'Ah-h, you know heem, Luis, Juan's brother,
yes? And the senora?--and the Senorita Valera?'
"'Valera? But that is not the little girl--'
"'Leetle girl?'
"'Has she not--the senorita--a younger sister?'
"'Sister? There ees no sister--only herself.'
"And so his little Valera had grown into that stately, self-possessed
young lady. Cogan felt sad.
"'And some say he ees to be betrothed to her, yes. Senor--Mister
Guavera, yes--that ees heem. A splendid man. Poor Torellas. Ah-h, but
here ees Juan coming. He speaks the most beautee-full English.
Behold--Juan!'
"Ferrero was pointing out a square-shouldered, compactly built, bronzed
man of five feet seven or so, who was carving curved shapes out of the
air with his hands and pointing to one horse and then another in the
parade to illustrate his words. To further illustrate, he carved
beautiful figures with his cane and raised one knee after the other
violently to depict the animal's action. A man full of gimp, Juan seemed
to be. 'It is his new horse,' explained Ferrero. 'He will tell us of it,
too.' And he did--went over it all again after he had been introduced to
Cogan. 'Oh, a marvel of a horse,' he wound up, 'and I shall ride him in
the next fiesta.'
"Ferrero reintroduced Cogan to Juan as one who knew his brother Luis.
"'But I met him only once,' added Cogan.
"'Once? It is sufficient,' assured Juan.
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