Page:Dick Hamilton's Steam Yacht.djvu/182

164 "It is not a question of money, dear Senor Hamilton," and Don Ferdinand Hondora shrugged his expressive shoulders, elevated his eyebrows, and made deprecatory gestures with his fat hands; "money does not figure. But now it is the hour for the band to play in the plaza, and I like to listen to it as I sit and sip my chocolate. Business is over long ago for Havana. I shall be most happy to have you join me at the plaza. Aly carriage will be here shortly."

'Thank you, but I have left my friends, and I must return to them," answered the youthful millionaire. "But I will be here early in the morning, and"

"Not—er—not too early, if I may venture to suggest such a thing, my dear Senor Hamilton," spoke the lawyer, gently. "I seldom breakfast before ten, and at eleven o'clock I shall be most happy to receive you."

"Very well, eleven o'clock then," conceded Dick. "And then we can take the rest of the morning, and the whole afternoon, to looking into this matter."

"Pardon me, senor, but did I hear you aright—the whole afternoon, did you say?" and Don Ferdinand Hondora looked pained.

"Yes—why not?"

"Ah, but Senor Hamilton forgets that there is the noon siesta to be taken into consideration. One must have the siesta or—well, business is never done during the siesta or sleep hour," and