The family was somewhat alarmed at seeing what a voluminous document it was.

What terrible bequests had Madariaga dictated?
The reading of the first part tranquilized Karl and Elena.

The old father had left considerable more to the wife of Desnoyers, but there still remained an enormous share for the Romantica and her children.

"I do this," he said, "in memory of my poor dead wife, and so that people won't talk." After this, came eighty-six legacies.

Eighty-five dark-hued individuals (women and men), who had lived on the ranch for many years as tenants and retainers, were to receive the last paternal munificence of the old patriarch.