"Oh, the matter was not worth the trouble, but no matter my dear girl, I thank you. Now," he added rising from table, "I am obliged to leave you."
"Already!" the two ladies exclaimed, hurriedly leaping from their seats.
"I must, unless some unforeseen event happen, I must be at a meeting tonight, a very long distance from here; but if I cannot return so soon as I hope, I will take care to send don Estevan in my place, so that you may not remain without protectors."
"That will not be the same thing."
"I thank you; ah, by the way, before we separate, a word about business matters. The money I gave you the last time I saw you must be nearly exhausted, I suppose?"
"Oh, we do not spend much, brother, we live most economically, and a decent sum is still left us."
"All the better sister, it is always preferable to have too much than too little, hence, as I am tolerably well off at this moment, I have put aside for you sixty ounces, of which I will request you to relieve me."
And feeling in his dolman, he drew out a long red silk purse, through the meshes of which gold could be seen glittering.
"That is too much, brother: what would you have us do with so large a sum?"
"Whatever you like, sister, that does not concern me: come, take it."