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l。 They were now shouting and stamping and clapping。 Suddenly； as once more she danced back to the very center of the room； her bosom heaving； her eyes like stars； her red lips parted； Don Ignacio； long since recovered from his spleen； invaded his pocket and flung a handful of silver at her feet。 It was a signal。 Gold and silver coins； chains； watches； jewels； bounced over the floor； to be laughingly ignored。 Rezanov looked on in amazement； won… dering if this were a part of the performance and if he should follow suit。 But after a glance at the faces of the young men； lost to everything but their passionate admiration for the unique and beautiful dancing of their Favorita； and when Sturgis； after wildly searching in his pockets； tore a large pearl from the lace of his stock； he doubted no longer nor hesitated。 Fastened by a blue ribbon to the fourth button of his closely fitting coat was a golden key； the outward symbol of his rank at court。 He detached it； then made a sudden gesture that caught her attention。 For a moment their eyes met。 He tossed her the bauble； and mechanically she lifted her hand and caught it。 Then she laughed con… fusedly； shrugged her shoulders； bowed graciously to her audience； and signalled to the musicians to stop。 Rezanov was at her side in a moment。
〃You must be tired；〃 he said。 〃I insist that you come out on the veranda and rest。〃
〃Very well；〃 she said indifferently； 〃it is quite time we all went out to the air。 Santiago mio； wilt thou bring my rebosothe white one？〃
Santiago； more flushed than his sister at her triumphs； fetched the long strip of silk； and Rez… anov detached her from her eager court and led her without。 Elena Castro followed closely； yet with a cavalier of her own that her friend might talk freely with this interesting stranger。 The night air was cool and stimulating。 The hills were black under the sparks of white fire in the high arch of the California sky。 In the Presidio square were long blue shadows that might have been reflections of the smoldering blue beyond the stars。 Rezanov and Concha sat on the railing at the end of the 〃corridor。〃
〃It is a customall that very material admira… tion？〃 he asked。
〃A very old one； but not too often followed。 Otherwise we should not prize it。 But when some Favorita outdoes herself then she receives the greatest reward that man can think ofgold and silver jewels。 We do not dare to return the tributes in common fashion； but they have a way of appear… ing where they belong as soon as their owners are supposed to have forgotten the incident。 As you are not a Californian； senor； I take the liberty of re… turning this without any foolish subterfuge。〃 She handed him his contribution。 〃I thank you all the same。 It was a spontaneous act； and I am very proud。〃
He accepted the key awkwardly； not daring to press it upon her； with the obvious banalities。 But he felt a sudden desire to give her something； and； nothing better offering； he gathered half a dozen roses and laid them on her lap。
〃I was disappointed that you did not wear your roses to…night；〃 he said。 〃I associate them with you in my thoughts。 Will you put one in your hair？〃
She found a place for two and thrust another in the neck of her gown。 The rest she held closely in her hands。 Then he noticed that she was very white； and again she shivered。
〃You are cold and tired；〃 he murmured； his eyes melting to hers。 〃It was entrancing； but I hope never to see you give so much of yourself to others again。〃 His hand in arranging the reboso touched hers。 It lingered； and she stared up at him； help… lessly； her eyes wide； her lips parted。 She reminded him of a rabbit caught in a trap； and he had a sud… den and violent revulsion of feeling。 He rose and offered his arm。 〃I should be a brute if I kept you talking out here。 Slip off and go to bed。 I shall start the guests； for I am very tired myself。〃
XI
He did not talk with her again for several days。 He called in state； but remained only a few moments。 His officers went to several impromptu dances at the Presidio and Mission； but he pleaded fatigue； natural in the damaged state of his constitution； and left the ship only for a gallop over the hills or down the coast with Luis Arguello。
But he had never felt better。 At the end of a week his pallor had gone； his skin was tanned and fresh。 Even his wretched crew were different men。 They were given much leave on shore； and already might be seen escorting the serving…women over the hills in the late afternoon。 Rezanov gave them a long rope； although he knew they must be ger… minating with a mutinous distaste of the Russian north； he kept strict watch over them and would have given a deserter his due without an instant's pause。
The estafette that had gone with Luis' letters to Monterey had taken one from Rezanov as well； ask… ing permission to pay a visit of ceremony to the Governor。 Five days later the plenipotentiary re… ceived a polite welcome to California； and protest against another long journey； the humble servant of the King of Spain would himself go to San Francisco at once and offer the hospitality of Cali… fornia to the illustrious representative of the Em… peror of all the Russias。
Rezanov was not only annoyed at the Governor's evident determination that he should see as little as possible of the insignificant military equipment of California； but at the delay to his own plans for ex… ploration。 He knew that Luis would dare take him upon no expedition into the heart of the country without the consent of the Governor； and he began to doubt this consent would be given。 But he was determined to see the bay； at least； and he no sooner read the diplomatic epistle from Monterey than he decided to accomplish this part of his purpose before the arrival of the Governor or Don Jose。 He knew the material he had to deal with at the moment； but nothing of that already； no doubt； on its way to the north。
Early in the morning after the return of the courier he wrote an informal note to Dona Ignacia； asking her to give him the honor of entertaining her for a day on the Juno； and to bring all the young people she would。 As the weather was so fine； he hoped to see them in time for chocolate at nine o'clock。 He knew that Luis； who was pressingly included in the invitation； had left at daybreak for his father's rancho； some thirty miles to the south。
There was a flutter at the Presidio when the invi… tation of the Chamberlain was made known。 The compliment was not unexpected； but there had been a lively speculation as to what form the Russian's return of hospitality would take。 Concha； whose tides had thundered and ebbed many times since the night of her party； submerging the happy inconse… quence of her sixteen years； but leaving her un… shaken spirit with wide clarified vision； felt young to…day from sheer reaction。 She would listen to no protest from her prudent mother and smothered her with kisses and a torrent of words。
〃But； my Conchita；〃 gasped Dona Ignacia； 〃I have much to do。 Thy father and his excellency come in two days。 And perhaps they would not approvebefore they are here！to go on the for… eign ship！ If