He
introduced us, with an air of importance, to several of the
groups of fashion, and finally to the president himself. That
night we slept as guests under the roof of a luxurious and
charming country house at Miraflores.
Le Mire took the capital by storm. Her style of beauty was
peculiarly fitted for their appreciation, for pallor is
considered a mark of beauty among Lima ladies. But that could
scarcely account for her unparalleled triumph. I have often
wondered--was it the effect of a premonition?
The president himself sat by her at the opera. There were two
duels attributed to her within a week; though how the deuce that
was possible is beyond me.
On society day at the bull-ring the cues were given by Le Mire;
her hand flung the rose to the matador, while the eight thousand
excited spectators seemed uncertain whether they were applauding
her or him. Lima was hers, and never have I seen a fortnight so
crowded with incidents.
But Le Mire soon tired of it, as was to be expected. She greeted
me one morning at the breakfast table:
"My friend Paul, let us go to Cerro de Pasco. They have
silver--thousands and thousands of tons--and what you call them?
Ornaments.
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