dona perecta-第30部分

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〃It　all　amounts　to　thisthat　the　brigadier　and　the　officers　are　hand　and　glove　with　Don　Jose；　and　what　he　wants　those　brave　soldiers　want；　and　those　brave　soldiers　will　commit　all　kinds　of　outrages　and　atrocities；　because　that　is　their　trade。〃

〃And　we　have　no　alcalde　to　protect　us。〃

〃Nor　judge。〃

〃Nor　governor。　That　is　to　say　that　we　are　at　the　mercy　of　that　infamous　rabble。〃

〃Yesterday；〃　said　Vejarruco；　〃some　soldiers　enticed　away　Uncle　Julian's　youngest　daughter；　and　the　poor　thing　was　afraid　to　go　back　home；　they　found　her　standing　barefooted　beside　the　old　fountain；　crying　and　picking　up　the　pieces　of　her　broken　jar。〃

〃Poor　Don　Gregorio　Palomeque；　the　notary　of　Naharilla　Alta！〃　said　Frasquito。　〃Those　rascals　robbed　him　of　all　the　money　he　had　in　his　house。　And　all　the　brigadier　said；　when　he　was　told　about　it；　was　it　was　a　lie。〃

〃Tyrants！　greater　tyrants　were　never　born；〃　said　the　other。　〃When　I　say　that　it　is　through　punctilio　that　I　am　not　with　the　Aceros！〃

〃And　what　news　is　there　of　Francisco　Acero？〃　asked　Dona　Perfecta　gently。　〃I　should　be　sorry　if　any　mischance　were　to　happen　to　him。　Tell　me；　Don　Inocencio；　was　not　Francisco　Acero　born　in　Orbajosa？〃

〃No；　he　and　his　brother　are　from　Villajuan。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　it；　for　Orbajosa's　sake；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta。　〃This　poor　city　has　fallen　into　misfortune。　Do　you　know　if　Francisco　Acero　gave　his　word　to　the　governor　not　to　trouble　the　poor　soldiers　in　their　abductions；　in　their　impious　deeds；　in　their　sacrilegious　acts；　in　their　villanies？〃

Caballuco　sprang　from　his　chair。　He　felt　himself　now　not　stung；　but　cut　to　the　quick　by　a　cruel　stroke；　like　that　of　a　sabre。　With　his　face　burning　and　his　eyes　flashing　fire　he　cried：

〃I　gave　my　word　to　the　governor　because　the　governor　told　me　that　they　had　come　for　a　good　purpose。〃

〃Barbarian；　don't　shout！　Speak　like　other　people；　and　we　will　listen　to　you。〃

〃I　promised　that　neither　I　nor　any　of　my　friends　would　raise　guerillas　in　the　neighborhood　of　Orbajosa。　To　those　who　wanted　to　take　up　arms　because　they　were　itching　to　fight　I　said：　'Go　to　the　Aceros；　for　here　we　won't　stir。'　But　I　have　a　good　many　honest　men；　yes；　senora；　and　true　men；　yes；　senora；　and　valiant　men；　yes；　senora；　scattered　about　in　the　hamlets　and　villages　and　in　the　suburbs　and　the　mountains；　each　in　his　own　house；　eh？　And　so　soon　as　I　say　a　quarter　of　a　word　to　them；　eh？　they　　will　be　taking　down　their　guns；　eh？　and　setting　out　on　horseback　or　on　foot；　for　whatever　place　I　tell　them。　And　don't　keep　harping　on　words；　for　if　I　gave　my　word　it　was　because　I　don't　wish　to　fight；　and　if　I　want　guerillas　there　will　be　guerillas；　and　if　I　don't　there　won't；　for　I　am　who　I　am；　the　same　man　that　I　always　was；　as　every　one　knows　very　well。　And　I　say　again　don't　keep　harping　on　words；　eh？　and　don't　let　people　say　one　thing　to　me　when　they　mean　another；　eh？　and　if　people　want　me　to　fight；　let　them　say　so　plainly；　eh？　for　that　is　what　God　has　given　us　tongues　for；　to　say　this　thing　or　that。　The　mistress　knows　very　well　who　I　am；　as　I　know　that　I　owe　to　her　the　shirt　on　my　back；　and　the　bread　I　eat　to…day；　and　the　first　pea　I　sucked　after　I　was　weaned；　and　the　coffin　in　which　my　father　was　buried　when　he　died；　and　the　medicines　and　the　doctor　that　cured　me　when　I　was　sick；　and　the　mistress　knows　very　well　that　if　she　says　to　me；　'Caballuco；　break　your　head；'　I　will　go　there　to　the　corner　and　dash　it　against　the　wall；　the　mistress　knows　very　well　that　if　she　tells　me　now　that　it　is　day；　although　I　see　that　it　is　night；　I　will　believe　that　I　am　mistaken；　and　that　it　is　broad　day；　the　mistress　knows　very　well　that　she　and　her　interests　are　for　me　before　my　own　life；　and　that　if　a　mosquito　stings　her　in　my　presence；　I　pardon　it；　because　it　is　a　mosquito；　the　mistress　knows　very　well　that　she　is　dearer　to　me　than　all　there　is　besides　under　the　sun。　To　a　man　of　heart　like　me　one　says；　'Caballuco；　you　stupid　fellow；　do　this　or　do　that。'　And　let　there　be　an　end　to　sarcasms；　and　beating　about　the　bush；　and　preaching　one　thing　and　meaning　another；　and　a　stab　here　and　a　pinch　there。〃

