re not good at dissembling, Luisita; I wish you were."

"_Santissima_!" exclaimed her friend, alike surprised at the remark as
at its abruptness. "Why do you wish that Ysabel?"

"Because I think I know a way by which something might be done--if you
were but the woman to do it."

"Oh, Ysabelita! I will do anything to get Florencio out of prison."

"It isn't Florencio I want you to get out, but Ruperto. Leave the
getting out of Florencio to me."

Still more astonished was Don Ignacio's daughter. What could the
countess mean now? She put the question to her thus--

"What is it you desire me to do?"

"Practise a little deception--play the coquette--that's all."

It was not in Luisa Valverde's nature. If she had many admirers, and
she had--some of them over head and ears in love with her--it was from
no frivolity, or encouragement given them, on her part. From the day
Florence Kearney first made impression upon her heart, it had been true
to him, and she loyal throughout all. So much that people thought her
cold, some even pronouncing her a prude. They knew not how warmly that
heart beat, though it was but for one. Thinking of this one, however,
what the countess proposed gave her a shock, which the latter
perceiving, added, with a laugh--

"Only for a time, _amiga mia_. I don't want you to keep it up till
you've got a naughty name. Nor to make fools of all the fine gentlemen
I see dangling around you. Only one."

"Which one?"

She was not averse to hearing what the scheme was, at all events. How
could she be, in view of the object aimed at?

"A man," pursued the Countess, "who can do more for us than your father;
more than we've been able to do ourselves."

"Who is he?"

"Don Carlos Santander, colonel of Hussars on the staff--aide-de-camp and
adjutant to El Excellentissimo in more ways than military ones--some not
quite so honourable, 'tis said. Said also, that this staff-colonel, for
reasons nobody seems to know, or need we care, has more influence at
Court than almost any one else. So what I want you to do is to utilise
this influence for our purpose, which I know you can."

"Ah, Ysabelita! How much you are mistaken, to think I could influence
him to that! Carlos Santander would be the last man to help me in
procuring pardon for Florencio--the very last. You know why."

"Oh yes; I know. But he may help me in procuring pardon for Ruperto.
Luckily my good looks, if I have any, never re