The top was down, but Clif was too engrossed¹ in thought to discover the fellow. On went the conveyance² through the miserably³ paved streets, on past churches and stores and residences, and away from the main portion of the city to a quiet, highly respectable suburb where the houses rested in detached grounds abloom with a wealth of semi-tropical verdure.  
When the carriage finally slackened up a short distance from a pretty villa⁴, the unbidden passenger was still swinging behind, but he leaped nimbly to the ground and darted⁵ into the shadow of a tree in time to escape notice.
 
The driver placidly⁶ overcharged Clif fourfold, and drove away, leaving the cadet to enter the grounds, where he received a hearty⁷ and blushing welcome from Juanita and her friend.
 
An hour later another carriage entered the street. It was of the same class as the first, but the box was occupied by a stalwart, black-browed native with a scowling⁸ face.
 
He drove slowly through the street, then turned back again, as if awaiting a call.
 
Time passed; the sun touched the western hills and disappeared, and the mist of an early twilight⁹ gathered over the city. A distant clock sounded the hour of six. From the great cathedral came a mellow¹⁰ chiming of bells, followed by a discordant¹¹ clatter¹² from some less favored church.
 
Suddenly the ornamented¹³ gate in front of the Windom villa opened and Clif emerged, gallantly¹⁴ lifting his naval¹⁵ cap to those inside.
 
He glanced hastily at his watch, then with a half-suppressed exclamation¹⁶ of surprise, looked about for a conveyance.
 
The carriage which had been loitering in the vicinity was coming briskly toward him. He hailed it, leaped inside, and was soon leaving the vicinity.
 
While passing a nearby corner Clif chanced to look over toward a barefoot lad standing¹⁷ under a wall lamp.
 
“Gorry! it’s that little beggar, Pedro,” he muttered. “What’s he doing out here, I wonder? Guess he saw me from the expression on his face.”
 
He fell to musing¹⁸ over the diving episode of the morning. From that to his extremely pleasant afternoon with Juanita was but a step, and Pedro’s scowling face speedily gave way to the beautiful, attractive countenance¹⁹ of the girl.
 
It was growing dark very rapidly.
 
The carriage rattled²⁰ along over the rough cobbles and through streets entirely²¹ unfamiliar²² to the young cadet.
 
Presently it drew up with a jerk and Clif, aroused from a reverie, looked about him. He saw the façade of a large church on one side, and a small garden, inclosed by an iron railing, on the other.
 
It was high ground and through the trees of the park could be seen the spires²³ of a number of chapels²⁴ in the lower part of the city.
 
The street was apparently²⁵ deserted²⁶, but lights here and there indicated the presence of inhabited residences.
 
Clif looked questioningly at the driver.
 
“Why did you stop here?” he asked at a venture.
 
“Me wanta show you fine view, señor,” replied the man, respectfully.
 
“View? I don’t care to see any view. Drive on; I want to reach the dock at once.”
 
“But, señor, it take you one minute. It ver’ fine view. All visitor come here at this time night. It no good any other time. You like-a it ver’ much. You no regret.”
 
Clif liked nature, especially in the shape of

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