"Better consider!" cautioned Higuera.
"Slowness never wins the race," retorted Valencia.
"The tortoise won the race from the hare," rebutted Higuera.
The dancing had not held all those who had gone with Señor Mendoza to the ballroom. The atmosphere around the table of the elders was surcharged with subtle influence which drew many back. By twos and threes they came. Señora Valentino and Abelardo Peralta were among them; Captain Morando also.
"Prepare to become an English province," now from young Peralta.
Not a few were of that conviction. "England is just. England allows her dependencies to flourish in their own way," they declared.
"Huzza! Huzza!" again shouted Hernandez. "Viva England!"
Morando arose.
"I make no preference save this," he said. "We must preserve here Spanish ideals, Spanish manhood and womanhood."
"Excellent!" commended the host. "Splendid!"