the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第12部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　Frenchman　as　a　husband　for　his　daughter　because　he　was　to　his　liking；　modest；　honest　。　。　。　and　serious。　　But　this　singing　Pedigreed　Fellow；　with　all　his　airs！　。　。　。　　He　was　a　man　that　he　had　gotten　from　。　。　。　well；　he　didn't　wish　to　say　just　where！　　And　the　Frenchman；　though　knowing　perfectly　well　what　his　introduction　to　Karl　had　been；　pretended　not　to　understand　him。

As　the　German　had；　by　this　time；　made　good　his　escape；　the　ranchman　consented　to　being　pushed　toward　his　house；　talking　all　the　time　about　giving　a　beating　to　the　Romantica　and　another　to　the　China　for　not　having　informed　him　of　the　courtship。　　He　had　surprised　his　daughter　and　the　Gringo　holding　hands　and　exchanging　kisses　in　a　grove　near　the　house。

〃He's　after　my　dollars；〃　howled　the　irate　father。　　〃He　wants　America　to　enrich　him　quickly　at　the　expense　of　the　old　Spaniard；　and　that　is　the　reason　for　so　much　truckling；　so　much　psalm…singing　and　so　much　nobility！　　Imposter！　。　。　。　Musician！〃

And　he　repeated　the　word　〃musician〃　with　contempt；　as　though　it　were　the　sum　and　substance　of　everything　vile。

Very　firmly　and　with　few　words；　Desnoyers　brought　the　wrangling　to　an　end。　　While　her　brother…in…law　protected　her　retreat；　the　Romantica；　clinging　to　her　mother；　had　taken　refuge　in　the　top　of　the　house；　sobbing　and　moaning；　〃Oh；　the　poor　little　fellow！　Everybody　against　him！〃　　Her　sister　meanwhile　was　exerting　all　the　powers　of　a　discreet　daughter　with　the　rampageous　old　man　in　the　office；　and　Desnoyers　had　gone　in　search　of　Karl。　　Finding　that　he　had　not　yet　recovered　from　the　shock　of　his　terrible　surprise；　he　gave　him　a　horse；　advising　him　to　betake　himself　as　quickly　as　possible　to　the　nearest　railway　station。

Although　the　German　was　soon　far　from　the　ranch；　he　did　not　long　remain　alone。　　In　a　few　days；　the　Romantica　followed　him。　。　。　。　Iseult　of　the　white　hands　went　in　search　of　Tristan；　the　knight。

This　event　did　not　cause　Madariaga's　desperation　to　break　out　as　violently　as　his　son…in…law　had　expected。　　For　the　first　time；　he　saw　him　weep。　　His　gay　and　robust　old　age　had　suddenly　fallen　from　him；　the　news　having　clapped　ten　years　on　to　his　four　score。　　Like　a　child；　whimpering　and　tremulous；　he　threw　his　arms　around　Desnoyers；　moistening　his　neck　with　tears。

〃He　has　taken　her　away！　　That　son　of　a　great　flea　。　。　。　has　taken　her　away！〃

This　time　he　did　not　lay　all　the　blame　on　his　China。　　He　wept　with　her；　and　as　if　trying　to　console　her　by　a　public　confession；　kept　saying　over　and　over：

〃It　is　my　fault。　。　。　。　　It　has　all　been　because　of　my　very；　very　great　sins。〃

Now　began　for　Desnoyers　a　period　of　difficulties　and　conflicts。　　The　fugitives；　on　one　of　his　visits　to　the　Capital；　threw　themselves　on　his　mercy；　imploring　his　protection。　　The　Romantica　wept；　declaring　that　only　her　brother…in…law；　〃the　most　knightly　man　in　the　world；〃　could　save　her。　　Karl　gazed　at　him　like　a　faithful　hound　trusting　in　his　master。　　These　trying　interviews　were　repeated　on　all　his　trips。　Then；　on　returning　to　the　ranch；　he　would　find　the　old　man　ill…　humored；　moody；　looking　fixedly　ahead　of　him　as　though　seeing　invisible　power　and　wailing；　〃It　is　my　punishmentthe　punishment　for　my　sins。〃

