“Come, that is good!  You do not know Dona Visitacion?  When no one inside the Cathedral or out of it can speak of anybody else?  She is the niece of Don Sebastian, who lives with him in the palace.  It is she who rules everything, and Don Sebastian, who is so terrible with everyone else, becomes like an angel when he sees her.  He rages and screams and bites the days when he is ill, but if Dona Visita appears, he controls himself at once; he suffers in silence, moans like a child, and it is sufficient for her to say a soft word, or give him a caress for His Eminence to slobber with delight.  He loves her dearly.”

“But what is she?” asked Gabriel with interest.

“Clearly she is what you think.  What else could she be?  She was from her childhood in the college for noble ladies, and as soon as the cardinal came to Toledo he took her out, and brought her to the palace.  What a blind infatuation is Don Sebastian’s!  And the thing is, the object is hardly worth it—­a very thin, pale little girl, with large eyes and a soft skin; that is all.  They say she sings, and plays the piano, and reads and knows a great many things that they teach in that wealthy college, and by God’s grace can keep His Eminence in order.  She comes sometimes into the Cathedral by the arch, dressed as a beatita with the habit and mantilla, accompanied by a very ugly servant.”

“She cannot be what you think, youngster.”

“Go on; all the Chapter affirm it, and even the most steady canons thoroughly believe it.  Even those who are friends and favourites of His Eminence, and carry him tales about all the grumbling against him, do not deny it with any warmth.  And Don Sebastian gets angry, and is furious each time any murmurs about this reach his ears.  If they told him the choir intended to give a dance he would be less irritated than when he hears them wag their tongues about Dona Visita.”

The Perrero was silent for a few moments as though he were doubtful about saying something serious.

“The lady is very good and kind.  They all love her in the palace because she speaks so gently.  Besides, she makes use of the great power she has over the cardinal to prevent the violence of His Eminence, who very often, when he is racked with excessive pain, would throw cups and plates at the heads of his servants.  Why should they interfere with her?  Does she do them any harm?  Let everyone do as he likes in his own house, and he who does evil, let God punish him.”

He scratched his head as though he were once more doubtful.

“And as to what Dona Visita is to the Cardinal,” he added, “I have no doubt whatever.  I have facts to go on, uncle, and I know how they live.  One of the servants has often seen them kissing—­that is to say, not the two kissing.  No, she does the kissing, and Don Sebastian receives her kittenish ways with the smile of an angel.  The poor man is so old!”

And the Tato ended his confidences with various indecent remarks.