“Oh, soch is farthes’ remove’ from my thoughts,” quickly interposed the commandant, with his most graceful bow.  “If it is in my power to oblige, w’at matter the law?  Pouf!  W’at I mean is this:  Our prisoner is not what you call seeck, nor is he ver’ well.  He is resis’ the officer by force an’ he is injure’—­oh, but only a leetle—­it is not’ing.  One is truly foolish for resis’ the policemans, yes?” He shook his dark head sadly.  “I am desolate to ‘ear of soch t’ing; it is so useless to stroggle wit’ the officer in disbursement of duty; but you Americans are so brave!  I am force’ to admire this prisoner; he is soch a strong fellow.”

“I think we understand the circumstances.”

Instead of ringing for an orderly the commandant excused himself, then, after a seemingly interminable delay returned with Anthony and several policemen.

At sight of his friends the young man made for them eagerly, crying:  “Jove, I’m glad you came!  I’d about given you up.”

“Allan only found us to-day,” Mrs. Cortlandt replied.

“Did he tell the truth?  Have you been abused?”

The young man turned a pair of smouldering eyes upon his enemies.  He looked ill and haggard, although, except for the wound half concealed beneath his hair, he showed no marks.  Then he held out his hands with a grim smile, and the woman uttered a low cry at what she saw.  “They gave me another good beating yesterday,” he said.

“While you were in jail?” Cortlandt queried, incredulously.  “God!”

“That’s the fellow yonder.”  Kirk pointed to Alfarez, whose smile had disappeared.

“Oh, the man is mistake’,” the latter hastened to aver.  “He is crazee.”

“I gave you a wetting in public, and—­”

“Si, si!  That is correc’, Senor Cortlan’.  He insolt my person an’ fight my soldiers.  He is ver’ toff person.”

“Did you know he had been maltreated in prison?” Cortlandt demanded.

“Oh, senor!” Alfarez raised his hands in horrified disclaimer of the very thought, but his victim said, quietly: 

“He’s a liar.  He ordered it, then sat there and enjoyed it.”

The Panamanian’s face was yellow as he managed to enunciate: 

“Eempossible!  It is terrible to conceive!”

Kirk made a threatening movement in the Spaniard’s direction, despite the half-dozen soldiers, but Edith Cortlandt checked him.

“Wait, please,” she said.  Then to the commandant:  “This is a serious matter, and if what he says is true, your government will find itself in trouble.”

“But we ‘ave no idea he is frien’ of yours.  If he should only spik your ’osban’s name, all would be different.  For my part, I can prove he is treat’ with the ‘ighes’ courtesy an’ kindness in my presence.  Every man in the prison will testify to those fac’.  If soch indignity ‘ave be’ shown, there shall be investigations.”  The unhappy officer’s excitement was increasing, and he turned upon his men as if to make good his word, when Cortlandt interposed: