FERNANDO, Prince of the Asturias, heir to the throne of Spain, was playing at lances in the garden of the summer palace at Aranjuez. His opponent was a young South American with a slender, graceful body and a handsome head, a sub-lieutenant of colonial militia. From a shaded bower Queen María Luisa watched the bright blades flashing in the clear sunlight and her eyes, none the less keen for their fifty years, followed the movements of her son's companion with sensual interest. The tight white trousers of his uniform showed the play of every muscle; his straight back moved in quick arcs of rhythmic grace. His waist and thighs were slender almost to delicacy, but they were corded with hard sinew; and above them his chest swelled like a young stallion's and his shoulders were square and wide.
The South American had learned to use the lance among the cattlemen of his haciendas in the wild llanos, and he could wield it with either hand as though it were a willow wand. The prince was no match for him. The young colonial toyed with him, grinning, tricked him into awkward and helpless postures. Then, at last, when he had him done in, weak and panting for breath, with superb impudence he lifted the velvet cap neatly from the royal head.
The Prince of the Asturias was furious. He turned to his mother and complained violently of the outrage to his dignity. She, devouring the debonair figure of the young colonial officer with her eyes, said, laughing, "Don't be a