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〃The trouble；〃 explained Marshall； 〃is this： if they carried you； all the
other passengers would be held in quarantine for ten days； and there are
fines to pay； and there would be difficulties over the mails。 But；〃 he added
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hopefully； 〃maybe the regulations have been altered。 I will see her captain；
and tell him〃
〃See her captain！〃 objected Hanley。 〃Why see the captain？ He doesn't
know I've been to that place。 Why tell him？ All I need is a clean bill of
health from you。 That's all HE wants。 You have only to sign that paper。〃
Marshall regarded the senator with surprise。
〃But I can't；〃 he said。
〃You can't？ Why not？〃
〃Because it certifies to the fact that you have not visited Las Bocas。
Unfortunately； you have visited Las Bocas。〃
The senator had been walking up and down the room。 Now he seated
himself； and stared at Marshall curiously。
〃It's like this； Mr。 Marshall；〃 he began quietly。 〃The President desires
my presence in Washington； thinks I can be of some use to him there in
helping carry out certain party measuresmeasures to which he pledged
himself before his election。 Down here； a British steamship line has laid
down local rules which； in my case anyway； are ridiculous。 The question is；
are you going to be bound by the red tape of a ha'penny British colony； or
by your oath to the President of the United States？〃
The sophistry amused Marshall。 He smiled good…naturedly and shook
his head。
〃I'm afraid； Senator；〃 he said； 〃that way of putting it is hardly fair。
Unfortunately； the question is one of fact。 I will explain to the captain〃
〃You will explain nothing to the captain！〃 interrupted Hanley。 〃This is
a matter which concerns no one but our two selves。 I am not asking favors
of steamboat captains。 I am asking an American consul to assist an
American citizen in trouble； and； 〃he added； with heavy sarcasm；
〃incidentally； to carry out the wishes of his President。〃
Marshall regarded the senator with an expression of both surprise and
disbelief。
〃Are you asking me to put my name to what is not so？〃 he said。 〃Are
you serious？〃
〃That paper； Mr。 Marshall；〃 returned Hanley steadily； 〃is a mere form；
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a piece of red tape。 There's no more danger of my carrying the plague to
Jamaica than of my carrying a dynamite bomb。 You KNOW that。〃
〃I DO know that；〃 assented Marshall heartily。〃I appreciate your
position； and I regret it exceedingly。 You are the innocent victim of a
regulation which is a wise regulation； but which is most unfair to you。 My
own position；〃 he added； 〃is not important； but you can believe me； it is
not easy。 It is certainly no pleasure for me to be unable to help you。〃
Hanley was leaning forward； his hands on his knees； his eyes watching
Marshall closely。 〃Then you refuse？〃 he said。 〃Why？〃
Marshall regarded the senator steadily。 His manner was untroubled。
The look he turned upon Hanley was one of grave disapproval。
〃You know why；〃 he answered quietly。 〃It is impossible。〃
In sudden anger Hanley rose。 Marshall； who had been seated behind
his desk； also rose。 For a moment； in silence； the two men confronted each
other。 Then Hanley spoke； his tone was harsh and threatening。
〃Then I am to understand；〃 he exclaimed； 〃that you refuse to carry out
the wishes of a United States Senator and of the President of the United
States？〃
In front of Marshall； on his desk； was the little iron stamp of the
consulate。 Protectingly； almost caressingly； he laid his hand upon it。
〃I refuse；〃 he corrected； 〃to place the seal of this consulate on a lie。〃
There was a moment's pause。 Miss Cairns； unwilling to remain； and
unable to withdraw； clasped her hands unhappily and stared at the floor。
Livingstone exclaimed in indignant protest。 Hanley moved a step nearer
and； to emphasize what he said； tapped his knuckles on the desk。 With the
air of one confident of his advantage； he spoke slowly and softly。
〃Do you appreciate；〃 he asked； 〃that； while you may be of some
importance down here in this fever swamp； in Washington I am supposed
to carry some weight？ Do you appreciate that I am a senator from a State
that numbers four millions of people； and that you are preventing me from
serving those people？〃 Marshall inclined his head gravely and politely。
〃And I want you to appreciate；〃 he said； 〃that while I have no weight at
Washington； in this fever swamp I have the honor to represent eighty
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millions of people； and as long as that consular sign is over my door I
don't intend to prostitute it for YOU； or the President of the United States；
or any one of those eighty millions。〃
Of the two men； the first to lower his eyes was Hanley。 He laughed
shortly； and walked to the door。 There he turned； and indifferently； as
though the incident no longer interested him； drew out his watch。
〃Mr。 Marshall；〃 he said； 〃if the cable is working； I'll take your tin sign
away from you by sunset。〃
For one of Marshall's traditions； to such a speech there was no answer
save silence。 He bowed； and； apparently serene and undismayed； resumed
his seat。 From the contest； judging from the manner of each； it was
Marshall； not Hanley； who had emerged victorious。
But Miss Cairns was not deceived。 Under the unexpected blow；
Marshall had turned older。 His clear blue eyes had grown less alert； his
broad shoulders seemed to stoop。 In sympathy； her own eyes filled with
sudden tears。
〃What will you do？〃 she whispered。
〃I don't know what I shall do；〃 said Marshall simply。 〃I should have
liked to have resigned。 It's a prettier finish。 After forty yearsto be
dismissed by cable isit's a poor way of ending it。〃
Miss Cairns rose and walked to the door。 There she turned and looked
back。
〃I am sorry；〃 she said。 And both understood that in saying no more
than that she had best shown her sympathy。
An hour later the sympathy of Admiral Hardy was expressed more
directly。
〃If he comes on board my ship；〃 roared that gentleman； 〃I'll push him
down an ammunition hoist and break his damned neck！〃
Marshall laughed delightedly。 The loyalty of his old friend was never
so welc