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[Illustration: image of the book's cover]
[Illustration: frontispiece: THE HOLIDAY MAKERS]
PAGE CHAPTER XVII Pablito Disports Himself 5
CHAPTER XVIII Secrets of Gonzalo's Life 28
CHAPTER XXIII The Duke of Tornos Appears 110
CHAPTER XXIX A Woman's Sacrifice for Her Brother-in-law 206
CHAPTER XXX A Fancy Dress Ball at Sarrio 218
CHAPTER XXXI The Enlightenment of Gonzalo 231
"It would be as well to put a light curb on her."
Both were silent for some minutes, then Pablito exclaimed:
"Confounded mare! I never in my life saw such a sensitive mouth."
"Like silk," returned his friend in a tone of profound conviction.
"Think we ought to give her more of the spur?"
"The spur is never amiss with any animal," growled Piscis in the same decided tone.
During these remarks the two inseparable equestrians walked right across the town from the other end, where they had been in conclave in Don Rosendo's stables. It was ten o'clock at night; the air soft and springlike. The few people about were hastening homeward, and the only shops now open were those of popular resort, such as Graell's, Marano's, and the like. In the Cabin there was a great deal of light and excitement. Pablito, who shared his father's resentment in the matter, said to his friend, as they passed the abhorred club:
"Piscis, throw a stone at the door and break the glass."
Thereupon Piscis, always aggressive, took up a flint from the road, waited for his friend to get round the corner, and then, zas! he flung it at the Cabin and shivered the windows to atoms. Then he took to his legs, and for fear of being recognized by those who came out in search of him, he ran away on all fours with wondrous agility.
There were also some people in the Café de la Marina. They entered the place and quaffed in silence several glasses of chartreuse without its interfering with the active working of their brains.
"The best thing will be to put her in harness with Romeo."
"That is just what I was thinking," returned Piscis eagerly.
After leaving the café Pablito was asked, not in words, but with a horrible face, whither they were going.