouldnotthathavebeenbetterforyou？\"
\"Indealingwithapartylikeyou，Mr。Crosby，\"Schnitzelbegansententiously，\"Iuseadifferentmethod。You’reonasecretmissionyourself，andyougetyourinformationaboutthenitraterowoneway，andIgetitanother。Idealwithyoujustlikeweweredrummersinthesamelineofgoods。Wearerivalsinbusiness，butoutsideofbusinesshoursperfectgentleman。\"
Inthefaceofthedisbeliefthathadmetmydenialsofanysecretmission，IfelttohaveSchnitzelalsodisbelievemewouldbetoogreatahumiliation。SoIremainedsilent。
\"YoumakeyourreporttotheStateDepartment，\"heexplained，\"andImakemineto——mypeople。Whotheyaredoesn’tmatter。You’dliketoknow，andIdon’twanttohurtyourfeelings，but——that’sMYsecret。\"
MyonlyfeelingswereadesiretokickSchnitzelheavily，butforSchnitzeltosuspectthatwasimpossible。Rather，hepicturedmeasshakenbyhisdisclosures。
Ashehungovertherailtheglareofthesunonthetumblingwaterlituphisfoolish，mongrelfeatures，exposedtheircunning，theirutterlackofanycharacter，andshowedbehindtheshiftyeyesthevacant，half—crookedmind。
Schnitzelwassmilingtohimselfwithasmileofcompleteself—
satisfaction。Inthelightofhislaterconduct，Igrewtounderstandthatsmile。Hehadanticipatedarebuff，andhehadbeenreceived，ashereadit，withconsideration。Theironyofmypolitenesshehadentirelymissed。Instead，hereadinwhatIsaidtheadmirationoftheamateurfortheprofessional。HesawwhathebelievedtobeahighagentoftheGovernmenttreatinghimasaworthyantagonist。InnootherwaycanIexplainhislaterheapinguponmehisconfidences。Itwasthevanityofachildtryingtoshowoff。
Intendays，inthelimitedareaofatwo—thousand—tonsteamer，onecouldnothelpbutlearnsomethingofthehistoryofsocommunicativeafellow—passengerasSchnitzel。HisparentswereGermanandstilllivedinGermany。ButhehimselfhadbeenbroughtupontheEastSide。AnunclewhokeptadelicatessenshopinAvenueAhadsenthimtothepublicschoolsandthentoa\"businesscollege，\"wherehehaddevelopedremarkableexpertnessasastenographer。Hereferredtohisskillinthisdifficultexercisewithpityingcontempt。Nevertheless，fromaroomnoisywithtype—
writersthisskillhadliftedhimintotheprivateofficeofthepresidentoftheNitrateTrust。There，asSchnitzelexpressedit，\"Isaw’mine，’andItookit。\"TotracebackthecriminalinstinctthatledSchnitzeltostealandselltheprivatelettersofhisemployerwasnotdifficult。InallofhisfewearlyyearsIfounditlyinglatent。Ofeverystoryhetoldofhimself，andhetalkedonlyofhimself，therewasnotonethatwasnottohisdiscredit。
Hehimselfneversawthis，northatallhetoldmeshowedhewaswithoutthemoralsense，andwithaninstinctiveenjoymentofwhatwasdeceitful，mean，andunderhand。That，asIreadit，washischaracter。
Inappearancehewassmooth—shaven，withlonglocksthathungbehindwide，protrudingears。Hehadtheunhealthyskinofbadblood，andhiseyes，asthoughthedaylighthurtthem，constantlyopenedandshut。HewaslikehundredsofyoungmenthatyouseeloiteringonupperBroadwayandmakingpredatoryraidsalongtheRialto。Hadyoupassedhiminthatneighborhoodyouwouldhavesethimdownasawire—tapper，aracingtout，awould—beactor。