The　memory　of　the　discreditable　circumstances　under　which　he　had　made　Karl's　acquaintance；　before　bringing　him　into　his　home；　tormented　the　old　centaur　with　remorse。　　Some　afternoons；　he　would　have　a　horse　saddled；　going　full　gallop　toward　the　neighboring　village。　　But　he　was　no　longer　hunting　hospitable　ranches。　　He　needed　to　pass　some　time　in　the　church；　speaking　alone　with　the　images　that　were　there　only　for　himsince　he　had　footed　the　bills　for　them。　。　。　。　　〃Through　my　sin；　through　my　very　great　sin！〃

But　in　spite　of　his　self…reproach；　Desnoyers　had　to　work　very　hard　to　get　any　kind　of　a　settlement　out　of　the　old　penitent。　　Whenever　he　suggested　legalizing　the　situation　and　making　the　necessary　arrangements　for　their　marriage；　the　old　tyrant　would　not　let　him　go　on。　　〃Do　what　you　think　best；　but　don't　say　anything　to　me　about　it。〃

Several　months　passed　by。　　One　day　the　Frenchman　approached　him　with　a　certain　air　of　mystery。　　〃Elena　has　a　son　and　has　named　him　'Julio'　after　you。〃

〃And　you；　you　great　useless　hulk；〃　stormed　the　ranchman；　〃and　that　weak　cow　of　a　wife　of　yours；　you　dare　to　live　tranquilly　on　without　giving　me　a　grandson！　。　。　。　　Ah；　Frenchy；　that　is　why　the　Germans　will　finally　overwhelm　you。　　You　see　it；　right　here。　　That　bandit　has　a　son；　while　you；　after　four　years　of　marriage　。　。　。　nothing。　　I　want　a　grandson！do　you　understand　THAT？〃

And　in　order　to　console　himself　for　this　lack　of　little　ones　around　his　own　hearth；　he　betook　himself　to　the　ranch　of　his　overseer；　Celedonio；　where　a　band　of　little　half…breeds　gathered　tremblingly　and　hopefully　about　him。

Suddenly　China　died。　　The　poor　Misia　Petrona　passed　away　as　discreetly　as　she　had　lived；　trying　even　in　her　last　hours　to　avoid　all　annoyance　for　her　husband；　asking　his　pardon　with　an　imploring　look　for　any　trouble　which　her　death　might　cause　him。　　Elena　came　to　the　ranch　in　order　to　see　her　mother's　body　for　the　last　time；　and　Desnoyers　who　for　more　than　a　year　had　been　supporting　them　behind　his　father…in…law's　back；　took　advantage　of　this　occasion　to　overcome　the　old　man's　resentment。

〃Well；　I'll　forgive　her；〃　said　the　ranchman　finally。　　〃I'll　do　it　for　the　sake　of　my　poor　wife　and　for　you。　　She　may　remain　on　the　ranch；　and　that　shameless　gringo　may　come　with　her。〃

But　he　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　him。　　The　German　was　to　be　an　employee　under　Desnoyers；　and　they　could　live　in　the　office　building　as　though　they　did　not　belong　to　the　family。　　He　would　never　say　a　word　to　Karl。

But　scarcely　had　the　German　returned　before　he　began　giving　him　orders　rudely　as　though　he　were　a　perfect　stranger。　　At　other　times　he　would　pass　by　him　as　though　he　did　not　know　him。　　Upon　finding　Elena　in　the　house　with　his　older　daughter；　he　would　go　on　without　speaking　to　her。

In　vain　his　Romantica　transfigured　by　maternity；　improved　all　opportunities　for　putting　her　child　in　his　way；　calling　him　loudly　by　name：　〃Julio　。　。　。　Julio！〃

〃They　want　that　brat　of　a　singing　gringo；　that　carrot　top　with　a　face　like　a　skinned　kid　to　be　my　grandson？　。　。　。　　I　prefer　Celedonio's。〃

And　by　way　of　emphasizing　his　protest；　he　entered　the　dwelling　of　his　overseer；　scattering　among　his　dusky　brood　handfuls　of　dollars。

After　seven　years　of　marriage；　the　wife　of　Desnoyers　found　that　she；　too；　was　going　to　become　a　mother。　　Her　sister　already　had　three　sons。　　But　what　were　they　worth　to　Madariaga　compared　to　the　grandson　that　was　going　to　come？　　〃It　will　be　a　boy；〃　he　announced　positively；　〃because　I　need　one　so。　　It　shall　be　named　Julio；　and　I　hope　that　it　will　look　like　my　poor　dead　wife。〃

