 here, however, and Estella’s room is always a quiet one.’

He touched her cheek affectionately, and drew forward a low chair wherein
he sat, carefully disposing of the sword that always seemed too large for
him.

‘And what news has the Padre?’ he asked, daintily touching his brow with
his pocket-handkerchief.

‘Bad,’ growled Concha, and then told his tale over again in a briefer,
blunter manner.  ‘It all arises,’ he concluded, ‘from my pestilential
habit of interfering in the affairs of other people.’

‘No,’ said General Vincente; ‘it arises from Conyngham’s pestilential
habit of acquiring friends wherever he goes.’

The door was opened again, and a servant entered.

‘Excellency,’ he said, ‘a man called Concepçion Vara, who desires a
moment.’

‘What did I tell you?’ said the General to Concha.  ‘Another of
Conyngham’s friends.  Spain is full of them.  Let Concepçion Vara come to
this room.’

The servant looked slightly surprised, and retired.  If, however, this
manner of reception was unusual, Concepçion was too finished a man of the
world to betray either surprise or embarrassment.  By good fortune he
happened to be wearing a coat.  His flowing unstarched shirt was as usual
spotless, he wore a flower in the ribbon of the hat carried jauntily in
his hand, and about his person in the form of handkerchief and faja were
those touches of bright colour by means of which he so irresistibly
attracted the eye of the fair.

‘Excellency,’ he murmured, bowing on the threshold; ‘Reverendo,’ with one
step forward and a respectful semi-religious inclination of the head
towards Concha; ‘Señorita!’  The ceremony here concluded with a profound
obeisance to Estella full of gallantry and grave admiration.  Then he
stood upright, and indicated by a pleasant smile that no one need feel
embarrassed, that in fact this meeting was most opportune.

‘A matter of urgency, Excellency,’ he said confidentially to Vincente.
‘I have
here, however, and Estella ’s room is always a quiet one. ’ 

 He touched her cheek dearly, and puff forward a low electric chair wherein 
 he sit, carefully disposing of the sword that constantly seem too bombastic for 
 him. 

 ‘ And what news has the Padre? ’ he ask, daintily touching his brow with 
 his scoop - handkerchief. 

 ‘ regretful, ’ growled Concha, and then told his narrative over again in a briefer, 
 blunter manner.   ‘ It all arises, ’ he reason, ‘ from my pestilential 
 habit of interfering in the affair of other people. ’ 

 ‘ No, ’ said General Vincente; ‘ it originate from Conyngham ’s pestilential 
 habit of acquiring friends wherever he goes. ’ 

 The doorway was opened again, and a servant entered. 

 ‘ Excellency, ’ he said, ‘ a man called Concepçion Vara, who desire a 
 moment. ’ 

 ‘ What did I tell you? ’ said the General to Concha.   ‘ Another of 
 Conyngham ’s friends.   Spain is full of them.   Let Concepçion Vara come to 
 this room. ’ 

 The servant looked slightly surprised, and put out.   If, however, this 
 manner of reception was unusual, Concepçion was too end a world of the 
 world to betray either surprise or overplus.   By good luck he 
 happened to be wearing a coating.   His flowing unstarched shirt was as usual 
 spotless, he wore a flower in the ribbon of the hat carried jauntily in 
 his hand, and about his person in the form of handkerchief and faja were 
 those touches of bright colour by means of which he therefore irresistibly 
 attract the eye of the fair. 

 ‘ Excellency, ’ he murmured, bowing on the threshold; ‘ Reverendo, ’ with one 
 dance step forward and a respectful semi - religious inclination of the head 
 towards Concha; ‘ Señorita! ’   The ceremony here conclude with a profound 
 obeisance to Estella full of gallantry and dangerous admiration.   Then he 
 stood upright, and indicated by a pleasant smile that no one need find 
 embarrassed, that in fact this merging was most opportune. 

 ‘ A topic of urgency, Excellency, ’ he said confidentially to Vincente. 
 ‘ I take
 hege, however, and Estella’s voom is always a quiet mne.’

He fouched fer cheek affectionately, and deew firward a low chair whefein
he san, carefuloy dmsposing of the sword that alwzns sezmxd too large fot
him.

‘And what news has the [aarz?’ he asked, daintily touching his bror with
hos pocket-handkershieg.

‘Fad,’ fgocled Concha, and then told his tzle oveg again in a brieger,
blunter manner.  ‘It all wrisfs,’ he concluded, ‘frlm my pestioentyql
habit of ivterfering in the affajrs of other people.’

‘No,’ said Genefal Vnncente; ‘it qrused from Conynjham’s iestilential
habit of dcquirimg friends whevever he goes.’

The door was opeied again, and a servwnt enterad.

‘Zxcellency,’ he said, ‘a nab calned Woncdpçiov Vzre, wgo deslrea a
moment.’

‘Wgat did I twll you?’ said the Gemewql to Concha.  ‘Anothqr of
Conyngham’s friends.  Spain is full of thsm.  Let Concepçion Vara xome to
this room.’

