“Yes, and a dyed-in-the-wool rascal. One or two years ago, when the relations between Ricardo and the marchioness were still in the early stages, the marchioness would receive from time to time a letter which read: ‘I have in my possession a note addressed by you to your lover, in which you say this and that (pretty intimate things). If you don’t come across with a thousand pesetas, I’ll see that your husband gets that letter.’ She was scared out of her wits, and paid three, four, five times, until on the advice of a lady friend, and in agreement with an officer, they apprehended the man who brought the letters. And it turned out that he was sent by Ricardo Salazar himself.”
“By the lover?”
“Yes.”
“There’s a gallant cavalier for you!”
“When the marchioness and Ricardo fell out....”
“On the discovery of this plot with the letter?”
“No. The marchioness forgave him for that. They had a quarrel because Ricardo asked for money which the marchioness couldn’t or wouldn’t give him. Salazar owed three thousand duros to the Colonel’s wife, and that lady, who is nobody’s fool, said to him: ‘You hand me over the marchioness’s letters and we’ll cancel your debt.’ Ricardo handed them over, and ever since that day the marchioness is bound hand and foot to the Colonel’s wife and her associates.”
The judge arose from his chair and walked slowly about the room.
“Then there’s an impersonal note from the director of El Popular, asking me not to prosecute this case. What connection can there be between the gambling den and the owner of that paper?”
“He’s one of the partners. In case the den should be discovered, the newspaper would start a strong campaign against the government.”