!"

"That somebody else is going away, too."

"Who?"

"Don Gregorio Montijo!"

"Don Gregorio Montijo?"

"Don Gregorio, daughter and grand-daughter."

"You astonish me! But are they leaving California for good?"

"Leaving it for good."

"That is strange intelligence, startling! Though I can understand the
reason; that's well known."

"Oh, yes; the Don's disgusted with things as they now go here; and I
suppose the senoritas are also. No wonder. Since these ragged and
red-shirted gentry have taken possession of the place, it's not very
agreeable for ladies to show themselves about; nor very safe, I should
say. Good reason for Don Gregorio selling out, and betaking himself to
quieter quarters."

"He has sold out, has he?"

"He has."

"You're sure of it?"

"Quite sure. Rafael Rocas has told me all about it. And for an
enormous sum of money. How much do you suppose?"

"Perhaps 100,000 dollars. His property ought to be worth that."

"Whether it ought to be, or is, it has realised three times the amount."

"_Carramba_! Has Rocas said so?"

"He has."

"Has he told you who the generous purchaser is?"

"Some speculating Yankees, who fancy they see far into the future, and
think Don Gregorio's pasture-land a good investment. There's a
partnership of purchasers, I believe, and they've paid the money down,
in cash."

"Already! What kind of cash?"

"The best kind--doubloons and dollars. Not all in coin. Some of it in
the currency of California--gold-dust and nuggets."

"That's quite as good. _Santissima_! a splendid fortune. All for a
piece of pasture-land, that twelve months ago wasn't worth a tenth part
the amount! What a pity my own acres are already hypothecated! I might
have been a millionaire."

"No! your land lies too far-off. These Yankees have bought Don
Gregorio's land for `town-lots,' as they call them. In due time, no
doubt, they'll cover them with their psalm-singing churches and
schoolhouses--though the first building put up should be a prison."

Both laugh together at this modest _jeu d'esprit_; their mirth having a
double significance. For neither need be over-satisfied with the sight
of a prison.

"By the Virgin!" exclaims Calderon, continuing the conversation; "Don
Gregorio has done well, and he may be wise in quitting California. But
what the devil are we to do about the girls? Of course, as you say,
they're going to!"

"And so it may be. But not before an