“Compose yourself,” she said affectionately, “we are as miserable as you can be, but we have not lost patience.”
“Ah well, I have.”
“But have you made any effort to verify the truth of this report about Leon,” asked the deputy who gave himself the airs of a whole convocation.
“Oh there is no lack of dates. Agustin went to see him to-day ... he tried to bring him to a sense of duty....” And the conversation still ran on this absorbing subject till presently the group was diminished by several persons moving off to hear the mistress of the house read an article by Louis Veuillot. Gustavo and his mother went into an adjoining room.
“Is it true that my father went to-day to see Leon?”
“You heard me say so.”
“I was afraid that his journey to Carabanchel might have had another object. It would be a fresh disgrace....”
“What nonsense! Disgrace! You are a perfect Don Quixote!”
“Yes,” said Gustavo with a glare of wrath in his eyes, “I am afraid he went to throw himself at the feet of our enemy and to beg of him....”