"Take my advice," continued my mentor, whose leaning was towards light hair; "don't see her again. If she should prove plain, it would only cause you a chagrin to discover it; and, if she really be the angel you think she is, better you should never more meet her--except in heaven! From what you've told me, she's either engaged to this young fellow, or in the fair way of being made a fool of--a thing not so uncommon among the damsels of this good city. In either case there's no chance for you. Give up fretting about her. It will be easy as falling off a log. Don't go into the street where she lives; though I don't suppose there'd be much danger of seeing her if you did--now that those rascally Red Hats are about. In a month more we'll be on the march for the Halls of the Moctezumas; and there you'll either get a bullet in your abdomen, or another shot through the heart, from a pair of eyes perhaps as sparkling as those of the Villa-Senor." The word "never" was upon my lips, and the thought was in my mind. I did not utter it, knowing that my friend would only laugh at me. "_Un clavo saca otro clavo_," (one nail drives out another), continued my Job's comforter; "A proverb of their own exactly applicable to your case. Ah! well do they understand the intricacies and tricks of love. These same Spaniards understood them three hundred years ago; while we simple Saxons only knew them as instincts. No doubt Miss Mercedes has often heard the proverb--perhaps often practised it. So take my advice, old boy, and do you the same. Take for your motto, `_un clavo saca otro clavo_!'" "All very well for you, who have no love to be expelled. That is a thing not so easy, as you imagine." "Bah! Easy enough. Look around you. I'll warrant you'll see plenty of beautiful women--according to your style--among these dark-complexioned senoritas. Go out upon the streets--into the Alameda--to church-- anywhere, excepting into the `street of the bishop.'" I followed my friend's advice, and sought for the "un clavo" that should force out the "otro clavo." I did not succeed in finding it. The first nail held its place in my heart, despite every endeavour to draw it. Still did I persevere in the resolution to see Mercedes no more--stern struggle though it cost me. It was not necessary I should shut my eyes, while passing through the streets. There was little likelihood of my encountering her by chance. More than ever did the ladies keep to their seclusion. And no wonder, during the reign of the Red Hats. The few who sallied forth in carriages, for a drive round the Alameda, were either the wives of foreign merchants, or belonging to one of the half dozen families, who, from interested motives, had become, for the time, "Ayankeado."