"Oj, oj, oj.... Trrr, trrr, trr.... Is there a marquis in my shop? blast him!"
And he flung another glance around the room without having any objective point for it, as though there were no living beings in it.
Then, with perfect calmness and care, as though he were performing one of the most delicate operations of art, he crushed the hat between his hands until he had made it as flat as a pancake; and having done this, he flung it through the door into the middle of the street with no less delicacy and care.
Enrique suddenly grew as red as a pepper; then instantly turned pale; he leaped hastily from his seat like a new David, full of the impulse to meet the Goliath in battle; but Manolita restrained him, making no end of expressive signs going to show that the giant was not at heart a stern man. Then Enrique left the shop, a very disgusted man.
"Father, the hat belonged to this gent, and he was a customer."
"Hold your tongue, you! Do you understand?"
And in order to reinforce the significance of his wish, he gave the girl a slap.
But Enrique heard neither the daughter's amiable explanation nor the father's gentle reply; all he thought of was to straighten out and arrange his hat.
"Catch me coming to this pigsty of a shop again!" he exclaimed, furiously clapping his hat on his head, and sweeping like the north wind up the street in search of a hatter.