"It is a lie!" said the girl, quietly. She had risen and was standing straight, a tragic little figure.
"Gertrudis!" her father admonished. "You hear what Ramon has said."
"Yes!" said Ramon. "He deceived Senor Cortlan' very nicely; it had been going on for months."
"It is a lie!" she repeated. "He loved no one but me."
"Gertrudis!" The banker was shocked beyond measure at what he considered his daughter's jealousy. "Those are not nice words. He told you so, yes; but if he would betray his best friend, he would deceive you also. It was our great good-fortune to be done with him in time. You will see now that I did well in sending him off—eh, Chiquita?"
"No! I do not believe you."
Ramon had not counted upon such a spirit, and, his anger getting the better of him, he sneered: "I should not have spoken. I did not know you still care."
"She does not care," Garavel declared, loudly.
"Ah, but I do. I love him very dearly."
The two men were upon their feet in an instant, staring at her, the elder in amazement, the younger with rage and resentment blazing from his countenance.