dona perecta-第29章

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ed　by　a　strange；　feline　glow；　in　his　black　hair；　in　his　herculean　frame；　a　certain　expression　and　air　of　grandeura　trace；　or　rather　a　memory；　of　the　grand　races　that　dominated　the　world。　But　his　general　aspect　was　one　of　pitiable　degeneration；　and　it　was　difficult　to　discover　the　noble　and　heroic　filiation　in　the　brutality　of　the　present。　He　resembled　Don　Cayetano's　great　men　as　the　mule　resembles　the　horse。



CHAPTER　XXIII

MYSTERY

The　conference　lasted　for　some　time　longer；　but　we　omit　what　followed　as　not　being　necessary　to　a　clear　understanding　of　our　story。　At　last　they　separated；　Senor　Don　Inocencio　remaining　to　the　last；　as　usual。　Before　the　canon　and　Dona　Perfecta　had　had　time　to　exchange　a　word；　an　elderly　woman；　Dona　Perfecta's　confidential　servant　and　her　right　hand；　entered　the　dining…room；　and　her　mistress；　seeing　that　she　looked　disturbed　and　anxious；　was　at　once　filled　with　disquietude；　suspecting　that　something　wrong　was　going　on　in　the　house。

〃I　can't　find　the　senorita　anywhere；〃　said　the　servant；　in　answer　to　her　mistress'　questions。

〃Good　HeavensRosario！　Where　is　my　daughter？〃

〃Virgin　of　Succor　protect　us！〃　cried　the　Penitentiary；　taking　up　his　hat　and　preparing　to　hurry　out　with　Dona　Perfecta。

〃Search　for　her　well。　But　was　she　not　with　you　in　her　room？〃

〃Yes；　senora；〃　answered　the　old　woman；　trembling；　〃but　the　devil　tempted　me；　and　I　fell　asleep。〃

〃A　curse　upon　your　sleep！　What　is　this？　Rosario；　Rosario！　Librada！〃

They　went　upstairs　and　came　down　again；　they　went　up　a　second　time　and　came　down　again；　carrying　a　light　and　looking　carefully　in　all　the　rooms。　At　last　the　voice　of　the　Penitentiary　was　heard　saying　joyfully　from　the　stairs：

〃Here　she　is；　here　she　is！　She　has　been　found。〃

A　moment　later　mother　and　daughter　were　standing　face　to　face　in　the　hall。

〃Where　were　you？〃　asked　Dona　Perfecta；　in　a　severe　voice；　scrutinizing　her　daughter's　face　closely。

〃In　the　garden；〃　answered　the　girl；　more　dead　than　alive。

〃In　the　garden　at　this　hour？　Rosario！〃

〃I　was　warm；　I　went　to　the　window；　my　handkerchief　dropped　out；　and　I　came　down　stairs　for　it！〃

〃Why　didn't　you　ask　Librada　to　get　it　for　you？　Librada！　Where　is　that　girl？　Has　she　fallen　asleep　too？〃

Librada　at　last　made　her　appearance。　Her　pale　face　revealed　the　consternation　and　the　apprehension　of　the　delinquent。

〃What　is　this？　Where　were　you？〃　asked　her　mistress；　with　terrible　anger。

〃Why；　senora；　I　came　down　stairs　to　get　the　clothes　out　of　the　front　roomand　I　fell　asleep。〃

〃Every　one　here　seems　to　have　fallen　asleep　to…night。　Some　of　you；　I　fancy；　will　not　sleep　in　my　house　to…morrow　night。　Rosario；　you　may　go。〃

Comprehending　that　it　was　necessary　to　act　with　promptness　and　energy；　Dona　Perfecta　and　the　canon　began　their　investigations　without　delay。　Questions；　threats；　entreaties；　promises；　were　skilfully　employed　to　discover　the　truth　regarding　what　had　happened。　Not　even　the　shadow　of　guilt　was　found　to　attach　to　the　old　servant；　but　Librada　confessed　frankly　between　tears　and　sighs　all　her　delinquencies；　which　we　will　sum　up　as　follows：

