"
We went up twisting staircases that appeared unaccountable and
weren't counted. We saw furnished rooms through open doors, and at
last we came to a large room, high up under a tower, and looking out
over the Plaza, and in another direction over the roofs of La
Libertad. It seemed to be unused, and was darkened with shutters, and
littered with the miscellaneous and upset furniture of past
administrations.
The Minister of Military and Internal Peace was named "Georgio
Bill," from which a man might argue the origins of his family. The
purple dress was called "Madame Bill," because French titles were
popular with the official ladies. She left us there in a stately
manner, and then fell down the stairs through mixing her feet. She
was dignified and cheerful, but she had large feet.
Through the shutters we saw the Plaza beginning to stir with the
evening crowds. A few blocks over the flat roofs of houses, we saw
the harbour, and the _Annalee_ floating at anchor.
When Madame Bill came back she brought with her two negresses with
baskets, who straightened the furniture and laid the table. The
shutters were closed, and a lamp or two lit, and we dined sumptuous
to the elegant dialogue of Flannagan and Madame Bill.
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