"One promises to love, honor, and obey, in sickness and in health, till death shall part."
Lopez smiled. "All zat you promise?"
"Yes," very low.
"And yet you 'ave divorce!"
"Yes," lower still.
"So zat, after 'aving promise to love, honor, and hobey," he tapped off one finger at a time, and looked as if he wanted to get this mysterious matter straight in his mind, "until death, you 'ave ze right to break your word because ze judge say you can? Is zat it?"
"Y-y-y-yes. I suppose so."
Lopez smoked a moment, looked at the ceiling, and then said, "Well, why not break it yourself and save ze trouble!"
"It's the law," Lucia told him.
"Humph! An' what does ze 'usband promise? An' 'as 'e kept 'is promise?" There was no reply. "Is plain 'e 'as not. Zen why should you keep your word to 'im, when 'e 'as broken 'is word to you? Eh? Why do you not go before ze judge and 'ave your promise broken? Why ees it ze custom of your country? Why? Why?" He looked bewildered.