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It might have been a trifling circumstance； but it greatly excited
my curiosity。 I knew that he had returned the sketch to Miss
Mannersley； for I had seen it in her hand。 Had she given him
another？ And if so； why had it been folded to the destruction of
the drawing？ Or was it part of a note which he had destroyed？ In
the first impulse of discovery I walked quickly with it toward the
gateway where Enriquez had disappeared； intending to restore it to
him。 He was just outside talking with a young girl。 I started；
for it was JocastaMiss Mannersley's maid。
With this added discovery came that sense of uneasiness and
indignation with which we illogically are apt to resent the
withholding of a friend's confidence； even in matters concerning
only himself。 It was no use for me to reason that it was no
business of mine； that he was right in keeping a secret that
concerned anotherand a lady； but I was afraid I was even more
meanly resentful because the discovery quite upset my theory of his
conduct and of Miss Mannersley's attitude toward him。 I continued
to walk on to the gateway； where I bade Enriquez a hurried good…by；
alleging the sudden remembrance of another engagement； but without
appearing to recognize the girl； who was moving away when； to my
further discomfiture； the rascal stopped me with an appealing wink；
threw his arms around my neck； whispered hoarsely in my ear； 〃Ah！
you seeyou comprehendbut you are the mirror of discretion！〃 and
returned to Jocasta。 But whether this meant that he had received a
message from Miss Mannersley； or that he was trying to suborn her
maid to carry one； was still uncertain。 He was capable of either。
During the next two or three weeks I saw him frequently； but as I
had resolved to try the effect of ignoring Miss Mannersley in our
conversation； I gathered little further of their relations； and； to
my surprise； after one or two characteristic extravagances of
allusion； Enriquez dropped the subject； too。 Only one afternoon；
as we were parting； he said carelessly： 〃My friend； you are going
to the casa of Mannersley tonight。 I too have the honor of the
invitation。 But you will be my Mercurymy Leporelloyou will
take of me a message to thees Mees Boston； that I am crushed；
desolated； prostrate； and flabbergastedthat I cannot arrive； for
I have of that night to sit up with the grand…aunt of my brother…
in…law； who has a quinsy to the death。 It is sad。〃
This was the first indication I had received of Miss Mannersley's
advances。 I was equally surprised at Enriquez' refusal。
〃Nonsense！〃 I said bluntly。 〃Nothing keeps you from going。〃
〃My friend；〃 returned Enriquez； with a sudden lapse into languish…
ment that seemed to make him absolutely infirm； 〃it is everything
that shall restrain me。 I am not strong。 I shall become weak of
the knee and tremble under the eye of Mees Boston。 I shall
precipitate myself to the geologian by the throat。 Ask me another
conundrum that shall be easy。〃
He seemed idiotically inflexible； and did not go。 But I did。 I
found Miss Mannersley exquisitely dressed and looking singularly
animated and pretty。 The lambent glow of her inscrutable eye as
she turned toward me might have been flattering but for my
uneasiness in regard to Enriquez。 I delivered his excuses as
naturally as I could。 She stiffened for an instant； and seemed an
inch higher。 〃I am so sorry；〃 she said at last in a level voice。
〃I thought he would have been so amusing。 Indeed； I had hoped we
might try an old Moorish dance together which I have found and was
practicing。〃
〃He would have been delighted； I know。 It's a great pity he didn't
come with me；〃 I said quickly； 〃but；〃 I could not help adding； with
emphasis on her words； 〃he is such an 'extraordinary creature；' you
know。〃
〃I see nothing extraordinary in his devotion to an aged relative；〃
returned Miss Mannersley quietly as she turned away； 〃except that
it justifies my respect for his character。〃
I do not know why I did not relate this to him。 Possibly I had
given up trying to understand them； perhaps I was beginning to have
an idea that he could take care of himself。 But I was somewhat
surprised a few days later when； after asking me to go with him to
a rodeo at his uncle's he added composedly； 〃You will meet Mees
Boston。〃
I stared； and but for his manner would have thought it part of his
