CHAPTER VII.
THE MINE IS LAID.
The morning meeting had been devoted to principles and to the awakening of enthusiasm; in the evening the conspirators condescended upon details, and we held a prolonged and anxious conference at the signorina's.

Mrs.Carrington was commanded to have a headache after dinner, and retired with it to bed; and from ten till one we sat and conspired.

The result of our deliberations was a very pretty plan, of which the main outlines were as follows: This was Tuesday.

On Friday night the colonel, with twenty determined ruffians (or resolute patriots) previously bound to him, body and soul, by a donation of no less than fifty dollars a man, was to surprise the Golden House, seize the person of the President and all cash and securities on the premises; no killing, if it could be avoided, but on the other hand no shilly-shally.

McGregor wanted to put the President out of the way at once, as a precautionary measure, but I strongly opposed this proposal, and, finding the signorina was absolutely inflexible on the same side, he yielded.