〃There；　man；　calm　yourself；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta　kindly。　〃You　have　worked　yourself　into　a　heat　like　those　republican　orators　who　came　here　to　preach　free　religion；　free　love；　and　I　don't　know　how　many　other　free　things。　Let　them　bring　you　a　glass　of　water。〃

Caballuco；　twisting　his　handkerchief　into　a　ball；　wiped　with　it　his　broad　forehead　and　his　neck；　which　were　bathed　in　perspiration。　A　glass　of　water　was　brought　to　him　and　the　worthy　canon；　with　a　humility　that　was　in　perfect　keeping　with　his　sacerdotal　character；　took　it　from　the　servant's　hand　to　give　it　to　him　himself；　and　held　the　plate　while　he　drank。　Caballuco　gulped　down　the　water　noisily。

〃Now　bring　another　glass　for　me；　Senora　Librada；〃　said　Don　Inocencio。　〃I　have　a　little　fire　inside　me　too。〃



CHAPTER　XXII

〃DESPERTA！〃

〃With　regard　to　the　guerillas；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta；　when　they　had　finished　drinking；　〃all　I　will　say　isdo　as　your　conscience　dictates　to　you。〃

〃I　know　nothing　about　dictations；〃　cried　Ramos。　〃I　will　do　whatever　the　mistress　pleases！〃

〃I　can　give　you　no　advice　on　so　important　a　matter；〃　answered　Dona　Perfecta　with　the　cautiousness　and　moderation　which　so　well　became　her。　〃This　is　a　very　serious　business；　and　I　can　give　you　no　advice　about　it。〃

〃But　your　opinion〃

〃My　opinion　is　that　you　should　open　your　eyes　and　see；　that　you　should　open　your　ears　and　hear。　Consult　your　own　heartI　will　grant　that　you　have　a　great　heart。　Consult　that　judge；　that　wise　counsellor；　and　do　as　it　bids　you。〃

Caballuco　reflected；　he　meditated　as　much　as　a　sword　can　meditate。

〃We　counted　ourselves　yesterday　in　Naharilla　Alta；〃　said　Vejarruco；　〃and　we　were　thirteenready　for　any　little　undertaking。　But　as　we　were　afraid　the　mistress　might　be　vexed；　we　did　nothing。　It　is　time　now　for　the　shearing。〃

〃Don't　mind　about　the　shearing；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta。　〃There　will　be　time　enough　for　it。　It　won't　be　left　undone　for　that。〃

〃My　two　boys　quarrelled　with　each　other　yesterday；〃　said　Licurgo；　〃because　one　of　them　wanted　to　join　Francisco　Acero　and　the　other　didn't。　'Easy；　boys；　easy；'　I　said　to　them；　'all　in　good　time。　Wait；　we　know　how　to　fight　here　as　well　as　they　do　anywhere　else。'　〃

〃Last　night；〃　said　Uncle　Paso　Largo；　〃Roque　Pelosmalos　told　me　that　the　moment　Senor　Ramos　said　half　a　word　they　would　all　be　ready；　with　their　arms　in　their　hands。　What　a　pity　that　the　two　Burguillos　brothers　went　to　work　in　the　fields　in　Lugarnoble！〃

〃Go　for　them　you；〃　said　the　mistress　quickly。　〃Senor　Lucas；　do　you　provide　Uncle　Paso　Largo　with　a　horse。〃

〃And　if　the　mistress　tells　me　to　do　so；　and　Senor　Ramos　agrees；〃　said　Frasquito　Gonzalez；　〃I　will　go　to　Villahorrenda　to　see　if　Robustiano；　the　forester；　and　his　brother　Pedro　will　also〃

