“Gomes isn’t a libertine. True, he’s led the life of many a young man, but he loves Adelaide and is a reformed character. It’s a good marriage, and that’s why I think we must all accept it. That’s what I want, and I’m the one who gives the orders around here.”

Lourenço was about to say more, but Vasconcelos had left.

“What can I do?” thought Lourenço.

V

Vasconcelos was not greatly bothered by Lourenço’s opposition to his plans. He could, it’s true, sow the seeds of resistance in his niece’s mind, but Adelaide was easily persuaded and would agree with whoever she happened to be speaking to, and the advice she received one day would easily be overthrown by any contrary advice she was given the following day.

Still, it would be wise to get Augusta’s support. Vasconcelos decided to do this as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, he needed to organize his own affairs, and so he found a lawyer, to whom he gave all the necessary documents and information, charging him with providing the necessary guidance and advising him on what measures he could take to oppose any claims made against him because of his debts or his mortgages.

None of this should make you think that Vasconcelos was about to change his ways. He was simply preparing himself to continue life as before.

Two days after his conversation with his brother, Vasconcelos went in search of Augusta, in order to speak frankly with her about Adelaide’s marriage.

During that time, the future bridegroom, taking Vasconcelos’s advice, was already paying court to Adelaide. If the marriage was not forced on her, it was just possible that she might end up liking the lad. Besides, Gomes was a handsome, elegant fellow and knew how to impress a woman.

Would Augusta have noticed his unusually assiduous presence in the house? That was the question Vasconcelos was asking himself as he went into his wife’s boudoir.

“Are you going out?” he asked her.

“No, I’m expecting a visitor.”

“Oh, who?”

“Seabra’s wife,” she said.

Vasconcelos sat down and tried to find a way of beginning the special conversation that had brought him there.

“You’re looking very pretty today!”

“Really?” she said, smiling. “Well, I’m no different today than on any other day, and it’s odd that you should pick today to say so.”

“No, I mean it, you’re even prettier than usual, so much so, that I could almost feel jealous.”

“Come, now!” said Augusta with an ironic smile.

Vasconcelos scratched his head, took out his watch, wound it up, tugged at his beard, picked up a newspaper, read a couple of advertisements, then threw the paper down on the floor; finally, after a rather long silence, he thought it best to make a frontal assault on the citadel.

“I’ve been thinking about Adelaide,” he said.