"That is possible; but I have no answer to give you."
"Because you know you have done wrong."
"I do not understand you."
"Of course not! Well, I will explain myself; at the moment the officer was about to start, you said to him, 'Take care,' Would you venture to deny it?"
The girl turned pale.
"Since you heard me," she said, attempting to jest, "why do you ask me?"
The Campesinos had frowned on hearing Ruperto's accusation; the position was growing serious.
"Oh, oh!" one of them said, as he looked up; "Did she really say that?"
"Apparently, since I heard it," Ruperto retorted brutally.
The girl took a timid glance around, as if imploring an absent protector.