, some day."

On one of his morning visits to the ill appointed bank Aguirre was
introduced to Zabulon's two daughters,--Sol and Estrella,--and to his
wife, Thamar. On another morning Aguirre experienced a tremor of emotion
upon hearing behind him the rustle of silks and noticing that the light
from the entrance was obscured by the figure of a person whose identity
his nerves had divined. It was Luna, who had come, with all the interest
that Hebrew women feel for their domestic affairs, to deliver an order
to her uncle. The old man grasped her hands across the counter,
caressing them tremblingly.

"This is my granddaughter, sir consul, my granddaughter Luna. Her father
is dead, and my daughter too. She comes from Morocco. No one loves the
poor girl as much as her grandfather does."

And the patriarch burst into tears, moved by his own words.

Aguirre left the shop with triumphant joy. They had spoken to each
other; now they were acquainted. The moment he met her upon the street
he would cling to her, taking advantage of some blessed customs that
seemed to have been made for lovers.

II

NEITHER could tell how, after several ordinary meetings, their friendly
confidence grew, or which had been the first word to reveal the mystery
of their thoughts.

They saw each other mornings when Aguirre would go to his window. The
Feast of Tabernacles had come to an end, and the Aboabs had taken down
the religious structure, but Luna continued to go to the roof under
various pretexts, so that she might exchange a glance, a smile, a
gesture of greeting with the Spaniard. They did not converse from these
heights through fear of the neighbors, but afterwards they met in the
street, and Luis, after a respectful salute, would join the young lady,
and they would walk along as companions, like other couples they met on
their way. All were known to one another in that town. Only by this
knowledge could married couples be distinguished from simple friends.

Luna visited various shops on errands for the Aboabs, like a good Jewess
who is interested in all the family affairs. At other times she wandered
aimlessly through Royal Street, or walked in the direction of the
Alameda, explaining the landmarks of the city to Aguirre at her side. In
the midst of these walks she would stop at the brokers' shop to greet
the patriarch, who smiled childishly as he contemplated the youthful and
beautiful couple.

"Senor consul, senor consul,"