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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。 I have behold you； my friend； at the
barrier。 I speak not； I make no sign at the first； because I was
on fire； I speak not at the feenishfor I am exhaust。〃
〃I see； the bull made it lively for you。〃
He instantly bounded up in the hammock。 〃The bull！ Caramba！ Not
a thousand bulls！ And thees one； look you； was a craven。 I snap
my fingers over his horn； I roll my cigarette under his nose。〃
〃Well； thenwhat was it？〃
He instantly lay down again； pulling up the sides of the hammock。
Presently his voice came from its depths； appealing in hollow tones
to the sky。 〃He asks methees friend of my soul； thees brother of
my life； thees Pancho that I lofewhat it was？ He would that I
should tell him why I am game in the legs； why I shake in the hand；
crack in the voice； and am generally wipe out！ And yet he； my
pardnerthees Franciscoknow that I have seen the mees from
Boston！ That I have gaze into the eye； touch the hand； and for the
instant possess the picture that hand have drawn！ It was a sublime
picture； Pancho；〃 he said； sitting up again suddenly； 〃and have
kill the bull before our friend Pepe's sword have touch even the
bone of hees back and make feenish of him。〃
〃Look here； Enriquez；〃 I said bluntly； 〃have you been serenading
that girl？〃
He shrugged his shoulders without the least embarrassment； and
said： 〃Ah； yes。 What would you？ It is of a necessity。〃
〃Well；〃 I retored； 〃then you ought to know that her uncle took it
all to himselfthought you some grateful Catholic pleased with his
religious tolerance。〃
He did not even smile。 〃BUENO；〃 he said gravely。 〃That make
something； too。 In thees affair it is well to begin with the
duenna。 He is the duenna。〃
〃And；〃 I went on relentlessly； 〃her escort told her just now that
your exploit in the bull ring was only a trick to divert the bull；
suggested by the management。〃
〃Bah！ her escort is a geologian。 Naturally； she is to him as a
stone。〃
I would have continued； but a peon interrupted us at this moment
with a sign to Enriquez； who leaped briskly from the hammock；
bidding me wait his return from a messenger in the gateway。
Still unsatisfied of mind； I waited； and sat down in the hammock
that Enriquez had quitted。 A scrap of paper was lying in its
meshes； which at first appeared to be of the kind from which
Enriquez rolled his cigarettes； but as I picked it up to throw it
away； I found it was of much firmer and stouter material。 Looking
at it more closely； I was surprised to recognize it as a piece of
the tinted drawing…paper torn off the 〃block〃 that Miss Mannersley
had used。 It had been deeply creased at right angles as if it had
been folded； it looked as if it might have been the outer half of a
sheet used for a note。
It might have been a trifling circumstance； but it greatly excited
my curiosity。 I knew that he had r