"Well, I've been all sorts of things," said Derrick, reluctantly enough.
"By profession I'm an engineer, I suppose; but----" He paused. "Well, I
had a stroke of bad luck in England, and I had to leave it and chuck up
my profession. Since then I've been a jack-of-all-trades."
"What you have told me has interested me," Donna Elvira said. "Besides,"
she added, "I have been in England--I had friends there. It is because
of this that I desire to help you, señor. You say that you are an
engineer. I think there should be work for you here on the estancia;
there is machinery." Derrick sat up with a sudden lightening of the
heart. "We have to send to a distance, sometimes as far as Buenos Ayres,
when we need repairs. Do you think you can undertake this work?
Besides--you are well educated, of course, as is the English fashion for
gentlemen?"
"I'm afraid not," said Derrick. "Unfortunately, it is not the fashion to
give the English gentleman a good education. The other fellows at the
Board school get that; but I can read and write, and keep accounts--at
least, I think so," he added.
"It is sufficient," said Donna Elvira. "Consider yourself engaged,
señor. As to the salary----"
"Pardon!" interjected Derrick, with a grin. "Wouldn't it be better to
see whether I'm worth anything more than my board and lodging before we
speak of salary, señora?"
"We will consider," rejoined the Donna Elvira; then she looked straight
before her again, with an impassive countenance, with so vacant a gaze
that Derrick felt that she had forgotten him once more. While he was
waiting to be further addressed or dismissed, he studied the pale and
still beautiful face. He was so lost in conjecturing the past of this
stately lady, living in solitude in this vast house, mistress of a great
estate and enormous wealth, that he almost started when, waking from her
reverie, she said:-"I will talk with you further, señor. Meanwhile, will you go to my
major-domo?"
Derrick bowed and turned away; but as he was descending the steps she
spoke again, and in a voice that, as it seemed to him, quavered
slightly.
"You will be good enough to return to me in an hour, señor?"
Derrick bowed again, and went in search of the major-domo. A servant led
him through the hall of the house to a small room, where sat the
individual of whom he was in quest; but, before he had begun to try to
explain his presence in broken Spanish, a servant came hurrying in and,
with a muttered apology, the major-domo sprang up and hastened off. He
returned after awhile, and, beckoning to Derrick, led him to a bedroom.