recognized him to be Ramon Torres, a Mexican, the proprietor of the stand he was patronizing.
Torres was a handsome, nearly full-blooded descendant of the Spanish, seemingly about thirty years of age, and of a haughty, but extremely courteous demeanour. To-night he was dressed with signal magnificence. His costume was that of a triumphant matador, made of purple velvet almost hidden by jeweled embroidery. Diamonds of enormous size flashed upon his garb and his hands. He reached for a chair, and, seating himself at the opposite side of the table, began to roll a finical cigarette.
“Ah, Meester Tansee,” he said, with a sultry fire in his silky, black eyes, “I give myself pleasure to see you this evening. Meester Tansee, you have many times come to eat at my table. I theenk you a safe man—a verree good friend. How much would it please you to leeve forever?”
“Not come back any more?” inquired Tansey.
“No; not leave—leeve; the not-to-die.”
“I would call that,” said Tansey, “a snap.”
Torres leaned his elbows upon the table, swallowed a mouthful of smoke, and spake—each word being projected in a little puff of gray.
“How old do you theenk I am, Meester Tansee?”
“Oh, twenty-eight or thirty.”
“Thees day,” said the Mexican, ‘‘ees my birthday. I am four hundred and three years of old to-day.”
“Another proof,” said Tansey, airily, “of the healthfulness of our climate.”
“Bet is not the air. I am to relate to you a secret of
