dona perecta-第13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！



〃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　his　pardon　for　it。　We　are　all　friends　here。〃

〃Thanks。　It　is　of　no　consequence。〃

〃In　spite　of　every　thing；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　smiling　with　more　naturalness　than　before；　〃I　shall　always　be　the　same　for　my　dear　nephew；　in　spite　of　his　extravagant　and　anti…religious　ideas。　In　what　way　do　you　suppose　I　am　going　to　spend　this　evening？　Well；　in　trying　to　make　Uncle　Licurgo　give　up　those　obstinate　notions　which　would　otherwise　cause　you　annoyance。　I　sent　for　him；　and　he　is　waiting　for　me　now　in　the　hall。　Make　yourself　easy；　I　will　arrange　the　matter；　for　although　I　know　that　he　is　not　altogether　without　right　on　his　side〃

〃Thanks；　dear　aunt；〃　responded　the　young　man；　his　whole　being　invaded　by　a　wave　of　the　generous　emotion　which　was　so　easily　aroused　in　his　soul。

Pepe　Rey　looked　in　the　direction　of　his　cousin；　intending　to　join　her；　but　some　wily　questions　of　the　canon　retained　him　at　Dona　Perfecta's　side。　Rosario　looked　dejected；　and　was　listening　with　an　air　of　melancholy　indifference　to　the　words　of　the　little　lawyer；　who；　having　installed　himself　at　her　side；　kept　up　a　continuous　stream　of　fulsome　flatteries；　seasoned　with　ill…timed　jests　and　fatuous　remarks　in　the　worst　possible　taste。

〃The　worst　of　it　is；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta　to　her　nephewsurprising　the　glance　which　he　cast　in　the　direction　of　the　ill…assorted　pair〃the　worst　of　it　is；　that　you　have　offended　poor　Rosario。　You　must　do　all　in　your　power　to　make　your　peace　with　her。　The　poor　child　is　so　good！〃

〃Oh；　yes！　so　good；〃　added　the　canon；　〃that　I　have　no　doubt　that　she　will　forgive　her　cousin。〃

〃I　think　that　Rosario　has　already　forgiven　me；〃　affirmed　Rey。

〃And　if　not；　angelic　breasts　do　not　harbor　resentment　long；〃　said　Don　Inocencio　mellifluously。　〃I　have　a　great　deal　of　influence　with　the　child；　and　I　will　endeavor　to　dissipate　in　her　generous　soul　whatever　prejudice　may　exist　there　against　you。　As　soon　as　I　say　a　word　or　two　to　her〃

Pepe　Rey　felt　a　cloud　darken　his　soul　and　he　said　with　meaning：

〃Perhaps　it　may　not　be　necessary。〃

〃I　will　not　speak　to　her　now；〃　added　the　capitular；　〃because　she　is　listening　entranced　to　Jacinto's　nonsense。　Ah；　those　children！　When　they　once　begin　there　is　no　stopping　them。〃

The　judge　of　the　lower　court；　the　alcalde's　lady；　and　the　dean　of　the　cathedral　now　made　their　appearance。　They　all　saluted　the　engineer；　manifesting　in　their　words　and　manner；　on　seeing　him；　the　satisfaction　of　gratified　curiosity。　The　judge　was　one　of　those　clever　and　intelligent　young　men　who　every　day　spring　into　notice　in　official　circles；　aspiring；　almost　before　they　are　out　of　the　shell；　to　the　highest　political　and　administrative　positions。　He　gave　himself　airs　of　great　importance；　and　in　speaking　of　himself　and　of　his　juvenile　toga；　he　seemed　indirectly　to　manifest　great　offence　because　he　had　not　been　all　at　once　made　president　of　the　supreme　court。　In　such　inexpert　hands；　in　a　brain　thus　swollen　with　vanity；　in　this　incarnation　of　conceit；　had　the　state　placed　the　most　delicate　and　the　most　difficult　functions　of　human　justice。　His　manners　were　those　of　a　perfect　courtier；　and　revealed　a　scrupulous　and　minute　attention　to　all　that　concerned　his　own　person。　He　had　the　insufferable　habit　of　taking　off　and　putting　on　every　moment　his　gold　eye…glasses；　and　in　his　conversation　he　manifested　with　frequency　the　strong　desire　which　he　had　to　be　transferred　to　Madrid；　in　order　that　he　might　give　his　invaluable　services　to　the　Department　of　Grace　and　Justice。

