FLORENCIO. No, I prefer to fight. My dear Zurita, run in search of another friend and stop at the Hotel de Europa as my representatives. Seek out this man, exact reparation upon the spot--a reparation which shall be resounding, complete. Either he declares over his own signature that those letters are impudent forgeries or, should he refuse.... CAROLINA. Florencio! FLORENCIO. Stop at nothing! Do not haggle over terms. Let it be pistols with real bullets, as we pace forward each to each! ZURITA. But, Don Florencio! CAROLINA. Don't go, I beg of you! Don't leave the house! FLORENCIO. You are my friend--go at once! CAROLINA. No, he will never go! ZURITA. But, Don Florencio! Consider.... The situation is serious. FLORENCIO. When a man is made ridiculous the situation ceases to be serious! How shall I have the face to show myself before the monument! I--his most intimate friend! She, my wife, his widow! And everybody thinking all the while of those letters, imagining that I, that she.... No, no! Run! Bring me that retraction at once. ZURITA. Not so fast! I hear the voice of Valdivieso. FLORENCIO. Eh? And Casalonga's! Has that man the audacity to present himself in my house? ZURITA. Be calm! Since he is here, perhaps he comes to explain. Let me see-- [_He goes out_.] CAROLINA. Florencio! Don't you receive him! Don't you have anything to do with that man! FLORENCIO. I am in my own house. Never fear! I shall not forget to conduct myself as a gentleman. Now we shall see how he explains the matter; we shall see. But you had better retire first. Questions of honor are not for women. CAROLINA. You know best; only I think I might remain within earshot. I am nervous. My dear!--Where are your arms? FLORENCIO. What do I need of arms? CAROLINA. Be careful just the same. Keep cool! Think of me. FLORENCIO. I am in my own house. Have no fear. CAROLINA. It upsets me dreadfully to see you in such a state. FLORENCIO. What are you doing now? CAROLINA. Removing these vases in case you should throw things. I should hate awfully to lose them; they were a present. FLORENCIO. Hurry, dear! CAROLINA. I am horribly nervous. Keep cool, for heavens' sake! Control yourself. [_Carolina goes out. Zurita reënters._] ZURITA. Are you calmer now? FLORENCIO. Absolutely. Is that man here? ZURITA. Yes, Valdivieso brought him. He desires to explain. FLORENCIO. Who? Valdivieso? Naturally. But that other fellow, that Casalonga--what does he want? ZURITA. To have a few words with you; to offer a thousand explanations. FLORENCIO. No more than one explanation is possible. ZURITA. Consider a moment. In my opinion it will be wiser to receive him. He appears to be innocent. FLORENCIO. Of the first instincts of a gentleman. ZURITA. Exactly. I did not venture to put it so plainly. He attaches no importance to the affair whatever. FLORENCIO. Of course not! It is nothing to him.