"Let us drink to the coming
marriage of Benito."
"We must look out for some nice young lady at Belem," said Minha. "He
should do what everybody else does."
"To the wedding of Mr. Benito!" said Fragoso, "who ought to wish all
the world to marry him!"
"They are right, sir," said Yaquita. "I also drink to your marriage,
and may you be as happy as Minha and Manoel, and as I and your father
have been!"
"As you always will be, it is to be hoped," said Torres, drinking a
glass of port without having pledged anybody. "All here have their
happiness in their own hands."
It was difficult to say, but this wish, coming from the adventurer,
left an unpleasant impression.
Manoel felt this, and wishing to destroy its effect, "Look here,
padre," said he, "while we are on this subject, are there not any
more couples to betroth on the raft?"
"I do not know," answered Padre Passanha, "unless Torres--you are not
married, I believe?"
"No; I am, and always shall be, a bachelor."
Benito and Manoel thought that while thus speaking Torres looked
toward Minha.
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