dona perecta-第23章

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〃One　must　come　to　the　heart　of　this　enchanting　country；　see　the　people　at　home；　and　hear　them　talk；　to　know　what　the　real　state　of　affairs　is。〃

〃Just　so。　Without　knowing　precisely　on　what　I　base　my　opinion；　the　fact　is　that　here　I　see　things　in　a　different　light；　and　I　now　believe　that　it　is　possible　that　there　may　be　a　long　and　bloody　war。〃

〃Exactly　so。〃

〃But　at　present　my　thoughts　are　occupied　less　by　the　public　war　than　by　a　private　war　in　which　I　am　engaged　and　which　I　declared　a　short　time　ago。〃

〃You　said　this　was　your　aunt's　house。　What　is　her　name？〃

〃Dona　Perfecta　Rey　de　Polentinos。〃

〃Ah！　I　know　her　by　reputation。　She　is　an　excellent　person；　and　the　only　one　of　whom　I　have　not　heard　the　garlic…venders　speak　ill。　When　I　was　here　before　I　heard　her　goodness；　her　charity；　her　innumerable　virtues；　everywhere　extolled。〃

〃Yes；　my　aunt　is　very　kind；　very　amiable；〃　said　Rey。

Then　he　fell　into　a　thoughtful　silence。

〃But　now　I　remember！〃　exclaimed　Pinzon　suddenly。　〃How　one　thing　fits　in　with　another！　Yes；　I　heard　in　Madrid　that　you　were　going　to　be　married　to　a　cousin　of　yours。　All　is　clear　now。　Is　it　that　beautiful　and　heavenly　Rosario？〃

〃Pinzon；　we　must　have　a　long　talk　together。〃

〃I　imagine　that　there　are　difficulties。〃

〃There　is　something　more；　there　is　violent　opposition。　I　have　need　of　a　determined　frienda　friend　who　is　prompt　to　act；　fruitful　in　resource；　of　great　experience　in　emergencies；　astute　and　courageous。〃

〃Why；　this　is　even　more　serious　than　a　challenge。〃

〃A　great　deal　more　serious。　It　would　be　easy　to　fight　with　another　man。　With　women；　with　unseen　enemies　who　work　in　the　dark；　it　is　impossible。〃

〃Come；　I　am　all　ears。〃

Lieutenant…colonel　Pinzon　lay　stretched　at　full　length　upon　the　bed。　Pepe　Rey　drew　a　chair　up　to　the　bedside　and；　leaning　his　elbow　on　the　bed　and　his　head　on　his　hand；　began　his　conference；　consultation；　exposition　of　plan；　or　whatever　else　it　might　be　called；　and　continued　talking　for　a　long　time。　Pinzon　listened　to　him　with　profound　attention　and　without　interrupting　him；　except　to　ask　an　occasional　question　for　the　purpose　of　obtaining　further　details　or　additional　light　upon　some　obscure　point。　When　Pepe　Rey　ended；　Pinzon　looked　grave。　He　stretched　himself；　yawning　with　the　satisfaction　of　one　who　has　not　slept　for　three　nights；　and　then　said：

〃You　plan　is　dangerous　and　difficult。〃

〃But　not　impossible。〃

〃Oh；　no！　for　nothing　is　impossible。　Reflect　well　about　it。〃

〃I　have　reflected。〃

〃And　you　are　resolved　to　carry　it　through？　Consider　that　these　things　are　not　now　in　fashion。　They　generally　turn　out　badly　and　throw　discredit　on　those　who　undertake　them。〃

〃I　am　resolved。〃

〃For　my　part；　then；　although　the　business　is　dangerous　and　serious　very　seriousI　am　ready　to　aid　you　in　all　things　and　for　all　things。〃

〃Can　I　rely　upon　you？〃

〃To　the　death。〃



CHAPTER　XIX

A　TERRIBLE　BATTLE…STRATEGY

The　opening　of　hostilities　could　not　long　be　delayed。　When　the　hour　of　dinner　arrived；　after　coming　to　an　agreement　with　Pinzon　regarding　the　plan　to　be　pursued；　the　first　condition　of　which　was　that　the　friends　should　pretend　not　to　know　each　other；　Pepe　Rey　went　to　the　dining…　room。　There　he　found　his　aunt；　who　had　just　returned　from　the　cathedral　where　she　had　spent　the　morning　as　was　her　habit。　She　was　alone；　and　appeared　to　be　greatly　preoccupied。　The　engineer　observed　that　on　that　pale　and　marble…like　countenance；　not　without　a　certain　beauty；　there　rested　a　mysterious　shadow。　When　she　looked　up　it　recovered　its　sinister　calmness；　but　she　looked　up　seldom；　and　after　a　rapid　examination　of　her　nephew's　countenance；　that　of　the　amiable　lady　would　again　take　on　its　studied　gloom。

