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gone dead, and so have my grandfather. Which is sad and strange! Otherwise I shallmake of them both an instant example!"I ought to have said that although these performances were never actually witnessed byEnriquez's sister—for reasons which he and I thought sufficient—the dear girl displayedthe greatest interest in them and, perhaps aided by our mutually complimentary accountsof each other, looked upon us both as invincible heroes. It is possible also that sheover-estimated our success, for she suddenly demanded that I should ride Chu Chu to herhouse, that she might see her. It was not far; by going through a back lane I could avoidthe trees which exercised such a fatal fascination for Chu Chu. There was a pleading,childlike entreaty in Consuelo's voice that I could not resist, with a slight flash from herlustrous dark eyes that I did not care to encourage. So I resolved to try it at all hazards.My equipment for the performance was modeled after Enriquez's previous costume, withthe addition of a few fripperies of silver and stamped leather out of compliment toConsuelo, and even with a faint hope that it might appease Chu Chu. She certainly lookedbeautiful in her glittering accoutrements, set off by her jet-black shining coat. With an airof demure abstraction she permitted me to mount her, and even for a hundred yards or soindulged in a mincing maidenly amble that was not without a touch of coquetry.Encouraged by this, I addressed a few terms of endearment to her, and in the exuberanceof my youthful enthusiasm I even confided to her my love for Consuelo and begged herto be "good" and not disgrace herself and me before my Dulcinea.[154-1] In my foolish