Don Alonso grew serious and subjected the boy's performance to a searching examination, so that he could form an estimate of the youngster's abilities and give him a little useful advice.
It was really curious to see the former circus-player give his orders; he went through them with august seriousness.
"One, two, three…. Hop-la!… Once more, now. At position. The knees near the head … nails down … One, two … one, two…. Hop-la!"
Don Alonso was not at all displeased with little Aristas' showing, but he emphasized the unavoidable necessity of continual hard practise.
"Whoever wants something has to pay the price, my little fellow," he said. "And the profession of gymnast isn't within everybody's reach."
To the mother he confided that her son might some day be a fine circus artist.
Then Don Alonso, finding himself before a numerous public, would begin to talk volubly of the United States, of Mexico, and the South American republics.
"Why don't you tell us stories of the countries you've been to?" asked
Perico Rebolledo.
"No, not now; I have to go out with the Infiel Tower."
"Ah! Go on, tell us," they would all implore.