It may be a prejudice, but that is my feeling." "My father was certainly not an English gentleman.

He was a Portuguese." In admitting this, and in thus subjecting himself at once to one clearly-stated ground of objection,--the objection being one which, though admitted, carried with itself neither fault nor disgrace,--Lopez felt that he had got a certain advantage.

He could not get over the fact that he was the son of a Portuguese parent, but by admitting that openly he thought he might avoid present discussion on matters which might, perhaps, be more disagreeable, but to which he need not allude if the accident of his birth were to be taken by the father as settling the question.

"My mother was an English lady," he added, "but my father certainly was not an Englishman.

I never had the common happiness of knowing either of them.