Don Estevan continued, in the same placid tone in which he had hitherto spoken:
"¡Cuerpo de Cristo! you are my guest. Wait a little; we shall have time to finish this matter here, after, if it must be."
The Mexican, overwhelmed by these words, stepped back from him, crossed his arms, and, looking him full in the face, replied, "I will wait."
[CHAPTER XIV.]
DON ESTEVAN DIAZ.
For some little time the two men stood thus face to face, looking at each other with the dogged resolution of two duellists who are watching an opportunity to close.
The eyes of Don Estevan, whose face was in other respects impassive, betrayed a sorrow which he could not dissemble.
Don Fernando, with folded arms, his head erect, his forehead frowning, and his lips livid with the fury that boiled within him, waited for the words that were to fall from Don Estevan's mouth, in order to decide whether he should attack him at once, or pretend to be satisfied with the excuses the latter would probably utter.