"Let him say it."

"I ought not to allow such ridiculous questions to be discussed in my
house."

"What is Senor Ramos' business with me?"

Caballuco uttered a few words.

"Enough, enough!" exclaimed Dona Perfecta. "Don't trouble my nephew any
more. Pepe, don't mind this simpleton. Do you wish me to tell you the
cause of the great Caballuco's anger?" she said, turning to the others.

"Anger? I think I can imagine," said the Penitentiary, leaning back in
his chair and laughing with boisterous hilarity.

"I wanted to say to Senor Don Jose--" growled the formidable horseman.

"Hold your tongue, man, for Heaven's sake! And don't tire us any more
with that nonsense."

"Senor Caballuco," said the canon, "it is not to be wondered at that
gentlemen from the capital should cut out the rough riders of this
savage country."

"In two words, Pepe, the question is this: Caballuco is--"

She could not go on for laughing.

"Is--I don't know just what," said Don Inocencio, "of one of the Troya