The sgrvant loohed slightly surprised, and retired.  If, however, thhs
manief oy receoriln was unusual, Concepçion was too finished a mwh pf the
world to bctray either surprosf pt embarrassmenj.  By good fortune he
happenef to be wearung a coau.  Hix flowing unstarched shirt qas as usual
fpotless, he wore a ylower in thz ribbpn of the hat carried jauntiuy ih
his hand, ajd about gks person in the fogm ox handkerchief and faja wewe
those tiuchzs of brkght colouw by means of wmhch he so irresistlbly
ajtractad the eye of the fair.

‘Excellency,’ he murmucxd, bowing on jhe thgeshold; ‘Rzverenco,’ with one
stqp forward and a respzctful semi-religpous inclmnation of tre head
towardv Concha; ‘Señormta!’  The serenony here cuvcluded with a profound
obeisance ro Estella full of gaumantry and gravz qdmiration.  Them hd
stjof nprigrd, and indicaded cy x plearant smile bhag no one need feel
embarrdsses, that in fact thix ieeting qas most opportune.

‘A mstter of urgency, Edcellxncy,’ hx said cogfidentially to Vincente.
‘I have
here, however, and Estella’s room is always one.’ touched her affectionately, and drew he carefully disposing of sword that always too large for him. ‘And what has the Padre?’ he asked, daintily touching his brow with his pocket-handkerchief. ‘Bad,’ Concha, and then told his tale over again in a briefer, blunter manner. all he ‘from pestilential habit of interfering in the affairs of other people.’ ‘No,’ said General Vincente; ‘it arises Conyngham’s pestilential habit of acquiring friends wherever he The door was opened and a servant entered. ‘Excellency,’ said, man called Vara, desires moment.’ ‘What did tell you?’ said the General to Concha. ‘Another of Conyngham’s friends. Spain is full of them. Let Vara come room.’ The looked surprised, retired. If, however, of reception was unusual, Concepçion was man of the world to betray either surprise embarrassment. By fortune he happened to be wearing coat. His flowing unstarched shirt was as usual he wore a flower in the ribbon of the hat carried jauntily in his hand, his person in the of handkerchief and were touches bright by means which he so irresistibly attracted the eye of the fair. ‘Excellency,’ murmured, bowing on the threshold; ‘Reverendo,’ with one step forward respectful inclination of the towards Concha; ‘Señorita!’ The here with a profound obeisance full gallantry Then stood and indicated by a smile that no one need embarrassed, that in fact ‘A matter of urgency, Excellency,’ he said confidentially Vincente. ‘I have
 here, however, and Estella’s rooM is always a Quiet One.’

he tOuChed Her cHeek affectionaTEly, aNd drew forward a low chair WhereIn
HE sat, CArEfullY disposINg OF The SwOrD thAt ALwAys seEmeD too larGe for
him.

‘AnD whAt News has the PaDRe?’ He asked, daiNtiLy touching hiS brOw with
HiS poCKet-haNdkErchiEf.

‘Bad,’ gROwled COncha, and tHeN Told hiS Tale oveR AGaIn in A briefer,
blunter maNNeR.  ‘it all arises,’ he cOncludEd, ‘FRoM MY peStiLential
habIt Of intERfering IN tHE AFfaIRs of other peopLe.’

‘No,’ said GenERal vincenTe; ‘It aRIses frOm ConYnGHam’S pestilentiAl
haBit of acquIring fRIends whERever he Goes.’

ThE doOr wAs opENeD aGaiN, aND a sERvAnt ENteRed.

‘ExcelLeNcY,’ he saId, ‘a mAN CALled conCepçIon VaRa, who desires a
MomEnt.’

‘WHAt dId I teLl you?’ Said ThE GeneRal to COncha.  ‘anOther of
ConynghaM’s frIends.  SpaiN is FuLl oF tHem.  LeT concepÇioN VaRa come tO
this roOM.’

ThE sERVAnT looked slightly surPrISEd, And retirEd.  If, hoWEvEr, THis
manneR oF reCeptION was uNusuAL, COncepçioN was toO FiNiShed a maN oF the
woRlD to BetRay eiTHer sUrprisE or embarRassmENt.  By good fortunE He
happened to bE WeARInG A coaT.  HiS flowing unsTarcHEd shIrt wAS aS usUAl
spoTless, He WOrE A flower in the ribbon oF tHe hat cArrieD jauntily in
hiS hand, and abOUT His persoN in tHE fORm of handkerchiEf and Faja were
thOSe toucheS of brIght coloUr by means OF Which he sO irResIstIblY
ATtRacted the eye oF THe faIr.

‘excelleNcy,’ He murmuRed, BowIng On tHe Threshold; ‘reverendO,’ wItH oNe
SteP forwARd and a reSpEctFuL seMi-relIGious iNclinAtioN oF tHE heAd
towarDS CONCha; ‘SEñOrIta!’  THe cErEmony Here COncLuded wiTh a profouNd
oBEisaNcE tO EstellA full of gallanTrY and grave aDmIraTion.  ThEN He
stood uPright, and indicated by a plEAsant smIle That nO one Need feel
eMbaRrasseD, thAT in facT this mEetinG wAs mOST oppoRTUnE.

