dona perecta-第37章

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aunching　these　words　like　thunderbolts　against　her　daughter。

〃He　has　counselled　me　to　do　it。　We　have　agreed　to　be　married。　We　must　be　married；　mamma；　dear　mamma。　I　will　love　youI　know　that　I　ought　to　love　youI　shall　be　forever　lost　if　I　do　not　love　you。〃

She　wrung　her　hands；　and　falling　on　her　knees　kissed　her　mother's　feet。

〃Rosario；　Rosario！〃　cried　Dona　Perfecta；　in　a　terrible　voice；　〃rise！〃

There　was　a　short　pause。

〃This　manhas　he　written　to　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　have　you　seen　him　again　since　that　night？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　you　have　written　to　him！〃

〃I　have　written　to　him　also。　Oh；　senora！　why　do　you　look　at　me　in　that　way？　You　are　not　my　mother。

〃Would　to　God　that　I　were　not！　Rejoice　in　the　harm　you　are　doing　me。　You　are　killing　me；　you　have　given　me　my　death…blow！〃　cried　Dona　Perfecta；　with　indescribable　agitation。　〃You　say　that　this　man〃

〃Is　my　husbandI　will　be　his　wife；　protected　by　the　law。　You　are　not　a　woman！　Why　do　you　look　at　me　in　that　way？　You　make　me　tremble。　Mother；　mother；　do　not　condemn　me！〃

〃You　have　already　condemned　yourselfthat　is　enough。　Obey　me；　and　I　will　forgive　you。　Answer　mewhen　did　you　receive　letters　from　that　man？〃

〃To…day。〃

〃What　treachery！　What　infamy！〃　cried　her　mother；　roaring　rather　than　speaking。　〃Had　you　appointed　a　meeting？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃When？〃

〃To…night。〃

〃Where？〃

〃Here；　here！　I　will　confess　every　thing；　every　thing！　I　know　it　is　a　crime。　I　am　a　wretch；　but　you　who　are　my　mother　will　take　me　out　of　this　hell。　Give　your　consent。　Say　one　word　to　me；　only　one　word！〃

〃That　man　here　in　my　house！〃　cried　Dona　Perfecta；　springing　back　several　paces　from　her　daughter。

Rosario　followed　her　on　her　knees。　At　the　same　instant　three　blows　were　heard；　three　crashes；　three　reports。　It　was　the　heart　of　Maria　Remedios　knocking　at　the　door　through　the　knocker。　The　house　trembled　with　awful　dread。　Mother　and　daughter　stood　motionless　as　statues。

A　servant　went　down　stairs　to　open　the　door；　and　shortly　afterward　Maria　Remedios；　who　was　not　now　a　woman　but　a　basilisk　enveloped　in　a　mantle；　entered　Dona　Perfecta's　room。　Her　face；　flushed　with　anxiety；　exhaled　fire。

〃He　is　there；　he　is　there！〃　she　said；　as　she　entered。　〃He　got　into　the　garden　through　the　condemned　door。〃

She　paused　for　breath　at　every　syllable。

〃I　know　already；〃　returned　Dona　Perfecta；　with　a　sort　of　bellow。

Rosario　fell　senseless　on　the　floor。

〃Let　us　go　down　stairs；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　without　paying　any　attention　to　her　daughter's　swoon。

The　two　women　glided　down　stairs　like　two　snakes。　The　maids　and　the　man…servant　were　in　the　hall；　not　knowing　what　to　do。　Dona　Perfecta　passed　through　the　dining…room　into　the　garden；　followed　by　Maria　Remedios。

〃Fortunately　we　have　Ca…Ca…Ca…balluco　there；〃　said　the　canon's　niece。

〃Where？〃

〃In　the　garden；　also。　He　cli…cli…climbed　over　the　wall。〃

Dona　Perfecta　explored　the　darkness　with　her　wrathful　eyes。　Rage　gave　them　the　singular　power　of　seeing　in　the　dark　peculiar　to　the　feline　race。

〃I　see　a　figure　there；〃　she　said。　〃It　is　going　toward　the　oleanders。〃

〃It　is　he！〃　cried　Remedios。　〃But　there　comes　RamosRamos！〃

The　colossal　figure　of　the　Centaur　was　plainly　distinguishable。

〃Toward　the　oleanders；　Ramos！　Toward　the　oleanders！〃

Dona　Perfecta　took　a　few　steps　forward。　Her　hoarse　voice；　vibrating　with　a　terrible　accent；　hissed　forth　these　words：

