of my soul, for
you would not ask me about anything else in a ballroom--depends upon
the health of yours. What I mean is that I could only be happy if you
are happy. May I ask if that wound of the heart which you told me about
when I met you in the stagecoach has healed?"

"You know as well as I do that there are wounds which never heal."

With a graceful bow she turned away to speak to an acquaintance, and I
asked a friend of mine who was passing: "Can you tell me who that woman
is?"

"A South American whose name is Mercedes de Meridanueva."

On the following day I paid a visit to the lady, who was residing at
that time at the Hotel of the Seven Planets. The charming Mercedes
received me as if I were an intimate friend, and invited me to walk
with her through the wonderful Alhambra and subsequently to dine with
her. During the six hours we were together she spoke of many things,
and as we always returned to the subject of disappointed love, I felt
impelled to tell her the experience of my friend, Judge Zarco.

She listened to me very attentively and when I concluded she laughed
and said: "Let this be a lesson to you not to fall in love with women
whom you do not know."

"Do not think for a moment," I answered, "that I've invented this
story."

"Oh, I don't doubt the truth of it. Perhaps there may be a mysterious
woman in the Hotel of the Seven Planets of Granada, and perhaps she
doesn't resemble the one your friend fell in love with in Sevilla. So
far as I am concerned, there is no risk of my falling in love with
anyone, for I never speak three times to the same man."

"Senora! That is equivalent to telling me that you refuse to see me
again!"

"No, I only wish to inform you that I leave Granada to-morrow, and it is
probable that we will never meet again."

"Never? You told me that during our memorable ride in the stagecoach,
and you see that you are not a good prophet."

I noticed that she had become very pale. She rose from the table
abruptly, saying: "Well, let us leave that to Fate. For my part I
repeat that I am bidding you an eternal farewell."

She said these last words very solemnly, and then with a graceful bow,
turned and ascended the stairway which led to the upper story of the
hotel.

I confess that I was somewhat annoyed at the disdainful way in which
she seemed to have terminated our acquaintance, yet this feeling was
lost in the pity I felt for her when I noted her expression of
sufferi