"Señorito, it is a waiter from the café wants to speak with you."
"A waiter from the café? I don't remember that I have any account anywhere.... Tell him to come in."
"Wait! wait!" exclaimed Maximina; "let me get out by this door!"
And she ran out by the parlor door, as was always her custom, when any of Rivera's visitors came.
At that instant the waiter appeared, and Miguel could scarcely recognize under his disguise his friend Mendoza.
"Perico!"
"Shhhhhhhhh!" exclaimed Mendoza, putting on an expression of terrible fear.
And he hastened to bolt the door.
"What is up?" asked Miguel, affecting great anxiety.
Mendoza sat down, heaved a sigh, and answered frankly:—