"Sure; and the devil wins," agreed Don Antonio. "It is all settled. The Dona Luisa is a wise woman. Her son wins a wife, and the convent loses a fortune and a nun at the same time." "Had the good son nothing to do with the arrangement?" asked the American, dryly. "Oh, of course, senor. Three times he have gone to Mexico, where Felipe Estevan's daughter visit with his mother. He has time to sing many dozens of serenades,--all of the burning hearts and torment of love, and lost souls, to make a girl have pity. Maybe she have never before talked with one young man, one minute of her life; who knows?" "It is good time she comes," observed Don Ricardo. "One year--two years, and Rafael, like Miguel, would be content with half-breed children and their mother. Little Marta's child is born, and they say she will not stay at Las Flores, where he sent her--not for the best house there!" A peal of laughter reached them from the other room. "Bravo!" called Rafael; "I take you at your word, Merced. A kiss to seal the compact!" "Keep it for your wedding-day, Don Rafael," she retorted, and ran from him through the door into the room where the three men were talking. But Rafael caught her inside the portal, and dragged her back, his face flushed and his beautiful eyes glowing. "I will have it!" he muttered, with his lips against her own. "You pretty devil, I will!" "And this is the home your young nun will come to from her convent," Bryton remarked. "Some one said there was Indian blood in her family; it may prove fortunate, for she will need war-clubs instead of religion to quell this sort of thing." "But with the help of her saints--" "Of course," agreed Bryton; "with the help of her saints all things may happen." An Indian servant came in from the plaza, and closed the door and stood with his back against it. "The Dona Madalena, and Dona Dolores, and the Senora Bryton, stop in the calesha," he announced, stoically; "they come in!" "Bar that door! they sha'n't; they must not!" called Bryton, but it was too late. The side door opened, and the three appeared--the two girls plainly frightened, but Mrs. Bryton beautifully audacious. "Nonsense! Dona Teresa will not scold; we will stop only a minute. Your uncle and cousin are here--it is all right!" Then she saw Bryton, and laughed. "I told you I would at least see inside," she observed, "and it is quite worth while. What a magnificent chest!" Bryton walked directly to her. "I will see you to your carriage," he said, laying his hand on her arm. "What the devil did you mean by this bravado?" She wrenched her arm free and regarded him coolly. "Thanks. I came because I said I would come, and you said not to dare. 'Dare' is a risky word, amigo. We will go directly. We are going to the hills, and only halted to wish good luck to Rafael." "Malediction!" muttered Don Antonio. "He can't be seen--he--" A burst of laughter came from the dining-room, and the two girls retreated toward the door.