"A number of things that should be quite obvious, sir. It is very unpleasant going into this."
"Pardon me, Doctor, but it is none the less necessary."
"Well, to begin with, Señor de Sanchez was not of our nationality, and I never before knew my father to be in any way partial to foreigners—quite the contrary. I am convinced—although it is merely an impression amounting to conviction—that my father did not personally like De Sanchez. Again, other facts, when arrayed together, present a false perspective. Several years ago General Westbrook quite suddenly severed intimate business relations with Señor de Sanchez: concerning this he has never, so far as I know, uttered a word of explanation. All communication between them ceased abruptly, and I don't believe my father ever mentioned the man's name until he appeared here."
"Do you know that General Westbrook did favor Señor de Sanchez as a suitor?"
"I do."
"Please state how."
"From his own lips. When the rumors linking De Sanchez's and my sister's names became persistent, I went to see my father; but he—" The Doctor checked himself, concluding in a different tone: "It is very painful going into this matter. Unless it is absolutely essential—"
"I will touch upon it as lightly as possible, Doctor. That conversation with General Westbrook was characterized by some warmth, was it not?"
"Very bitter words were used—at least, by me."
"And he then gave you to understand that he would continue to support Señor de Sanchez as a suitor to his daughter's hand?"