In the evening the Juez returned, and I soon heard him loud in a stormy
altercation with his wife. Perhaps she wanted him to have me
decapitated. How it ended I cannot say; but when I saw him his manner
towards me was freezing, and he retired without giving me an opportunity
of speaking to him.
Next morning I got up resolved not to be put off any longer. Something
would have to be done, or I would know the reason why. On stepping out
I was very much surprised to see my horse standing saddled at the gate.
I went into the kitchen and asked Brass Buttons, the only person up,
what it meant.
"Who knows?" he returned, giving me a _mate_. "Perhaps the Juez
desires you to leave the house before he is up."
"What did he say?" I demanded.
"Say? Nothing--what should he say?"
"But you saddled the horse, I suppose?"
"Of course. Who else would do it?"
"Were you told to do so by the Juez?"
"Told? Why should he tell me?"
"How, then, am I to know that he wishes me to leave his beautiful
house?" I asked, getting angry.
"The question!" he returned, shrugging his shoulders. "How do you know
when it is going to rain?"
Finding there was nothing more to be got out of the fellow, I finishing
taking _mate_, lit a cigar, and left the house. It was a lovely
morning, without a cloud, and the heavy dew sparkled on the grass like
drops of rain.
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