Thus reasoning upon the subject, and thus influenced,
he called at the house of Don Gonzales on the evening following that
of Captain Bezan's sentence, expecting to be greeted with the usual
courtesy that had been extended to him. Ruez was the first one whom
he met of the household, on being ushered to the drawing-room by a
slave.
"Ah! Master Ruez, how do you do?" said the general, pleasantly.
"Not well at all!" replied the boy, sharply, and with undisguised
dislike.
"I'm sorry to learn that. I trust nothing serious has affected you."
"But there has, though," said the boy, with spirit; "it is the
rascality of human nature;" at the same moment he turned his back
coldly on the general and left the room.
"Well, that's most extraordinary," mused the general, to himself;
"the boy meant to hit me, beyond a doubt."
"Ah, Don Gonzales," he said to the father, who entered the room a
moment after, "glad to see you; have had some unpleasant business on
my hands that has kept me away, you see."
"Yes, very unpleasant," said the old gentleman, briefly and coldly.
"Well, it's all settled now, Don Gonzales, and I trust we shall be
as good friends as ever."
Receiving no reply whatever to this remark, and being left to
himself, General Harero looked after Don Gonzales, who had retired
to a balcony in another part of the room, for a moment, and then
summoning a slave, sent his card to Senorita Isabella, and received
as an answer that she was engaged.
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