"Of nights or days, señor?" asked the girl, laughingly.
"She caught you there, Señor Gonzales," observed Bryton, who was dealing the cards. "Don Rafael, after all, makes the only definite offer."
"You are right, Don Keith," returned the other. "With the help of the Americanos, Don Rafael is learning to be a good maker of bargains."
"The sooner the rest of you learn the same trick, the better for California!" retorted Rafael.
"You hear?" said Don Ricardo.
"Sure," assented the major-domo. "What if his mother heard?"
"All the saints! There would be murder!"
"Por Dios!" exclaimed Rafael, as a servant opened a window because of the thick tobacco smoke; "it is daylight, and I must start for San Diego. My last bachelor carouse is ended, and none of us under the table!"
"How sad that we are still able to stand on our own feet!" laughed Merced. "See!" and she sprang to the top of a beautiful silver-decorated chest against the wall; "one of us is even able to dance good-bye to your last night of freedom! Good-bye, O free heart of Don Rafael! On some to-morrow the bride comes!"
"Holy Maria!" ejaculated Don Antonio, putting his glass down; "she is dancing on the donas of the bride!"