Still it must not be imagined that this act in the least infringed on the dignity with which the handsome chula had clothed herself: on the contrary, it made it more lustrous and illustrious. And while the lieutenant was washing his nose, carefully snuffling up the water, she, casting glances of Olympic scorn at his occiput and muttering threats, went and sat down once more at the door with her book in her hands.
The hemorrhage having been checked, after drying his face with his handkerchief the lieutenant left the shop; but as he passed by Manolita he had the impudence to say:—
"Good by, my beauty; I shall not lay it up against you."
It would be impossible for any one to conceive that Manolita lifted so much as her eyes, much more that she replied to him.
Enrique went to the Imperial with his nose rather red, possibly a little inflamed, but as happy as though nothing of the sort had occurred. The thought of the chula and the buffet that she had given him was driven out of his head by the congratulations of the bull-fighters and a dispute that lasted all the afternoon as to whether it is permissible or not for the espada to have a boy at the entrance to attract the attention of the bull when he charges at close quarters.
On the next day, however, when he left the house after breakfast, he remembered his adventure; instead of going up to town by the Prado, so as to take Prince Street, as his custom was, he entered the Calle del Baño the same as on the day before. He had taken but a step or two before he could discern at a distance Manolita's checked chintz and blue kerchief.
The lieutenant smiled, calling to mind only the pleasant part of yesterday's episode; it was one of his peculiarities to see all the things of this world in the most hopeful aspect.
"Ah, there is my little chula! caramba! if she isn't witty and saucy!"
And with a honied smile on his lips, he walked leisurely to the "dairy," puffing out vast volumes of smoke, and carrying himself like a man whose happiness cannot be disturbed by a buffet more or less.
When he came near the young woman, he stopped just as on the day before. The chula looked up, and scanning him with angry eyes, said:—