"To pack my trunks," said Felisa, "if you can spare that girl of
yours--that Agueda--to help me."
A throb of joy flew upward in the heart of Agueda, whose nervous ear was
awake now to all sounds.
"Do you really mean it, Felisa?"
"I certainly do mean it," answered Felisa. "If you go away from me now,
I will take the first steamer home. To-morrow, if one sails."
"And suppose that I refuse you the horses, the conveyance, the
servants--"
Felisa turned and looked scornfully at Beltran.
"I suppose that you are a gentleman first of all," she said. "You could
not refuse."
"No, I could not."
"And you will remain?"
Beltran dropped his head on his breast.
"I will remain," he said.
Beltran drew his breath sharply inward.
"It is the first time," he added.
"The first time?" She looked at him questioningly.
"Did I speak aloud? Yes, the first time, Felisa, that I was ever false
to a friend. He counts on me; I promised--"
"Men friends, I suppose. What about women? I count on you, you have
promised _me_--"
Agueda threw herself face downward on her bed and stopped her ears with
deep buried fingers.