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I do not know how many points the law has, but one would naturally conclude that nine is a large proportion of the whole." While he spoke he was pouring out the tea. He handed a cup to her with a grave smile, as if the matter under discussion were one of a small and passing importance. "I suppose," he added, "you have learnt to love the Casa d'Erraha.
Fitz had dismounted in the patio and came walking somewhat stiffly through to the terrace. He had been out all day on a distant part of the D'Erraha property, for he combined the farmer and the sailor. He had applied for a year's leave after having served his country for fifteen. The year had run into fifteen months, and there was talk of the time when he should go to sea no longer.
The well is there to-day; the olive trees, old and huge and gnarled as are no other olive trees on the earth, yield their yearly crop unceasingly; the mill grinds the Spaniard's corn to-day. In the Val d'Erraha there stands a house a rambling, ungainly Farm, as such are called in Majorca. It runs off at strange angles, presenting a broken face to all points of the compass.
Fitz was looking at her, his blue eyes grave and searching. This was not a man to miss his opportunity, this youngest commander on the list. "Eve," he said, "I used to think at D'Erraha that you cared for me." "I have always cared for you," she answered, with a queer little smile, half bold, half shy. So Love came in at the windows as Death crept up the stairs.
"Your own lawyer explained to me that my father only held it on 'rotas." "My own lawyer, my dear young lady, thereby proved himself an ass." "But," said Eve, somewhat mystified, "the Val d'Erraha belongs to you, and you must know it. I have no title-deeds I have nothing." "Except possession, which is nine points of the law. Will you take tea, and cream?
He only had the mill half-way up the hill to the Val d'Erraha a mill to which no grist came now that there was steam communication between Palma and Barcelona, and it paid better to ship the produce of the island to the mainland, buying in return the adulterated produce of the Barcelona mills.
I I think I understand why papa always spoke of you as he did. I am very grateful to you. I know now that you have been trying to give me D'Erraha. It was a generous thing to do a most generous thing. I think people would hardly believe me if I told them. I can only thank you; for I have no possible means of proving to you how deeply I feel it.
And we must leave the Casa d'Erraha. When, senor? Tell me when." The lawyer avoided her distressed eyes. "Well," he said slowly, "the law is rather summary. I your excellency understands I only do my duty. I am not the principal. I have no authority whatever except the law." "You mean that I must go at once?" The lawyer's parchment face was generously expressive of grief now.
I thought that perhaps my small influence and my diminutive knowledge of Majorcan law the Roman law, in point of fact might be of some use to you." "Thank you," she answered; "I think we settled everything before we left the island, although we did not see Senor Pena, your lawyer. I the Casa d'Erraha belongs to you!" she added, suddenly descending to feminine reiteration.
He spoke Spanish, knowing that the Englishman understood it. They drew down the blinds and passed out on to the terrace, where they walked slowly backwards and forwards, talking over the future of Eve and of the Casa d'Erraha. In Spain, as in other southern lands, they speed the parting guest.
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