iscussion, and some
altercation, I gained the day; and when I arose to take my leave, it was
with my pocket-book stuffed full of bills on Pernambuco, Mexico,
Santa Cruz, and the Havannah, with letters of credit, bonds, and other
securities; the whole amounting to four hundred thousand piastres. The
remaining sum of three hundred thousand, I had agreed to leave in Don
Xafire's hands at reasonable interest. In fact, I was but too happy
in the possession of so much to think twice about what became of the
remainder.

I presented my friend Xafire with my ruby brooch, as a souvenir,--not,
indeed, that he needed anything to remind him of our acquaintance; and
we parted with all the regrets of brothers about to separate.

"You will stay some days with us here, I hope?" said he, as he conducted
me to my carriage.

"I intend a short visit to some of the old 'Placers' in your
neighborhood," replied I, "after which I mean to return here;" and so,
with a last embrace, we parted.

My next care was to pay a visit to Don Estaban, for I was burning with
anxiety to see Donna Maria once more, and to open my campaign as a
rich suitor for her hand. The day chosen for this expedition seemed
a fortunate one, for the road, which led through a succession of
vineyards, was thronged with townspeople and peasants in gay holiday
dresses, all wending their way in the same direction with ourselves. I
asked the reason, and heard that it was the _fete_ of the Virgin de los
Dolores, whose chapel was on the estate of Don Estaban. I bethought me
of the time when I had planned a pilgrimage to that same shrine,--little
suspecting that I was to make it in my carriage, with six mules and two
outriders!

In less than an hour's drive we came in sight of Don Estaban's villa,
built on the side of a richly wooded mountain, and certainly not
betraying any signs of the reduced fortune of which I had heard. A
series of gardens, all terraced in the mountain, lay in front, among
which fountains were playing and _jets d'eau_ springing. A small lake
spread its calm surface beneath, reflecting the whole scene as in a
mirror, with its feathery palm-trees and blossoming mimosas, beneath
whose shade hundreds of visitors were loitering or sitting, while the
tinkling sounds of guitar and mandolin broke the stillness.

It was a strange and curious sight; for while pleasure seemed to
hold unbounded sway on every side, the procession of priests in rich
vestments, the smok