They　awaited　dinner　in　silence。　They　did　not　wait　for　Don　Cayetano；　for　he　had　gone　to　Mundogrande。　When　they　sat　down　to　table　Dona　Perfecta　said：

〃And　that　fine　soldier　whom　the　Government　has　sent　us；　is　he　not　coming　to　dinner？〃

〃He　seems　to　be　more　sleepy　than　hungry；〃　answered　the　engineer；　without　looking　at　his　aunt。

〃Do　you　know　him？〃

〃I　have　never　seen　him　in　all　my　life　before。〃

〃We　are　nicely　off　with　the　guests　whom　the　Government　sends　us。　We　have　beds　and　provisions　in　order　to　keep　them　ready　for　those　vagabonds　of　Madrid；　whenever　they　may　choose　to　dispose　of　them。〃

〃There　are　fears　of　an　insurrection；〃　said　Pepe　Rey；　with　sudden　heat；　〃and　the　Government　is　determined　to　crush　the　Orbajosansto　crush　them；　to　grind　them　to　powder。〃

〃Stop；　man；　stop；　for　Heaven's　sake；　don't　crush　us！〃　cried　Dona　Perfecta　sarcastically。　〃Poor　we！　Be　merciful；　man；　and　allow　us　unhappy　creatures　to　live。　And　would　you；　then；　be　one　of　those　who　would　aid　the　army　in　the　grand　work　of　crushing　us？〃

〃I　am　not　a　soldier。　I　will　do　nothing　but　applaud　when　I　see　the　germs　of　civil　war；　of　insubordination；　of　discord；　of　disorder；　of　robbery；　and　of　barbarism　that　exist　here；　to　the　shame　of　our　times　and　of　our　country；　forever　extirpated。〃

〃All　will　be　as　God　wills。〃

〃Orbajosa；　my　dear　aunt；　has　little　else　than　garlic　and　bandits；　for　those　who　in　the　name　of　some　political　or　religious　idea　set　out　in　search　of　adventures　every　four　or　five　years　are　nothing　but　bandits。〃

〃Thanks；　thanks；　my　dear　nephew！〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　turning　pale。　〃So　Orbajosa　has　nothing　more　than　that？　Yet　there　must　be　something　else　heresomething　that　you　do　not　possess；　since　you　have　come　to　look　for　it　among　us。〃

Rey　felt　the　cut。　His　soul　was　on　fire。　He　found　it　very　difficult　to　show　his　aunt　the　consideration　to　which　her　sex；　her　rank；　and　her　relation　to　himself　entitled　her。　He　was　on　the　verge　of　a　violent　outbreak；　and　a　force　that　he　could　not　resist　was　impelling　him　against　his　interlocutor。

〃I　came　to　Orbajosa；〃　he　said；　〃because　you　sent　for　me；　you　arranged　with　my　father〃

〃Yes；　yes；　it　is　true；〃　she　answered；　interrupting　him　quickly　and　making　an　effort　to　recover　her　habitual　serenity。　〃I　do　not　deny　it。　I　am　the　one　who　is　really　to　blame。　I　am　to　blame　for　your　ill…humor；　for　the　slights　you　put　upon　us；　for　every　thing　disagreeable　that　has　been　happening　in　my　house　since　you　entered　it。〃

〃I　am　glad　that　you　are　conscious　of　it。〃

〃In　exchange；　you　are　a　saint。　Must　I　also　go　down　on　my　knees　to　your　grace　and　ask　your　pardon？〃

〃Senora；〃　said　Pepe　Rey　gravely；　laying　down　his　knife　and　fork；　〃I　entreat　you　not　to　mock　me　in　so　pitiless　a　manner。　I　cannot　meet　you　on　equal　ground。　All　I　have　said　is　that　I　came　to　Orbajosa　at　your　invitation。〃

〃And　it　is　true。　Your　father　and　I　arranged　that　you　should　marry　Rosario。　You　came　in　order　to　become　acquainted　with　her。　I　accepted　you　at　once　as　a　son。　You　pretended　to　love　Rosario〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　objected　Pepe；　〃I　loved　and　I　love　Rosario；　you　pretended　to　accept　me　as　a　son；　receiving　me　with　deceitful　cordiality；　you　employed　from　the　very　beginning　all　the　arts　of　cunning　to　thwart　me　and　to　prevent　the　fulfilment　of　the　proposals　made　to　my　father；　you　determined　from　the　first　day　to　drive　me　to　desperation；　to　tire　me　out；　and　with　smiles　and　affectionate　words　on　your　lips　you　have　been　killing　me；　roasting　me　at　the　slow　fire；　you　have　let　loose　upon　me　in　the　dark　and　from　behind　an　ambush　a　swarm　of　lawsuits；　you　have　deprived　me　of　the　official　commission　which　I　brought　to　Orbajosa；　you　have　brought　me　into　disrepute　in　the　town；　you　have　had　me　turned　out　of　the　cathedral；　you　have　kept　me　constantly　separated　from　the　chosen　of　my　heart；　you　have　tortured　your　daughter　with　an　inquisitorial　imprisonment　which　will　cause　her　death；　unless　God　interposes　to　prevent　it。〃

