"Look, Anacleto," said he; "once you were always ready to accompany me to a race or dance or cattle-marking. Why have you ceased to care for these things? Are you growing devout before your time, or does my company no longer please you?"
"It is best to tell him everything and have done with secrets," said I to myself, and so replied—
"Since you ask me, Torcuato, I will answer you frankly. It is true that I now take less pleasure than formerly in these pastimes; but you have not guessed the reason rightly."
"What then is this reason of which you speak?"
"Since you cannot guess it," I replied, "know that it is love."
"Love for whom?" he asked quickly, and turning very pale.
"Do you need ask? Elaria," I replied.
I had scarcely uttered the name before he turned on me full of rage.
"Elaria!" he exclaimed. "Do you dare tell me of love for Elaria! But you are only a blind fool, and do not know that I am going to marry her myself."
"Are you mad, Torcuato, to talk of marrying your sister?"