On the following morning, as soon as he was dressed, and after spending
by his wife's side a much shorter time than circumstances required, he
left the house and hastened to Mendoza's.
Mendoza at this time was lodging at one of the best and most central
hotels of Madrid. When Miguel reached there, he was still asleep.
Nevertheless, he went to his room, and took it upon himself to open the
shutters like a friend whose familiarity was limitless.
"_Hola!_ I see that you sleep just the same as when you were not a great
man."
Mendoza rubbed his eyes, and looked at him in amazement.
"What does this mean, Miguelito? Why so early in the morning?"
"My dear Perico, the first thing that you must do is to get rid of this
condescending tone. When there are people present, I am perfectly
willing for you to condescend, and I will call you 'most illustrious
lordship' if you like; but when we are alone, just remember that I am
not your vassal."
"You are always just the same, Miguel," replied Mendoza, a little
exasperated.
"That is the advantage that you have over me: I am always the same; you
are always changing and playing a new and brilliant role in society. I
am satisfied, however, with mine--so satisfied that the fear of having
to be different is what brings me here so early in the morning to
disturb your dreams of glory."
"What do you mean?"
"That having up to the present time been considered a person 'well
fixed,' or, to use the expressions affected by us literary fellows,
being an Hidalgo of 'ancient stock,' and having 'five hundred _sueldos_
guerdon,' I--but you don't know what this means?"
"No!" replied Mendoza, with an impatient gesture.
"Well, it is very simple. If you should give me a slap (which I am sure
you will not), I should get 'five hundred _sueldos_ guerdon,' or fine.
On the other hand, if I should give you one (which is perfectly
possible), there would be no need of your spending a sou.... Well then,
having up to the present time played this role in society, I should feel
it to the bottom of my soul to be obliged to try that of the
poverty-stricken or the vagabond, which I have never studied."
"I don't understand you."
"I am coming to the point. Last evening Eguiburu presented himself at my
house, and without any preamble demanded of me the thirty thousand duros
which have been spent on _La Independencia_, and which I guaranteed,
yielding to your entreaties.... Do you understand now?"
Brutandor said nothing for several moments, remaining in an attitude of
meditation; then he said, with the solemn deliberation which
characterized all his remarks:--
"I believe this amount should be paid, not by you, but by the Count de
Rios."
"Ah! you think so, do you? Then I am saved. As soon as Eguiburu knows
this opinion, I am certain that he will not venture to ask a _cuarto_ of
me."
"If it were taken from you, it would be robbery."
"I am delighted to see that the immutable principles of natural law have
not vanished from your mind. But you know that the actual law is on his
side; and if, perchance, it should enter into his head to make use of
law instead of equity, I want to know if you would have the heart to let
him ruin me."
Miguel had grown very serious, and looked at his friend with that cold
and hard expression which was always in his case a sign of repressed
anger. Mendoza dropped his eyes, in confusion.
"I should feel very sorry to have any misfortune happen to you, Miguel."
"The question now is not about your feelings. What I want to know this
instant is, if the general is ready to pay this sum."
"I think that the general has no other desire...."
"Nor is the question about the general's desires. I want to know--do you
hear?--I want to know if he will pay the thirty thousand duros, or will
not pay them."
"I shall have to write him: you know he is in Germany just now."
"The point is, that if he does not pay it, I will take it into court. I
have letters from him acknowledging the debt," said Miguel, striding in
a state of excitement up and down the room.