Vallehermoso; I wear
such extraordinary pantaloons that passers-by are obliged to turn round
and look at me; and I am in love with a ballet-girl of the Real."

It is idle; humanity is determined not to recognize the importance and
seriousness of the reasons wherein these distinguished young men take
pleasure in despising it.

Don Alfonso, naturally more cautious and more experienced by his
residence in foreign countries, understood that it was expedient to
flatter this whim, but at heart he professed the same ideas. That
precept of the Krausist philosophy very much in vogue at that time,
"Regard humanity not as a means, but as an end," was for him a dead
letter.

After the calamity of the Retiro, though his pride was wounded to the
very quick, he was able to hide it completely; and if he no longer made
his appearance at Miguel's, it was not owing to his resentment, but lest
Maximina, now on her guard, would take some violent measure that would
compromise him.

She did not perfectly comprehend his character. When he accidentally
met the young couple in the street, he was as polite and genial as ever,
excusing his prolonged absence very gracefully by saying that an uncle
had suddenly come to town, and he gave a lively and circumstantial
description of the occurrence. Saavedra, without being talented or
learned, had a peculiarly ludicrous turn of speech, and what he said was
apt to be comical and mirth-provoking, though it was often repulsive.
When he "used the scalpel" on a friend, the impression that he left on
his hearers was painful.

Maximina, on meeting him, turned crimson, and it cost her great effort
to calm herself, but fortunately Miguel did not notice it.

The very day that he was going to Galicia, he met Saavedra again at the
Ateneo,[57] where the dandy sometimes repaired to read the French
periodicals. He told him about his journey, and said good by. Don
Alfonso remained a long time seated on the sofa; a frown, constantly
growing deeper, furrowed his forehead. Then suddenly he smoothed out the
frown; his face regained its ordinary disdainful and indifferent
expression, and he got up. There was some deep resolution under that
brow; something that was far removed from Krause's commandment, and
still less from those of God's law.

At his aunt's house he learned that Julita was going to sleep with her
sister-in-law, and spend with her all the time not occupied by her other
duties, which consisted of pian