AsIworkeditout，Schnitzelwasaspybecauseitgavehimanimportancehehadnotbeenabletoobtainbyanyothereffort。Asachildandasaclerk，itwaseasytoseethatamonghisassociatesSchnitzelmustalwayshavebeenthebutt。Untilsuddenly，byonedirtyaction，hehadplacedhimselfoutsidetheirclass。Asheexpressedit:\"WheneverIwalkthroughtheofficenow，whereallthestenographerssit，yououghttoseethoseslobslookafterme。Whentheygotothepresident’sdoor，theygottoknock，likeIusedto，butnow，whentheoldmanseesmecomingtomakemyreportafteroneofthesetripshecallsout，’Comerightin，Mr。Schnitzel。’AndlikeasnotIgoinwithmyhatonandofferhimacigar。An’theyseemedoit，too！\"
Tome，thatspeechseemedtogiveSchnitzel’sviewofthevaluesofhislife。Hisvanitydemandedhebepointedat，ifevenwithcontempt。Butthecontemptneverreachedhim——heonlyknewthatatlastpeopletooknoteofhim。Theynolongerlaughedathim，theywereafraidofhim。Inhishearthebelievedthattheyregardedhimasonewhowalkedinthedarkplacesofworldpolitics，whopossessedanevilknowledgeofgreatmenasevilashimself，asonewhobyblackmailheldpublicministersathismercy。
Thisviewofhimselfwastheonethathetriedtogiveme。I
probablywasthefirstdecentmanwhoeverhadtreatedhimcivilly，andtoimpressmewithhisknowledgehespreadthatknowledgebeforeme。Itwassale，shocking，degrading。
AtfirstItookcomfortinthethoughtthatSchnitzelwasaliar。
Later，Ibegantowonderifallofitwerealie，andfinally，inawayIcouldnotdoubt，itwasprovedtomethattheworsthechargedwastrue。
ThenightIfirstbegantobelievehimwasthenightwetouchedatCristobal，thelastportinValencia。Inthemostlight—heartedmannerhehadbeenaccusingallconcernedinthenitratefightwitheverycrimeknowninWallStreetandinthedarkreachesoftheCongoRiver。
\"But，Iknowhim，Mr。Schnitzel，\"Isaidsternly。\"Heisincapableofit。Iwenttocollegewithhim。\"
\"Idon’tcarewhetherhe’sarah—rahboyornot，\"saidSchnitzel，\"Iknowthat’swhathedidwhenhewasuptheOrinocoafterorchids，andifthetribehadevercaughthimthey’dhavecrucifiedhim。AndIknowthis，too:hemadefortythousanddollarsoutoftheNitrateCompanyonaten—thousand—dollarjob。AndIknowit，becausehebeefedtomeaboutithimself，becauseitwasn’tbigenough。\"
Wewerepassingthelimestoneislandattheentrancetotheharbor，where，intheprisonfortress，withitsmuzzle—loadinggunspointingdrunkenlyatthesky，areburiedthepoliticalprisonersofValencia。
\"Now，there，\"saidSchnitzel，pointing，\"thatshowsyouwhattheNitrateTrustcando。JudgeRojasisinthere。HegavethefirstdecisioninfavoroftheWalker—Keefepeople，andformakingthatdecisionWilliamT。Scott，theNitratemanager，madeAlvarezputRojasinthere。He’sseventyyearsold，andhe’sbeentherefiveyears。Thecelltheykeephiminisbelowthesea—level，andthesalt—waterleaksthroughthewall。I’veseenit。That’swhatWilliamT。Scottdid，an’upinNewYorkpeoplethink’Billy’Scottisafineman。IseenhimattheHorseShowsittinginabox，bowingtoeverybody，withhiswifesittingbesidehim，allhungoutwithpearls。An’thatwasonlyamonthafterI’dseenRojasinthatsewerwhereScottputhim。\"
\"Schnitzel，\"Ilaughed，\"youcertainlyareamagnificentliar。\"
Schnitzelshowednoresentment。
\"Goashoreandlookforyourself，\"hemuttered。\"Don’tbelieveme。
