"You are our son, and sons do not interfere in the affairs of their parents. It is they who have the duty of watching over their happiness and sacrificing themselves for it. I will see that the duke leaves the house without any scandal, and without any one suspecting the reason, or your doing anything which you would regret afterward. Don't think that I do it for his sake, for I detest him. From the moment the man arrived he filled me with the greatest repulsion. Now that I see what he has brought upon our family, you can imagine how I dislike him. I only do it for your sake, because I love you, I will not say any more than my daughter—because one's children, oh! one's children! you know what they are—but, at least as much, and I esteem you much higher."
Gonzalo, quite overcome, dropped into a chair, and began sobbing like a child, with his face in his hands. The good lady placed her thin, white hand on his head, and, with tears in her eyes, she said:
"My poor boy! I will set this matter right."
CHAPTER XXVII
A TERM OF PEACE
THE Señora de Belinchon descended the iron staircase leading to the second floor, and, meeting the grandee's valet, she asked:
"What is the señor duke doing?"
"He is painting," replied the servant, looking with surprise and astonishment at Doña Paula's red eyes.
"Tell him that I wish to speak to him."
While the man went to inform his master, Doña Paula thought her strength would give way, for she began to feel premonitory symptoms of the spasms to which she was occasionally subject; but her strong wish to restore peace to her children overcame her weakness at the moment. Commending herself to our Lady of Pity, she entered Don Jaime's study, full of resolution.
The señor, clad in the fantastic garb worn at home in the morning, came forward to receive her with his palette and brushes in his hand.