The young man took leave of the ladies.
"You will return, will you not, sir?" doña María graciously asked him.
"You are a thousand times too kind, madam," he answered, "I shall consider it a happiness to avail myself of your delightful invitation."
They left the room, doña María seized her brother's arm.
"One word, don Jaime," she said to him in a trembling voice.
"Speak, sister."
"Do you know this young man?"
"Intimately."
"Is he really a French gentleman?"
"He passes for such," he replied, looking at her intently.