CHAPTER VII
The Berber Feels Profoundly Anglo-Saxon—The Mephistophelian Mingote—Cogolludo—Kate’s Departure
Ever since the baroness and the sociologist had met at the garrulous gathering of the Colonel’s wife, Horacio began to frequent the baroness’s house and deliver courses in anthropology and sociology in the dining-room. Manuel had no idea as to what those sciences might be in the original, but as translated into Adalusian by the baroness’s cousin, they were certainly picturesque. Manuel and Niña Chucha listened to the Berber with intense interest, and at times offered objections, which he answered, if not with very scientific arguments at least with an abundance of wit.
Cousin Horacio got into the habit of staying for supper and finally remained after supper as well. Niña Chucha favoured the Berber perhaps through racial affinity, and laughed, showing her white teeth, whenever Don Sergio came on a visit.
The situation was compromising because the baroness cared not a whit about anything. After having used Mingote, she sent him away two or three times without so much as a céntimo. The agent began to threaten, and one day he came resolved to raise a scandal. He spoke of the forging of Manuel’s certificates, and hinted that this would cost the baroness a term in jail. She replied that the responsibility of the forgery rested with Mingote,—that she would find some one to protect her, and that, in case justice should intervene, the one to go to jail would be he.
Mingote threatened, shrieked, shouted at the top of his lungs, and who should come walking in at the height of the dispute but Horacio.
“What’s the trouble? You can hear the noise from the street,” he said.
“This man is insulting me,” cried the baroness.