The　alcalde's　lady　was　a　good…natured　woman；　whose　only　weakness　was　to　fancy　that　she　had　a　great　many　acquaintances　at　the　court。　She　asked　Pepe　Rey　various　questions　about　the　fashions；　mentioning　establishments　in　which　she　had　had　a　mantle　or　a　skirt　made　on　her　last　journey　to　the　capital；　contemporaneous　with　the　visit　of　Muley…　Abbas；　and　she　also　mentioned　the　names　of　a　dozen　duchesses　and　marchionesses；　speaking　of　them　with　as　much　familiarity　as　if　they　had　been　friends　of　her　school…days。　She　said　also　that　the　Countess　of　M。　（famous　for　her　parties）　was　a　friend　of　hers　and　that　in　'60　she　had　paid　her　a　visit；　when　the　countess　had　invited　her　to　her　box　at　the　Teatro　Real；　where　she　saw　Muley…Abbas　in　Moorish　dress　and　accompanied　by　his　retinue　of　Moors。　The　alcalde's　wife　talked　incessantly　and　was　not　wanting　in　humor。

The　dean　was　a　very　old　man；　corpulent　and　red…faced；　plethoric　and　apoplectic　looking；　a　man　so　obese　that　he　seemed　bursting　out　of　his　skin。　He　had　belonged　to　one　of　the　suppressed　religious　orders；　he　talked　only　of　religious　matters；　and　from　the　very　first　manifested　the　most　profound　contempt　for　Pepe　Rey。　The　latter　appeared　every　moment　more　unable　to　accommodate　himself　to　a　society　so　little　to　his　taste。　His　dispositionnot　at　all　malleable；　hard；　and　very　little　flexiblerejected　the　duplicities　and　the　compromises　of　language　to　simulate　concord　when　it　did　not　exist。　He　remained；　then；　very　grave　during　the　whole　of　the　tiresome　evening；　obliged　as　he　was　to　endure　the　oratorical　vehemence　of　the　alcalde's　wife；　who；　without　being　Fame；　had　the　privilege　of　fatiguing　with　a　hundred　tongues　the　ears　of　men。　If；　in　some　brief　respite　which　this　lady　gave　her　hearers；　Pepe　Rey　made　an　attempt　to　approach　his　cousin；　the　Penitentiary　attached　himself　to　him　instantly；　like　the　mollusk　to　the　rock；　taking　him　apart　with　a　mysterious　air　to　propose　to　him　an　excursion　with　Senor　Don　Cayetano　to　Mundogrande；　or　a　fishing　party　on　the　clear　waters　of　the　Nahara。

At　last　the　evening　came　to　an　end；　as　every　thing　does　in　this　world。　The　dean　retired；　leaving　the　house；　as　it　seemed；　empty；　and　very　soon　there　remained　of　the　alcalde's　wife　only　an　echo；　like　the　buzz　which　remains　in　the　air　after　a　storm　has　passed　away。　The　judge　also　deprived　the　company　of　his　presence；　and　at　last　Don　Inocencio　gave　his　nephew　the　signal　for　departure。

〃Come；　boy；　come；　for　it　is　late；〃　he　said；　smiling。　〃How　you　have　tormented　poor　Rosarito；　has　he　not；　child？　Home；　you　rogue；　home；　without　delay。〃

〃It　is　time　to　go　to　bed；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta。

〃Time　to　go　to　work；〃　responded　the　little　lawyer。

〃I　am　always　telling　him　that　he　ought　to　get　through　with　his　business　in　the　day…time；　but　he　will　not　mind　me。〃

〃There　is　so　much；　so　very　much　business　to　be　got　through。〃

〃No；　say　rather；　that　confounded　work　which　you　have　undertaken。　He　does　not　wish　to　say　it；　Senor　Don　Jose；　but　the　truth　is　that　he　is　writing　a　book　on　'The　Influence　of　Woman　in　Christian　Society；'　and；　in　addition　to　that；　'A　Glance　at　the　Catholic　Movement　in'somewhere　or　other。　What　do　you　know　about　glances　or　influences？　But　these　youths　of　the　present　day　have　audacity　enough　for　any　thing。　Oh；　what　boys！　Well；　let　us　go　home。　Good…night；　Senora　Dona　Perfectagood…　night；　Senor　Don　JoseRosarito。〃

〃I　will　wait　for　Senor　Don　Cayetano；〃　said　Jacinto；　〃to　ask　him　to　give　me　the　Augusto　Nicolas。〃

〃Always　carrying　books。　Why；　sometimes　you　come　into　the　house　laden　like　a　donkey。　Very　well；　then；　let　us　wait。〃

〃Senor　Don　Jacinto　does　not　write　hastily；〃　said　Pepe　Rey；　〃he　prepares　himself　well　for　his　work；　so　that　his　books　may　be　treasures　of　learning。〃

〃But　that　boy　will　injure　his　brain；〃　objected　Dona　Perfecta。　〃For　Heaven's　sake　be　careful！　I　would　set　a　limit　to　his　reading。〃

