dona perecta-第3章

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〃I　am　delighted　to　hear　it；　for　since　they　came　into　my　possession　these　famous　lands　have　never　brought　me　a　penny。〃

The　wise　legislator　of　Sparta　scratched　his　ear　and　gave　a　sigh。

〃But　I　have　been　told；〃　continued　the　young　man；　〃that　some　of　the　neighboring　proprietors　have　put　their　ploughs　in　these　estates　of　mine；　and　that；　little　by　little；　they　are　filching　them　from　me。　Here　there　are　neither　landmarks　nor　boundaries；　nor　real　ownership；　Senor　Licurgo。〃

The　peasant；　after　a　pause；　during　which　his　subtle　intellect　seemed　to　be　occupied　in　profound　disquisitions；　expressed　himself　as　follows：

〃Uncle　Paso　Largo；　whom；　for　his　great　foresight；　we　call　the　Philosopher；　set　his　plough　in　the　Poplars；　above　the　hermitage；　and　bit　by　bit；　he　has　gobbled　up　six　fanegas。〃

〃What　an　incomparable　school！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man；　smiling。　〃I　wager　that　he　has　not　been　the　onlyphilosopher？〃

〃It　is　a　true　saying　that　one　should　talk　only　about　what　one　knows；　and　that　if　there　is　food　in　the　dove…cote；　doves　won't　be　wanting。　But　you；　Senor　Don　Jose；　can　apply　to　your　own　cause　the　saying　that　the　eye　of　the　master　fattens　the　ox；　and　now　that　you　are　here；　try　and　recover　your　property。〃

〃Perhaps　that　would　not　be　so　easy；　Senor　Licurgo；〃　returned　the　young　man；　just　as　they　were　entering　a　path　bordered　on　either　side　by　wheat…fields；　whose　luxuriance　and　early　ripeness　gladdened　the　eye。　〃This　field　appears　to　be　better　cultivated。　I　see　that　all　is　not　dreariness　and　misery　in　the　Poplars。〃

The　peasant　assumed　a　melancholy　look；　and；　affecting　something　of　disdain　for　the　fields　that　had　been　praised　by　the　traveller；　said　in　the　humblest　of　tones：

〃Senor；　this　is　mine。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　replied　the　gentleman　quickly；　〃now　I　was　going　to　put　my　sickle　in　your　field。　Apparently　the　philosophy　of　this　place　is　contagious。〃

They　now　descended　into　a　canebrake；　which　formed　the　bed　of　a　shallow　and　stagnant　brook；　and；　crossing　it；　they　entered　a　field　full　of　stones　and　without　the　slightest　trace　of　vegetation。

〃This　ground　is　very　bad；〃　said　the　young　man；　turning　round　to　look　at　his　companion　and　guide；　who　had　remained　a　little　behind。　〃You　will　hardly　be　able　to　derive　any　profit　from　it；　for　it　is　all　mud　and　sand。〃

Licurgo；　full　of　humility；　answered：

〃This　is　yours。〃

〃I　see　that　all　the　poor　land　is　mine；〃　declared　the　young　man；　laughing　good…humoredly。〃

As　they　were　thus　conversing；　they　turned　again　into　the　high…road。　The　morning　sunshine；　pouring　joyously　through　all　the　gates　and　balconies　of　the　Spanish　horizon；　had　now　inundated　the　fields　with　brilliant　light。　The　wide　sky；　undimmed　by　a　single　cloud；　seemed　to　grow　wider　and　to　recede　further　from　the　earth；　in　order　to　contemplate　it；　and　rejoice　in　the　contemplation；　from　a　greater　height。　The　desolate；　treeless　land；　straw…colored　at　intervals；　at　intervals　of　the　color　of　chalk；　and　all　cut　up　into　triangles　and　quadrilaterals；　yellow　or　black；　gray　or　pale　green；　bore　a　fanciful　resemblance　to　a　beggar's　cloak　spread　out　in　the　sun。　On　that　miserable　cloak　Christianity　and　Islamism　had　fought　with　each　other　epic　battles。　Glorious　fields；　in　truth；　but　the　combats　of　the　past　had　left　them　hideous！

〃I　think　we　shall　have　a　scorching　day；　Senor　Licurgo；〃　said　the　young　man；　loosening　his　cloak　a　little。　〃What　a　dreary　road！　Not　a　single　tree　to　be　seen；　as　far　as　the　eye　can　reach。　Here　everything　is　in　contradiction。　The　irony　does　not　cease。　Why；　when　there　are　no　poplars　here；　either　large　or　small；　should　this　be　called　The　Poplars？〃

Uncle　Licurgo　did　not　answer　this　question　because　he　was　listening　with　his　whole　soul　to　certain　sounds　which　were　suddenly　heard　in　the　distance；　and　with　an　uneasy　air　he　stopped　his　beast；　while　he　explored　the　road　and　the　distant　hills　with　a　gloomy　look。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　the　traveller；　stopping　his　horse　also。

