“Heaven protect me!” cried Don Inocencio, sinking into a chair and letting his head fall on his breast.

There was a pause during which the agitated breathing of the furious woman could be heard.

“Niece,” said Don Inocencio at last, “you have shortened my life by ten years; you have set my blood on fire; you have put me beside myself.  God give me the calmness that I need to bear with you!  Lord, patience—­patience is what I ask.  And you, niece, do me the favor to sigh and cry to your heart’s content for the next ten years; for your confounded mania of sniveling, greatly as it annoys me, is preferable to these mad fits of rage.  If I did not know that you are good at heart——­Well, for one who confessed and received communion this morning you are behaving—­”

“Yes, but you are the cause of it—­you!”

“Because in the matter of Rosario and Jacinto I say to you, resignation?”

“Because when every thing is going on well you turn back and allow Senor de Rey to get possession of Rosario.”

“And how am I going to prevent it?  Dona Perfecta is right in saying that you have an understanding of brick.  Do you want me to go about the town with a sword, and in the twinkling of an eye to make mincemeat of the whole regiment, and then confront Rey and say to him, ’Leave the girl in peace or I will cut your throat’?”

“No, but when I advised the senora to give her nephew a fright, you opposed my advice, instead of supporting it.”

“You are crazy with your talk about a fright.”

“Because when the dog is dead the madness is at an end.”

“I cannot advise what you call a fright, and what might be a terrible thing.”

“Yes; because I am a cut-throat, am I not, uncle?”

“You know that practical jokes are vulgar.  Besides, do you suppose that man would allow himself to be insulted?  And his friends?”

“At night he goes out alone.”

“How do you know that?”

“I know every thing; he does not take a step that I am not aware of; do you understand?  The widow De Cuzco keeps me informed of every thing.”

“There, don’t set me crazy.  And who is going to give him that fright?  Let us hear.”

“Caballuco.”

“So that he is disposed—­”

“No, but he will be if you command him.”

“Come, niece, leave me in peace.  I cannot command such an atrocity.  A fright!  And what is that?  Have you spoken to him already?”

“Yes, senor; but he paid no attention to me, or rather he refused.  There are only two people in Orbajosa who can make him do what they wish by a simple order—­you and Dona Perfecta.”

“Let Dona Perfecta order him to do it if she wishes, then.  I will never advise the employment of violent and brutal measures.  Will you believe that when Caballuco and some of his followers were talking of rising up in arms they could not draw a single word from me inciting them to bloodshed.  No, not that.  If Dona Perfecta wishes to do it—­”