Bueno! You admire from a
distance, is it not so? You are struck with the lady's beauty;
your heart is awakened. You are miserable. You pine away. You
cannot find courage to speak. It is admirable, senor. We
understand fully, and I, who know, assure you of her many
virtues."
"No, it's nothing like that, either. I have no doubt Miss Torres
is altogether charming, but--I--there's just a mistake, that's
all. I'm not the least bit in love with her."
"But, senor! Is it not you who have stood beneath her window
nightly? Is it not you who have laid siege to her these many
days?" The speaker's eyes were glowing with anger as he turned to
make his inquiry clear to the young lady's father.
Mr. Torres began to swell ominously.
"If you'll just let me explain. I'm in love with a young woman,
true enough, but it doesn't happen to be Miss Torres. I thought it
was, but it isn't."
There was another vibrant exchange of words between the Spaniards.
"You were making sport, then, of my friend--"
"No, no! It's another person altogether."
"Who?"
"I don't know her name."
"WHAT?" Herara was about to burst forth when his friend nudged him
and he was obliged to put this amazing declaration into Spanish.
Senor Torres breathed heavily and exploded an oath.
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