“Here we are at last,” said Mrs. Sebastian as she alighted and motioned the girls to follow. Then she gave the cabman a single piece of silver and turned to the heavy door.
This she opened without the formality of a knock, and led the way across a small patio—a courtyard—in the center of what appeared to be the house itself. Here they brought up against another door, and Mrs. Sebastian knocked sharply three times.
There was a moment’s delay, then the door swung open and a man’s face appeared.
At sight of Mrs. Sebastian the man stepped back with a bow, and Mrs. Sebastian, followed by the two girls, swept by him.
The door slammed behind them.
Mrs. Sebastian led the way into a small but luxuriously furnished room off the main hall, where she turned to the man who had followed them, and spoke a few words in Spanish. The man bowed and departed.
“I told him to announce our arrival,” explained Mrs. Sebastian.
The girls surveyed the interior of the handsome apartment curiously.
“I had no idea they lived so well in Mexico,” said Shirley.
“Nor I,” declared Mabel.