dona perecta-第26章

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Francisco　Acero　entered　Las　Roquetas；　where　he　demanded　provisions　and　money。　Domingo　Acero　（Faltriquera）；　was　ranging　the　Jubileo　mountains；　actively　pursued　by　the　Civil　Guards；　who　killed　one　of　his　men　and　captured　another。　Bartolome　Acero　is　the　man　who　burned　the　registry　office　of　Lugarnoble　and　carried　away　with　him　as　hostages　the　alcalde　and　two　of　the　principal　landowners。〃

〃Complete　tranquillity　reigns　in　Orbajosa；　according　to　a　letter　which　we　have　before　us；　and　no　one　there　thinks　of　anything　but　cultivating　the　garlic　fields；　which　promise　to　yield　a　magnificent　crop。　The　neighboring　districts；　however；　are　infested　with　guerillas；　but　the　Batalla　brigade　will　make　short　work　of　these。〃



Orbajosa　was；　in　fact；　tranquil。　The　Aceros；　that　warlike　dynasty；　worthy；　in　the　opinion　of　some；　of　figuring　in　the　〃Romancero；〃　had　taken　possession　of　the　neighboring　province；　but　the　insurrection　was　not　spreading　within　the　limits　of　the　episcopal　city。　It　might　be　supposed　that　modern　culture　had　at　last　triumphed　in　its　struggle　with　the　turbulent　habits　of　the　great　city　of　disorder；　and　that　the　latter　was　tasting　the　delights　of　a　lasting　peace。　So　true　is　this　that　Caballuco　himself；　one　of　the　most　important　figures　of　the　historic　rebellion　of　Orbajosa；　said　frankly　to　every　one　that　he　did　not　wish　to　quarrel　with　the　Government　nor　involve　himself　in　a　business　which　might　cost　him　dear。

Whatever　may　be　said　to　the　contrary；　the　impetuous　nature　of　Ramos　had　quieted　down　with　years；　and　the　fiery　temper　which　he　had　received　with　life　from　the　ancestral　Caballucos；　the　most　valiant　race　of　warriors　that　had　ever　desolated　the　earth；　had　grown　cooler。　It　is　also　related　that　in　those　days　the　new　governor　of　the　province　held　a　conference　with　this　important　personage；　and　received　from　his　lips　the　most　solemn　assurances　that　he　would　contribute　as　far　as　in　him　lay　to　the　tranquillity　of　the　country；　and　would　avoid　doing　any　thing　that　might　give　rise　to　disturbances。　Reliable　witnesses　declare　that　he　was　to　be　seen　in　friendly　companionship　with　the　soldiers；　hobnobbing　with　this　sergeant　or　the　other　in　the　tavern；　and　it　was　even　said　that　an　important　position　in　the　town…hall　of　the　capital　of　the　province　was　to　be　given　him。　How　difficult　it　is　for　the　historian　who　tries　to　be　impartial　to　arrive　at　the　exact　truth　in　regard　to　the　sentiments　and　opinions　of　the　illustrious　personages　who　have　filled　the　world　with　their　fame！　He　does　not　know　what　to　hold　by；　and　the　absence　of　authentic　records　often　gives　rise　to　lamentable　mistakes。　Considering　events　of　such　transcendent　importance　as　that　of　the　18th　Brumaire；　the　sack　of　Rome　by　Bourbon；　or　the　destruction　of　Jerusalem　where　is　the　psychologist　or　the　historian　who　would　be　able　to　determine　what　were　the　thoughts　which　preceded　or　followed　them　in　the　minds　of　Bonaparte；　of　Charles　V。；　and　of　Titus？　Ours　is　an　immense　responsibility。　To　discharge　it　in　part　we　will　report　words；　phrases；　and　even　discourses　of　the　Orbajosan　emperor　himself；　and　in　this　way　every　one　will　be　able　to　form　the　opinion　which　may　seem　to　him　most　correct。