〃Since　we　are　going　to　wait；〃　said　the　little　doctor；　in　a　tone　of　insufferable　conceit；　〃I　will　take　with　me　also　the　third　volume　of　Concilios。　What　do　you　think；　uncle？〃

〃Take　that；　of　course。　It　would　never　do　to　leave　that　behind　you。〃

Fortunately　Senor　Don　Cayetano　（who　generally　spent　his　evenings　at　the　house　of　Don　Lorenzo　Ruiz）　soon　arrived；　and　the　books　being　received；　uncle　and　nephew　left　the　house。

Rey　read　in　his　cousin's　sad　countenance　a　keen　desire　to　speak　to　him。　He　approached　her　while　Dona　Perfecta　and　Don　Cayetano　were　discussing　some　domestic　matter　apart。

〃You　have　offended　mamma；〃　said　Rosarito。

Her　features　expressed　something　like　terror。

〃It　is　true；〃　responded　the　young　man；　〃I　have　offended　your　mammaI　have　offended　you。〃

〃No；　not　me。　I　already　imagined　that　the　Infant　Jesus　ought　not　to　wear　trousers。〃

〃But　I　hope　that　you　will　both　forgive　me。　Your　mamma　was　so　kind　to　me　a　little　while　ago。〃

Dona　Perfecta's　voice　suddenly　vibrated　through　the　dining…room；　with　so　discordant　a　tone　that　her　nephew　started　as　if　he　had　heard　a　cry　of　alarm。　The　voice　said　imperiously：

〃Rosario；　go　to　bed！〃

Startled；　her　mind　filled　with　anxious　fears；　the　girl　lingered　in　the　room；　going　here　and　there　as　if　she　was　looking　for　something。　As　she　passed　her　cousin　she　whispered　softly　and　cautiously　these　words：

〃Mamma　is　angry。〃

〃But〃

〃She　is　angrybe　on　your　guard；　be　on　your　guard。〃

Then　she　left　the　room。　Her　mother；　for　whom　Uncle　Licurgo　was　waiting；　followed　her；　and　for　some　time　the　voices　of　Dona　Perfecta　and　the　countryman　were　heard　mingled　together　in　familiar　conference。　Pepe　was　left　with　Don　Cayetano；　who；　taking　a　light；　said；

〃Good…night；　Pepe。　But　don't　suppose　that　I　am　going　to　sleep；　I　am　going　to　work。　But　why　are　you　so　thoughtful？　What　is　the　matter　with　you？Just　as　I　say；　to　work。　I　am　making　notes　for　a　'Memorial　Discourse　on　the　Genealogies　of　Orbajosa。'　I　have　already　found　data　and　information　of　the　utmost　value。　There　can　be　no　dispute　about　it。　In　every　period　of　our　history　the　Orbajosans　have　been　distinguished　for　their　delicate　sense　of　honor；　their　chivalry；　their　valor；　their　intellectuality。　The　conquest　of　Mexico；　the　wars　of　the　Emperor；　the　wars　of　Philip　against　the　heretics；　testify　to　this。　But　are　you　ill？　What　is　the　matter　with　you？　As　I　say；　eminent　theologians；　valiant　warriors；　conquerors；　saints；　bishops；　statesmenall　sorts　of　illustrious　menhave　flourished　in　this　humble　land　of　the　garlic。　No；　there　is　not　in　Christendom　a　more　illustrious　city　than　ours。　Its　virtues　and　its　glories　are　in　themselves　enough　and　more　than　enough　to　fill　all　the　pages　of　our　country's　history。　Well；　I　see　that　it　is　sleepy　you　aregood…night。　As　I　say；　I　would　not　exchange　the　glory　of　being　a　son　of　this　noble　city　for　all　the　gold　in　the　world。　Augusta；　the　ancients　called　it；　Augustissima；　I　call　it　now；　for　now；　as　then；　high…mindedness；　generosity；　valor；　magnanimity；　are　the　patrimony　of　all。　Well；　good…night；　dear　Pepe。　But　I　fancy　you　are　not　well。　Has　the　supper　disagreed　with　you？Alonzo　Gonzalez　de　Bustamante　was　right　when　he　said　in　his　'Floresta　Amena'　that　the　people　of　Orbajosa　suffice　in　themselves　to　confer　greatness　and　honor　on　a　kingdom。　Don't　you　think　so？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　senor；　undoubtedly；〃　responded　Pepe　Rey；　going　abruptly　toward　his　room。



CHAPTER　XI

THE　DISCORD　GROWS

During　the　following　days　Pepe　Rey　made　the　acquaintance　of　several　of　the　people　of　the　place；　he　visited　the　Casino；　and　formed　friendships　with　some　of　the　individuals　who　spend　their　lives　in　the　rooms　of　that　corporation。

But　the　youth　of　Orbajosa　did　not　spend　all　their　time　in　the　Casino；　as　e