As Miguel was going along the vestibule, he felt that some one touched his shoulder.
It was Utrilla.
"Don Miguel, I want to ask a favor of you."
"You shall, my dear boy."
"It is absolutely necessary that you and some other friend this very moment carry my challenge to this Señor Saavedra. I thought of doing it myself, but I am rather excited, and I do not care to let myself cause a scandal in your house."
Miguel remained a moment undecided, and then said:—
"My dear fellow, you must understand that as Señor Saavedra is my sister's cousin, and as the motive of the trouble is for her sake, I could not possibly mix myself up in such an affair.... But as you are my very dear friend, and as I would desire to save you annoyance, I will do what I can for you. It is necessary, however, that you promise not to take any step in this business, and to leave the entire direction of it to me."
"I promise you."
Miguel wanted to gain time and save the poor lad, and his own family as well, a serious unpleasantness.
"I ought to warn you," he said afterwards, with a smile, "that Saavedra is one of the most famous of marksmen."