Please pardon me."
"Certainly! Now that it's settled I'm not going to let any grass
grow under my feet."
"Why, say! Garavel is to be the next President! Jove! You ARE
lucky! Cortlandt told me last night that the old fellow's
candidacy was to be announced Saturday night at the big ball;
that's how he came to accept our invitation. He said his work
would be over by then and he'd be glad to join us after the dance.
Well, well! Your future wife and father-in-law are to be his
guests that night, I suppose you know."
"Then they have patched up a truce with Alfarez? I'm glad to hear
that."
"It's all settled, I believe. This dance is a big special event.
The American Minister and the various diplomatic gangs will be
there, besides the prominent Spanish people. It's precisely the
moment to launch the Garavel boom, and Cortlandt intends to do it.
After it's over, our little crowd will have supper and thank him
for what he has done for us. Oh, it will be a big night all
around, won't it? Do you realize the skyrockety nature of your
progress, young man? Lord! You take my breath."
"It does seem like a dream. I landed here with a button-hook for
baggage, and now--Say, Runnels, her eyes are just like two big
black pansies, and when she smiles you'll go off your trolley.
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