This is an occasion that demands the exercise of yourundoubted intelligence. There is no mystery here. I amFrank Goodwin； and I have come for the money. I enteredthis room at a venture. Had I entered the other I wouldhave had it before me now. Do you want it in words？ Thegentleman in Number 10 has betrayed a great trust. Hehas robbed his people of a large sum， and it is I who willprevent their losing it. I do not say who that gentleman is；but if I should be forced to see him and he should prove tobe a certain high official of the republic， it will be my dutyto arrest him. The house is guarded. I am offering youliberal terms. It is not absolutely necessary that I conferpersonally with the gentleman in the next room. Bring methe valise containing the money， and we will call the affairended.”
The lady arose from her chair and stood for a moment，thinking deeply.
“Do you live here， Mr. Goodwin？” she asked， presently.
“Yes.”
“What is your authority for this intrusion？”
“I am an instrument of the republic. I was advised bywire of the movements of the—gentleman in Number 10.”
“May I ask you two or three questions？ I believe you tobe a man more apt to be truthful than—timid. What sortof town is this—Coralio， I think they call it？”
“Not much of a town，” said Goodwin， smiling. “A bananatown， as they run. Grass huts， ’dobes， five or six twostoryhouses， accomodations limited， population half-breed Spanish and Indian， Caribs and blackamoors. Nosidewalks to speak of， no amusements. Rather unmoral.
That’a an offhand sketch， of course.”
“Are there any inducements， say in a social or in abusiness way， for people to reside here？”
“Oh， yes，” answered Goodwin， smiling broadly. “Thereare no afternoon teas， no hand-organs， no departmentstores—and there is no extradition treaty.”
“He told me，” went on the lady， speaking as if to herself，and with a slight frown， “that there were towns on thiscoast of beauty and importance； that there was a pleasingsocial order—especially an American colony of culturedresidents.”
“There is an American colony，” said Goodwin， gazing ather in some wonder. “Some of the members are all right.
Some are fugitives from justice from the States. I recalltwo exiled bank presidents， one army paymaster undera cloud， a couple of manslayers， and a widow—arsenic， Ibelieve， was the suspicion in her case. I myself completethe colony， but， as yet， I have not distinguished myself byany particular crime.”
“Do not lose hope，” said the lady， dryly； “I see nothingin your actions tonight to guarantee you further obscurity.
Some mistake has been made； I do not know just where.
But him you shall not disturb tonight. The journey hasfatigued him so that he has fallen asleep， I think， in hisclothes. You talk of stolen money！ I do not understandyou. Some mistake has been made. I will convince you.
Remain where you are and I will bring you the valise thatyou seem to covet so， and show it to you.”
She moved toward the closed door that connected thetwo rooms， but stopped， and half turned and bestowedupon Goodwin a grave， searching look that ended in aquizzical smile.
“You force my door，” she said， “and you follow yourruffianly behavior with the basest accusations； and yet” —shehesitated， as if to reconsider what she was about to say—“and yet—it is a puzzling thing—I am sure there has beensome mistake.”
She took a step toward the door， but Goodwin stayedher by a light touch upon her arm. I have said before thatwomen turned to look at him in the streets. He was theviking sort of man， big， good-looking， and with an air ofkindly truculence. She was dark and proud， glowing or paleas her mood moved her. I do not know if Eve were light ordark， but if such a woman had stood in the garden I knowthat the apple would have been eaten. This woman was tobe Goodwin’s fate， and he did not know it； but he musthave felt the first throes of destiny， for， as he faced her， theknowledge of what report named her turned bitter in herthroat.
“If there has been any mistake，” he said， hotly， “it wasyours. I do not blame the man who has lost his country，his honor， and is about to lose the poor consolation of hisstolen riches as much as I blame you， for， by Heaven！ I canvery well see how he was brought to it. I can understand，and pity him. It is such women as you that strew thisdegraded coast with wretched exiles， that make menforget their trusts， that drag—”
The lady interrupted him with a weary gesture.
“There is no need to continue your insults，” she said，coldly. “I do not understand what you are saying， nordo I know what mad blunder you are making； but if theinspection of the contents of a gentleman’s portmanteauwill rid me of you， let us delay it no longer.”
She passed quickly and noiselessly into the other room，and returned with the heavy leather valise， which shehanded to the American with an air of patient contempt.
Goodwin set the valise quickly upon the table andbegan to unfasten the straps. The Lady stood by， with anexpression of infinite scorn and weariness upon her face.
The valise opened wide to a powerful， sidelong wrench.
Goodwin dragged out two or three articles of clothing，exposing the bulk of its contents—package after packageof tightly packed United States bank and treasury notesof large denomination. Reckoning from the high figureswritten upon the paper bands that bound them， the totalmust have come closely upon the hundred thousand mark.
