e whispered. "Even if I were never to see you
again, I shouldn't forget. This--would be the romance of my life."

"Angel!" I said. And then she took off her mask, with such a divine smile
that I could have knelt at her feet as at the shrine of a saint.

"Isn't it wonderful?" she asked. "I didn't find out your name till
yesterday, though I tried before; and we don't know each other at all--"

"Why, we've known each other since the world began. My soul had been
waiting to find yours again, and found it the other afternoon, on the road
to my own land. That's what people who don't understand call 'love at
first sight.' "

"I think it must be so; because there was never anything like that first
minute when you looked at me."

"If I could have known, it would have saved me sleepless nights. For now
you're mine, my dearest, just as I am yours. Nothing can take you from me
now."

"Ah, I'm afraid! Even if--everything were different in your life, it would
be difficult; for--there's someone else in mine already."

"There can be no one else, since you care for me."

"Not _truly_ in my life. But there's someone my mother wants me to marry."

"The Duke of Carmona."

"You knew?"

"You see, I've thought of nothing but you; and I've learned all I could
about what concerns you."

"I don't like him, not even as a friend. He's handsome enough, but I'm
sure he has a most horrible temper. I could be afraid of him. I believe I
_am_ afraid. And mother--you don't know her, but--when she makes up her mind
that you're to do a certain thing, you find yourself doing it. That's one
reason I was so glad when you came to-night, and said, 'The next is our
dance,' in such a determined way. Not only did you take me away from
_him_, but--I felt you'd try to _keep_ me from him, in the end."

"Try!" I echoed. "I will keep you. Trust me my darling. I've been foolish
to come to Biarritz under another name. This isn't Spain; and even a Casa
Triana has a right to be here. But luckily not much harm's done. Through
the de la Moles I'll be presented to Lady Vale-Avon; I'll tell her that,
though compared to the days when my people counted for something in the
history of Spain, I'm penniless, still my father left me enough to live on
and keep a wife who loves me better than she loves society. I'll tell Lady
Vale-Avon that there are countries in which my name's well thought of,
even in these piping times; that there I'll do something worth doing--"

"