worth the waste of a moment. But surely, Com-
mandante, in your excitement at this perfectly nat-
ural issue you are misrepresenting yourself. I do
not believe, devout Catholic as you are, that your
soul is steeped in fanaticism. You are known far
and wide as the first and most intelligent of His
Catholic Majesty's subjects in New Spain. When
you have my word of honor that your daughter's
faith shall never be disturbed, it is impossible you
should believe that marriage with me would ruin
her chances of happiness in the next world. But I
doubt if your soul and conscience will have the peace
you desire if you ruin her happiness in this. What
pleasure do you find in the thought of an old age
companioned by a heart-broken daughter?"

Don Jose turned pale and hitched his chair.
"Other maids have been balked when young, and
have forgotten. Concha is but sixteen--"

"She is also unique. She will marry me or no
one. Of that I am as certain as that she is the
woman of women for me."

"How can you be so certain?" asked the Com-
mandante sharply. "Surely you have had little talk
alone with her?"

"The heart has a language of its own. Recall
your own youth, senor."