〃I　think　that　is　a　good　idea。　Robustiano　will　not　venture　to　come　to　Orbajosa；　because　he　owes　me　a　trifle。　You　can　tell　him　that　I　forgive　him　the　six　dollars　and　a　half。　These　poor　people　who　sacrifice　themselves　with　so　little。　Is　it　not　so；　Senor　Don　Inocencio？〃

〃Our　good　Ramos　here　tells　me；〃　answered　the　canon；　〃that　his　friends　are　displeased　with　him　for　his　lukewarmness；　but　that；　as　soon　as　they　see　that　he　has　decided；　they　will　all　put　the　cartridge…box　in　their　belts。〃

〃What；　have　you　decided　to　take　to　the　roads？〃　said　the　mistress。　〃I　have　not　advised　you　to　do　any　such　thing；　and　if　you　do　it；　it　is　of　your　own　free…will。　Neither　has　Senor　Don　Inocencio　said　a　word　to　you　to　that　effect。　But　if　that　is　your　decision；　you　have　no　doubt　strong　reasons　for　coming　to　it。　Tell　me；　Cristobal；　will　you　have　some　supper？　Will　you　take　somethingspeak　frankly。〃

〃As　far　as　my　advising　Senor　Ramos　to　take　the　field　is　concerned；〃　said　Don　Inocencio；　looking　over　his　spectacles；　〃Dona　Perfecta　is　quite　right。　I；　as　an　ecclesiastic；　could　advise　nothing　of　the　kind。　I　know　that　some　priests　do　so；　and　even　themselves　take　up　arms；　but　that　seems　to　me　improper；　very　improper；　and　I　for　one　will　not　follow　their　example。　I　carry　my　scrupulosity　so　far　as　not　to　say　a　word　to　Senor　Ramos　about　the　delicate　question　of　his　taking　up　arms。　I　know　that　Orbajosa　desires　it；　I　know　that　all　the　inhabitants　of　this　noble　city　would　bless　him　for　it；　I　know　that　deeds　are　going　to　be　done　here　worthy　of　being　recorded　in　history；　but　notwithstanding；　let　me　be　allowed　to　maintain　a　discreet　silence。〃

〃Very　well　said；〃　said　Dona　Perfecta。　〃I　don't　approve　of　ecclesiastics　taking　any　part　in　such　matters。　That　is　the　way　an　enlightened　priest　ought　to　act。　Of　course　we　know　that　on　serious　and　solemn　occasions；　as　when　our　country　and　our　faith　are　in　danger；　for　instance；　it　is　within　the　province　of　an　ecclesiastic　to　incite　men　to　the　conflict　and　even　to　take　a　part　in　it。　Since　God　himself　has　taken　part　in　celebrated　battles；　under　the　form　of　angels　and　saints；　his　ministers　may　very　well　do　so　also。　During　the　wars　against　the　infidels　how　many　bishops　headed　the　Castilian　troops！〃

〃A　great　many；　and　some　of　them　were　illustrious　warriors。　But　these　times　are　not　like　those　senora。　It　is　true　that；　if　we　examine　the　matter　closely；　the　faith　is　in　greater　danger　now　than　it　was　then。　For　what　do　the　troops　that　occupy　our　city　and　the　surrounding　villages　represent？　What　do　they　represent？　Are　they　any　thing　else　but　the　vile　instruments　of　which　the　atheists　and　Protestants　who　infest　Madrid　make　use　for　their　perfidious　conquests　and　the　extermination　of　the　faith？　In　that　centre　of　corruption；　of　scandal；　of　irreligion　and　unbelief；　a　few　malignant　men；　bought　by　foreign　gold；　occupy　themselves　in　destroying　in　our　Spain　the　deeds　of　faith。　Why；　what　do　you　suppose？　They　allow　us　to　say　mass　and　you　to　hear　it　through　the　remnant　of　consideration；　for　shame's　sakebut；　the　day　least　expected　For　my　part；　I　am　tranquil。　I　am　not　a　man　to　disturb　myself　about　any　worldly　and　temporal　interest。　Dona　Perfecta　is　well　aware　of　that；　all　who　know　me　are　aware　of　it。　My　mind　is　at　rest；　and　the　triumph　of　the　wicked　does　not　terrify　me。　I　know　well　that　terrible　days　are　in　store　for　us；　that　all　of　us　who　wear　the　sacerdotal　garb　have　our　lives　hanging　by　a　hair；　for