EL SUSPIRO

  Una mirada un suspiro,
  Una lagrima querida,
  Es balsamo a la herida
  Que abriste en mi corazon.

  Por esa lagrima cara
  Objeto de mi termina,
  Yo te ame bella criatura
  Desde que te vi llorar.

  Te acuerdas de aquella noche
  En que triste y abatida
  Una lagrima querida
  Vi de tus ojos brotar.

Although Russell was at the base of the high wall he saw that a light flashed.  The light was followed by the clapping of little hands.  “Jove!” he thought, “am I really jealous?  But damn that Californian!”

Altimira sang two more songs and was rewarded by the same demonstrations.  As he descended the ladder and reached the open street he met Russell face to face.  The two men regarded each other for a moment.  The Californian’s handsome face was distorted by a passionate scowl; Russell was calmer, but his brows were lowered.

Altimira flung the ladder to the ground, but fire-blooded as he was, the politeness of his race did not desert him, and his struggle with English flung oil upon his passion.

“Senor,” he said, “I no know what you do it by the house of the Senorita Benicia so late in the night.  I suppose you have the right to walk in the town si it please yourself.”

“Have I not the same right as you—­to serenade the Senorita Benicia?  If I had known her room, I should have been on the wall before you.”

Altimira’s face flushed with triumph.  “I think the Senorita Benicia no care for the English song, senor.  She love the sweet words of her country:  she no care for words of ice.”

Russell smiled.  “Our language may not be as elastic as yours, Don Fernando, but it is a good deal more sincere.  And it can express as much and perhaps—­”

“You love Benicia?” interrupted Altimira, fiercely.

“I admire the Senorita Ortega tremendously.  But I have seen her twice only, and although we may love longer, we take more time to get there, perhaps, than you do.”

“Ay!  Dios de mi vida!  You have the heart of rock!  You chip it off in little pieces, one to-day, another to-morrow, and give to the woman.  I, senor, I love Benicia, and I marry her.  You understand?  Si you take her, I cut the heart from your body.  You understand?”

“I understand.  We understand each other.”  Russell lifted his cap.  The Californian took his sombrero from his head and made a long sweeping bow; and the two men parted.

VII