Her eyebrows lifted almost imperceptibly. She moved a little away.
"Forgive me," he said anxiously, noting the movement. "I have entered forbidden ground."
"No, no, dear Alfredo. For you it is not forbidden ground. There is not a recess within my heart where you might not enter."
"You are more than kind, my good friend."
"Friend! Captain," showing some impatience, "friend! Good friend!" She tried to hide the sarcasm in her tone by an unusually alluring smile. "I am but one of your many, many good friends. Is it not so?" her voice sounding hard in spite of herself. "O, well, I must be content with whatever the gods see fit to bestow."
"Señora, you are not merely one of many. You are my most loyal, my warmest, my ever-remaining, ever-to-be-cherished, never-to-be-forgotten——" He paused, overcome by his own vehemence.
"You would scale barbed walls to carry away the señorita of the window pane," leaning wearily on her arm.
"Yes, dear Silvia, I would scale those walls," he went on, passionately. "I would scale them and bear you away," taking both her hands. Her warm breath was against his cheek. "I would—I would——" His voice choked.
"—Even sing love songs outside the window, to the accompaniment of the guitar. O, Alfredo!"
In space of time hardly more than an instant he saw the Señorita Carmelita's eyes flash behind the barred window; heard her gay banter at the house party; felt her soft hand in his as he had spoken love to her at the baile.