〃Cristobal；　Cristobalkill　him！〃

A　shot　was　heard。　Then　another。



CHAPTER　XXXII

CONCLUSION

From　Don　Cayetano　Polentinos　to　a　friend　in　Madrid：


〃ORBAJOSA；　April　21。

〃MY　DEAR　FRIEND：

〃Send　me　without　delay　the　edition　of　1562　that　you　say　you　have　picked　up　at　the　executor's　sale　of　the　books　of　Corchuelo。　I　will　pay　any　price　for　that　copy。　I　have　been　long　searching　for　it　in　vain；　and　I　shall　esteem　myself　the　most　enviable　of　virtuosos　in　possessing　it。　You　ought　to　find　in　the　colophon　a　helmet　with　a　motto　over　the　word　'Tractado；'　and　the　tail　of　the　X　of　the　date　MDLXII　ought　to　be　crooked。　If　your　copy　agrees　with　these　signs　send　me　a　telegraphic　despatch　at　once；　for　I　shall　be　very　anxious　until　I　receive　it。　But　now　I　remember　that；　on　account　of　these　vexatious　and　troublesome　wars；　the　telegraph　is　not　working。　I　shall　await　your　answer　by　return　of　mail。

〃I　shall　soon　go　to　Madrid　for　the　purpose　of　having　my　long　delayed　work；　the　'Genealogies　of　Orbajosa；'　printed。　I　appreciate　your　kindness；　my　dear　friend；　but　I　cannot　accept　your　too　flattering　expressions。　My　work　does　not　indeed　deserve　the　high　encomiums　you　bestow　upon　it；　it　is　a　work　of　patience　and　study；　a　rude　but　solid　and　massive　monument　which　I　shall　have　erected　to　the　past　glories　of　my　beloved　country。　Plain　and　humble　in　its　form；　it　is　noble　in　the　idea　that　inspired　it；　which　was　solely　to　direct　the　eyes　of　this　proud　and　unbelieving　generation　to　the　marvellous　deeds　and　the　pure　virtues　of　our　forefathers。　Would　that　the　studious　youth　of　our　country　might　take　the　step　to　which　with　all　my　strength　I　incite　them！　Would　that　the　abominable　studies　and　methods　of　reasoning　introduced　by　philosophic　license　and　erroneous　doctrines　might　be　forever　cast　into　oblivion！　Would　that　our　learned　men　might　occupy　themselves　exclusively　in　the　contemplation　of　those　glorious　ages；　in　order　that；　this　generation　being　penetrated　with　their　essence　and　their　beneficent　sap；　its　insane　eagerness　for　change；　and　its　ridiculous　mania　for　appropriating　to　itself　foreign　ideas　which　conflict　with　our　beautiful　national　constitution；　might　disappear。　I　fear　greatly　that　among　the　crowd　of　mad　youth　who　pursue　vain　Utopias　and　heathenish　novelties；　my　desires　are　not　destined　to　be　fulfilled；　and　that　the　contemplation　of　the　illustrious　virtues　of　the　past　will　remain　confined　within　the　same　narrow　circle　as　to…day。　What　is　to　be　done；　my　friend？　I　am　afraid　that　very　soon　our　poor　Spain　is　doomed　to　be　so　disfigured　that　she　will　not　be　able　to　recognize　herself；　even　beholding　herself　in　the　bright　mirror　of　her　stainless　history。

〃I　do　not　wish　to　close　this　letter　without　informing　you　of　a　disagreeable　eventthe　unfortunate　death　of　an　estimable　young　man；　well　known　in　Madrid；　the　civil　engineer　Don　Jose　de　Rey；　a　nephew　of　my　sister…in…law。　This　melancholy　event　occurred　last　night　in　the　garden　of　our　house；　and　I　have　not　yet　been　able　to　form　a　correct　judgment　regarding　the　causes　that　may　have　impelled　the　unfortunate　Rey　to　this　horrible　and　criminal　act。　According　to　what　Perfecta　told　me　this　morning；　on　my　return　from　Mundo　Grande；　Pepe　Rey　at　about　twelve　o'clock　last　night　entered　the　garden　of　the　house　and　shot　himself　in　the　right　temple；　expiring　instantly。　Imagine　the　consternation　and　alarm　which　such　an　event　would　produce　in　this　peaceable　and　virtuous　mansion。　Poor　Perfecta　was　so　greatly　affected　that　we　were　for　a　time　alarmed　about　her；　but　she　is　better　now；　and　this　afternoon　we　succeeded　in　inducing　her　to　take　a　little　broth。　We　employ　every　means　of　consoling　her；　and　as　she　is　a　good　Christian；　she　knows　how　to　support　with　edifying　resignation　even　so　great　a　misfortune　as　this。

