dona perecta-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


f　an　ironmongery　that　offends　the　religious　sentiment　and　depresses　the　soul。　Far　from　lifting　itself　up　to　religious　contemplation；　the　soul　sinks；　and　the　idea　of　the　ludicrous　distracts　it。　The　great　works　of　art　which　give　sensible　form　to　ideas；　to　dogmas；　to　religious　faith；　to　mystic　exaltation；　fulfil　a　noble　mission。　The　caricatures；　the　aberrations　of　taste；　the　grotesque　works　with　which　a　mistaken　piety　fills　the　church；　also　fulfil　their　object；　but　this　is　a　sad　one　enough：　They　encourage　superstition；　cool　enthusiasm；　oblige　the　eyes　of　the　believer　to　turn　away　from　the　altar；　and；　with　the　eyes；　the　souls　that　have　not　a　very　profound　and　a　very　firm　faith　turn　away　also。〃

〃The　doctrine　of　the　iconoclasts；　too；〃　said　Jacinto；　〃has；　it　seems；　spread　widely　in　Germany。〃

〃I　am　not　an　iconoclast；　although　I　would　prefer　the　destruction　of　all　the　images　to　the　exhibition　of　buffooneries　of　which　I　speak；〃　continued　the　young　man。　〃Seeing　it；　one　may　justly　advocate　a　return　of　religious　worship　to　the　august　simplicity　of　olden　times。　But　no；　let　us　not　renounce　the　admirable　aid　which　all　the　arts；　beginning　with　poetry　and　ending　with　music；　lend　to　the　relations　between　man　and　God。　Let　the　arts　live；　let　the　utmost　pomp　be　displayed　in　religious　ceremonies。　I　am　a　partisan　of　pomp。〃

〃An　artist；　an　artist；　and　nothing　more　than　an　artist！〃　exclaimed　the　canon；　shaking　his　head　with　a　sorrowful　air。　〃Fine　pictures；　fine　statues；　beautiful　music；　pleasure　for　the　senses；　and　let　the　devil　take　the　soul！〃

〃Apropos　of　music；〃　said　Pepe　Rey；　without　observing　the　deplorable　effect　which　his　words　produced　on　both　mother　and　daughter；　〃imagine　how　disposed　my　mind　would　be　to　religious　contemplation　on　entering　the　cathedral；　when　just　at　that　moment；　and　precisely　at　the　offertory　at　high　mass；　the　organist　played　a　passage　from　'Traviata。'　〃

〃Senor　de　Rey　is　right　in　that；〃　said　the　little　lawyer　emphatically。　〃The　organist　played　the　other　day　the　whole　of　the　drinking　song　and　the　waltz　from　the　same　opera；　and　afterward　a　rondeau　from　the　'Grande　Duchesse。'　〃

〃But　when　I　felt　my　heart　sink；〃　continued　the　engineer　implacably；　〃was　when　I　saw　an　image　of　the　Virgin；　which　seems　to　be　held　in　great　veneration；　judging　from　the　crowd　before　it　and　the　multitude　of　tapers　which　lighted　it。　They　have　dressed　her　in　a　puffed…out　garment　of　velvet；　embroidered　with　gold；　of　a　shape　so　extraordinary　that　it　surpasses　the　most　extravagant　of　the　fashions　of　the　day。　Her　face　is　almost　hidden　under　a　voluminous　frill；　made　of　innumerable　rows　of　lace；　crimped　with　a　crimping…iron；　and　her　crown；　half　a　yard　in　height；　surrounded　by　golden　rays；　looks　like　a　hideous　catafalque　erected　over　her　head。　Of　the　same　material；　and　embroidered　in　the　same　manner；　are　the　trousers　of　the　Infant　Jesus。　I　will　not　go　on；　for　to　describe　the　Mother　and　the　Child　might　perhaps　lead　me　to　commit　some　irreverence。　I　will　only　say　that　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　keep　from　smiling；　and　for　a　short　time　I　contemplated　the　profaned　image；　saying　to　myself：　'Mother　and　Lady　mine；　what　a　sight　they　have　made　of　you！'　〃

As　he　ended　Pepe　looked　at　his　hearers；　and　although；　owing　to　the　gathering　darkness；　he　could　not　see　their　countenances　distinctly；　he　fancied　that　in　some　of　them　he　perceived　signs　of　angry　consternation。

