they could think of,
all four speaking at the same time, and, saying so many things and
bringing to light so many truths, that we will not relate here all
that was said. The people who had gathered around to satisfy their
curiosity, if they understood all the remarks, must have enjoyed
themselves not a little. They were all waiting to see them come to
blows. Unfortunately for the spectators, the curate came along and
pacified them.

"Senoras! senoras! What a shame. Senor alferez."

"What are you meddling in these matters for, you hypocrite, you
Carlist?"

"Don Tiburcio, take away your wife! Senora, hold your tongue!"

"Tell that to those robbers of the poor!"

Finally, the dictionary of epithets was exhausted. The review of the
disgraces of each couple was ended, and little by little they were
separated, threatening and insulting each other. Father Salvi kept
going from one side to the other, adding life to the scene.

"This very day we will go to Manila and we will present ourselves
to the Governor General," said Dona Victorina, in fury to her
husband. "You are not a man. It is a shame that you spend money
for trousers."

"B--b--but, wife, and the Guardia Civil? I--I--am lame."

"You must challenge him to a duel with pistol or sword or, or----"

And Dona Victorina looked at his false teeth.

"Daughter, I never have used----"

Dona Victorina did not let him finish. With a sublime movement she
jerked out his false teeth in the middle of the street, and throwing
them to the ground stepped on them. He, half crying, and she sputtering
away, arrived at the house. At that time, Linares was talking with
Maria Clara, Sinang, and Victoria, and, as he knew nothing about the
quarrel, the sudden arrival of his cousins gave him a shock. Maria
Clara was lying on a sofa among pillows and blankets, and was not a
little surprised at the doctor's new physiognomy.

"Cousin," said Dona Victorina, "you have got to challenge the alferez
immediately to a duel, or----"

"And why? what for?" asked Linares, surprised.

"You challenge him right off, or I will tell them all who you are."

"But, Dona Victorina!"

The three young women looked at one another.

"The alferez has insulted us. The old witch came down with her whip,
and that thing there allowed it all. A man!"

"Pshaw!" said Sinang. "They have been fighting and we haven't seen it."

"The alferez has broken the doctor's teeth," added Victoria.

"This very day we