"My dear, really I did not know how much it would upset you or I should never have told you. Why do you get so angry? Every one knows he is a liar and a mischief-maker without his equal in the empire, and who pays attention to all his tales, and all the world knows how you have brought up Ana. What tanner's daughter can touch her? Your Ana--come, leave it." "I will not leave it," cried Mistress Veta, somewhat calmer. "I'll show him. To whom did he say these words?" "I don't know to whom he said them; I heard of it in Trifu's house." "In Trifu's house! Trifu is his cousin. Don't listen, Lena; do you believe his lies?" "How could I believe him, my dear, how could I believe him? Neither did Trifu believe him. He said he would blush to invent such lies." "Lies, Lena, lies. But let him see me! My daughter----" "Say no more about it, Veta. May God keep Ana well, and you see her happy. Costa--but who's Costa? Everybody laughs when he opens his mouth." "You heard it in Trifu's house! Who knows in how many places he has spit out his libels, for that man spits, Lena, he spits worse than any cat; but I am not I if I don't pay him out." Lena agreed with her, and sympathized with her and urged her not to be so angry, for the whole town knew what Ana's behaviour always was, and people stood still and looked after her when she passed by, sweet and modest as a rosebud. "Why let yourself be unhappy, my dear?" she said, getting up to go, "when every one's heart swells when they see Ana, as if she were not the pride of us all when we see her going about with gentlemen's daughters. Ana is just herself, and there is no one like her, so why give yourself bad moments because of the tittle-tattle of a man like Costa?" Mistress Veta accompanied Lena to the door, and came back asking herself what was to be done. Master Dinu came back just at the right moment. Without much hesitation his wife told him everything with various additions and improvements. "Eh! And what of it?" he said. "Don't the people know us and our daughter, and don't they know what Costa's words are worth? Only Costa says it." Mistress Veta looked furiously at him. "What! The town is talking about your daughter, and you don't mind?" "It isn't that I don't mind! Of course I mind, but what would you have me do? Go and kill him? Don't be like this." "Not be like this? I'd better be like you and not care when they insult my daughter!" "Come now, what am I to do?" "What are you to do? Woe betide the house where the man is not a real man! Find out, discover to whom he has said it, collect witnesses, and see he never opens his mouth again." "I will see about it." "Don't see about it, find him." Master Dinu knew that his wife must always have the last word, so he said nothing; he would have been glad not to be at home, but he could not go now. A few minutes later he said: "Listen, Veta, all right, I will find witnesses, but supposing it's true?"