Chapter 14

With a view to bring himself into harmony with his surroundings, he
appeared next day in his suit of fine blue cloth, which he had brought
with him in his bundle, together with sundry other articles, and what
money he had still remaining from the pay which he had received at Monte
Video. That he looked well in his handsome sailor dress was evident
enough, from the surprised look with which he was greeted by Federigo's
mother, when he was presented to her. She had evidently expected to see
in her son's friend something in the style of the raw Brazilian sailor,
a class of men who down there were generally drawn from the lowest dregs
of the populace.

She herself was a withered old woman, yellow as parchment, with a mass
of thick grey hair gathered in a single knot at the back of her head.
She wore heavy rings on her fingers, and large earrings; her small
piercing eyes had a look of burnt-out passion; and her countenance wore
in a stronger degree the furtive, ratlike expression which her son's
occasionally displayed.

As regards her further characteristics, Salvé soon perceived that she
was addicted to drink. She used to remain during the greater part of the
day on the shady side of the house, or on the little veranda, with
acachacas and water by her side, and incessantly smoking and rolling
cigarettes; and she was often quite drunk as she mumbled her Ave Maria,
and told her beads on her knees before going to bed in the evening.
Still the other inmates of the house appeared to have great respect for
her; and it was evident that she held the threads of whatever business
they might have on hand.

The señorita was out all the morning with the old mulatto woman, making
purchases for the house, Federigo said, and informing herself as to what
activity was being shown in their pursuit. When she returned, she
avoided addressing herself directly to Salvé; and he observed that she
handed over a quantity of money to her brother, which had the happy
effect of bringing into his countenance a more cheerful look than it had
hitherto worn that morning.

"What have you done to my sister?" Federigo asked one day, laughing;
"you are not in her good graces. She is dangerous," he said, seriously;
and added then, as if speculating on possibilities, "as long as you are
in this house, at all events, you are safe. But mind, you are warned."

Federigo soon began to weary of their enforced confinement to the house,
and in spite of his sister's efforts to dissuade him, began to go out in
the evenings, coming home very late, and in a gloomy, irritable
humour--evidently, from the casual remarks he let fall, having lost all
his money at play.

The second morning