Why not? Micky was clever, ruthless and well connected: what more did he need? The prospect of ruling a whole country was intoxicating. Everyone would bow to him; the most beautiful women in the land would be his to take, whether they wished it or not; he would be as rich as the Pilasters.
"President," he said dreamily. "I like it."
Papa reached out casually and slapped his face.
The old man had a powerful arm and a horny hand, and the slap rocked Micky. He cried out, shocked and hurt, and leaped to his feet. He tasted blood in his mouth. The place went quiet and everyone looked.
"Sit down," Papa said.
Slowly and reluctantly, Micky obeyed.
Papa reached across the table with both hands and grabbed him by the lapels. In a voice full of scorn he said: "This entire plan has been put at risk because you have completely failed in the simple, small task allotted to you!"
Micky was terrified of him in this mood. "Papa, you'll get your rifles!" he said.
"In one more month it will be spring in Cordova. We have to take the Delabarca mines this season--next year will be too late. I have booked passage on a freighter bound for Panama. The captain has been bribed to put me and the weapons ashore on the Atlantic coast of Santamaria." Papa stood up, dragging Micky upright, tearing his shirt by the force of his grip. His face was suffused with anger. "The ship sails in five days time," he said in a voice that filled Micky with fear. "Now get out of here and buy me those guns!"
Augusta Pilaster's servile butler, Hastead, took Micky's wet coat and hung it near the fire that blazed in the hall. Micky did not thank him. They disliked each other. Hastead was jealous of anyone Augusta favored, and Micky despised the man for fawning. Besides, Micky never knew which way Hastead's eyes were looking, and that unnerved him.
Micky went into the drawing room and found Augusta alone. She looked pleased to see him. She held his hand in both of hers and said: "You're so cold."
"I walked across the park."
"Foolish boy, you should have taken a hansom." Micky could not afford hansom cabs, but Augusta did not know that. She pressed his hand to her bosom and smiled. It was like a sexual invitation, but she acted as if she were innocently warming his cold fingers.
