duenna could have frowned
down! If you are her foster brother you might have gathered that much
of wisdom to yourself!"

"But--your Excellency--she has never scattered wisdom broadcast on any
one of us! An elfish maid who needed guard of both duenna and
confessor:--how was a mere friend to know that a love of a mad moment
would have made her a wonder of wisdom and discretion?"

Whereupon Don Ruy suggested that he go to the devil and learn sense,
and added that if the famous magic steed, or ring of invisibility were
to be found in the desert regions of these Indian provinces, he would
use them for a peep into the palace of the Viceroy, or the nunnery of
the Dona of the Lily. No ambassador would he trust. For himself he
would see how much or how little of madness was back of the message of
the blossom, or the guerdon of the silken scarf.

"If I were indeed a worthy page I would make a song of your
enchanted--or demented Dona, and pipe it to you to the tombe of the
medicine workers on the roofs," declared the lad in high glee that Don
Ruy again spoke with frankness to him.

But his excellency put aside the offer, content to make his own songs
when there was a maid to listen.

"Dame Yahn Tsyn-deh might listen--and even make herself beautiful for
you."

"The Dame Yahn is like enough to make trouble without the singing of
songs! Whether it is the Indian war capitan, or our own, I know not as
to the favorite. But some game she is playing, and I doubt if it is
for Juan Gonzalvo, despite his gifts."

Padre Vicente and Jose were walking apart under a group of the white
limbed cottonwoods, as the two riders drew near the village. Their
discourse was earnest, and the voice of the padre was heard in
decision.

"That is how it must be, Jose--" he said. "You have found the
way,--the gold is as good as ours!"

"By the faith!"--said Don Ruy swinging from the saddle to join them;
"if this be true let us fill wallets and break camp for Mexico!--there
is a gentle maniac over there with whom I would fain hold hands once
more--this womanless paradise pleases me little!"

The padre regarded him with tolerance, and never a blink of the eye to
denote remembrance of any gentle maniac in particular. Since the dame
had served a worthy purpose, forgotten was all the episode!

"It is well you know the good tidings of Jose," he said--"though there
is no hint that the gold is piled in bars waiting for the lading.
Speak, Jose."

"It i