In spite of the efforts made by all, Gonzalo included, to seem unconcerned, a black cloud hung over the party and overshadowed their faces. After taking coffee, and sitting quiet a little while, Gonzalo said:
"Uncle, you left your bed to come here. You can not feel well. Shall a room be got ready for you? I believe you ought to go to bed." Then Don Melchor, seeing that his nephew wanted to be alone, said:
"No; I am going back to Sarrio. Let them put to."
He then took leave of Belinchon and Cecilia, and Gonzalo walked with him as far as the park gate. They were both silent and gloomy; and the old man was extremely pale. Before getting into the carriage, he gave his nephew a long and affectionate embrace, and in a broken voice he said in his ear:
"Strike him between air and water, my boy."
When they parted, his face was bathed in tears, and, getting into the carriage, he hid himself in a corner unable to say good-by.
Gonzalo looked after the vehicle and stood for some time motionless, holding by an iron bar of the gate.
Pablito returned from the town early in the evening. After dinner, he found an opportunity to say quickly to his brother-in-law:
"To-morrow at eight at Soldevilla's place. Pistols. Peña and Don Rudesindo will go by here at six. Be ready."
Gonzalo slept that night better than the previous one. The fierce satisfaction of the certainty of meeting the duke the following morning calmed his nerves.
At five in the morning he awoke active and fresh with no recollection of dreams. He dressed himself and sallied forth, with as little noise as possible, on tiptoe as dawn was breaking.
"Are you going shooting, sir?" asked a servant whom he met.
"No, I am going to see the miller, to have the canal kept low, as I want to fish this evening."
He passed on to the road, and went in the direction of Nieva, waiting for the carriage with his seconds to catch him up, which it did in about half an hour. Peña and Don Rudesindo were much excited. When the young man entered the carriage they shook hands with great warmth and acquainted him with the conditions of the duel--they were to have twenty paces between them, and to advance and retreat as they pleased. This affair was by far the most serious one they had taken part in.