human
What time is it, Captain?
gpt
Ten--a few minutes past,
human
I wonder if the Don's in bed yet.
gpt
Not likely: he will be in distress; he expected us an hour ago.
human
True, he will not sleep till we come; all right then.
gpt
How all right then?
human
For our chances of a supper; a cold pasty, with a glass of claret. What think you?
gpt
I do not feel hungry.
human
But I do--as a hawk. I long once more to sound the Don's larder.
gpt
Do you not long more to see--
human
Not to-night--no--that is until after supper. Everything in its own time and place; but a man with a hungry stomach has no stomach for anything but eating. I pledge you my word, Haller, I would rather at this moment see that grand old stewardess, Pepe, than the loveliest woman in Mexico, and that's `Mary of the Light'.
gpt
Monstrous!
human
That is, until after I have supped. Then my feelings will doubtless take a turn.
gpt
Ah! Clayey, you can never love!
human
Why so, Captain?
gpt
With you, love is a sentiment, not a passion. You regard the fair blonde as you would a picture or a curious ornament.
human
You mean to say, then, that my love is `all in my eye'?
gpt
Exactly so, in a literal sense. I do not think it has reached your heart, else you would not be thinking of your supper. Now, I could go for days without food--suffer any hardship; but, no--you cannot understand this.
human
I confess not. I am too hungry.
gpt
You could forget--nay, I should not be surprised if you have already forgotten--all but the fact that your mistress is a blonde, with bright golden hair. Is it not so?
human
I confess, Captain, that I should make but a poor portrait of her from memory.
gpt
And, were I a painter, I could throw _her_ features upon the canvas as truly as if they were before me. I see her face outlined upon these broad leaves--her dark eyes burning in the flash of the cocuyo--her long black hair drooping from the feathery fringes of the palm--and her--
human
Stop! You are dreaming, Captain! Her eyes are not dark--her hair is not black.
gpt
What! Her eyes not dark?--as ebony, or night!
human
Blue as a turquoise!
gpt
Black! What are you thinking of?
human
Oh, that is quite a different affair!