Dona　Perfecta　turned　scarlet。　But　the　flush　of　offended　pride　passed　away　quickly；　leaving　her　face　of　a　greenish　pallor。　Her　lips　trembled。　Throwing　down　the　knife　and　fork　with　which　she　had　been　eating；　she　rose　swiftly　to　her　feet。　Her　nephew　rose　also。

〃My　God！　Holy　Virgin　of　Succor！〃　she　cried；　raising　both　her　hands　to　her　head　and　pressing　it　between　them　with　the　gesture　indicative　of　desperation；　〃is　it　possible　that　I　deserve　such　atrocious　insults？　Pepe；　my　son；　is　it　you　who　speak　to　me　in　this　way？　If　I　have　done　what　you　say；　I　am　indeed　very　wicked。〃

She　sank　on　the　sofa　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。　Pepe；　approaching　her　slowly；　saw　that　his　aunt　was　sobbing　bitterly　and　shedding　abundant　tears。　In　spite　of　his　conviction　he　could　not　altogether　conquer　the　feeling　of　compassion　which　took　possession　of　him；　and　while　he　condemned　himself　for　his　cowardice　he　felt　something　of　remorse　for　the　severity　and　the　frankness　with　which　he　had　spoken。

〃My　dear　aunt；〃　he　said；　putting　his　hand　on　her　shoulder；　〃if　you　answer　me　with　tears　and　sighs；　you　will　not　convince　me。　Proofs；　not　emotions；　are　what　I　require。　Speak　to　me；　tell　me　that　I　am　mistaken　in　thinking　what　I　think；　then　prove　it　to　me；　and　I　will　acknowledge　my　error。〃

〃Leave　me；　you　are　not　my　brother's　son！　If　you　were；　you　would　not　insult　me　as　you　have　insulted　me。　So；　then；　I　am　an　intriguer；　an　actress；　a　hypocritical　harpy；　a　domestic　plotter？〃

As　she　spoke；　Dona　Perfecta　uncovered　her　face　and　looked　at　her　nephew　with　a　martyr…like　expression。　Pepe　was　perplexed。　The　tears　as　well　as　the　gentle　voice　of　his　father's　sister　could　not　be　insignificant　phenomena　for　the　mathematician's　soul。　Words　crowded　to　his　lips　to　ask　her　pardon。　A　man　of　great　firmness　generally；　any　appeal　to　his　emotions；　any　thing　which　touched　his　heart；　converted　him　at　once　into　a　child。　Weaknesses　of　a　mathematician！　It　is　said　that　Newton　was　the　same。

〃I　will　give　you　the　proofs　you　ask；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　motioning　him　to　a　seat　beside　her。　〃I　will　give　you　satisfaction。　You　shall　see　whether　I　am　kind；　whether　I　am　indulgent；　whether　I　am　humble。　Do　you　think　that　I　am　going　to　contradict　you；　to　deny　absolutely　the　acts　of　which　you　have　accused　me？　Well；　then；　no；　I　do　not　deny　them。〃

The　engineer　was　astounded。

〃I　do　not　deny　them；〃　continued　Dona　Perfecta。　〃What　I　deny　is　the　evil　intention　which　you　attribute　to　them。　By　what　right　do　you　undertake　to　judge　of　what　you　know　only　from　appearances　and　by　conjecture？　Have　you　the　supreme　intelligence　which　is　necessary　to　judge　justly　the　actions　of　others　and　pronounce　sentence　upon　them？　Are　you　God；　to　know　the　intentions？〃

Pepe　was　every　moment　more　amazed。

〃Is　it　not　allowable　at　times　to　employ　indirect　means　to　attain　a　good　and　honorable　end？　By　what　right　do　you　judge　actions　of　mine　that　you　do　not　clearly　understand？　I；　my　dear　nephew；　manifesting　a　sincerity　which　you　do　not　deserve；　confess　to　you　that　I　have　indeed　employed　subterfuges　to　attain　a　good　end；　to　attain　what　was　at　the　same　time　beneficial　to　you　and　to　my　daughter。　You　do　not　comprehend？　You　look　bewildered。　Ah！　your　great　mathematician's　and　German　philosopher's　intellect　is　not　capable　of　comprehending　these　artifices　of　a　prudent　mother。〃

〃I　am　more　and　more　astounded　every　moment；〃　said　the　engineer。

〃Be　as　astounded　as　you　choose；　but　confess　your　barbarity；〃　said　the　lady；　with　increasing　spirit；　〃acknowledge　your　hastiness　and　your　brutal　conduct　toward　me　in　accusing　me　as　you　have　done。　You　are　a　young　man　without　any　experience　or　any　othe