dona perecta-第34章

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〃No；　but　when　I　advised　the　senora　to　give　her　nephew　a　fright；　you　opposed　my　advice；　instead　of　supporting　it。〃

〃You　are　crazy　with　your　talk　about　a　fright。〃

〃Because　when　the　dog　is　dead　the　madness　is　at　an　end。〃

〃I　cannot　advise　what　you　call　a　fright；　and　what　might　be　a　terrible　thing。〃

〃Yes；　because　I　am　a　cut…throat；　am　I　not；　uncle？〃

〃You　know　that　practical　jokes　are　vulgar。　Besides；　do　you　suppose　that　man　would　allow　himself　to　be　insulted？　And　his　friends？〃

〃At　night　he　goes　out　alone。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃

〃I　know　every　thing；　he　does　not　take　a　step　that　I　am　not　aware　of；　do　you　understand？　The　widow　De　Cuzco　keeps　me　informed　of　every　thing。〃

〃There；　don't　set　me　crazy。　And　who　is　going　to　give　him　that　fright？　Let　us　hear。〃

〃Caballuco。〃

〃So　that　he　is　disposed〃

〃No；　but　he　will　be　if　you　command　him。〃

〃Come；　niece；　leave　me　in　peace。　I　cannot　command　such　an　atrocity。　A　fright！　And　what　is　that？　Have　you　spoken　to　him　already？〃

〃Yes；　senor；　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　me；　or　rather　he　refused。　There　are　only　two　people　in　Orbajosa　who　can　make　him　do　what　they　wish　by　a　simple　orderyou　and　Dona　Perfecta。〃

〃Let　Dona　Perfecta　order　him　to　do　it　if　she　wishes；　then。　I　will　never　advise　the　employment　of　violent　and　brutal　measures。　Will　you　believe　that　when　Caballuco　and　some　of　his　followers　were　talking　of　rising　up　in　arms　they　could　not　draw　a　single　word　from　me　inciting　them　to　bloodshed。　No；　not　that。　If　Dona　Perfecta　wishes　to　do　it〃

〃She　will　not　do　it；　either。　I　talked　with　her　for　two　hours　this　afternoon　and　she　said　that　she　would　preach　war；　and　help　it　by　every　means　in　her　power；　but　that　she　would　not　bid　one　man　stab　another　in　the　back。　She　would　be　right　in　opposing　it　if　anything　serious　were　intended；　but　I　don't　want　any　wounds；　all　I　want　is　to　give　him　a　fright。〃

〃Well；　if　Dona　Perfecta　doesn't　want　to　order　a　fright　to　be　given　to　the　engineer；　I　don't　either；　do　you　understand？　My　conscience　is　before　every　thing。〃

〃Very　well；〃　returned　his　niece。　〃Tell　Caballuco　to　come　with　me　to…nightthat　is　all　you　need　say　to　him。〃

〃Are　you　going　out　to…night？〃

〃Yes；　senor；　I　am　going　out。　Why；　didn't　I　go　out　last　night　too？〃

〃Last　night？　I　didn't　know　it；　if　I　had　known　it　I　should　have　been　angry；　yes；　senora。〃

〃All　you　have　to　say　to　Caballuco　is　this：　'My　dear　Ramos；　I　will　be　greatly　obliged　to　you　if　you　will　accompany　my　niece　on　an　errand　which　she　has　to　do　to…night；　and　if　you　will　protect　her；　if　she　should　chance　to　be　in　any　danger。'　〃

〃I　can　do　that。　To　accompany　you；　to　protect　you。　Ah；　rogue！　you　want　to　deceive　me　and　make　me　your　accomplice　in　some　piece　of　villany。〃

〃Of　coursewhat　do　you　suppose？〃　said　Maria　Remedios　ironically。　〃Between　Ramos　and　me　we　are　going　to　slaughter　a　great　many　people　to…night。〃

〃Don't　jest！　I　tell　you　again　that　I　will　not　advise　Ramos　to　do　any　thing　that　has　the　appearance　of　evilI　think　he　is　outside。〃

A　noise　at　the　street…door　was　heard；　then　the　voice　of　Caballuco　speaking　to　the　servant；　and　a　little　later　the　hero　of　Orbajosa　entered　the　room。

〃What　is　the　news？　Give　us　the　news；　Senor　Ramos；〃　said　the　priest。　〃Come！　If　you　don't　give　us　some　hope　in　exchange　for　your　supper　and　our　hospitality　What　is　going　on　in　Villahorrenda？〃

〃Something；〃　answered　the　bravo；　seating　himself　with　signs　of　fatigue。　〃You　shall　soon　see　whether　we　are　good　for　anything　or　not。〃

Like　all　persons　who　wish　to　make　themselves　appear　important；　Caballuco　made　a　show　of　great　reserve。

〃To…night；　my　friend；　you　shall　take　with　you；　if　you　wish；　the　money　they　have　given　me　for〃

〃There　is　good　need　of　it。　If　the　soldiers　should　get　scent　of　it；　however；　they　won't　let　me　pass；〃　said　Ramos；　with　a　brutal　laugh。

