“Manuel,” Rosa said, “you are not to drag Hi into our party politics.”
“Manuel,” Carlotta said, “I think that you are going beyond the present issue, which is, to denounce the Murder Club. Lopez has sufficient readiness, and bigness, to banish, or even to prosecute, his son; and then face you in a stronger position than ever.”
“I believe that Lopez is mad,” Manuel said. “To-night, when this begins, I shall declare him to be unfit to govern.”
As he spoke, the major-domo entered with a telegram upon a salver.
“For Don Manuel,” he said.
When Don Manuel had read the telegram, he changed countenance; it was plain that he had received a blow.
“Is it ill news from Encarnacion?” Donna Emilia asked.
“Is your mother worse, Manuel?” Carlotta asked.
“Yes,” he said, “my beloved mother is dangerously ill at Encarnacion. I must go at once.”
“There will be no train to San Jacinto till noon to-morrow.”