save is for you one of these days. I have much money, but I crave
more, and it is all for you, _chiquita_. It is my wish to see
you, one of these days, a very queen of wealth, as you are already
a queen of goodness and tenderness. Since you must handle the
great fortune that I am building for you I have concluded to override
the customs of our people for generations. In other words, I
am going to begin to train you, _chiquita_, in business."

"Business?" murmured the girl. "Ah! That word frightens me--I
am so ignorant."

"Your first lesson shall not tire or dismay you," promised Don
Luis, gently. "Now, place your chair close beside mine, and look
over this ledger with me. I shall not attempt to make you comprehend
too much at first."

With pencil and paper beside the ledger, Don Luis read off many
items. Occasionally he did some figuring on the sheet of paper,
as though to make the matters more clear to his daughter. She
made a very pretty picture, trying to follow her father's explanations,
but the perplexed wrinkling of her brow showed how hard it was
for her to do so.

The figures that Don Luis took from his ledger all tended to show
the immensity of the wealth already produced from _El Sombrero_.
Tom and Harry listened courteously, for they had been invited
to join the group.

"You are tired, _chiquita_," said her father, at last. "I have
taken you too far on our first excursion into the realm of finance.