dona perecta-第16章

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self　in　an　apartment　used　as　an　assembly…room；　in　which　at　the　time　there　was　not　a　living　soul；　and　here　he　seated　himself　wearily　at　a　window　overlooking　the　street。

This　was　very　narrow；　with　more　corners　and　salient　angles　than　houses；　and　was　overshaded　throughout　its　whole　extent　by　the　imposing　mass　of　the　cathedral　that　lifted　its　dark　and　time…corroded　walls　at　one　end　of　it。　Pepe　Rey　looked　up　and　down　and　in　every　direction；　no　sign　of　lifenot　a　footstep；　not　a　voice；　not　a　glance；　disturbed　the　stillness；　peaceful　as　that　of　a　tomb；　that　reigned　everywhere。　Suddenly　strange　sounds；　like　the　whispering　of　feminine　voices；　fell　on　his　ear；　and　then　the　rustling　of　curtains　that　were　being　drawn；　a　few　words；　and　finally　the　humming　of　a　song；　the　bark　of　a　lap…dog；　and　other　signs　of　social　life；　which　seemed　very　strange　in　such　a　place。　Observing　attentively；　Pepe　Rey　perceived　that　these　noises　proceeded　from　an　enormous　balcony　with　blinds　which　displayed　its　corpulent　bulk　in　front　of　the　window　at　which　he　was　sitting。　Before　he　had　concluded　his　observations；　a　member　of　the　Casino　suddenly　appeared　beside　him；　and　accosted　him　laughingly　in　this　manner：

〃Ah；　Senor　Don　Pepe！　what　a　rogue　you　are！　So　you　have　shut　yourself　in　here　to　ogle　the　girls；　eh？〃

The　speaker　was　Don　Juan　Tafetan；　a　very　amiable　man；　and　one　of　the　few　members　of　the　Casino　who　had　manifested　for　Pepe　Rey　cordial　friendship　and　genuine　admiration。　With　his　red　cheeks；　his　little　dyed　mustache；　his　restless　laughing　eyes；　his　insignificant　figure；　his　hair　carefully　combed　to　hide　his　baldness；　Don　Juan　Tafetan　was　far　from　being　an　Antinous　in　appearance；　but　he　was　very　witty　and　very　agreeable　and　he　had　a　happy　gift　for　telling　a　good　story。　He　was　much　given　to　laughter；　and　when　he　laughed　his　face；　from　his　forehead　to　his　chin；　became　one　mass　of　grotesque　wrinkles。　In　spite　of　these　qualities；　and　of　the　applause　which　might　have　stimulated　his　taste　for　spicy　jokes；　he　was　not　a　scandal…monger。　Every　one　liked　him；　and　Pepe　Rey　spent　with　him　many　pleasant　hours。　Poor　Tafetan；　formerly　an　employe　in　the　civil　department　of　the　government　of　the　capital　of　the　province；　now　lived　modestly　on　his　salary　as　a　clerk　in　the　bureau　of　charities；　eking　out　his　income　by　gallantly　playing　the　clarionet　in　the　processions；　in　the　solemnities　of　the　cathedral；　and　in　the　theatre；　whenever　some　desperate　company　of　players　made　their　appearance　in　those　parts　with　the　perfidious　design　of　giving　representations　in　Orbajosa。

But　the　most　curious　thing　about　Don　Juan　Tafetan　was　his　liking　for　pretty　girls。　He　himself；　in　the　days　when　he　did　not　hide　his　baldness　with　half　a　dozen　hairs　plastered　down　with　pomade；　when　he　did　not　dye　his　mustache；　when；　in　the　freedom　from　care　of　youthful　years；　he　walked　with　shoulders　unstooped　and　head　erect；　had　been　a　formidable　/Tenorio/。　To　hear　him　recount　his　conquests　was　something　to　make　one　die　laughing；　for　there　are　/Tenorios/　and　Tenorios/；　and　he　was　one　of　the　most　original。

〃What　girls？　I　don't　see　any　girls；〃　responded　Pepe　Rey。

〃Yes；　play　the　anchorite！〃

One　of　the　blinds　of　the　balcony　was　opened；　giving　a　glimpse　of　a　youthful　face；　lovely　and　smiling；　that　disappeared　instantly；　like　a　light　extinguished　by　the　wind。

〃Yes；　I　see　now。〃

〃Don't　you　know　them？〃

〃On　my　life　I　do　not。〃

〃They　are　the　Troyasthe　Troya　girls。　Then　you　don't　know　something　good。　Three　lovely　girls；　the　daughters　of　a　colonel　of　staff；　who　died　in　the　streets　of　Madrid　in　'54。〃

