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With his mild blue eyes the baron followed Polly until she had
disappeared。 Then he turned and smiled at Sam。
〃Permit me；〃 he said； 〃to offer you my felicitations。 Your young
lady is very beautiful and very good。〃 Sam bowed his head。 〃If
she trusts you；〃 murmured the baron； 〃I think I can trust you
too。〃
〃How wonderful is credit！〃 exclaimed Sam。 〃I was just saying so
to my landlady。 If you have only cash you spend it and nothing
remains。 But with credit you can〃
〃How much；〃 interrupted the banker； 〃do you want for this？〃
Sam returned briskly to the business of the moment。
〃To be your partner；〃 he said〃to get half of what you make out
of it。〃
The astonished eyes of the baron were large with wonder。 Again he
reproved Sam。
〃What I shall make out of it？〃 he demanded incredulously。 〃Do you
know how much I shall make out of it？〃
〃I cannot even guess；〃 said Sam； 〃but I want half。〃
The baron smiled tolerantly。
〃And how；〃 he asked； 〃could you possibly know what I give you is
really half？〃
In his turn； Sam made a deprecatory gesture。
〃Your credit；〃 said Sam； 〃is good！〃
That morning； after the walk in St。 James's Park； when Sam returned
with Polly to Claridge's； they encountered her father in the hall。
Mindful of the affront of the night before； he greeted Sam only
with a scowl。
〃Senator；〃 cried Sam happily； 〃you must be the first to hear the news！
Polly and I are going into partnership。 We are to be married。〃
This time Senator Seward did not trouble himself even to tell Sam
he was an ass。 He merely grinned cynically。
〃Is that all your news？〃 he demanded with sarcasm。
〃No；〃 said Sam〃I am going into partnership with Baron Haussmann
too！〃
THE BURIED TREASURE OF COBRE
Young Everett at last was a minister plenipotentiary。 In London
as third secretary he had splashed around in the rain to find the
ambassador's carriage。 In Rome as a second secretary he had
served as a clearing…house for the Embassy's visiting…cards； and
in Madrid as first secretary he had acted as interpreter for a
minister who； though valuable as a national chairman； had much
to learn of even his own language。 But although surrounded by
all the wonders and delights of Europe； although he walked； talked；
wined； and dined with statesmen and court beauties； Everett was
not happy。 He was never his own master。 Always he answered the
button pressed by the man higher up。 Always over him loomed his
chief； always； for his diligence and zeal； his chief received credit。
As His Majesty's naval attache put it sympathetically； 〃Better be
a top…side man on a sampan than First Luff on the Dreadnought。
Don't be another man's right hand。 Be your own right hand。〃
Accordingly when the State Department offered to make him
minister to the Republic of Amapala； Everett gladly deserted the
flesh…pots of Europe； and； on mule…back over trails in the living
rock； through mountain torrents that had never known the shadow
of a bridge； through swamp and jungle； rode sunburnt and
saddle…sore into his inheritance。
When giving him his farewell instructions； the Secretary of State
had not attempted to deceive him。
〃Of all the smaller republics of Central America；〃 he frankly told
him； 〃Amapala is the least desirable； least civilized； least acceptable。
It offers an ambitious young diplomat no chance。 But once a minister；
always a minister。 Having lifted you out of the secretary class we can't
demote you。 Your days of deciphering cablegrams are over； and if you
don't die of fever； of boredom； or brandy； call us up in a year or two
and we will see what we can do。〃
Everett regarded the Secretary blankly。
〃Has the department no interest in Amapala？〃 he begged。 〃Is there
nothing you want there？〃
〃There is one thing we very much want；〃 returned the Secretary；
〃but we can't get it。 We want a treaty to extradite criminals。〃
The young minister laughed confidently。
〃Why！〃 he exclaimed； 〃that should be easy。〃
The Secretary smiled。
〃You have our full permission to get it；〃 he said。 〃This department；〃
he explained； 〃under three administrations has instructed four
ministers to arrange such a treaty。 The Bankers' Association wants
it； the Merchants' Protective Alliance wants it。 Amapala is the only
place within striking distance of our country where a fugitive is safe。
It is the only place where a dishonest cashier； swindler； or felon can
find refuge。 Sometimes it seems almost as though when a man planned
a crime he timed it exactly so as to catch the boat for Amapala。 And；
once there； we can't lay our hands on him； and； what's more； we can't
lay our hands on the money he takes with him。 I have no right to make
a promise；〃 said the great man； 〃but the day that treaty is signed you
can sail for a legation in Europe。 Do I make myself clear？〃
〃So clear； sir；〃 cried Everett； laughing； 〃that if I don't
arrange that treaty I will remain in Amapala until I do。〃
〃Four of your predecessors；〃 remarked the Secretary； 〃made
exactly the same promise； but none of them got us the treaty。〃
〃Probably none of them remained in Amapala； either；〃 retorted
Everett。
〃Two did；〃 corrected the Secretary； 〃as you ride into Camaguay
you see their tombstones。〃
Everett found the nine…day mule…ride from the coast to the capital
arduous； but full of interest。 After a week at his post he appreciated
that until he left it and made the return journey nothing of equal
interest was again likely to occur。 For life in Camaguay； the capital
of Amapala； proved to be one long； dreamless slumber。 In the morning
each of the inhabitants engaged in a struggle to get awake； after the
second breakfast he ceased struggling； and for a siesta sank into his
hammock。 After dinner； at nine o'clock； he was prepared to sleep in
earnest； and went to bed。 The official life as explained to Everett by
Garland； the American consul； was equally monotonous。 When
President Mendoza was not in the mountains deer…hunting； or
suppressing a revolution； each Sunday he invited the American
minister to dine at the palace。 In return His Excellency expected
once a week to be invited to breakfast with the minister。 He preferred
that the activities of that gentleman should go no further。 Life in the
diplomatic circle was even less strenuous。 Everett was the doyen
of the diplomatic corps because he was the only diplomat。 All
other countries were represented by consuls who were commission
merchants and shopkeepers。 They were delighted at having among
them a minister plenipotentiary。 When he took pity on them and
invited them to tea； which invitations he delivered in person to
each consul at the door of each shop； the entire diplomatic corps；
as the consuls were pleased to describe themselves； put up the
shutters； put on their official full…dress uniforms and arrived in
a body。
The first week at his post Everett spent in reading the archives of
the legation。 They were most discouraging。 He found that for the
sixteen years prior to his arrival the only events reported to the
department by his predecessors were revolutions and the refusals
of successive presidents