“But these are Mexicans, and Van Zandt is leader
of the Texans, their most bitter enemies!”
“Precisely. All the less reason why Senora
Yturrio should be suspected.”
“I am not sure that I grasp all this, Mr. Calhoun.”
“Perhaps not You presently will know more.
What seems to me plain is that, since we seem to lose
a valuable ally in the Baroness von Ritz, we must
make some offset to that loss. If England has
one woman on the Columbia, we must have another on
the Rio Grande!”
POLITICS UNDER COVER
To a woman, the romances
she makes are more amusing than those she
reads.—Theophile
Gautier.
It was curious how cleverly this austere old man,
unskilled in the arts of gallantry, now handled the
problem to which he had addressed himself, even though
that meant forecasting the whim of yet another woman.
It all came easily about, precisely as he had planned.
It seemed quite correct for the daughter of our secretary
of state to call to inquire for the health of the
fair Senora Yturrio, and to present the compliments
of Madam Calhoun, at that time not in the city of
Washington. Matters went so smoothly that I felt
justified in suggesting a little drive, and Senora
Yturrio had no hesitation in accepting. Quite
naturally, our stately progress finally brought us
close to the residence of Miss Calhoun. That lady
suggested that, since the day was warm, it might be
well to descend and see if we might not find a sherbet;
all of which also seemed quite to the wish of the lady
from Mexico. The ease and warmth of Mr. Calhoun’s
greeting to her were such that she soon was well at
home and chatting very amiably. She spoke English
with but little hesitancy.
Lucrezia Yturrio, at that time not ill known in Washington’s
foreign colony, was beautiful, in a sensuous, ripe
way. Her hair was dark, heavily coiled, and packed
in masses above an oval forehead. Her brows were
straight, dark and delicate; her teeth white and strong;
her lips red and full; her chin well curved and deep.
A round arm and taper hand controlled a most artful
fan. She was garbed now, somewhat splendidly,
in a corded cherry-colored silk, wore gems enough to
start a shop, and made on the whole a pleasing picture
of luxury and opulence. She spoke in a most musical
voice, with eyes sometimes cast modestly down.
He had been a poor student of her species who had
not ascribed to her a wit of her own; but as I watched
her, somewhat apart, I almost smiled as I reflected
that her grave and courteous host had also a wit to
match it. Then I almost frowned as I recalled
my own defeat in a somewhat similar contest.
Mr. Calhoun expressed great surprise and gratification
that mere chance had enabled him to meet the wife
of a gentleman so distinguished in the diplomatic
service as Senor Yturrio. The Senora was equally
gratified. She hoped she did not make intrusion
in thus coming. Mr. Calhoun assured her that
he and his were simple in their family life, and always
delighted to meet their friends.
