By these manœuvres he deceived himself, and was convinced that he had deceived the servants....
Maximina did not fancy having the guest. She was so happy living alone with her husband! Nevertheless, with her usual docility to his wishes, she said not a word, nor showed in her face any sign of dissatisfaction.
While Miguel was away from home, Mendoza spent his time with her, but whole hours passed without their exchanging a dozen words. The young girl of Pasajes was not a very deep thinker. And Mendoza, as we know, was in the habit of keeping to himself the good things that came to his mind. Still she watched him closely out of the corner of her eyes, and afterwards gave her husband the benefit of her impressions. Though she tried to make the best of them, it was evident that they were not very flattering.
"It seems to me that Mendoza hasn't pleased you very well."
Maximina smiled, and said nothing.
"Well, he is an unfortunate."
"I imagine that he is not as fond of you as you are of him; that nothing in the world is quite as important as himself."
"Perhaps you are right, but it can't be denied that he is simpático. His egotism amuses me; it is like a child's."
Maximina, as her habit was, sat silently trying to evolve through her mental consciousness the meaning of simpático[21]; but her efforts remained unsuccessful.
Five days after his arrival, Mendoza received a letter from the Countess de Ríos, inclosing another from her husband. Both reached their destination by passing through various hands. The general said that the party who furnished the money for publishing La Independencia gave him to understand that he would not give another quarter unless he were guaranteed the thirty thousand duros which he had already spent. As he could not address himself to any of his friends, and judged that his wife was not a suitable person for the transaction, he charged him at all hazards to have an interview with the "white horse," and try to get a subscription that would be effective in pacifying him, because the paper had been a constant loss to them in these critical times.