The Tapada.                                            **9

¦ Come, that is a charming coincidence."
On reaching his room, Don Louis turned to his companion.
" Well," he said to him ; " what have you to tell me ? "
" Listen This morning, according to my daily custom, I was walking about
after breakfast, smoking a papelita, when, at the corner of the Calle de la Meiced
and the Calle San Francisco, 1 felt a slight touch on my arm. 1 turned sharply. A
charming woman, or at least I suppose so, for it was impossible for me to distinguish
her features, so carefully were they hidden in the folds, her rebozo, made me a sign
to follow her.    What would you have done in my place, Don Louis? "
" I do not know, my friend ; but I entreat you, lie brief, for I am in a hurry.
" Well, I followed her.    You know that I have an idea about Mexican women,
and am convinced that some day or other-------"                        ...                . . ¦
" In Heaven's name, my friend, come to the point,' Dan Louis interrupted him,
stamping his foot impatiently.                                                         ens.      at.
» I am doing so. I followed her then. She entered the church of la Mero-d, I at
her heels. The church was deserted at that moment, which caused me a lively
pleasure ; because in such a case a man can talk at his ease. Do not be impatient,
I have come to it. When I reached a rather da-', corner, the young and charming
female for I assert that she is both, turned so suddenly that I almost trod on her
toes 'Are you not Don Cornelio Mendoza?' she ".sked me. 'Yes,' I replied.
1 In that case,' she said, ' you are a friend of the count-' I guessed at once that the
stranger alluded to you. 'I am his intimate friend,' I continued. 'That is well,'
she added drawing from her bosom a small note, which she placed m my hand ;
' give him'this as quickly as possible, it alludes to veiy grave matters.' I seized the
paper on which I mechanically fixed my eyes ; when I rai«ed them again, my
incognita had disappeared, fled like a sylph, leaving no trace. It was impossible for
me to catch her up, for the confounded place was so dark."
"Well  and where is the note?" Don Louis asked.
" Here'it is.    Oh, I did not lose it !    It was too warmly recommended to me.
The count took it, and, without deigning a glance, threw it on the table.    Since
his arrival at Pitic he had received twenty a day, and had not answered one; he did
not even read them now, as he felt convinced they all meant the same thing.
" And now," ho added, "you have finished, I presume? "
" Y es."
" Then listen to me in your turn," he continued, handing him the letter he had
orepared for the hunter during his absence. " You will mount this instant, start
for Guaymas, give this letter to Don Valentine, and bring me back the answer. Y ou
understand ? "
" Of course."
" I can rely on your diligence ? "
** I start."
He went out.    Ten minutes later, Don Louis heard the hurried foctfalls of a hors»
re-echoing before the gateway.                                                                  ____     .
"Tomorrow, at this hour, I shall know on what I have to depend," Don Louis
He threw himself on a butacca, and, resting his elbows on a table, he buried his
head in his hands and fell into deep thought. In ttiis position his eyes became
involuntarily fixed on the note Dan Cornelio had given him, and which was just m
front of him.    A sickly smile played on his lips.
" Poor fools ! " he muttered, " who only dream of love and pleasure, to whom life
is only one long festival. What Med have I of your false protestations, to which I
cannot respond ? Love for me no longer exists. Uke -*dl the women who have
pieceded her, this one doubtlessly oneis me an eternal lov» wnicb she will forget