aid
Miguel, in the same light and jesting tone, perfectly intended to convey
the idea that he was prevaricating.

"Man alive! what are you telling me?" she rejoined, ironically. "Well, I
have come," she added, sitting down in an easy-chair and crossing her
legs, "to ask you if you will let Maximina go with us to the opening of
the Royal; we have a box...."

Maximina gave him a look, signifying that he should say _no_; but either
because he lacked the wish or the courage, he replied:--

"A thousand thanks.... There she is."

Filomena looked at Maximina, and she, not having the strength to refuse
or to make an excuse, made an ambiguous gesture, which the countess'
daughter interpreted as an acceptance.

"Very good; at eight sharp we will call for her. You can come to our
box, also, if you like; or, perhaps you may like to improve the
opportunity for a little dissipation."

"Filomena! for shame!"

"Yes, yes; how virtuous you are! Any one who trusts in you must be
fresh!"

And jumping up, she began to play with the paper-cutter, the
paper-weight, and all the objects that lay on the table, among others a
box of cigars.

"To see what cigars you smoke!... Man! what little bits of ones! what
cunning ones! Are they mild?"

"Rather."

"Come now, I should like to try 'em."

And without any hesitation she took a "puro," and bit off the end.
Miguel laughed, and handed her a lighted match.

"I have a very clear head," she replied, giving a bold stare at
Maximina.

But after four puffs she threw away the cigar, saying:--

"Horrors! What detestable cigars you smoke! They taste as if they were
from Cordova!"

"You little hypocrite! It makes you squeamish!"

Filomena shrugged her shoulders, and began to run over the books in his
library, naming them aloud:--

"_Works of Moliere_ ... _Descartes_; _Discourse concerning Method...._
Method of what?... _Gil Blas de Santillana!_ Ouf! how dull that book is!
I could not get half through it. Haven't you any of Octave Fueillet's
novels? No? Then you show very poor taste.... _Plato: Dialogues._
_Goethe: Faust._ I should like to take this book, Miguel, because I only
know the opera, and I am very much interested in the argument....
_Stuart Mill: Logic...._ _Saint Thomas: Theodicea._ _Lope de Vega:
Comedias...._ _Balzac: Physiology of Marriage...._ I have read that
book; it has some very delicate and true observations.... Haven't you
read it, Maximina?"

Maximina was dumfo