Читать книгу The Plumed Serpent. Historical Novel - Life and Love after the Mexico Revolution онлайн

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‘But,’ said Kate, ‘I don’t want to say Viva la Muerte!’

‘But when you are real Mexican — ’ he said, teasing.

‘I NEVER could be,’ she said hotly, and he laughed.

‘I’m afraid Viva la Muerte! hits the nail on the head,’ said Mrs Norris, rather stonily. ‘But won’t you come to tea! Do!’

She led the way in her black little shawl and neat grey hair, going ahead like a Conquistador herself, and turning to look with her Aztec eyes through her pince-nez, to see if the others were coming.

‘We are following,’ said Don Ramón in Spanish, teasing her. Stately in his black suit, he walked behind her on the narrow terrace, and Kate followed, with the small, strutting Don Cipriano, also in a black suit, lingering oddly near her.

‘Do I call you General or Don Cipriano?’ she asked, turning to him.

An amused little smile quickly lit his face, though his eyes did not smile. They looked at her with a black, sharp look.

‘As you wish,’ he said. ‘You know General is a term of disgrace in Mexico. Shall we say Don Cipriano?’