No one said a word in reply. Pepa let her head drop on her father’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Leon took one of her hands, which she passively surrendered, and said with much feeling:
“It is the greatness of a crisis that tests greatness of soul.”
Again there was a pause; then Don Pedro, swallowing half his words and twisting his mouth nervously, began as follows:
“And I declare that we have come to this peaceable and happy compromise on the strength of an agreement concluded between Don Justo Cimarra and myself, by which my respected friend undertakes that his nephew will withdraw his action....” Don Pedro fairly choked. Don Justo came to the rescue.
“And renounce the rights he might legally assert.”
“Just so, he renounces all use of the weapon that the law places within his reach, on condition that he, who by every theory of law, morality, and religion is out of place in this miserable conjunction of three persons where there should be but two, shall disappear completely.—My dear friend,” he went on, turning to Leon with a conciliatory smile, “you, by retiring from a position untenable by law and morality—impossible, in fact, but for the corruption and laxity of modern society—you have saved us from a disgraceful scandal. I can only thank you with all my heart, and....”
Again Don Pedro cast an appealing glance at his friend.
“The circumstances of the case,” Don Justo went on emphasizing his speech with his forefinger, “are exceptional. For my part, I am thankful that the quarrel should be made up. I was the first to advise my nephew to withdraw from it, if we could only insure the permanent absence of this gentleman...” and the finger pointed at Leon. “But as the circumstances of the case are so exceptional—I must repeat it—and as the very small moral worth of my nephew himself would seem to justify that rebellion against his authority which we are anxious to avert...” and the finger pointed in mute accusation to Pepa. “I was, as I say, the first to advise the concessions demanded by this gentleman...” again the finger indicated Leon, “and which, I admit, are quite in the spirit of true judicial prudence. In view, then, of all these facts I thought it well to draw up in concert with my friend here...” the finger after wavering like the needle of a compass turned to the marquis—“the articles of an honourable peace, I pledged my word of honour that my nephew should accept the condition proposed by Señor Don Leon and fulfil his part of the compact.”
The worthy gentleman, who paused now and then in his speech to give it greater emphasis, here stopped for a moment, and then went on:
“The condition laid down by this gentleman, and agreed to, by proxy, by what I am obliged to term the innocent party—in the eyes of the law—is that this lady shall live with her father and her daughter, here at Suertebella; and that my nephew shall never, under any pretence, cross the boundary line of the estate, thus effecting a separation which, without being hostile, shall be absolute and complete.”