AskRojas。Askthefirstmanyoumeet。\"Heshivered，andshruggedhisshoulders。\"Itellyou，thewallsaredamp，likesweat。\"
TheGovernmenthadtelegraphedthecommandanttocomeonboardand，asheexpressedit，\"offermethehospitalityoftheport，\"whichmeantthatIhadtotakehimtothesmoking—roomandgivehimchampagne。WhattheGovernmentreallywantedwastofindoutwhetherIwasstillonboard，andifitwerefinallyridofme。
IaskedtheofficialconcerningJudgeRojas。
\"Oh，yes，\"hesaidreadily。\"Heisstillincomunicado。\"
Withoutbelievingitwouldleadtoanything，Isuggested:
\"ItwasfoolishofhimtogiveoffencetoMr。Scott？\"
Thecommandantnoddedvivaciously。
\"Mr。Scottisverypowerfulman，\"heassented。\"WeallverymuchloveMr。Scott。Thepresident，heloveMr。Scott，too，butthejudgeswerenotsympathetictoMr。Scott，soMr。Scottaskedourpresidenttogivethemawarning，andSenorRojas——heisthewarning。\"
\"Whenwillhegetout？\"Iasked。
Thecommandanthelduptheglassinthesunlightfromtheopenair—
port，andgazedadmiringlyatthebubbles。
\"Whocantell，\"hesaid。\"AnydaywhenMr。Scottwishes。Maybe，never。SenorRojasisanoldman。Old，andhehasmuchrheumatics。Maybe，hewillnevercomeouttoseeourbelovedcountryanymore。\"
Aswelefttheharborwepassedsoclosethatonecouldthrowastoneagainstthewallofthefortress。Thesunwasjustsinkingandtheairbecamesuddenlychilled。Aroundthelittleislandoflimestonethewavessweptthroughthesea—weedandblackmaniguauptotherustybarsofthecells。Isawthebarefootedsoldierssmokingupontheslopingramparts，thecommoncriminalsinalongstumblinglinebearingkegsofwater，threestorm—beatenpalmsrisinglikegallows，andthegreenandyellowflagofValenciacrawlingdownthestaff。Somewhereentombedinthatblotchedandmildewedmasonryanoldmanofseventyyearswasshiveringandhugginghimselffromthedampandcold。Amanwhospokefivelanguages，ajust，bravegentleman。Tomeitwasnonewstory。I
knewofthehorrorsofCristobalprison；ofpoliticalrivalschainedtocriminalsloathsomewithdisease，ofmenwhohadraisedtheflagofrevolutiondriventosuicide。ButneverhadIsupposedthatmyownpeoplecouldreachfromthecityofNewYorkandcastafellow—manintothatcellaroffeverandmadness。
AsIwatchedtheyellowwallsinkintothesea，IbecameconsciousthatSchnitzelwasnearme，asbefore，leaningontherail，withhischinsunkonhisarms。Hisfacewasturnedtowardthefortress，andforthefirsttimesinceIhadknownhimitwassetandserious。Andwhen，amomentlater，hepassedmewithoutrecognition，Isawthathiseyeswerefilledwithfear。
WhenwetouchedatCuracoaIsentacabletomysister，announcingthedateofmyarrival，andthencontinuedontotheHotelVenezuela。AlmostimmediatelySchnitzeljoinedme。Witheasycarelessnesshesaid:\"Iwasinthecableofficejustnow，sendingoffawire，andthatoperatortoldmehecan’tmakeheadortailofthethirdwordinyourcable。\"
\"Thatisstrange，\"Icommented，\"becauseit’saFrenchword，andheisFrench。That’swhyIwroteitinFrench。\"
Withtheairofonewhonailsanotherinafalsehood，Schnitzelexclaimed:
\"Then，howdidyousupposeyoursisterwasgoingtoreadit？It’sacipher，that’swhatitis。Oh，no，YOU’REnotonasecretmission！Notatall！\"
Itwasmostundignifiedofme，butinfiveminutesIexcusedmyself，andsenttotheStateDepartmentthefollowingwords:
