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It was the Colonel Monreal of Xeres a good man, reverendo, but a politician. 'Ah! 'Yes, and he was murdered, as your reverence has no doubt seen in the newspapers. A week ago it was the day that the Englishman came with a letter. 'What Englishman was that? inquired Father Concha, brushing some grains of snuff from his sleeve. 'What Englishman was that, my child? 'Oh, I do not know!
'The two are almost identical, he said quietly. 'One does what the other fears to do. And is your husband in prison? Is that why you have come back? Ah! you women in foolishness you almost equal the men! 'No, reverendo. I am come back because he has left me. Sebastian has run away, and has stolen all his master's property.
There is in the universe a particular spot for each man where we all think we should like to go if we had the money. For me it is Rome. Doubtless Sebastian had some such spot, of which he spoke when he was intoxicated. Where is Sebastian's earthly paradise, think you, my child? 'He always spoke of Madrid, reverendo. 'Yes yes, I can imagine he would.
Sitting thus in silence, the two occupants of the quiet room heard the approach of steps and the clink of spurs in the corridor. 'It is the reverendo who visits the senorita, they heard the voice of the sentinel explain deprecatingly. The priest rose and went to the door, which he opened. 'Only as a friend, he said. 'Come in, General. General Vincente entered the room followed by Estella.
And Concha, who could drive as keen a bargain as any market-woman of Ronda, knew by the manner of saying it that Sebastian only spoke the truth when he said that he had other offers. 'See, reverendo, the man went on, leaning across the table and banging a dirty fist upon it, 'come to-night at ten o'clock. There are others coming at the same hour to buy my letter in the pink envelope.
'And Sebastian ate the dinner, reverendo. 'Your husband appears to be a man of action, said Concha with a queer smile. 'And then 'Sebastian sent me on a message to the town, and when I came back he was gone and all his Excellency's possessions were gone his papers and valuables. 'Including the letter which the Englishman had left for the Colonel? 'Yes, reverendo.
He rubbed a sulphur match on the leg of his trouser, and lighted a cigarette as he rode along. 'On our side no accidents, continued Vara, with a careless grandeur, 'unless the reverendo received a kick in the face. 'The reverendo received a stone in the small of the back, growled Concha pessimistically, 'where there was already a corner of lumbago.
'Excellency, he murmured, bowing on the threshold; 'Reverendo, with one step forward and a respectful semi-religious inclination of the head towards Concha; 'Senorita! The ceremony here concluded with a profound obeisance to Estella full of gallantry and grave admiration.
His name is unknown to me, but I could tell he was English from his manner of speaking. The Colonel had an English friend who spoke so one engaged in the sherry in Xeres. 'Ah yes! And this Englishman, what was he like? 'He was very tall and straight, like a soldier, and had a moustache quite light in colour, like straw. 'Ah yes. The English are so. And he left a letter? 'Yes, reverendo.
'Ah! then your husband is no doubt a malcontent? The woman burst into tears, burying her face in her hands and leaning against the wall in an attitude that was still girlish. She had probably been married at fifteen. 'No, reverendo! He is a thief. Concha merely nodded his head. He never had been a man to betray much pious horror when he heard of ill-doing.
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