The shadows come early in the deep cañons. The queen sent her messengers to call the people around her throne while the winners received their prizes. Abelardo Peralta announced, in her name, that after the distribution luncheon would again be served in the pavilion.
"Our queen makes Don Abelardo her chief courtier," remarked Lolita Hernandez in the hearing of a number.
"They have been friends since childhood, Señorita Lolita," returned this young lady's dueña.
Lolita laughed mirthlessly. "I fancy the captain from Madrid has offended. Perhaps her majesty saw him kissing Señora Valentino's hand this afternoon."
"Fie! Fie!" from another dueña. "He touched only the tip of that lady's fingers with his own. I saw it myself."
"Diffident soldier!" from a grave señor. "In my youth I would not have been content with so slight a token."
"Manuel! Manuel!" from his wife.
"Señora Moraga, thy husband thinks on his courtship of thee," spoke yet another dueña, laughing.
"I'm sure it looked as if the Captain kissed the stranger lady's hand," Lolita reiterated. "I'm sure too Carmelita saw it, for we were dancing in the same set when it happened."
"'Twas but a lady's favor and a man's privilege, little one," said Moraga.