〃Do　you　carry　arms；　Don　Jose？〃

〃A　revolverah！　now　I　understand。　Are　there　robbers　about？〃

〃Perhaps；〃　answered　the　peasant；　with　visible　apprehension。　〃I　think　I　heard　a　shot。〃

〃We　shall　soon　see。　Forward！〃　said　the　young　man；　putting　spurs　to　his　nag。　〃They　are　not　very　terrible；　I　dare　say。〃

〃Keep　quiet；　Senor　Don　Jose；〃　exclaimed　the　peasant；　stopping　him。　〃Those　people　are　worse　than　Satan　himself。　The　other　day　they　murdered　two　gentlemen　who　were　on　their　way　to　take　the　train。　Let　us　leave　off　jesting。　Gasparon　el　Fuerte；　Pepito　Chispillas；　Merengue；　and　Ahorca　Suegras　shall　not　see　my　face　while　I　live。　Let　us　turn　into　the　path。〃

〃Forward；　Senor　Licurgo！〃

〃Back；　Senor　Don　Jose；〃　replied　the　peasant；　in　distressed　accents。　〃You　don't　know　what　kind　of　people　those　are。　They　are　the　same　men　who　stole　the　chalice；　the　Virgin's　crown；　and　two　candlesticks　from　the　church　of　the　Carmen　last　month；　they　are　the　men　who　robbed　the　Madrid　train　two　years　ago。〃

Don　Jose；　hearing　these　alarming　antecedents；　felt　his　courage　begin　to　give　way。

〃Do　you　see　that　great　high　hill　in　the　distance？　Well；　that　is　where　those　rascals　hide　themselves；　there　in　some　caves　which　they　call　the　Retreat　of　the　Cavaliers。〃

〃Of　the　Cavaliers？〃

〃Yes；　senor。　They　come　down　to　the　high…road　when　the　Civil　Guards　are　not　watching；　and　rob　all　they　can。　Do　you　see　a　cross　beyond　the　bend　of　the　road？　Well；　that　was　erected　in　remembrance　of　the　death　of　the　Alcalde　of　Villahorrenda；　whom　they　murdered　there　at　the　time　of　the　elections。〃

〃Yes；　I　see　the　cross。〃

〃There　is　an　old　house　there；　in　which　they　hide　themselves　to　wait　for　the　carriers。　They　call　that　place　The　Pleasaunce。〃

〃The　Pleasaunce？〃

〃If　all　the　people　who　have　been　murdered　and　robbed　there　were　to　be　restored　they　would　form　an　army。〃

While　they　were　thus　talking　shots　were　again　heard；　this　time　nearer　than　before；　which　made　the　valiant　hearts　of　the　travellers　quake　a　little；　but　not　that　of　the　country　lad；　who；　jumping　about　for　joy；　asked　Senor　Licurgo's　permission　to　go　forward　to　watch　the　conflict　which　was　taking　place　so　near　them。　Observing　the　courage　of　the　boy　Don　Jose　felt　a　little　ashamed　of　having　been　frightened；　or　at　least　a　little　disturbed；　by　the　proximity　of　the　robbers；　and　cried；　putting　spurs　to　his　nag：

〃We　will　go　forward；　then。　Perhaps　we　may　be　able　to　lend　assistance　to　the　unlucky　travellers　who　find　themselves　in　so　perilous　a　situation；　and　give　a　lesson　besides　to　those　cavaliers。〃

The　peasant　endeavored　to　convince　the　young　man　of　the　rashness　of　his　purpose；　as　well　as　of　the　profitlessness　of　his　generous　design；　since　those　who　had　been　robbed　were　robbed　and　perhaps　dead　also；　and　not　in　a　condition　to　need　the　assistance　of　any　one。

The　gentleman　insisted；　in　spite　of　these　sage　counsels；　the　peasant　reiterated　his　objections　more　strongly　than　before；　when　the　appearance　of　two　or　three　carters；　coming　quietly　down　the　road　driving　a　wagon；　put　an　end　to　the　controversy。　The　danger　could　not　be　very　great　when　these　men　were　coming　along　so　unconcernedly；　singing　merry　songs；　and　such　was　in　fact　the　case；　for　the　shots；　according　to　what　the　carters　said；　had　not　been　fired　by　the　robbers；　but　by　the　Civil　Guards；　who　desired　in　this　way　to　prevent　the　escape　of　half　a　dozen　thieves　whom　they　were　taking；　bound　together；　to　the　town　jail。

〃Yes；　I　know　now　what　it　was；〃　said　Licurgo；　pointing　to　a　light　cloud　of　smoke　which　was　to　be　seen　some　distance　off；　to　the　right　of　the　road。　〃They　have　peppered　them　there。　That　happens　every　other　day。〃

