“The truth!” responded Juan, availing himself of another subterfuge. “Then, though--because I was not prepared to tell it--I have not complied with the church this year, I am to tell it to you! No, sir! ‘He that reveals his secret, remains without it.’” “It is plain enough from your crafty answer that your mind is made up. So you needn’t deny it, nor put me off with palaver.” “The thing is yet in the blade, and to be nibbled at,” replied Juan. “Do you know, Christian, what you are about? For the beginning of a cure is a knowledge of the sickness.” “Yes, sir, I have my five senses counted.” “Yes, Juan, four of them useless, and one empty. But, my son, you know me well, is it not so?” “Yes, sir.” “You are sure that I am your friend?” “I don’t say no to that, Uncle Bartolo.” “And you know the proverb says, ‘An old ox draws a straight furrow’?” “Agreed, Uncle Bartolo; we know that kind of wisdom years give, for we are told that the devil is knowing not because of his devilship, but because he is the _old one_.” “Well, that being so, you will heed what I say.” “That remains to be seen.” “And you will consider my advice?” “What is the meaning of all this advanced guard, Uncle Bartolo? Why do you sift and sift without falling through the sieve?” “To fall with all my weight in saying this, and no more: ‘Don’t you marry, Juan Garcia!’” “Why not? if you would please tell me.” 53 “Don’t marry, Juan Garcia!” “Uncle Bartolo, don’t leave your counsels like foundlings in the hospital, without father or mother. I must not marry-the reason?” “Juan, ‘where there has been familiarity, let there be no contract.’” “If it were as you intimate, I ought to marry; for, if this woman has lost respect through me--” “Stop, Juan; that’ll do! Don’t come to me with your ‘_mea culpas_.’ There is always a pretext for wrong-doing. But you know very well that the woman has not lost respect through you. Nobody loses what he never had.” “Uncle Bartolo, by what I shave off, but that you comb gray hairs, and were my father’s friend--_Vive Dios!_--” “Tut, tut, man! Don’t get excited, and talk nonsense! I did not come here to poke you up, nor to pick a quarrel, but with a very good intention; and, as the friend I am to you, to prevent your making an atrocious fool of yourself. Have you considered your children, and the kind of step-mother you are going to give them?” “If she will be a wife good enough for their father, it appears to me that she will be a good enough step-mother for them; especially as, where they are concerned, what I do is right.” “Right! Now you are like the Englishman, Don ‘Turo, that killed an urraca for a partridge, and then said ‘all right.’ Take notice, Juan, that they are not likely to be willing to live under that woman’s flag. You are going to alienate them from you, and, ‘withdraw thyself from thine own, God will leave thee alone.’”