"The sick nurse, you should say. I never heard that there was a mistress here."
"What! Have you come to insult me in my own house?" exclaimed Amparo, setting her arms akimbo, as if she still were on the market-place.
"No. I have come to turn you out, before the police arrive and do it for me."
Her antagonist made a movement, as though she would fall on her and rend her; but she checked herself, and began to scream as loud as she could: "Pepe, Gregorio, Anselmo! Come here, come all! Turn this insolent creature out of the house! She is insulting me."
Some of the servants came at her call; but they stood confused and motionless, contemplating this strange scene. At the same moment the door of the Duke's room was opened, and Salabert stood before them in a dressing-gown and cap. He had grown terribly old in a few weeks. His eyes were dull, his face colourless, his cheeks pendant and flabby.
"What is all this? What is the matter?" he asked thickly. On seeing his daughter, he staggered back a step.
"This woman," cried Amparo, in a yell of vulgar rage, "after having you declared an idiot, comes here to insult me!"
"Papa, do not heed her," said Clementina, going up to him.
But her father drew back, and holding out his trembling hands he exclaimed: "Go—go away! Do not come near me!"
"Listen to me, papa."