e of news was a relief to Captain Sarrasin. Miss Dolores went
up again high in his estimation, and he felt abashed at having wronged
her even by the misconception of a moment. He consumed his coffee and
his radish and dry toast, and he selected from the china jar a very
pretty moss rose, and put it in his gallant old buttonhole, and then he
rang for his friend the waiter, and sent his card to Miss Paulo. In a
moment the waiter brought back the intimation that Miss Paulo would be
delighted to see Captain Sarrasin at once.

Miss Paulo's door stood open, as if to convey the idea that it was an
office rather than a young lady's boudoir--a place of business and not a
drawing-room. It was a very pretty room, as Sarrasin saw at a glance
when he entered it with a grand and old-fashioned bow, such as men make
no more in these degenerate days. It was very quietly decorated with
delicate colours, and a few etchings and many flowers; and Dolores
herself came from behind her writing desk, smiling and blushing, to meet
her tall visitor. The old soldier scanned her as he would have scanned a
new recruit, and the result of his impressionist study was to his mind
highly satisfactory. He already liked the girl.

'My dear young lady,' he began, 'I have to introduce myself--Captain
Sarrasin. I have come to thank you.'

'No need to introduce yourself or to thank me,' the girl said, very
simply. 'I have wanted to know you this long time, Captain Sarrasin, and
I sent you flowers every morning, because I knew that sooner or later
you would come to see me. Now won't you sit down, please?'

'But may I not thank you for your flowers?'

'No, no, it is not worth while. And besides, I had an interested object.
I wanted to make your acquaintance and to talk to you.'

'I am so glad,' he said gravely. 'But I am afraid I am not the sort of
man young ladies generally care to talk to. I am a battered old soldier
who has been in many wars, as Burns says----'

'That is one reason. I believe you have been in South America?'

'Yes, I have been a great deal in South America.'

'In the Republic of Gloria?'

'Yes, I have been in the Republic of Gloria.'

'Do you know that the Dictator of Gloria is staying in this house?'

'My dear young lady, everyone knows _that_.'

'Are you on his side or against him?' Dolores asked bluntly.

'Dear young lady, you challenge me like a sentry.' And Captain Sarrasin
smiled benignly, feeling, however, a good deal pu