"Not in the least, thank God! I will answer for it."
He became calm, as though a divinity had spoken from the clouds. But in the course of ten minutes he suddenly lost faith; that woman might be deceiving him or deceiving herself; who could have any confidence in such people? He cautiously approached the chamber, and said, putting his head in at the door:—
"It seems to me that I had better call in the doctor.... For safety's sake—nothing more," he added, timidly.
"As you please, señorito," replied the comadre, dryly, and with a scornful gesture.
"Rivera, for Heaven's sake! Haven't you heard her say that she would be responsible?" said the countess.
"Well, well, if she will be responsible," he replied, somewhat abashed. And then he asked with affected coolness:—
"How soon?"
The women all laughed aloud. The midwife replied in a condescending tone:—
"Señorito, don't worry. It will be when God wishes, and all will be well!"
He began to wander again like a shade through the corridors, not a little disgusted and anxious. The result was that every one found him ridiculous on this occasion and even laughed in his very face, and yet he could not persuade himself that it was right for him to intrust his happiness and his very life in the hands of an ignorant woman. He would have been more than glad to call a counsel of all the eminent physicians of the court. "If there is the least complication, I will choke her to death!" he said to himself, in a perfect fury. And with this consolatory threat he felt relieved.