Cæsar decided the arrangement of a little reception-room. He chose a light paper for the walls, some coloured engravings, and Empire furniture. Female friends found the room very well done. Amparito used to tell them:
“Yes, Cæsar had it done like this,” as if that were a weighty argument with everybody.
Amparito and her father persuaded Cæsar that he ought to open an office. All the people in Castro lamented that Cæsar did not practise law.
He had always felt a great repugnance for that sharpers’ and skinflints’ business; but he yielded to please Amparito, and set up his office and took an assistant who was very skillful in legal tricks. Cæsar was often to be found writing in the office, when Amparito opened the door.
“Do you want to come here a moment?” she would say.
“Yes. What is it?”
“Look and see how this hat suits me. How do you like it?”
Cæsar would laugh and say:
“I think you ought to take off the flowers, or it ought to be smaller.”
Amparito accepted Cæsar’s suggestions as if they had been, articles of faith.