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t of which upon his late adversary he was at a loss to understand。 Although； therefore； he had no stomach for battle； he was oppressed by a misgiving lest the whole transaction had been in some way planned to expose him to ridicule； and for this reason he was disposed to treat Freeman's peaceful overtures with suspicion。 His heart did not respond to those overtures； but neither was it stout enough to enable him to reject them explicitly。 Accordingly； he adopted that middle course which； in spite of the proverb； is not seldom the least expedient。 He disregarded the proffered hand； bowed very stiffly； and； saying； 〃Senor； I am satisfied；〃 stalked off with all the rigidity of one in whose veins flows the sangre azul of Old Castile。 Freeman smiled superior upon his retreat； and then； producing a cigar…case； proceeded to light up with the professor。 In this fragrant and friendly cloud we will leave them； and return for a few minutes to the house of General Trednoke。
It will be remembered that something was said of Grace being privy to the nocturnal advances of Senor de Mendoza。 We are not to suppose that this implies in her anything worse than an aptness to indulge in romantic adventure： the young lady enjoyed the mystery of romance； and knew that serenades； and whisperings over star…lit balconies； were proper to this latitude。 It may be open to question whether she really was much interested in De Mendoza； save as he was a type of the adoring Spaniard。 That the scene required： she could imagine him （for the time…being） to be the Cid of ancient legend； and she herself would enact a role of corresponding elevation。 Grace would doubtless have prospered better had she been content with one adorer at a time； but； while turning to a new love； she was by no means disposed to loosen the chains of a former one； and； though herself as jealous as is a tiger…cat of her young； she could never recognize the propriety of a similar passion on the part of her victims。 She had been indignant at Freeman's apparent infidelity with Miriam； but when she had （as she imagined） discovered her mistake； she had listened with a heart at ease to the protestations of Don Miguel。 She had parted from him that evening with a half expressed understanding that he was to reappear beneath her window before day… light； and she had pictured to herself a charming balcony…scene； such as she had beheld in Italian opera。 Accordingly； she had attired herself in a becoming negligee； and had spent the fore part of the night somewhat restlessly； occasionally emerging on the veranda and gazing down into the perfumed gloom of the garden。 At length she fancied that she heard footsteps。 Whose could they be； unless Don Miguel's？ Grace retreated within her window to await developments。 Don Miguel did not appear； but presently she descried a phantom…like figure ascending the flight of steps to the veranda。 Could that be he？ If so； he was bolder in his wooing than Grace had been prepared for。 But surely that was a strange costume that he wore； nor did the unconscious harmony of the gait at all resemble the senor's self…conscious strut。 And whither was he going？
It was but too evident that he was going straight to the room occupied by Miriam！
This was too much for Grace's equanimity。 She stepped out of her window； and flitted with noiseless step along the veranda。 The figure that she pursued entered the door of the house； and passed into the corridor traversing the wing。 Grace was in time to see it cross the threshold of Miriam's door； which stood ajar。 She stole to the door； and peeped in。 There was the figure； but of Miriam there was no trace。
The figure slowly unfastened and threw back the hood which covered its head； at the same time turning round； so that its countenance was revealed。 A torrent of black hair fell down over its shoulders。 Grace uttered an involuntary exclamation。 It was Miriam herself！
The two gazed at each other a moment in silence。 〃Goodness me； dear！〃 said Grace at last； in a faint voice； 〃how you have frightened me！ I saw you go in； in that dress； and I thought you were a man！ How my heart beats！ What is the matter？〃
〃This is strange！〃 murmured the other； after a pause。 〃I never heard such words； and yet I seem to understand； and even to speak them。 It must be a dream。 What are you？〃
〃Why； Miriam； dear！ don't you know Grace？〃
〃Oh！ you think me Miriam。 No； not yet！〃 She raised her hands； and pressed her fingers against her temples。 〃But I feel herI feel her coming！ Not yet； Kamaiakan！ not so soon！Do you know him？〃 she suddenly asked； throwing back her hair； and fixing an eager gaze on Grace。
〃Know who？ Kamaiakan？ Why； yes〃
〃No； not him！ The youth；the blue… eyed；the fair beard above his lips〃
〃What are you talking about？ Not Harvey Freeman！〃
〃Harvey Freeman！ Ah； how sweet a name！ Harvey Freeman！ I shall know it now！Tell him；〃 she went on； laying her hand majestically upon Grace's shoulder； and speaking with an impressive earnestness； 〃that Semitzin loves him！〃
〃Semitzin？〃 repeated Grace； puzzled； and beginning to feel scared。
〃Semitzin！〃 the other said； pointing to her own heart。 〃She loves him： not as the child Miriam loves； but with the heart and soul of a mighty princess。 When he knows Semitzin； he will think of Miriam no more。〃
〃But who is Semitzin？〃 inquired Grace； with a fearful curiosity。
〃The Princess of Tenochtitlan； and the guardian of the great treasure； 〃was the reply。
〃Good gracious！ what treasure？〃
〃The treasure of gold and precious stones hidden in the gorge of the desert hills。 None knows the place of it but I； and I will give it to none but him I love。〃
〃But you said that 。 。 。 Really； my dear； I don't understand a bit！ As for Mr。 Freeman； he may care for Semitzin； for aught I know； but； I must confess； I think you're mistaken in supposing he's in love with you；if that is what you mean。 I met him before you did； you know； and if I were to tell you all that we〃
〃What are you or Miriam to me？Ah！ she comes！The treasureby the turning of the white pyramidsix hundred paces on the rightthe arch〃 Her voice died away。 She covered her face with her hands； and trembled violently。 Slowly she let them fall； and stared around her。 〃Grace； is it you？ Has anything happened？ How came I like this？ What is it？〃
〃Well； if you don't know； I'm afraid I can't tell you。 I had begun to think you had gone mad。 It must be either that or somnambulism。 Who is Semitzin？〃
〃Semitzin？ I never heard of him。〃
〃It isn't a man： it's a princess。 And the treasure？〃
〃Am I asleep or awake？ What are you saying？〃
〃The white pyramid； you know〃
〃Don't make game of me； Grace。 If I have done anything〃
〃My dear； don't ask me！ I tell you frankly； I'm nonplussed。 You were somebody else a minute ago。 。 。 。 The truth is； of course； you've been dreaming awake。 Has any one else seen you beside me？〃
〃Have I been out of my room？〃 asked Miriam； in dismay。
〃You must have been； I should think； to get that costume。 Well； the best plan will be； I suppose； to say nothing about it to anybody。 It shall be our secret； dear。 If I were you； I would have one of