TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



299 



was his guest. Baker was a good natured simple 

 fellow, not possessed of much brains — and, he was 

 afraid, easily imposed upon. Garcia was clever, he 

 had instructed him to find a safe investment for a few 

 thousand pounds which he had lying idle at home, 

 for which he had no immediate use. Then addressing 

 Colonel Clements he informed him that " 6% and 

 8% can be obtained on mortgage on cocoa estates, a 

 good security, in Trinidad, perfectly safe/' and as 

 he had a few thousand at home he had written for it 

 and would get Garcia to invest it for him. He freely 

 canvassed Gray's friends, and so the conversation 

 went on from one subject to another till they opened 

 up the subject of the promised concession and the 

 name of the South American Republic. Gray incauti- 

 ously let out that the papers in connection with it 

 were not yet signed and he was on his way to England 

 to float a company. The man without a name listened 

 with close attention to all that Gray said about the 

 contemplated telephone, where he intended to begin, 

 etc., and showed such an intelligent interest in all 

 connected with the matter, that Gray, finding such 

 an attentive listener, felt flattered, and his tongue 

 being somewhat loosed, as is frequently the case with 

 men who have dined well, divulged everything in 

 connection with the concession. The party separa- 

 ted in due course and on the following morning our 

 brave adventurer presented himself to Colonel Clem- 

 ents with what purported to be a telegram in his 

 hand, he did not, however, allow Colonel Clements 

 to see its contents, saying " I have just received this 



