like stars, her red lips parted, Don Ignacio, long
since recovered from his spleen, invaded his pocket
and flung a handful of silver at her feet. It was a
signal. Gold and silver coins, chains, watches,
jewels, bounced over the floor, to be laughingly
ignored. Rezanov looked on in amazement, won-
dering if this were a part of the performance and
if he should follow suit. But after a glance at the
faces of the young men, lost to everything but their
passionate admiration for the unique and beautiful
dancing of their Favorita, and when Sturgis, after
wildly searching in his pockets, tore a large pearl
from the lace of his stock, he doubted no longer--
nor hesitated. Fastened by a blue ribbon to the
fourth button of his closely fitting coat was a golden
key, the outward symbol of his rank at court. He
detached it, then made a sudden gesture that caught
her attention. For a moment their eyes met. He
tossed her the bauble, and mechanically she lifted
her hand and caught it. Then she laughed con-
fusedly, shrugged her shoulders, bowed graciously
to her audience, and signalled to the musicians to
stop. Rezanov was at her side in a moment.

"You must be tired," he said. "I insist that you
come out on the veranda and rest."

"Very well," she said indifferently; "it is quite
time we all went out to the air. Santiago mio, wilt
thou bring my reboso--the white one?"