"Then, Señor, I simply do not understand you; to me she seemed sublime," replied the young man, with some irritation.
"Your opinion does you honour, Ramon. It is greatly to your credit," said Cobo Ramirez, who never missed an opportunity of vexing his friend and rival.
"So I should think; that is as true as that you are the only person here of any judgment. Look here, Cobo, the General may talk because he has reasons for what he says—do you see? But you had better hold your tongue, for you wear my ears out."
"But mercy, man! Why does Ramon lose his temper so whenever you speak to him?" asked the General laughing.
"I do not know," said Cobo, with a whiff at his cigar, while he puckered his face into a slightly sarcastic smile. "If I contradict him he is put out, and if I agree with him it is no better."
"Of course, of course! We all know that you are great at chaff. You need make no efforts to show off before these gentlemen. But in the present instance you have made a bad shot."
"I am of the General's opinion. The duet was very badly sung," said Cobo, with aggravating coolness.
"What does it matter what you say, one way or the other?" cried Maldonado, in a fury. "You do not know a note of music."
"What then! I have all the more right to talk of music because I do not strum on the piano as you do. At any rate, I am perfectly inoffensive."
This led to a long dispute, eager and incoherent on Ramon's part, cool and sarcastic on Cobo's; he delighted in putting his rival out of patience. This afforded much amusement to all present, and they sided with one or the other to prolong the entertainment.