nst Corrales; he has got me to write a
host of letters, and to use all sorts of influences; he has forced me to
leave my wife and child. The President has done all this with the
intention, so it seems, of selling me. I don't know what this is called
in politics, but in plain language I know that it is called _base_,
_vile_!" (accenting the words). "Good by, my boy," he added, offering
him his hand. "I shall always be grateful to you for what you have done
for me, and the kindly reception which you gave me."

"Hold on," said the governor, as he was going out. "I forgot to tell you
that I received a telegram for you that must be from your family."

Miguel was startled.

"What does it say?"

"It must be here; take it."

It was from his step-mother, and read:--

"Come home immediately. You are needed on most urgent business."

Up to a certain point its contents were tranquillizing, for if any one
had been ill, it would have said so. But as the import of the message
was open to doubt, anxious and sick at heart, he secured a place that
very afternoon in the train for Madrid.

XXIII.

Don Alfonso Saavedra's exquisite, overwhelming courtesy, his delicate
attentions to every one, his respectful behavior toward ladies masked
Satanic pride and boundless impudence. From an early age he had looked
upon himself "as the hub of the universe," as the saying goes, and
professed absolute scorn of humanity. Among rich young men, the sons of
aristocratic families, this conduct is not uncommon. The only thing in
which they bear a perpetual resemblance to each other is their scorn of
everybody. The majority are not able to go beyond that, and full of
zeal, they have no other ambition than to be able to show their
fellows, whenever they can, this most noble disdain, which forms an
integral part of their superiority. But so adorable is their frankness
that sometimes it obliges them to put up with petty disappointments, and
yet it happens that their scorn is not very well appreciated and
understood; for among the many absurd whims from which humanity suffers
stands that of not allowing itself to be scorned. There is no use in
trying to explain this scorn by saying:--

"I owe ninety thousand duros; I am viscount, and hold my head high; I
make portentous wagers at baccarat; one of my ancestors blacked King
Felipe's boots; I am as good a whip as the head coachman; and a few days
ago another viscount and I 'fleeced' a wise man at