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　the　limitless　darkness　of　the　night。　Nothing　could　be　seen；　but　he　who　is　absorbed　in　his　own　thoughts　sees　with　the　mental　vision；　and　Pepe　Rey；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　darkness；　saw　the　varied　panorama　of　his　misfortunes　unroll　itself　upon　it　before　him。　The　obscurity　did　not　permit　him　to　see　the　flowers　of　the　earth；　nor　those　of　the　heavens；　which　are　the　stars。　The　very　absence　of　light　produced　the　effect　of　an　illusory　movement　in　the　masses　of　foliage；　which　seemed　to　stretch　away；　to　recede　slowly；　and　come　curling　back　like　the　waves　of　a　shadowy　sea。　A　vast　flux　and　reflux；　a　strife　between　forces　vaguely　comprehended；　agitated　the　silent　sky。　The　mathematician；　contemplating　this　strange　projection　of　his　soul　upon　the　night；　said　to　himself：

〃The　battle　will　be　terrible。　Let　us　see　who　will　come　out　of　it　victorious。〃

The　nocturnal　insects　whispered　in　his　ear　mysterious　words。　Here　a　shrill　chirp；　there　a　click；　like　the　click　made　with　the　tongue；　further　on；　plaintive　murmurs；　in　the　distance　a　tinkle　like　that　of　the　bell　on　the　neck　of　the　wandering　ox。　Suddenly　Rey　heard　a　strange　sound；　a　rapid　note；　that　could　be　produced　only　by　the　human　tongue　and　lips。　This　sibilant　breathing　passed　through　the　young　man's　brain　like　a　flash　of　lightning。　He　felt　that　swift　〃s…s…s〃　dart　snake…like　through　him；　repeated　again　and　then　again；　with　augmented　intensity。　He　looked　all　around；　then　he　looked　toward　the　upper　part　of　the　house；　and　he　fancied　that　in　one　of　the　windows　he　could　distinguish　an　object　like　a　white　bird　flapping　its　wings。　Through　Pepe　Rey's　excited　mind　flashed　instantly　the　idea　of　the　phoenix；　of　the　dove；　of　the　regal　heron；　and　yet　the　bird　he　saw　was　noting　more　than　a　handkerchief。

The　engineer　sprang　from　the　balcony　into　the　garden。　Observing　attentively；　he　saw　the　hand　and　the　face　of　his　cousin。　He　thought　he　could　perceive　the　gesture　commonly　employed　of　imposing　silence　by　laying　the　finger　on　the　lips。　Then　the　dear　shade　pointed　downward　and　disappeared。　Pepe　Rey　returned　quickly　to　this　room；　entered　the　hall　noiselessly；　and　walked　slowly　forward。　He　felt　his　heart　beat　with　violence。　He　waited　for　a　few　moments；　and　at　last　he　heard　distinctly　light　taps　on　the　steps　of　the　stairs。　One；　two；　threethe　sounds　were　produced　by　a　pair　of　little　shoes。

He　walked　in　the　direction　whence　they　proceeded；　and　stretched　out　his　hands　in　the　obscurity　to　assist　the　person　who　was　descending　the　stairs。　In　his　soul　there　reigned　an　exalted　and　profound　tenderness；　butwhy　seek　to　deny　itmingling　with　this　tender　feeling；　there　suddenly　arose　within　him；　like　an　infernal　inspiration；　another　sentiment；　a　fierce　desire　for　revenge。　The　steps　continued　to　descend；　coming　nearer　and　nearer。　Pepe　Rey　went　forward；　and　a　pair　of　hands；　groping　in　the　darkness；　came　in　contact　with　his　own。　The　two　pairs　of　hands　were　united　in　a　close　clasp。



CHAPTER　XVII

LIGHT　IN　THE　DARKNESS

The　hall　was　long　and　broad。　At　one　end　of　it　was　the　door　of　the　room　occupied　by　the　engineer；　in　the　centre　that　of　the　dining…room；　and　at　the　other　end　were　the　staircase　and　a　large　closed　door　reached　by　a　step。　This　door　opened　into　a　chapel　in　which　the　Polentinos　performed　their　domestic　devotions。　Occasionally　the　holy　sacrifice　of　the　mass　was　celebrated　in　it。

Rosario　led　her　cousin　to　the　door　of　the　chapel　and　then　sank　down　on　the　doorstep。

