“Get married?”
“Yes. To Amparito. That young thing is enchanting.
“She will make a splendid little wife. Even for your respectability as a Deputy, it would be fitting to marry. A bachelor politician has a poor look.”
Cæsar paid no attention to these suggestions and continued to lead an unsocial life. He covered the environs on horseback, found out everything that was going on and settled it. In this he set himself an enormous task, which was not notable for results; but he hoped to succeed in conquering the district completely, and then to extend his sphere of action to others and yet others.
After being a fortnight in Castro Duro, Laura went to Biarritz, as was her custom every year.
AMPARITO AND CÆSAR
Cæsar was left alone. He had seen Amparito with his sister many times but had scarcely ever exchanged more than a few words with her. One afternoon Cæsar was in the gallery in an arm-chair, with his feet high. He felt melancholy and lazy, and was watching the clouds move across the sky. Soon he heard steps, and saw Amparito with an old servant who had been her nurse.
Cæsar jumped up.
“What’s the matter?” he exclaimed.
“I came to get something Laura forgot,” said Amparito.