"See, it will soon be noon. In spite of myself, the nearer the fatal hour comes, the more my anxiety increases. I feel a strange emotion, I can admit it to myself. I am almost afraid. It seems to me that this man at this very hour is surrendering himself to a mysterious incantation, that he is plotting something superhuman, because to resurrect the dead and resurrect my appetite would be to work the same miracle. And this wonderful man has undertaken to work this miracle. And if he does, must I not recognise his supernatural power? Come, come, I am ashamed of this weakness. Well, I am indifferent, I prefer not to be alone, because the nearer the hour the more uncomfortable I am. I must ring for Pablo. (He rings.) Yes, the silence of this dwelling, the thought that this strange man is there in that subterranean kitchen, bending over his blazing furnace, like some bad spirit occupied with his sorcery,--all that gives me a strange sensation. Ah, so Pablo does not hear!" cried the canon, now at the highest pitch of uneasiness. And he rang the bell again, violently. Pablo did not appear. "What does that mean?" murmured Dom Diégo, looking around him in dismay. "Pablo does not come! What a frightful and gloomy silence! Oh, something wonderful is happening! I dare not take a step." Turning his ear to listen, the canon added: "What is that hollow sound? Nothing human. Some one is coming. Ah, I have not a drop of blood in my veins!" At this moment the door opened so violently that the canon screamed and hid his face in his hands, as he gasped the words: "_Vade--retro--Satanas!_" It was not Satan by any means, but Pablo, the majordomo, who, not having answered the two calls of the bell, was running precipitately, and thus produced the noise that the superstitious imagination of the canon transformed into something mysterious and supernatural. The majordomo, struck with the attitude of the canon, approached him, and said: "Ah, my God, what is the matter with you, my lord?" At the voice of Pablo, Dom Diégo dropped his fat hands, which covered his face, and his servant saw the terror depicted in the master's countenance. "My lord, my lord, what has happened?" "Nothing, poor Pablo,--a foolish idea, which I am ashamed of now. But why are you so late?" "Sir, it is not my fault." "How is that?" "I wished, sir, from curiosity, to enter this kitchen to see the work of this famous cook." "Very well, Pablo?" "After I assisted him in carrying his box, this strange man ordered me out of the kitchen, where he wished, he said, to be absolutely alone." "Ah, Pablo, how he surrounds himself with mystery!" "I obeyed, my lord, but I could not resist the temptation to stay outside at the door." "To listen?" "No, sir, to scent." "Well, Pablo?" "Ah, my lord, my lord!" "What is it, Pablo?"