"A good panegyric!" I exclaimed, laughing.
"You will hear the same from all sensible people in town. This does not hinder him from being an agreeable fellow, popular and generally liked; and this is because his defects can scarcely be called public, but private vices."
We joined the ladies at last, and arrived at Martí's about the hour of dinner. My hosts had invited in my honor the company of the night before, all of them with the exception of Castell being members of the family. Emilio made me sit at his wife's right. The touch of her dress, the perfume that floated from her, and a yet more mysterious fluid wherewith her nearness filled me, intoxicated and upset me. This went so far that, desiring to show myself gallant and attentive to her, I could scarcely say or do the most ordinary things. I spilled water on the tablecloth, I asked her three times if she liked olives, and dropped the olive-fork in offering her one. But I was happy, and I could not conceal it.
She showed herself courteous and a little more kindly disposed, thanking me for my attentions and gracefully covering up my blunders.
It made me even more happy when Castell fixed his glance upon the carnation in my button-hole, and asked me with his cold, ironical smile:
"Captain, would you take a thousand pesetas for that carnation you are wearing?"
"A thousand pesetas!" exclaimed Martí, looking up in surprise.
I was indescribably agitated, as if I had been surprised in the act of committing a crime. I knew no better than to smile stupidly and exclaim:
"How full of jokes you are!"
But Cristina held up her beautiful head proudly, and turning to Castell, she said: