avoid all further connection with any of the actors; and full of this
resolve, I wended my way homeward, to have a final and decisive
interview with Mr. Livermore.

'The worthy Donna Teresa Lopez confronted me as I entered the inner
door:

''Plenty of news, is there not?' she asked; 'I heard a good deal of
squabbling, last night; that man in the cloak was noisy.'

''Yes; they had an interesting discussion.'

''You can not make me believe that was all. _Discussion_, indeed! When
there is a pretty woman in the case, and two men talk as loudly as they
did, it generally ends in a serious kind of discussion. 'When love stirs
the fire, anger makes the blood boil.' Tell me, now, will they fight
here, in the Señor Pride's room?'

'This question, which Donna Teresa put in the most matter-of-fact sort
of way, staggered me considerably, and confirmed me in the resolution to
avoid the whole business.

''I sincerely trust, Señora, that such an event is not probable. On what
do you base your supposition?'

''There is nothing so very astounding in rivals fighting; but it is all
the same to me. I only asked that I might take precautions.'

''Precautions! what, inform the police?'