Grace's attack was too impetuous.

She stopped just inside the threshold, and said, in an imperious tone, "Come here, Mr.Freeman: I wish to speak to you." "Thank you," he replied, resolving at once to widen the breach to the utmost extent possible, "I am otherwise engaged." "Upon my word," observed the professor, with a chuckle, "you're no diplomatist, Harvey! What are you two about here?
Investigating antiquities ?" "The remains of ancient Mexico are more interesting than some of her recent products," returned Freeman, who wished to quarrel with somebody, and had promptly decided that Senor Don Miguel de Mendoza was the most available person.

He bowed to the latter as he spoke.
"You--a--spoken to me ?" said the senor, stepping forward with a polite grimace.

"I no to quite comprehend----" "Pray don't exert yourself to converse with me out of your own language, senor," interrupted Freeman, in Spanish.

"I was just remarking that the Spaniards seem to have degenerated greatly since they colonized Mexico." "Senor!" exclaimed Don Miguel, stiffening and staring.
"Of course," added Freeman, smiling benevolently upon him, "I judge only from such specimens of the modern Mexican as I happen to meet with." Don Miguel's sallow countenance turned greenish white.