The joking continued among the reporters; the observations, however, were made more with the purpose of causing a laugh than of hurting the feelings of the orator, whom almost all knew or were intimate with. Only one, the editor of a Carlist daily, from time to time got off serious criticisms in bad taste, as though he had some personal ill-will against Mendoza. Miguel had already looked at this man two or three times in an aggressive manner, without the other taking any notice of it. At last, accosting him, Miguel said:—
"See here, friend; I am not surprised that the numbers of El Universo are so stupid! You evidently take pains to waste all your wit here."
"What you just said to me seems to me an intentional insult, sir!"
"Perhaps."
"You will immediately give me an apology," said the journalist, very much disturbed.
"No; I should much prefer to give you some unpleasantness by and by," replied Miguel, with a smile.
Then the editor of El Universo took his hat and went out in great indignation. In a short time, two Catholic, deputies made their appearance in the gallery, asking for Miguel.
"You have come to ask me to make an apology, have you? Then I tell you that I shall not make one. Come to an understanding with these two friends of mine."
And he introduced those whom he had selected. The Catholic editor's seconds had not come so primed for a bellicose decision: after consulting a few moments with Miguel's, they went down to ask further instructions of their principal; then returned in a short time with the calumet of peace in their hands, saying that 'their friend's religious principles did not allow him to settle insults with weapons.'
On hearing this, there was an explosion of laughter in the gallery.