"For that--there are not wanting brooms in the house," said Cristobal
jovially. "For in the end, there will be no help for it but to marry
them. After what has passed----"

"Senor Ramos," said Remedios, with sudden anger, "I imagine that all you
know about marrying people is very little."

"I say that because a little while ago, when I was at the house, the
mother and daughter seemed to be having a sort of reconciliation. Dona
Perfecta was kissing Rosarito over and over again, and there was no end
to their caresses and endearments."

"Reconciliation! With all these preparations for the war you have lost
your senses. But, finally, are you coming with me or not?"

"It is not to Dona Perfecta's she wants to go," said the priest, "but to
the hotel of the widow De Cuzco. She was saying that she does not dare
to go alone, because she is afraid of being insulted."

"By whom?"

"It is easily understood. By that infernal engineer. Last night my niece
met him there, and she gave him some plain talk; and for that reason
she is not altogether easy in her mind to-night. The young fellow is
revengeful and insolent."

"I don't know whether I can go," said Caballuco. "As I am in hiding now
I cannot measure my strength against Don Jose Poquita Cosa. If I were
not as I am--with half my face hidden, and the other half uncovered--I
would have broken his back for him already twenty times over. But what