The　blind　opened　again；　and　two　faces　appeared。

〃They　are　laughing　at　me；〃　said　Tafetan；　making　a　friendly　sign　to　the　girls。

〃Do　you　know　them？〃

〃Why；　of　course　I　know　them。　The　poor　things　are　in　the　greatest　want。　I　don't　know　how　they　manage　to　live。　When　Don　Francisco　Troya　died　a　subscription　was　raised　for　them；　but　that　did　not　last　very　long。〃

〃Poor　girls！　I　imagine　they　are　not　models　of　virtue。〃

〃And　why　not？　I　do　not　believe　what　they　say　in　the　town　about　them。〃

Once　more　the　blinds　opened。

〃Good…afternoon；　girls！〃　cried　Don　Juan　Tafetan　to　the　three　girls；　who　appeared；　artistically　grouped；　at　the　window。　〃This　gentleman　says　that　good　things　ought　not　to　hide　themselves；　and　that　you　should　throw　open　the　blinds。〃

But　the　blind　was　closed　and　a　joyous　concert　of　laughter　diffused　a　strange　gayety　through　the　gloomy　street。　One　might　have　fancied　that　a　flock　of　birds　was　passing。

〃Shall　we　go　there？〃　said　Tafetan　suddenly。

His　eyes　sparkled　and　a　roguish　smile　played　on　his　discolored　lips。

〃But　what　sort　of　people　are　they；　then？〃

〃Don't　be　afraid；　Senor　de　Rey。　The　poor　things　are　honest。　Bah！　Why；　they　live　upon　air；　like　the　chameleons。　Tell　me；　can　any　one　who　doesn't　eat　sin？　The　poor　girls　are　virtuous　enough。　And　even　if　they　did　sin；　they　fast　enough　to　make　up　for　it。〃

〃Let　us　go；　then。〃

A　moment　later　Don　Juan　Tafetan　and　Pepe　Rey　were　entering　the　parlor　of　the　Troyas。　The　poverty　he　saw；　that　struggled　desperately　to　disguise　itself；　afflicted　the　young　man。　The　three　girls　were　very　lovely；　especially　the　two　younger　ones；　who　were　pale　and　dark；　with　large　black　eyes　and　slender　figures。　Well…dressed　and　well　shod　they　would　have　seemed　the　daughters　of　a　duchess；　and　worthy　to　ally　themselves　with　princes。

When　the　visitors　entered；　the　three　girls　were　for　a　moment　abashed：　but　very　soon　their　naturally　gay　and　frivolous　dispositions　became　apparent。　They　lived　in　poverty；　as　birds　live　in　confinement；　singing　behind　iron　bars　as　they　would　sing　in　the　midst　of　the　abundance　of　the　forest。　They　spent　the　day　sewing；　which　showed　at　least　honorable　principles；　but　no　one　in　Orbajosa；　of　their　own　station　in　life；　held　any　intercourse　with　them。　They　were；　to　a　certain　extent；　proscribed；　looked　down　upon；　avoided；　which　also　showed　that　there　existed　some　cause　for　scandal。　But；　to　be　just；　it　must　be　said　that　the　bad　reputation　of　the　Troyas　consisted；　more　than　in　any　thing　else；　in　the　name　they　had　of　being　gossips　and　mischief…makers；　fond　of　playing　practical　jokes；　and　bold　and　free　in　their　manners。　They　wrote　anonymous　letters　to　grave　personages；　they　gave　nicknames　to　every　living　being　in　Orbajosa；　from　the　bishop　down　to　the　lowest　vagabond；　they　threw　pebbles　at　the　passers…by；　they　hissed　behind　the　window　bars；　in　order　to　amuse　themselves　with　the　perplexity　and　annoyance　of　the　startled　passer…by；　they　found　out　every　thing　that　occurred　in　the　neighborhood；　to　which　end　they　made　constant　use　of　every　window　and　aperture　in　the　upper　part　of　the　house；　they　sang　at　night　in　the　balcony；　they　masked　themselves　during　the　Carnival；　in　order　to　obtain　entrance　into　the　houses　of　the　highest　families；　and　they　played　many　other　mischievous　pranks　peculiar　to　small　towns。　But　whatever　its　cause；　the　fact　was　that　on　the　Troya　triumvirate　rested　one　of　those　stigmas　that；　once　affixed　on　any　one　by　a　susceptible　community；　accompanies　that　person　implacably　even　beyond　the　tomb。

〃This　is　the　gentleman　they　say　has　come　to　discover　the　gold…mines？〃　said　one　of　the　girls。

〃And　to　do　away　with　the　cultivation　of　garlic　in　Orbajosa　to　plant　cotton　or　cinnamon　trees　in　its　stead？〃

Pepe　could　not　help　laughing　at　these　absurdities。

〃All　he　has　come　for　is　to　make　a　collection　of　pretty　girls　to　take　back　with　him　to　Madrid；〃　said　Tafetan。

