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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Grandee, by Armando Palacio Valdés,
+Translated by Rachel Challice
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Grandee
+
+
+Author: Armando Palacio Valdés
+
+
+
+Release Date: January 23, 2010  [eBook #31056]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRANDEE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Chuck Greif and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images
+generously made available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org)
+
+
+
+Note: Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      http://www.archive.org/details/grandeenovel00palaiala
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: book cover]
+
+Heinemann's International Library
+
+Edited by Edmund Gosse
+
+THE GRANDEE
+
+ARMANDO PALACIO VALDES
+
+
+THE GRANDEE
+
+     *     *     *     *     *     *
+
+_Heinemann's International Library._
+
+Edited by EDMUND GOSSE.
+
+_Crown 8vo, in paper covers, 2s. 6d., or cloth limp, 3s. 6d._
+
+
+1. _IN GOD'S WAY._ From the Norwegian of
+BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON
+
+2. _PIERRE AND JEAN._ From the French of
+GUY DE MAUPASSANT.
+
+3. _THE CHIEF JUSTICE._ From the German
+of KARL EMIL FRANZOS.
+
+4. _WORK WHILE YE HAVE THE LIGHT._
+From the Russian of COUNT LYOF TOLSTOI.
+
+5. _FANTASY._ From the Italian of MATILDE
+SERAO.
+
+6. _FROTH._ From the Spanish of DON ARMANDO
+PALACIO VALDES.
+
+7. _FOOTSTEPS OF FATE._ From the Dutch
+of LOUIS COUPERUS.
+
+8. _PEPITA JIMENEZ._ From the Spanish of
+JUAN VALERA.
+
+9. _THE COMMODORE'S DAUGHTERS._ From
+the Norwegian of JONAS LIE.
+
+10. _THE HERITAGE OF THE KURTS._ From
+the Norwegian of BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON.
+
+11. _LOU._ From the German of BARON VON
+ROBERTS.
+
+12. _DONA LUZ._ From the Spanish of JUAN
+VALERA.
+
+13. _THE JEW._ From the Polish of JOSEPH I.
+KRASZEWSKI.
+
+14. _UNDER THE YOKE._ From the Bulgarian
+of IVAN VAZOFF.
+
+15. _FAREWELL LOVE!_ From the Italian of
+MATILDE SERAO.
+
+16. _THE GRANDEE._ From the Spanish of DON
+ARMANDO PALACIO VALDES.
+
+
+_In preparation._
+
+_A COMMON STORY._ From the Russian of
+GONCHAROF.
+
+_NIOBE._ From the Norwegian of JONAS LIE.
+
+_Each Volume contains a specially written Introduction by the Editor._
+
+LONDON: W. HEINEMANN, 21 BEDFORD ST., W.C.
+
+     *     *     *     *     *     *
+
+THE GRANDEE
+
+A Novel
+
+by
+
+ARMANDO PALACIO VALDES
+
+Translated from the Spanish by Rachel Challice
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: logo]
+
+London
+William Heinemann
+1894
+
+[_All rights reserved_]
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+According to the Spanish critics, the novel has flourished in Spain
+during only two epochs--the golden age of Cervantes and the period in
+which we are still living. That unbroken line of romance-writing which
+has existed for so long a time in France and in England, is not to be
+looked for in the Peninsula. The novel in Spain is a re-creation of our
+own days; but it has made, since the middle of the nineteenth century,
+two or three fresh starts. The first modern Spanish novelists were what
+are called the _walter-scottistas_, although they were inspired as much
+by George Sand as by the author of _Waverley_. These writers were of a
+romantic order, and Fernan Caballero, whose earliest novel dates from
+1849, was at their head. The Revolution of September, 1868, marked an
+advance in Spanish fiction, and Valera came forward as the leader of a
+more national and more healthily vitalised species of imaginative work.
+The pure and exquisite style of Valera is, doubtless, only to be
+appreciated by a Castilian. Something of its charm may be divined,
+however, even in the English translation of his masterpiece, _Pepita
+Jimenez_. The mystical and aristocratic genius of Valera appealed to a
+small audience; he has confided to the world that when all were praising
+but few were buying his books.
+
+Far greater fecundity and a more directly successful appeal to the
+public, were, somewhat later, the characteristics of Perez y Galdos,
+whose vigorous novels, spoiled a little for a foreign reader by their
+didactic diffuseness, are well-known in this country. In the hands of
+Galdos, a further step was taken by Spanish fiction towards the
+rejection of romantic optimism and the adoption of a modified realism.
+In Pereda, so the Spanish critics tell us, a still more valiant champion
+of naturalism was found, whose studies of local manners in the province
+of Santander recall to mind the paintings of Teniers. About 1875 was the
+date when the struggle commenced in good earnest between the schools of
+romanticism and realism. In 1881 Galdos definitely joined the ranks of
+the realists with his _La Desheredada_. An eminent Spanish writer,
+Emilio Pardo Bazan, thus described the position some six years ago: "It
+is true that the battle is not a noisy one, and excites no great warlike
+ardour. The question is not taken up amongst us with the same heat as in
+France, and this from several causes. In the first place, the idealists
+with us do not walk in the clouds so much as they do in France, nor do
+the realists load their palette so heavily. Neither school exaggerates
+in order to distinguish itself from the other. Perhaps our public is
+indifferent to literature, especially to printed literature, for what is
+represented on the stage produces more impression."
+
+This indifference of the Spanish reading public, which has led a living
+novelist to declare that a person of good position in Madrid would
+rather spend his money on fireworks or on oranges than on a book, has at
+length been in a measure dissipated by a writer who is not merely
+admired and distinguished, but positively popular, and who, without
+sacrificing style, has conquered the unwilling Spanish public. This is
+Armando Palacio Valdes, who was born on the 4th of October 1853, in a
+hamlet in the mountains of Asturias, called Entralgo, where his family
+possessed a country-house. The family spent only the summer there; the
+remainder of the year they passed in Aviles, the maritime town which
+Valdes describes under the name of Nieva in his novel _Marta y Maria_.
+He began his education at Oviedo, the capital of Asturias. From this
+city he went, in 1870, up to Madrid to study the law as a profession.
+But even in the lawyer's office, his dream was to become a man of
+letters. His ambition took the form of obtaining at some university a
+chair of political economy, to which science he had, or fancied himself
+to have, at that time a great proclivity.
+
+Before terminating his legal studies, the young man published several
+articles in the _Revista Europea_ on philosophical and religious
+questions. These articles attracted the attention of the proprietor of
+that review, and Valdes presently joined the staff. In 1874 he became
+editor. He was at the head of the _Revista Europea_, at that time the
+most important periodical in Spain from a scientific point of view, for
+several years. During that time he published the main part of those
+articles of literary criticism, particularly on contemporary poets and
+novelists, which have since been collected in several volumes--_Los
+Oradores del Ateneo_, ("The Orators of the Athenaeum"); _Los Novelistas
+Espanoles_ ("The Spanish Novelists"); _Un Nuevo Viaje al Parnaso_ ("A
+New Journey to Parnassus"), sketches of the living poets of Spain; and,
+in particular, a very bright collection of review articles published in
+conjunction with Leopoldo Alas, _La Literatura en_ 1881 ("Spanish
+Literature in 1881"). These gave Valdes a foremost rank among the
+critics of the day. He wrote no more criticism, or very little; he
+determined to place himself amongst those whose creative work demands
+the careful consideration of the best judges.
+
+Soon after he took the direction of the _Revista_, Valdes wrote his
+first novel, _El Senorito Octavio_, which was not published until 1881.
+In 1883 he brought out his _Marta y Maria_, a book which, I know not
+why, is called "The Marquis of Penalta" in its English version. This
+novel enjoyed an extraordinary success, and had more of the graphic and
+sprightly manner by which Valdes has since been distinguished, than the
+books which immediately followed it. Spanish critics, indeed,
+remembering the wonderful freshness of _Marta y Maria_, still often
+speak of it as the best of Valdes' stories. In this same year, 1883, he
+married, at the seaside town of Gijon, in Asturias, on the day when he
+completed his thirty years, a young lady of sixteen. His marriage was a
+honeymoon of a year and a half, of which _El Idilio de un Enfermo_ ("The
+Idyll of an Invalid"), a short novel of 1884, portrays the earlier
+portion. His wife died early in 1885, leaving him with an infant son to
+be, as he says, "my allusion and my fascination." His subsequent career
+has been laborious and systematic. He has published one novel almost
+every year. In 1885 it was _Jose_, a shorter tale of sea-faring life on
+the stormy coast of the author's native province. About the same time
+appeared a collection of short stories, called _Aguas Fuertes_ ("Strong
+Waters").
+
+It was not until 1886, however, that Valdes began to rank among the
+foremost novelists of Europe. In that year he published his great
+story, _Riverita_, one of the characters in which, a charming child,
+became the heroine of his next book, _Maximina_, 1887. Of this character
+he writes to me: "My Maximina in these two books is but a pale
+reflection of that being from whom Providence parted me before she was
+eighteen years of age. In these novels I have painted a great part of my
+life." A Sevillian novice, who has helped to care for Maximina in
+Madrid, reigns supreme in a succeeding novel, _La Hermana San Sulpicio_
+("Sister San Sulpicio"), 1889. But between these two last there comes a
+massive novel, describing the adventures of a journalist who founds a
+newspaper in the provincial town of Sarrio, by which Gijon seems to be
+intended. This book is called _El Cuarto Poder_ ("The Fourth Power"),
+and was published in 1888. To these, in 1891, was added _La Espuma_
+("Froth"), of which a translation has already appeared in the
+"International Library." In 1892 Valdes published _La Fe_ ("Faith").
+
+In _La Espuma_, his best-known novel, Valdes reverted from those country
+scenes and those streets of provincial cities which he had hitherto
+loved best to paint, and gave us a sternly satiric picture of the frothy
+surface of fashionable life in Madrid. From the illusions of the poor,
+pathetic and often beautiful, he turned to the ugly cynicism of the
+wealthy. With his passion for honesty and simplicity, his heart burned
+within him at the parade and hollowness which he detected in
+aristocratic and bureaucratic Madrid. One conceives that, like his own
+Raimundo, he was invited to enter it, took his fill of its pleasures,
+and found his mouth filled with ashes. His talent for portraiture was
+never better employed. If he was occasionally tempted to commit the
+peculiarly Spanish fault of exaggeration--scarcely a fault there, where
+the shadows are so black and the colours so flaring--he resisted it in
+his more important characters. The brutality of the Duke de Requena, the
+sagacity and urbanity of Father Ortega, the saintly sweetness of the
+Duchess, the naivete of Raimundo, the sphinx-like charm of Clementina de
+Osorio, with her mysterious sweetness and duplicity, these are among the
+salient points of characterisation which stand out in this powerful
+book. _La Espuma_ was a cry from the desert to those who wear soft
+raiment in king's palaces. It was the ruthless tearing aside of the
+conventions by a Knox or a Savonarola. It was stringent satire, yet
+tempered with an artist's moderation, with a naturalist's
+self-suppression.
+
+The latest novel which Valdes has published is that which we here
+present under the title of _The Grandee_ ("El Maestrante"). Here, as it
+will be seen, the author is no longer engaged in the jarring notes of
+satire, but, with more lightness and a greater effusion of humour, he
+dissects the quaint elements which make up old-fashioned society in a
+provincial city of Spain. This is one of those books which peculiarly
+appeal to the foreign reader who desires to enter into a phase of life
+from which his own experience absolutely excludes him. We may suppose
+that a limited number of Englishmen can penetrate to the palaces and the
+club-rooms of Madrid, and see something, however superficially, of the
+life described in _Froth_. But the grim and ancient mansions which look
+down through ancient mullioned windows on the narrow streets of such a
+town as is brought before us in _The Grandee_--what can the most
+privileged Englishman possibly know of the manners and customs of their
+stately inhabitants?
+
+In the second half of the book, the gaiety and grotesqueness of the
+pictures of life sink before the solemnity of the terrible and tragic
+corruption of Amalia, and the martyrdom of Josefina. The last pages of
+_The Grandee_ are, indeed, tinged with almost intolerable gloom, and in
+a society comparatively so civilised as our own, the revenge of the
+unnatural mother may seem almost overdrawn. The author contends,
+however, that in the cryptic and cloistered provincial life which he
+describes, where the light of censure can hardly reach a powerful
+criminal, such wickedness as is perpetrated upon Josefina is neither
+improbable nor unprecedented. Nor do the reports of Mr. Benjamin Waugh
+permit us to question that such horrors are daily committed at our own
+doors. Whether these maladies of the soul are or are not fit subjects
+for the art of the novelist is a question which every reader must answer
+for himself.
+
+In the pages of _The Grandee_ we have a singular transcript of Spanish
+pride and picturesqueness, of a narrow society absolutely fortified
+against public opinion by its ancient prejudices, a society,
+nevertheless, in which the primitive passions of humanity stir and
+interact with as much dangerous vivacity as in freer and more democratic
+conditions. I may perhaps mention, on the authority of the author, that
+by Lancia Valdes intends us to understand Oviedo, the capital of the
+province of Asturias, where he spent many years of his childhood and
+early youth. The story opens between thirty and forty years ago, and
+represents Oviedo and its social customs at an epoch a little earlier
+than the time when the novelist was forming his freshest and most vivid
+impressions of life.
+
+Of the author of so many interesting books but little has yet been told
+to the public. In a private letter to myself, the eminent novelist gives
+a brief sketch of his mode of life, so interesting that I have secured
+his permission to translate and print it here:--"Since my wife died,"
+Senor Valdes writes, "my life has continued to be tranquil and
+melancholy, dedicated to work and to my son. During the winters, I live
+in Asturias, and during the summers, in Madrid. I like the company of
+men of the world better than that of literary folks, because the former
+teach me more. I am given up to the study of metaphysics. I have a
+passion for physical exercises, for gymnastics, for fencing, and I try
+to live in an evenly-balanced temper, nothing being so repugnant to me
+as affectation and emphasis. I find a good deal of pleasure in going to
+bull-fights (although I do not take my son to the Plaza dressed up like
+a miniature _torero_, as an American writer declares I do), and I
+cultivate the theatre, because to see life from the stage point of view
+helps me in the composition of my stories."
+
+EDMUND GOSSE.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+   CHAP.                                           PAGE
+
+      I. THE GRANDEE'S HOUSE                          1
+
+     II. THE DISCOVERY                               25
+
+    III. THE TOWN                                    55
+
+     IV. THE HISTORY OF THEIR LOVE                   75
+
+      V. THE JOKES OF PACO GOMEZ                    100
+
+     VI. THE SENORITAS DE MERE                      113
+
+    VII. THE INCREASE OF THE CONTINGENT             138
+
+   VIII. FERNANDA AND THE WINE                      153
+
+     IX. THE MASQUERADE                             172
+
+      X. FIVE YEARS AFTER                           188
+
+     XI. AMALIA'S RAGE                              206
+
+    XII. THE BARON'S JUSTICE                        226
+
+   XIII. THE MARTYRDOM                              239
+
+    XIV. THE CAPITULATION                           258
+
+     XV. JOSEFINA SLEEPS                            276
+
+
+
+
+THE GRANDEE
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE GRANDEE'S HOUSE
+
+
+It was ten o'clock at night, an hour when the number of those who
+frequented the streets of the noble city of Lancia was always of the
+scantiest, but in the depth of winter, when our story opens, with a
+bitter north-east wind and drenching rain, one would find it difficult
+to stumble upon a living soul. Not that all had surrendered themselves
+into the arms of Morpheus, for Lancia as capital of a province, albeit
+not one of the most important, had learnt to sit up late. But the people
+used to resort at an early hour to parties, whence they only sallied
+forth to supper and to bed at eleven o'clock. At that hour many noisy
+groups could be seen passing along under the shelter of umbrellas, the
+ladies enveloped in warm woollen cloaks, holding up their petticoats,
+and the gentlemen all wrapped in their cloaks, or _montecristos_, with
+their trousers well turned up, breaking the silence of the night by the
+loud clack of their wooden shoes. For at the time of which we speak
+there were few that despised this comfortable shoe of the country,
+unless it were some new-fledged medical student from Valladolid, who
+considered himself above such old-fashioned things, or some fanciful
+young lady, who pretended that she could not walk in them. But these
+were the exceptions. There were no carriages in the town, for only
+three existed in the place, belonging respectively to the Quinones, the
+Countess of Onis, and to Estrada-Rosa; the last-mentioned being the only
+one that did not date from the middle of the last century. When either
+of these conveyances appeared in the street, it was followed by a crowd
+of little urchins, whose enthusiasm at the sight knew no bounds. The
+neighbours inside their houses could tell by the sound of the wheels,
+and the clink of the horseshoes to which of the above-mentioned magnates
+the carriage belonged. They were in fact three venerated institutions
+which the natives of the city had learnt to love and respect. So
+umbrellas and wooden shoes were the only protections against the rain
+that falls more than three parts of the year. India-rubber shoes came in
+later, as well as hooded waterproofs, which at certain times transform
+Lancia into a vast community of Carthusian friars.
+
+The wind blew stronger at the crossing of Santa Barbara than in any
+other part of the town. This uncovered passage, between the bishop's
+palace and the walls of a courtyard of the cathedral, just by the chain
+which regulates the lightning conductor, leads finally under an archway,
+a murky corner where the blast, confined within a narrow space, howls
+and moans on such infernal nights as this.
+
+A man, muffled up to the eyes, crossed with rapid steps the little
+square in front of the archbishop's house, and entered this recess. The
+force of the hurricane stopped him, and the rain penetrating between the
+collar of his coat and the brim of his hat, almost blinded him. He made
+a few seconds' stand against the violence of the whirlwind, and then,
+instead of uttering any exclamation of impatience, which would have been
+more than excusable under the circumstances, he merely gave vent to a
+long-drawn sigh of distress:
+
+"Oh! my Jesus! what a night!"
+
+He cowered up against the wall, and when the wind had somewhat abated,
+he resumed his course. Passing under the archway that connects the
+palace with the cathedral, he entered the widest and best-lighted part
+of the passage. An oil-lamp fixed in the corner served as its only
+light. The wretched thing, seconded by a tinfoil reflector placed at the
+back, made ineffectual attempts to pierce the gloom of the farthest
+corners.
+
+Ten yards off nobody would have thought it was there, and yet to our
+muffled traveller it must have seemed an Edison lamp of ten thousand
+candle-power, from the way he drew his coat-collar higher about his
+face, and from the haste in which he avoided the pavement, and crept
+along by the wall where the shadows were deepest. In this way he arrived
+at the Calle de Santa Lucia, cast a rapid glance around him, and renewed
+his course on the darkest side of the way. Although one of the most
+central streets, the Calle de Santa Lucia is solitary to an extreme. It
+is closed at one end by the base of the tower of the cathedral, a
+graceful, elegant structure like few to be found in Spain, and so it is
+only used as a thoroughfare by canons going to the choir, or devotees on
+their way to early Mass. In this short, straight, narrow street, the
+palace of Quinones de Leon was situated--a large, dreary,
+uninteresting-looking building with projecting iron balconies. It was
+two storeys high, and over the central balcony there was an enormous
+roughly carved shield, supported by two griffins in high relief, as
+rudely carved as the quarterings.
+
+One side of the house looked on to a little, damp, melancholy, neglected
+garden, enclosed by a wall of regular elevation; and the other on to a
+dull, even damper, narrow street which ran between the house and the
+black, discoloured wall of the church of San Rafael. To pass from the
+palace to the church, where the Quinones had a private pew, was a little
+gallery, or covered way, smaller, but similar to that of the archbishop,
+over the passage of Santa Barbara.
+
+By the bright light shining from the crevice of a half-opened window on
+the balcony, it was evident that the people of the house had not yet
+retired to rest. And if the light were not sufficient proof, the fact
+was confirmed by the strains of a piano heard occasionally above the
+roar of the storm.
