Page 75 (1/2)

"Dearher fair cheek with the

unnecessary fan, and venturing on a joke, "is the ravely and unexpectedly

At this every one, very naturally, looked astonished--that is, all save

Donna Inez, who still preserved her fixed smile Mrs Jasher took a

lady was not very

intelligent Meanwhile Don Pedro continued his speech after a glance

round the circle

"I have the blood of the royal Inca race in my veins," he said with

pride

"Ha!" murmured theto herself, "then that accounts for your love

of color, which is so un-English;" then she raised her voice "Tell us

all about it, Don Pedro," she entreated; "we are usually so dull here

that a romantic story excites us dreadfully"

"I do not know that it is very romantic," said Don Pedro with a polite

smile, "and if you will not find it dull--"

"Oh, no!" said Archie, as as anxious as Mrs Jasher to hear what

was to be said about the ain, and again swept the circle with his deep-set

eyes

"The Inca Caxas," he remarked, "was one of the decadent rulers of