“That Alonso will never do,” rejoins the older man, “in face of his obstinate refusal to admit the legality of the marriage of Doña Ximena to the Count of Saldaña. They say he has destroyed the documents, and that Bernardo can never prove himself his father’s son.”
“He has no notion of trying,” answers Don Ricardo, “as far as I can see. He is strangely indifferent to name and position.”
“But is the reason of the king’s strange perversity known?” asked Don Favila.
“In part it is. First there is in his head this maggot of chastity.”
“He will not find that virtue among the Gallic monks he is so fond of harbouring,” Don Favila observes, twirling his black moustache. “Of all the hoary sinners——”
“No matter,” interrupts Don Ricardo, “that is not to the point. You question me of the reason—if he has any tangible one and is not mad—that Alonso treats Bernardo as he does. Chastity in the first place. The propagation of his royal race offends him. He glories in the name of ‘the Chaste.’ He would have all his family the same.”
“Fool,” mutters Don Favila, but he offers no further interruption.
“Doña Ximena, his only sister, was destined to