The young civilian hastened to comply, and the lady's maid immediately appeared.
"I want you to go out and buy me a yard of silk," said her mistress.
The girl, having taken her instructions, was about to depart on the errand, when Don Julian, who was listening, stopped her.
"Wait a moment," said he; "I will see if I do not happen to have the thing you want." And he briskly left the room. In three minutes he returned with an old umbrella in his hand.
"Do not you think the silk of this umbrella might serve your purpose?" he said. "It seems to me to be just the colour."
Castro and Maldonado exchanged significant glances. Mariana blushed as she took the umbrella.
"It is, no doubt, the right colour," she said; "but it is full of holes; it will not do."
Esperancita pretended to be absorbed in her work, but her face was of the colour of a poppy. Doña Esperanza alone took up the question and discussed it seriously. Finally, the silk was rejected, to the chagrin of the banker, who muttered various uncomplimentary remarks on the management and economy of women.
Ramon, by this time, could no longer endure the torments of Tantalus, to which his friend's plans had condemned him; he never ceased gazing across to the spot where Pepe and Esperancita were chatting. He began by rising from his chair under pretence of moving about a little, and walked to and fro. By degrees he approached the couple, and stood still in front of them.
"Well, Esperancita, is it long since you saw Pacita?"