〃Here？〃　murmured　Pepe　Rey。

From　the　movements　of　Rosarito's　right　hand　he　comprehended　that　she　was　blessing　herself。

〃Rosario；　dear　cousin；　thanks　for　allowing　me　to　see　you！〃　he　exclaimed；　embracing　her　ardently。

He　felt　the　girl's　cold　fingers　on　his　lips；　imposing　silence。　He　kissed　them　rapturously。

〃You　are　frozen。　Rosario；　why　do　you　tremble　so？〃

Her　teeth　were　chattering；　and　her　whole　frame　trembled　convulsively。　Rey　felt　the　burning　heat　of　his　cousin's　face　against　his　own；　and　he　cried　in　alarm：

〃Your　forehead　is　burning！　You　are　feverish。〃

〃Very。〃

〃Are　you　really　ill？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　you　have　left　your　room〃

〃To　see　you。〃

The　engineer　wrapped　his　arms　around　her　to　protect　her　from　the　cold；　but　it　was　not　enough。

〃Wait；〃　he　said　quickly；　rising。　〃I　am　going　to　my　room　to　bring　my　travelling　rug。〃

〃Put　out　the　light；　Pepe。〃

Rey　had　left　the　lamp　burning　in　his　room；　through　the　door　of　which　issued　a　faint　streak　of　light；　illuminating　the　hall。　He　returned　in　an　instant。　The　darkness　was　now　profound。　Groping　his　way　along　the　wall　he　reached　the　spot　where　his　cousin　was　sitting；　and　wrapped　the　rug　carefully　around　her。

〃You　are　comfortable　now；　my　child。〃

〃Yes；　so　comfortable！　With　you！〃

〃With　meand　forever！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man；　with　exaltation。

But　he　observed　that　she　was　releasing　herself　from　his　arms　and　was　rising。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃

A　metallic　sound　was　heard。　Rosario　had　put　the　key　into　the　invisible　lock　and　was　cautiously　opening　the　door　on　the　threshold　of　which　they　had　been　sitting。　The　faint　odor　of　dampness；　peculiar　to　rooms　that　have　been　long　shut　up；　issued　from　the　place；　which　was　as　dark　as　a　tomb。　Pepe　Rey　felt　himself　being　guided　by　the　hand；　and　his　cousin's　voice　said　faintly：

〃Enter！〃

They　took　a　few　steps　forward。　He　imagined　himself　being　led　to　an　unknown　Elysium　by　the　angel　of　night。　Rosario　groped　her　way。　At　last　her　sweet　voice　sounded　again；　murmuring：

〃Sit　down。〃

They　were　beside　a　wooden　bench。　Both　sat　down。　Pepe　Rey　embraced　Rosario　again。　As　he　did　so；　his　head　struck　against　a　hard　body。

〃What　is　this？〃　he　asked。

〃The　feet。〃

〃Rosariowhat　are　you　saying？〃

〃The　feet　of　the　Divine　Jesus；　of　the　image　of　Christ　crucified；　that　we　adore　in　my　house。〃

Pepe　Rey　felt　a　cold　chill　strike　through　him。

〃Kiss　them；〃　said　the　young　girl　imperiously。

The　mathematician　kissed　the　cold　feet　of　the　holy　image。

〃Pepe；〃　then　cried　the　young　girl；　pressing　her　cousin's　hand　ardently　between　her　own；　〃do　you　believe　in　God？〃

〃Rosario！　What　are　you　saying？　What　absurdities　are　you　imagining？〃　responded　her　cousin；　perplexed。

〃Answer　me。〃

Pepe　Rey　felt　drops　of　moisture　on　his　hands。

〃Why　are　you　crying？〃　he　said；　greatly　disturbed。　〃Rosario；　you　are　killing　me　with　your　absurd　doubts。　Do　I　believe　in　God？　Do　you　doubt　it？〃

〃I　do　not　doubt　it；　but　they　all　say　that　you　are　an　atheist。〃

〃You　would　suffer　in　my　estimation；　you　would　lose　your　aureole　of　purityyour　charmif　you　gave　credit　to　such　nonsense。〃

〃When　I　heard　them　accuse　you　of　being　an　atheist；　although　I　could　bring　no　proof　to　the　contrary；　I　protested　from　the　depths　of　my　soul　against　such　a　calumny。　You　cannot　be　an　atheist。　I　have　within　me　as　strong　and　deep　a　conviction　of　your　faith　as　of　my　own。〃

