“Why, these fellows coming hither. I wonder what they can be wanting?”
“You needn’t wonder at that,” says Iñez, still speaking jocularly. “I can tell you what one of them wants, that one Don Francisco de Lara. He is desirous to have a look at the mistress of this mansion.”
“And Don Faustino Calderon is no doubt equally desirous to look at her niece,” retorts the other in like bantering tone.
“He’s quite welcome. He may look till he strains his ugly eyes out. It won’t make any impression on me.”
“I’m sorry I can’t say the same for Don Francisco. On me, his looks do make impression—far from pleasant.”
“It wasn’t always so, tia?”
“No, I admit. I only wish it had been.”
“But why?”
“Because, now I shouldn’t need to be afraid of him.”
“Afraid of him! Surely you are not that?”