“Don’t finish that sentence!” I interrupted him, “it is impossible!”
“If that is the case, then only two ways are left to you to attain the consent of your father; one of which is tedious and rugged, but straight.”
“Name it!”
“You must endeavour to work upon the nerves of the paternal heart in such a manner, that his affection for you gets the better of his ambition.”
“And the second---”
“It is a bye-road which will lead you soon and safely to the mark---serpents are, however, lurking on that road, and tygers lying in ambush---”
“Don’t name it!”
“I will name it, in order to caution you against it---it is called Alumbrado. O my friend!” squeezing my hand affectionately, “go take the straightest road.”
“That I will, you have given me a very bad character of that Alumbrado.”
“And would not retract a syllable of what I have wrote.”