+
+Our muffled friend, with a rapid step, keeping as much in shadow as
+possible, arrived at the door of the palace. There he stopped again,
+cast a furtive glance down both sides of the street, and entered the
+portico. It was large, and paved with stones like the street; the bare,
+discoloured, whitewashed walls were dimly illumined by an oil-lamp hung
+from the centre. The man quickly crossed it, and before pulling the
+bell-cord, placed his ear to the door, and listened long and
+attentively. Convinced that nobody was descending the staircase, he gave
+one more look down the street. At last he decided to undo his cloak, and
+drew from under its folds a bundle, which he placed with a trembling
+hand near the door. It was a basket, covered with a woman's mantle,
+which hid the contents from view, although they could be pretty well
+guessed, for from the time of Moses, mysterious baskets seem destined
+for the consignment of infants.
+
+The man, being now free of his burthen, pulled the bell-cord three
+times, and the door was immediately opened from above by means of
+another cord. The three pulls of the bell showed that the visitor to the
+aristocratic mansion of the Quinones was a nobleman on a par with the
+Senores. This was an old-established custom of unknown origin. A menial,
+a servant, an inferior in any degree, only rang once, ordinary visitors
+rang twice, and the half dozen, or more, persons that the important
+Senor of Quinones considered his equals in Lancia, rang three times. If
+those in the town, who had never been admitted to the sacred precincts
+of the mansion, joked with the habitues of the place on the subject,
+their witticisms fell flat; but even if the shafts did go home, the
+feudal custom was so universally respected, that none but the privileged
+few dared to give the three signals pertaining to the highest rank. Paco
+Gomez once ventured to break the rule for a joke, but he was received so
+coldly when he entered the drawing-room that he never cared to repeat
+the experiment.
+
+So the man of the basket entered quickly, shut the door, crossed the
+hall, and ascended the wide stone staircase, where holes, worn by long
+use, retained the damp.
+
+When he reached the first floor, a servant approached to take his hat
+and cloak; so without further delay, and as if avoiding pursuit, he
+darted with hasty stride towards the drawing-room door, and opened it.
+The light of the chandelier and candelabra dazzled him for a moment. He
+was a tall powerful man, between thirty and thirty-two years of age,
+with a pleasant expression of countenance and regular features, short
+hair, and a long, silky beard of reddish hue. His face was pale, and
+betrayed extreme anxiety. On raising his eyes, which the excessive
+brightness of the room at first obliged him to lower, he turned them on
+the lady of the house, who was seated in an armchair. She, on her side,
+cast an inquiring anxious look at him, and the glance caused him a shock
+which gave instantaneous repose to his face like the neutralisation of
+two equal forces.
+
+The gentleman remained at the door waiting for five or six couples, who
+were pirouetting to the strains of a waltz, to pass him, whilst his pale
+lips wreathed into a smile as sweet as it was sad.
+
+"What an evening! We did not think you would be here so soon," exclaimed
+the lady as she gave him her delicate nervous hand, which contracted
+three or four times with intense emotion as it came in contact with his.
+
+She was a woman of about twenty-eight or thirty years of age, diminutive
+in stature, with a pale, expressive face, very black eyes and hair,
+small mouth, and delicate aquiline nose.
+
+"How are you, Amalia?" said the gentleman, without replying to her
+remark, and trying to hide under a smile the anxiety which, in spite of
+himself, the trembling of his voice betrayed.
+
+"I am better, thank you."
+
+"Is not this noise bad for you?"
+
+"No; I was bored to death in bed. Besides, I did not wish to deprive the
+young people of the one enjoyment they can get occasionally at Lancia."
+
+"Thank you, Amalia," exclaimed a young lady who was dancing and
+overheard the last remark, and Amalia responded by a kind smile.
+
+Another couple from behind then knocked against the gentleman, who was
+still standing.
+
+"Always devoted, Luis!"
+
+"To no one more than yourself, Maria," replied the young man, affecting
+to hide his embarrassment under a laugh.
+
+"Are you sure that I am the only one?" she asked with a mischievous
+glance at the partner who held her in his arms.
+
+Maria Josefa Hevia was at least forty, and she had been almost as ugly
+at fifteen. As her means were not equal to her weight, no one had dared
+redeem her from the purgatory of solitude. Until quite lately she still
+entertained hopes that one of the elderly Indian bachelors, who came to
+pass their declining years in Lancia, would ask her hand in marriage;
+and these hopes were founded on the fact that these gentlemen frequently
+contracted alliances with the daughters of distinguished people in the
+place, portionless as they generally were.
+
+On her father's side, Maria Josefa was connected with one of the oldest
+families, being related to the Senor of Quinones, in whose house we now
+are.
+
+But her father was dead, and she lived with her mother, a woman of low
+degree, who had been a cook before marrying her master. Either for this
+reason, or on account of the indisputable ugliness of her face, the
+Indians fought shy of her; although her exaggerated idea of her position
+exacted a certain respect in society. Her face was hideous, with
+irregular features, marked with erysipelas, and disfigured by red
+patches about the nostrils. She only retained one feminine taste, and
+that was for dancing, which was a real passion with her; and she felt it
+dreadfully when she was left a wallflower by the careless young men of
+Lancia. But, possessing a sharp tongue, she revenged herself so cleverly
+on both sexes when thus neglected, that the majority of the youths
+willingly sacrificed one dance on the programme to her at all the balls;
+and when they failed to do so, the girls would remind them of their
+duty, so great was their fear of the spiteful old maid. Thus, by dint of
+the wholesome terror she inspired, she danced as much as the greatest
+beauty in Lancia.
+
+She was conscious of the reason of her success, and however humiliated
+she might be in the depths of her heart, she did not fail to make use of
+the power, as she considered it the lesser evil of the two.
+
+Witty and malicious, she was particularly alive to a sense of the
+ridiculous in things, and whilst not lacking in the power of narration,
+she was, moreover, endowed with the peculiar knack of wounding everybody
+to the quick when she had a mind to.
+
+"Has the count come yet?" asked a sharp voice from the next room, which
+made itself heard above the sounds of the piano, and the feet of the
+dancers.
+
+"Yes, here I am, Don Pedro; I am coming."
+
+Whereupon the count made a step towards the door, without removing his
+eye from the pallid-looking lady; and she riveted another steady gaze
+upon him, which conveyed the impression of a question. He just closed
+his eyes in affirmatory reply, and passed on to the next apartment,
+which, like the drawing-room, was furnished without any regard for
+luxury.
+
+The highest nobility of Lancia despised all the refinements of
+decoration so usual nowadays. They scorned every innovation both within
+and without their dwellings; and this not from feelings of avarice, but
+from the inborn conviction that their superiority consisted less in the
+richness and splendour of their houses, than in the seal of ancient
+respectability.
+
+The furniture was old and shabby, and the carpets and curtains were
+faded; but the master paid little heed to such matters. Indeed, Don
+Pedro Quinones showed an indifference, bordering upon eccentricity, on
+the point. Neither the entreaties of his wife, nor the remarks which
+some bolder spirit, like Paco Gomez, who was always ready to be
+facetious, dared to make, ever induced him to call in the painters and
+upholsterers.
+
+With regard to size, the drawing-room was superb, being both lofty and
+spacious, and including all the windows of the Calle de Santa Lucia,
+with the exception of that of the library. The chairs were antique, not
+a mere imitation of those of bygone ages, as is now the mode, but made
+in times past, according to the fashion of the period, and covered with
+green velvet, worn old by time. In many places the floor was visible
+through the holes in the carpet. The walls were covered with magnificent
+tapestries, which constituted the one adornment of the house, for Don
+Pedro had a very valuable collection; but he only exhibited it once a
+year, when the balconies were draped on the day of Corpus Christi. It
+was said that an Englishman once offered a million pesetas[A] for their
+possession.
+
+The count had also several very valuable pictures, but they were so
+discoloured by time that, if not restored before long by some skilful
+hand, they seemed likely to disappear altogether. The only new thing in
+the drawing-room was the piano, bought three years ago, soon after the
+second marriage of Don Pedro.
+
+The library, also of large dimensions, with a window looking on to the
+Calle de Santa Lucia, and two on to the garden, was furnished still
+worse. It had heavy damask curtains, two mahogany presses without
+mirrors, a sofa upholstered with silk, a few leather chairs, a round
+table in the centre, and some seats to match the sofa, all old and
+shabby.
+
+Seated round the table, lighted by an enormous oil-lamp, were three
+gentlemen playing at tresillo.[B]
+
+The master of the house was one of them. He was between forty-six and
+forty-eight years of age. For the last three years he had been quite
+unable to move from the effects of an apoplectic stroke, which left him
+with both legs paralysed. He was stout, with a red face, and strong
+well-marked features; his thick curly hair and beard were streaked with
+grey, and he had keen, piercing black eyes. His face was remarkable for
+an expression of pride and fierceness, which the kind smile with which
+he received the Conde de Onis could not entirely hide. He was sitting,
+or rather reclining, in an armchair constructed especially for
+facilitating the movement of his body and arms; and it was placed
+sideways at the table, so that he could play, and keep his legs raised
+up meanwhile. Although there were logs burning on the hearth, he had a
+grey cloak round his shoulders, fastened at the throat with a gold
+clasp. Embroidered on the left-hand side was the large red cross of the
+order of Calatrava.[C] The Senor of Quinones was rarely seen without
+this cloak, which afforded him a fantastic, somewhat theatrical,
+appearance. He had always been eccentric in his dress. His pride
+impelled him to try and distinguish himself from the vulgar in every
+way. On ordinary occasions he wore a buttoned-up frock-coat, a
+high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat, and his hair was long, like that of a
+cavalier of the seventeenth century, whilst his clothes were generally
+of velvet or velveteen, with riding-boots of a fashion beyond all
+recollection, and his wide shirt-collars were turned back over his
+waistcoat in imitation of the Walloon style. There never was a man
+prouder of his high degree, nor more retentive of the privileges enjoyed
+by those of his rank in times gone by. People grumbled at his
+eccentricities, and many turned them to ridicule, for Lancia is a place
+not wanting in a sense of humour. But, as usual, unbending pride had
+ended by making an impression. Those who were the first to joke at Don
+Pedro's peculiarities, were those who were the most punctiliously
+respectful in doffing their hats when he appeared almost half a mile
+off. He had lived some years at Court, but he did not strike root there.
+He was one of the gentlemen in office, and curiously jealous of every
+prerogative and distinction due to his fortune and birth. But there was
+no satisfying a heart so corroded with arrogance, and he bitterly
+resented the amalgamation of people of birth with those of money. The
+respect afforded to politicians, which he in his position also had to
+accede to, perfectly enraged him. Was a son of a nobody, a common
+fellow, to take precedence of him, and merely give an indifferent or
+disdainful glance at him?--at him, the descendant of the proud Counts of
+Castille! Not being able to put up with such a state of things, he
+resigned his appointment, and took up his abode again in the old-world
+palace in which we now are. His pride, or maybe his eccentric character,
+made the rich bachelor at this time of his life do a thousand odd and
+ridiculous things, to the great astonishment of the town until it became
+accustomed to him. Don Pedro never went out in the street without being
+accompanied by a servant, or majordomo, a rough sort of man who wore
+the costume of the peasants of the country, which consisted of short
+breeches, woollen stockings, a green cloth jacket, and a wide-brimmed
+hat. And he not only went out with Manin (he was universally known by
+this name), but he also took him to the theatre with him. It was a sight
+to see these two in one of the best boxes: the master stiff and
+decorous, with his eyes roaming carelessly round; whilst the servant sat
+with his bearded chin resting on his hands, which clasped the
+balustrade, staring fixedly at the stage, occasionally giving vent to
+loud guffaws of laughter, scratching his head, or yawning loudly in the
+middle of a silence.
+
+Manin soon became a regular institution.
+
+Don Pedro, who scarcely deigned to converse with the wealthiest people
+of Lancia, talked familiarly with this servant, and allowed him to
+contradict him in the rude rough way peculiarly his own.
+
+"Manin, man, be careful not to give these ladies too much trouble," he
+would say to the majordomo when they entered some shop together.
+
+"All right," returned the rough fellow in a loud voice, "if they want to
+be at their ease, let them bring a mattress from home and recline upon
+it."
+
+Don Pedro would then bite his lips to keep from laughing, for such
+coarse and brutal remarks were just to his taste.
+
+When they repaired to a cafe, Manin drank quarts of red wine, whilst his
+master only sipped a glass of muscat. But although he left it almost
+full, he always asked and paid for a whole bottle.
+
+An apothecary of the place, with whom the count sometimes condescended
+to have a chat, once evinced some surprise at this extravagance, but he
+returned with chilly arrogance:
+
+"I pay for a whole bottle because I think it would be unseemly for Don
+Pedro Quinones de Leon to ask for a glass like some ink-stained clerk in
+a government office."
+
+The whole town was impressed with his manners, for when he met any
+clerics in the streets, he kissed their hands in accordance with the
+custom of noblemen of bygone centuries. But, like all the rest of his
+ways, this respect was nothing but a wish to appear different to other
+people, and to show that he belonged to the old _regime_; because,
+although he kissed the hand of his own chaplain in public, he treated
+him like a servant in private, and, in fact, accorded him far less
+consideration than he did Manin.
+
+But what most astonished the place, and gave rise to no end of remarks
+and jokes, was what Don Pedro did with a certain religious solemnity
+soon after his arrival from Madrid. He appeared at church in the white
+uniform trimmed with twisted cords pertaining to the office of
+_Maestrante de Ronda_.
+
+Just before the elevation of the Host at the Mass, he advanced with a
+solemn step to the empty space in the centre of the edifice, unsheathed
+his sword, and made sharp, firm passes in the air, in the direction of
+the four cardinal points. The women were frightened, the children ran
+away, and the majority of the congregation thought he had suddenly gone
+out of his mind. But those who were better informed, and more
+intellectual, understood that it was meant to be a symbolical ceremony,
+and that those thrusts in the air signified Don Pedro's resolution, as a
+noble member of a military Order, to fight all the enemies of the faith
+from every quarter of the globe. The one little periodical published at
+that time in Lancia (now there are eleven--six dailies, and five
+weeklies) devoted a whole page to a humorous account of this event.
+
+But in spite of the eccentricities of his public and private life, the
+prestige enjoyed by the illustrious nobleman in the town was by no means
+affected.
+
+He, who in perfect good faith considers himself superior to those about
+him, is in no danger of humiliation. In spite of his affectations, Don
+Pedro was a man of culture, fond of literature, and endowed with a taste
+for poetry. He had been known occasionally to celebrate events
+pertaining to the kingdom, or the royal family in several stanzas of a
+classic, somewhat pompous, style. But although people had tried to
+persuade him to publish them, he never would consent to do so.
+
+Periodicals were one of his particular aversions, for he considered them
+a sign of the democracy of the times. So he preferred to keep his poems
+in manuscript, known only to a select circle of friends.
+
+He also had a reputation as a man of valour. He had fought a few duels
+in Madrid, and in Lancia he had one with a certain political chief, sent
+by the progressionists to the province through the intervention of the
+archbishop and Chapter of the cathedral. When he was about forty years
+of age, our friend married a lady of position who lived in Sarrio. But
+his wife died within the year, just when he had hopes of an heir to his
+name and estates. Three years after, he contracted another
+marriage--this time with Amalia, a Valencian lady, who was a connection
+of his. They scarcely knew each other, for Don Pedro had not seen her
+since she was fourteen. The alliance formed ten years later was arranged
+by letters, and an interchange of photographs. There was no doubt that
+the bride's will was coerced in the matter, and it was said that for
+many months she had a separate room to her husband. And the story was
+told in Lancia, with no lack of detail, how Don Pedro, in pursuance of a
+canon's advice, managed to overcome these scruples. But in spite of the
+success of the suggestion of the church dignitary, and the subsequent
+concession of conjugal rights, Heaven did not see fit to bless the
+union.
+
+Not long after, Don Pedro was seized with the dreadful apoplectic attack
+which paralysed the whole of the lower part of his body, and the poor
+man was much tempted to curse his affliction, although no doubt it was
+ordered for the best.
+
+"We are in want of a fourth," he said, warmly shaking hands with the
+count.
+
+"Yes, yes, and we will see if the luck will change, for Moro is winning
+all our money," said a little old man with a strong Galician accent. He
+had a fresh, clean-shaven, round face, white hair, and clear, kind eyes.
+His name was Saleta, and he was a magistrate of the Court of Justice,
+and a constant visitor at the Quinones' house.
+
+"Not so much as that, Senor Saleta, not so much! I have only two hundred
+counters, and I want three hundred to make up for what I lost
+yesterday," returned the man referred to, who was a youth with a genial
+frank expression of countenance.
+
+"And why did you not call upon Manin?" asked the count with a smile as
+he glanced at the celebrated majordomo, who in his short breeches,
+woollen stockings, and green cloth jacket, was sleeping in an armchair.
+
+The other three turned and looked at the man.
+
+"Because Manin is a brute who can play at nothing but _brisca_,"[A] said
+Don Pedro, smiling.
+
+"And at _tute_,"[A] returned the fellow, opening his mouth and yawning
+loudly.
+
+"All right, and at _tute_."[A]
+
+"And at _monte_."[A]
+
+"Very well, man, and at _monte_, too."
+
+And the friends went on with their cards without paying further
+attention to Manin, but presently he began again by saying:
+
+"And at _parar_."[A]
+
+"And at _parar_, too?" asked the count in a joking tone.
+
+"Yes, senor, and at _los siete y media_."[D]
+
+"Get along!" said the other, absently, as he opened his hand of cards
+and examined it attentively.
+
+Then they went on playing with much interest, absorbed and silent. But
+the majordomo interrupted them again by saying:
+
+"And at _julepe_."
+
+"All right, Manin, be quiet and don't be a fool," said Don Pedro,
+crossly.
+
+"Fool, fool," muttered the peasant, surlily; "there are a good many
+fools about, but as they have money there is no one to call them so."
+
+He then re-settled his broad shoulders in the seat, stretched out his
+legs, closed his eyes, and began to snore.
+
+The players turned their eyes on Don Pedro in surprise, and some
+anxiety.
+
+The master looked wrathfully at his majordomo; but seeing him in such a
+comfortable position he changed his mind, and, shrugging his shoulders,
+he turned his attention to his cards, merely remarking with a pleasant
+smile:
+
+"What a barbarian! He is a regular Sueve."
+
+"But, Senor Quinones," said Saleta, "the Suevi only settled in Galicia.
+You are nothing but Cantabrians, and I have reason to know it."
+
+"What! you have reason to know it!" said a gentleman who was not very
+old, for he would have passed for fifty, who came in at that moment.
+
+It was Don Enrique Valero, also a magistrate of the Court, a man of an
+agreeable presence, with a fine expressive face, albeit somewhat marked
+by the fast life he had lived. As shown by his strong accent, which was
+mincing and lisping, he was Andalusian, of the province of Malaga.
+
+"I don't quite know that," returned Saleta, calmly, "but I perfectly
+well know the history of my country, and the particulars regarding my
+family."
+
+"And why do you mention your family in connection with the Suevi, my
+friend?"
+
+"Because, according to various documents preserved in my ancestral
+archives, my family is descended from one of those brave commanders,
+who penetrated Pontevedra at the time of the invasion."
+
+The players exchanged an amused smile of intelligence with Valero.
+
+"Ah!" exclaimed the latter between amusement and irritation, "so my
+friend is a Sueve like a cathedral! Who would have thought it to see him
+so dwarfish and so small!"
+
+"Yes, senor," said the other, speaking with firmness and deliberation as
+if he had not heard the last remark. "The captain to whom our family
+owes its origin was named Rechila. He was a man of ferocious and
+bloodthirsty presence, a great conqueror, who extended his dominions
+immensely, and, from what I understand, his expeditions took him as far
+as Estremadura. One day, when I was a child, a crown was found buried in
+the foundations of the old chapel of our house."
+
+"Really, my man, really!" exclaimed Valero, looking at him with such
+comic indignation that all the others burst out laughing.
+
+But Saleta, quite unperturbed, went on to describe the treasure-trove,
+its form, weight, and all its embellishments, without omitting a single
+detail.
+
+And Valero, without taking his eyes off him, continued shaking his head
+with increasing irritation.
