“So you are going away at seven in the morning,” said Sebastião, when they were alone.
“There is no help for it.”
The study where they now were was a small apartment, furnished with a tall bookcase with glass doors, on the top of which was a Bacchante covered with dust. The table, on which was an antique inkstand, a legacy from Jorge’s grandfather, was placed near the window; a collection of the “Diario do Governo” was piled on the floor in a corner; above the morocco-covered easy-chair hung a drawing in crayon, a likeness of Jorge, and on the wall, over the picture, were two swords placed crosswise. At the further end of the apartment, a door, concealed by a portière of crimson reps, gave exit to the stairs.
“Who do you suppose was here this morning?” said Jorge, refilling his pipe. “That shameless creature, Leopoldina! What do you think of that, eh?”
“But—was she admitted?” asked Sebastião, in a low voice, drawing the portière.
“She was admitted, she sat down, and she stayed,” said Jorge; “she did whatever it pleased her to do. Leopoldina!” he added, in a tone of exasperation,—“the Quebraes!”
He lighted his pipe, throwing away the match with an angry gesture.
“When I think,” he continued, “that that impudent creature comes to my house,—a creature who has more lovers than she has dresses, who goes alone with them on excursions to Dá-Funde, and who danced last winter in a domino at a public masquerade with an opera-singer! The wife of a nobody who has passed through the insolvent court. And she comes here,” he continued, extending his arms, “she seats herself in my chair, she embraces my wife, she breathes the air which belongs to me. On my word of honor,”—raising his clenched fist, as if to put his threat into execution,—“if I catch her here, I will leave the mark of a whip upon her!”
“The worst of the matter is—the neighbors,” said Sebastião, slowly.
“There is no disguising the matter,” continued Jorge, with irritation. “The people of the street, the shopkeepers, all know who she is,—the Quebraes! Every one knows the Quebraes!”