"This was the favor I came to beg of you," she said without raising her eyes, and in a tone of humility.
Don Jaime turned a shade paler, took a turn up and down the room, crushing the Turkish cap in his clenched hand, uttered a sarcastic laugh, and returning to his place in front of Doña Paula, he said with mocking arrogance:
"So you turn me out of the house, señora?"
"I, señor duke? What an idea! The only thing I want is to restore peace to my children and avoid a catastrophe."
"What catastrophe?" asked the duke, while an ominous light shone in his dull eyes.
Doña Paula saw it boded danger for her son-in-law, so she hastened to repair her slip.
"The catastrophe of my son-in-law being insulted by those wretches—Look here, señor, if you are offended at the request I have just made you make a great mistake—We are so honored at your coming to our house that nothing could have flattered us so much as this favor—My husband exerted himself to prefer the request, and he was delighted when he heard that you accepted the invitation. You can never understand how proud I was to have such a distinguished person in my house—I, a woman of the people, the daughter of a sailor, the granddaughter of a watchman, known in the place as the Serena, as my mother and grandmother were before me—certainly I should have been prouder still if it had been some years ago—one's pride decreases with disillusions and troubles. But at all events I am very flattered, and only the fear of the great troubles which may accrue to my children obliges me to take this step; so you will forgive me, señor."
Don Jaime took another turn across the room, stopped in the centre to think a minute, and ended by shrugging his shoulders and wreathing his lips in a scornful way. Then advancing toward Doña Paula, he said:
"Is your husband aware of the step you have just taken?"
"No, señor; and I shall be glad if it could be settled without his knowledge."