It　is　beyond　a　doubt　that　Cristobal　Ramos　left　his　house　just　after　dark；　crossed　the　Calle　del　Condestable；　and；　seeing　three　countrymen　mounted　on　powerful　mules　coming　toward　him；　asked　them　where　they　were　going；　to　which　they　answered　that　they　were　going　to　Senora　Dona　Perfecta's　house　to　take　her　some　of　the　first　fruits　of　their　gardens　and　a　part　of　the　rent　that　had　fallen　due。　They　were　Senor　Paso　Largo；　a　young　man　named　Frasquito　Gonzales；　and　a　third；　a　man　of　medium　stature　and　robust　make；　who　was　called　Vejarruco；　although　his　real　name　was　Jose　Esteban　Romero。　Caballuco　turned　back；　tempted　by　the　agreeable　society　of　these　persons；　who　were　old　and　intimate　friends　of　his；　and　accompanied　them　to　Dona　Perfecta's　house。　This　took　place；　according　to　the　most　reliable　accounts；　at　nightfall；　and　two　days　after　the　day　on　which　Dona　Perfecta　and　Pinzon　held　the　conversation　which　those　who　have　read　the　preceding　chapter　will　have　seen　recorded　there。　The　great　Ramos　stopped　for　a　moment　to　give　Librada　certain　messages　of　trifling　importance；　which　a　neighbor　had　confided　to　his　good　memory；　and　when　he　entered　the　dining…room　he　found　the　three　before…mentioned　countrymen　and　Senor　Licurgo；　who　by　a　singular　coincidence　was　also　there；　conversing　about　domestic　matters　and　the　crops。　The　Senora　was　in　a　detestable　humor；　she　found　fault　with　every　thing；　and　scolded　them　harshly　for　the　drought　of　the　heavens　and　the　barrenness　of　the　earth；　phenomena　for　which　they；　poor　men！　were　in　no　wise　to　blame。　The　Penitentiary　was　also　present。　When　Caballuco　entered；　the　good　canon　saluted　him　affectionately　and　motioned　him　to　a　seat　beside　himself。

〃Here　is　the　individual；〃　said　the　mistress　of　the　house　disdainfully。　〃It　seems　impossible　that　a　man　of　such　little　account　should　be　so　much　talked　about。　Tell　me；　Caballuco；　is　it　true　that　one　of　the　soldiers　slapped　you　on　the　face　this　morning？〃

〃Me！　me！〃　said　the　Centaur；　rising　indignantly；　as　if　he　had　received　the　grossest　insult。

〃That　is　what　they　say；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta。　〃Is　it　not　true？　I　believed　it；　for　any　one　who　thinks　so　little　of　himselfthey　might　spit　in　your　face　and　you　would　think　yourself　honored　with　the　saliva　of　the　soldiers。〃

〃Senora！〃　vociferated　Ramos　with　energy；　〃saving　the　respect　which　I　owe　you；　who　are　my　mother；　my　mistress；　my　queensaving　the　respect；　I　say；　which　I　owe　to　the　person　who　has　given　me　all　that　I　possess　saving　the　respect〃

〃Well？　One　would　think　you　were　going　to　say　something。〃

〃I　say　then；　that　saving　the　respect；　that　about　the　slap　is　a　slander；〃　he　ended；　expressing　himself　with　extraordinary　difficulty。　〃My　affairs　are　in　every　one's　mouthwhether　I　come　in　or　whether　I　go　out；　where　I　am　going　and　where　I　have　come　fromand　why？　All　because　they　want　to　make　me　a　tool　to　raise　the　country。　Pedro　is　contented　in　his　own　house；　ladies　and　gentlemen。　The　troops　have　come？　Bad！　but　what　are　we　going　to　do　about　it？　The　alcalde　and　the　secretary　and　the　judge　have　been　removed　from　office？　Very　bad！　I　wish　the　very　stones　of　Orbajosa　might　rise　up　against　them；　but　I　have　given　my　word　to　the　governor；　and　up　to　the　present…〃

He　scratched　his　head；　gathered　his　gloomy　brows　in　a　frown；　and　with　ever…increasing　difficulty　of　speech　continued：

〃I　may　be　brutal；　disagreeable；　ignorant；　quarrelsome；　obstinate；　and　every　thing　else　you　choose；　but　in　honor　I　yield　to　no　one。〃

〃What　a　pity　of　the　Cid　Campeador！〃　said　Dona　Perfecta　contemptuously。　〃Don't　you　agree　with　me；　Senor　Penitentiary；　that　there　is　not　a　single　man　left　in　Orbajosa　who　has　any　shame　in　him？〃

〃That　is　a　serious　view　to　take　of　the　case；〃　responded　the　capitular；　without　looking　at　his　friend；　or　removing　from　his　chin　the　hand　on　which　he　rested　his　thoughtful　face；　〃but　I　think　this　neighborhood　has　accepted　with　excessive　submission　the　heavy　yoke　of　militarism。〃

Licurgo　and　the　three　countrymen　laughed　boisterously。

〃When　the　soldiers　and　the　new　authorities；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　〃have　taken　from　us　our　last　real；　when　the　town　has　been　disgraced；　we　will　send　all　the　valiant　men　of　Orbajosa　in　a　glass　case　to　Madrid　to　be　put　in　the　museum　there　or　exhibited　in　the　streets。〃

〃Long　life　to　the　mistress！〃　cried　the　man　called　Vejarruco　demonstratively。　〃What　she　says　is　like　gold。　It　won't　be　said　on　my　account　that　there　are　no　brave　men　here；　for　if　I　am　not　with　the　Aceros　it　is　only　because　I　have　a　wife　and　three　children；　and　if　any　thing　was　to　happenif　it　wasn't　for　that〃

