"Well," he exclaimed as he sank despairingly into an easy chair, "instead of passing a few days agreeably here as I expected, I shall be obliged to listen to Clara's complaints and console her; the deuce take unhappy people, it really seems as if they had made agreement to trouble my tranquillity." At the expiration of about three-quarters of an hour, a black slave came to inform him that Doña Clara had regained her senses, but still felt so weak and faint, that she begged him to refrain from seeing her that evening. The young man was in his heart well pleased at the liberty granted him by his sister, and which dispensed him from recurring to a conversation which possessed no charm for him. "Very good," he said to the slave, "give my respects to my sister, and order my supper to be served here; you will at the same time request the Major-domo to come to me as I want to speak to him. Begone!" The slave went out and left him alone. The young Count then threw himself back in his chair, stretched out his legs and plunged, not into any reverie, but into that state of somnolency which is neither waking or sleeping, during which the mind seems to wander in unknown regions, and which the Spaniards call a siesta. While he was in this state, the slaves laid the table, being careful not to disturb him, and covered it with exquisite dishes. But soon the steam of the dishes placed before him recalled the young man to the reality, he drew himself up and seated himself at the table. "Why has not the Major-domo come," he asked, "have you neglected to tell him?" "Pardon, Excellency, but the Major-domo is absent at this moment," a slave respectfully answered. "Absent--for what motive?" "He is paying his usual evening visit to the grounds, but will soon return; if your Excellency will be good enough to have a little patience, you will soon see him." "Very good, although I do not understand the urgency of this visit. There are no wild beasts here, I suppose?" "No, Excellency, thank heaven!" "Then, what is the meaning of these precautions?" "They are meant to guard the house from the attacks of the ladrones, Excellency." "The ladrones again," he exclaimed, bounding from his seat, "why, it must be a wager! Everybody seems to have agreed to mystify me, heaven forgive me." At this moment spurs could be heard clattering outside the room. "Here is the Major-domo, Excellency," one of the Negroes said. "That is lucky, let him come in." Birbomono appeared, took off his hat, bowed respectfully to the Count, and waited to be addressed. "Confound it," the young man said to him, "I asked for you an hour or more ago." "I am in despair at it, Excellency, but I was only told of it this very instant." "I know, I know. Have you dined?" "Not yet, Excellency." "Well then, seat yourself there, opposite to me." The Major-domo who knew the Count's haughty character, hesitated; he did not at all understand the condescension on his part.