All
is straight and easy. The tobacco must be shipped to-morrow--"
"In the same _falucha_?"
"Yes; for Estepona. Be ready, then, at gunfire--"
He stopped suddenly as Mariquita came in.
"Beautiful as a star!" was his greeting; and in a fulsome, familiar
tone he went on--"You are like the sun at noon, my beauty, and burn
my heart with your bright eyes."
"Insolent!" retorted Mariquita. "Hold your tongue."
"What! cross-grained and out of humour, sweetest? Come, sit here on my
knee and listen, while I whisper some good news."
"Unless you address me more decently, Benito Villegas, I shall not
speak to you at all."
"Good news! what then?" put in Tio Pedro, in a coaxing voice.
"My fortune is made. I have found powerful friends here upon the Rock.
Within a few days now, through their help, I shall be part owner of la
Hermandad Stable; and I can marry when I please."
"Fortunate girl!" said Tio Pedro, turning to Mariquita.
"It does not affect me," replied the girl, with chilling contempt.
"Had you the wealth of the Indies, Benito Villegas, and a dukedom to
offer, you should never call me yours."
Benito's face grew black as thunder at this unequivocal reply.
"Don't mind her, my son," said the old man. "She has lost her senses:
the evil one has bitten her."
"Say, rather, one of those accursed red-coats," interposed his wife,
"who has cast a spell over her.
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