I bow to your masculine secrecy--but why did my worldly-wise brother mingle a petticoat in this delicate business if he wishes to keep it hidden ?" "The Marquise Leria!" cried the major-domo, shrugging his shoulders angrily, as if against an inevitable misfortune.
"My senior lady in waiting," said the regent in assent to this conjecture.

"Make haste to bestow a stately candle, because it is she, and no one else.

You might spare yourself that smile; I know her better than you do.

If she had as many teeth as she possesses vices, she might be happy; yet one admirable quality mingles with the evil traits in her character." "And that ?" asked Quijada, as if he deemed a satisfactory answer impossible.
"Secrecy," replied the Queen firmly.

"She keeps what she has overheard to herself as closely as a miser guards his gold." "In order to turn it to account when the favourable moment comes," remarked the major-domo.