\"Rosesred，violetsblue，sendsnow。\"
LaterattheStateDepartmenttheonlypersonwhodidnoteventuallypardonmyjestwastheclerkwhohadsatupuntilthreeinthemorningwithmycable，tryingtofitittoanyknowncode。
ImmediatelyaftermyreturntotheHotelVenezuelaSchnitzelexcusedhimself，andhalfanhourlaterreturnedintriumphwiththecableoperatorandorderedlunchforboth。Theyimbibedmuchsweetchampagne。
Whenweagainweresafeatsea，Isaid:\"Schnitzel，howmuchdidyoupaythatFrenchmantoletyoureadmysecondcable？\"
Schnitzel’sreplywaspromptandcomplacent。
\"Onehundreddollarsgold。Itwasworthit。DoyouwanttoknowhowIdopeditout？\"
Ievenchallengedhimtodoso。\"’Rosesred’——wardeclared；
’violetsblue’——outlookbad，orblue；’sendsnow’——sendsquadron，becausethewhitesquadroniswhitelikesnow。See？Itwastooeasy。\"
\"Schnitzel，\"Icried，\"youarewonderful！\"
Schnitzelyawnedinmyface。
\"Oh，youdon’thavetohitthesolesofmyfeetwithanight—sticktokeepmeawake，\"hesaid。
AfterIhadbeenaweekatsea，IfoundthateitherIhadtobelievethatinallthingsSchnitzelwasaliar，orthatthemenoftheNitrateTrustwereinallthingsevil。IwasconvincedthatinsteadofthepeopleofValenciarobbingthem，theywererobbingboththepeopleofValenciaandthepeopleoftheUnitedStates。
TogotowarontheiraccountwastodegradeourGovernment。I
explainedtoSchnitzelitwasnotbecomingthattheUnitedStatesnavyshouldbemadethecat’s—pawofacorruptcorporation。I
askedhispermissiontorepeattotheauthoritiesatWashingtoncertainofthestatementshehadmade。
Schnitzelwasgreatlypleased。
\"You’rewelcometotell’emanythingI’vesaid，\"heassented。
\"And，\"headded，\"mostofit’strue，too。\"
Iwrotedowncertainchargeshehadmade，andaddedwhatIhadalwaysknownofthenitratefight。Itwasaterriblearraignment。
IntheeveningIreadmynotestoSchnitzel，who，inacornerofthesmoking—room，sat，frowningimportantly，checkingoffeachstatement，andwhereImadeanerrorofadateoraname，severelycorrectingme。
SeveraltimesIaskedhim，\"Areyousurethiswon’tgetyouintotroublewithyour’people’？Youseemtoaccuseeverybodyoneachside。\"
Schnitzel’seyesinstantlyclosedwithsuspicion。
\"Don’tyouworryaboutmeandmypeople，\"hereturnedsulkily。
\"That’sMYsecret，andyouwon’tfinditout，neither。Imaybeascrookedastherestofthem，butI’mnotgivingawaymyemployer。\"
IsupposeIlookedpuzzled。
\"Imeannotasecondtime，\"headdedhastily。\"Iknowwhatyou’rethinkingof，andIgotfivethousanddollarsforit。ButnowI
meantostickbythementhatpaymywages。\"
\"Butyou’vetoldmeenoughabouteachofthethreetoputanyoneoftheminjail。\"
\"Ofcourse，Ihave，\"criedSchnitzeltriumphantly。
\"IfI’dletdownonanyonecrowdyou’dknowIwasworkingforthatcrowd，soI’vetouched’emallup。OnlywhatItoldyouaboutmycrowd——isn’ttrue。\"
ThereportwefinallydrewupwassosensationalthatIwasofamindtothrowitoverboard。ItaccusedmembersoftheCabinet，ofourSenate，diplomats，businessmenofnationalinterest，judgesoftheValenciacourts，privatesecretaries，clerks，hiredbullies，andfilibusters。Menthetrustcouldnotbribeithadblackmailed。
Thoseitcouldnotcorrupt，andtheywerepitifullyfew，itcrushedwithsomedisgracefulcharge。
