But his words had opened a new perspective. She could see that he
might be regarded in a different light, that he already so regarded
her. The transformation bewildered her, and when the heated reply died
behind her lips and she smiled quiveringly instead, she felt for the
first time in her life the thrill which all women, however strong, have
when they yield to the dominant personality of a man. She tried to
fight back the overpowering, undefinable surge; she succeeded
partially. All she could now ask was time to think to recover her
equilibrium. She put out her hand involuntarily and touched Dan
lightly on the arm.
"Let us not say anything more about it," she said. "Tell me--tell me
something about San Blanco."
As she ceased speaking, she turned slowly toward the banquet hall.
Dan, following her, complied with what he knew to be a purely
perfunctory request, talking in an easy conversational tone.
"I have looked into the history of the country a good bit," said he.
"It is quite interesting. They have had just twenty-three
_presidentes_ and four dictators, and there have been twelve
assassinations. I believe candidates for the office are liable to
arrest for attempted suicide--"
The girl paused at the window. She had not been listening. Her eyes,
were fastened upon the figure of a man whose skulking form she had made
out where the glow of the window almost opposite the speakers' table
fell upon the garden.
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