+
+The same thing went on every night. His colleague's unblushing lying
+propensity aroused in the magistrate an indignation that was sometimes
+real, and sometimes feigned. It was so seldom that a Galician dared to
+boast and exaggerate before an Andalusian, that he, wounded in his
+_amour propre_ and respect for his country, sometimes wondered whether
+Saleta was a fool, or whether he considered his audience as such.
+
+Really the magistrate of Pontevedra lied with so much ease, and in such
+a serious way, that it became a question whether he was an artful rogue,
+who delighted to upset his friends.
+
+"Did you say that this ancestor of yours got to Estremadura?" asked
+Valero at last in a decided tone.
+
+"Yes, Senor."
+
+"Then it seems to me you make a mistake, for this Senor Renchila----"
+
+"Rechila."
+
+"Well, this Rechila got farther still, for he got as far as the province
+of Malaga; but there a company of Vandals went out to meet him: the
+leader was one of my ancestors. His name is difficult to recollect--wait
+a bit, he was called Matalaoza. Well, then, this Matalaoza, who was a
+rough, brave sort of fellow, completely routed him, took him prisoner,
+and kept him drawing water from a well till his death. And a piece of
+the machine is still to be seen in the cellar of our house."
+
+Don Pedro, Jaime Moro, and the Conde de Onis stopped playing, and roared
+with laughter.
+
+"It cannot be so. Rechila never went farther than Merida, which he took
+after a short siege," said Saleta, not one whit put out.
+
+"Excuse me, friend, in the archives of my house there are documents
+which show that this Senor Renchila took a company of soldiers through
+the province of Malaga, and that the Senor Matalaoza, my grandfather on
+my mother's side, prevented his advancing any farther."
+
+"Excuse me, friend Valero, but it seems to me you are in error. This
+Rechila must be another one; there were many Rechilas among the Suevi."
+
+"No, sir, no, the Rechila that my ancestor conquered was an ancestor of
+yours; I am certain of it. He came from the province of Pontevedra; that
+was clear from his accent."
+
+These remarks were made with great gravity, and the players were more
+and more amused. As Saleta was accustomed to his companion's chaff, he
+was not the least put out, neither would he modify any of his boasting
+assertions. The man was perfectly shameless in the way he invented lies
+and then stuck to them.
+
+When he saw it was useless to discuss the matter farther, he turned his
+attention to the game, and the others did the same, although they could
+not repress an occasional chuckle of amusement.
+
+Jaime Moro went on winning, and he was cheerful and talkative, making
+tedious remarks at every turn of the game. He was a good-looking young
+fellow, with a short black beard, regular features, large expressionless
+eyes, and a delicate pink complexion. His father, who had been parochial
+administrator of the province, had died the previous year, leaving him
+an income, according to report, of between 70,000 and 80,000 reales,[E]
+and this money gave him a certain position in the place. Needless to
+say, he was considered a prize in the matrimonial market, and he was the
+golden dream, and the ideal of the girls, who contemplated marriage; but
+unfortunately Moro was little attracted by the opposite sex. He liked
+Mercury much better than Venus; and indeed he was so fond of every kind
+of game, that one might almost say he was born to play, for his whole
+life was devoted to it.
+
+He lived alone with his housekeeper, man-servant, and cook. He got up
+between ten and eleven in the morning, and after making his toilette he
+repaired to the confectioner's shop of Dona Romana, where he found
+congenial spirits, who told him all the current gossip of the place, and
+when this was exhausted, he withdrew to the dark, greasy-looking little
+room, pervaded by an overpowering smell of pastry, at the back of the
+shop, and there seating himself at a table, which matched its
+surroundings in dinginess, he indulged in a glass of sherry, and a game
+of dominoes with Don Baltasar Reinoso, who was one of the many who lived
+in Lancia on an income of four or five thousand pesetas. At three
+o'clock he repaired to the Mercantile Club, where, with three of the
+Indians, who formed the nucleus of that social gathering, he indulged in
+the classic game of _chapo_[F] until five o'clock, when, if we went to
+the house of the dean of the cathedral, we should come across this
+gentleman enjoying his daily game of _tresillo_ with the dignitary of
+the church, and the rector of San Rafael. When the _chapo_ went on
+longer than usual, an acolyte appeared at the club to tell him that his
+friends were waiting. Then Moro hastened to give the three or four final
+strokes, the boy, between them, helping him on with his coat to save
+time; then, after paying or receiving the balance of his account with
+trembling hands, he ran in breathless haste to the house of the dean.
+There the _tresillo_ lasted till eight o'clock. Then home to supper. At
+nine he repaired to Don Pedro Quinone's house to spend an hour or two in
+the same sort of way, and if he did not go there, he went to Don Juan
+Estrada-Rosa's for the same thing; and at twelve to the Casino, where a
+few night-birds met for a game of _monte_, or lottery. Finally Jaime
+Moro retired to rest at two or three in the morning, quite tired out
+with such a hard day's work, to wake to another exactly the same.
+
+It must not be thought that he was a covetous young man, for the whole
+town knew, and lauded his liberality. He was not incited to play by a
+passion for gain, but by a devotion to the pastime, which extinguished
+all better feelings.
+
+His was an excessively active temperament, without the intelligence or
+the wish for any serious aim in life. In his short moments of idleness
+he looked like a quiet, careless, lymphatic man, but directly he had the
+cards, billiard-cue, or dominoes in his hand, he evinced an interest
+which utterly changed his expression, as his eyes brightened and his
+hands showed more power.
+
+He was a universal favourite, and there never was a man more suave and
+gentle in manner. He was never heard to speak ill of anybody, and those
+who see only the dark side of things and the weak point of people's
+characters, said that he never grumbled because he did not know how to,
+and that he was as good as he was, because he could not be otherwise.
+But there must always be some perverse fools!
+
+However, Moro had one fault, begotten of his playing propensity, he
+considered he was invincible in every game. It could not be denied that
+he was a great expert at them, but there is a great difference between
+that, and being utterly unrivalled, which was the case with Moro. This
+gave rise to those tedious, eternal commentaries, which seasoned every
+game, until they became quite a byword in Lancia.
+
+When, after making a stroke on the billiard-table, the balls did not go
+as he wanted, he struck his head in despair:
+
+"A little less ball and mine would have gone into the pocket! But I was
+obliged to strike well on the ball so that the red ball should go down,
+because if the ball does not go down, you know how it would be."
+
+If things went according to his ideas, he did not mind how much he lost;
+the money was nothing to him as long as he saved his professional
+honour. He talked unceasingly, making a running commentary upon every
+stroke he made; and he went on just the same at cards. However, he never
+blamed his companions, or lost his temper when his plan of action was
+defeated. He certainly talked incessantly, but it was always to explain
+or to palliate some point in the game, and the eternal repetitions,
+delivered in the same eloquent and persuasive tone, provoked a smile
+from the onlookers.
+
+"If I had only had a king then! If I had but had another trump! I did
+not dare give the lead because I thought that Don Pedro--Why could not
+this three of hearts have been three of diamonds? With the deuce of
+spades this trick was once got."
+
+He was a noisy fellow, but very polite and kind.
+
+"I say, it is your play now, is it not?" said Valero to our friend as he
+looked over the players' shoulders and had a glance at their cards.
+
+"Do you think that can be done?" said Moro, vacillating.
+
+"Yes, I think so."
+
+"There is too little of this and not enough of that," returned Moro,
+discreetly pointing at the cards with his finger.
+
+"Nevertheless, nevertheless, I think----"
+
+"Well, well, let us play," replied Moro, with his usual politeness.
+
+That game was lost. Moro gave a look at his companions, and shrugged his
+shoulders; then as Valero turned away, he said in a low tone:
+
+"I did not want to vex Don Enrique, but I knew that that play could not
+win."
+
+And having thus vindicated his reputation, he was as pleased as if he
+had won the game.
+
+The Conde de Onis seemed absent when he came in, and as time went on, he
+became more and more thoughtful and gloomy; and he played so carelessly
+that his friends called him to book several times.
+
+"But, Conde, what has come to you?" said Don Pedro, at last, "you seem
+so very preoccupied."
+
+"Yes, you have actually trumped my trick," added Valero, in distress.
+
+Seeing himself thus taken to task, the count looked as confused as if
+his companions had read his thoughts.
+
+"Nothing particular is the matter with me," he replied; and taking
+refuge in an innocent excuse, he added, "I am only suffering from
+toothache."
+
+"So the poor fellow is ill!" said Valero.
+
+Whereupon they all began pitying him, and asking him particulars about
+his complaint.
+
+The count being now at his wit's end, answered the questions at random.
+
+"Well, for that pain, Senor Conde," said Saleta, "there is no finer
+remedy than iron. You will find that it is so. When I was a student I
+suffered dreadfully from my teeth. I never dared have one drawn, but the
+landlord I had in Santiago told me the best thing to do was to take a
+thread, and tie one end to the tooth, and the other to the back of the
+chair, so that it was gradually drawn out without any pain. I sat myself
+in a chair, and when the tooth was well tied I got up from the chair and
+left it hanging behind me. You see I had nothing to do but jump up."
+
+Valero shook his head in despair, and the others looked at him and
+smiled. But Saleta did not notice, or pretended not to notice it, and
+continued his story in the quiet matter-of-fact way and the strong
+Galician accent peculiar to him.
+
+"Afterwards I quite overcame my fear of tooth-drawing. The dentist of
+Corunna extracted five, one after the other; and when I was judge at
+Allariz I was in dreadful pain, and as there was no dentist the
+_Promotor_[G] pulled out three for me with his wife's curling tongs; but
+do you know this gave me inflammation of the mouth? I was then at
+Madrid, and Ludovisi, the queen's dentist, burnt my gums with a red-hot
+iron, and then extracted seven good teeth."
+
+"There went fifteen!" murmured Valero.
+
+"Yes, and I had no further trouble until four years ago, when, whilst I
+was staying with a friend in a little place in the province of Burgos,
+the pain came on again. There was no doctor, no surgeon, nobody. But a
+charlatan happened to come along who extracted teeth whilst on
+horseback; and I was in such distress that I was obliged to have
+recourse to him, and he took out two with the tail end of a spoon."
+
+"Oh! my man, what humbug!" exclaimed Valero in utter indignation, "and
+may I ask if you have a tooth left in your head?"
+
+Manin at this moment, with his usual want of manners, opened his mouth
+wide with a loud guffaw, to the astonishment of the party. Then the
+great giant turned round in his chair and composed himself to sleep.
+
+"You have never suffered from your teeth, have you, Manin?" asked the
+Grandee, who could not be a quarter of an hour without appealing to his
+majordomo.
+
+"What?" asked the fellow without opening his eyes.
+
+"He is like a rock!" said the nobleman with real enthusiasm.
+
+Then Manin sat up a little, and rubbing his eyes with his fists, he
+said:
+
+"I never had anything worse than a stomach-ache: It came on as I was
+loading a cart with hay, and it lasted more than a month. I could not
+touch a morsel of food, and it was just as if I had a fox continually
+gnawing at my inside. My ribs felt as if they would break in agony, and
+I leant against the wall, bowed down with pain, and showed my teeth like
+a serpent. I became as yellow as corn in harvest time. One day the senor
+priest said to me: 'Manin, you have no heart.' 'I have no heart, senor
+cure!' said I. 'You don't know me well if you say that, for it is
+beating here for its very life. I have more heart than what you would
+think!' 'Then there is nothing to be done, Manin, but to send for the
+doctor,' said he. 'No, indeed, senor cure; I want none of their drugs
+and plaisters.' 'Well, if you don't send for him, I shall,' was his
+answer. At last there was no help for it, and although I was still
+against it, Don Rafael, the doctor of the mines, arrived. He made me
+undress as far as my shirt, and then forced me by the shoulders on to a
+trough. Then he set to giving me blows on the chest with his knuckles,
+as if he were knocking at a door. He thumped me here, and he thumped me
+there, and listened with his ear pressed against my body. 'Nay,' I
+cried. 'Gently! gently my good fellow! Find the truant!' And he went on
+for half an hour longer, knocking with his knuckles and listening with
+his ear. At last he got tired of hearing nothing. 'Ah! friend of my
+soul!' he said, making the sign of the cross, 'you have a liquid heart.
+I never saw anything like it in my life!' 'Yes, I knew that before, Don
+Rafael,' said I."
+
+Having got so far in his relation, Manin stopped suddenly, turned an
+angry glance on the audience, and muttered under his breath: "And what
+do these asses find to laugh at?"
+
+Then, throwing his shaggy head back in the armchair, he closed his eyes
+in great disgust.
+
+The Grandee's guests resumed their game, laughing all the while, but the
+count became more and more thoughtful and absent.
+
+At last no longer able to control his upset state of nerves, he rose
+from his seat saying:
+
+"I say, Don Enrique, will you kindly take my place; this pain is so
+tiresome that I must move about?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE DISCOVERY
+
+
+When the count went back to the drawing-room, he found the young people
+preparing for a _rigodon_ (a country dance). The seat at the piano was
+occupied by one of the daughters of the _Pensioner_; for such was the
+name given in the town to Don Cristobal Mateo, as he was an old
+government official, who, after serving many years in the Philippines,
+had retired some time ago on an income of 30,000 reales.[H]
+
+He had a military bearing and quite a martial aspect, with his white
+moustache, large rolling eyes, thick eyebrows, and powerful hands.
+Nevertheless, there was not a kinder man in the Spanish dominions. His
+career had been cast in Exchequer offices, and he always expressed
+strong opinions against the power of the army. He maintained that the
+blood-suckers of the State were not those employed in civil functions,
+but the army and navy. The fact was demonstrated by the production of
+figures and notes on the subject, when he would quite lose himself in
+bureaucratic divagations. He said that war was caused by the thirst for
+blood emanating from the superfluous energy of the nation. This was a
+phrase he had read in the _Boletin de Contribuciones Indirectas_ and
+appropriated as his own with marked effect. He said soldiers were
+vagrants, and his aversion to all uniforms and epaulettes was extreme.
+When the Corporation of Lancia talked of applying to the government for
+a regiment to garrison the city, he, as councillor, opposed the measure
+most resolutely.
+
+What was the good of bringing a lot of spongers into the neighbourhood?
+Instead of having the comfort of being at some distance from a regiment,
+they would have all the disadvantages of harbouring one. Everything
+would get dear, for the colonels and officers liked to live well and
+have the best of everything, "after all the hard work they did to earn
+it," he added, ironically. Then they were all gamblers, and their bad
+example would contaminate the youths of the place, who never indulged in
+such licence except on times of holiday making. As they were such an
+idle lot (Don Cristobal firmly believed that a soldier had nothing to
+do), one could imagine what a set of rogues they were! In short, the
+regiment would be a corrupting element and a source of disturbance in
+the place. So Mateo got his way, not merely because it was his way, but
+because the Minister of War did not consider it necessary to send
+soldiers to Lancia, considering the peaceable condition of the
+inhabitants.
+
+With his income of 30,000 reales, the Pensioner might have lived very
+comfortably in such a cheap place, if his daughters had not been
+possessed with the silly fancy of preferring the hats of Madrid to those
+that were made by the milliner of the Calle de Joaquin, and eight-button
+gloves to four-button ones. Such superior tastes gave rise in the
+Pensioner's house to many an upset, with all its accompanying tears,
+hysterics, regrets, disinclination for food, &c. In these terrible
+conflicts it must be confessed that Don Cristobal did not always comport
+himself with the dignity, firmness and courage befitting his large
+moustachios and strongly marked eyebrows. Certainly he was always alone
+in the fray. Never by any chance did one of his girls side with him,
+unless it was on a question apart from the domestic arrangement of the
+house, when some of the daughters joined with papa against the others.
+But whenever a problem of economy came to the fore, the Pensioner was
+sure to have all four children against him. Then Don Cristobal, like an
+experienced general, tried every means to rout the enemy, or to
+capitulate under fair terms.
+
+One day the girls were suddenly seized with a fancy for morocco-leather
+shoes like those of some young lady in the town, who proved to be
+Fernanda Estrada-Rosa. Then Don Cristobal became pensive and turned the
+matter over in his mind, with the result of casually mentioning, in the
+course of conversation at supper, that he had heard at _la Innovadora_
+(the best bootmaker's) that morocco boots were considered very dangerous
+in Lancia on account of the damp; and that Don Nicanor, a local doctor
+happening to be there at the time, observed that morocco was fatal in
+such a cold rainy climate; in fact, catarrhs, sometimes developing to
+galloping consumption, were frequently caught from cold feet. But long
+before the poor old man finished his diatribe against morocco, his
+daughters burst in with such ironical laughter, and sarcastic speeches
+that he was quite crushed.
+
+Another time the girls were bent upon having parasols from Madrid like
+Amalia's. Don Cristobal held out for some time until finally, having the
+worst of it, he had to give in. But fertile in resources like Ulysses,
+he conceived a plan by which the expense would be halved. He went to
+Amalia, and begged her to lend him her parasol for two or three days, so
+that one of the local milliners could make him four others exactly
+similar; and this, at his request, the Senora de Quinones promised to
+keep a solemn secret. But the poor parasols were not up to the mark, and
+when they arrived properly packed through the post, and ran the gauntlet
+of the sharp, anxious eyes of his four daughters, the old man was soon
+called to task for the poorness of the trimmings and the coarseness of
+the work.
+
+"These parasols were not made at Madrid!" said Micaela in a tone of
+decision, for she was the sharpest of the four.
+
+"For goodness' sake, don't be so absurd! Where then do they come from?"
+returned Don Cristobal with assumed surprise, whilst he felt the colour
+mount to his face.
+
+"I don't know, but I am perfectly sure they were not made in Madrid."
+
+And the four nymphs turned them over, felt them with their experienced
+fingers, and studied and analysed them so minutely, that their father
+was plunged into a fearful state of suspense. They exchanged significant
+glances, smiled scornfully, and spoke in whispers. In the meanwhile the
+Pensioner was a martyr to such an extreme state of nervous anxiety that
+his very moustachios were affected.
+
+At last the fanciful beings left the purchases in scornful disdain upon
+the drawing-room chairs, and ran and locked themselves in Jovita's room,
+where they remained half an hour in secret conclave, whilst Don
+Cristobal waited in anxious trepidation, as he walked up and down the
+corridor like a criminal expecting his sentence.
+
+At last the door opened, and the guilty creature stood awaiting the
+verdict of the judges. But they maintained a cautious reserve, whilst an
+enigmatical smile wreathed their white lips. Then two of them put on
+their mantillas and gloves, and darted into the street, to return in a
+short time to the domestic hearth with blazing eyes, agitated faces, and
+in a tremor of indignation.
+
+The pen is powerless to portray the subsequent scene in the Pensioner's
+peaceful dwelling. What cries of rage! what bitter sarcasm! what
+hysterical laughter! what wringing of hands! what banging of chairs! and
+what exclamations of woe! And in the midst of such a scene, terrible
+enough to strike terror into the heart of the most serene, the four
+parasols, the innocent cause of all the fray, lay on the ground in
+ignominious ruin.
+
+With the exception of these periodical disturbances which upset the
+somewhat weak nerves of the Pensioner, his existence was very calm and
+peaceful, for the numberless, but valuable, little attentions which make
+life pleasant were never wanting. His daughters were careful about
+having everything in order, and in its place. His shirts and
+underclothing were kept in perfect order, his cravats, made from old
+material, looked as fresh as if straight from the hosiers, his slippers
+were always ready when he came home, the water put for his foot-bath on
+Saturdays, his cigar before going to bed, his glass of water with lemon
+for his morning draught, &c., all went on with the sweet and regular
+mechanism so pleasing to the aged.
+
+It was true that with four daughters it did not represent much trouble,
+especially if they were not under the dominion of some fancy or desire.