Lookingovermynotes，Isaid:
\"Youseemtohavemadeeverychargeexceptmurder。\"
\"How’dIcometoleavethatout？\"Schnitzelansweredflippantly。
\"WhataboutColeman，theforemanatBahia，andthatGermancontractor，Ebhardt，andoldSmedburg？Theytalkedtoomuch，andtheydiedofyellow—fever，maybe，andmaybewhathappenedtothemwastheyateknockoutdropsintheirsoup。\"
Idisbelievedhim，buttherecameasuddennastydoubt。
\"Curtis，whomanagedthecompany’splantatBarcelona，diedofyellow—fever，\"Isaid，andwasburiedthesameday。\"
ForsometimeSchnitzelglowereduncertainlyatthebulkhead。
\"Didyouknowhim？\"heasked。
\"WhenIwasinthelegationIknewhimwell，\"Isaid。
\"SodidI，\"saidSchnitzel。\"Hewasn’tmurdered。Hemurderedhimself。Hewaswrongtenthousanddollarsinhisaccounts。Hegotworryingaboutitandwefoundhimoutsidetheclearingwithaholeinhishead。Heleftanotesayinghecouldn’tbearthedisgrace。AsifthecompanywouldholdalittlegraftingagainstasgoodamanasCurtis！\"
Schnitzelcoughedandpretendeditwashiscigarette。
\"Youseeyoudon’tputinnothingagainsthim，\"headdedsavagely。
ItwasthefirsttimeIhadseenSchnitzelshowemotion，andIwasmovedtopreach。
\"Whydon’tyouquit？\"Isaid。\"YouhadanA—1jobasastenographer。Whydon’tyougobacktoit？\"
\"Maybe，someday。Butit’sgreatbeingyourownboss。IfIwasastenographer，Iwouldn’tbehelpingyousendinareporttotheStateDepartment，wouldI？No，thisjobisallright。Theysendyouaftersomethingbig，andyouhavethedevilofatimegettingit，butwhenyougetit，youfeellikeyouhadpickedahundred—to—
oneshot。\"
Thetalkorthedrinkhadelatedhim。Hisfish—likeeyesbulgedandshone。Hecastaquicklookabouthim。Exceptforourselves，thesmoking—roomwasempty。Frombelowcamethesteadythroboftheengines，andfromoutsidethewhisperofthewavesandofthewindthroughthecordage。Abarefootedsailorpatteredbytothebridge。Schnitzelbenttowardme，andwithhishandpointedtohisthroat。
\"I’vegotpapersonmethat’sworthamilliontoacertainparty，\"
hewhispered。\"Youunderstand，mynotesincipher。\"
Hescowledwithintensemystery。
\"Ikeep’eminanoiled—silkbag，tiedaroundmyneckwithastring。Andhere，\"headdedhastily，pattinghiship，asthoughtoforestallanyattackImightmakeuponhisperson，\"Icarrymyautomatic。Itshootsninebulletsinfiveseconds。Theygottobequicktocatchme。\"
\"Well，ifyouhaveeitherofthosethingsonyou，\"Isaidtestily，\"Idon’twanttoknowit。HowoftenhaveItoldyounottotalkanddrinkatthesametime？\"
\"Ah，goon，\"laughedSchnitzel。\"That’sanoldgag，warningafellownottotalksoastoMAKEhimtalk。Idothatmyself。\"
ThatSchnitzelhadimportantpaperstiedtohisneckInomorebelievethanthatheworeashirtofchainarmor，buttopleasehimIpretendedtobegreatlyconcerned。
\"Nowthatwe’regettingintoNewYork，\"Isaid，\"youmustbeverycareful。Amanwhocarriessuchimportantdocumentsonhispersonmightbemurderedforthem。Ithinkyououghttodisguiseyourself。\"
ApictureofmybagbeingcarriedashorebySchnitzelintheuniformofaship’sstewardratherpleasedme。
\"Goon，you’rekidding！\"saidSchnitzel。HewasdrawnbetweenbelievingIwasdeeplyimpressedandwithfearthatIwasmockinghim。
\"Onthecontrary，\"Iprotested，\"Idon’tfeelquitesafemyself。
