e for an adventure with a pretty girl.

But he was by no means a weak man, and his mind counted the cost even
while his imagination hummed. He had almost decided to bid Dona
Ignacia an abrupt good-night, pleading fatigue, which his pallor
indorsed, when the door of the dining-room was thrown open to the
liveliest of fiddling, and a white hand with a singular suggestion of
tenacity both in appearance and clasp took possession of his arm.

"My mother has gone to Gertrudis Rudisinda, who is crying," said
Concha. "It is my pleasure to lead your excellency in to supper."

They sat side by side at the head of the long table almost covered by
the massive service of silver and loaded with evidences of Dona
Ignacia's generosity and skill; chickens in red rice and gravy,
oysters, tamales, dulces, pastries, fruits and pleasant drinks. Luis,
with Rafaella Sal dimpling and sparkling at his side, and now quite
resigned to the semi-official nature of the ball, rose and drank the
health of the distinguished guest in long and flowery praises. Rezanov
responded in briefer but no less felicitous vein, and concluded by
remarking that the only rift in the lute of his present enchanting
experience was the fear that whereas he had nearly died of starvation
several times during the past three years, he was now threatened with a
far more ignominious end, so delicious and irresistible were the
temptations that beset the wayfarer in this most hospitable land. Both
speeches were gaily applauded, the conversation became animated and
general, and Concha dropped her voice to the attentive ear beside her.

"You were very successful to-day at the Mission, Excellency."

"May I ask how you know?"

"I never saw anything so serenely--arrogantly, perhaps would be a truer
description--triumphant as your bearing when you walked down our humble
sala to-night. You looked like Caesar returned from Gaul; but I
suppose that all great conquests are merely the sum of many small ones."

"I do not regard the friendship of so shrewd a man as Father Abella a
trifling conquest. And according to yourself, dear senorita, it is
essential to the success of a mission upon which many lives and my own
honor depend."

"Is it really so serious?" she asked with a faint sneer.

He drew himself up stiffly and his light eyes glowed with anger. "It
is a subject I never should have thought of introducing at a festivity
like this," he said suavely. "May I be permitted