"No;—not as to the letter. But it astonishes me that you should be so—so bound to this man that—"
"Bound to him, Ferdinand!"
"No;—you are bound to me. But that you have so much regard for him as not to see that he has grossly insulted you."
"I have a regard for him."
"And you dare to tell me so?"
"Dare! What should I be if I had any feeling which I did not dare to tell you? There is no harm in regarding a man with friendly feelings whom I have known since I was a child, and whom all my family have loved."
"Your family wanted you to marry him!"
"They did. But I have married you, because I loved you. But I need not think badly of an old friend, because I did not love him. Why should you be angry with him? What can you have to be afraid of?" Then she came and sat on his knee and caressed him.
"It is he that shall be afraid of me," said Lopez. "Let him give the borough up if he means what he says."
"Who could ask him to do that?"