nutes from your books."

Leaving the table at which I was seated with my brother Hugh and our
tutor, Mr Michael Laffan, I went to the window, which looked out into
the court of our house at Popayan, when I saw that the person who had
hailed me was our friend Don Juan de Leon. He had just ridden in,
mounted on a fine black horse, his special pride; and as he gracefully
sat his steed, he looked a remarkably handsome young fellow. His
costume, too,--a broad-brimmed sombrero, a feather secured to it by a
jewelled buckle, a richly-trimmed poncho or capote over his shoulders,
broad leggings, ornamented with braiding and tags, and large silver
spurs,--became him well.

"Come down, Duncan, I want to speak to you," he said, beckoning to me.

Having obtained permission, I descended to the courtyard with a hop,
skip, and jump. After shaking hands, I begged him to come in, as I was
sure the ladies of my family would be glad to see him.

"I have no time now," he answered; "I hope to pay my respects
to-morrow."

"What have you to say to me?" I asked.

"I want you to come with me to visit your friends Don Ricardo and Dona
Maria at Egido. You can easily obtain a holiday from Senor Miguel. As
the ride is a long one, I shall be glad of your companionship. You will
have no objection either, I am sure, to enjoying the bright smiles of
your sweet little cousin, Dona Rosa, their daughter."

Don Ricardo, I should explain, was our old friend Richard Duffield; and
Senor Miguel was Mr Michael Laffan, our tutor.

"She is not my cousin, though we are both half British, and our fathers
are old friends. But confess, Juan, that you have another object in
going to Egido. You will have no objection either to pay a visit on
your way to Dona Dolores Monteverde, and to bask in her sweet smiles," I
rejoined, repeating his words. "However, as Mr Laffan would say,
`Amicus certus in re incerta, cerniter' (A true friend is discovered in
a doubtful matter), I shall be very glad to accompany you, and be of any
service in my power, if I can obtain leave."

"Thank you, Duncan. Go then and obtain leave, although I thought you
were old enough to act as you might think fit in a matter of this sort,"
said Juan. "I have a little commission to perform at the other end of
the town, and will shortly return for you. You are sure to obtain
leave, so I can depend upon having your company."

Lighting a cigarillo, he rode off down the street. My father