at
that instant Maximina's quick ear caught the soft and delicate voice of
her little one, who was just waking up in the sleeping-room; it was so
slight a sound that only a mother could have heard it at that distance.

She threw down the razor, and exclaimed, "My heart's delight, I am
coming."

She flew like an arrow past Don Alfonso. If he had attempted to stay her
flight, she would certainly have knocked him over with the impetus that
she had and her muscular development.

The _caballero_ had no thought of doing any such thing. What he did was
to turn on his heels, take his hat, and set out to dissipate his ill
humor and vexation on the Castellana.

Maximina's calmness quickly returned. Nevertheless, a few hours
afterward she began to feel such an intense chill that she was obliged
to go to bed and ask for a cup of _tila_. On the following day she was
all right again. She thought of sending word to Miguel, asking him to
come home, but on second thought she saw that she would be obliged to
give some reason, and she had none. And if he should have any suspicion
and oblige her to confess what had taken place? He would certainly
challenge Saavedra, who, as he was an expert in such affairs, would kill
him.

"Oh, I would kill myself sooner than tell him!"

And the faithful wife, at the mere thought of it, shivered with horror.

XXIV.

"The first part of my plan has 'gang agley'; now let us see if I shall
be luckier in the second," said Don Alfonso, on leaving Miguel's house.

That afternoon, while his eyes were wandering at haphazard over the
throng of carriages flying up and down the Castellana, he was deeply
engaged in concocting the most odious and villanous plans, which we
shall shortly find him carrying into execution.

During the days that followed, he began to show more attention and love
to his cousin than ever, spending long hours in her company. This sudden
ardor on her lover's part was sufficient to turn Julita's head
completely. The asperity of her restless and ardent temperament had
already for some time been changing into mildness. Don Alfonso, owing to
_la brigadiera's_ blameworthy carelessness, had got into the habit of
taking certain liberties with her, innocent enough in themselves, but
extremely dangerous. When he had made her his slave, he asked her one
day:--

"Julita, do you want to marry me?"

"What a question!" exclaimed the girl, growing crimson as a poppy.

"Well, then, le