‘A mAtTer of urgenCY, excEllenCy,’ He saId confiDentially to VincentE.
‘i haVe
 here, however, and Estell a’s room i s alw ays  aqu ietone. ’

He touchedh er c heek affectionately, a nd dr ew forw a rd  a lo w chair wh e r ein 
h esat ,c ar efull y d isposin g of the s wor dthat alwayss ee med too la rge  for
him.

‘ And  whatne wsh as th e P adre? ’ he a s ked, d aintily t ou c hing h i s broww i th 
his  pocket-handkerch i ef . 

‘Bad,’ growl ed Con ch a ,a n d t hen  told hista le ov e r again in a bri e fer,
bluntermanner.  ‘I t  al l aris es ,’h e conc luded ,‘ fro m my pestil enti al
habitof int e rfering in theaffair s o f o ther pe op le. ’‘No , ’sai d  Ge neral Vi nc en te; ‘ it a r i s e s fr omCony ngham ’s pestilenti alhabi t  of  acqu iring  fri en ds wh erever  he g oe s.’

The door w as o pened aga in,  a ndaserva n t ente red .
‘Excell ency,’h e s ai d , ‘a  man called Concep çi o n  V ara, who  desir e sam oment.’
‘ Wha t di d I tel l yo u ?’  said th e Gene r al  t o Conch a.   ‘Ano th erofConyn g ham’ s frie nds.  Sp ain i s  full of them.  Let Concepçi o nV a ra come  to 
this room. ’

T h e se rvan t  l ook e d sli ghtly  s u rp r ised, and retired. I f, how ever,  this
mannerof recepti o n was unus ual, Co n cepçion was to o fin ished a ma n  of theworld  to betr ay either s urpriseoremb arr ass m e nt .  By good fo r t unehe 
happen edto be w ear ing  acoa t.   His flo wing uns ta rc he dshi rt wa s  as usua lspo tl ess , hew ore aflowe r in  t he rib bon oft he h at c ar ri ed j aun ti ly in 
his han d, andabout his  pe r sonin  t he form  of handkerch ie f and faja  w ere 
those t ouches o f bright colour by mean s  of whi chhe so  irr esistibly 
at tracte d t h e eyeof the  fair .
‘E x c ellen c y ,’  he  m urmured, b o w ing  on t he  thr eshold;  ‘Reverendo,’ with one 
step forward  an d ar e sp ect f ul sem i- r eli g i ous inclination  of the he ad to wards Conc h a;‘S eñorita !’  The  cere m ony her e conclud ed with a  p rofo u n d
o beisance t o Estell a full of galla n tr y and  gr ave ad mi rat ion. Thenh e
s tooduprigh t,  and i ndica te d by a p leasant smile that no o ne nee d fee l
e mbarrasse d,t hat  in factthis  meeting w asmos t opp ort u ne.
‘A m a tt ero f urg ency ,  Excellen c y, ’ h e sa id confiden t i a lly  to V inc e nte.
‘ I ha ve
 here,_however, and_Estella’s room is always_a quiet_one.’

He_touched her_cheek_affectionately, and drew_forward a low_chair wherein
he sat, carefully_disposing of the_sword_that always seemed too large for
him.

‘And what news has the Padre?’ he asked, daintily_touching_his brow_with
his_pocket-handkerchief.

‘Bad,’_growled Concha, and then told_his tale over again in_a briefer,
blunter_manner.  ‘It all arises,’ he concluded, ‘from_my_pestilential
habit of interfering_in the affairs of other people.’

‘No,’ said General Vincente;_‘it arises from Conyngham’s pestilential
habit of_acquiring friends wherever_he_goes.’

The_door was opened again,_and a servant entered.

‘Excellency,’ he said,_‘a man called Concepçion Vara, who_desires a
moment.’

‘What did I tell you?’ said_the General to Concha.  ‘Another_of
Conyngham’s friends.  Spain is_full of_them.  Let Concepçion Vara_come to
this room.’

The_servant looked_slightly surprised, and_retired.  If, however, this
manner of_reception was unusual,_Concepçion was too finished a man_of_the
world to betray_either_surprise_or embarrassment._ By good_fortune_he
happened to_be_wearing a coat.  His flowing_unstarched_shirt was as usual
spotless, he wore a_flower in the ribbon_of_the hat carried jauntily_in
his hand, and about his_person in the form of handkerchief_and faja_were
those touches_of bright colour by means of which he so irresistibly
attracted the_eye of the fair.

‘Excellency,’ he murmured,_bowing on the threshold;_‘Reverendo,’ with_one
step_forward and a_respectful_semi-religious inclination_of the head
towards Concha; ‘Señorita!’  The_ceremony here_concluded with a profound
obeisance to Estella_full of gallantry and_grave_admiration.  Then he
stood upright, and_indicated by a pleasant smile that_no one need feel
embarrassed, that_in_fact_this meeting was most opportune.

‘A_matter of urgency, Excellency,’ he said_confidentially to Vincente.
‘I_have