"I have not consented. Never shall I agree. Benito is a villain. I hate and detest him!"
"Tell him so to his face, evil-tongued slut!—tell him if you dare! He is now in the house. That is why I came to fetch you. I saw him approaching."
"He knows my opinion of him, but if you wish it, aunt, he shall hear it again," said the young girl, undaunted; and she walked on through the workroom, straight into the little shop.
Benito was seated at the counter, talking confidentially, and in a very low voice, with Tio Pedro.
"Are the bales ready, uncle? In two days from now we can run them through like oil in a tube."
"Have you settled the terms?"
"On both sides. Here the inspectors were difficult, but I oiled their palms. On the other side the Custom-house officers are my friends. All is straight and easy. The tobacco must be shipped to-morrow—"
"In the same falucha?"
"Yes; for Estepona. Be ready, then, at gunfire—"
He stopped suddenly as Mariquita came in.