+But the sight of some new-fashioned hat, the news of the arrival of a
+dramatic company, or the announcement of some party at the Casino, would
+be enough to cause the wildest excitement, in which every other
+consideration went to the wall, and they were seen flying off to the
+dressmaker, glove-shop, and perfumer. As these wild freaks of fancy did
+not harmonise very well with the prosaic details of existence, a slight
+disorganisation ensued; but Don Cristobal bore these disturbances with
+composure. After a short time of chaos, order returned, and his life
+resumed its usual peaceful course. The names of these daughters, in
+order of age, were as follows: Jovita, Micaela, Socorro, and Emilita. In
+appearance, they were four insignificant beings, neither beautiful nor
+ugly, graceful nor ungraceful, young nor old, sad nor vivacious. There
+was nothing remarkable in any one of them, and yet by the domestic
+hearth the character of each was quite distinct. Jovita was sentimental
+and reserved, Michaela was quick tempered, and Emilita was the liveliest
+of the party. Don Cristobal was greatly exercised on two subjects, one
+was the reduction of the army and the other was the marriage of his
+four daughters, or at least two of them. The first project was in a fair
+way to success, for political opinion inclined in its favour, but as for
+the other, I am sorry to say that there seemed no likelihood of its
+realisation. In spite of sacrificing many comforts to dress expenses,
+and frequenting the promenades, and the Quinones' balls with a
+regularity deserving success, the precious gifts of Hymen were not
+attained.
+
+When some imprudent fellow ventured to pay them any attention he was
+told that they would be quite grieved to marry in their father's life,
+for it seemed cruel to think of abandoning a poor old man, who loved
+them so dearly, and had sacrificed so much for them; and these
+protestations were followed by the warmest eulogy on their father's
+character.
+
+But the Pensioner was quite anxious to repudiate these too filial
+sentiments, and his desire of experiencing the cruelty of being
+abandoned was so evident that it was quite a joke. As if the daughters
+did not make themselves sufficiently ridiculous, Mateo made the
+situation worse by throwing them at the heads of all the marriageable
+young men of the town.
+
+But the praises sung by the old man on the cleverness, economy, and good
+management of his daughters, were all without effect. Directly a
+stranger arrived at Lancia, Don Cristobal took care to strike up an
+acquaintance with him. He invited him to coffee at his house, took him
+to his box at the theatre, showed him the beauties of the surrounding
+country, went with him to see the reliques of the cathedral, visited the
+natural history museum, and, in short, did all the honours of the place.
+
+People smiled at the little play which had been acted so many times
+without success, for Jovita was the only one who arrived at the dignity
+of having a lover for three or four years, which fact made her feel far
+superior to her sisters. The young man had been a foreign student who
+had courted her during the latter courses of his studies; but when they
+were over, he returned to his country, and, forgetting his engagement to
+Jovita, he there married a lady of property. The others never even
+attained to this degree of love-making, they never got farther than
+fancies, or flirtations of a fortnight's duration. Trifling attentions
+were paid, but nothing serious ensued.
+
+By degrees the girls assumed a colder demeanour, for although they had
+not given up hope, they were tired, and the one all-absorbing idea made
+a line of care on their brows. But Cristobal did not think of giving in.
+He firmly believed in the husbands of his daughters, and he propounded
+the fact with as much assurance as the prophets of the Old Testament
+announced the coming of the Messias.
+
+"When my daughters marry," he would say, "instead of spending the summer
+in Sarrio, where the etiquette is as strict as in Lancia, I shall go to
+Rodillero to breathe the fresh air and fish for perch. Listen to me,
+Micaela; don't be so sharp, woman. You will find a husband won't put up
+with those frivolous ways; he will expect to be answered in a proper
+manner."
+
+"My husband will have to put up with what he can get," returned the pert
+girl, with a disdainful toss of her head.
+
+"And if he gets tired of that?" asked Emilita, mischievously.
+
+"He will have double work then, for he will get tired, and get tired of
+getting tired."
+
+"And suppose he took the stick to you?"
+
+"He would have to be careful, for I should be quite equal to poisoning
+him."
+
+"Goodness! what a horror!" exclaimed the three nereids, laughing.
+
+So that hypothetical husband, that abstract being, figured as constantly
+in conversation as if he were of flesh and blood, and lived in the next
+house.
+
+The daughter now playing the piano was Emilita, the most musical of the
+four sisters. The other three were standing, each hanging on the arm of
+a young man.
+
+The count crossed the room to Fernanda-Rosa, who was arm-in-arm with a
+girl friend. She did not seem to care for the dancing, albeit she was a
+young lady renowned in the town for her beauty, elegance, and fortune.
+She was the only daughter of Don Juan Estrada-Rosa, the richest banker
+and merchant of the province. Tall, moderately stout, with a dark
+complexion, regular, striking features, large, very black, scornful
+looking eyes, and a graceful figure, embellished by the elegant
+toilettes, that were the despair and envy of all the girls of the town,
+she did not look as if she belonged to the place, but as if she had been
+transported from one of the most aristocratic court _salons_.
+
+"How charming you are looking, Fernanda!" exclaimed the count, in a low
+voice, with a bow of admiration.
+
+The beauty scarcely deigned to smile, but made a little scornful pout.
+
+"How do you do, Luis?" she said, giving him her hand with marked
+displeasure.
+
+"Not so well as you are, but I am pretty well."
+
+"Only pretty well? I am sorry. I am perfectly well--you have not
+forgotten me, then?" she returned in the same displeased tone, without
+looking him in the face.
+
+"Why, no, how could one forget the star Sirius?"
+
+"I do not understand astronomy."
+
+"Sirius is the most brilliant star in the heavens, everybody knows
+that."
+
+"Well then I did not know it. You see how ignorant I am."
+
+"I certainly do not; but you have modesty united to beauty and talent."
+
+"No, I know I have no talent, but you do not like to tell me so."
+
+"My girl, I have but just told you the contrary."
+
+There was a touch of bitterness in the displeased tone of Fernanda,
+whilst that of the count was calm and ceremonious, although slightly
+dashed with irony.
+
+"Very well, then I have misunderstood you."
+
+"That is what you always do."
+
+"Caramba, how polite!" exclaimed the young girl, growing pale.
+
+"You always think something disagreeable is meant," quickly added the
+count, as he saw by the change in her face what idea had crossed her
+mind.
+
+"Many thanks. I take your words for what they are worth."
+
+"You will be wrong in not thinking them sincere. Besides, there is no
+need my telling you how worthy you are of admiration, for everybody
+knows it."
+
+"Thank you; thank you! So you are tired of playing?"
+
+"My teeth hurt me a little."
+
+"Have them out."
+
+"All of them?"
+
+"Those that hurt you, man. Ave Maria!"
+
+"With what indifference you say it. I suppose nothing would affect you?"
+
+"I am always affected by the sufferings of a neighbour."
+
+"A neighbour! What a horror! I had not heard that I was put in the
+category of neighbour."
+
+"What do you want, sir? Honours come when least expected."
+
+In spite of the vexed, almost aggressive, tone of her voice, Fernanda
+did not move away, but stood holding the arm of the little friend, who
+never opened her lips. The rich heiress was evidently very nervous. She
+gave little taps on the ground with her foot, crushed up her
+handkerchief in her hand, her lips trembled almost imperceptibly, and
+round her dark Arab-looking eyes there was a paler circle than usual.
+The argument evidently interested her.
+
+Her engagement with the Conde de Onis had lasted longer than any
+previous one.
+
+When Fernanda first appeared in society, and earlier still, when she was
+a little maiden going to school with a servant, her figure, her
+elegance, and, above all, the six millions she was to inherit, created
+quite a sensation. There was not a youth with any pretensions to manners
+or money, who did not determine, either of his own accord, or at the
+instigation of his family, to walk down the street with her, send her
+little notes, and whisper pleasant nothings in her ear.
+
+De Sarrio, de Nueva, and other places also furnished admirers, who came
+under the pretext of taking a holiday. The girl, pleased and intoxicated
+with the incense of admiration, never thought of keeping faith with
+anybody, for she was continually breaking one engagement and entering
+into another. A young man seldom remained in her good graces more than a
+couple of months. In fact, there was no one in a position to marry her,
+and in Lancia and the rest of the province, there was nobody possessed
+of property equal to her _dot_. If, perchance, such a one existed, he
+was not of fitting age to enter into matrimony with such a young girl,
+for he would be some Indian worn out by tropical heat, or the elderly
+owner of some remote, grand, country mansion.
+
+It was not necessary for her father to mention the matter, for the girl
+perfectly understood that there was no one to suit her; but she enjoyed
+flirting all round and making the youths of Lancia adore her. There was
+one young man, however, whom no girl of the town had ever dared to think
+of marrying, and that was the Conde de Onis. He was deeply respected on
+account of his old family in the province, where the abject worship of
+aristocracy sinks the burgess beneath the level of the servant and the
+agricultural labourer; and his retired style of life and the mystery and
+silence of his old palace, added to his handsome income, seemed to exalt
+him to an atmosphere aloof from the darts of all the local beauties.
+
+But it was for this very reason, that there arose in Fernanda's bosom a
+desire, at first vague, and then strong, and overwhelming, to make a
+conquest of him. This is a very natural wish, and being especially a
+feminine one, it requires no explanation. In the bottom of her heart the
+daughter of Estrada-Rosa felt herself inferior to the Conde de Onis.
+Nevertheless, she had heard so much flattery; and the glitter of her
+father's money seemed so irresistible, that she thought she could well
+aspire to making him her husband. If she did not really think so, she
+pretended to do so when speaking of the count behind his back, and
+affecting a certain familiarity in his presence.
+
+In Lancia, as in all the little capitals, the young men and women adopt
+the fashion of _tutoyant_ each other, and this was authorised from their
+having known each other and played together as children. But for a long
+time the Conde de Onis never exchanged a word with Fernanda, although
+they constantly met in the street. Nevertheless, when they first met at
+a little party at the De Mere's, the young beauty immediately addressed
+him as _tu_, and dropped his title. It was Luis here, and Luis there, as
+if she were quite accustomed to his name. The count was surprised
+without being displeased. No one is sorry to find himself _tutoye_ by a
+lovely girl, and a naturally shy and timid man, like the count, was not
+likely to be the exception.
+
+Fernanda at once tried to enlist him as an admirer, or at least to make
+him appear as such in the eyes of the public, who looked upon it as a
+proper state of things. There was no other husband for Fernanda, and no
+other wife for the count in the province.
+
+The distance that separated them was retrospective: it existed only in
+Fernanda's lack of ancestors, and it was generally thought that the
+young girl's beauty, money, and brilliant education, would make the
+count overlook this drawback.
+
+These relations lasted about a year.
+
+The two met at a party of the Senoritas de Mere, which was always
+considered a pleasant occasion. She had often hinted to the count that
+he might go to that house, but he had either not understood, or
+pretended not to understand her. But one day Fernanda openly made the
+suggestion. He tried to get out of it as well as he could. Was he timid?
+or was he proud? Fernanda could not make him out; however, this reserve
+increased his attraction for her, and made her like him all the more.
+But suddenly, when the public least expected it--when, in fact, it had
+begun to ask the reason of the delay of the marriage, the engagement was
+broken off. It was done diplomatically and secretly, so much so that it
+had been over for a month, and yet people were still joking them, not
+knowing there had been a break. The fact when revealed, produced a great
+sensation, and became the subject of ceaseless conversation at all the
+parties. No one could say what had happened, or who had given the
+initiative in the matter. If the count was asked, he stoutly maintained
+that Fernanda had given him up; and so much stress did he lay upon the
+statement, that nobody doubted his sincerity. The heiress, Estrada-Rosa,
+corroborated her lover's assertion without going into particulars, and
+this in the off-hand tone she always adopted when speaking of, or to,
+the count, for they went on seeing each other pretty frequently, albeit
+not quite so often, although they attended parties at the houses of
+mutual friends. Moreover, Fernanda soon after became an _habituee_ at
+the dances at the Quinones' house. But the past relations were never
+renewed, and when the two former lovers met and talked a little as now,
+the guests looked on with bated breath and interested eyes.
+
+"They will go on as before; they will end by marrying!" they thought.
+
+But they were disillusioned at the sight of the indifference with which
+they parted.
+
+Just as he was going to reply to the last words of the proud heiress,
+the glance of the count wandered absently round the room and fell upon a
+pair of eyes fixed upon him with a sharp and jealous gaze, whereupon he
+gave his hand to his friend and said with a forced smile:
+
+"How badly you treat me, Fernanda! It will ever be so, I suppose, but I,
+you know, am always your devoted admirer. _Au revoir._"
+
+"I am sorry that this devotion neither pleases nor displeases me," she
+returned, without moving a step away.
+
+Then the count went off shrugging his shoulders resignedly and saying:
+
+"And I am still more sorry."
+
+Passing by the couples, who had commenced the _rigodon_, he returned to
+the lady of the house, who was at that moment with Manuel Antonio, one
+of the persons most worthy of note in this period we are recording.
+
+He was known as much by the nickname of the Chatterbox, or Magpie, as by
+his own name. This fact is sufficient to give us an idea of his moral
+and physical characteristics.
+
+Manuel Antonio was not young--he was certainly fifty; and all the
+artificial means not distinguished for refinement, then in vogue in
+Lancia, were brought into play to hide the fact.
+
+He had an unmistakable wig, several false teeth badly put in, a little
+black on his eyebrows and red on his lips; there was a strong scent of
+patchouli about him, and there was a dash of originality in his whole
+get-up befitting his reputation for former splendour. He really had been
+a rare combination of face and figure: tall, slender, and well-built,
+with regular delicate features, fine auburn hair falling in graceful
+curls, a smiling countenance, and gentle voice. There now only remained
+a faint trace of all this beauty. The straight shoulders had become
+bent, the beautiful curls had vanished like a dream that was past;
+unwelcome wrinkles furrowed the smooth brow; and the rows of pearly
+teeth, so ornamental to his mouth, were substituted by ugly gaps which
+time had made, and the dentist had failed to replace satisfactorily.
+Finally, his slight, delicate, silky moustache had become white,
+bristly, and shaggy, and neither dye nor cosmetic could keep it
+presentable.
+
+What a trial this was for the handsome young man of Lancia and for the
+friends who had known him in the palmy days of his beauty! But his mind
+kept as youthful as when he was eighteen. He was the same impassioned,
+affectionate creature, sweet one moment, irascible and terrible another,
+following the bent of his caprices and living in quiet idleness.
+
+He enjoyed the pleasures of the bath so intensely that he would have it
+three or more times running, until the water was as clear as when it
+left the spring. He loved flowers and birds, but no delight equalled
+that of trying on different articles of adornment before the glass to
+see which suited him best. He considered that a dash of the feminine
+made his costume more fetching, so in winter he liked to wear a short
+cape with a gold clasp and a wide brimmed hat which suited him to
+perfection. In summer he dressed in white flannel, very well cut to show
+off the graceful lines of his figure. His neckerchiefs were nearly
+always of gauze, his shoes low, and the collar of his shirt cut sailor
+fashion. On his wrist he wore a bracelet; it was certainly only a bright
+gold band, but this detail caught the eyes of all his fellow citizens.
+Whenever Manuel Antonio was spoken of, the bracelet was sure to be
+mentioned, as if there was nothing about his interesting person more
+calculated to excite attention. But if years had not materially changed
+this kind creature, so eminently created for love, they had nevertheless
+made him more cautious and more reserved. He did not show his
+preferences in the ingenuous fashion of former years, and he did not
+give play to the impulsive fancies of his susceptible heart until he had
+proved the worthiness of the object of his affection. Many were the
+disillusions he had suffered in his life, and it was particularly sad
+when he was getting old to meet not only coldness from his old friends,
+from those to whom he had been lavish in marks of kindness, but to find
+that he was an object of derision, in fact the laughing-stock of the
+youths of the new generation. The young people of the present day made a
+regular butt of him.
+
+As they had not witnessed his triumphs, nor known his past radiant
+beauty, they were far from professing that respect that the last
+generation had had for him. They never lost an opportunity of worrying
+and teasing him cruelly. When he appeared in the Calle de Altavilla, or
+entered the Cafe de Maranon, he was surrounded by a crowd of _gamins_.
+Cristo! the remarks that were made; and, sad to say, they passed from
+using their tongues to using their hands. This was what Manuel Antonio
+could not put up with. They could talk as much as they liked, for he had
+the gift of repartee and could well hold his own with his turn for
+sarcasm and his sense of the ridiculous; and years, and long practice
+had made him such an adept in this art of repartee, that his retorts
+were terrible; and those who tried to get a rise out of him generally
+got the worst of it, and were staggered by the words they brought on
+themselves. But when these shameless fellows passed from speech to
+touch, patting his face and pulling his beard, he entirely lost his
+self-control, and gave vent to expressions which were neither
+intentional nor rational. Needless to say that as this was known to be
+his weak point, the teasing always terminated in this way. Nevertheless,
+apart from the pardonable desire to retort on those who hurt him, he was
+not naturally malignant, but really a most useful and serviceable being.
+His talents were many, and various. He could crochet most perfectly, and
+his coverlets were unrivalled in Lancia. He decked an altar, or dressed
+the images as well as any sacristan. He could upholster furniture, make
+wax flowers, paper walls, embroider with hair, and paint plates. And
+when any of his female friends wished to have her hair well dressed to
+go to some ball, Manuel Antonio gallantly went to the rescue, and did it
+as cleverly as the best hairdresser in Madrid. If any of his friends
+were ill, then was the time to see the unfailing care and attention of
+our old Narcissus. He immediately took up his post by the sick bed, he
+kept count of the draughts, made the bed, and put on poultices as
+cleverly as the most practised nurse. Then, if the illness became
+serious, he knew how to suggest the idea of confession with so much
+tact, that instead of the patient being offended, he accepted it as the
+most natural thing in the world. And when he saw that death was
+imminent, he prepared for the reception of the solemn guest, and no lady
+could have taken greater pains to receive some most important personage:
+
+There was the little altar with the embroidered cloth, lighted with
+candles, the staircase adorned with pots of flowers, the ground covered
+with rose-leaves, and the servants and relations at the door, holding
+lighted tapers in gloved hands. Not a single detail was forgotten. The
+Chatterbox, in his glory, assumed the manners of a general at the head
+of his troops. Everybody obeyed and seconded him as if he were a chief.
+Then, if the patient died, it is hardly necessary to say that his power
+was still more omnipotent. From the laying-out of the corpse to the
+final function of burial, there was nothing but what he had a hand in.
+And as there were generally sick people to nurse, images to dress,
+friends who wanted their hair dressed, or flowers to be arranged, Manuel
+had rather a busy life. In performing these offices, or in going from
+house to house fetching and carrying news, the days and years slipped
+by. He lived with two sisters, older than himself, and they looked
+after him, and cared for him as if he were still a child. They paid no
+heed to their brother's wig, wrinkles, or false teeth, and the hours he
+spent on his toilette, and his baths provoked a compassionate smile.
+Whilst they bitterly deplored the ravages made by time on their own
+faces and figures, they seemed to think that their brother had arrested
+the course of the common enemy, and that he had in fact some elixir for
+keeping himself eternally young. Manuel Antonio was methodical in his
+visits: he had several houses at which he called every day at the same
+time. He went to Don Juan Estrada's at three o'clock, the coffee hour;
+he took chocolate with the Countess of Onis every afternoon, and he was
+a regular _habitue_ at the evening receptions of the Senora de Quinones.
+There were several other families that he frequently visited. He dropped
+into the houses of Maria Josefa Hevia and the Mateos in the morning for
+a little while, just to hear any news that was going, or to inspect
+their work, and sometimes of an evening, he went to the Senoritas de
+Mere.
+
+"Look, here is the count!" he exclaimed in his peculiarly effeminate
+tone. "Ah! what a cunning fellow the count is!"
+
+"How?" said the count, approaching.
+
+"Ask Amalia."
+
+Then the smile suddenly left the lips of the nobleman.
+
+"What? What do you mean?" he exclaimed with undisguised confusion.
+
+Amalia also looked upset, and her pale cheeks grew red.
+
+"We have been grumbling at you, my man, and a pretty character we gave
+you. Yes, Manuel Antonio has been saying that you are a dog in the
+manger," said Amalia.
+
+"No, you were the one who said so."
+
+"I?" exclaimed the lady.
+
+"And why am I the dog in the manger?" said the count. "Let us hear."