Since　the　death　of　his　wife　he　no　longer　called　her　the　China；　feeling　something　of　a　posthumous　love　for　the　poor　woman　who　in　her　lifetime　had　endured　so　much；　so　timidly　and　silently。　　Now　〃my　poor　dead　wife〃　cropped　out　every　other　instant　in　the　conversation　of　the　remorseful　ranchman。

His　desires　were　fulfilled。　　Luisa　gave　birth　to　a　boy　who　bore　the　name　of　Julio；　and　although　he　did　not　show　in　his　somewhat　sketchy　features　any　striking　resemblance　to　his　grandmother；　still　he　had　the　black　hair　and　eyes　and　olive　skin　of　a　brunette。　　Welcome！　。　。　。　This　WAS　a　grandson！

In　the　generosity　of　his　joy；　he　even　permitted　the　German　to　enter　the　house　for　the　baptismal　ceremony。

When　Julio　Desnoyers　was　two　years　old；　his　grandfather　made　the　rounds　of　his　estates；　holding　him　on　the　saddle　in　front　of　him。　He　went　from　ranch　to　ranch　in　order　to　show　him　to　the　copper…　colored　populace；　like　an　ancient　monarch　presenting　his　heir。　Later　on；　when　the　child　was　able　to　say　a　few　words；　he　entertained　himself　for　hours　at　a　time　talking　with　the　tot　under　the　shade　of　the　eucalyptus　tree。　　A　certain　mental　failing　was　beginning　to　be　noticed　in　the　old　man。　　Although　not　exactly　in　his　dotage；　his　aggressiveness　was　becoming　very　childish。　　Even　in　his　most　affectionate　moments；　he　used　to　contradict　everybody；　and　hunt　up　ways　of　annoying　his　relatives。

〃Come　here；　you　false　prophet；〃　he　would　say　to　Julio。　　〃You　are　a　Frenchy。〃

The　grandchild　protested　as　though　he　had　been　insulted。　　His　mother　had　taught　him　that　he　was　an　Argentinian；　and　his　father　had　suggested　that　she　also　add　Spanish；　in　order　to　please　the　grandfather。

〃Very　well；　then；　if　you　are　not　a　Frenchy；　shout；　'Down　with　Napoleon！'〃

And　he　looked　around　him　to　see　if　Desnoyers　might　be　near；　believing　that　this　would　displease　him　greatly。　　But　his　son…in…law　pursued　the　even　tenor　of　his　way；　shrugging　his　shoulders。

〃Down　with　Napoleon！〃　repeated　Julio。

And　he　instantly　held　out　his　hand　while　his　grandfather　went　through　his　pockets。

Karl's　sons；　now　four　in　number；　used　to　circle　around　their　grandparent　like　a　humble　chorus　kept　at　a　distance；　and　stare　enviously　at　these　gifts。　　In　order　to　win　his　favor；　they　one　day　when　they　saw　him　alone；　came　boldly　up　to　him；　shouting　in　unison；　〃Down　with　Napoleon！〃

〃You　insolent　gringoes！〃　ranted　the　old　man。　　〃That's　what　that　shameless　father　has　taught　you！　　If　you　say　that　again；　I'll　chase　you　with　a　cat…o…nine…tails。　。　。　。　　The　very　idea　of　insulting　a　great　man　in　that　way！〃

While　he　tolerated　this　blond　brood；　he　never　would　permit　the　slightest　intimacy。　　Desnoyers　and　his　wife　often　had　to　come　to　their　rescue；　accusing　the　grandfather　of　injustice。　　And　in　order　to　pour　the　vials　of　his　wrath　out　on　someone；　the　old　plainsman　would　hunt　up　Celedonio；　the　best　of　his　listeners；　who　invariably　replied；　〃Yes；　Patron。　　That's　so；　Patron。〃

〃They're　not　to　blame；〃　agreed　the　old　man；　〃but　I　can't　abide　them！　Besides；　they　are　so　like　their　father；　so　fair；　with　hair　like　a　shredded　carrot；　and　the　two　oldest　wearing　specs　as　if　they　were　court　clerks！　。　。　。　　They　don't　seem　like　folks　with　those　glasses；　they　look　like　sharks。〃

Madariaga　had　never　seen　any　sharks；　but　he　imagined　them；　without　knowing　why；　with　round；　glassy　eyes；　like　the　bottoms　of　bottles。

By　the　time　he　was　eight　years　old；　Julio　was　a　famous　little　equestrian。　　〃To　horse；　peoncito；〃　hi