"Don't be vexed, Guillen," said the former, "but explain yourself to us."
"I tell you that I am in love, and by confiding to you this secret, for no one else must know it, I am proving to both of you the warmth of my friendship."
"But who are you in love with?"
Guillen looked around on all sides, and then replied in a very low voice—
"With Doña Teresa, my mistress."
Illan and Garcia found some difficulty to restrain themselves from again bursting out into laughter. However, they checked themselves when they noticed the angry gesture of Guillen when he saw the fresh symptoms of hilarity.
"With Doña Teresa! with the sister of the count your master!" exclaimed Illan. "Are you mad, Guillen, or are you making fun of us?"
"I am not making fun of you; but I am mad—mad in love, my friends."
"But is it returned?"
"How could it be, when I have never dared to declare my love to her who is the object of it?"