+
+"Because Amalia says you do not want to eat the meat yourself, and you
+will not let Don Santos eat it."
+
+"Get along! Hold your tongue, you rude fellow!" said the lady
+half-laughing, giving him a pinch.
+
+"What is being said of Don Santos?" asked a short, broad gentleman, with
+a fat purple face, who approached the group.
+
+The count and Amalia did not know what to answer.
+
+"They were remarking," said Manuel Antonio, with his ready tongue, "that
+Don Santos thought of taking us up to his place, the Castaneda
+(Chestnuts)."
+
+"No, no, it was not that," returned the stout man with a forced smile.
+
+"Yes it was, and Amalia maintained that you were not up to taking us to
+the Castaneda for the day."
+
+"But, my good fellow, you seem bent on painting me in very black
+colours," said Amalia.
+
+"Because I am a real friend. How pale you have been looking lately....
+You must credit me, Santos, for having a higher opinion of your
+generosity than the majority of people. 'You don't know Don Santos,' I
+often say to those who declare that you do not like spending money. 'If
+Don Santos does not spend and does not entertain his friends, it is not
+from avarice but from indolence, and from want of a fitting occasion.
+The man is self-distrustful, and incapable of proposing banquets or
+festivities; but let anybody start the idea, and you will see how gladly
+it will be followed up.'"
+
+"Thank you, thank you, Manuel Antonio," murmured Don Santos, with a
+rabbit-like smile.
+
+The poor man was indeed continually haunted by the fear of appearing
+mean. Like many of the Indians, the fact of his being immensely rich
+gave him a reputation, not utterly unfounded, of being mean. He arrived
+a few years ago from Cuba, where by dint of first packing cases with
+sugar and then selling them, he amassed an immense fortune. He was like
+a Bedouin, without any regard for what went on in the world; he could
+not speak a dozen words correctly, nor comport himself like other men.
+The thirty years he had spent behind a counter had caused his legs to
+swell, which had given him the gait of a drunken man. The high colour of
+his complexion was so characteristic, that in Lancia, where few people
+escaped a nickname, he was dubbed _Garnet_.
+
+In the midst of his misery he enjoyed making some show with his riches.
+He built a most magnificent house: the steps were of marble from
+Carrara, the furniture from Paris, &c. Nevertheless, when he came to pay
+the large bills contracted in its construction, he was careful to see
+what could be taken off for the value of the paper and cord, used for
+packing the things for their transit from Paris. With this object in
+view, he would carefully examine these wrappings accumulated in a heap
+in a corner. When the house was finished, he took possession of the
+ground-floor, and let the other two. And then began his martyrdom--a
+martyrdom long and terrible. The servants and children of the second and
+third floors were his torturers. If he heard the floors of the second
+storey being rubbed, he was put in a bad humour, for he said that sand
+was bad for boarded floors. If he saw a mark made on the stucco by the
+careless hand of some little child, he was very angry and muttered words
+of dread import. If he heard a door shut violently, the sound seemed to
+go to his heart, and fears filled his mind lest the hinges should be
+loosened, and the bolts displaced. At last the continual excitement
+threw him into such a highly nervous state that his health visibly
+declined. A friend of his, who was quite as miserable, although endowed
+with more spirit, suggested that he should leave the house and live in
+another one. And so he did, for he returned to the hotel where he had
+put up during the building of his palace.
+
+But Santos was remiss in the performance of the duty considered
+incumbent on all those who make large fortunes from the sugar trade in
+America--he failed to enter into matrimony with any lady, young or old,
+pretty or ugly.
+
+None of his friends ever took a tradesman's daughter for a wife, and
+Garnet could not do less than they. On the contrary, as he was richer
+than any of them, it was natural that he should expect more social
+advantages. And so it came about that he fixed his prominent, bloodshot
+eyes upon the prettiest, richest, and most charming girl in the town--on
+nobody less than Fernanda Rosa. The fact aroused the astonishment and
+derision of the neighbourhood. For highly as money was esteemed in
+Lancia, it was not thought equal to the accomplishment of a feat like
+this. The pride of the province marry a fellow of his caste! The girl
+was angry and indignant. At first she considered it a joke; then she
+became annoyed, and finally she ridiculed the idea. At last she became
+used to Garnet's attentions, and it pleased her self-love to be a
+subject of adulation, which she unmercifully snubbed in return. But
+Santos was pertinacious in his courtship. With the persistence of a fly
+which dashes against glass, trying a hundred times to pass through the
+obstruction, neither repulses, ridicule, nor rude remarks rebuffed him
+for long. He returned the next day, metaphorically speaking, to break
+his head against the cold disdain of the proud heiress. He really
+thought that the real obstacle to the realisation of his hopes was the
+Conde de Onis. He acknowledged that Fernanda was somewhat attracted to
+him, or, as he thought, to his title, and he seriously considered going
+to Madrid to buy one of the same rank as that of his rival. But when he
+was told that the papa set no store by such things, he gave up the idea.
+In the meanwhile, he vowed revenge on the gallant count, and hated him
+with a deadly hatred, which he showed by never losing an opportunity of
+making fun of his ugly, old-fashioned, dilapidated house. The count was
+rich in land, but his income could not be compared with that of the
+opulent Garnet.
+
+"And if not, you will see the day that he marries what a change will be
+effected in the place," continued Manuel Antonio; "we shall have
+banquets, and balls, and _fetes champetres_ every day."
+
+"But suppose Fernanda does not like balls?" said Emilita Mateo, who was
+dancing with Paco Gomez, and had her back to the group.
+
+"I do not know that I have mentioned Fernanda," said the Chatterbox
+severely.
+
+"I thought you were talking of Don Santos marrying, and I supposed you
+meant with her."
+
+"Then do not suppose any more, but attend to your dancing with Paco, for
+I reckon he has been waiting five minutes."
+
+Paco was a very slender young man, so tall that he reached the lintels
+of the doorways, with a head about the size of a potato, and such a thin
+face that he really only seemed to walk about by permission of his
+undertaker. And with these physical peculiarities, he was the wittiest
+person of the place.
+
+"Well, my child!" he exclaimed, standing in front of the Chatterbox.
+"The only thing for which I should regret dying would be to be deprived
+of the pleasure of seeing such bewitching creatures as yourself."
+
+With this he gave his beard a derisive sort of touch.
+
+We know that Manuel Antonio could not bear anybody's hands near him in
+public.
+
+"Be off, you jackdaw, be off!" he returned, with visible irritation as
+he pushed him away.
+
+"But are you not fetching? Why, my man, if this were lost to view! Look
+what a mouth! Goodness alive, what shaped eyes! Did you ever see such a
+texture of the skin?"
+
+And as he touched him again, Manuel repulsed him with a hard push of
+real anger.
+
+"Caramba! how cross you are to-day!" said the Conde de Onis.
+
+"It does not matter," returned Paco with a sigh, "white hands never
+offend."
+
+At that moment it was his turn to figure in the _rigodon_, and he went
+off with Emilita.
+
+Maria Josefa, who had been dancing a little way off, now came up with
+her partner, a lieutenant of the battalion of Pontevedra.
+
+"Why, Don Santos, you are cruel! Why do you not go and keep Fernanda
+company? She is quite alone."
+
+This was true, for the little friend of the rich heiress having found a
+partner for the dance, Fernanda was sitting by herself.
+
+"Yes, yes, you ought to go, Santos," said Manuel Antonio; "see, the girl
+has left an empty chair by her side; she could not give a stronger
+hint."
+
+So saying, he winked at the count, who confirmed his statement by
+saying: "I think it would only be polite."
+
+Garnet cast a sharp glance at the speaker and surlily returned:
+
+"Then why don't you go yourself and sit by her side?"
+
+"For the simple reason that we have nothing to talk about. But with you
+it is quite different."
+
+"That is understood, Senor Conde. I am not a child," he murmured very
+crossly.
+
+"Although you are not a child in age," said Amalia, intervening to
+prevent discord, "you are one in the frankness and spontaneity of your
+sentiments, and in the freshness of heart, that other people younger
+than you are remiss in. Children love with more simplicity and fervour
+than men."
+
+"But men do something more heroic--they marry," said Paco Gomez, who was
+again standing near with his partner.
+
+"There are occasions when they do not marry either," returned Manuel
+Antonio, making an imperceptible grimace, by which it could be seen
+that he was thinking of Maria Josefa.
+
+"Very well," returned that gentleman, abandoning the argument; "but it
+must be allowed that there are cases when such an act would require a
+heroism beyond human nature."
+
+The old maid who overheard this last remark, cast a withering look at
+the speaker.
+
+"Human nature, indeed!" she retorted with displeasure, "human nature
+sometimes assumes such eccentric forms that heroism would appear out of
+place."
+
+However, Paco Gomez was not a whit confused, and merely touched his face
+with comic gestures, feigning a dumb submission, which made the others
+laugh. Amalia, seeing the conversation was getting dangerous, changed
+the subject by exclaiming:
+
+"Look, see what Don Santos has been doing whilst we have been busy
+talking!"
+
+And, in fact, the Indian had quietly left his seat and glided into a
+chair by Fernanda's side.
+
+She glanced at him coldly, and hardly deigned to respond to his
+ceremonious and pompous greeting. Nevertheless, the red face of Garnet
+shone like that of a god sure of his omnipotence. With his large, broad,
+fat hands spread out on his knees, his body bent forwards, and his head
+raised as much as the fat nape of his neck would permit, he disclosed a
+row of large teeth as his lips wreathed in a beneficent smile. Trying,
+according to his wont, to make conversation, he said:
+
+"Have you noticed in what quarter the wind is?"
+
+The young lady made no reply.
+
+"It does not signify now," he continued, "as all the fruit is gathered
+in, but if it had come sooner, we should not have had a chestnut nor a
+grain of maize left, he! he!"
+
+To judge from the expression of pleasure which shone in his eyes,
+Garnet delighted in giving utterance to this remark.
+
+"But it is not cold here, eh? I am not cold, he! he! On the contrary I
+feel hot. It is because your eyes are two coals--they are burn----"
+
+Another time he would have finished the word burning without any
+hesitation, but to excuse his confusion, he feigned a cough which made
+his purple face look as if he were suffering strangulation.
+
+The beauty, who had kept her eyes fixed on space, now turned her head
+towards her adorer, and looked at him with a vague, absent expression,
+as if she did not see him. She then got up, and without vouchsafing a
+word, took a seat a little way off. So the Indian was left with the same
+stereotyped smile on his face, like the petrified grimace of a satyr.
+But when he saw the eyes of the others fixed derisively upon him, he
+suddenly became cross and peevish.
+
+"What has this Garnet to do with the ladies?" said Paco Gomez to the
+count. "As I was saying the other day, you do not need to go to America
+for rich women. Your face is your fortune."
+
+"Look, my dear count, you ought to go and sit by her side. You will see
+she won't get up then," said Manuel Antonio.
+
+"Yes, yes, you ought to go, Luis," said Maria Josefa, "we shall be able
+to see then whether she is in love with you or not. Really, Amalia,
+ought he not to go?"
+
+"Yes, it seems to me that you ought to sit by her side," said the lady
+in measured, trembling tones.
+
+"Do you think so?" asked the count, looking earnestly at her.
+
+"Yes, go," returned the lady, with perfect serenity, avoiding his eyes.
+
+"Then you must allow me to disobey you, as I do not wish to expose
+myself to a rebuff."
+
+"What do rebuffs signify when you are in love?... Because from what I
+hear, you are in love with Fernanda. It is known for a mile round."
+
+"Certainly for a mile round, for that is not saying much," interposed
+Manuel Antonio.
+
+And Maria Josefa, and Emilita Mateo, and Paco Gomez all corroborated the
+remark with a smile.
+
+Amalia insisted effectually. Luis had tried his best to avoid suspicion;
+but as all efforts are ineffectual to exclude every ray of light, she
+had guessed for some time past that the count nourished in the depths of
+his heart an affectionate regard for Fernanda.
+
+"Listen to me," she said; "a few days ago somebody happened to say to
+Moro that he had two false teeth. You cannot think how put out the poor
+man was; a little more and he would have beaten him who told him of it."
+
+"I am not as bad as that," said the count, "but I expressed myself
+somewhat emphatically, as injustice always annoys me," and he smiled
+shamefacedly.
+
+"Oh! excitement in such cases is always suspicious. When one feels no
+interest in anybody, one is not so vehement in denying it. Caramba! I
+never saw you so put out as you are now. One can see that the girl has a
+valiant champion ready to break lances on her behalf."
+
+The lady did not leave the joke. She seemed to wish the count to think
+that his love for Fernanda was a foregone conclusion. In spite of the
+kind smile on her face, there were certain strange inflexions in her
+voice that were only noticeable to one person present at that moment.
+
+But the _rigodon_ was over and the little group was augmented by the
+arrival of several other couples. Some came, and others went, until at
+last the lady found herself surrounded by fresh people. Another waltz
+was danced, and another. Then twelve o'clock struck from the cathedral
+clock. And as the young people showed no sign of dispersing, Manin,
+according to the custom of the house, appeared by Don Pedro's order at
+the drawing-room door with an armful of wraps belonging to the ladies.
+This was the signal for withdrawal adopted by the Senor de Quinones at
+his parties. It was not very courteous, but nobody was offended; on the
+contrary, it was received in good part and considered a pleasant sort of
+joke.
+
+After they had all shaken hands with the Grandee, they formed a group in
+the middle of the drawing-room, and Amalia in the centre bade farewell
+to her female friends, as she kissed them affectionately. She was pale,
+and her eyes looked anxious and feverish as she gave her hand to the
+count; she turned her head aside, feigning inattention; but she pressed
+his fingers firmly three or four times as if to inspire him with
+courage, for indeed the poor man was in want of it. He was so nervous
+and trembling that Amalia thought that he would collapse entirely.
+
+And then the guests quickly passed into the passages and down the damp
+stone staircase. A servant was there to open the street-door.
+
+"Ah! Who left this basket here?" said Emilita Mateo, who was the first
+to come across the obstruction.
+
+"A basket?" asked several ladies as they came up to her.
+
+"Perhaps some poor creature asleep about here," said the servant, who
+had not yet closed the door.
+
+"There is nobody to be seen," said Manuel Antonio, who had quickly
+surveyed the portico.
+
+Curiosity then prompted one of the ladies to raise the cloth which
+covered the basket. Whereupon the same exclamation was heard that
+Pharaoh's daughter uttered when she saw the celebrated basket of Moses
+floating on the river.
+
+"A child!"
+
+Then ensued a moment of amazement and curiosity among the guests. They
+all rushed forward, all wishing to see the foundling at once. For no one
+doubted for an instant but that the child had been purposely left
+there. Paco Gomez picked up the basket and uncovered it completely, so
+as to show the sleeping child to his friends.
+
+Then followed a storm of exclamations.
+
+"Little angel! Who could have been so wicked? Poor little soul! What
+stony-hearted creatures! Oh, my goodness! Look how beautiful he is! Has
+he been left in the cold long? The little thing must be perished. Paco,
+let me touch it."
+
+The basket was passed from hand to hand. The ladies, who were very
+interested and trembling with emotion, pressed so many tender kisses on
+the cheeks of the newly-born that it was aroused from its sleep.
+
+A feeble cry from the little pink creature filled every heart with pity,
+and some of the ladies burst into tears.
+
+"Let us take it upstairs so that it may be warmed a little."
+
+"Yes, yes; let us take it upstairs."
+
+And forthwith the chattering crowd rushed into the hall and up the
+staircase of the mansion of the Quinones, carrying the mysterious basket
+in triumph.
+
+Amalia was standing pale and motionless in the middle of the
+drawing-room when the doors were re-opened. Don Pedro had been taken to
+bed by Manin and another servant. The fresh sudden invasion seemed a
+great surprise to the lady of the house.
+
+"What is the matter? What is this?" she exclaimed, in an agitated voice.
+
+"A baby, a baby!" was the simultaneous cry of many voices.
+
+"We have just found it in the doorway," said Manuel Antonio, putting
+down the basket which he had carried upstairs.
+
+"Who left it there?"
+
+"We do not know. It is a foundling. Look! See how beautiful it is,
+Amalia."
+
+"Perhaps some poor person, who will come and fetch it, just left it in
+the doorway."
+
+"No, no; we have inspected the doorway, and the street is deserted."
+
+The little creature, who was disturbed by all this excitement, now
+stretched out its two little rosebud fists, and the compassion of the
+ladies was evinced in passionate exclamations. Each one wished to kiss
+it and press it to her bosom. At last Maria Josefa managed to get
+possession of it, and taking it from the basket she tenderly wrapped it
+in the cloak with which it had been covered, and pressed it to her
+bosom. Then a paper which had been in the child's clothes fell to the
+ground. Manuel Antonio picked it up. On the paper was written in large
+awkward-looking characters, evidently with the left hand: "The unhappy
+mother of this baby girl commends her to the charity of the Senores de
+Quinones. It is not baptised."
+
+"It is a girl, then!" exclaimed several ladies in one voice.
+
+And in the tone of this remark it was evident that the discovery was
+somewhat disappointing. They had been so certain it was a boy.
+
+"What mystery is this?" asked Manuel Antonio, whilst a malicious smile
+curled his lip.
+
+"Mystery? There is no mystery," returned Amalia with some displeasure.
+"It is evidently some poor woman who wants her child to be maintained."
+
+"Notwithstanding, there is a _je ne sais quoi_ strain of mystery about
+the matter, and I would wager that the parents of this baby are
+well-to-do," replied the Magpie.
+
+"Well, now you are getting foolish!" exclaimed the lady, with a nervous
+smile. "Well-to-do people do not leave their children dressed in rags."
+
+Certainly the baby was dressed in miserable clothes and covered with a
+scanty, dirty cloak.
+
+"Gently, Amalia, gently," interposed Saleta in his clear, quiet voice.
+"Many years ago I found in the doorway of my house in Madrid a child
+enveloped in very old clothes, and at the end of some time we
+ascertained that he was the son of a very important personage, who shall
+be nameless."
+
+All eyes were now turned to the Galician magistrate in surprise.
+
+"It was a very important personage, it was----" he continued, after a
+pause, with the same cool impertinence: "well, it was very easy to guess
+who it was; the features of the face showed him to be a perfect
+Bourbon."
+
+The audience was quite taken aback. They looked at each other with the
+slightly amused smile prevalent on such occasions, and Saleta was quite
+unconcerned.
+
+"Hurry up!" exclaimed Valero; "won't you have your umbrella?"
+
+"The child died when he was two months old," continued the imperturbable
+Saleta; "and it was a fact that when we went to the cemetery, a carriage
+joined the funeral cortege, and nobody knew to whom it belonged. But I
+knew it, for I had seen it in the royal stables; however, I held my
+tongue."
+
+"Will the babbler never cease?" murmured Valero.
+
+"All right, Saleta; you must tell us this story by day, at night such
+things are rather boring," said the Chatterbox intervening and winking
+at the others. "What we have to think of now, Amalia, is what is to be
+done with the baby."
+
+The lady shrugged her shoulders with indifference.
+
+"I don't know. We will leave her here to-night, and to-morrow we will
+look for a nurse for her, for it is really quite an upset."
+
+"If you do not care about keeping her in the house, I shall be very
+pleased to take charge of her, Amalia," said Maria Josefa, who had stood
+a little apart cooing to the baby to keep it quiet.
+
+"I did not say that I did not wish to," returned the lady, somewhat
+sharply. "I will take the child, because it concerns me more than
+anybody, since it is confided to my care. But, as you can understand,
+before doing so I must consult my husband."
+
+The guests greeted these words with a murmur of approbation.
+
+Just at that moment Manin appeared, to ask the meaning of all the
+excitement. It was explained to him. Then the Senor de Quinones had
+himself brought back into the drawing-room in his wheeled chair; and
+when he saw the baby, he at once interested himself in her behalf.
+
+He immediately declared she should not leave the house, and he told a
+servant to find a nurse in the morning. In the meanwhile the little
+creature had a little milk and tea in a flask with an india-rubber top;
+and it was then enveloped in better wraps. The guests watched these
+operations with the keenest interest. The ladies uttered cries of
+enthusiasm, and their eyes overflowed with tears when they saw the eager
+way the baby sucked the top of the bottle.
