"Chiquita," (pet) called her father, "it has not been the custom of this country to train our women in the ways of business. But you are my only child. Every peso (dollar) that I earn and save is for you one of these days. I have much money, but I crave more, and it is all for you, chiquita. It is my wish to see you, one of these days, a very queen of wealth, as you are already a queen of goodness and tenderness. Since you must handle the great fortune that I am building for you I have concluded to override the customs of our people for generations. In other words, I am going to begin to train you, chiquita, in business."
"Business?" murmured the girl. "Ah! That word frightens me—I am so ignorant."
"Your first lesson shall not tire or dismay you," promised Don Luis, gently. "Now, place your chair close beside mine, and look over this ledger with me. I shall not attempt to make you comprehend too much at first."
With pencil and paper beside the ledger, Don Luis read off many items. Occasionally he did some figuring on the sheet of paper, as though to make the matters more clear to his daughter. She made a very pretty picture, trying to follow her father's explanations, but the perplexed wrinkling of her brow showed how hard it was for her to do so.
The figures that Don Luis took from his ledger all tended to show the immensity of the wealth already produced from El Sombrero. Tom and Harry listened courteously, for they had been invited to join the group.
"You are tired, chiquita," said her father, at last. "I have taken you too far on our first excursion into the realm of finance. This morning we will have no more figures. But here is something that cannot fail to interest you in parts at least."
Shoving aside the ledger, Don Luis drew from a drawer a bulky document.
"This is the report which Senor Reade prepared for me yesterday," Montez explained, looking at the young engineers for an instant. "The report is written in English, as I desired it written so. But I will read the most interesting parts in Spanish to you, chiquita. You will observe that this report is a masterpiece of business composition."
"I am sure that it must be," murmured Francesca, and Tom bowed his thanks.
"This report, too, is a part of your fortune," continued Don Luis. "That is, it will help to make your fortune, for it concerns El Sombrero, one of the finest parts of your fortune. We have been planning, these caballeros and I, that they shall remain in my employ indefinitely, and they are to be paid better and better if they serve you through me and serve us well. I shall reward them as an hidalgo ever rewards."