I shall never forget that reading. Her face, always expressive, was to me like an open book. I was by this time quite familiar with de Escoban's narrative, as I had with infinite patience dug it out letter by letter from the cipher in which it had been buried for so long. As also I had written it out fair twice over, it was little wonder that I knew it well. As she read I so followed that I could have told to a sentence how far she had got in the history. Once she unconsciously put her hand to her throat and felt the brooch; but immediately drew it away again, glancing for a moment at me from under her eyelashes to see whether I had observed. She saw I had, shook her head with a smile, and read on. When she had finished reading, she gave a long sigh and then held out her hand to me saying: "Bravo! I congratulate you with all my heart!" Her touch thrilled me; she was all on fire, and there was a purposeful look in her face which was outside and beyond any joy that she could have with regard to any success of mine. This struck me so much that I said impulsively: "Why are you so glad?" She answered instinctively and without thought: "Because you will keep it from the Spaniards!" Then she stopped suddenly, with a gesture of self repression. I felt a little piqued. I would have thought that her concern would have been rather individual than political. That in such a matter even before racial hatred would have come gladness at the well-doing of even such a friend--without prejudice--as I was. Looking at me, she seemed to see through me and said "With her two white hands extended, as if praying one offended:" "Oh, I am sorry! I did not mean to hurt you. I can't explain yet; not to-day, which is for comradeship only.--Yes without prejudice"--for she saw my look and answered it "But some day you will understand." She was so evidently embarrassed and pained at having for some reason which I did not comprehend to show reticence to me who had been so open with her, that I felt it my duty to put her at ease. This I tried to do by assuring her that I quite understood that she had some good reason, and that I was quite content to wait. I could not help adding before I stopped: "This is a small thing to have to wait for after all; when I have to wait for something so much more important." The warning finger was held up again with a smile.