"My dear fellow, you must understand that as Senor Saavedra is my
sister's cousin, and as the motive of the trouble is for her sake, I
could not possibly mix myself up in such an affair.... But as you are my
very dear friend, and as I would desire to save you annoyance, I will do
what I can for you. It is necessary, however, that you promise not to
take any step in this business, and to leave the entire direction of it
to me."
"I promise you."
Miguel wanted to gain time and save the poor lad, and his own family as
well, a serious unpleasantness.
"I ought to warn you," he said afterwards, with a smile, "that Saavedra
is one of the most famous of marksmen."
"That makes no difference to me," rejoined Utrilla, making a gesture
worthy of Roland or Don Quixote.
The brigadier's son looked at him surprised at such valor, at once
ridiculous and heroic.
On returning to the parlor, after giving a few directions, he casually
fell in with Filomena, who was coming from the dressing-room with a box
of rice-powder in her hand.
"I was anxious to meet you so as to whisper in the tenderest, tenderest
voice that you are angelic, maddening!" said the heathen, approaching
her with an insinuating smile, and bringing his mouth close to her ear.
"Come now, none of your nonsense, you bad boy! With such a young and
lovely wife, aren't you ashamed to be making love to the girls?"
He suddenly grew serious; but quickly coming to himself, he retorted
with a laugh:--
"The priest's benediction was not able to rob me of my innate qualities,
and one of them was the love of the beautiful."
"You men are all alike; _art! beauty!_ Little words by which you try to
conceal your lack of shame!"
"Thanks, Filo, for at least having used the plural. It is to be
understood under all circumstances that I reserve the right of admiring
you."
The girl shrugged her shoulders, and made a disdainful face, and
suddenly taking the powder-puff, she dabbed it upon his cheek.
"Hold on, hold on!" said Miguel, catching her by one arm; "you don't
escape me without wiping it off!"
"What! do you imagine that I am afraid to do it?" she asked, giving him
a provoking smile.
And without further delay she began to rub it off with her handkerchief.
Miguel's eyes gleamed with an unnatural light, and as his lips were not
far from the girl's head, he bent over quickly and touched them to her
forehead.
Filomena straightened herself up with equal rapidity, and giving him a
look that was half severe and half mischievous, said:--
"You had better be a little careful!"