"Why do you wish to see this man?" asked Camillia, when the mulattress had left the apartment.
"Because I have an idea that we should do wrong in refusing to admit him. We shall see whether I am right or not."
Pepita ushered the sailor into her mistress's presence. He was a black-eyed, dark-haired fellow, with a complexion that had grown copper-colored by exposure to the wind and sun. He opened a bale of silks and spread its contents at the feet of the Spanish girl.
Camillia glanced at them with listless indifference.
"They are handsome," she said; "but I have no occasion for them."
"But you will not refuse to buy something of a poor sailor, kind lady?" said the man, in an insinuating tone; "even if you do not wish for a silk dress, there may be something else among my stores that may tempt you to bid for it; see here!" he added, feeling in one of the pockets of his loose trousers, "I've something here that perhaps you may take a fancy to."
He produced a red morocco case, large enough to contain a chain or bracelet.
"Look here," he said, opening it and holding it toward Camillia, so that she alone could see its contents. "You won't refuse me a dollar or two for that, eh, lady?"
Camillia could not repress a start of surprise. The case contained an imitation gold chain of the commonest workmanship, coiled round in a circle, in the center of which was a note folded into the smallest possible compass. Upon the uppermost side of this note was written the word "Fidelity," in a handwriting which was well known to the Spanish girl.
"Will you buy the chain, lady?" asked the sailor.