Volume Ii Part 27 (1/2)

Gonzalo made no answer.

”Why did you not come home at once?”

”Because it would have been a cruel slight on this poor family in its deep affliction. They have been so kind to me.”

”If that is so, you did well--but you ought to have told me--I don't forgive you for that.”

”But why? The later you heard the bad news the better.”

”That's not so! I am like your father, Gonzalo, and I can sympathize with you--They tell me you are going to have a duel with him--with that pirate. Is it so?”

”No--no such thing now--” returned the young man with some hesitation.

”Don't deceive me, Gonzalo! This duel can not take place. I have come determined to prevent it.”

”There is nothing going on, uncle. Make yourself easy.”

”It is useless for you to deceive me. I won't leave you for a moment.

Here I will remain, I will sleep by your side so that you don't escape me, and I will keep guard over you from dawn to midday and till eve.”

Gonzalo stood aghast, seeing that it was necessary to confess all, and to face the matter.

”And if it were true, what of it, uncle? Would you dare to prevent your nephew doing what is exacted by honor?”

”Yes, sir--And don't speak to me of daring!--Yes, sir, I dare,” returned the old man in a rage. ”Do you want me to give my consent to your losing your life through a villain, a rogue, who crept into your house to villainously betray your honor? Rogues like that are strung up, or shot, one does not fight them. You are blind, Gonzalo. Stop a moment, man, get to the bottom of the scandal and you will see that it does not hold water.”

”What would you have me do then? Do you want me to let him go off quietly to Madrid? Do you want me to see him off and wish him a pleasant journey, and thank him for the kindness he has done me?”

”No, he has been curse enough; kill him if you like, but don't lose your own life.”

”That is very easy to say, uncle,” replied Gonzalo caustically. ”Imagine that I go to Nieva, I seek him out, I shoot him, or I kill him with a blow--then I am taken off to prison, and however righteous my cause was, I have to undergo some years' incarceration--Allowing that the majority of men exonerate the deed, they would not think it a very brave one.”

Don Melchor stood some moments confounded, not knowing what to reply, but he did not give in. Finally he raised his head quickly, his eyes s.h.i.+ning with delight.

”I have found a solution!”

”What?”

”You remain quietly at home. I will go myself to Nieva, meet the duke, and kill him.”

”Oh! uncle, many thanks! But it can not be,” returned Gonzalo, unable to repress a smile.

”What are you laughing at, silly?” exclaimed the good old man, with his eyes blazing. ”You think perhaps your uncle is a useless old hulk, who can not handle a sword or a pistol? The devil take it! the devil!” he added, each time with more anger, and gesticulating about the room like a madman--”I am the same as I was at twenty years of age--I run upstairs four steps at a time without any fatigue--I drink five bottles of pale ale without it getting into my head--I can knock a bull down with a blow, and I can launch a heavy boat. And is all this anything to laugh at, and snap your fingers at in such a brutal fas.h.i.+on?”

”I am not laughing at that, uncle--I know, I know.”

”Let's see, then; give me your hand and feel if I can squeeze it or not.”

Gonzalo gave him his hand, and the old sailor squeezed it with all his strength, his face red and contorted. Although not much hurt, the young man feigned most dreadful pain.