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〃Ah！〃his black eyes sparkled〃the torero； the man who fights the
bull； he is also an acrobat。〃
〃Yes； but she thinks you a clown！a GRACIOSO DE TEATROthere！〃
〃Then I have make her laugh？〃 he said coolly。
I don't think he had； but I shrugged my shoulders。
〃BUENO！〃 he said cheerfully。 〃Lofe； he begin with a laugh； he make
feenish with a sigh。〃
I turned to look at him in the moonlight。 His face presented its
habitual Spanish gravitya gravity that was almost ironical。 His
small black eyes had their characteristic irresponsible audacity
the irresponsibility of the vivacious young animal。 It could not
be possible that he was really touched with the placid frigidities
of Miss Mannersley。 I remembered his equally elastic gallantries
with Miss Pinkey Smith； a blonde Western belle； from which both had
harmlessly rebounded。 As we walked on slowly I continued more
persuasively： 〃Of course this is only your nonsense； but don't you
see； Miss Mannersley thinks it all in earnest and really your
nature？〃 I hesitated； for it suddenly struck me that it WAS really
his nature。 〃Andhang it all！you don't want her to believe you
a common buffoon。； or some intoxicated muchacho。〃
〃Intoxicated？〃 repeated Enriquez； with exasperating languishment。
〃Yes； that is the word that shall express itself。 My friend； you
have made a shot in the centeryou have ring the bell every time！
It is intoxicationbut not of aguardiente。 Look！ I have long
time an ancestor of whom is a pretty story。 One day in church he
have seen a young girla mere peasant girlpass to the
confessional。 He look her in her eye； he stagger〃here Enriquez
wobbled pantomimically into the road〃he fall！〃he would have
suited the action to the word if I had not firmly held him up。
〃They have taken him home； where he have remain without his
clothes； and have dance and sing。 But it was the drunkenness of
lofe。 And； look you； thees village girl was a nothing； not even
pretty。 The name of my ancestor was〃
〃Don Quixote de La Mancha；〃 I suggested maliciously。 〃I suspected
as much。 Come along。 That will do。〃
〃My ancestor's name；〃 continued Enriquez； gravely； 〃was Antonio
Hermenegildo de Salvatierra； which is not the same。 Thees Don
Quixote of whom you speak exist not at all。〃
〃Never mind。 Only； for heaven's sake； as we are nearing the house；
don't make a fool of yourself again。〃
It was a wonderful moonlight night。 The deep redwood porch of the
Mannersley parsonage； under the shadow of a great oakthe largest
in the Encinalwas diapered in black and silver。 As the women
stepped upon the porch their shadows were silhouetted against the
door。 Miss Mannersley paused for an instant； and turned to give a
last look at the beauty of the night as Jocasta entered。 Her
glance fell upon us as we passed。 She nodded carelessly and
unaffectedly to me； but as she recognized Enriquez she looked a
little longer at him with her previous cold and invincible
curiosity。 To my horror Enriquez began instantly to affect a
slight tremulousness of gait and a difficulty of breathing； but I
gripped his arm savagely； and managed to get him past the house as
the door closed finally on the young lady。
〃You do not comprehend； friend Pancho；〃 he said gravely； 〃but those
eyes in their glass are as the ESPEJO USTORIO； the burning mirror。
They burn； they consume me here like paper。 Let us affix to
ourselves thees tree。 She will； without doubt； appear at her
window。 We shall salute her for good night。〃
〃We will do nothing of the kind；〃 I said sharply。 Finding that I
was determined； he permitted me to lead him away。 I was delighted
to notice； however； that he had indicated the window which I knew
was the minister's study； and that as the bedrooms were in the rear
of the house； this later incident was probably not overseen by the
young lady or the servant。 But I did not part from Enriquez until
I saw him safely back to the sala； where I left him sipping
chocolate； his arm alternating around the waists of his two
previous partners in a delightful Arcadian and childlike
simplicity； and an apparent utter forgetfulness of Miss Mannersley。
The fandangos were usually held on Saturday night； and the next
day； being Sunday； 1 missed Enriquez； but as he was a devout
Catholic I remembered that he was at mass in the morning； and
possibly at the bullfight at San Antonio in the afternoon。 But I
was somewhat surprised on the Monday morning following； as I was
crossing the plaza； to have my arm taken by the Rev。 Mr。 Mannersley
in the nearest approach to familiarity that was consistent with the
reserve of this eminent divine。 I looked at him inquiringly。
Although scrupulously correct in attire； his features always had a
singular resemblance to the national caricature known as 〃Uncle
Sam；〃 but with the humorous expression left out。 Softly stroking
his goatee with three fingers； he began condescendingly： 〃You are；
I think； more or less familiar with the characteristics and customs
of the Spanish as exhibited by the settlers here。〃 A thrill of
apprehension went through me。 Had he heard of Enriquez'
proceedings？ Had Miss Mannersley cruelly betrayed him to her
uncle？ 〃I have not given that attention myself to their language
and social peculiarities；〃 he continued； with a large wave of the
hand； 〃being much occupied with a study of their religious beliefs
and superstitions〃it struck me that this was apt to be a common
fault of people of the Mannersley type〃but I have refrained from
a personal discussion of them； on the contrary； I have held
somewhat broad views on the subject of their remarkable missionary
work； and have suggested a scheme of co…operation with them； quite
independent of doctrinal teaching； to my brethren of other
Protestant Christian sects。 These views I first incorporated in a
sermon last Sunday week； which I am told has created considerable
attention。〃 He stopped and coughed slightly。 〃I have not yet
heard from any of the Roman clergy； but I am led to believe that my
remarks were not ungrateful to Catholics generally。〃
I was relieved； although still in some wonder why he should address
me on this topic。 I had a vague remembrance of having heard that
he had said something on Sunday which had offended some Puritans of
his flock； but nothing more。 He continued： 〃I have just said that
I was unacquainted with the characteristics of the Spanish…American
race。 I presume； however； they have the impulsiveness of their
Latin origin。 They gesticulateeh？ They express their gratitude；
their joy； their affection； their emotions generally； by spasmodic
movements？ They naturally dancesingeh？〃 A horrible suspicion
crossed my mind； I could only stare helplessly at him。 〃I see；〃 he
said graciously； 〃perhaps it is a somewhat general question。 I
will explain myself。 A rather singular occurrence happened to me
the other night。 I had returned from visiting a parishioner； and
was alone in my study reviewing my sermon for the next day。 It
must have been quite late before I concluded； for I distinctly
remember my niece had returned with her servant fully an hour
before。 Presently I heard the sounds of a musical instrument in
the road； with the accents of someone singing or rehearsing some
metrical composition in words that； although couched in a language
foreign to me； in expression and modulation gave me the impression
of being distinctly adulatory。 For some little time； in the
greater preoccupation of my task； I paid little attention to the
performance； but its persistency at length drew me in no mere idle
curiosity to the window。 From thence； standing in my dressing…
gown； and believing myself unperceived； I noticed under the large
oak in the roadside the figure of a young man who； by the imperfect
light； appeared to be of Spanish extraction。 But I evidently
miscalculated my own invisibility； for he mo