At a moment
when their corner of the plaza is empty Belize helps himself to a
cousinly kiss. O'Kelly, unperceived, arrives in time to witness
the act. From that moment his friendship for Belize turns to
hatred and jealousy. Within three weeks he has started a
revolution, beats the government forces at Ceiba, chases Belize
from the capital, gets Nicaragua mixed up in the trouble, and
draws three French, two German, and two American war-ships to the
scene. Six weeks after the wine-drinking he is President of the
Republic, en facto. And all of this, Greggy, because of a kiss.
Now, if a kiss can start a revolution, unseat a President, send a
government to smash, what must be the possibilities of a fish?"
"I'm getting interested," said Gregson. "If there's a climax, come
to it, Phil. I admit that there must be enormous possibilities in
--a fish. Go on!"
II
For a moment the two men stood in silence, listening to the sullen
beat of surf beyond the black edge of forest. Then Philip led the
way back into the cabin.
Gregson followed. In the light of the big oil-lamp which hung
suspended from the ceiling he noticed something in Whittemore's
face he had not observed before, a tenseness about the muscles of
his mouth, a restlessness in his eyes, rigidity of jaw, an air of
suppressed emotion which puzzled him.
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