“But didn’t you hear that it is a certain José? You must be asleep!”
Everybody laughed. The confused countryman stammered something else and went away. When he had reached a safe distance, he took off his disguise and resumed the stature and gait of Elias.
XLIX.
Væ Victis.
With threatening air the guards marched back and forth before the door of the town hall, menacing with the butt of their rifles intrepid small boys, who came and raised themselves on tiptoe to see through the gratings.
The court room had not the same appearance as the day of the discussion of the fête. The guards and the cuadrilleros spoke low; the alférez paced the room, looking angrily at the door from time to time. In a corner yawned Doña Consolacion, her steely eyes riveted on the door leading into the prison. The arm-chair under the picture of His Majesty was empty.
It was almost nine o’clock when the curate arrived.
“Well,” said the alférez, “you haven’t kept us waiting!”
“I did not wish to be here,” said the curate, ignoring the tone of the alférez. “I am very nervous.”