〃Hold　your　tongue；　man。　We　know　already　that　you　pass　whenever　you　please。　Why；　that　would　be　a　pretty　thing！　The　soldiers　are　not　strait…　laced　gentry；　and　if　they　should　become　troublesome；　with　a　couple　of　dollars；　eh？　Come；　I　see　that　you　are　not　badly　armed。　All　you　want　now　is　an　eight…pounder。　Pistols；　eh？　And　a　dagger　too。〃

〃For　any　thing　that　might　happen；〃　said　Caballuco；　taking　the　weapon　from　his　belt　and　displaying　its　horrible　blade。

〃In　the　name　of　God　and　of　the　Virgin！〃　exclaimed　Maria　Remedios；　closing　her　eyes　and　turning　her　face　in　terror；　〃put　away　that　thing。　The　very　sight　of　it　terrifies　me。〃

〃If　you　won't　take　it　ill　of　me；〃　said　Ramos；　shutting　the　weapon；　〃let　us　have　supper。〃

Maria　Remedios　prepared　every　thing　quickly；　in　order　that　the　hero　might　not　become　impatient。

〃Listen　to　me　a　moment；　Senor　Ramos；〃　said　Don　Inocencio　to　his　guest；　when　they　had　sat　down　to　supper。　〃Have　you　a　great　deal　to　do　to…night？〃

〃Something　there　is　to　be　done；〃　responded　the　bravo。　〃This　is　the　last　night　I　shall　come　to　Orbajosathe　last。　I　have　to　look　up　some　boys　who　remained　in　the　town；　and　we　are　going　to　see　how　we　can　get　possession　of　the　saltpetre　and　the　sulphur　that　are　in　the　house　of　Cirujeda。〃

〃I　asked　you；〃　said　the　curate　amiably；　filling　his　friend's　plate；　〃because　my　niece　wishes　you　to　accompany　her　a　short　distance。　She　has　some　business　or　other　to　attend　to；　and　it　is　a　little　late　to　be　out　alone。〃

〃Is　she　going　to　Dona　Perfecta's？〃　asked　Ramos。　〃I　was　there　a　few　moments　ago；　but　I　did　not　want　to　make　any　delay。〃

〃How　is　the　senora？〃

〃A　little　frightened。　To…night　I　took　away　the　six　young　men　I　had　in　the　house。〃

〃Why！　don't　you　think　they　will　be　wanted　there？〃　said　Remedios；　with　alarm。

〃They　are　wanted　more　in　Villahorrenda。　Brave　men　chafe　at　being　kept　in　the　house；　is　it　not　so；　Senor　Canon？〃

〃Senor　Ramos；　that　house　ought　not　to　be　left　unprotected；〃　said　the　Penitentiary。

〃The　servants　are　enough；　and　more　than　enough。　But　do　you　suppose；　Senor　Don　Inocencio；　that　the　brigadier　employs　himself　in　attacking　the　people's　houses？〃

〃Yes；　but　you　know　very　well　that　that　diabolical　engineer〃

〃For　thatthere　are　not　wanting　brooms　in　the　house；〃　said　Cristobal　jovially。　〃For　in　the　end；　there　will　be　no　help　for　it　but　to　marry　them。　After　what　has　passed〃

〃Senor　Ramos；〃　said　Remedios；　with　sudden　anger；　〃I　imagine　that　all　you　know　about　marrying　people　is　very　little。〃

〃I　say　that　because　a　little　while　ago；　when　I　was　at　the　house；　the　mother　and　daughter　seemed　to　be　having　a　sort　of　reconciliation。　Dona　Perfecta　was　kissing　Rosarito　over　and　over　again；　and　there　was　no　end　to　their　caresses　and　endearments。〃

〃Reconciliation！　With　all　these　preparations　for　the　war　you　have　lost　your　senses。　But；　finally；　are　you　coming　with　me　or　not？〃

〃It　is　not　to　Dona　Perfecta's　she　wants　to　go；〃　said　the　priest；　〃but　to　the　hotel　of　the　widow　De　Cuzco。　She　was　saying　that　she　does　not　dare　to　go　alone；　because　she　is　afraid　of　being　insulted。〃

〃By　whom？〃

〃It　is　easily　understood。　By　that　infernal　engineer。　Last　night　my　niece　met　him　there；　and　she　gave　him　some　plain　talk；　and　for　that　reason　she　is　not　altogether　easy　in　her　mind　to…night。　The　young　fellow　is　revengeful　and　insolent。〃

〃I　don't　know　whether　I　can　go；〃　said　Caballuco。　〃As　I　am　in　hiding　now　I　cannot　measure　my　strength　against　Don　Jose　Poquita　Cosa。　If　I　were　not　as　I　amwith　half　my　face　hidden；　and　the　other　half　uncoveredI　would　have　broken　his　back　for　him　already　twenty　times　over。　But　what　happens　if　I　attack　him？　He　discovers　who　I　am；　he　falls　upon　me　with　the　soldiers；　and　good…bye　to　Caballuco。　As　for　giving　him　a　treacherous　blow；　that　is　something　I　couldn't　do；　nor　would　Dona　Perfecta　consent　to　it；　either。　For　a　stab　in　the　dark　Cristobal　Ramos　is　not　the　man。〃

