Josias and Teodoro are frightened, as they did not expect anyone to be spying on the conversation. Josias is more irritated when he sees that it was Jeremiah who had dared to laugh at something he had said.

“What's so funny like that?” Josias swallows a piece of bread that he is chewing and gets up from his chair.

“You, saying you're still a virgin!” Jeremiah holds his hands on his stomach; it is hurting so much that he squirms with laughter.

“Jeremiah, stop being annoying!” Teodoro orders, “The boy is still eighteen, he is still young.”

Jeremiah holds back the laughter a little and concludes, “With eighteen years I...