"That is true; then it displeases your father—is that it?"
The maiden gave a nod of assent.
The Jaguar sprung up violently, and walked up and down the room, with his head down, and his arms behind his back; after a few minutes of this behaviour, which Carmela followed with an anxious eye, he stopped suddenly before her, raised his head, and looked at her fixedly.
"And does my presence here, Carmela, displease you also?"
The girl remained silent.
"Reply," he went on.
"I did not say so," she murmured, with hesitation.
"No," he said, with a bitter smile, "but you think so, Carmela, though you have not the courage to confess it to my face."
She drew herself up proudly.
"You are unjust to me," she replied, with peevish excitement, "unjust and unkind. Why should I—I, desire your absence? You never did me any harm; on the contrary, I have ever found you ready to defend me; this very day you did not hesitate to protect me from the ill-treatment of the wretches who insulted me."