〃But　are　you　crazy；　man？　What　are　you　thinking　about？〃　said　the　Penitentiary；　with　unmistakable　signs　of　astonishment。　〃Not　even　in　thought　would　I　advise　you　to　do　an　injury　to　that　gentleman。　I　would　cut　my　tongue　out　before　I　would　advise　such　a　piece　of　villany。　The　wicked　will　fall；　it　is　true；　but　it　is　God　who　will　fix　the　moment；　not　I。　And　the　question　is　not　to　give　a　beating；　either。　I　would　rather　receive　a　hundred　blows　myself　than　advise　the　administration　of　such　a　medicine　to　any　Christian。　One　thing　only　will　I　say　to　you；〃　he　ended；　looking　at　the　bravo　over　his　spectacles；　〃and　that　is；　that　as　my　niece　is　going　there；　and　as　it　is　probable；　very　probable；　is　it　not；　Remedios？　that　she　may　have　to　say　a　few　plain　words　to　that　man；　I　recommend　you　not　to　leave　her　unprotected；　in　case　she　should　be　insulted。〃

〃I　have　something　to　do　to…night；〃　answered　Caballuco；　laconically　and　dryly。

〃You　hear　what　he　says；　Remedios。　Leave　your　business　for　to…morrow。〃

〃I　can't　do　that。　I　will　go　alone。〃

〃No；　you　shall　not　go　alone；　niece。　Now　let　us　hear　no　more　about　the　matter。　Senor　Ramos　has　something　to　do；　and　he　cannot　accompany　you。　Fancy　if　you　were　to　be　insulted　by　that　rude　man！〃

〃Insulted！　A　lady　insulted　by　that　fellow！〃　exclaimed　Caballuco。　〃Come　that　must　not　be。〃

〃If　you　had　not　something　to　dobah！　I　should　be　quite　easy　in　my　mind；　then。〃

〃I　have　something　to　do；〃　said　the　Centaur；　rising　from　the　table；　〃but　if　you　wish　it〃

There　was　a　pause。　The　Penitentiary　had　closed　his　eyes　and　was　meditating。

〃I　wish　it；　Senor　Ramos；〃　he　said　at　last。

〃There　is　no　more　to　be　said　then。　Let　us　go；　Senora　Dona　Maria。〃

〃Now；　my　dear　niece；〃　said　Don　Inocencio；　half　seriously；　half　jestingly；　〃since　we　have　finished　supper　bring　me　the　basin。〃

He　gave　his　niece　a　penetrating　glance；　and　accompanying　it　with　the　corresponding　action；　pronounced　these　words：

〃I　wash　my　hands　of　the　matter。〃



CHAPTER　XXVIII

FROM　PEPE　REY　TO　DON　JUAN　REY


〃ORBAJOSA；　April　12。

〃MY　DEAR　FATHER：

〃Forgive　me　if　for　the　first　time　in　my　life　I　disobey　you　in　refusing　to　leave　this　place　or　to　renounce　my　project。　Your　advice　and　your　entreaty　are　what　were　to　be　expected　from　a　kind；　good　father。　My　obstinacy　is　natural　in　an　insensate　son；　but　something　strange　is　taking　place　within　me；　obstinacy　and　honor　have　become　so　blended　and　confounded　in　my　mind　that　the　bare　idea　of　desisting　from　my　purpose　makes　me　ashamed。　I　have　changed　greatly。　The　fits　of　rage　that　agitate　me　now　were　formerly　unknown　to　me。　I　regarded　the　violent　acts；　the　exaggerated　expressions　of　hot…tempered　and　impetuous　men　with　the　same　scorn　as　the　brutal　actions　of　the　wicked。　Nothing　of　this　kind　surprises　me　any　longer；　for　in　myself　I　find　at　all　times　a　certain　terrible　capacity　for　wickedness。　I　can　speak　to　you　as　I　would　speak　to　God　and　to　my　conscience；　I　can　tell　you　that　I　am　a　wretch；　for　he　is　a　wretch　who　is　wanting　in　that　powerful　moral　force　which　enables　him　to　chastise　his　passions　and　submit　his　life　to　the　stern　rule　of　conscience。　I　have　been　wanting　in　the　Christian　fortitude　which　exalts　the　spirit　of　the　man　who　is　offended　above　the　offences　which　he　receives　and　the　enemies　from　whom　he　receives　them。　I　have　had　the　weakness　to　abandon　myself　to　a　mad　fury；　putting　myself　on　a　level　with　my　detractors；　returning　them　blow　for　blow；　and　endeavoring　to　confound　them　by　methods　learned　in　their　own　base　school。　How　deeply　I　regret　that　you　were　not　at　my　side　to　turn　me　from　this　path！　It　is　now