The young man lit a cigarette and left the apartment with the most careless air he could assume.
On entering the zaguán, the Count found himself face to face with the Major-domo. Señor Birbomono had such an anxious look that it did not escape Don Sancho; still he continued to advance, pretending not to notice it.
But the Major-domo came straight up to him.
"I am glad to meet you, Excellency," he said, "if you had not come within ten minutes, I should have knocked at the door of your apartment."
"Ah!" Don Sancho observed, "What pressing motive was there to urge you to such a step?"
"Is your Excellency aware of what is taking place?" the Major-domo continued, without appearing to notice the young man's ironical tone.
"What! Is there really anything happening?"
"Does not your Excellency know it?"
"Probably not, as I ask you; after all, as the news, I am sure, interests me but very slightly, you are quite at liberty not to tell it to me."
"On the contrary, Excellency, it interests you as well as all the inhabitants of the hatto."