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her money than to expend it on the Baron's mortgages。 But〃he stopped；
and his simple； honest face assumed an air of profound and sagacious
cunning〃I am glad to talk about it with you； who of course are perfectly
familiar with the affair。 I shall now be able to know what to say。 My word；
my friend； has some weight here； and I shall use it。 And now you shall tell
me WHO is our lovely friend； and WHO were her parents and her kindred
in her own home。 Her associates here； you possibly know； are an
impossible colonel and his never…before…approached valet； with some
South American Indian planters； and； I believe； a pork…butcher's daughter。
But of THEMit makes nothing。 Tell me of HER people。〃
With his kindly serious face within a few inches of Paul's； and
sympathizing curiosity beaming from his pince…nez； he obliged the
wretched and conscience…stricken Hathaway to respond with a detailed
account of Yerba's parentage as projected by herself and indorsed by
Colonel Pendleton。 He dwelt somewhat particularly on the romantic
character of the Trust； hoping to draw the General's attention away from
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the question of relationship； but he was chagrined to find that the honest
warrior evidently confounded the Trust with some eleemosynary
institution and sympathetically glossed it over。 〃Of course；〃 he said； 〃the
Mexican Minister at Berlin would know all about the Arguello family： so
there would be no question there。〃
Paul was not sorry when the time came to take leave of his friend； but
once again in the clear moonlight and fresh； balmy air of the Allee； he
forgot the unpleasantness of the interview。 He found himself thinking only
of his ride with Yerba。 Well！ he had told her that he loved her。 She knew it
now； and although she had forbidden him to speak further； she had not
wholly rejected it。 It must be her morbid consciousness of the mystery of
her birth that withheld a return of her affections；some half…knowledge；
perhaps； that she would not divulge； yet that kept her unduly sensitive of
accepting his love。 He was satisfied there was no entanglement； her heart
was virgin。 He even dared to hope that she had ALWAYS cared for him。 It
was for HIM to remove all obstaclesto prevail upon her to leave this
place and return to America with him as her husband； the guardian of her
good name； and the custodian of her secret。 At times the strains of a
dreamy German waltz； played in the distance； brought back to him the
brief moment that his arm had encircled her waist by the crumbling wall；
and his pulses grew languid； only to leap firmer the next moment with
more desperate resolve。 He would win her； come what may！ He could
never have been in earnest before： he loathed and hated himself for his
previous passive acquiescence to her fate。 He had been a weak tool of the
colonel's from the first： he was even now handicapped by a preposterous
promise he had given him！ Yes； she was right to hesitateto question his
ability to make her happy！ He had found her here； surrounded by stupidity
and cupidityto give it no other nameso patent that she was the common
gossip； and had offered nothing but a boyish declaration！ As he strode into
the hotel that night it was well that he did not meet the unfortunate colonel
on the staircase！
It was very late； although there was still visible a light in Yerba's salon；
shining on her balcony； which extended before and included his own
window。 From time to time he could hear the murmur of voices。 It was too
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late to avail himself of the invitation to join them； even if his frame of
mind had permitted it。 He was too nervous and excited to go to bed； and；
without lighting his candle； he opened the French window that gave upon
the balcony； drew a chair in the recess behind the curtain； and gazed upon
the night。 It was very quiet； the moon was high； the square was sleeping in
a trance of checkered shadows； like a gigantic chessboard； with black
foreshortened trees for pawns。 The click of a cavalry sabre； the sound of a
footfall on the pavement of the distant Konigsstrasse； were distinctly
audible； a far…off railway whistle was startling in its abruptness。 In the
midst of this calm the opening of the door of the salon； with the sudden
uplifting of voices in the hall； told Paul that Yerba's guests were leaving。
He heard Dona Anna's arch accentsarch even to Colonel Pendleton's
monotonous baritone！Milly's high； rapid utterances； the suave falsetto of
Don Caesar； and HER voice； he thought a trifle wearied；the sound of
retiring footsteps； and all was still again。
So still that the rhythmic beat of the distant waltz returned to him； with
a distinctiveness that he could idly follow。 He thought of Rosario and the
rose…breath of the open windows with a strange longing； and remembered
the half…stifled sweetness of her happy voice rising with it from the
veranda。 Why had he ever let it pass from him then and waft its fragrance
elsewhere？ Why What was that？
The slight turning of a latch！ The creaking of the French window of
the salon； and somebody had slipped softly half out on the balcony。 His
heart stopped beating。 From his position in the recess of his own window；
with his back to the partition of the salon； he could see nothing。 Yet he did
not dare to move。 For with the quickened senses of a lover he felt the
diffused and perfumed aura of HER presence； of HER garments； of HER
flesh； flow in upon him through the open window； and possess his whole
breathless being！ It was SHE！ Like him； perhaps； longing to enjoy the
perfect nightlike him； perhaps； thinking of
〃So you ar…range to get rid of meha！ lik thees？ To tur…rn me off from
your heels like a dog who have follow youbut without a word without
aathankswithout a 'ope！ Ah！we have ser…rved you me and my
sister； we are the or…range drynow we can go！ Like the old shoe； we are
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