"I could not desire a better one," Ludovic answered gallantly.
"Stay, cousin," she resumed, giving him a side glance, "I have a confession to make to you."
"Yes, I see you are such a good fellow, that I feel ashamed at having deceived you."
"Shamefully," she said with a laugh, "as you shall judge. I am leading you to a spot where we are expected."
"No, because it is you they want especially to see."
"I confess, cousin, that I do not understand you at all: I know no one in this country."
"Are you quite sure of that, my dear cousin?" she asked with a mocking air.
"I am so, indeed: the person who expects you, not only knows you, but is a friend of yours."
"Very good, this makes the matter more puzzling than ever: go on, I beg."
"I have but very little to add, besides, in a few minutes we shall have arrived, and I do not wish to keep you in doubt any longer."
"That is very kind of you, cousin, I declare. I am humbly waiting till you deign to explain."
"I must do so, as your head has such a bad memory. What, sir, you are but a foreigner, who had been but a little while in a strange land. In this country, so soon as you landed, you met one man who displayed some sympathy with you, and you have already forgotten him. Permit me to remark, my dear cousin, that this offers but poor testimony to your constancy."
"Crush me, cousin, I deserve all your reproaches. You are right; there is really one man in Mexico for whom I feel a sincere friendship."
"No; but I was so far from supposing that it was to him you alluded, that I confess--"
"On the contrary, cousin; and it would be my most eager desire to see him again."
"He told me it was Oliver; still, I should not like to affirm that it is really his name."
"Would it be indiscreet to ask you why you entertain this unfavourable supposition?"
"Not at all, cousin; but señor Oliver appeared to me a very mysterious gentleman; his manners are not those of everybody. As I think, there would be nothing extraordinary if, according to circumstances--"
"He assumed a name," she interrupted. "Perhaps you are right--perhaps you are wrong--I could not answer that question; all I can tell you is, that he is the person who expects you."
"That is singular," the young man muttered.