〃But　haven't　you　given　your　word　to　the　governor；　too？〃　said　Dona　Perfecta。

〃To　the　governor？〃　cried　the　man　named　Frasquito　Gonzalez。　〃There　is　not　in　the　whole　country　a　scoundrel　who　better　deserves　a　bullet。　Governor　and　Government；　they　are　all　of　a　piece。　Last　Sunday　the　priest　said　so　many　rousing　things　in　his　sermon　about　the　heresies　and　the　profanities　of　the　people　of　Madridoh！　it　was　worth　while　hearing　him！　Finally；　he　shouted　out　in　the　pulpit　that　religion　had　no　longer　any　defenders。〃

〃Here　is　the　great　Cristobal　Ramos！〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　clapping　the　Centaur　on　the　back。　〃He　mounts　his　horse　and　rides　about　in　the　Plaza　and　up　and　down　the　high…road　to　attract　the　attention　of　the　soldiers；　when　they　see　him　they　are　terrified　at　the　fierce　appearance　of　the　hero；　and　they　all　run　away；　half…dead　with　fright。〃

Dona　Perfecta　ended　with　an　exaggerated　laugh；　which　the　profound　silence　of　her　hearers　made　still　more　irritating。　Caballuco　was　pale。

〃Senor　Paso　Largo；〃　continued　the　lady；　becoming　serious；　〃when　you　go　home　to…night；　send　me　your　son　Bartolome　to　stay　here。　I　need　to　have　brave　people　in　the　house；　and　even　with　that　it　may　very　well　happen　that；　some　fine　morning；　my　daughter　and　myself　will　be　found　murdered　in　our　beds。〃

〃Senora！〃　exclaimed　every　one。

〃Senora！〃　cried　Caballuco；　rising　to　his　feet；　〃is　that　a　jest；　or　what　is　it？〃

〃Senor　Vejarruco；　Senor　Paso　Largo；〃　continued　Dona　Perfecta；　without　looking　at　the　bravo　of　the　place；　〃I　am　not　safe　in　my　own　house。　No　one　in　Orbajosa　is；　and　least　of　all；　I。　I　live　with　my　heart　in　my　mouth。　I　cannot　close　my　eyes　in　the　whole　night。〃

〃But　who；　who　would　dare〃

〃Come；〃　exclaimed　Licurgo　with　fire；　〃I；　old　and　sick　as　I　am；　would　be　capable　of　fighting　the　whole　Spanish　army　if　a　hair　of　the　mistress'　head　should　be　touched！〃

〃Senor　Caballuco；〃　said　Frasquito　Gonzalez；　〃will　be　enough　and　more　than　enough。〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　responded　Dona　Perfecta；　with　cruel　sarcasm；　〃don't　you　see　that　Ramos　has　given　his　word　to　the　governor？〃

Caballuco　sat　down　again；　and；　crossing　one　leg　over　the　other；　clasped　his　hands　on　them。

〃A　coward　will　be　enough　for　me；〃　continued　the　mistress　of　the　house　implacably；　〃provided　he　has　not　given　his　word　to　any　one。　Perhaps　I　may　come　to　see　my　house　assaulted；　my　darling　daughter　torn　from　my　arms；　myself　trampled　under　foot　and　insulted　in　the　vilest　manner〃

She　was　unable　to　continue。　Her　voice　died　away　in　her　throat；　and　she　burst　into　tears。

〃Senora；　for　Heaven's　sake　calm　yourself！　Come；　there　is　no　cause　yet！〃　said　Don　Inocencio　hastily；　and　manifesting　the　greatest　distress　in　his　voice　and　his　countenance。　〃Besides；　we　must　have　a　little　resignation　and　bear　patiently　the　calamities　which　God　sends　us。〃

〃But　who；　senora；　who　would　dare　to　commit　such　outrages？〃　asked　one　of　the　four　countrymen。　〃Orbajosa　would　rise　as　one　man　to　defend　the　mistress。〃

〃But　who；　who　would　do　it？〃　they　all　repeated。

〃There；　don't　trouble　yourselves　asking　useless　questions；〃　said　the　Penitentiary　officiously。　〃You　may　go。〃

〃No；　no；　let　them　stay；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta　quickly；　drying　her　tears。　〃The　company　of　my　loyal　servants　is　a　great　consolation　to　me。〃

〃May　my　race　be　accursed！〃　said　Uncle　Licurgo；　striking　his　knee　with　his　clenched　hand；　〃if　all　this　mess　is　not　the　work　of　the　mistress'　own　nephew。〃

〃Of　Don　Juan　Rey's　son？〃

〃From　the　moment　I　first　set　eyes　on　him　at　the　station　at　Villahorrenda；　and　he　spoke　to　me　with　his　honeyed　voice　and　his　minci