Lolita promptly placed the wreath on his head. "I crown you king of heartbreakers," but looking at Morando. "I salute the king," proclaimed the Captain. "Whom shall I crown queen of heart-breakers?" Lolita went on. "Crown yourself," from her partner. "Señorita, the honor should be yours." "Hush!" in pretended severity. "All hearts fall before you," sweeping his arm toward the company. "Crown yourself; nay, I'll crown you." He removed the garland from his own head and attempted to place it on Lolita's. She resisted. The señoritas and the gallants laughed and cheered loudly. Finally she took it from his hand and held it aloft. "I appeal to the company here present; who is the queen of heart-breakers? This crown is looking for a wearer." "Alfreda Castro! Carmelita Mendoza! Ysobel Soto! Señora Valentino!" came from the crowd. "The Señora Valentino should have it. She has overcome the Captain Morando. 'Sword and glove' has he surrendered to her. It was at the door of the supper room. I saw it. Señora Valentino, the wreath is thine." "Señorita Doña Hernandez!" remonstrated her dueña. "Remember the señora is not a maid as art thou. Have care for thy tongue." Lolita started toward Señora Valentino. "Come back, Señorita Lolita," from the dueña. Lolita partly turned, but Señora Valentino was laughing, in evident enjoyment of the fun. Reassured, the girl called to the company: "Shall it not be the señora?' "The Señora Valentino!" they cried. "Our fair guest from Spain! Honor her! Crown her queen of heart-breakers!" The señora smiled sweetly at the joyous throng, as much at home in the frolic as anyone among them. Lolita placed the wreath on the señora's head. "As thy friends acclaim, so I do. You are pronounced queen of heart-breakers." What reply the señora made could not be heard for the applause, but she kissed first one hand, then the other, to the señoritas and the caballeros. Mendoza was standing by his place at the table. He motioned again and again for silence before it was obtained. Finally they listened to him. "To the ballroom for you youngsters! Come with me." "Will you stay with us in the ballroom, señor? We want you," laughed a girl. "I'll start you going in the dance, then return to the table. We elders like to linger a while over our coffee and burnt brandy. But come now, children." They followed him through the green archway into the ballroom. When the señor had left the supper room, taking the younger contingent with him, the others had moved toward his end of the table. Barcelo insisted that Moraga should at once accompany him to the card room; whereupon rather reluctantly Moraga left his old friends. Marcel Hernandez arose to his feet.