"
Although Alfarez was trembling with eagerness to tell his news, he
also meant to extract the greatest possible satisfaction from it,
and now bent an inquiring glance upon Gertrudis. His look turned
to one of malicious triumph as he saw that he was, indeed, the
first to bring the tidings of Anthony's arrest; for the girl's
acceptance of his suit had by no means wiped out the memory of her
momentary preference for his rival, and he had hastened hither
straight from the police barracks, delighting in the chance to
make her suffer.
"So fine a man," the father was saying. "He was, indeed, my good
friend. It is shocking."
"Yes, and to think he should have been killed in this cowardly
manner!"
"Killed! Is it believed that he was murdered? Caramba! I supposed
he had shot himself. That was the gossip an hour ago." Garavel was
deeply affected, and motioned for the dishes in front of him to be
removed.
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.
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