As the little company swept round the square, the two horsemen saluted our pavilion. Don Pedro lifted his plumed hat high, and I saw that his face was pale from his recent wound, but the bold black eyes were as bright as ever they had been before. I drew back hastily from the front of the pavilion and made no pretence of returning his salute. Then, for the first time since I had taken my seat beside her, Dona Orosia spoke to me. "Why such scant courtesy?" she asked, with lifted brows. "Madame," I answered, "had my betrothed been here at my side, an honoured guest, I would have had more graciousness at my command." "What!" she exclaimed, "have you not yet had time to forget your quarrelsome cavalier?" "I will forget him, madame, when I cease to remember the treachery of those who called themselves his entertainers." She flushed angrily. "Your tongue has more of spirit than your face. I wonder that you have the courage to say this to me." "I dare, because I have nothing more to lose, madame!" "Say you so? Would you rather I gave you into Melinza's keeping?" "Nay!" I cried, "you could not--such unfaith would surpass the limits of even Spanish treachery! And you would not--it would please you better _if he never set eyes upon my face again_! I only wonder that you should have brought me here to-day!" She opened her lips to speak; but the blare of the trumpets drowned the words, and she turned away from me. The troops were drawn in line across the square: on the right, the Spanish regulars of the garrison; on the left, the militia companies, which had come up while we were speaking. These last were made up, for the most part, of mulattoes and half-breed Indians,--a swarthy-faced, ill-looking band that appeared fitter for savage warfare of stealth and ambuscade and poisoned arrows than for valorous exploits and honest sword-play. The various man[oe]uvres of the troops, under the skilled leadership of Don Pedro, occupied our attention for upward of an hour, during all which time my companion appeared quite unconscious of my presence. She sat motionless save for the swaying of her fan. Only once did her face express aught but fixed attention--and that was when a sudden fanfare of the trumpets caused the Governor's horse to plunge, and the old man lurched forward on the pommel of his saddle, his plumed hat slipping down over his eyes. For an instant the swaying fan was still; a low laugh sounded in my ear, and, turning, I saw the red lips of the Governor's lady take on a very scornful curve. She received him graciously enough, however, when--the review being over--he dismounted and joined us in the pavilion. Melinza had retired with the troops; but just as the last rank disappeared from view he came galloping back at full speed, flung himself from the saddle, and, throwing the reins to an attendant, mounted the pavilion stair.