ime," said the countryman. "When Senor Don Jose
has rested it will be time enough. There are more days than sausages,
as the saying is; and after one day comes another. Rest now, Senor
Don Jose. Whenever you want to take a ride--the nag is not bad.
Well, good-day, Senor Don Jose. I am much obliged to you. Ah! I had
forgotten," he added, returning a few moments later. "If you have any
message for the municipal judge--I am going now to speak to him about
our little affair."

"Give him my compliments," said Pepe gayly, no better way of getting rid
of the Spartan legislator occurring to him.

"Good-by, then, Senor Don Jose."

"Good-by."

The engineer had not yet taken his clothes out of the trunk when for the
third time the shrewd eyes and the crafty face of Uncle Licurgo appeared
in the door-way.

"I beg your pardon, Senor Don Jose," he said, displaying his brilliantly
white teeth in an affected smile, "but--I wanted to say that if you wish
to settle the matter by means of friendly arbitrations---- Although, as
the saying is, 'Ask other people's opinion of something that concerns
only yourself, and some will say it is white and others black.'"

"Will you get away from here, man?"

"I say that, because I hate the law. I don't want to have anything to
do with the law. Well, good-by, again, Senor Don Jose. God give you long
life to help the poor!"

"Good-by, man, good-by."

Pepe turned the key in the lock of the door, saying to himself:

"The people of this town appear to be very litigious."

CHAPTER V

WILL THERE BE DISSENSION?

A little later Pepe made his appearance in the dining-room.

"If you eat a hearty breakfast," said Dona Perfecta to him, in
affectionate accents, "you will have no appetite for dinner. We dine
here at one. Perhaps you may not like the customs of the country."

"I am enchanted with them, aunt."

"Say, then, which you prefer--to eat a hearty breakfast now, or to take
something light, and keep your appetite for dinner."

"I prefer to take something light now, in order to have the pleasure
of dining with you. But not even if I had found anything to eat in
Villahorrenda, would I have eaten any thing at this early hour."

"Of course, I need not tell you that you are to treat us with perfect
frankness. You may give your orders here as if you were in your own
house."

"Thanks, aunt."

"But how like your father you are!" said the senora, regarding the young
man, as he ate, with