CHAPTER XIII.
ICES, HAM, CIGARS AND WINE.
The news of María’s improvement flew from room to room, and down to the stable where Polito was lounging about; to the hot-houses where Telleria and Onésimo were inspecting the pines and making sapient observations on the progress of acclimatisation—which, according to Don Joaquin, must, in time, lead to a vastly increased production of taxable material; to the aviary where Milagros was lost in admiration at the piping of the little birds, an amusement very much to her taste; and was everywhere received with joy. A number of visitors besides the Tellerias had come to make enquiries, and each and all were met with the same obsequious politeness on the part of the marquis. Some only left a card and went away, but more intimate friends staid awhile to condole with Milagros, who, after making the tour of the garden, went indoors to recover from her fatigues on a sofa in the Chinese drawing-room. There, amid the bronze idols and sombre porcelains, she breathed forth her complaints and lamentations.
“That monster cannot make any objection now to my seeing my daughter.... Here!”
A footman, who was going through the room with a tray of glasses and liqueur, paused at the call.
“Bring me an ice.”
“What flavour does the Señora prefer?”
“Pineapple if you have it or banana. Pilar will you have some?”
“I have this instant been fed with some cocoanut sweetmeat—plum-pudding—sherry, and I do not know what more! That worthy stone-mason Marquis tried to be revenged on me for all my jokes by stuffing me to death. He insists that I am to dine here, to ride in his carriages, use his horses and carry off all his camellias. We know well enough that the worthy broker has a good cook, good horses, a fine garden and a tribe of bedizened servants.—The cook, I may say, is not much to boast of, an apprentice from the Trois frères Provenceaux—I declare this gingerbread palace oppresses me more than I can say; it is for all the world like a pawnbroker’s shop; or a livery coat figged out with gold lace, or.... But, my dear Milagros, do you know that we have an important part to play? Shall we go into María’s room? Shall the reconciliation be effected at once?”