Santiago, more flushed than his sister at her
triumphs, fetched the long strip of silk, and Rez-
anov detached her from her eager court and led her
without. Elena Castro followed closely, yet with
a cavalier of her own that her friend might talk
freely with this interesting stranger. The night air
was cool and stimulating. The hills were black
under the sparks of white fire in the high arch of the
California sky. In the Presidio square were long
blue shadows that might have been reflections of
the smoldering blue beyond the stars. Rezanov
and Concha sat on the railing at the end of the
"corridor."

"It is a custom--all that very material admira-
tion?" he asked.

"A very old one, but not too often followed.
Otherwise we should not prize it. But when some
Favorita outdoes herself then she receives the
greatest reward that man can think of--gold and
silver jewels. We do not dare to return the tributes
in common fashion, but they have a way of appear-
ing where they belong as soon as their owners are
supposed to have forgotten the incident. As you
are not a Californian, senor, I take the liberty of re-
turning this without any foolish subterfuge." She
handed him his contribution. "I thank you all the
same. It was a spontaneous act, and I am very