"Assuredly," replied the baronet, tickled at this delicate way of putting it. "I know that my friend wishes to marry your cousin." "Ay de mi. It can never be." "He is not rich enough." "He is not a Spaniard. My father will never consent. And then," she dropped her voice, and looked round fearfully. "The Chalchuih Tlatonac!" "I know about that also. But it has nothing to do with this marriage." "It has everything to do with it. The Indians look on my cousin as one of themselves, and, if she married an Americano, she would leave the country. Then there would be no guardian of the stone, and their god would be angry." "Is your cousin, then, to marry as they please?" "She must marry one of her own people. An Indian or a Mestizo." "But suppose she does not?" "The Indians will carry her to their forest temple, and keep her there in captivity." "Impossible! How could they seize her in Tlatonac?" Doña Eulalia nodded her head wisely. "You do not know how strong are the Indians, Señor. They are everywhere. If they want Dolores at their temple, they will be sure to capture her if they choose." "By force?" "No, by stratagem! They could take her away at any moment, and none of us would see her again." "But what does Don Hypolito say to all this?" Eulalia spread out her little hands with a look of disgust. "Don Hypolito wants to marry Dolores because of the Chalchuih Tlatonac! He is a Mestizo; so the Indians would not mind such a marriage. But she hates him, and loves Don Juan. Let your friend beware, Señor." "Of whom! Of Don Hypolito?" "Yes; and of the Indians. It is much feared that Don Hypolito is no good Catholic--that he has been to the forest temple and seen--oh," she broke off with a shudder. "I do not know what he has seen. But he hates Don Juan, and, if he captures him, will put him to death. Señor----" At this moment, before she could say more, Don Miguel entered the patio. Whereupon Eulalia whirled away like a black-and-amber bird. Philip looked after her for a second, thinking how graceful she was, then turned to greet Don Miguel. That gentleman was as lean and dry and as solemn as ever. How he ever came to be the parent of this fairy of midnight, Philip could not quite understand. But doubtless she took after her mother--the female side of a family generally does, in looks. "I was just conversing with Doña Eulalia," said Philip, responding to Maraquando's stately greeting "Your daughter, Señor." "She is yours also, Señor," was Miguel's startling reply. "Egad! I wish she was mine," thought Cassim, who knew this Spanish formula too well to be astonished. "By the way, Señor, my friend Don Pedro thanks you for sending Cocom," he added politely. "Don Pedro is welcome a thousand times to my poor services. And where is the Señor Correspoñsal?" "Writing for his diario." "Bueno, Señor. And Don Juan?" "He is now on his way to your estancia."