Felipe smiled at the Senora's provincialism. What a great world lay
outside that of her own, of which she was entirely ignorant.

A trip to the City of Mexico during her honeymoon was the only journey
she had ever taken beyond the confines of Chihuahua.

"And then there is Mrs. Forest's brother, Col-on-el Van Ash-ton," she
continued, pronouncing the latter's name slowly and with difficulty.

"Holy Maria! but he has caused us trouble! Nothing seems to suit him."

"Colonel Van Ashton?" repeated Felipe. "Ah, yes, I remember him."

"But that is not all," interrupted Senora. "There is also Captain
Forest, Mrs. Forest's son. He came here before the others and seemed
very much surprised and put out by their unexpected appearance."

"Captain Forest?" repeated Don Felipe slowly, as if trying to recall a
chance meeting. "I have never met him. What is he like?"

"Ah, he's a grand Senor," answered Senora with enthusiasm. "A
_Caballero_ every inch, and rides a horse that's the devil himself. Why,
only yesterday the brute kicked out the side of the corral, and after
chasing the men off the place who had been teasing him, calmly walked
into the garden and rolled in my choicest flower-bed."

"He must be a thoroughbred at any rate," laughed Felipe.

"Thoroughbred? He's the devil, I say! Captain Forest and his man, Jose,
are the only ones that dare go near him." Don Felipe drew a gold
cigarette-case thickly studded with diamonds and rubies from the inner
pocket of his jacket, and lighted a cigarette.

"As I was saying," Senora went on, "Captain Forest is a fine gentleman.
He's a great friend of Senor Yankton, and--" she stopped abruptly.

"And what?" asked Felipe suspiciously, closely scanning her face as he
tossed away the burnt end of the match.

"Oh, nothing," answered Senora evasively. "Only much has transpired
during your absence, Don Felipe." She hesitated as though uncertain how
to proceed, then said: "I might speak of certain things, but perhaps I
had better not. They would not interest you, anyway."

"Ah!" he said at length, endeavoring to conceal the emotion her words
aroused. "I--I think I understand. You--you refer to her, I suppose?"
There was a slight tremor in his voice and his hand trembled as he
raised his cigarette to his lips for a fresh puff.

"Yes," she answered quietly. "I--I was about to say that she appears to
be interested in this Captain Forest. But of course, that's nothing to
you," she added hast