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A lady and gentleman of a quality that was evidently unfamiliar to
the rest of the audience were picking their way along the rickety
benches to a front seat。 I recognized the geologist with some
surprise； and the lady he was leading with still greater
astonishment。 For it was Miss Mannersley； in her precise； well…
fitting walking…costumea monotone of sober color among the parti…
colored audience。
However； I was perhaps less surprised than the audience； for I was
not only becoming as accustomed to the young girl's vagaries as I
had been to Enriquez' extravagance； but I was also satisfied that
her uncle might have given her permission to come； as a recognition
of the Sunday concession of the management； as well as to
conciliate his supposed Catholic friends。 I watched her sitting
there until the first bull had entered； and； after a rather brief
play with the picadors and banderilleros； was dispatched。 At the
moment when the matador approached the bull with his lethal weapon
I was not sorry for an excuse to glance at Miss Mannersley。 Her
hands were in her lap； her head slightly bent forward over her
knees。 I fancied that she； too； had dropped her eyes before the
brutal situation； to my horror； I saw that she had a drawing…book
in her hand and was actually sketching it。 I turned my eyes in
preference to the dying bull。
The second animal led out for this ingenious slaughter was；
however； more sullen； uncertain； and discomposing to his butchers。
He accepted the irony of a trial with gloomy； suspicious eyes； and
he declined the challenge of whirling and insulting picadors。 He
bristled with banderillas like a hedgehog； but remained with his
haunches backed against the barrier； at times almost hidden in the
fine dust raised by the monotonous stroke of his sullenly pawing
hoofhis one dull； heavy protest。 A vague uneasiness had infected
his adversaries； the picadors held aloof； the banderilleros
skirmished at a safe distance。 The audience resented only the
indecision of the bull。 Galling epithets were flung at him；
followed by cries of 〃ESPADA！〃 and； curving his elbow under his
short cloak； the matador； with his flashing blade in hand； advanced
andstopped。 The bull remained motionless。
For at that moment a heavier gust of wind than usual swept down
upon the arena； lifted a suffocating cloud of dust； and whirled it
around the tiers of benches and the balcony； and for a moment
seemed to stop the performance。 I heard an exclamation from the
geologist； who had risen to his feet。 I fancied I heard even a
faint cry from Miss Mannersley； but the next moment； as the dust
was slowly settling； we saw a sheet of paper in the air； that had
been caught up in this brief cyclone； dropping； dipping from side
to side on uncertain wings； until it slowly descended in the very
middle of the arena。 It was a leaf from Miss Mannersley's
sketchbook； the one on which she had been sketching。
In the pause that followed it seemed to be the one object that at
last excited the bull's growing but tardy ire。 He glanced at it
with murky； distended eyes； he snorted at it with vague yet
troubled fury。 Whether he detected his own presentment in Miss
Mannersley's sketch； or whether he recognized it as an unknown and
unfamiliar treachery in his surroundings； I could not conjecture；
for the next moment the matador； taking advantage of the bull's
concentration； with a complacent leer at the audience； advanced
toward the paper。 But at that instant a young man cleared the
barrier into the arena with a single bound； shoved the matador to
one side； caught up the paper； turned toward the balcony and Miss
Mannersley with a gesture of apology； dropped gaily before the
bull； knelt down before him with an exaggerated humility； and held
up the drawing as if for his inspection。 A roar of applause broke
from the audience； a cry of warning and exasperation from the
attendants； as the goaded bull suddenly charged the stranger。 But
he sprang to one side with great dexterity； made a courteous
gesture to the matador as if passing the bull over to him； and
still holding the paper in his hand； re…leaped the barrier； and
rejoined the audience in safety。 I did not wait to see the deadly；
dominant thrust with which the matador received the charging bull；
my eyes were following the figure now bounding up the steps to the
balcony； where with an exaggerated salutation he laid the drawing
in Miss Mannersley's lap and vanished。 There was no mistaking that
thin lithe form； the narrow black mustache； and gravely dancing
eyes。 The audacity of conception； the extravagance of execution；
the quaint irony of the sequel； could belong to no one but
Enriquez。
I hurried up to her as the six yoked mules dragged the carcass of
the bull away。 She was placidly putting up her book； the unmoved
focus of a hundred eager and curious eyes。 She smiled slightly as
she saw me。 〃I was just telling Mr。 Briggs what an extraordinary
creature it was； and how you knew him。 He must have had great
experience to do that sort of thing so cleverly and safely。 Does
he do it often？ Of course； not just that。 But does he pick up
cigars and things that I see they throw to the matador？ Does he
belong to the management？ Mr。 Briggs thinks the whole thing was a
feint to distract the bull；〃 she added； with a wicked glance at the
geologist； who； I fancied； looked disturbed。
〃I am afraid；〃 I said dryly； 〃that his act was as unpremeditated
and genuine as it was unusual。〃
〃Why afraid？〃
It was a matter…of…fact question； but I instantly saw my mistake。
What right had I to assume that Enriquez' attentions were any more
genuine than her own easy indifference； and if I suspected that
they were； was it fair in me to give my friend away to this
heartless coquette？ 〃You are not very gallant；〃 she said； with a
slight laugh； as I was hesitating； and turned away with her escort
before I could frame a reply。 But at least Enriquez was now
accessible； and I should gain some information from him。 I knew
where to find him； unless he were still lounging about the
building； intent upon more extravagance； but I waited until I saw
Miss Mannersley and Briggs depart without further interruption。
The hacienda of Ramon Saltillo； Enriquez' cousin； was on the
outskirts of the village。 When I arrived there I found Enriquez'
pinto mustang steaming in the corral； and although I was
momentarily delayed by the servants at the gateway； I was surprised
to find Enriquez himself lying languidly on his back in a hammock
in the patio。 His arms were hanging down listlessly on each side
as if in the greatest prostration； yet I could not resist the
impression that the rascal had only just got into the hammock when
he heard of my arrival。
〃You have arrived； friend Pancho； in time；〃 he said； in accents of
exaggerated weakness。 〃I am absolutely exhaust。 I am bursted；
caved in； kerflummoxed。