〃Between　you　and　me；　my　friend；　I　will　say　here　that　in　young　Rey's　fatal　attempt　upon　his　life；　I　believe　the　moving　causes　to　have　been　an　unfortunate　attachment；　perhaps　remorse　for　his　conduct；　and　the　state　of　hypochondriasm　into　which　he　had　fallen。　I　esteemed　him　greatly；　I　think　he　was　not　lacking　in　excellent　qualities；　but　he　was　held　in　such　disrepute　here　that　never　once　have　I　heard　any　one　speak　well　of　him。　According　to　what　they　say；　he　made　a　boast　of　the　most　extravagant　ideas　and　opinions；　he　mocked　at　religion；　entered　the　church　smoking　and　with　his　hat　on；　he　respected　nothing；　and　for　him　there　was　neither　modesty；　nor　virtue；　nor　soul；　nor　ideal；　nor　faith　nothing　but　theodolites；　squares；　rules；　engines；　pick…axes；　and　spades。　What　do　you　thing　of　that？　To　be　just；　I　must　say　that　in　his　conversations　with　me　he　always　concealed　these　ideas；　doubtless　through　fear　of　being　utterly　routed　by　the　fire　of　my　arguments；　but　in　public　innumerable　stories　are　told　of　his　heretical　ideas　and　his　stupendous　excesses。

〃I　cannot　continue；　my　dear　friend；　for　at　this　moment　I　hear　firing。　As　I　have　no　love　for　fighting；　and　as　I　am　not　a　soldier；　my　pulse　trembles　a　little。　In　due　time　I　will　give　you　further　particulars　of　this　war。

〃Yours　affectionately；　etc。；　etc。〃



〃APRIL　22。

〃MY　EVER…REMEMBERED　FRIEND：

〃To…day　we　have　had　a　bloody　skirmish　on　the　outskirts　of　Orbajosa。　The　large　body　of　men　raised　in　Villahorrenda　were　attacked　by　the　troops　with　great　fury。　There　was　great　loss　in　killed　and　wounded　on　both　sides。　After　the　combat　the　brave　guerillas　dispersed；　but　they　are　greatly　encouraged；　and　it　is　possible　that　you　may　hear　of　wonderful　things。　Cristobal　Caballuco；　the　son　of　the　famous　Caballuco　whom　you　will　remember　in　the　last　war；　though　suffering　from　a　wound　in　the　arm；　how　or　when　received　is　not　known；　commanded　them。　The　present　leader　has　eminent　qualifications　for　the　command；　and　he　is；　besides；　an　honest　and　simple…hearted　man。　As　we　must　finally　come　to　a　friendly　arrangement；　I　presume　that　Caballuco　will　be　made　a　general　in　the　Spanish　army；　whereby　both　sides　will　gain　greatly。

〃I　deplore　this　war；　which　is　beginning　to　assume　alarming　proportions；　but　I　recognize　that　our　valiant　peasants　are　not　responsible　for　it；　since　they　have　been　provoked　to　the　inhuman　conflict　by　the　audacity　of　the　Government；　by　the　demoralization　of　its　sacrilegious　delegates；　by　the　systematic　fury　with　which　the　representatives　of　the　state　attack　what　is　most　venerated　by　the　peopletheir　religious　faith　and　the　national　spirit　which　fortunately　still　exists　in　those　places　that　are　not　yet　contaminated　by　the　desolating　pestilence。　When　it　is　attempted　to　take　away　the　soul　of　a　people　to　give　it　a　different　one；　when　it　is　sought　to　denationalize　a　people；　so　to　say；　perverting　its　sentiments；　its　customs；　its　ideasit　is　natural　that　this　people　should　defend　itself；　like　the　man　who　is　attacked　by　highwaymen　on　a　solitary　road。　Let　the　spirit　and　the　pure　and　salutiferous　substance　of　my　work　on　the　'Genealogies'excuse　the　apparent　vanityonce　reach　the　sphere　of　the　Government　and　there　will　no　longer　be　wars。

〃To…day　we　have　had　here　a　very　disagreeable　question。　The　clergy；　my　friend；　have　refused　to　allow　Rey　to　be　buried　in　consecrated　ground。　I　interfered　in　the　matter；　entreating　the　bishop　to　remove　this　heavy　anathema；　but　without　success。　Finally；　we　buried　the　body　of　the　young　man　in　a　grave　made　in　the　field　of　Mundo　Grande；　where　my　patient　explorations　have　discovered　the　archaeological　treasures　of　which　you　know。　I　spent　some　very　sad　hours；　and　the　painful　impression　which　I　received　has　not　yet　altogether　passed　away。　Don　Juan　Tafetan　and　ourselves　were　the　only　persons　who　accompanied　the　funeral　cortege。　A　little　later；　strange　to　say；　the　girls　whom　they　call　here　the　Troyas　went　to　the　field；　and　prayed　for　a　long　time　beside　the　rustic　tomb　of　the　mathematician。　Although　this　seemed　a　ridiculous　piece　of　officiousness　it　touched　me。

〃With　respect　to　the　death　of　Rey；　the　rumor　circulates　throug