intance we have already made--also visited the house, and to him
Dona Perfecta was accustomed to address warnings and reprimands as
energetic as the following:

"A pretty mail service you have! How is it that my nephew has not
received a single letter since he has been in Orbajosa? When the
carrying of the mail is entrusted to such a giddy-pate, how can things
be expected to go well? I will speak to the governor of the province so
that he may be careful what kind of people he puts in the post-office."

Caballuco, shrugging his shoulders, looked at Rey with the most complete
indifference.

One day he entered the house with a letter in his hand.

"Thank Heaven!" said Dona Perfecta to her nephew. "Here are letters
from your father. Rejoice, man! A pretty fright we have had through
my brother's laziness about writing. What does he say? He is well, no
doubt," she added, seeing that Pepe Rey opened the letter with feverish
impatience.

The engineer turned pale as he glanced over the first lines.

"Good Heavens! Pepe, what is the matter?" exclaimed Dona Perfecta,
rising in alarm. "Is your father ill?"

"This letter is not from my father," responded Pepe, revealing in his
countenance the greatest consternation.

"What is it, then?"

"An order from the Minister of Public Works, relieving me from the
charge which was confided to me."

"What! Can it be possible!"

"A dismissal pure and simple, expressed in terms very little flattering
to me."

"Was there ever any thing so unjust!" exclaimed Dona Perfecta, when she
had recovered from her amazement.

"What a humiliation!" exclaimed the young man. "It is the first time in
my life that I have received an affront like this."

"But the Government is unpardonable! To put such a slight upon you! Do
you wish me to write to Madrid? I have very good friends there, and
I may be able to obtain satisfaction for you from the Government and
reparation for this brutal affront."

"Thanks, senora, I desire no recommendations," said the young man, with
ill-humor.

"But what a piece of injustice! what a high-handed proceeding! To
discharge in this way a young man of your merit, an eminent scientist.
Why, I cannot contain my anger!"

"I will find out," said Pepe, with energy, "who it is that occupies
himself in injuring me."

"That minister--but what is to be expected from those infamous
politicasters?"

"In this there is the hand of some one who is determined to drive me to