“A rich farmer.”
“Young?”
“No; he’s over fifty. But she would take to any one. When he came to an understanding with her, they say that one day he found one of the Countess’ garters, which had a little sign on it that read:
Intrépido es amor;
de todo sale vencedor.
(Love is fearless; it conquers all obstacles.)
“Periquito had a pair of garters made just like it, with letters of diamonds and pearls, which he gave to her.”
“How magnificent!”
“It certainly was.”
Quentin left Juan, and went up to see the sick man.
In a drawing-room near the bedroom, Rafaela and Remedios were talking to a thin, graceful, very polished-looking gentleman. It was El Pollo Real, brother of the Marquis and of Señora Patrocinio. From time to time Colmenares, the hunchback, came out of the bedroom red-eyed, only to go back again immediately.