"In the name of God and of the Virgin!" exclaimed Maria Remedios, closing her eyes and turning her face in terror, "put away that thing.
The very sight of it terrifies me."
"If you won't take it ill of me," said Ramos, shutting the weapon, "let us have supper."
Maria Remedios prepared every thing quickly, in order that the hero might not become impatient.
"Listen to me a moment, Senor Ramos," said Don Inocencio to his guest, when they had sat down to supper. "Have you a great deal to do to-night?"
"Something there is to be done," responded the bravo. "This is the last night I shall come to Orbajosa--the last. I have to look up some boys who remained in the town, and we are going to see how we can get possession of the saltpetre and the sulphur that are in the house of Cirujeda."
"I asked you," said the curate amiably, filling his friend's plate, "because my niece wishes you to accompany her a short distance. She has some business or other to attend to, and it is a little late to be out alone."
"Is she going to Dona Perfecta's?" asked Ramos. "I was there a few moments ago, but I did not want to make any delay."
"How is the senora?"
"A little frightened. To-night I took away the six young men I had in the house."
"Why! don't you think they will be wanted there?" said Remedios, with alarm.
"They are wanted more in Villahorrenda. Brave men chafe at being kept in the house; is it not so, Senor Canon?"
"Senor Ramos, that house ought not to be left unprotected," said the Penitentiary.
"The servants are enough, and more than enough. But do you suppose, Senor Don Inocencio, that the brigadier employs himself in attacking the people's houses?"
"Yes, but you know very well that that diabolical engineer----"
"For that--there are not wanting brooms in the house," said Cristobal jovially. "For in the end, there will be no help for it but to marry them. After what has passed----"
"Senor Ramos," said Remedios, with sudden anger, "I imagine that all you know about marrying people is very little."
"I say that because a little while ago, when I was at the house, the mother and daughter seemed to be having a sort of reconciliation. Dona Perfecta was kissing Rosarito over and over again, and there was no end to their caresses and endearments."
"Reconciliation! With all these preparations for the war you have lost your senses. But, finally, are you coming with me or not?"
"It is not to Dona Perfecta's she wants to go," said the priest, "but to the hotel of the widow De Cuzco. She was saying that she does not dare to go alone, because she is afraid of being insulted."
"By whom?"
"It is easily understood. By that infernal engineer. Last night my niece met him there, and she gave him some plain talk; and for that reason she is not altogether easy in her mind to-night. The young fellow is revengeful and insolent."
"I don't know whether I can go," said Caballuco. "As I am in hiding now I cannot measure my strength against Don Jose Poquita Cosa. If I were not as I am--with half my face hidden, and the other half uncovered--I would have broken his back for him already twenty times over. But what happens if I attack him? He discovers who I am, he falls upon me with the soldiers, and good-bye to Caballuco. As for giving him a treacherous blow, that is something I couldn't do; nor would Dona Perfecta consent to it, either. For a stab in the dark Cristobal Ramos is not the man."
"But are you crazy, man? What are you thinking about?" said the Penitentiary, with unmistakable signs of astonishment. "Not even in thought would I advise you to do an injury to that gentleman. I would cut my tongue out before I would advise such a piece of villany. The wicked will fall, it is true; but it is God who will fix the moment, not I. And the question is not to give a beating, either. I would rather receive a hundred blows myself than advise the administration of such a medicine to any Christian. One thing only will I say to you," he ended, looking at the bravo over his spectacles, "and that is, that as my niece is going there; and as it is probable, very probable, is it not, Remedios? that she may have to say a few plain words to that man, I recommend you not to leave her unprotected, in case she should be insulted."
"I have something to do to-night," answered Caballuco, laconically and dryly.
"You hear what he says, Remedios. Leave your business for to-morrow."
"I can't do that. I will go alone."
"No, you shall not go alone, niece. Now let us hear no more about the matter. Senor Ramos has something to do, and he cannot accompany you.
Fancy if you were to be insulted by that rude man!"
"Insulted! A lady insulted by that fellow!" exclaimed Caballuco. "Come that must not be."
"If you had not something to do--bah! I should be quite easy in my mind, then."
"I have something to do," said the Centaur, rising from the table, "but if you wish it----"
There was a pause. The Penitentiary had closed his eyes and was meditating.
"I wish it, Senor Ramos," he said at last.
"There is no more to be said then. Let us go, Senora Dona Maria."
"Now, my dear niece," said Don Inocencio, half seriously, half jestingly, "since we have finished supper bring me the basin."
He gave his niece a penetrating glance, and accompanying it with the corresponding action, pronounced these words:
"I wash my hands of the matter."