extravagance。 For the rodeoa yearly chase of wild cattle for the
purpose of lassoing and branding themwas a rather brutal affair；
and purely a man's function； it was also a family affaira
property stock…taking of the great Spanish cattle…ownersand
strangers； particularly Americans； found it difficult to gain
access to its mysteries and the fiesta that followed。
〃But how did she get an invitation？〃 I asked。 〃You did not dare to
ask〃 I began。
〃My friend；〃 said Enriquez； with a singular deliberation； 〃the
great and respectable Boston herself； and her serene； venerable
oncle； and other Boston magnificos； have of a truth done me the
inexpressible honor to solicit of my degraded； papistical oncle
that she shall comethat she shall of her own superior eye behold
the barbaric customs of our race。〃
His tone and manner were so peculiar that I stepped quickly before
him； laid my hands on his shoulders； and looked down into his face。
But the actual devil which I now for the first time saw in his eyes
went out of them suddenly； and he relapsed again in affected
languishment in his chair。 〃I shall be there； friend Pancho；〃 he
said； with a preposterous gasp。 〃I shall nerve my arm to lasso the
bull； and tumble him before her at her feet。 I shall throw the
'buck…jump' mustang at the same sacred spot。 I shall pluck for her
the buried chicken at full speed from the ground； and present it to
her。 You shall see it； friend Pancho。 I shall be there。〃
He was as good as his word。 When Don Pedro Amador； his uncle；
installed Miss Mannersley； with Spanish courtesy； on a raised
platform in the long valley where the rodeo took place； the gallant
Enriquez selected a bull from the frightened and galloping herd；
and； cleverly isolating him from the band； lassoed his hind legs；
and threw him exactly before the platform where Miss Mannersley was
seated。 It was Enriquez who caught the unbroken mustang； sprang
from his own saddle to the bare back of his captive； and with the
lasso for a bridle； halted him on rigid haunches at Miss
Mannersley's feet。 It was Enriquez who； in the sports that
followed； leaned from his saddle at full speed； caught up the
chicken buried to its head in the sand； without wringing its neck；
and tossed it unharmed and fluttering toward his mistress。 As for
her； she wore the same look of animation that I had seen in her
face at our previous meeting。 Although she did not bring her
sketchbook with her； as at the bullfight； she did not shrink from
the branding of the cattle； which took place under her very eyes。
Yet I had never seen her and Enriquez together； they had never； to
my actual knowledge； even exchanged words。 And now； although she
was the guest of his uncle； his duties seemed to keep him in the
field； and apart from her。 Nor； as far as I could detect； did
either apparently make any effort to have it otherwise。 The
peculiar circumstance seemed to attract no attention from anyone
else。 But for what I alone knewor thought I knewof their
actual relations； I should have thought them strangers。
But I felt certain that the fiesta which took place in the broad
patio of Don Pedro's casa would bring them together。 And later in
the evening； as we were all sitting on the veranda watching the
dancing of the Mexican women； whose white…flounced sayas were
monotonously rising and falling to the strains of two melancholy
harps； Miss Mannersley rejoined us from the house。 She seemed to
be utterly absorbed and abstracted in the barbaric dances； and
scarcely moved as she leaned over the railing with her cheek
resting on her hand。 Suddenly she arose with a little cry。
〃What is it？〃 asked two or three。
〃Nothingonly I have lost my fan。〃 She had risen； and ；was
looking abstractedly on the floor。
Half a dozen men jumped to their feet。 〃Let me fetch it；〃 they
said。
〃No； thank you。 I think I know where it is； and will go for it
myself。〃 She was moving away。
But Don Pedro interposed with Spanish gravity。 Such a thing was
not to be heard of in his casa。 If the senorita would not permit
HIMan old manto go for it； it must be brought by Enriquez； her
cavalier of the day。
But Enriquez was not to be found。 I glanced at Miss Mannersley's
somewhat disturbed face； and begged her to let me fetch it。 I
thought I saw a flush of relief come into her pale cheek as she
said； in a lower voice； 〃On the stone seat in the garden。〃
I hurried away； leaving Don Pedro still protes