〃Well；　Senor　Don　Jose！〃　exclaimed　the　canon　quickly；　smiling　with　a　triumphant　expression；　〃that　image；　which　to　your　philosophy　and　pantheism　appears　so　ridiculous；　is　Our　Lady　of　Help；　patroness　and　advocate　of　Orbajosa；　whose　inhabitants　regard　her　with　so　much　veneration　that　they　would　be　quite　capable　of　dragging　any　one　through　the　streets　who　should　speak　ill　of　her。　The　chronicles　and　history；　Senor　Don　Jose；　are　full　of　the　miracles　which　she　has　wrought；　and　even　at　the　present　day　we　receive　constantly　incontrovertible　proofs　of　her　protection。　You　must　know　also　that　your　aunt；　Dona　Perfecta；　is　chief　lady　in　waiting　to　the　Most　Holy　Virgin　of　Help；　and　that　the　dress　that　to　you　appears　so　grotesquewent　out　from　this　house；　and　that　the　trousers　of　the　Infant　are　the　work　of　the　skilful　needle　and　the　ardent　piety　combined　of　your　cousin　Rosarito；　who　is　now　listening　to　us。〃

Pepe　Rey　was　greatly　disconcerted。　At　the　same　instant　Dona　Perfecta　rose　abruptly　from　her　seat；　and；　without　saying　a　word；　walked　toward　the　house；　followed　by　the　Penitentiary。　The　others　rose　also。　Recovering　from　his　stupefaction；　the　young　man　was　about　to　beg　his　cousin's　pardon　for　his　irreverence；　when　he　observed　that　Rosarito　was　weeping。　Fixing　on　her　cousin　a　look　of　friendly　and　gentle　reproof；　she　said：

〃What　ideas　you　have！〃

The　voice　of　Dona　Perfecta　was　heard　crying　in　an　altered　accent：

〃Rosario！　Rosario！〃

The　latter　ran　toward　the　house。



CHAPTER　X

THE　EVIDENCE　OF　DISCORD　IS　EVIDENT

Pepe　Rey　was　disturbed　and　perplexed；　enraged　with　himself　and　every　one　else；　he　tried　in　vain　to　imagine　what　could　be　the　conflict　that　had　arisen；　in　spite　of　himself；　between　his　ideas　and　the　ideas　of　his　aunt's　friends。　Thoughtful　and　sad；　foreseeing　future　discord；　he　remained　for　a　short　time　sitting　on　the　bench　in　the　summer…house；　his　chin　resting　on　his　breast；　his　forehead　gathered　in　a　frown；　his　hands　clasped。　He　thought　himself　alone。

Suddenly　he　heard　a　gay　voice　humming　the　refrain　of　a　song　from　a　zarzuela。　He　looked　up　and　saw　Don　Jacinto　sitting　in　the　opposite　corner　of　the　summer…house。

〃Ah；　Senor　de　Rey！〃　said　the　youth　abruptly；　〃one　does　not　offend　with　impunity　the　religious　sentiments　of　the　great　majority　of　a　nation。　If　you　doubt　it；　consider　what　happened　in　the　first　French　revolution。〃

When　Pepe　heard　the　buzzing　of　this　insect　his　irritation　increased。　Nevertheless　there　was　no　anger　in　his　soul　toward　the　youthful　doctor　of　laws。　The　latter　annoyed　him；　as　a　fly　might　annoy　him；　but　nothing　more。　Rey　felt　the　irritation　which　every　importunate　being　inspires；　and　with　the　air　of　one　who　brushes　away　a　buzzing　drone；　he　answered：

〃What　has　the　French　revolution　to　do　with　the　robe　of　the　Virgin？〃

He　got　up　and　walked　toward　the　house；　but　he　had　not　taken　half　a　dozen　steps　before　he　heard　again　beside　him　the　buzzing　of　the　mosquito；　saying：

〃Senor　Don　Jose；　I　wish　to　speak　to　you　about　an　affair　in　which　you　are　greatly　interested　and　which　may　cause　you　some　trouble。〃

〃An　affair？〃　said　the　young　man；　drawing　back。　〃Let　us　hear　what　affair　is　that。〃

〃You　suspect　what　it　is；　perhaps；〃　said　Jacinto；　approaching　Pepe；　and　smiling　with　the　air　of　a　man　of　business　who　has　some　unusually　important　matter　on　hand；　〃I　want　to　speak　to　you　about　the　lawsuit。〃

〃The　lawsuit！　My　friend；　I　have　no　lawsuits。　You；　as　a　good　lawyer；　dream　of　lawsuits　and　see　stamped　paper　everywhere。〃

〃What！　You　have　not　heard　of　your　lawsuit？〃　exclaimed　the　youth；　with　amazement。

〃Of　my　lawsuit！　But　I　have　no　lawsuits；　nor　have　I　ever　had　any。〃

〃Well；　if　you　have　not　heard　of　it；　I　am　all　the　better　pleased　to　have　spoken　to　you　about　it；　so　that　you　may　be　on　your　guard。　Yes；　senor；　you　are　going　to　have　a　suit　at　law。〃

〃And　with　whom？〃

〃With　Uncle　Licurgo　and　other　land…owners　whose　property　borders　on　the　estate　called　The　Poplars。〃

