“It is impossible to say. It may yet end fatally. You must leave me to ascertain precisely the kind of trouble with which we have to contend.”
That evening, when María was herself again, after going through her visions of a hell full of hideous machines and toiling demons, Moreno came in as was previously mentioned.
“Ha, ha!” he exclaimed, smiling as he found the husband and wife in such close proximity. “Like two turtle-doves! And how is my patient?—A good pulse; but we must have rest, absolute rest of body and mind.”
María looked at her husband and frowned.
“No, no. You are not to look so cross at this good man who is as devoted to you as a newly-married lover. You will see—in a few days you will be able to go out together to smell the lilacs, and watch the butterflies. A sensible woman ought never to listen to spiteful gossip. When people are envious what can they do but talk nonsense? Now, my dear lady, you are going to be perfectly rational and calm; we are going to sign a permanent peace and be very fond and loving.... I say it for you both.... Well, let me see your tongue.”
Then he himself mixed a draught, Leon and Rafaela helping him.
While this was going forward in the sick room the Marquis de Fúcar, setting aside for a moment the great business of the loan, already almost concluded, went to join his daughter, and said with a grave face:
“Rubio’s anticipations are very serious. I am afraid we shall have a terrible calamity under our roof. However, we must not despair; science can do much, and God can do more. All we can do is to help science to the best of our little power, and to implore the intervention of Providence.”
Pepa, raising her anxious eyes to look at her father lifted a face so pale that it was death-like; and with the desperation of a person who tears open a wound that it may bleed more freely, she asked: