They had not long been seated in the box when they were joined by Augustus Horton, who placed himself at the back of the chair occupied by Camillia.
She was not a little surprised at this, after the interview of that morning, and the terrible and insulting repulse which the young planter had received.
While she was wondering what could have induced him to forget this, he bent his head and whispered in her ear—
"Let us forget all that passed this morning, Donna Camillia," he said; "forget and forgive my presumption as I forgive your cruelty! Let us be what we were before to-day, friends and friends only."
Camillia raised her eyes to his face with a glance of surprise. Was this the man whose words that morning had breathed rage and vengeance? Had she wronged him in imagining him vindictive and treacherous?
Don Juan knew nothing of his daughter's rejection of Augustus Horton. He imagined, therefore, from the planter's presence in the box, that his suit had prospered.
About half an hour after the rising of the curtain, a letter was brought by one of the boxkeepers addressed to Don Juan Moraquitos.
"Who gave you this?" asked the Spaniard.
"A colored lad, sir, who said he was to wait for an answer," replied the boxkeeper.
"Tell him I will see to it."