In my presence they lower their eyes, smile and praise His Eminence, and as soon as I turn my back they are vipers trying to bite me, scorpion tongues which respect nothing.

Ay, Tomasa, my daughter! pity me! when I think of all this it makes me quite ill." [Footnote 1: Ecclesiastical court.] The prelate turned pale, rising from his seat as though he felt a sudden spasm of pain.
"Do not worry yourself so much," said the old woman, "you are above them all, and you will overcome them." "Clearly, I shall defeat them; if not, it would fill my cup, for it would be the first time I had been vanquished.

These squabbles among comrades do not trouble me much after all, for I know in the end I shall see my detested enemies at my feet.

But it is their tongues, Tomasa!--what they say about the beings I love most in the world, that is what wounds me, and is killing me." He sat down again, coming quite close to the gardener's widow, so as to speak in a very low voice.
"You know my past better than anyone; I have such great confidence in you that I have told you everything.

Besides, you are very quick, and if I had not told you, you would have guessed.