But Calhoun regarded her calmly, his finger tips together, and spoke as deliberately as though communing with himself.

"It is but one thing, one very little thing." "And what is that, Senor ?" she asked at length.
"The signature of Senor Van Zandt, attache for Texas, on this memorandum of treaty between the United States and Texas." Bowing, he presented to her the document to which he had earlier directed my own attention.

"We are well advised that Senor Van Zandt is trafficking this very hour with England as against us," he explained.
"We ask the gracious assistance of Senora Yturrio.

In return we promise her--silence!" "I can not--it is impossible!" she exclaimed, as she glanced at the pages.

"It is our ruin--!" "No, Senora," said Calhoun sternly; "it means annexation of Texas to the United States.