dona perecta-第41节

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　reverend　uncle？　My　son　and　I　are　going　away！　You　will　never　see　us　againnever！〃

Don　Inocencio　had　clasped　his　hands　and　was　receiving　the　thunderbolts　of　his　niece's　wrath　with　the　consternation　of　a　criminal　whom　the　presence　of　the　executioner　has　deprived　of　his　last　hope。

〃In　Heaven's　name；　Remedios；〃　he　murmured；　in　a　pained　voice；　〃in　the　name　of　the　Holy　Virgin〃

These　fits　of　range　of　his　niece；　who　was　usually　so　meek；　were　as　violent　as　they　were　rare；　and　five　or　six　years　would　sometimes　pass　without　Don　Inocencio　seeing　Remedios　transformed　into　a　fury。

〃I　am　a　mother！　I　am　a　mother！　and　since　no　one　else　will　look　out　for　my　son；　I　will　look　out　for　him　myself！〃　roared　the　improvised　lioness。

〃In　the　name　of　the　Virgin；　niece；　don't　let　your　passion　get　the　best　of　you！　Remember　that　you　are　committing　a　sin。　Let　us　say　the　Lord's　Prayer　and　an　Ave　Maria；　and　you　will　see　that　this　will　pass　away。〃

As　he　said　this　the　Penitentiary　trembled；　and　the　perspiration　stood　on　his　forehead。　Poor　dove　in　the　talons　of　the　vulture！　The　furious　woman　completed　his　discomfiture　with　these　words：

〃You　are　good　for　nothing；　you　are　a　poltroon！　My　son　and　I　will　go　away　from　this　place　forever；　forever！　I　will　get　a　position　for　my　son；　I　will　find　him　a　good　position；　do　you　understand？　Just　as　I　would　be　willing　to　sweep　the　streets　with　my　tongue　if　I　could　gain　a　living　for　him　in　no　other　way；　so　I　will　move　heaven　and　earth　to　find　a　position　for　my　boy　in　order　that　he　may　rise　in　the　world　and　be　rich；　and　a　person　of　consequence；　and　a　gentleman；　and　a　lord　and　great；　and　all　that　there　is　to　beall；　all！〃

〃Heaven　protect　me！〃　cried　Don　Inocencio；　sinking　into　a　chair　and　letting　his　head　fall　on　his　breast。

There　was　a　pause　during　which　the　agitated　breathing　of　the　furious　woman　could　be　heard。

〃Niece；〃　said　Don　Inocencio　at　last；　〃you　have　shortened　my　life　by　ten　years；　you　have　set　my　blood　on　fire；　you　have　put　me　beside　myself。　God　give　me　the　calmness　that　I　need　to　bear　with　you！　Lord；　patience　patience　is　what　I　ask。　And　you；　niece；　do　me　the　favor　to　sigh　and　cry　to　your　heart's　content　for　the　next　ten　years；　for　your　confounded　mania　of　sniveling；　greatly　as　it　annoys　me；　is　preferable　to　these　mad　fits　of　rage。　If　I　did　not　know　that　you　are　good　at　heart　Well；　for　one　who　confessed　and　received　communion　this　morning　you　are　behaving〃

〃Yes；　but　you　are　the　cause　of　ityou！〃

〃Because　in　the　matter　of　Rosario　and　Jacinto　I　say　to　you；　resignation？〃

〃Because　when　every　thing　is　going　on　well　you　turn　back　and　allow　Senor　de　Rey　to　get　possession　of　Rosario。〃

〃And　how　am　I　going　to　prevent　it？　Dona　Perfecta　is　right　in　saying　that　you　have　an　understanding　of　brick。　Do　you　want　me　to　go　about　the　town　with　a　sword；　and　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye　to　make　mincemeat　of　the　whole　regiment；　and　then　confront　Rey　and　say　to　him；　'Leave　the　girl　in　peace　or　I　will　cut　your　throat'？〃

〃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