But he did not sell Evangelina.
In the days that followed many similar scenes occurred, and as
Esteban's home life grew more unhappy his dissipations increased.
He drank and gambled heavily; he brought his friends to the quinta
with him, and strove to forget domestic unpleasantness in
boisterous revelry.
His wife, however, found opportunities enough to weary and
exasperate him with reproaches regarding the slave girl.
II
SPANISH GOLD
The twins were seven years old when Dona Isabel's schemes bore
their first bitter fruit, and the occasion was a particularly
uproarious night when Don Esteban entertained a crowd of his
Castilian friends. Little Rosa was awakened at a late hour by the
laughter and shouts of her father's guests. She was afraid, for
there was something strange about the voices, some quality to them
which was foreign to the child's experience. Creeping into her
brother's room, she awoke him, and together they listened.
Don Mario de Castano was singing a song, the words of which were
lost, but which brought a yell of approval from his companions.
The twins distinguished the voice of Don Pablo Peza, too--Don
Pablo, whose magnificent black beard had so often excited their
admiration. Yes, and there was Col. Mendoza y Linares, doubtless
in his splendid uniform. These gentlemen were well and favorably
known to the boy and girl, yet Rosa began to whimper, and when
Esteban tried to reassure her his own voice was thin and reedy
from fright.
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