+
+When all was done, they said good-bye again; but they did not leave
+without each one pressing a kiss on the cheeks of the poor little
+foundling baby.
+
+All this time the Conde de Onis did not open his lips. He stood in the
+third or fourth row, following with eager eyes all the attention and
+care bestowed upon the infant. But when he was about to depart without
+again taking leave, Amalia stopped him with an audacity which almost
+petrified him.
+
+"What is this, count? Do you not wish to kiss my charge?"
+
+"I, yes, Senora."
+
+This was the finishing stroke. And pale and trembling he approached, and
+put his lips on the little creature's forehead, whilst the lady watched
+him with a provoking triumphant smile.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE TOWN
+
+
+This was the third night that the Conde de Onis could hardly close his
+eyes. Nothing was more natural than that he should be agitated and
+feverish the last two nights; but now, wherefore? All had happened as it
+had been arranged. The undertaking had succeeded well, he had nothing to
+do but sleep on his triumph. But it was not so. In spite of his strong
+robust figure, the Conde had an excessively nervous and impressionable
+temperament. The slightest emotion upset him and excited him to an
+indescribable extent. Such intense sensibility was the result of
+heredity as well as education. His father, Colonel Campo, had been a
+self-centred sensitive man, of such keen susceptibility that he was
+quite a martyr to it the last years of his life. Everybody in Lancia
+recollected the interesting touching episode which closed the life of
+the single-minded gentleman.
+
+The colonel had had to send forces to defend a place in Peru during the
+insurrection of the American colonists; but the place was taken by
+surprise in an underhand way. By a false report the colonel was accused
+of treachery before the Government at Madrid, it being asserted that he
+had been in collusion with the enemy. With severe precipitancy, without
+impartial evidence of the facts, and without taking into consideration
+the Conde of Onis' brilliant career in the Service, the king deprived
+him of his commission, and all the crosses and decorations in his
+possession. The punctilious old soldier was completely crushed by this
+unexpected blow. His comrades snatched the pistol from him just when he
+attempted his life. Accompanied by a faithful attendant, he left Madrid
+and came to Lancia, where his wife and son of tender age were awaiting
+him. The family life was a sedative for the wounded heart of the
+soldier. But the brave man who had so often defied death, had not the
+courage to face the curious eyes of his fellow-citizens. Instead of
+rebelling against the injustice that had been done him, instead of
+trying to convince his compatriots of his innocence, which would not
+have been very difficult, as they all esteemed his character, and knew
+his bravery, he was so conscious of his disgrace that he avoided the
+sight of people and retired to his house, and he never walked farther
+than the garden at the back of the house, bounded by high, crumbling
+walls.
+
+The palace of the Counts of Onis deserves especial mention in this
+story. It was a very old building; some remains of the original edifice
+which were still extant, were the oldest part of the town. Nothing else
+was saved from the dreadful fire which destroyed the city in the
+fourteenth century. It was more like a fortress than a mansion. There
+were a few narrow windows fitted with stone columns, scattered
+capriciously over the facade, a bare stone wall blackened by time, with
+several square holes like ventilators near the roof, and a large door in
+the middle studded with heavy nails. Inside it was immense, and more
+cheerful. The courtyard was broader than the street.
+
+The sun came in at the window at the back at midday, and its rays were
+tempered by the branches of the garden-trees which formed a pleasant
+curtain.
+
+There was a great deal of mystery and enchantment about this old house
+for the Lancians, who were endowed with imagination; more especially for
+the children, who are the only beings who are open to weird fancies in
+this prosaic age.
+
+The facade, if such a name can be given to the aforesaid wall, faced the
+Calle de la Misericordia, one of the most central streets of the town.
+
+One of the windows, perchance the largest, overlooked the Calle de
+Cerrajerias, and from it could be seen the cathedral in the distance.
+
+Here it was that the ex-colonel buried himself; for neither the
+entreaties of his wife nor the few relations who came to see him,
+prevailed on him to change his habits.
+
+But his retirement was useful to the house, for he put the garden in
+order, had balconies placed at the back of the house, furnished various
+rooms, had the courtyard paved, &c.
+
+Thus, without losing its character of mystery, the dismal old house was
+transformed into a pleasanter abode.
+
+But the old soldier having fallen into disgrace, seemed to wither up
+within its walls like a tree in want of air and water.
+
+A profound melancholy sapped his constitution: his skin became wrinkled,
+his hair turned white, his legs grew feeble, and his hands shaky.
+
+At fifty-eight he looked as old as if he were seventy, but this change
+was unnoticed in the house.
+
+He glided about the corridors like a ghost. Whole days went by without
+any one hearing the sound of his voice. But he was not disagreeable to
+anybody, and there was a sweet pleasant smile always on his lips.
+
+He never courted caresses from his child, but when he met him by chance
+in the passages he would lay his hand on his head, kiss him fondly,
+murmur tender words in his ear, and then turn away, sometimes with tears
+in his eyes. He thought it a blot on the life of that little boy, ruddy
+and beautiful as a cherubim, to have been born of a disgraced father,
+and the unhappy man seemed to ask his pardon for his existence. It was
+the year 1829; four years had elapsed since the colonel arrived from
+America, and he looked a very spectre. He slept well, ate well, and
+nothing seemed to worry him; but his life seemed slipping away, in a
+slow but sure consumption. His wife sent for a doctor, and then another
+and another. But they all said the same: it was necessary for him to
+amuse himself and to associate with people. And these were just the
+particular remedies which the count declined to adopt. By degrees he
+stayed longer in bed, he rose later, and retired to rest earlier. He
+lost all inclination to work in the garden, never went outside the four
+walls of the house, and indoors he gave up looking after the things
+which used to interest him, being generally handy, such as attending to
+the aviary and other manual occupations. The few hours that were not
+passed in bed were spent in an armchair, or in walking through the
+corridors in silence, until at last he left off getting up altogether.
+Luis recollected all this perfectly. When he used to go into his
+father's apartments he saw him with his eyes fixed on the ceiling and an
+expression of terrible distress upon his face. He would turn his head
+when his son entered the room, smile, call him to him by signs, and
+after giving him a kiss would seem to want him to go.
+
+One day the boy saw much coming and going in the house; the servants
+were running about in distress, exchanging rapid words with each other.
+The few available friends and relations were summoned, and frightened
+the child by their long faces. On entering his father's room he saw that
+an altar was being erected. Having been placed in a corner by one of the
+servants, he was told not to be afraid, but his father was about to
+confess, and partake of the Holy Communion when the Divine Majesty would
+be present. The injunction not to be frightened, which was repeated
+several times, produced a contrary effect. The boy understood that
+something serious was going on. In fact, the Count of Onis was dying; he
+was certainly taking his departure, as his relations said. The doctor
+said he was to be prepared.... At six o'clock in the evening the doors
+of the palace of Onis were thrown open to receive the priest, who had
+come in the carriage of the house bearing the Sacred Host. The servants
+and relations were waiting in the doorway with lighted torches. A large
+file of people of all classes, also bearing lights, came behind. Many of
+them came out of real regard and devotion for the patient; but the
+majority came out of curiosity to see one who had lived so long apart
+from the world under such solemn, critical circumstances.
+
+All those that wished to, came right into the presence of the dying man.
+No obstacle was put in anybody's way, so a strange and motley crowd
+filled the count's room: well-to-do people, poor people, and children,
+were all anxious to see the fallen man, now that he was about to fall
+into the dark bosom of death, the oblivion of eternity. The dean of the
+cathedral, his friend and confessor, approached with the elevated Host.
+The people present fell on their knees, a solemn silence reigned. At
+that moment the sick man, who had been propped up in bed, said in a loud
+voice, addressing himself to the kneeling assembly:
+
+"I swear by the Sacramental God about to enter my body, that I have
+never been a traitor to my country, and that in the American war I
+always behaved like a loyal and honourable gentleman."
+
+His voice, which appeared to come from a corpse, sounded clear and sharp
+in the room. There was a repressed murmur among the people. The dean,
+with tears in his eyes, replied:
+
+"Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness;" and he
+put the blessed Sacrament in the colonel's mouth. The news of the old
+soldier's affirmation ran through the town. The strange and terrible
+oath, which was repeated from one to the other, made a profound
+impression on the public. The relations and friends of the count made a
+great parade of the matter. One of them thought of presenting a
+petition to the king, signed by all the neighbours, begging him to
+revoke the colonel's sentence. But the dean had anticipated him, and
+being an energetic, eloquent man, he got the archbishop and the Chapter
+of the cathedral to favour his mission to Madrid for the intercession
+for the re-installation of the friend of his infancy in his military
+rank. Meanwhile the patient slightly improved, the illness did not seem
+to get worse; but, although it was not externally noticeable, the
+consumption was gaining ground.
+
+Nothing was said about the deputation to the king. However, the dean had
+time to get to Madrid, gain an audience of his Majesty, appeal to his
+pity with the account of the solemn statement made in his presence,
+obtain a royal commission restoring the count all his honours with all
+the accompanying crosses and decorations, and return to Lancia mad with
+anxiety. How delightful it was to find his friend had not expired! He
+ran from the boat in which he had travelled, to the palace of the Onis,
+and with the greatest precaution, to avoid over-excitement for the
+patient, the good news was communicated to him. The colonel remained
+motionless for some time with his face hidden in his hands.
+
+"What time is it?" he said at last.
+
+"It is just two," was the reply.
+
+"Let me have my uniform at once!" he exclaimed with unusual energy,
+raising himself up without anybody's help.
+
+"Rayo de Dios! Quick, my uniform," he repeated more emphatically, seeing
+that no one moved.
+
+At last the countess went to the wardrobe, and brought it out. He had
+himself quickly dressed; the ribbon of Carlos III. put across his
+breast, and all the crosses he had won. There were so many, that he
+could not put them all on the left side, so some had to come to the
+right. In this attire he had himself led to the window looking on to the
+Calle de Cerrajerias, and there he stood. It was not long before the
+faithful, repairing home from Mass, which was the best attended of the
+Sunday services, saw this strange, corpse-like figure, dressed in his
+grand uniform, at the window. And with a feeling of sadness, respect,
+and compassion, they all filed by the house with their eyes riveted upon
+him.
+
+For three consecutive Sundays the colonel made a point of getting up and
+going through the same ceremony. He stood for half an hour displaying
+his signs of honour, with his eyes ecstatically fixed on space, without
+seeing or hearing the crowd which collected before the palace with
+manifestations of the gravest interest and concern. On the fourth Sunday
+he wished to do the same, and peremptorily insisted on being dressed,
+but he at that instant fell back on the pillows, never to rise again. So
+that night God took the brave, punctilious soldier unto Himself. Poor
+father! The count could never think of that scene, so deeply graven in
+his mind, without tears rising to his eyes. He had inherited from him
+the exquisite delicacy of feeling, and a susceptibility that almost
+amounted to weakness, without the serenity, power of taking the
+initiative, and the unbending will that had characterised Colonel Campo.
+The present count had an excessively sensitive and affectionate
+disposition, together with the integrity and modesty peculiar to the
+Campos. But these qualities were counteracted by a weak, fanciful, moody
+character, which was doubtless inherited from his mother's family.
+
+Donna Maria Gayoso, the widowed Countess of Onis, daughter of the Baron
+de los Oscos, was a very original person; so exceptionally original that
+she bordered on the eccentric. In her whole family for the last three or
+four generations there had been some exhibition of eccentricity that in
+some members had passed into madness.
+
+Her grandfather had been a hardened atheist and a follower of Voltaire
+and the Encyclopaedia; then he became a victim to drunkenness in his last
+days, and, according to the general report, he was carried off by
+devils to the infernal regions. He had really died of spontaneous
+combustion, which fact gave rise to such a fabulous story. Her father
+was a weak-minded man, and her mother, a woman of uncommon energy, had
+him completely under her thumb. Of his uncles, one had gone melancholy
+mad; another distinguished himself in mathematics, but he was so
+eccentric that his curious ways were retailed as amusing anecdotes in
+Lancia; and another retired to the country, married a peasant, and
+killed himself with drinking. She had only one remaining brother, the
+present Baron de los Oscos. He was an original and an eccentric
+creature. At the commencement of the civil war he put himself under the
+banner of the Pretender, and entered his army, but only on condition of
+serving as a common soldier. This resolution made a great sensation.
+
+But all the persuasions of the grandees about Don Carlos, and even those
+of the king himself, were powerless to make him accept an officer's
+commission. He was wounded several times, and in one case he was so
+seriously injured in the face that he was deeply scarred; and as his
+face was already as ugly as it could well be, the deep red seam finished
+by rendering his appearance ghastly to a degree that was terrible.
+
+He was younger than his sister Maria, not being yet fifty, and he lived
+alone and celibate in the dreary old house belonging to the los Oscos in
+the Calle del Pozo, which had certainly nothing grand about it. He
+rarely went to see his sister, not from any antipathy, but from the
+unsociability and crustiness of his disposition. He seldom left his
+house, particularly in the daytime. He had very few friends, and his
+most intimate one--in fact, the only one who might be said to enjoy his
+friendship--was an uncloistered friar, who before taking orders had
+served as an officer in the army. This Fray Diego was his constant
+companion. The baron inspired universal terror with his gloomy
+character, his eccentricities, and more especially by the fearful
+appearance of his face. The children were quite panic-stricken in his
+presence. Parents and nurses used him as a bugbear to make them
+obedient:
+
+"I will go and tell the baron about you! The baron will come! I saw the
+baron to-day, and he asked me if you were obedient," &c.
+
+And the baron, with his strange gestures, and rough, loud voice, became
+a very ogre to the poor little innocent things. He constantly went about
+armed with a pair of pistols; and the handle of his stick was a
+veritable club. It was said that he once made an end of a servant merely
+for having opened a letter, and that on several occasions he seized hold
+of children who dared to make faces at him in the street, put them in
+the stable, undressed them, and thrashed them soundly with the bridle of
+his horse. True, or invented, these stories were calculated to make the
+infant minds of Lancia regard him as a monster of ferocity from whom
+they fled as fast as their trembling legs would carry them.
+
+One of the things which inspired the terror of the little ones, and
+caused respect not devoid of fear in the grown-up people, was the horse
+that the baron had. It was a creature with a fiery eye, and so fierce
+that nobody but he and his friend Fray Diego, who had served in the
+cavalry, dared to mount him. He had to be most cleverly managed when
+taken to drink, and even then the ungovernable brute reared and kicked
+to the alarm of all the passers-by. When the baron mounted and left his
+house, striking about him, and laying into the horse with his whip, the
+neighbours rushed to their windows, the children took refuge in the
+bosoms of their mothers, and everybody gazed in terror at the fearful
+centaur. Certainly the Baron de los Oscos presented at such times a
+formidable aspect, with his scarred face, bloodshot eyes, waxed,
+fierce-looking moustache, and his figure looking like part of the
+horse.
+
+One's imagination had to go back to the invasions of the barbarians to
+find anything equal to it. Neither Alaric, Attila, nor Odoacer could
+have looked more strange and sinister, nor could they have inspired more
+terror than he. Judge, then, of the effect upon the timid neighbours
+when one day he took it into his head to parade the streets of the town
+at midnight, accompanied by a servant, a man very like him, on another
+charger.
+
+The Countess of Onis was as strange in her way as her brother. She was
+short and stout, with a pale, round face, dull black eyes, hair
+plastered down with quince-juice gum, and constantly dressed in the
+mournful garb of a nun. She lived as secluded in her place, as a nun in
+a convent. She was absolutely absorbed in devotion, but it was a
+capricious, fantastic devotion, in no way similar to that practised by
+really mystic souls. All her life she had shown a tendency to
+eccentricity, but after the count's death it became so marked, that her
+strange ways assumed the form of rather serious manias. When she was
+young, her modesty was so extreme that it became ridiculous. The ears of
+the Senorita de los Oscos were so chaste that the conversation of an
+English "Miss" would seem like a serjeant's in her presence. She could
+not tolerate her brother's under-linen being put with hers when the
+laundress took it away or brought it home. If she was asked to sew a
+button on his underclothes, she ran to her room when the task was over,
+and washed her hands, when, it was said, she sprinkled them with holy
+water. She compressed her figure to a hurtful extent, and the height of
+the collar of her dresses was contrary to the regulations of fashion;
+her under-garments were only changed in the dark, and she never shook
+hands with a man unless she had gloves on. The history of her marriage
+was truly curious, full of funny incidents which were for a long time
+the talk of the town, and the account of the first night of her
+marriage, whether true or false, was worthy of figuring in a novel of
+Paul de Kock. One need hardly say that during her marriage this virtue
+of chastity became somewhat modified. But as soon as she became a widow,
+she resorted to her eccentric ways to a remarkable degree, and in her
+latter years they assumed the aspect of madness. When she told her
+beads, which was twice a day, she sent a servant to the poultry-yard to
+separate the cock from the hens; then the forks had to be separated from
+the spoons, and the hooks from the eyes. One day the coachman came to
+tell her that one of the mares had foaled, and she was so angry that,
+after having sharply rebuked him for his audacity in acquainting her
+with such a fact, she gave orders for having it sold. One day she came
+upon a lad giving a kiss to the cook, and she became ill with disgust,
+and both parties were immediately dismissed from the house.
+
+She liked to have a party at an early hour in the evening, when she only
+invited clerics. On these occasions she used to sit in an armchair
+where, intentionally or unintentionally, probably intentionally, there
+were put two cushions so that she seemed to be in a valley. Soon after
+the arrival of the company, when the conversation became animated, she
+would fall into a deep sleep, and thus remain until nine o'clock, when
+the cassocked gentlemen retired, presumably, without shaking hands. As
+there was a chapel in the house she seldom went out, and when she did
+so, it was in the carriage. She kept all the money that came to her
+hands hidden away in secret places in the garret or the garden.
+Sometimes this avarice or, as it may be more correctly termed, this
+mania for hoarding, brought them into difficulties, and she preferred to
+let her son borrow money to disinterring her treasure. She was very
+greedy, and fond of dainties; and she could consume a quantity of sweets
+with no signs of indigestion. But such things were not made for nuns,
+and so, in strange contradiction to her pious inclinations, she hated
+all that savoured of the convent.
+
+And it was by this eccentric, one may almost say mad, woman, that the
+present Count of Onis was brought up, and his character was much
+affected thereby. To counteract his excessive sensitiveness, his weak
+and vacillating temperament, and his imaginative and gloomy disposition,
+of which sad signs were shown at times, he ought to have been brought up
+in the open air under an intelligent and energetic master, who would
+have known how to inspire him with manly strength and resolution. But,
+unfortunately, it was just the contrary. The countess would not hear of
+any career which would take him away from Lancia; so he went to the
+local university, where he followed a course of jurisprudence, after
+which rich young men think they are entitled to pass the rest of their
+days in idleness. During his college career the countess kept him under
+her authority in a way that became ridiculous. He never left the house
+without permission, he came in at dark, he told his beads, and went to
+confession when she bade him to. Whilst his body developed to a
+marvellous degree, so that he became a fine athletic young fellow, his
+mind remained as submissive and childish as that of a ten-year-old
+child.
+
+His retired effeminate life increased the natural timidity of his
+character, his sensitiveness became weakness, and his gloomy nature
+secretive. And the most lamentable thing was, that without being a
+shining light, he was gifted with clear intelligence, and possessed a
+penetration frequently found in reserved and timid men. He was wanting
+in self-confidence and experience; but he showed a great deal of tact in
+conversation; shortcomings of his neighbour never escaped him and, as
+with most weak characters, he took a mischievous delight in drawing
+attention to them. It is the revenge taken by characterless people upon
+those who have a vigorous and spontaneous one. Nevertheless, these
+outbursts of irony and malignity were not very frequent. He generally
+appeared a prudent, reserved, melancholy young man, with courteous
+gentlemanly manners, a feeling heart, and full of affection and respect
+for his mother. After his college career was over, his inclination and
+plans were in favour of leaving Lancia, going to court, and travelling
+for some time. But the countess's disapproval was enough to make him
+give up the idea and remain at home. So he spent his days in idleness
+without feeling in anyway obliged ever to glance from time to time into
+his books of jurisprudence. He amused himself occasionally with certain
+manual occupations, and in reading the works of romance much in vogue at
+the time. He became a clever carpenter, but not so clever as his father;
+and then he took up watch-making. Finally, he developed an interest in a
+little property in the suburbs of the town, and set about making great
+improvements there. It was called the Grange, and it was situated a
+little more than a mile from Lancia. It was a large old rambling house,
+with a beautiful wood of oak trees behind, and fertile meadows in front.
