Ventura came out behind her, quiet but pale, and calling Generosa, her confidential maid, she gave her a letter for Gonzalo, who that evening appeared at nine o'clock in front of Belinchon's house. A few minutes later, Venturita opened the window of the library, which was on the ground floor and protected with iron gratings.
"Everything is settled," she said in a falsetto voice, directly the young man approached.
"No! How? Really?" he asked in a tone of delight.
"It has been a pretty hard task for me! She was furious."
"And your papa?"
"Papa knows nothing about it yet, but he will give in, too. See if he won't give in. The measure taken could not have been more effectual."
"What measure?"
"The one I took. The whole business looked so hopeless that it would have ended by your being forbidden the house, and I should have been packed off to Tejada in disgrace. All entreaties, all arguments were in vain; she was mad with rage, she called you an infamous traitor, you can imagine how she spoke of me! Then I saw that there was nothing for it but to take a strong measure; and it was somewhat strong," she added in a low, changed voice.
"What strong measure?" asked Gonzalo with curiosity.
Venturita was silent for some moments, and then somewhat shamefacedly returned: