told what he now knew, his paper would be the first of all
others to, inform the world of the expedition and the proposed
revolution; while if he volunteered for the expedition and
waited until it had failed or succeeded, he would be able to
tell more eventually, but would have to share it with other
correspondents.

Miss Carson regarded him with an expression in which
indignation and entreaty were curiously blended.

"Archie," she said, in a low voice, "you do not know what you
are doing or saying. You are threatening to spoil the one
thing in my life on which I have set my heart. The return of
this man to his throne, whether he is worthy or not, means the
restoration of the Catholic Church on that island; it means
the return of the monks and the rebuilding of the monasteries,
and the salvation of sixty thousand souls. I know all that
they mean to do. I am the one who paid for those rifles that
brought you here; you have told me only what I have known for
months, and for which I have been earnestly working and
praying. I am not blinded by these men. They are not the
creatures you describe; but no matter what they may be, it is
only through them, and through them alone, that I can do what
I have set out to do."

Gordon silenced her with a sweep of his hand. "Do you mean to
tell me," he demanded, "that you are mixed up in this--with
these--that they have taken money from you, and told you they
meant to use it to re-establish the Church? Mrs. Carson," he
exclaimed, bitterly, turning upon her, "why have you allowed