BEHIND THE SCEEEN.
89
interview with Liiisa, and I tliouglit only of the pleasiu'e
of a conversation ^\ith her alone, without caring for the result, or prescribing to
myself any rules for what I should
do or say on the occasion. even to
It
was no easy matter, however,
Luisa know what I was scheming.
let
and was
several fruitless attempts,
at last
fam
I
made
to
have
recourse to the old expedient of bribing the lady's maid.
who waited on
Teresa,
an Indian
the seFioritas in that capacity, was
not quite thii'teen years old, but with a
girl,
beyond her years.
discretion
She was a
light brmiette,
with weU-chiseUed featm-es, a very faiiy in the symmetry of
her
tmy
with her,
so,
under pretence of bringmg
my
slipped into
cou^jle of reals,
Luisa
She soon understood that I wanted
figm'e.
and then produced a note I had written it,
her as to the possibiHty of obtaining a
heaixl steps
heavy tread assm-ed
'My
'El amo,' screen,
coming along the
me
it
master,'
which hid
my
was
much
"'You
did not
come
buying mules, I suppose I have
come
to
smoke a
had some experience.
me
to
The
slow,
Teresa ejaculated,
host.
behind a mampara, or
;
/or as for the
I
hammock,
? "
said Eivas, entermg.
cigar with you,
You may
my
that
South Americans.
Out
to breakfast this morning.
advice for your march.
in 1813,
corridor.
m the day as at night by
used as
little
with her
tete-a-tete
washmg-apxmratus, and so turned
bed-room into a sitting-room is
my
sldi^ped
to
I began to sound
She was in the act of suggesting a plan
mistress.
when we
a cup of coffee,
I broke ground by giving her a
room.
but, before entrusting her with
;
me
to tallc
'
Well,
and to give you
trust
a
me, for I have
marched with BoHvar from Ocana
and have been out with Paez in the Apiire more
than once.'
"With these words the worthy senor seated