"I am sure it was he," he said to Harrie and Jack, as soon as he explained his sudden action. "But he has slipped away from me."
"Let's keep along. He will doubtless follow the throng," said Harrie. So they moved with the spectators toward the most notable building in Caracas, the Federal Palace, which is built around a great square overflowing with flowers and fountains, and lighted by swinging electric lights. The palace is lightly built, and though painted in imitation of stone, looks like an airy castle which might be blown over at the next flaw of wind. It is profusely ornamented with statues made either of plaster of Paris or of wood painted so as to imitate marble. If this gives the building an unstable appearance and given over to frivolous amusements, it is in keeping with its environments, the high-colored walls and open fronts of the adjoining buildings that help to fill this American Paris, and it is by all odds the handsomest building in the city. And, rather than given over to scenes of frivolity and mimic life, here are the chambers of the two branches of legislature, the different offices of the department of state, and the reception hall of the president, in which is the national portrait gallery. The dome of this chamber, which is two hundred feet in length, and bears many pictures of warlike scenes, is painted with a panorama of life-size figures depicting the last battle of the Venezuelans against the Spaniards. It is really a work of artistic merit. So, altogether, the Federal Palace is a building of substantial business, and it has played an important part in the shifting affairs of the republic.
To Guzman Blanco, more than all others, does the city owe these public buildings. These were originally convents or monasteries, until Guzman overthrew the power of the church. The Federal Palace was one of these church buildings, so was the present opera house and the university. All of them seem well located for their new uses, and go to show that the church must have had a strong hold on the wealth of the capital before this daring adventurer overcame them.
Anxious to get sight of this spy, if possible, Ronie and Harrie did not try to get in so as to witness the president's reception, though Jack did so, in the hope that he might find the man if he should dare to remain with the crowd. But the rest of the day passed, however, without bringing success to them, and the two young engineers were standing near the entrance to one of those cathedrals which form such an important portion of the buildings of the capital. They had barely gained a position where they could watch the comers and goers without being noticed themselves, when they were glad to see Captain Francisco de Caprian approaching, with their old-time friend, Jack Greenland.