The Helmet of Mambrino 



lips as if about to whistle, and blew 

 on a ladle full of soup till it was 

 cool, when she swallowed it slowly, 

 her soft eyes rolling with delight at 

 the flavorous compound. 



" Senora," said my hollow-eyed 

 and hollow -voiced comrade, "the 

 gentleman is a lover of good Don 

 Quixote." 



The woman flashed on me a look 

 of curiosity, as who should say, " So 

 is every one. What of that ? " 



" My friend is Americano' 1 con- 

 tinued Salazar. 



" Valgame Dios / " ejaculated the 

 now thoroughly interested widow. 

 " All the way from Buenos Ayres ! 

 No ? Then from Cuba, of course ! 

 Yes, yes ! My father's cousin was a 

 soldier there, and married a woman 

 as black as a pot." 



" No, senora, my friend is from 

 another part of America ; and he 

 has come here to buy from you the 



26 



