"Well, what then?" she interrupted, looking at him with fixed attention.
"Stay, madam, I prefer being frank with you, and telling you clearly how matters stand."
"It is very simple, however, as you will see."
"Just imagine that Don Louis, after curing me of my wounds, felt that loyal and open friendship for me which has no counterpart in town life. Not only would he not consent to my leaving him, but aware that, owing to reverses too long to repeat to you, I was almost penniless, he insisted on my becoming a sharer in all the enterprises he thought proper to undertake; so that, without the outlay of a penny, I hold one half the property. Hence, as you will see, I can do nothing until I have first taken his instructions."
"And to me too, madam; and that is the reason why, in spite of the lively desire I entertain to settle the business with you at once, I find it impossible to do so."
Doña Angela seemed to reflect for a moment, then went on with a palpitation of the heart and a tremor in her voice, which she could not conceal, in spite of all her efforts:--
"After all, the matter is perfectly simple, and may be arranged very easily."
"I ask nothing better; still I confess, to my shame, that I do not see what means I should employ."
"It is a trifle, tomorrow, before the mayordomo's arrival, I will speak with my father: he will, I doubt not, be delighted to render a service to the man who saved our lives. You will tell your friend, he will come to an arrangement with my father, and all will be settled."
"Indeed, madam, I did not think of that. All can be arranged in that way."
"Unless your friend--Don Louis, I think you called him----?"
"Yes, madam, Don Louis. He is a gentleman belonging to one of the noblest and oldest families in France."
"Ah! All the better. Unless, I say, he should not consent to deal with my father."
"Oh! I do not know; but on our first meeting, after saving my father's life and mine, that caballero behaved so singularly toward us that I fear----"
"You are wrong, madam, to suppose that Don Louis could refuse an offer so advantageous as that you make him; besides, I will talk with him, and am certain to bring him over to my views."
"O dear me!" she said negligently, "I have but a very slight interest in all this. I should not like the proposal to cause you the slightest annoyance with your partner. I am only looking after your interests in the affair, Don Cornelio."