“‘You might have left that for me to do,’ says he.

“‘That’ll be your job hereafter,’ says I.  ’Keep on doing that and don’t try to talk.  Maybe after she thinks she’s in love she won’t notice the difference between real conversation and the inarticulate sort of droning that you give forth.’

“Now, I had never seen Senorita Anabela.  So, the next day Fergus asks me to walk with him through the plaza and view the daily promenade and exhibition of Oratama society, a sight that had no interest for me.  But I went; and children and dogs took to the banana groves and mangrove swamps as soon as they had a look at my face.

“‘Here she comes,’ said Fergus, twirling his moustache—­’the one in white, in the open carriage with the black horse.’

“I looked and felt the ground rock under my feet.  For Senorita Anabela Zamora was the most beautiful woman in the world, and the only one from that moment on, so far as Judson Tate was concerned.  I saw at a glance that I must be hers and she mine forever.  I thought of my face and nearly fainted; and then I thought of my other talents and stood upright again.  And I had been wooing her for three weeks for another man!

“As Senorita Anabela’s carriage rolled slowly past, she gave Fergus a long, soft glance from the corners of her night-black eyes, a glance that would have sent Judson Tate up into heaven in a rubber-tired chariot.  But she never looked at me.  And that handsome man only ruffles his curls and smirks and prances like a lady-killer at my side.

“‘What do you think of her, Judson?’ asks Fergus, with an air.

“‘This much,’ says I.  ’She is to be Mrs. Judson Tate.  I am no man to play tricks on a friend.  So take your warning.’

“I thought Fergus would die laughing.

“‘Well, well, well,’ said he, ’you old doughface!  Struck too, are you?  That’s great!  But you’re too late.  Francesca tells me that Anabela talks of nothing but me, day and night.  Of course, I’m awfully obliged to you for making that chin-music to her of evenings.  But, do you know, I’ve an idea that I could have done it as well myself.’

“‘Mrs. Judson Tate,’ says I.  ’Don’t forget the name.  You’ve had the use of my tongue to go with your good looks, my boy.  You can’t lend me your looks; but hereafter my tongue is my own.  Keep your mind on the name that’s to be on the visiting cards two inches by three and a half—­“Mrs. Judson Tate.”  That’s all.’

“‘All right,’ says Fergus, laughing again.  ’I’ve talked with her father, the alcalde, and he’s willing.  He’s to give a baile to-morrow evening in his new warehouse.  If you were a dancing man, Jud, I’d expect you around to meet the future Mrs. McMahan.’

“But on the next evening, when the music was playing loudest at the Alcade Zamora’s baile, into the room steps Judson Tate in new white linen clothes as if he were the biggest man in the whole nation, which he was.