〃How　wisely　you　speak！　Why；　then；　do　you　ask　me　if　I　believe　in　God？〃

〃Because　I　wanted　to　hear　it　from　your　own　lips；　and　rejoice　in　hearing　you　say　it。　It　is　so　long　since　I　have　heard　the　sound　of　your　voice！　What　greater　happiness　than　to　hear　it　again；　saying：　'I　believe　in　God？'　〃

〃Rosario；　even　the　wicked　believe　in　him。　If　there　be　atheists；　which　I　doubt；　they　are　the　calumniators；　the　intriguers　with　whom　the　world　is　infested。　For　my　part；　intrigues　and　calumnies　matter　little　to　me；　and　if　you　rise　superior　to　them　and　close　your　heart　against　the　discord　which　a　perfidious　hand　would　sow　in　it；　nothing　shall　interfere　with　our　happiness。〃

〃But　what　is　going　on　around　us？　Pepe；　dear　Pepe；　do　you　believe　in　the　devil？〃

The　engineer　was　silent。　The　darkness　of　the　chapel　prevented　Rosario　from　seeing　the　smile　with　which　her　cousin　received　this　strange　question。

〃We　must　believe　in　him；〃　he　said　at　last。

〃What　is　going　on？　Mamma　forbids　me　to　see　you；　but；　except　in　regard　to　the　atheism；　she　does　not　say　any　thing　against　you。　She　tells　me　to　wait；　that　you　will　decide；　that　you　are　going　away；　that　you　are　coming　back　Speak　to　me　with　franknesshave　you　formed　a　bad　opinion　of　my　mother？〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Rey；　urged　by　a　feeling　of　delicacy。

〃Do　you　not　believe；　as　I　do；　that　she　loves　us　both；　that　she　desires　only　our　good；　and　that　we　shall　in　the　end　obtain　her　consent　to　our　wishes？〃

〃If　you　believe　it；　I　do　too。　Your　mama　adores　us　both。　But；　dear　Rosario；　it　must　be　confessed　that　the　devil　has　entered　this　house。〃

〃Don't　jest！〃　she　said　affectionately。　〃Ah！　Mamma　is　very　good。　She　has　not　once　said　to　me　that　you　were　unworthy　to　be　my　husband。　All　she　insists　upon　is　the　atheism。　They　say；　besides；　that　I　have　manias；　and　that　I　have　the　mania　now　of　loving　you　with　all　my　soul。　In　our　family　it　is　a　rule　not　to　oppose　directly　the　manias　that　are　hereditary　in　it；　because　to　oppose　them　aggravates　them。〃

〃Well；　I　believe　that　there　are　skilful　physicians　at　your　side　who　have　determined　to　cure　you；　and　who　will；　in　the　end；　my　adored　girl；　succeed　in　doing　so。〃

〃No；　no；　a　thousand　times　no！〃　exclaimed　Rosario；　leaning　her　forehead　on　her　lover's　breast。　〃I　am　willing　to　be　mad　if　I　am　with　you。　For　you　I　am　suffering；　for　you　I　am　ill；　for　you　I　despise　life　and　I　risk　death。　I　know　it　nowto…morrow　I　shall　be　worse；　I　shall　be　dangerously　ill；　I　shall　die。　What　does　it　matter　to　me？〃

〃You　are　not　ill；〃　he　responded；　with　energy；　〃there　is　nothing　the　matter　with　you　but　an　agitation　of　mind　which　naturally　brings　with　it　some　slight　nervous　disturbances；　there　is　nothing　the　matter　with　you　but　the　suffering　occasioned　by　the　horrible　coercion　which　they　are　using　with　you。　Your　simple　and　generous　soul　does　not　comprehend　it。　You　yield；　you　forgive　those　who　injure　you；　you　torment　yourself；　attributing　your　suffering　to　baleful；　supernatural　influences；　you　suffer　in　silence；　you　give　your　innocent　neck　to　the　executioner；　you　allow　yourself　to　be　slain；　and　the　very　knife　which　is　plunged　into　your　breast　seems　to　you　the　thorn　of　a　flower　that　has　pierced　you　in　passing。　Rosario；　cast　those　ideas　from　your　mind；　consider　our　real　situation；　which　is　serious；　seek　its　cause　where　it　really　is；　and　do　not　give　way　to　your　fears；　do　not　yield　to　the　tortures　which　are　inflicted　upon　you；　making　yourself　mentally　and　physically　ill。　The　courage　which　you　lack　would