"What means this?" cried Ureña, sharply, turning round, not at all pleased with the roughness of the salutation: "who is he that dares——"
"Your friend," answered Gomez Arias, laughing.
"Don Lope!" cried Count Ureña, in amazement.
"The same—but whither are you going?"
"To your house, surely: and now you must confess that I am a sincere friend; for although not entirely recovered from my late indisposition, I could not resist the desire of being present at your wedding; so I posted to Granada, and here I am, in time, I suppose?"
"Oh, quite," replied Don Lope, evidently annoyed.
"But it seems," continued Count Ureña, "that my arrival does not meet with your approbation?"
"My dear friend, you must excuse my apparent want of cordiality, but I have already dispatched an express to your castle to explain matters, and you must on no account be seen in Granada."
"But why?"
"I ask it as a particular favor."