Don Rosendo signed to the young man to be seated on the sofa, which he did in visible agitation. Then the merchant proceeded to take a chair with an air of mystery, and placing himself opposite the youth, he gave him a dig in the ribs and jauntily said with a smile:
"Well, Gonzalito, and what do you think of this question of the slaughter-house?"
"The slaughter-house?" asked the young man, opening his eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes, the new slaughter-house; do you think it ought to be put on the Escombrera, or on the Plaza de las Meanas, or at the back of Don Rudesindo's houses?"
Gonzalo seemed to see heaven open and, smiling with pleasure, he replied:
"I think it would be very well on the Plaza de las Meanas. It is very open—very airy there."
Then seeing that a frown gathered on his future father-in-law's forehead, and that the smile suddenly left his face, he added stammeringly:
"I don't think it would be bad at the Escombrera either."
"Much better, Gonzalo; infinitely better."
"Maybe, maybe."