“Pretext,” cried Gonzalo; “you do not desire to fight. You are a coward.” Saying this he placed his hand upon his pistol for a moment. Luis was livid and acted as if he would follow his example; but he stopped and left his arm in place, recalling his promise to Ramona at the ball.
“One moment,” he said, “only one moment; if you are a man and not a brute, as you seem to be, you must first hear me. By my mother’s honor, I assure you that I am disposed to fight; but not before we understand each other. What is the matter?”
“You love Ramona. Deny that if you can.”
“God save me from committing such a vile act! It is true.”
“That is true.”
“You danced with her the night of the fiesta.”
“That also is true.”
“You made a declaration of love to her.”
“I cannot deny that.”