"A stranger."

"A rascal, perhaps. The other was so honorable!" said Dona Perfecta,
with alarm. "I never asked any thing from him that he did not grant it
to me at once. Do you know who will be the new alcalde?"

"They say a corregidor is coming."

"There, say at once that the Deluge is coming, and let us be done with
it," said the canon, rising.

"So that we are at the brigadier's mercy!"

"For a few days only. Don't be angry with me. In spite of my uniform I
am an enemy of militarism; but we are ordered to strike--and we strike.
There could not be a viler trade than ours."

"That it is, that it is!" said Dona Perfecta, with difficulty concealing
her fury. "Now that you have confessed it----So, then, neither alcalde
nor judge----"

"Nor governor of the province."

"Let them take the bishop from us also and send us a choir boy in his
stead."

"That is all that is wanting--if the people here will allow them to
do it," murmured Don Inocencio, lowering his eyes. "They won't stop at
trifles."

"And it is all because they are afraid of an insurrection in Orbajosa,"
exclaimed Dona Perfecta, clasping her hands and waving them up and down.
"Frankly, Pinzon, I don't know why it is that even the very stones
don't rise up in rebellion. I wish you no harm; but it would be a just
judgment on you if the water you drink turned into mud. You say that my
nephew is the intimate friend of the brigadier?"

"So intimate that they are together all day long; they were
school-fellows. Batalla loves him like a brother, and would do anything
to please him. In your place, senora, I would be uneasy."

"Oh, my God! I fear there will be an attack on the house!"

"Senora," declared the canon, with energy, "before I would consent
that there should be an attack on this honorable house--before I would
consent that the slightest harm should be done to this noble family--I,
my nephew, all the people of Orbajosa----"

Don Inocencio did not finish. His anger was so great that the words
refused to come. He took a few steps forward with a martial air, then
returned to his seat.

"I think that your fears are not idle," said Pinzon. "If it should be
necessary, I----"

"And I----" said Jacinto.

Dona Perfecta had fixed her eyes on the glass door of the dining-room,
through which could be seen a graceful figure. As she looked at it, it
seemed as if the cloud of apprehension which rested on her countenance
grew darker.

"Rosario! come in