I was about to make the best apology in my power, by hastening away from the spot--my eyes turned to the ground in a look of humiliation--when curiosity, more than aught else, prompted me to raise them once more to the window. I was desirous to know whether my repentance had been understood and acknowledged. I intended it only for a transitory glance. It became fixed. Fixed and fascinated! The woman that but six seconds before appeared only pretty--that three days before I had supposed supremely beautiful-- was again the _angel_ I had deemed her,--certainly the most beautiful woman I ever beheld! What could have caused this change? Was it an illusion--some deception my senses were practising upon me? If the lady saw reason to think me rude before, she had double cause now. I stood transfixed to the spot, gazing upon her with my eyes, my soul--my every thought concentrated in the glance. And yet she seemed less frowning than before: for I was sure that she had frowned. I could not explain this, any more than I could account for the other transformation. Enough that I was gratified with the thought of having, not idly, bestowed my sword-knot. For some time I remained under the spell of a speechless surprise. It was broken--not by words, but by a new _tableau_ suddenly presented to my view. Two women were at the window! One was the pretty prude who had well nigh chased me out of the street; the other, the lovely being who had attracted me into it! At a glance I saw that they were sisters. They were remarkably alike, both in form and features. Even the expression upon their countenances was similar--that similarity that may be seen between two individuals in the same family, known as a "family likeness." Both were of a clear olive complexion--the tint of the Moriseo-Spaniard--with large imperious eyes, and masses of black hair clustering around their necks. Both were tall, of full form, and shaped as if from the same mould; while in age--so far as appearance went--they might have been twins. And yet, despite these many points of personal similarity, in the degree of loveliness they were vastly different. She who had been offended by my behaviour was a handsome woman, and only that--a thing of Earth; while her sister had the seeming of some divine creature whose home might be in Heaven! CHAPTER FIVE. A NOCTURNAL SORTIE. From that day, each return of twilight's gentle hour saw me in the Calle del Obispo. The sun was not more certain to set behind the snow-crowned Cordilleras, than I to traverse the street where dwelt Mercedes Villa-Senor. Her name and condition had been easily ascertained. Any stray passenger encountered in the street could tell, who lived in the grand _casa_ with the frescoed front. "Don Eusebio Villa-Senor--_un rico_--with two daughters, _muchachas muy lindas_!" was the reply of him, to whom I addressed the inquiry.