here, Mr. Freeman: I wish to speak to you."

"Thank you," he replied, resolving at
once to widen the breach to the utmost
extent possible, "I am otherwise engaged."

"Upon my word," observed the professor,
with a chuckle, "you're no diplomatist,
Harvey! What are you two about here?
Investigating antiquities?"

"The remains of ancient Mexico are
more interesting than some of her recent
products," returned Freeman, who wished
to quarrel with somebody, and had promptly
decided that Senor Don Miguel de Mendoza
was the most available person. He bowed
to the latter as he spoke.

"You--a--spoken to me?" said the senor,
stepping forward with a polite grimace. "I
no to quite comprehend----"

"Pray don't exert yourself to converse
with me out of your own language, senor,"
interrupted Freeman, in Spanish. "I was
just remarking that the Spaniards seem to
have degenerated greatly since they colonized
Mexico."