"You are drunk," continued Pedro, beside himself with indignation and grief. "You are drunk, and with evil wine. [Footnote 172] Go home," he added pushing Ventura by the shoulder, "go home, and go on before me."
[Footnote 172: "Drunk with evil wine," said when the drunken person is ill-tempered.]
Ventura obeyed without answering, for with Pedro's words, it was not alone the voice of his father that reached his ears, it was the voice of reason, of conscience, of his own heart. His noble instincts were awakened, and he blushed for the affair which had just taken place, and for the cause which had occasioned it. Therefore he lowered his head as in the presence of all he respected, and went out, followed by his father.
In the mean while they had raised Perico, who was gradually recovering from the vertigo caused by the pressure of Ventura's fingers.
He passed his hand across his forehead, cast upon those who surrounded him the glance of a wounded and manacled lion, and left the room, saying in a hollow voice,
"He has destroyed us both."
As Ventura had gone, accompanied by his father, those present allowed Perico to leave without opposition.
"This is not the end," said one, shaking his head.
"That is clear," said another. "First deceived, and afterward beaten; who is the saint that could bear it?"
Perico went home muttering in disjointed and broken sentences--"Chicken!" "Coward!" "Something in my face which provokes laughter!" "And he tells me so, he!" "Pet lamb!" "No one cast a doubt upon my honor until you spat upon it and trampled it under your feet! Oh! we shall see!" He entered his room and seized his gun.