Лучшие романы Томаса Майна Рида / The Best of Thomas Mayne Reid

In fine weather – ever fine in that sunny clime – it is preferred to the drawing-room; especially after dinner, when the sun begins to cast rose-coloured rays upon the snow-clad summits of Orizava, Popocatepec, Toluca, and the “Twin Sister;” when the rich wines of Xeres[131 - Xeres – sherry, the wine of Spanish origin; the name comes from Jerez, the province in Andalusia] and Madeira[132 - Madeira – Portuguese fortified wine from the island of Madeira] have warmed the imaginations of Andalusia’s sons and daughters – descendants of the Conquistadores – who mount up to their house-tops to look upon a land of world-wide renown, rendered famous by the heroic achievements of their ancestors.

Then does the Mexican “cavallero,” clad in embroidered habiliments, exhibit his splendid exterior to the eyes of some señorita – at the same time puffing the smoke of his paper cigarito against her cheeks. Then does the dark-eyed donçella favourably listen to soft whisperings; or perhaps only pretends to listen, while, with heart distraught, and eye wandering away, she sends stealthy glances over the plain towards some distant hacienda – the home of him she truly loves.

So enjoyable aВ fashion, as that of spending the twilight hours upon the housetop, could not fail to be followed by any one who chanced to be the occupant of aВ Mexican dwelling; and the family of the Louisiana planter had adopted it, as aВ matter of course.

On that same evening, after the dining-hall had been deserted, the roof, instead of the drawing-room, was chosen as the place of re-assemblage; and as the sun descended towards the horizon, his slanting rays fell upon aВ throng as gay, as cheerful, and perhaps as resplendent, as ever trod the azotea of Casa del Corvo.

Moving about over its tessellated tiles, standing in scattered groups, or lined along the parapet with faces turned towards the plain, were women as fair and men as brave as had ever assembled on that same spot – even when its ancient owner used to distribute hospitality to the hidalgos[133 - hidalgo – a hereditary member of the gentry in Spain (Spanish)] of the land – the bluest blood in Coahuila[134 - Coahuila – a state in northern Mexico] and Texas.

The company now collected to welcome the advent of Woodley Poindexter on his Texan estate, could also boast of this last distinction. They were the élite of the Settlements – not only of the Leona, but of others more distant.