“The animals, and do they not suffer? Are they not creatures of the good God? Here below we suffer the punishment due to the sin of the first man. The Adam and Eve of asses, what sin have they committed?”
“They have, at least, eaten the parings of the apple,” said Momo, with a laugh which sounded like a detonation.
They then met Manuel and José, who returned with them to the convent.
“Mother,” asked Manuel, “how is Pedro?”
“Ill, my son, ill. My heart bleeds to see him so low, so sad, and so lonely. I asked him to come to the convent, but it would be easier to remove the fort of San Cristobal than this obstinate man. A twenty-four-pounder would not move him. Brother Gabriel must go, and stay with him, and Momo go to Madrid and bring here Don Frederico and the daughter of this poor father.”
“Let Momo go,” said Manuel; “he will thus see the world.”
“I!” cried Momo anew; “how can I go to Madrid?”
“In putting one foot before the other,” answered his father. “Are you afraid of being lost? or do you fear being eaten up on the way?”
“It is this, that I have no desire to go,” replied Momo exasperated.
“Well! I have here a branch of olive which will give you that desire, scapegrace.”