The　young　man　did　not　understand。

〃I　assure　you；　Senor　Don　Jose；〃　added　the　Lacedaemonian　legislator；　with　energy；　〃that　it　was　very　well　done；　for　it　is　of　no　use　to　try　those　rascals。　The　judge　cross…questions　them　a　little　and　then　lets　them　go。　If　at　the　end　of　a　trial　dragged　out　for　half　a　dozen　years　one　of　them　is　sent　to　jail；　at　the　moment　least　expected　he　escapes；　and　returns　to　the　Retreat　of　the　Cavaliers。　That　is　the　best　thing　to　doshoot　them！　Take　them　to　prison；　and　when　you　are　passing　a　suitable　placeAh；　dog；　so　you　want　to　escape；　do　you？　pum！　pum！　The　indictment　is　drawn　up；　the　witnesses　summoned；　the　trial　ended；　the　sentence　pronouncedall　in　a　minute。　It　is　a　true　saying　that　the　fox　is　very　cunning；　but　he　who　catches　him　is　more　cunning　still。〃

〃Forward；　then；　and　let　us　ride　faster；　for　this　road；　besides　being　a　long　one；　is　not　at　all　a　pleasant　one；〃　said　Rey。

As　they　passed　The　Pleasaunce；　they　saw；　a　little　in　from　the　road；　the　guards　who　a　few　minutes　before　had　executed　the　strange　sentence　with　which　the　reader　has　been　made　acquainted。　The　country　boy　was　inconsolable　because　they　rode　on　and　he　was　not　allowed　to　get　a　nearer　view　of　the　palpitating　bodies　of　the　robbers；　which　could　be　distinguished　forming　a　horrible　group　in　the　distance。　But　they　had　not　proceeded　twenty　paces　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　a　horse　galloping　after　them　at　so　rapid　a　pace　that　he　gained　upon　them　every　moment。　Our　traveller　turned　round　and　saw　a　man；　or　rather　a　Centaur；　for　the　most　perfect　harmony　imaginable　existed　between　horse　and　rider。　The　latter　was　of　a　robust　and　plethoric　constitution；　with　large　fiery　eyes；　rugged　features；　and　a　black　mustache。　He　was　of　middle　age　and　had　a　general　air　of　rudeness　and　aggressiveness；　with　indications　of　strength　in　his　whole　person。　He　was　mounted　on　a　superb　horse　with　a　muscular　chest；　like　the　horses　of　the　Parthenon；　caparisoned　in　the　picturesque　fashion　of　the　country；　and　carrying　on　the　crupper　a　great　leather　bag　on　the　cover　of　which　was　to　be　seen；　in　large　letters；　the　word　Mail。

〃Hello！　Good…day；　Senor　Caballuco；〃　said　Licurgo；　saluting　the　horseman　when　the　latter　had　come　up　with　them。　〃How　is　it　that　we　got　so　far　ahead　of　you？　But　you　will　arrive　before　us；　if　you　set　your　mind　to　it。〃

〃I　will　rest　a　little；〃　answered　Senor　Caballuco；　adapting　his　horse's　pace　to　that　of　our　travellers'　beasts；　and　attentively　observing　the　most　distinguished　of　the　three；　〃since　there　is　such　good　company。〃

〃This　gentleman；〃　said　Licurgo；　smiling；　〃is　the　nephew　of　Dona　Perfecta。〃

〃Ah！　At　your　service；　senor。〃

The　two　men　saluted　each　other；　it　being　noticeable　that　Caballuco　performed　his　civilities　with　an　expression　of　haughtiness　and　superiority　that　revealed；　at　the　very　least；　a　consciousness　of　great　importance；　and　of　a　high　standing　in　the　district。　When　the　arrogant　horseman　rode　aside　to　stop　and　talk　for　a　moment　with　two　Civil　Guards　who　passed　them　on　the　road；　the　traveller　asked　his　guide：

〃Who　is　that　odd　character？〃

〃Who　should　it　be？　Caballuco。〃

〃And　who　is　Caballuco？〃

〃What！　Have　you　never　heard　of　Caballuco？〃　said　the　countryman；　amazed　at　the　crass　ignorance　of　Dona　Perfecta's　nephew。　〃He　is　a　very　brave　man；　a　fine　rider；　and　the　best　connoisseur　of　horses　in　all　the　surrounding　country。　We　think　a　great　deal　of　him　in　Orbajosa；　and　he　is　well　worthy　of　it。　Just　as　you　see　him；　he　is　a　power　in　the　place；　and　the　governor　of　the　province　takes　off　his　hat　to　him。〃

〃When　there　is　an　election！〃

〃And　the　Governor　of　Madrid　writes　official　letters　to　him　with　a　great　many　titles　in　the　superscription。　He　throws　the　bar　like　a　St。　Chr