"You have seen don Jaime?" doña María asked.
"Yes, madam, he paid us a visit at eleven o'clock last night."
The young men then took chairs, and a pleasant conversation was carried on. Doña Carmen and Dolores continued to tease them: they were happy at having made them so utterly disconcerted, though in their hearts they felt a grudge because their lovers had not comprehended the feeling that dictated their reproaches. As for the count and Dominique, they felt happy in being by the side of these lovely and simple girls, they intoxicated themselves with the fire of their glances, listened with ravishment to the sweet music of their voice, without thinking of anything but enjoying as long as possible the easy happiness which they thus procured. The entire afternoon passed in this way with the rapidity of a dream. At nine o'clock they took leave and returned home without exchanging a word.
"Do you feel inclined to sleep?" the count asked his friend, as soon as they reached their apartments.
"Really, no," the latter answered; "why?"
"Because I should like to talk with you."
"Well, that is capital, for I too want to talk to you."
"Ah," said the count: "well, if you like, we will talk over a cigar and a glass of punch."
The young men sat down opposite each other and lit their cigars.
"What a charming day we have spent!" the count said.
"How could it be otherwise," Dominique asked, "with such amiable persons?"
And as if by common accord the young men sighed. The count suddenly seemed to form a determination.
"Come," he said to his friend, "will you be frank?"
"With you I shall always be so, as you are well aware," Dominique answered.
"Well, listen to me: you are aware that I have only been a few months in Mexico, but what you know only vaguely is the motive that brought me to this country."
"I fancy I was told you had come here with the intention of marrying your cousin, doña Dolores de la Cruz."
"That is true: but what you do not know is the way in which this marriage was arranged, and the motives that prevent me from breaking it off."
"I will be brief: know then that while still a child, by the conditions of a family compact I was betrothed to my cousin doña Dolores, of whose existence even I was ignorant. When I became a man, my parents called on me to fulfil this engagement, which they had made in my name without consulting me. In spite of the very natural repugnance I felt for this strange union with a woman whom I did not know, I was compelled to obey. I quitted with regret the happy careless life I was leading in Paris among my friends, and embarked for Mexico. Don Andrés de la Cruz received me on my arrival with the liveliest joy, overwhelmed me with the most delicate attentions, and introduced me to his daughter, my betrothed. Doña Dolores received me coldly, even more than coldly: evidently she was no more satisfied than myself with the union she was forced to contract with a stranger, and felt hurt at the right her father had thus arrogated of disposing of her hand without consulting her, or even warning her; for doña Dolores, as I learned afterwards, was perfectly ignorant of the compact concluded between the two branches of our family. As for myself, delighted at the cool reception which I received from the woman I was destined to marry, I hoped that possibly this union might not be completed. Doña, Dolores is very beautiful, as you are aware."