"An accident to one of the horsemen detained me for the past half hour," was his explanation to Señor Mendoza.
"A caballero's misfortune always calls for assistance from a brother," replied Mendoza. Continuing: "Captain Morando, I wish to introduce you to Señora Valentino, who favors us to-day by her presence with her relatives, the Barcelos. Señora Valentino, may I present Captain Moranda?"
The señora acknowledged pleasantly the Captain's low bow.
"Captain, to your chair," from Mendoza.
Conversation lulled for a little. Early hours and open air had given zest to the appetite.
"My dear Señora Valentino, I wish you could have seen our carreta race this morning," remarked Señor Mendoza. "But it will not be the last."
"While I say nothing against the race of this morning as such," interposed Hernandez, "for it was good enough as far as it went, I do claim that my horses were better than yours, Mendoza. Your peon rider happened to be more at home in his business than was mine, nothing more. I wish I had been in that postilion's place myself; then there would have been a different story to tell."
"A horse can display but the swiftness his limbs possess," rebutted Mendoza.
"Riding is not what I knew in my youth," commented Hernandez, who was giving ample appreciation to the pleasures of the table.
"Captain Morando, were you not at a ball given in Madrid last year by the officers of General Guerrero's division in their quarters?" said Señora Valentino.