The lady, misinterpreting this disturbance of mind, ascribed it to the day’s events, to Pepa’s painful and compromising position, and the unexpected presence of Leon Roch and his wife. Satisfied that she was on the right scent, Pilar, as they returned to the house, expressed her thanks for all her host’s attentions, and added:
“And your kindness is all the more striking when I reflect that you must just now be greatly troubled by all these rumours.”
“And such rumours!” exclaimed Don Pedro with tragic emphasis. “You cannot imagine!... You may fancy what they must be to make this mountain quake!” And he laid his hand on his breast to indicate that even that rock had its hidden springs of sentiment.
At five o’clock Don Pedro took his leave, after once more placing the house and all it contained at the service of the Tellerias. He himself went to Madrid to dine with his daughter, and was not to return till the next morning. Still, if anything serious required his presence he would come at any hour of the night. Happily María was much better and would no doubt recover. After greeting Gustavo, who had but just arrived, having been delayed by his parliamentary duties and the responsibilities of his office, he left the house.
Pilar also had intended starting for Madrid, but she was detained by Gustavo who was very anxious to tell her Heaven knows what; however, the lady listened to him eagerly, and with the keenest enjoyment of some stupendous piece of gossip of very doubtful taste, but which gratified her curiosity and her malice. They walked out together in the garden, Pilar exclaiming from time to time with a peal of laughter:
“It is like a practical joke which at the same time is a kick or a beating! It is one of those providential dispensations which make the victim cry and every one else laugh. But in this case there is no call for pity or sympathy. Merciful Heaven! What a great man you are and how unfailingly ready to help every one! Why, you intercept the progress of evil by arranging things as cleverly as a novel writer, giving us a surprise that is positively alarming—but a surprise that compels us to turn to you and cry out: ‘Lord have mercy! Give us warning before you strike!’”
This profane sally was followed by another burst of laughter; then she said saucily:
“I shall go there.”
“You!—what for?”
“I should like to see their faces,” said Pilar stuffing her handkerchief into her mouth; and she wiped the tip of her tongue as the tip of a weapon is polished after being dipped in poison. “I will find some pretext.”