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第4节

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of having done a good deed。 At length a thought struck him。 〃It is not

yet day;〃 said he; 〃I can convey the dead body out of the city; and

bury it in the sands on the banks of the Xenil。 No one saw the Moor

enter our dwelling; and no one will know any thing of his death。〃

  So said; so done。 The wife aided him; they rolled the body of the

unfortunate Moslem in the mat on which he had expired; laid it

across the ass; and Peregil set out with it for the banks of the

river。

  As ill luck would have it; there lived opposite to the water…carrier

a barber named Pedrillo Pedrugo; one of the most prying; tattling; and

mischief…making of his gossip tribe。 He was a weasel…faced;

spider…legged varlet; supple and insinuating; the famous barber of

Seville could not surpass him for his universal knowledge of the

affairs of others; and he had no more power of retention than a sieve。

It was said that he slept but with one eye at a time; and kept one ear

uncovered; so that; even in his sleep; he might see and hear all

that was going on。 Certain it is; he was a sort of scandalous

chronicle for the quid…nuncs of Granada; and had more customers than

all the rest of his fraternity。

  This meddlesome barber heard Peregil arrive at an unusual hour at

night; and the exclamations of his wife and children。 His head was

instantly popped out of a little window which served him as a

look…out; and he saw his neighbor assist a man in Moorish garb into

his dwelling。 This was so strange an occurrence; that Pedrillo Pedrugo

slept not a wink that night。 Every five minutes he was at his

loophole; watching the lights that gleamed through the chinks of his

neighbor's door; and before daylight he beheld Peregil sally forth

with his donkey unusually laden。

  The inquisitive barber was in a fidget; he slipped on his clothes;

and; stealing forth silently; followed the water…carrier at a

distance; until he saw him dig a hole in the sandy bank of the

Xenil; and bury something that had the appearance of a dead body。

  The barber hied him home; and fidgeted about his shop; setting every

thing upside down; until sunrise。 He then took a basin under his

arm; and sallied forth to the house of his daily customer the alcalde。

  The alcalde was just risen。 Pedrillo Pedrugo seated him in a

chair; threw a napkin round his neck; put a basin of hot water under

his chin; and began to mollify his beard with his fingers。

  〃Strange doings!〃 said Pedrugo; who played barber and newsmonger

at the same time… 〃Strange doings! Robbery; and murder; and burial all

in one night!〃

  〃Hey!… how!… what is that you say?〃 cried the alcalde。

  〃I say;〃 replied the barber; rubbing a piece of soap over the nose

and mouth of the dignitary; for a Spanish barber disdains to employ

a brush… 〃I say that Peregil the Gallego has robbed and murdered a

Moorish Mussulman; and buried him; this blessed night。 Maldita sea

la noche… accursed be the night for the same!〃

  〃But how do you know all this?〃 demanded the alcalde。

  〃Be patient; senor; and you shall hear all about it;〃 replied

Pedrillo; taking him by the nose and sliding a razor over his cheek。

He then recounted all that he had seen; going through both

operations at the same time; shaving his beard; washing his chin;

and wiping him dry with a dirty napkin; while he was robbing;

murdering; and burying the Moslem。

  Now it so happened that this alcalde was one of the most

overbearing; and at the same time most griping and corrupt curmudgeons

in all Granada。 It could not be denied; however; that he set a high

value upon justice; for he sold it at its weight in gold。 He

presumed the case in point to be one of murder and robbery;

doubtless there must be a rich spoil; how was it to be secured into

the legitimate hands of the law? for as to merely entrapping the

delinquent… that would be feeding the gallows; but entrapping the

booty… that would be enriching the judge; and such; according to his

creed; was the great end of justice。 So thinking; he summoned to his

presence his trustiest alguazil… a gaunt; hungry…looking varlet; clad;

according to the custom of his order; in the ancient Spanish garb: a

broad black beaver turned up at its sides; a quaint ruff; a small

black cloak dangling from his shoulders; rusty black under…clothes

that set off his spare wiry frame; while in his hand he bore a slender

white wand; the dreaded insignia of his office。 Such was the legal

bloodhound of the ancient Spanish breed; that he put upon the traces

of the unlucky water…carrier; and such was his speed and certainty;