+The count took to going there every afternoon after dinner; he bred
+black cattle, and horses as well; he planted trees, cut canals, and
+raised banks. The house he hardly touched. He gained physically by this
+new interest, which made him more active and hardy, and his character
+improved at the same time. The melancholy which had been so distressing
+to him decreased, and he became more cheerful, his self-confidence
+increased, as he had more intercourse with people, whilst the fits of
+anger, rage and despair which used to come over him without any cause,
+making him seem like an epileptic to the servants, grew rarer and rarer
+until they left him altogether. He thus reached his twenty-eighth year
+when he began to frequent the house of the Quinones, and it was then
+that his life underwent a complete change.
+
+It was nine o'clock in the morning when his servant woke him from an
+exciting unfinished dream to give him a letter. With feigned
+indifference he dropped it on the night-table, but scarcely had the
+servant left the room when he seized it, and opened it with visible
+agitation.
+
+Although his connection with Amalia was of about two years' standing, he
+never opened a letter from her without his hands trembling. They
+certainly did not often write to each other; and it was probably the
+rarity of the occurrence which accounted for its affecting him so much,
+as in truth a deep love for her had taken root in his timid, sensitive
+nature.
+
+"This afternoon. By the pulpit," was all that the note conveyed, but his
+mind was much agitated by the communication. Such appointments were
+extremely dangerous. In the midst of his happiness they overpowered him
+with a feeling of dread he could not overcome. He had begged Amalia to
+give them up, but she paid no heed to his wishes, and he was perfectly
+incapable of opposing her will. All the morning he was nervous and
+upset. He took a ride to calm his nerves, and went as far as the Grange,
+only to return as unsettled as when he left.
+
+At the hour named he left home and went to the Calle de Cerrajerias. It
+was the time of day when scarcely anybody is about. It was three
+o'clock, and so people were either at table or resting. At the end of
+Cerrajerias, at the corner of Santa Lucia, is the church of San Rafael,
+and the principal entrance is on that side. The count entered the
+building, after taking holy water, like one about to say his prayers. He
+was quite alone, or at least he seemed so at first sight. In a few
+minutes his eyes became accustomed to the semi-darkness, and he saw two
+or three kneeling figures scattered about. He knelt down in the dark
+near the little door of the staircase leading to the pew of the
+Quinones, and pretended to pray for a few moments. This was very
+repugnant to him. He was a sincere believer, and his strictly pious
+education made him have a horror of such sacrilege. The fanaticism of
+his mother had left its mark upon him, and he had a fearful dread of
+hell. Amalia was also a believer, and she had a reputation for piety in
+the place: she belonged to several confraternities, she was patron of
+several asylums, she frequently made presents to the images, and she was
+generally seen with the clergy; but this profanation she regarded with
+the greatest indifference. Religion was for her a thing of
+respectability, but her own pleasures and wishes seemed the thing to be
+most respected. After a few minutes the count cautiously rose, and
+pushed the little door, which had been purposely left open, then he went
+in and mounted the narrow winding staircase. The little pew of the
+Quinones was even darker than the Church. He felt for the door of the
+passage and opened it, but as it had glass windows looking on to the
+street, he crossed it like a cat. At the door communicating with the
+house, Jacoba was waiting for him. She was a woman of more than fifty
+years of age, of portly form and demeanour. She moved with difficulty,
+for her breath was short, from her extreme fatness, and she always spoke
+in a falsetto voice. She was discretion itself, a sealed book. The count
+and Amalia had never had any other confidante. Nobody else in the world
+was acquainted with their love affair, and she had served them
+wonderfully through its course. Acting as sentinel, she had often saved
+them from discovery, for she had constituted herself their guardian
+angel. She was not a servant in the house, but the senora was one of her
+patrons. Her occupation was to run errands to the shops for different
+houses, and the perquisites made on the purchases formed the staple of
+her livelihood. This was not, however, sufficient for her maintenance,
+but she was alone and a spinster, and in many houses presents were made
+her, and she was helped in a hundred ways. The Senora de Quinones was
+her especial patroness, and when she became her confidante, it was like
+coming upon a mine of wealth, for Amalia paid lavishly for services
+which certainly deserved great compensation.
+
+The go-between put her finger on her lips as a sign of silence directly
+the count entered the door, but as he was already holding his breath to
+avoid making a noise, this warning was quite unnecessary. Then going a
+little way first, to see how the ground lay, she made him a sign to
+follow her. They crossed a corridor, passed by the principal staircase
+without going up it for fear of meeting some servant, and went into the
+library where there was a little staircase that led thence to the second
+floor. The count proceeded on tiptoe with a beating heart. Although this
+was not the first time he had been like this to the Quinones' house, it
+always seemed to him the height of temerity, and he inwardly cursed his
+lover's boldness and disregard of consequences.
+
+At last they came to the senora's room. The door opened without any one
+being seen, Jacoba gave the count a gentle push, and remained herself
+outside.
+
+Amalia withdrew her hand, which she had mechanically held out, and with
+a sudden impulsive gesture, she threw her arms round the neck of her
+beloved and kissed him with tenderness. The grave man, being still upset
+by the manner of his arrival, remained quiescent, and did not
+reciprocate these demonstrations of affection. The lady then gave him a
+maternal tap on the cheek.
+
+"Calm yourself, coward, nobody will eat you here."
+
+Luis made an effort to smile and sank into a French chair upholstered
+with bright blue.
+
+Amalia's room with its luxurious furniture was a contrast to the neglect
+that reigned in the rest of the house. The walls were covered with rich
+tapestry, the best of the collection in the possession of the family;
+the bright furniture, of Louis XV. style, was brought from Madrid, with
+the magnificent ebony bedstead inlaid with marble in the alcove, when
+Don Pedro was making futile efforts to win the heart of his wife. There
+was a perfumed sensual atmosphere about the place, showing the refined
+tastes that the foreign lady had brought from other lands to the severe
+mansion of the Quinones. She seated herself on the count's knee, and
+pulling his beard, she exclaimed with a joy that could scarcely be
+restrained and emanated from her whole person:
+
+"See now, see how we have conquered. See how we have got over all those
+difficulties which came into your head and prevented your seeing
+clearly. Only a little audacity was necessary for God to help us."
+
+"God!" said the count, with a shudder.
+
+She felt she had been wrong in referring to the Divinity, and she
+hastened to say with unconcern:
+
+"Well, then, fate, if you like. Come, don't make yourself wretched and
+sad. This is a moment of happiness for us. She is really here, and it
+seems too good to be true. My daughter, the daughter of my love living
+with me; being able to see her and kiss her at all hours! How beautiful
+she is! I could not look at her comfortably until this morning, but
+to-day I did so to my heart's content. She is like you--particularly
+about the forehead between the eyebrows. Jacoba says that the mouth is
+mine. I am not sorry, for it might have taken after me in something
+worse, is it not so?" she added, with a coquettish smile.
+
+"I think you are beautiful all round."
+
+"That is right!" exclaimed the lady with an affectionate look. "You have
+at last recovered the power of speech. Well, then," she added in a
+serious tone, "you do not know the trouble we had this morning to find a
+nurse. Three were brought to me, and neither of them suited. At last I
+settled on the fourth. And how beautifully my angel took to her food. I
+could hardly help jumping for joy, and I can hardly help it now. But I
+must be grave and solemn, like the senor count. Tell me, how did you
+manage to get her here? Tell me about it. How your face looked when the
+drawing-room door opened last night!"
+
+"The thing was not easy. At nine o'clock I went to fetch her from
+Jacoba's house. But she will have told you about it. I had to spend two
+hours there, for the devil seemed in the business, and the child
+screamed incessantly."
+
+"Yes, yes; I know all that. And then?"
+
+"What a night it was! The gusts of wind were incessant, especially in
+those out-of-the-way suburbs. I turned up my trousers to the knee, for
+how could I come into your drawing-room covered with mud? I wanted to
+carry the basket on one arm, and the open umbrella in the other hand,
+but it was impossible. After a few steps, I came back and left the
+umbrella with Jacoba. What a walk! Holy heaven, what a business! The
+wind kept blowing down the collar of my coat, the rain dashed in my face
+and down my neck. I was frightened the baby would get wet. I went along
+fearing to breathe. Supposing I had slipped just then! The wind blew at
+times so strongly that I could hardly get along. You can easily believe
+that I was tempted to go back and leave it for another day."
+
+"I can easily believe it. I know that a plate of water would be enough
+to drown you."
+
+He gave her a sad, reproachful look, and then Amalia began to laugh, and
+embracing and kissing him effusively, she exclaimed:
+
+"Don't be cross, poor little dear! Do not think I do not feel for you.
+The journey was very difficult. You bore it like a hero."
+
+The count coloured at these praises. His conscience told him he did not
+deserve them; and he recollected the terrible ordeal that Amalia had
+herself passed through, and said:
+
+"But you! What you must have suffered on your side! How are you? It was
+imprudent to go downstairs so soon."
+
+"Oh! I am as strong as a horse, although I appear weak."
+
+"So you seem to be. To suffer what you did without uttering a sound!"
+
+"Pray, what can you know about it, stupid?" she said, putting a hand on
+his mouth.
+
+"Then only four days in bed," continued the young man, gently taking her
+hand from his mouth and kissing it at the same time; "and on the fifth
+to go down to the drawing-room."
+
+"But, then, nothing was supposed to have happened, and if I had not gone
+down yesterday, Quinones would certainly have sent for the doctor! On
+the second day he was worrying for me to go down. But what do you think?
+He is in love with the baby--quite mad about it! All the morning he has
+had the nurse in his room. And he has such strange ideas. He says, 'God
+has sent us this child to console us for having no family.'"
+
+Then the count relapsed into sadness and gloom, whilst a smile of cruel
+irony played on the lips of the lady.
+
+"And all this time you have never asked for her, you unnatural father!"
+she said, as she passed her delicate white fingers through her lover's
+thick, curly, reddish beard. "For you _are_ her father--yes, her father.
+That you can't deny," she added, fondly putting her face against his so
+that her lips were close to his ear. "I will go and fetch her."
+
+"But will the nurse come, too?" he asked in terror.
+
+"No, man, no!" she answered, laughing; "she will come alone. You will
+see that can easily be managed."
+
+The count opened his eyes with an expression that made her laugh more.
+She got up and, opening the door, she whispered a second with Jacoba who
+was stationed as sentinel outside. In a few minutes the stout go-between
+re-opened the door and brought in the sleeping child. Amalia sat down,
+and told her to put it on her lap. And then, for a long time, they both
+gazed in ecstasy at the little delicate creature as it softly breathed
+in its sleep. It was a moment of happiness. The count forgot his fears
+and became quite calm, whilst a smile of real pleasure illuminated his
+gentle, melancholy features. The minutes passed, and neither cared to
+break the blissful silence, nor disturb the intense absorption in which
+their minds were one. That tiny, unconscious being, that atom of rosy
+flesh riveted their gaze equally, and bound their souls and lives to her
+with invisible threads.
+
+"How beautiful she is! She is like you," murmured the count so softly
+that the words hardly reached the ears of his lover.
+
+"She is more like you," she returned in the same subdued voice.
+
+And by a simultaneous movement, they both turned and looked at each
+other with a long intense look of love.
+
+"I adore you, Amalia," he said.
+
+"I love you, Luis," she replied.
+
+Their hands met and pressed affectionately, and their heads were bent in
+the interchange of a chaste kiss.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE HISTORY OF THEIR LOVE
+
+
+Chaste, yes, and perhaps it was the first kiss that had been so in that
+long love affair. All that was tender and poetic in their affection
+seemed to rise like a perfume, and transport them with raptures of
+delight. The remorse that had hitherto weighed so heavily on the
+sensitive soul of the count was gone. The mad agitation that had
+tormented them both, the ardour, violence and bitterness which, like the
+hidden worm in the bud of a rose, had poisoned their wicked love
+passages, had passed away. Nothing remained but pure love--love
+satisfied, love consecrated by the holy mysterious force of nature's
+mysteries.
+
+If only they had met earlier! How often has this been said by people in
+similar circumstances! And if they had met earlier, they would probably
+have parted without the slightest feeling of attraction.
+
+Love flourishes on difficulties and takes root on shifting sand, in fact
+they seem to be the most propitious circumstances for its cultivation.
+
+The report in Lancia was true about Amalia having been forced into a
+marriage with Don Pedro by her family who were in great straits. Don
+Antonio Sanchiz, the lady's father, was a Valencian gentleman of means,
+but gambling and dissipation swallowed up three-fourths of his property.
+His eldest son, who had the same tastes, spent the remaining fourth by
+the same means. Amalia was the youngest of the family, which consisted
+of four girls and one boy. Her eldest sister, who had come in for a
+little of the decaying splendour of the house, managed to marry a rich
+banker. Nobody approved of the connection, especially as neither Don
+Antonio nor his son Antonito managed to see the colour of the money of
+their respective son, and brother-in-law. The other two married men of
+good family but without money. Amalia grew up in the midst of the total
+ruin of her house. Neither her elegant figure nor her high birth brought
+her admirers. The well-known misfortunes of the house, and her father
+and brother's bad reputation, constituted an unsurmountable barrier
+around her. Her feelings were often touched by those who only paid her
+attention out of idleness, or love of flirtation. She was certainly not
+a typical beauty: she was wanting in gracefulness of figure, plumpness
+of form, and brightness of complexion. But in spite of her slight, and
+not at all well formed figure, and the constant pallor of her cheeks,
+there was something attractive about her, which grew upon one the more
+you saw of her. Perhaps this charm lay in her large expressive dark
+eyes, which reflected every emotion: now they shone with a fire that
+breathed a deep and passionate nature, now they looked quiet, ecstatic
+and limpid in a sort of mystic rapture, now they were merry and
+mischievous, now they were dreamy and melancholy, now tender and
+tearful, now sparkling with fun or shining with anger. Perhaps her charm
+lay in her versatility, in the keenness of her intellect, in her
+sympathetic and insinuating voice. She was, in short, an interesting,
+charming woman. I do not know whether it was owing to her pride or her
+naturally tempestuous mind, but scorning the young men of her own rank,
+who courted her without resolving to ask for her hand, she lost her
+heart to a modest young man, a poor government clerk with an income of
+forty thousand reales,[I] son of a schoolmaster. The blue blood of the
+Sanchiz in the veins of Antonio, Antonito, her sisters, and the banker,
+her brother-in-law, in whom it was conspicuous by its absence, boiled in
+indignation.
+
+She was the victim of active, fierce persecution. But as she was not
+wanting in spirit, and was moreover possessed of a mind fertile in
+resources, she certainly managed to defy the family for some time; their
+entreaties and threats were of no avail and her time of enforced retreat
+in a convent was equally ineffectual. If the clerk had not happened to
+die of phthisis, which killed him in a few months, it is almost certain
+that the very noble and straitened house of the Sanchiz would have had
+to see itself allied to the son of a schoolmaster.
+
+After this adventure Amalia lost caste in the place. But she well knew
+that if she had retained her prestige, it would have been the same. Men
+do not marry for prestige, but for money. It never occurred to her to
+feel remorse for the past. She lived sad and resigned for two years,
+showing an utter indifference to the pleasures belonging to her
+position, and without making any effort to gain the good graces of the
+young men so as to get a husband. It was when she was about twenty-four
+years old and she had given up all thought of matrimony, that Don Pedro
+Quinones, her third or fourth cousin, began to think about her. She
+rebelled against marrying this gentleman, whom she had only seen two or
+three times as a child, and who had been a widower for a short time, and
+whose eccentricities she had heard her father and brother relate with
+fits of laughter, and now they were the very ones to press her
+acceptance of him as a husband! She was not very firm in her resistance.
+She was so disillusioned, she lived in such a state of deep dejection
+and apathy, that as soon as her father became angry about the matter and
+pressed her to accede to his entreaties he extorted a consent. They all
+said that the marriage would be the salvation of the family. She did not
+trouble to find out if that were the truth or not. After she was
+married, she found that all that they could get out of Don Pedro was a
+little allowance, which gave them hardly enough for food.
+
+So the noble descendant of the Quinones of Leon was hopelessly in love
+with a statue. On the journey that they made from Valencia to Lancia the
+bride was so cold and circumspect, but at the same time polite, that Don
+Pedro was kept at the same distance as at the beginning of his suit. In
+Lancia we know what the public version of the story was. The persistent
+coldness and the infinite contempt with which she treated him for some
+time, far from repelling him, only increased his passion. Quinones was,
+as we know, of a strong, tenacious, indomitable will. The obstacles
+which at first merely irritated him, finally enraged him. He wanted to
+conquer the heart of his wife, and he spared no means in the attempt: he
+overwhelmed her with attentions, he gratified her slightest wishes, and
+lived for several months in perpetual anxiety, in a perfect fever of
+alternate hope and despair. He would, however, never have attained his
+end without the astuteness of his friend the canon, who advised him to
+take a journey in the mountains, which, rife with frights and dangers,
+drew them together in closer intimacy. During the first two years of her
+marriage Amalia led a retired life, without ever hardly leaving the
+gloomy old palace of the Calle de Santa Lucia. She lived alone in her
+depression, and made her life more sad than it need have been, by
+nursing a dumb rebellion against a fate that threatened to drive her
+insane. To all outward appearance she was resigned, treating those that
+were about her with studied courtesy. The dreadful illness which
+happened to her husband distracted her a little, and a sentiment of pity
+touched her heart. For some time she thought she was destined for the
+vocation of a nursing sister, and she tried with assumed affection to
+make his life more bearable to him. By degrees she grew to like the
+little gatherings of friends round her husband, and she began to
+interest herself and take part in the local political conversations.
+
+Don Pedro was the arbiter of the province whilst the Moderate party was
+in power. Now that it was out, he still retained great prestige and
+influence, from people not knowing how long it would be before it was in
+again. It was to augment this prestige and this influence, and to add to
+the dignity of the house, that Amalia opened her drawing-rooms to the
+Lancian society that she had hitherto kept at a distance, doing nothing
+but pay a few complimentary visits. She now gave concerts, organised
+sociable gatherings, and had large state balls, by means of which she
+regained her lost energy, and the gracious and sympathetic versatility
+which had characterised her; the light returned to her eyes and the
+smile to her lips. Nobody could better do the honours of her
+entertainments. She was a model of gentleness and courtesy, and she made
+herself adored by the young people of the place to whom she afforded the
+means of killing interminable winter evenings.
+
+Fernanda Estrada-Rosa was one of the most beautiful ornaments of her
+concerts and parties. The Count of Onis, her admirer, came in her train.
+The count had long been on visiting terms at the house of Quinones, but
+until lately he only went occasionally in the evening for a formal
+visit, or at the new year, &c. Notwithstanding, he had a profound
+sympathy for Quinones. It was enough for him to belong to the nobility,
+for the young noble to consider him superior in all respects to
+everybody else in the place. Amalia, who hardly knew him, began to
+observe him with much curiosity. She had heard so much said about his
+affection and respect for his mother, his melancholy temperament, his
+habits and his exaggerated piety, that she wished to cultivate his
+acquaintance, she wanted to gauge the depths of the soul of such a
+superior and high-minded young man. She was not long in seeing that he
+was not yet in love. Noting his attention to Fernanda with interest,
+she perceived a coldness on his side which was certainly not on that of
+the rich heiress. She knew that the count was deceiving himself, making
+efforts to fall in love, or at any rate, to seem so. He seemed to look
+upon love as an obligation pertaining to his age and position. The chief
+young man in Lancia ought to love the richest, most beautiful girl of
+Lancia. Besides, it seemed as if he also wanted to show the place that
+he was neither eccentric nor a maniac, as he had heard that he was
+reported to be. He therefore went in for being a recognised lover; he
+spent a couple of hours in the morning in the Calle de Altavilla, where
+his young lady lived, he sat at her side at the parties of the Senoritas
+de Mere or de Quinones, and he danced with her at the balls of the
+Casino. But at the same time Amalia did not fail to see, with
+considerable interest, that his conversation was cold, and that the
+count was often silent and distrait until she took part in the
+conversation and made it more lively.
