"You have wasted a candle, senor. I have never
had a wish that was not instantly gratified. But I
thank you for the kind thought. Will you finish
this waltz with my friend, and the fiancee of Luis,
Rafaella Sal? She has quarrelled with Luis, I see;
Don Weeliam is dancing with Carolina Xime'no, and
she cares to waltz with no one else. Pardon me if
I say that no one has ever waltzed as well as your
excellency, and I must not be selfish."

"I will release you if you are tired, but otherwise
I shall do myself the honor to waltz with your
friend later."

"I must look after my other guests," she said
coldly; and he was led with what grace he could
summon to the fair but sulky Rafaella.

"How am I to help flirting with that girl?" he
thought as he mechanically guided another light and
graceful partner through the crowded room. "If
she were one girl I might resist. But since eleven
o'clock yesterday morning she has been three. And
if she was twenty yesterday, twelve this morning,
she is twenty-eight to-night, and this might be a
court ball in Madrid. I shall leave the day after I
bring the Governor to terms."

He sat beside Dona Ignacia during the contra-
danza and found the scene remarkably brilliant and