〃Ah！　I'll　be　very　glad　to　go！〃　cried　one。

〃I　will　take　the　three　of　you　with　me；〃　said　Pepe。　〃But　I　want　to　know　one　thing；　why　were　you　laughing　at　me　when　I　was　at　the　window　of　the　Casino？〃

These　words　were　the　signal　for　fresh　bursts　of　laughter。

〃These　girls　are　silly　things；〃　said　the　eldest。

〃It　was　because　we　said　you　deserved　something　better　than　Dona　Perfecta's　daughter。〃

〃It　was　because　this　one　said　that　you　are　only　losing　your　time；　for　Rosarito　cares　only　for　people　connected　with　the　Church。〃

〃How　absurd　you　are！　I　said　nothing　of　the　kind！　It　was　you　who　said　that　the　gentleman　was　a　Lutheran　atheist；　and　that　he　enters　the　cathedral　smoking　and　with　his　hat　on。〃

〃Well；　I　didn't　invent　it；　that　is　what　Suspiritos　told　me　yesterday。〃

〃And　who　is　this　Suspiritos　who　says　such　absurd　things　about　me？〃

〃Suspiritos　isSuspiritos。〃

〃Girls；〃　said　Tafetan；　with　smiling　countenance；　〃there　goes　the　orange…vender。　Call　him；　I　want　to　invite　you　to　eat　oranges。〃

One　of　the　girls　called　the　orange…vender。

The　conversation　started　by　the　Troyas　displeased　Pepe　Rey　not　a　little；　dispelling　the　slight　feeling　of　contentment　which　he　had　experienced　at　finding　himself　in　such　gay　and　communicative　company。　He　could　not；　however；　refrain　from　smiling　when　he　saw　Don　Juan　Tafetan　take　down　a　guitar　and　begin　to　play　upon　it　with　all　the　grace　and　skill　of　his　youthful　years。

〃I　have　been　told　that　you　sing　beautifully；〃　said　Rey　to　the　girls。

〃Let　Don　Juan　Tafetan　sing。〃

〃I　don't　sing。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　said　the　second　of　the　girls；　offering　the　engineer　some　pieces　of　the　skin　of　the　orange　she　had　just　peeled。

〃Maria　Juana；　don't　leave　your　sewing；〃　said　the　eldest　of　the　Troyas。　〃It　is　late；　and　the　cassock　must　be　finished　to…night。〃

〃There　is　to　be　no　work　to…day。　To　the　devil　with　the　needles！〃　exclaimed　Tafetan。

And　he　began　to　sing　a　song。

〃The　people　are　stopping　in　the　street；〃　said　the　second　of　the　girls；　going　out　on　the　balcony。　〃Don　Juan　Tafetan's　shouts　can　be　heard　in　the　PlazaJuana；　Juana！〃

〃Well？〃

〃Suspiritos　is　walking　down　the　street。〃

〃Throw　a　piece　of　orange…peel　at　her。〃

Pepe　Rey　looked　out　also；　he　saw　a　lady　walking　down　the　street　at　whom　the　youngest　of　the　Troyas；　taking　a　skilful　aim；　threw　a　large　piece　of　orange…peel；　which　struck　her　straight　on　the　back　of　the　head。　Then　they　hastily　closed　the　blinds；　and　the　three　girls　tried　to　stifle　their　laughter　so　that　it　might　not　be　heard　in　the　street。

〃There　is　no　work　to…day；〃　cried　one；　overturning　the　sewing…basket　with　the　tip　of　her　shoe。

〃That　is　the　same　as　saying；　to…morrow　there　is　to　be　no　eating；〃　said　the　eldest；　gathering　up　the　sewing　implements。

Pepe　Rey　instinctively　put　his　hand　into　his　pocket。　He　would　gladly　have　given　them　an　alms。　The　spectacle　of　these　poor　orphans；　condemned　by　the　world　because　of　their　frivolity；　saddened　him　beyond　measure。　If　the　only　sin　of　the　Troyas；　if　the　only　pleasure　which　they　had　to　compensate　them　for　solitude；　poverty；　and　neglect；　was　to　throw　orange…peels　at　the　passers…by；　they　might　well　be　excused　for　doing　it。　The　austere　customs　of　the　town　in　which　they　lived　had　perhaps　preserved　them　from　vice；　but　the　unfortunate　girls　lacked　decorum　and　good…breeding；　the　common　and　most　visible　signs　of　modesty；　and　it　might　easily　be　supposed　that　they　had　thrown　out　of　the　window　something　more　than　orange…peels。　Pepe　Rey　felt　profound　pity　for　them。　He　noted　their　shabby　dresses；　made　over；　mended；　trimmed；　and　retrimmed；　to　make　them　look　like　new；　he　noted　their　broken　shoesand　once　more　he　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket。

〃Vice　may　reign　here；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃but　the　faces；　the　furniture；　all　show　that　this　is　the　wreck　of　a　respectable　family。　If　these　poor　girls　were　as　bad　as