The caballeros rushed around the girl shouting and praising her. More gold was freely scattered, its jingle intermingling with the orchestra.
"Splendid! Splendid! Is it not so, Señora Valentino?" came from Captain Morando. Without pausing for reply he hastened to Carmelita, who was surrounded by numberless congratulating friends.
"O, doña mia," the Captain cried, "you dance with the grace of an angel."
"The most successful rendition of El Son in a decade!" added a dueña.
"The most perfect ever," again from Morando.
Señora Valentino came up all smiles. "This ball is the rarest treat of my visit to California, and your El Son, señorita, is the choice incident of the evening's pleasure. I thank you for it."
"You are very good, señora. I am glad that I can help in entertaining you."
The music for a mazurka was beginning. The older men disappeared from the room. Morando, Peralta, Martinez, and a number of others soon followed, while the rest were again at the dance.
Colonel Barcelo and Moraga returned to the card room and finished their nearly completed round of cribbage.
"A piece of luck, Moraga. Simply a confounded piece of luck. It happens occasionally."