SeeingmewithyoutheymaythinkIhavepapersaroundMYneck。\"
\"Theywouldn’tlookatyou，\"Schnitzelreassuredme。\"Theyknowyou’rejustanamateur。But，asyousay，withme，it’sdifferent。
IGOTtobecareful。Now，youmightn’tbelieveit，butInevergonearmyunclenornoneofmyfriendsthatlivewhereIusedtohangout。IfIdid，theotherspieswouldgetonmytrack。Isuppose，\"
hewentongrandly，\"InevergooutinNewYorkbutthatatleasttwospiesaretrailingme。ButIknowhowtothrowthemoff。I
live’waydowntowninalittlehotelyouneverheardof。YounevercatchmediningatSherry’snortheWaldorf。Andyounevermetmeoutsocially，didyou，now？\"
IconfessedIhadnot。
\"Andthen，Ialwaysliveunderanassumedname。\"
\"Like’Jones’？\"Isuggested。
\"Well，sometimes’Jones’，\"headmitted。
\"Tome，\"Isaid，\"’Jones’lacksimagination。It’sthesortofnameyougivewhenyou’rearrestedforexceedingthespeedlimit。Whydon’tyoucallyourselfMachiavelli？\"
\"Goon，I’mnodago，\"saidSchnitzel，\"anddon’tyougooffthinking’Jones’istheonlydisguiseIuse。ButI’mnottellin’
whatitis，amI？Oh，no。\"
\"Schnitzel，\"Iasked，\"haveyoueverbeentoldthatyouwouldmakeagreatdetective？\"
\"Cutitout，\"saidSchnitzel。\"You’vebeenreadingthosefairystories。There’snoflycopsnorPinkscoulddotheworkIdo。
They’repikerscomparedtome。Theychasepetty—larcenycasesandkickindoors。Iwouldn’tstooptowhattheydo。It’sbeingmixedupthewayIamwiththeproblemsoftwogovernmentsthatcatchesme。\"Headdedmagnanimously，\"Youseesomethingofthatyourself。\"
WelefttheshipatBrooklyn，andwithregretIpreparedtobidSchnitzelfarewell。SeldomhadImetalittlebeastsooffensive，buthisvanity，hislies，hismoralblindness，madeonepityhim。
Andintendaysinthesmoking—roomtogetherwehadhadmanyfriendlydrinksandmanyfriendlylaughs。HewasgoingtoahotelonlowerBroadway，andasmycab，onmywayuptown，passedthedoor，Iofferedhimalift。Heappearedtoconsidertheadvisabilityofthis，andthen，withmuchby—playofglancingoverhisshoulder，divedintothefrontseatanddrewdowntheblinds。
\"ThishotelIamgoingtoisanold—fashionedtrap，\"heexplained，\"buttheclerkiswisetome，understand，andIdon’thavetosigntheregister。\"
Aswedrewnearertothehotel，hesaid:\"It’sapitywecan’tdineoutsomewheresandgotothetheatre，but——youknow？\"
WithalmosttoomuchheartinessIhastilyagreeditwouldbeimprudent。
\"Iunderstandperfectly，\"Iassented。\"Youareamarkedman。
Untilyougetthosepaperssafeinthehandsofyour’people，’youmustbeverycautious。\"
\"That’sright，\"hesaid。Thenhesmiledcraftily。
\"Iwonderifyou’reonyettowhichmypeopleare。\"
IassuredhimthatIhadnoidea，butthatfromtheaviditywithwhichhehadabusedthemIguessedhewasworkingfortheWalker—
Keefecrowd。
Hebothsmiledandscowled。
\"Don’tyouwishyouknew？\"hesaid。\"I’vetoldyoualotofinsidestories，Mr。Crosby，butI’llnevertellonmypalsagain。Notme！
That’sMYsecret。\"
Atthedoorofthehotelhebademeahastygood—by，andforafewminutesIbelievedthatSchnitzelhadpassedoutofmylifeforever。Then，intakingaccountofmybelongings，Imissedmyfield—glasses。Irememberedthat，inordertoopenatrunkforthecustomsinspectors，IhadhandedthemtoSchnitzel，andthathehadhungthemoverhisshoulder。Inourhasteatpartingwebothhadforgottenthem。