Pepe　Rey　was　astounded。

〃Yes；　senor；〃　continued　the　little　lawyer。　〃To…day　Uncle　Licurgo　and　I　had　a　long　conference。　As　I　am　such　a　friend　of　the　family；　I　wanted　to　let　you　know　about　it；　so　that；　if　you　think　well　of　it；　you　may　hasten　to　arrange　the　matter。〃

〃But　what　have　I　to　arrange？　What　do　those　rascals　claim　from　me？〃

〃It　seems　that　a　stream　of　water　which　rises　in　your　property　has　changed　its　course　and　flows　over　some　tile…works　of　the　aforesaid　Uncle　Licurgo　and　the　mill　of　another　person；　occasioning　considerable　damage。　My　clientfor　he　is　determined　that　I　shall　get　him　out　of　this　difficultymy　client；　as　I　said；　demands　that　you　shall　restore　the　water　to　its　former　channel；　so　as　to　avoid　fresh　injuries；　and　that　you　shall　indemnify　him　for　the　damage　which　his　works　have　already　sustained　through　the　neglect　of　the　superior　proprietor。〃

〃And　I　am　the　superior　proprietor！　If　I　engage　in　a　lawsuit；　that　will　be　the　first　fruit　that　those　famous　Poplars；　which　were　mine　and　which　now；　as　I　understand；　belong　to　everybody；　will　have　ever　produced　me；　for　Licurgo；　as　well　as　some　of　the　other　farmers　of　the　district；　have　been　filching　from　me；　little　by　little；　year　after　year；　pieces　of　land；　and　it　will　be　very　difficult　to　re…establish　the　boundaries　of　my　property。〃

〃That　is　a　different　question。〃

〃That　is　not　a　different　question。　The　real　suit；〃　exclaimed　the　engineer；　unable　to　control　his　anger；　〃will　be　the　one　that　I　will　bring　against　that　rabble　who　no　doubt　propose　to　themselves　to　tire　me　out　and　drive　me　to　desperationso　that　I　may　abandon　every　thing　and　let　them　continue　in　possession　of　what　they　have　stolen。　We　shall　see　if　there　are　lawyers　and　judges　who　will　uphold　the　infamous　conduct　of　those　village　legists；　who　are　forever　at　law；　and　who　waste　and　consume　the　property　of　others。　I　am　obliged　to　you；　young　gentleman；　for　having　informed　me　of　the　villanous　intentions　of　those　boors；　who　are　more　perverse　than　Satan　himself。　When　I　tell　you　that　that　very　tile…yard　and　that　very　mill　on　which　Licurgo　bases　his　claim　are　mine〃

〃The　title…deeds　of　the　property　ought　to　be　examined；　to　see　if　possession　may　not　constitute　a　title　in　this　case。〃

〃Possession！　Those　scoundrels　are　not　going　to　have　the　pleasure　of　laughing　at　me　in　that　way。　I　suppose　that　justice　is　honestly　and　faithfully　administered　in　the　city　of　Orbajosa。〃

〃Oh；　as　to　that！〃　exclaimed　the　little　lawyer；　with　an　approving　look；　〃the　judge　is　an　excellent　person！　He　comes　here　every　evening。　But　it　is　strange　that　you　should　have　received　no　notice　of　Senor　Licurgo's　claims。　Have　you　not　yet　been　summoned　to　appear　before　the　tribunal　of　arbitration？〃

〃No。〃

〃It　will　be　to…morrow；　then。　Well；　I　am　very　sorry　that　Senor　Licurgo's　precipitation　has　deprived　me　of　the　pleasure　and　honor　of　defending　you；　but　what　is　to　be　done？　Licurgo　was　determined　that　I　should　take　him　out　of　his　troubles。　I　will　study　the　matter　with　the　greatest　care。　This　vile　slavery　is　the　great　drawback　of　jurisprudence。〃

Pepe　entered　the　dining…room　in　a　deplorable　state　of　mind。　Dona　Perfecta　was　talking　with　the　Penitentiary；　as　he　entered；　and　Rosarito　was　sitting　alone；　with　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　door。　She　was　no　doubt　waiting　for　her　cousin。

〃Come　here；　you　rascal；〃　said　his　aunt；　smiling　with　very　little　spontaneity。　〃You　have　insulted　us；　you　great　atheist！　but　we　forgive　you。　I　am　well　aware　that　my　daughter　and　myself　are　two　rustics　who　are　incapable　of　soaring　to　the　regions　of　mathematics　where　you　dwell；　but　for　all　that　it　is　possible　that　you　may　one　day　get　down　on　your　knees　to　us　and　beg　us　to　teach　you　the　Christian　doctrine。〃

Pepe　answered　with　vague　phrases　and　formulas　of　politeness　and　repentance。

〃For　my　part；〃　said　Don　Inocencio；　with　an　affected　air　of　meekness　and　amiability；　〃if　in　the　course　of　these　idle　disputes　I　have　said　any　thing　that　could　offend　Senor　Don　Jose；　I　beg