Take care that she isn't ill-treated! Tomorrow she'll be taken to Senor Ibarra's house." Then he closed the door carefully, bolted it, and approached his wife.

"You're tempting me to kill you!" he exclaimed, doubling up his fists.
"What's the matter with you ?" she asked, rising and drawing away from him.
"What's the matter with me!" he yelled in a voice of thunder, letting out an oath and holding up before her a sheet of paper covered with scrawls.

"Didn't you write this letter to the alcalde saying that I'm bribed to permit gambling, huh?
I don't know why I don't beat you to death." "Let's see you! Let's see you try it if you dare!" she replied with a jeering laugh.

"The one who beats me to death has got to be more of a man than you are!" He heard the insult, but saw the whip.

Catching up a plate from the table, he threw it at her head, but she, accustomed to such fights, dodged quickly and the plate was shattered against the wall.