In fact, he would have saluted her several times, had not Dolores spread her fan between their two faces as a shield.
“No, no! Doña Serafina may awaken, and then—‘Dios de mi alma,’ what would my uncle say?”
“He must know sooner or later.”
“Wait till the war is over, querido. Till Don Hypolito is slain, and you return covered with glory. Then my uncle can refuse you nothing.”
“Bueno! I will wait. And, after all, Dolores, I am not quite a foreigner. I have dwelt so long in Mexico that I know all your manners and customs. Now I have even assumed the dress of Cholacaca, so I am quite one of your own people.”
“And a heretic!”
“Ah! Padre Ignatius has been talking to you?”
“No, querido; my aunt——”
“Oh, never mind your aunt. If I mistake not, she admires a heretic herself.”
“El hombrecillo!”
“If by the little man you mean Don Pedro, yes. But oh, my soul, do not let such things as this separate us. You love me, Dolores? You will be true to me?”
“I swear it!” cried the girl, throwing herself on his breast; “I swear it—by the opal!”
“No, no! not that. You surely don’t believe in the devil stone?”
“Am I a child to believe?” laughed Dolores, scornfully. “No; I am a true daughter of the Church; but I believe this opal to be mine, and if I can get it I will do so.”
“We will both try and obtain it, though I am afraid there is but little chance of doing so. We know not where is the temple.”
“Cocom knows.”
“Yes; but Cocom will not tell. But enough of the opal. We will talk of it again. Meanwhile, tell me to whom is Rafael engaged? He has told me nothing about it.”
“No; he has told no one save me, lest it should reach the ears of my uncle, and thus anger him. The lady my cousin loves is Doña Carmencita de Tejada——”
“What!” ejaculated Jack, in surprise. “The daughter of Xuarez’s right-hand man?”
“Yes, the daughter of Don José de Tejada, the rebel. So, you see, he does not let his father know of his love, for Don Miguel would never consent to his son becoming the husband of a traitor’s child.”
“True, true. Poor Rafael! The course of his love does not seem likely to run smooth. Still, when the war is over, he may be more fortunate.”
“Ah! the war,” said Doña Dolores, sadly. “This terrible war. How I tremble to think of what is before us. Should Don Hypolito conquer——” She covered her face with her hands, shuddering violently.
“Don Hypolito will not conquer,” replied Jack, soothingly taking her to his breast. “We will humble him to the dust before three months are ended. Besides, if the worst comes, we can fly to Europe.”
“Ay, de mi. May it not come to that.”
“Amen!” said Duval, solemnly; and they remained clasped in each others arms, with hearts too full for speech.
Suddenly they heard the sound of a prolonged yawn, and had just time to separate before Doña Serafina caught them in that close embrace. Fortunately, they had been hidden by an angle of the azotea wall, so the good lady, who had just awakened, and was still bemused with sleep, saw nothing. When she was thoroughly awake, however, she espied Jack in all the bravery of his uniform, and came forward with a light step and an exclamation of delight.
“El Regimiento de los Caballeros!” she exclaimed, admiringly. “Santissima! how the uniform does become you, Don Juan. I do so admire handsome Americanos,” added the lady, languidly. Dolores laughed at this naïve confession, but Jack, modest Jack, blushed through the tan of his skin.
“Really, Doña Serafina, I am much obliged, I kiss your hands,” he answered, confusedly. “I have just arrived”—he had been there half an hour—“just arrived, Señora, and I had not the heart to disturb you.”
“Has the child spoken?” said Doña Serafina, waving her fan towards Dolores, who stood with downcast eyes, inwardly convulsed, outwardly demure.
“Oh yes; a little. She has not the brilliant tongue of her aunt,” replied Jack, artfully.
“Pobrecita! She is young; she is a kitten. She will yet improve. I was the same at her age.”
“The deuce you were,” thought Jack, with secret apprehension, surveying her portly form. “I hope Dolores won’t be the same at your age.”
“And Don Pedro?” asked the duenna, languidly.
“Will lay his heart at your feet this evening, Señora.”
“It is his Don Juan,” responded the lady, graciously. It was a mere figure of speech; but Jack was secretly amused to think how alarmed Peter would be hearing of such an offer.
“Oh, this war, Señor Americano; this terrible war! How I fear it.”
“Do not be afraid, Señora. We will protect you.”
“Oh yes; I am sure of that. But my nephew, Señor? Don Rafael! He is much angered.”
“At the war?”
“Santissima, no! At his ship, which still sails up and down in front of Tlatonac. What does it mean, Señor?”
Jack turned in the direction indicated by her fan, and saw a large ship far out on the wrinkled sea.
“Is that The Pizarro? I did not know,” he said in some perplexity. “I understood she had departed to Acauhtzin.”
“My cousin says it is The Pizarro,” interposed Dolores at this moment; “and we know not why she stays.”
“I notice she keeps well out of the range of the fort guns,” muttered Jack, anxiously. “Hum! it is curious. Perhaps she is sent by Don Hypolito to carry off Doña Dolores.”
The old lady made a gesture to avert the evil eye.
“Say not such things, Señor. That terrible man! He might carry me off even here.”
“So he might, Señora,” replied Jack, trying to be serious. “I would advise yourself and the young ladies to keep within doors.”
“If Don Hypolito can carry us off from the middle of Tlatonac, he is cleverer than I think,” said Dolores, contemptuously; “but what can be the reason of The Pizarro thus guarding the town?”
“I have it!” cried Jack, suddenly enlightened. “She is watching for the arrival of the torpedo-boats. Yes, that is her game. She wishes to meet them before they know of the revolt, and thus seduce them to the cause of Xuarez!”
“Impossible,