Shortly　after　his　arrival　in　the　house　Senor　Pinzon　had　begun　to　cast　loving　glances　at　Senorita　Rosario。　He　had　given　money　to　Librada；　according　to　what　the　latter　said；　to　carry　messages　and　love…letters　to　her。　The　young　lady　had　not　seemed　angry；　but；　on　the　contrary；　pleased；　and　several　days　had　passed　in　this　manner。　Finally；　the　servant　declared　that　Rosario　and　Senor　Pinzon　had　agreed　to　meet　and　talk　with　each　other　on　this　night　at　the　window　of　the　room　of　the　latter；　which　opened　on　the　garden。　They　had　confided　their　design　to　the　maid；　who　promised　to　favor　it；　in　consideration　of　a　sum　which　was　at　once　given　her。　It　had　been　agreed　that　Senor　Pinzon　was　to　leave　the　house　at　his　usual　hour　and　return　to　it　secretly　at　nine　o'clock；　go　to　his　room；　and　leave　it　and　the　house　again；　clandestinely　also；　a　little　later；　to　return；　without　concealment；　at　his　usual　late　hour。　In　this　way　no　suspicion　would　fall　upon　him。　Librada　had　waited　for　Pinzon；　who　had　entered　the　house　closely　enveloped　in　his　cloak；　without　speaking　a　word。　He　had　gone　to　his　room　at　the　same　moment　in　which　the　young　lady　descended　to　the　garden。　During　the　interview；　at　which　she　was　not　present；　Librada　had　remained　on　guard　in　the　hall　to　warn　Pinzon；　if　any　danger　should　threaten；　and　at　the　end　of　an　hour　the　latter　had　left　the　house　enveloped　in　his　cloak；　as　before；　and　without　speaking　a　word。　When　the　confession　was　ended　Don　Inocencio　said　to　the　wretched　girl：

〃Are　you　sure　that　the　person　who　came　into　and　went　out　of　the　house　was　Senor　Pinzon？〃

The　culprit　answered　nothing；　but　her　features　expressed　the　utmost　perplexity。

Her　mistress　turned　green　with　anger。

〃Did　you　see　his　face？〃

〃But　who　else　could　it　be　but　he？〃　answered　the　maid。　〃I　am　certain　that　it　was　he。　He　went　straight　to　his　roomhe　knew　the　way　to　it　perfectly　well。〃

〃It　is　strange；〃　said　the　canon。　〃Living　in　the　house　there　was　no　need　for　him　to　use　such　mystery。　He　might　have　pretended　illness　and　remained　in　the　house。　Does　it　not　seem　so　to　you；　senora？〃

〃Librada；〃　exclaimed　the　latter；　in　a　paroxysm　of　anger；　〃I　vow　that　you　shall　go　to　prison。〃

And　clasping　her　hands；　she　dug　the　nails　of　the　one　into　the　other　with　such　force　as　almost　to　draw　blood。

〃Senor　Don　Inocencio；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃let　us　diethere　is　no　remedy　but　to　die。〃

Then　she　burst　into　a　fit　of　inconsolable　weeping。

〃Courage；　senora；〃　said　the　priest；　in　a　moved　voice。　〃Couragenow　it　is　necessary　to　be　very　brave。　This　requires　calmness　and　a　great　deal　of　courage。

〃Mine　is　immense；〃　said　Senora　de　Polentinos；　in　the　midst　of　her　sobs。

〃Mine　is　very　small；〃　said　the　canon；　〃but　we　shall　see；　we　shall　see。〃



CHAPTER　XXIV

THE　CONFESSION

Meanwhile　Rosariowith　her　heart　torn　and　bleeding；　unable　to　shed　tears；　unable　to　be　at　peace　or　rest；　transpierced　by　grief　as　by　a　sharp　sword；　with　her　thoughts　passing　swiftly　from　the　world　to　God　and　from　God　to　the　world；　bewildered　and　half…crazed；　her　hands　clasped；　her　bare　feet　resting　on　the　floorwas　kneeling；　late　in　the　evening；　in　her　own　room；　beside　her　bed；　on　the　edge　of　which　she　rested　her　burning　forehead；　in　darkness；　in　solitude；　and　in　silence。　She　was　careful　not　to　make　the　slightest　noise；　in　order　not　to　attract　the　attention　of　her　mother；　who　was　asleep；　or　seemed　to　be　asleep；　in　the　adjoining　room。　She　lifted　up　her　distracted　thoughts　to　Heaven　in　this　form：

