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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 protesting。 I knew the
gardens； and the stone seat at an angle of the wall； not a dozen
yards from the casa。 The moon shone full upon it。 There； indeed；
lay the little gray…feathered fan。 But beside it； also； lay the
crumpled black gold…embroidered riding…gauntlet that Enriquez had
worn at the rodeo。
I thrust it hurriedly into my pocket； and ran back。 As I passed
through the gateway I asked a peon to send Enriquez to me。 The man
stared。 Did I not know that Don Enriquez had ridden away two
minutes ago？
When I reached the veranda； I handed the fan to Miss Mannersley
without a word。 〃BUENO；〃 said Don Pedro； gravely； 〃it is as well。
There shall be no bones broken over the getting of it； for
Enriquez； I hear； has had to return to the Encinal this very
evening。〃
Miss Mannersley retired early。 I did not inform her of my
discovery； nor did I seek in any way to penetrate her secret。
There was no doubt that she and Enriquez had been together； perhaps
not for the first time； but what was the result of their interview？
From the young girl's demeanor and Enriquez' hurried departure； I
could only fear the worst for him。 Had he been tempted into some
further extravagance and been angrily rebuked； or had he avowed a
real passion concealed under his exaggerated mask and been
deliberately rejected？ I tossed uneasily half the night； following
in my dreams my poor friend's hurrying hoofbeats； and ever starting
from my sleep at what I thought was the sound of galloping hoofs。
I rose early； and lounged into the patio； but others were there
before me； and a small group of Don Pedro's family were excitedly
discussing something； and I fancied they turned away awkwardly and
consciously as I approached。 There was an air of indefinite
uneasiness everywhere。 A strange fear came over me with the chill
of the early morning air。 Had anything happened to Enriquez？ I
had always looked upon his extravagance as part of his playful
humor。 Could it be p