"Pardon me," he said; "but I should like a word with you."
"I am at your orders," don Andrés replied.
"Good heavens! I do not know how to explain it to you, sir. I am afraid I have acted rather lightly, and have committed an offence against propriety."
"You, Count!" don Andrés remarked, with a smile; "You will permit me not to believe it."
"I thank you for the good opinion you have of me; still I must make you the judge of what I have done."
"In that case, be kind enough to explain yourself."
"This is the matter, in two words, sir. Thinking that I was going straight to Mexico, for I was ignorant of your presence here--"
"Well, I wrote to an intimate friend of mine, an attaché of the French Legation, to inform him, first, of my arrival, and in the next place, to beg him to take the trouble of finding me rooms. Now, this friend, whose name is Baron Charles de Meriadec, and who belongs to a very old French family, kindly assented to my request, and prepared, to obtain me what I wanted. While this was going on, I learned you were living at this hacienda, and you were kind enough to offer me your hospitality. I immediately wrote to the baron to stop the affair, because I should doubtless remain a considerable period with you."
"By accepting my hospitality, Count, you gave me a proof of friendship and confidence, for which I am extremely grateful."
"I believed that all was settled with my friend, sir; when, this morning, I received a note from him, in which he tells me that he has obtained leave, and intends to spend his holiday with me."
"Ah! ¡Caramba!" Don Andrés exclaimed, joyously; "The idea is delightful, and I shall thank your friend for it."
"Then you do not consider him rather unceremonious?"
"What do you mean by unceremonious, Count?" Don Andrés quickly interrupted; "are you not almost my son-in-law?"
"It will not be long first, thank Heaven: hence, you are at home here, and at liberty to receive your friends."
"Even if they were a thousand in number," don Melchior, who had overheard the conversation, said with a sardonic smile.
The count pretended to believe the young man's kindly intention, and answered him with a bow.
"I thank you, sir, for joining your father in this matter; for it is a proof of the good will you are kind enough to display towards me, whenever the opportunity is afforded you."