that he was upon the haunches of poor Peregil before he had returned

to his dwelling; and brought both him and his donkey before the

dispenser of justice。

  The alcalde bent upon him one of the most terrific frowns。 〃Hark ye;

culprit!〃 roared he; in a voice that made the knees of the little

Gallego smite together… 〃hark ye; culprit! there is no need of denying

thy guilt; every thing is known to me。 A gallows is the proper

reward for the crime thou hast committed; but I am merciful; and

readily listen to reason。 The man that has been murdered in thy

house was a Moor; an infidel; the enemy of our faith。 It was doubtless

in a fit of religious zeal that thou hast slain him。 I will be

indulgent; therefore; render up the property of which thou hast robbed

him; and we will hush the matter up。〃

  The poor water…carrier called upon all the saints to witness his

innocence; alas! not one of them appeared; and if they had; the

alcalde would have disbelieved the whole calendar。 The water…carrier

related the whole story of the dying Moor with the straightforward

simplicity of truth; but it was all in vain。 〃Wilt thou persist in

saying;〃 demanded the judge; 〃that this Moslem had neither gold nor

jewels; which were the object of thy cupidity?〃

  〃As I hope to be saved; your worship;〃 replied the water…carrier;

〃he had nothing but a small box of sandalwood which he bequeathed to

me in reward for my services。〃

  〃A box of sandalwood! a box of sandalwood!〃 exclaimed the alcalde;

his eyes sparkling at the idea of precious jewels。 〃And where is

this box? where have you concealed it?〃

  〃An' it please your grace;〃 replied the water…carrier; 〃it is in one

of the panniers of my mule; and heartily at the service of your

worship。〃

  He had hardly spoken the words; when the keen alguazil darted off;

and reappeared in an instant with the mysterious box of sandalwood。

The alcalde opened it with an eager and trembling hand; all pressed

forward to gaze upon the treasure it was expected to contain; when; to

their disappointment; nothing appeared within; but a parchment scroll;

covered with Arabic characters; and an end of a waxen taper。

  When there is nothing to be gained by the conviction of a

prisoner; justice; even in Spain; is apt to be impartial。 The alcalde;

having recovered from his disappointment; and found that there was

really no booty in the case; now listened dispassionately to the

explanation of the water…carrier; which was corroborated by the

testimony of his wife。 Being convinced; therefore; of his innocence;

he discharged him from arrest; nay more; he permitted him to carry off

the Moor's legacy; the box of sandalwood and its contents; as the

well…merited reward of his humanity; but he retained his donkey in

payment of costs and charges。

  Behold the unfortunate little Gallego reduced once more to the

necessity of being his own water…carrier; and trudging up to the

well of the Alhambra with a great earthen jar upon his shoulder。

  As he toiled up the hill in the heat of a summer noon; his usual

good humor forsook him。 〃Dog of an alcalde!〃 would he cry; 〃to rob a

poor man of the means of his subsistence; of the best friend he had in

the world!〃 And then at the remembrance of the beloved companion of

his labors; all the kindness of his nature would break forth。 〃Ah;

donkey of my heart!〃 would he exclaim; resting his burden on a

stone; and wiping the sweat from his brow… 〃Ah; donkey of my heart!

I warrant me thou thinkest of thy old master! I warrant me thou

missest the water…jars… poor beast。〃

  To add to his afflictions; his wife received him; on his return

home; with whimperings and repinings; she had clearly the

vantage…ground of him; having warned him not to commit the egregious

act of hospitality which had brought on him all these misfortunes;

and; like a knowing woman; she took every occasion to throw her

superior sagacity in his teeth。 If her children lacked food; or needed

a new garment; she could answer with a sneer… 〃Go to your father… he

is heir to King Chico of the Alhambra: ask him to help you out of

the Moor's strongbox。〃

  Was ever poor mortal so soundly punished for having done a good

action? The unlucky Peregil was grieved in flesh and spirit; but still

he bore meekly with the railings of his spouse。 At length; one

evening; when; after a hot day's toil; she taunt

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