Ramon nodded. "There are suspicious circumstances, it seems. Last night, after the ball, he had a serious quarrel--one of those American fights, almost. That much is known." Gertrudis, who had remained silent until now, her dark eyes clouded with distress, said, sympathetically: "And the poor lady! She must suffer terribly." "Ah, perhaps! One cannot always tell!" Ramon shrugged and smiled. "What do you mean?" cried Garavel. "This quarrel you speak of? Continue, Ramon, I am consumed with eagerness." "Upon leaving the Tivoli last night, Senor Cortlan' dined with six of his friends at the Central. There was drinking. The waiters have been questioned; also, one of the men who was present has recounted to me what occurred. It seems that for a long time Senor Cortlan' has been jealous of his wife." "Impossible! Jealous? My dear Ramon, an admirable lady." "I--I shall leave you, perhaps?" questioned Gertrudis, modestly, as she rose, but Ramon exclaimed: "No, no! By all means remain. I have remarkable things to disclose, amazing news that will interest you. There was a serious altercation, and Senor Cortlan' openly accused his enemy before all the others. It was most dramatic, it was terrible! There was a scene of violence, the other man made threats." Garavel breathed an incredulous exclamation. "Ah, but wait! It was Senor Cortlan's best friend, too, the man for whom he had accomplished many favors whom he accused." He noted with mingled anger and satisfaction the pallor that was creeping into the girl's cheeks. "You would never guess. It was--I hesitate, and yet you are bound to learn, my dear friends, it was this Ant'ony." His moment had indeed been worth waiting for. It even went far to atone for the sense of injury under which he smarted; for the banker was stricken speechless, and his daughter went deathly white. Her eyes began to fill with horror. Garavel was the first to recover himself. "Infamous! It is unbelievable! The wretch, then, had betrayed his friend." "He is indeed a villain. That much I have always known." "It is a lie!" said the girl, quietly. She had risen and was standing straight, a tragic little figure. "Gertrudis!" her father admonished. "You hear what Ramon has said." "Yes!" said Ramon. "He deceived Senor Cortlan' very nicely; it had been going on for months." "It is a lie!" she repeated. "He loved no one but me." "Gertrudis!" The banker was shocked beyond measure at what he considered his daughter's jealousy. "Those are not nice words. He told you so, yes; but if he would betray his best friend, he would deceive you also. It was our great good-fortune to be done with him in time. You will see now that I did well in sending him off--eh, Chiquita?" "No! I do not believe you." Ramon had not counted upon such a spirit, and, his anger getting the better of him, he sneered: "I should not have spoken. I did not know you still care." "She does not care," Garavel declared, loudly.