Iwasonlyafewblocksfromthehotel，andItoldthemantoreturn。
IinquiredforMr。Schnitzel，andtheclerk，whoapparentlyknewhimbythatname，saidhewasinhisroom，numbereighty—two。
\"Buthehasacallerwithhimnow，\"headded。\"Agentlemanwaswaitingforhim，and’sjustgoneup。\"
IwroteonmycardwhyIhadcalled，andsoonafterithadbeenborneskywardtheclerksaid:\"Iguesshe’llbeabletoseeyounow。That’sthepartythatwascallingonhim，there。\"
Henoddedtowardamanwhocrossedtherotundaquickly。Hisfacewastwistedfromus，asthough，ashealmostrantowardthestreet，hewerereadingtheadvertisementsonthewall。
Hereachedthedoor，andwaslostinthegreattideofBroadway。
Icrossedtotheelevator，andasIstoodwaiting，itdescendedwithacrash，andtheboywhohadtakenmycardflunghimself，shrieking，intotherotunda。
\"Thatman——stophim！\"hecried。\"Themanineighty—two——he’smurdered。\"
Theclerkvaultedthedeskandsprangintothestreet，andI
draggedtheboybacktothewireropeandweshottothethirdstory。Theboyshrankback。Achambermaid，crouchingagainstthewall，herfacecolorless，loweredonehand，andpointedatanopendoor。
\"Inthere，\"shewhispered。
Inamean，commonroom，stretchedwherehehadbeenstruckbackuponthebed，Ifoundtheboywhohadelectedtomeddleinthe\"problemsoftwogovernments。\"
Intinyjets，fromthreewideknife—wounds，hisbloodflowedslowly。Hisstaringeyeswereliftedupinfearandinentreaty。
Iknewthathewasdying，andasIfeltmyimpotencetohelphim，I
askeenlyfeltagreatrageandahatredtowardthosewhohadstruckhim。
Ileanedoverhimuntilmyeyeswereonlyafewinchesfromhisface。
\"Schnitzel！\"Icried。\"Whodidthis？Youcantrustme。Whodidthis？Quick！\"
Isawthatherecognizedme，andthattherewassomethingwhich，withterribleeffort，hewastryingtomakemeunderstand。
Inthehallwastherushofmanypeople，running，exclaiming，thenoiseofbellsringing；fromanotherfloorthevoiceofawomanshriekedhysterically。
Atthesoundstheeyesoftheboygreweloquentwithentreaty，andwithamovementthatcalledfromeachwoundafreshoutburst，likeamanstrangling，heliftedhisfingerstohisthroat。
Voiceswerecallingforwater，towaitforthedoctor，towaitforthepolice。ButIthoughtIunderstood。
Stilldoubtinghim，stillunbelieving，ashamedofmyowncredulity，Itoreathiscollar，andmyfingerscloseduponapackageofoiledsilk。
Istooped，andwithmyteethrippeditopen，andholdingbeforehimtheslipsofpaperitcontained，torethemintotinyshreds。
Theeyessmiledatmewithcunning，withtriumph，withdeepcontent。
ItwassoliketheSchnitzelIhadknownthatIbelievedstillhemighthavestrengthenoughtohelpme。
\"Whodidthis？\"Ibegged。\"I’llhanghimforit！Doyouhearme？\"
Icried。
Seeinghimlyingthere，withthelifecutoutofhim，sweptmewithablindanger，withaneedtopunish。
\"I’llseetheyhangforit。Tellme！\"Icommanded。\"Whodidthis？\"
Theeyes，nowfilledwithweariness，lookedupandthelipsmovedfeebly。
\"Myownpeople，\"hewhispered。
InmyindignationIcouldhaveshakenthetruthfromhim。Ibentcloser。
\"Then，byGod，\"Iwhisperedback，\"you’lltellmewhotheyare！\"
Theeyesflashedsullenly。
\"That’smysecret，\"saidSchnitzel。
Theeyessetandthelipsclosed。
Amanatmysideleanedoverhim，anddrewthesheetacrosshisface。