〃Lord；　my　God；　why　is　it　that　before　I　did　not　know　how　to　lie；　and　now　I　know？　Why　did　I　not　know　before　how　to　deceive；　and　now　I　deceive？　Am　I　a　vile　woman？　Is　this　that　I　feel；　is　this　that　is　happening　to　me；　a　fall　from　which　there　can　be　no　arising？　Have　I　ceased　to　be　virtuous　and　good？　I　do　not　recognize　myself。　Is　it　I　or　is　it　some　one　else　who　is　in　this　place？　How　many　terrible　things　in　a　few　days！　How　many　different　sensations！　My　heart　is　consumed　with　all　it　has　felt。　Lord；　my　God；　dost　thou　hear　my　voice；　or　am　I　condemned　to　pray　eternally　without　being　heard？　I　am　good；　nothing　will　convince　me　that　I　am　not　good。　To　love；　to　love　boundlessly；　is　that　wickedness？　But　noit　is　no　illusion；　no　errorI　am　worse　than　the　worst　woman　on　earth。　A　great　serpent　is　within　me；　and　has　fastened　his　poisonous　fangs　in　my　heart。　What　is　this　that　I　feel？　My　God；　why　dost　thou　not　kill　me？　Why　dost　thou　not　plunge　me　forever　into　the　depths　of　hell？　It　is　frightful；　but　I　confess　it　to　the　priestI　hate　my　mother。　Why　is　this？　I　cannot　explain　it　to　myself。　He　has　not　said　a　word　to　me　against　my　mother。　I　do　not　know　how　this　is　come　to　pass。　How　wicked　I　am！　The　demons　have　taken　possession　of　me。　Lord；　come　to　my　help；　for　with　my　own　strength　alone　I　cannot　vanquish　myself。　A　terrible　impulse　urges　me　to　leave　this　house。　I　wish　to　escape；　to　fly　from　it。　If　he　does　not　take　me；　I　will　drag　myself　after　him　through　the　streets。　What　divine　joy　is　this　that　mingles　in　my　breast　with　so　cruel　a　grief？　Lord　God；　my　father；　illumine　me。　I　desire　only　to　love。　I　was　not　born　for　this　hatred　that　is　consuming　me。　I　was　not　born　to　deceive；　to　lie；　to　cheat。　To…morrow　I　will　go　out　into　the　streets　and　cry　aloud　to　all　the　passers…by：　'I　love！　I　hate！'　My　heart　will　relieve　itself　in　this　way。　What　happiness　it　would　be　to　be　able　to　reconcile　every　thing；　to　love　and　respect　every　one！　May　the　Most　Holy　Virgin　protect　me。　Again　that　terrible　idea！　I　don't　wish　to　think　it；　and　I　think　it。　Ah！　I　cannot　deceive　myself　in　regard　to　this。　I　can　neither　destroy　it　nor　diminish　itbut　I　can　confess　it；　and　I　confess　it；　saying　to　thee：　'Lord；　I　hate　my　mother！'　〃

At　last　she　fell　into　a　doze。　In　her　uneasy　sleep　her　imagination　reproduced　in　her　mind　all　she　had　done　that　night；　distorting　it；　without　altering　it　in　substance。　She　heard　again　the　clock　of　the　cathedral　striking　nine；　she　saw　with　joy　the　old　servant　fall　into　a　peaceful　sleep；　and　she　left　the　room　very　slowly；　in　order　to　make　no　noise；　she　descended　the　stairs　softly；　step　by　step　and　on　tiptoe；　in　order　to　avoid　making　the　slightest　sound。　She　went　into　the　garden；　going　around　through　the　servants'　quarters　and　the　kitchen；　in　the　garden　she　paused　for　a　moment　to　look　up　at　the　sky；　which　was　dark　and　studded　with　stars。　The　wind　was　hushed。　Not　a　breath　disturbed　the　profound　stillness　of　the　night。　It　seemed　to　maintain　a　fixed　and　silent　attentionthe　attention　of　eyes　that　look　without　winking　and　ears　that　listen　attentively；　awaiting　a　great　event。　The　night　was　watching。

She　then　approached　the　glass　door　of　the　dining…room　and　looked　cautiously　through　it；　from　a　little　distance；　fearing　that　those　within　might　perceive　her。　By　the　light　of　the　dining…room　lamp　she　saw　her　mother　sitting　with　her　back　toward　her。　The　Penitentiary　was　on　her　right；　and　his　profile　seemed　to　undergo　a　strange　transformation；　his　nose　grew　larger　and　larger；　seeming　like　the　beak　of　some　fabulous　bird；　and　his　whole　face　became　a　black　silhouette　with　angles　here　and　there；　sharp　derisive；　irritating。　In　front　of　him　sat　Caballuco；　who　resembled　a　dragon　rather　than　a　man。　Rosario　could　see　his　green　eyes；　like　two　lanterns　of　convex　glass。　This　glow；　and　the　imposing　figure　of　the　animal；　inspired　her　with　fear。　Uncle　Licurgo　and　the　other　three　men　appeared　to　her　imagination　like　grotesque　little　figures。　She　had　seen　somewhere；　doubtless　in　some　of　the　clay　figures　at　the　fairs；　that　foolish　smile；　those　coarse　faces；　that　stupid　look。　The　dragon　moved　his　arms　which；　instead　of　gesticulating；　turned　round；　like　the　arms　of　a　windmill；　and　the　green　globes；　like　the　lights　of　a　pharmacy；　moved　from　side　to　side。　His　glance　was　blinding。　The　conversation　appeared　to　be　interesting。　The　Penitentiary　was　flapping　his　wings。　He　was　a　presumptuous　bird；　who　tried　to　fly　and　could　not。　His　beak　lengthened　itself；　twisting　round　and　round。　His　feathers　stood　out；　as　if　with　rage；　and　then；　collecting　himself　and　becoming　pacified；　he　hid　his　bald　head　under　his　wings。　Then　the　little　clay　figures　began　to　move；　wishing　to　be　persons；　and　Frasquito　Gonzalez　was　trying　to　pass　for　a　man。

Rosario　fel