“B—b—but, wife, and the Guardia Civil? I—I—am lame.”
“You must challenge him to a duel with pistol or sword or, or——”
And Doña Victorina looked at his false teeth.
“Daughter, I never have used——”
Doña Victorina did not let him finish. With a sublime movement she jerked out his false teeth in the middle of the street, and throwing them to the ground stepped on them. He, half crying, and she sputtering away, arrived at the house. At that time, Linares was talking with Maria Clara, Sinang, and Victoria, and, as he knew nothing about the quarrel, the sudden arrival of his cousins gave him a shock. Maria Clara was lying on a sofa among pillows and blankets, and was not a little surprised at the doctor’s new physiognomy.
“Cousin,” said Doña Victorina, “you have got to challenge the alferez immediately to a duel, or——”
“And why? what for?” asked Linares, surprised.
“You challenge him right off, or I will tell them all who you are.”
“But, Doña Victorina!”
The three young women looked at one another.