“It is an old song, your Honor,” replied the child, as she curtesied prettily to him, in the same manner she did the day she came to the State House to sell her flowers. It was only a few days ago, yet it seemed to the Governor that a year or more had passed. In fact, the child had grown to be so great a part of his life that it seemed incredulous that she had ever lived elsewhere. “Where did you learn it, dear?” asked the Governor. The child was startled at first, and looked frightened; then, throwing out her arms, she rushed to the Governor, crying: “For a moment I was the Catalina of long ago. I was unhappy. I had ceased to remember myself as I now am. I thought I was the poor Catalina of disgrace and despair whom the President taught to sing that song so long ago. He sang it to me the night he left for ‘the States,’ in the other life that I knew him.” “Was he kind to you, dear?” asked the Governor. “Indeed he was, papa; kinder than any man had been. Sometimes he vexed me greatly. I did not understand him, and he was a constant tease.” “He was an American tourist in Mexico then, was he not?” asked the Governor. “He was an American, I am quite sure; but I do not think he was in Mexico for pleasure,” replied Catalina. “Possibly not,” commented the Governor; “at that time many Americans were coming to Mexico to prospect. He no doubt was a mining man.” “I do not think so,” confidently replied Catalina. “No? What idea have you then, child?” “He had much money to spend, and every time he came, and he came often, he gave me money; sometimes food and clothes. My mother washed for several people who stayed at the big white hotel facing the principal plaza. He knew this, and whenever he came he questioned me about these people—he wanted to know what I saw in their rooms. I always went with my mother to help her carry _la ropa limpia_ home. I had a sharp eye and usually saw everything in view in the room,” she replied. “I cannot understand,” replied the Governor, “why he questioned you about what these people had in their rooms. He must have been consumed with idle curiosity.” “He asked me,” continued Catalina, “if I could bring him the ‘_phiz_’ of a certain man, who with his wife stayed at the hotel.” “The _phiz_? What did he mean, child?”