mas, doctor, and I think, also, that
you will have something to say to me, and I to you."

The most prudent of patriots could not have resisted this man. He had
that true imperial look which all born rulers of men possess--that look
that half coerces, and wholly persuades. Robert Worth acknowledged its
power by his instant and decisive answer.

"I have, indeed, much to say to you. We shall have dinner directly, then
you will give the night to me?"

After a short conversation he led him into the sala and introduced him
to Antonia. He himself had to prepare the Senora for her visitor, and
he had a little quaking of the heart as he entered her room. She was
dressed for dinner, and turned with a laughing face to meet him.

"I have been listening to the cooks quarrelling over the olla, Roberto.
But what can my poor Manuel say when your Irishwoman attacks him. Listen
to her! 'Take your dirty stew aff the fire then! Shure it isn't fit for
a Christian to ate at all!'"

"I hope it is, Maria, for we have a visitor to-night."

"Who, then, my love?"

"Mr. Houston."

"Sam Houston? Holy Virgin of Guadalupe preserve us! I will not see the
man."

"I think you will, Maria. He has brought this letter for you from our
son Thomas; and he has been so kind as to take charge of some fine
horses, and sell them well for him in San Antonio. When a man does us a
kindness, we should say thank you."

"That is truth, if the man is not the Evil One. As for this Sam Houston,
you should have heard what was said of him at the Valdez's."

"I did hear. Everything was a lie."

"But he is a very common man."

"Maria, do you call a soldier, a lawyer, a member of the United States
Congress, a governor of a great State like Tennessee, a common man?
Houston has been all of these things."

"It is, however, true that he has lived with Indians, and with those
Americans, who are bad, who have no God, who are infidels, and perhaps
even cannibals. If he is a good man, why does he live with bad men? Not
even the saints could do that. A good man should be in his home. Why
does he not stay at home."

"Alas! Maria, that is a woman's fault. He loved a beautiful girl. He
married her. My dear one, she did not bless his life as you have blessed
mine. No one knows what his sorrow was, for he told no one. And he never
blamed her, only he left his high office and turned his back forever on
his home."

"Ah! the cruel woman. Holy Virgin, what hard hearts thou