+
+The love affair interested her more and more, she courted the girl's
+confidence as well as his. It was not long before her ardent, sagacious,
+strong-willed soul sympathised with that of Luis, which was so timid,
+childlike, pitiful, and affectionate. More proficient in the art of
+love-making than the Estrada-Rosa girl, she soon won the count's
+confidence and affection and she drew from him a number of confidences,
+not only about his feelings, but the whole of his life. No clever Jesuit
+could have made a better confessor. Luis, delighted at such a show of
+interest, completely opened his heart to her, at first telling her his
+habits, then relating things of his past life, and finally confiding
+secret feelings which are only told to a brother. But Amalia expressed
+no surprise at such original and morbid thoughts; she gave her opinion
+on them, and told him affectionately that he might confide in her and
+count upon her counsel in difficult matters of life, of which
+complicated mechanism the count was totally ignorant. This clever game
+advanced her scheme, and he confided in her more and more, happy in the
+opportunity of unbosoming sentimental ideas, and confessing the strange
+unhappy timidity to which he was a victim.
+
+Amalia knew how to avoid arousing Fernanda's jealousy by posing as the
+confidante and protectress of her love. If she had long and interesting
+conversations with the count, she had equally long and interesting ones
+with her. She would have great pleasure in giving them assistance in the
+form of finding them opportunities of seeing and talking to each other,
+and when they understood each other, &c. &c. But, without the innocent
+girl suspecting it, without even the count realising it, the Valencian
+lady rapidly gained the affections of Luis. If in youth, beauty, and
+elegance, she was inferior to the rich heiress, she was much superior in
+expressive grace of countenance, power of conversation, and fine
+intelligence. The count soon came to telling her what was the true state
+of his heart with regard to Fernanda. The astute Senora knew how to turn
+such confidences to her own advantage by making him see that what he
+felt was only admiration for the beautiful works of nature, a vain
+desire to make himself beloved by the prettiest and richest girl in the
+town, the necessity of distraction from depression--anything, in short,
+but real love. That was shown in great sadness, ineffable joy, sleepless
+nights, anxiety, and agitation, both sweet and bitter, by which the
+breast is constantly consumed.
+
+Luis was soon won over to her opinion. Then she added that his coldness
+was unjustifiable; she did not understand how a man of such good taste
+had not fallen hopelessly in love ere this. She joked him, she laughed
+at him, and she praised the qualities of the gentle heiress up to the
+clouds.
+
+But whilst she said this with her lips, her eyes belied her words: the
+black pupils, so full of fire and intelligence, were fixed on him with
+an expression somewhat languid, somewhat malicious, which ended by
+fascinating him. At the same time her small, delicate, aristocratic
+hands took hold of his on every occasion; and on parting she pressed
+them with nervous tenacity. If sometimes, in bending to look at
+anything, their heads touched, Amalia did not move hers, and the count
+was not loth to inhale the subtle perfume which entered his veins like
+poison. She took a great interest in his clothes, and told him what she
+liked: he was not to wear a frock-coat, the blue jacket suited him
+admirably. Why did he like dark gloves?
+
+"I forbid you," she said, laughing, "to wear them any more."
+
+She professed a great taste for cravats, and she told him that those in
+a bow suited him better than those in a knot.
+
+"Why do you not get your hats from Madrid?" she asked. "Those that you
+get in Lancia are so old-fashioned and ridiculous."
+
+And the count was pleased to follow her suggestions, and gradually let
+himself be ruled by the woman who was so weak in body and so strong in
+will.
+
+One night on arriving at the Quinones' house before anybody else, the
+lady said to him sharply:
+
+"Who gave you that button-hole? Fernanda?"
+
+The count smiled and coloured, as he gave a sign in the affirmative.
+
+"Then you must excuse my saying it is a very ugly colour. Look here, I
+will give you a prettier one."
+
+So saying, she went straight to a flower-stand in the room, and took out
+a magnificent pink clove. She then turned to where the count was
+standing, and with great boldness, although with a certain affectation
+of one who is showing her power, she took away the flower he was
+wearing, and replaced it by the fresh one. He suffered this substitution
+in silence, upset and surprised. She, feigning not to notice his
+surprise, took a step back, and said with interest:
+
+"Yes, I think that is better!"
+
+Then ensued a few minutes of embarrassed silence. She then began to play
+with Fernanda's clove, pulling the petals, whilst darting frequent
+glances at the count, who stood confused, not knowing what to say, nor
+where to look. At last their eyes met with a smile. There was a spark of
+malice in hers, and in the sudden scornful gesture with which she threw
+the flower she held in her hand under a chair.
+
+The count instantly became serious, and his cheeks coloured. At that
+moment Manuel Antonio came in.
+
+The count could not regain his equanimity.
+
+When Fernanda arrived, and, with visible displeasure, asked him for her
+clove, he was in a very awkward position. The gardener's little boy was
+said to have pulled it from him when he stooped to kiss him, and so he
+had taken another from his mother's room. But Amalia, who was
+implacable, made matters worse by saying in a loud voice with a
+malicious smile:
+
+"Who gave you that beautiful clove? Fernanda?"
+
+"No, no," he hastily replied.
+
+And then the count, quite red and upset, had to proceed to give in a
+loud voice the explanation he had been giving in an undertone to
+Fernanda. That little act of treason was a bond between them; it
+established a peculiar relation which the count did not dare to define
+in his thoughts, for he trembled as though an abyss yawned at his feet.
+He continued paying attention to the heiress of Estrada-Rosa with the
+same, if not more, assiduity, but he could never talk with the Senora of
+Quinones without feeling agitated; her glances were long and earnest,
+the pressure of her hand was full of affection, and yet they both acted
+before Fernanda as if she were already his affianced wife. And yet they
+had not uttered a word of love! But Luis knew he was not treating the
+lady he was courting fairly, and that he was acting criminally with
+regard to Don Pedro, his friend. He did not know how, or why, but his
+conscience told him that he was. Sometimes he tried to persuade himself
+that he had not taken one step in the direction of crime, that he was
+involved in a train of circumstances in which love, intelligence,
+treason, all played a part without one's knowing how it had happened.
+
+More than a month passed by in this way. Amalia not only discoursed to
+him of love with her eyes, but she made him carry out all her most
+capricious fancies whilst sometimes sharply calling him to task.
+
+If, for example, he caught a glance from Amalia when he was going for a
+walk telling him to stay, he would stay. If he was about to dance with
+Fernanda, a severe look would prevent him doing so.
+
+One day he announced his intention of going for six or eight days to his
+property in Onis; but Amalia made a negative sign with her head, and he
+gave up the idea. What right had she thus to cross his wishes and direct
+his line of conduct? He did not know, but he felt very pleased to obey
+her. He lived in a state of pleasant, exciting unrest, sometimes hoping
+for something so ineffably delightful, that he hardly dared to formulate
+it even to himself.
+
+In the meanwhile she quietly watched him with her sphinx-like smile,
+strong in the conviction that the something would happen when the time
+was ripe.
+
+One afternoon in June the count was at The Grange inspecting the
+operations of some workmen he was employing in opening a wider aqueduct
+for the mill, when the boy who minded the cattle, came to tell him that
+a lady wanted him.
+
+"A lady?" he exclaimed, surprised; "do you not know her?"
+
+The servant stared stupidly without replying. How could he know her,
+when he had passed his life among the cattle and only went to Lancia on
+some market-day to buy or sell a cow? The count recollected this, and
+proceeded to inquire:
+
+"Is she short?"
+
+"No, she is very tall, Senor."
+
+"Eyes very black and bright, pale colour? her gait graceful and
+elegant?"
+
+And before the servant could answer these questions that he had not
+understood, he began running in the direction of the house with his
+heart beating with excitement at the presentiment that it was her.
+
+"Where is she?" he cried, without ceasing running.
+
+"In the courtyard by the garden door," shouted the boy in reply.
+
+He arrived breathless at the courtyard, but before opening the door he
+stopped for an instant to check his presumption. How could he have
+thought of such a thing? What devil could have put it into his head?...
+Notwithstanding he could not dismiss the idea. It was she, it was
+she--he could not doubt the fact.
+
+He raised the bolt of the large wooden door, painted green, and went in.
+The courtyard was large. Several outhouses for working purposes were
+built against the wall. Tied up to a roughly made wooden kennel was an
+enormous mastiff, who pulled at his chain as if he would break it in his
+attempts to get near his master.
+
+There at the other end, near the iron gate communicating with the
+garden, he actually saw her looking through the bars at the flowers. She
+had her back to him. She was dressed in a light pink and white striped
+dress, with a little straw hat trimmed with roses. In her left hand she
+had a sunshade which matched her dress, and in her right she held some
+silk gloves.
+
+How these details became engraven in his memory! They were indelibly
+fixed in his mind!
+
+"You here?" he said, feigning a calmness he was very far from feeling.
+"Who would have thought that you were the senora whose arrival the
+servant just announced to me?"
+
+"Did you really not think it was me?" she asked, looking at him
+fixedly.
+
+"No, no, Senora."
+
+But he coloured even as he said it, and the lady smiled kindly.
+
+"Very well; now show me the Malmaison roses you told me about."
+
+The count opened the gate, and they both went through to the garden,
+which was very large and somewhat neglected.
+
+Since the countess had almost entirely given up coming to the Grange,
+the servants hardly touched it. Luis was more interested in making
+experiments with new modes of agriculture, breeding cattle, and draining
+ground, than in gardening. But there were many kinds of flowers, put
+there when his mother used to tend them every afternoon, and there were
+great bushes which time, combined with the fertile soil, had transformed
+into thick trees.
+
+Whilst they passed along the walks, which were over-grown with moss, the
+countess explained in high, clear tones how she came to be there.
+
+She had wished to drive to Bellavista, but passing by the little road
+that led to the Grange, she recollected the beautiful roses, and gave
+orders to the coachman to go that way. She had never seen the place
+before, she said; and she became quite enthusiastic over the thick
+foliage and the intense green of the place. In her country the
+vegetation was much paler.
+
+"But more fragrant--like the women," said the count with gallantry.
+
+The lady turned to give him a smile of thanks, and went on praising the
+beauty of the rhododendrons, the azaleas, and the gigantic camellias.
+
+As soon as they had seen the roses, and the count had made her choose
+some to have sent to her the next day, they directed their steps towards
+the entrance-gate.
+
+"And are you sure that I only came to see the roses?" said Amalia,
+suddenly stopping and fixing her eyes upon him.
+
+The count's heart gave a bound, and he commenced to stammer in a
+lamentable fashion.
+
+"I do not know--this visit, certainly. I should be so pleased if the
+rose-trees----"
+
+But the lady, taking pity on him, did not let him proceed.
+
+"Well, besides the rose-trees, I came to see the whole place,
+particularly the wood. And so you can show it to me," she added
+resolutely, taking him by the arm.
+
+Whereupon the count was conscious of a new and violent emotion, at first
+painful, and then pleasurable, as he felt the lady's hand upon his arm.
+And moved to his inmost being at the honour conferred on him, he showed
+everything of interest on the estate: the beautiful large meadows, the
+stables, the new machinery for working the mill, and finally the wood.
+
+She watched him out of the corner of her eye. Sometimes a smile of
+amusement played about her lips. She entered into everything with
+interest, praised the improvements he had made, and suggested fresh
+ones. And, in going about, she sometimes let the count's arm drop, and
+then took it again, which inspired the count with many diverse
+sensations, all intense and exciting. When she noticed he was getting
+more at his ease, she made some little sudden mischievous remark which
+plunged him into fresh confusion and made him blush to the roots of his
+hair.
+
+"Now, count, when you caught sight of me just now, you said to yourself:
+'Amalia has fallen in love with me and she cannot resist the desire to
+come and see me.'"
+
+"Amalia, _por Dios_! What can make you say that? How could I ever have
+dared----?"
+
+But the lady, without seeming to notice his distress or to lay any
+importance on her own words, passed immediately to another subject. She
+seemed to like shocking him, and keeping him agitated and trembling. And
+in the furtive glances she cast at him there was the touch of
+superiority and irony of one, who was sure of the game.
+
+The count turned grave under that enigmatical smile. He saw he was
+playing an awkward part, and, feeling that she was laughing at him, he
+made heroic efforts to recover his equanimity.
+
+The lady admired, and was more enthusiastic about the wood than
+anything. It was a mass of ancient oaks, where the sun never penetrated.
+The ground was carpeted with thick turf and quite free from caltrops. No
+other private property was so richly wooded; it was, perhaps, due to the
+primitive forest where the monastery had been founded which was the
+origin of Lancia.
+
+The lady found it pleasant to rest a little under the green bower where
+the light hardly penetrated. A peace, a pleasant calmness sweeter than
+the silence and calm of a Gothic cathedral, pervaded the place. She
+leant her back against a tree and gave a long look at the thick foliage
+around her.
+
+The count stood near. Both were silent for some time. At last the man
+felt, without seeing it, that the lady's gaze was fixed upon him. He
+resisted the magnetic attraction of the look for some minutes. When at
+last he raised his eyes, he saw that her expression was so merry and
+daring that he dropped them again. Amalia gave vent to a mischievous
+laugh, which surprised, confused, and somewhat irritated him; and then
+seeing that her merriment did not cease, he said with a forced smile:
+
+"At what are you laughing, my friend?"
+
+"Nothing, nothing," she returned, putting her handkerchief to her mouth.
+"Take me to see the house."
+
+And then she took his arm again. The house was a large, very old
+building of yellowish stone, worm-eaten by age, with two little square
+towers at the sides. Everything about it was shabby or worn out. Some
+bars were wanting in the stair-rails as well as in the balconies; the
+ceilings of the rooms were discoloured, the partition walls cracked,
+the plaster in holes; the looking-glasses, so much thought of in bygone
+days, were so covered with dust that they reflected nothing; the walls
+were damp and dirty, and the pictures hung thereon were so discoloured
+that one could not see what the artists had intended to depict; the
+scanty furniture of the rooms was worn out by the use of past
+generations. The things were all quite done for. Amalia liked the look
+of past grandeur. How many different beings had lived in that house! How
+they must have laughed and wept in these large rooms. Each one had its
+particular name: one was called the cardinal's room, because in times
+past a cardinal of the family occupied it when on a visit to the Grange;
+another the portrait-room, because a few pictures hung on the walls; and
+another the new room, although it looked as old and even older than the
+rest of the apartments. Everything bore traces of the private life of a
+family of bygone ages.
+
+"This is the countess's chamber," said Luis, as he took his friend into
+a moderate-sized room, which, in spite of the dust and ravages of time,
+looked better furnished than the others. It was an elegant style of
+apartment, bearing evidence that past generations had not been destitute
+of a love of decoration. There was a Pompadour escritoire, some chairs
+of the Regency, several pictures in pastel; and painted on the ceiling
+were cherubs floating in an atmosphere which had once been blue.
+
+"Is this your mother's room?" asked Amalia.
+
+"No," replied the count, smiling; "my mother sleeps on the other side.
+It has been called the countess's from time immemorial. Perhaps some old
+ancestor of mine chose it for herself. I often take my siesta here when
+the fatigue of going about the estate makes me want to have a sleep."
+
+In one of the corners of the apartment there was a splendid bedstead of
+carved oak, grown black with age, one of those beds of the fifteenth
+century that antiquaries go perfectly mad on. The hangings were also
+very ancient, but there was a modern damask counterpane spread over the
+mattress.
+
+"So it is here that you retire to think of me to your heart's content,
+is it not?" said Amalia.
+
+The count looked as stunned as if she had given him a blow on the head.
+
+"I! Amalia! How?"
+
+Then with a sudden assumption of courage he exclaimed:
+
+"Yes, yes, Amalia, you are quite right! I think of you here as, for some
+time past, I think of you everywhere I go. I do not know what has come
+to me: I live in a constant state of excitement, which, as you told me,
+is a sign of true love. I am in fact madly in love with you. I know that
+it is an atrocity, a crime, but I cannot help myself. Forgive me."
+
+And, like one of his noble ancestors of the Middle Ages, the gentleman
+fell on his knees at the feet of the lady.
+
+She was terribly angry at first. What? Was he not ashamed of such a
+confession? Did he not understand that it was an insult to address such
+words to her in his house? How could he suppose that she could quietly
+listen to such words? It seemed impossible that the Conde of Onis, such
+a perfect gentleman, could be so wanting in the respect due to a lady
+and to himself.
+
+The count remained prostrate on his knees under such a storm of
+invectives. He knew his words had been of grave import, but the anger
+that they provoked in the lady was not what he had most feared.
+
+At last Amalia was silent. She regarded him for some seconds with eyes
+blazing with fury, but a happy smile soon suffused her expressive face.
+She approached him with a slow, majestic step, put her hand upon his
+shoulder, and bending down to bring her lips to his ear, she said in a
+loud voice:
+
+"You are quite right not to be ashamed of anything of this, for I love
+you at least as much as you love me."
+
+Then the young man seemed to go mad with joy. The terror was over, and
+he clasped and kissed her knees in a frenzy of delight, breaking into a
+torrent of incoherent, passionate words, full of fire and truth; whilst
+she, so short and diminutive, gazed at the adoring Colossus with her
+mysterious Valencian eyes glowing with passion and love.
+
+It was thus that the Conde of Onis accomplished the difficult task of
+winning the affections of the elegant Senora of Don Pedro Quinones de
+Leon.
+
+The first months of their connection, fraught with poignant remorse and
+fascinating delight, were very agitating to the count. Amalia went
+occasionally to the Grange. At the social gathering in the evening she
+would give an account of her visit in a high-pitched voice; and he was
+in an agony of confusion, anxiety, and distress, whilst she with perfect
+_sang froid_ told all that she could tell; spoke of the garden, scolded
+him for its state of neglect; and she amused herself with bringing home
+some plants every time she went there, so as to clear the ground, as he
+did not care for them; in short, her audacity became almost farcical.
+
+"Would you believe it?" she said one day; "there is no bearing with this
+gentleman since ladies have taken to visiting him. You cannot think what
+airs he gives himself. I am afraid that the next time I go to the Grange
+he will make me wait in the hall."
+
+The guests laughed, and said really some notice ought to be taken about
+it; and as Fernanda smiled she cast an affectionate glance at the count;
+Don Pedro even relaxed his severe expression and burst into a roar of
+laughter. At such moments it was indeed a superhuman effort for the
+count to keep his countenance, when an abyss seemed to open at his feet.
+When alone with Amalia he reproached her for her audacity, and implored
+her by all that she held sacred to be more cautious; whilst she,
+perfectly unmoved, seemed to take a pleasure in his anxiety, and her
+lips curled in a disdainful enigmatical smile.
+
+As they could not often meet at the Grange, Amalia managed other
+interviews, by admitting Jacoba into her confidence. In this person's
+house they met two or three times a week. The count entered by a little
+door opening on to a certain little street at one o'clock in the day,
+when people were dining. He had to wait at least two or three hours, and
+Amalia at last managed to get there under the pretext of having some
+commission for her _protegee_. But not being satisfied with this
+arrangement, she conceived the idea of his entering her house by the pew
+of the church of San Rafael. The count was horrified at such a
+manoeuvre; all his religious scruples revolted at the idea; he was
+terrified at the possibility of the discovery of the intrigue and the
+profanation of the sanctuary. What a scandal it would be! But Amalia
+laughed at his fears as if the terrible consequences of retribution did
+not concern her. She was a woman who had absolute confidence in her
+star. As first-rate toreadors consider themselves quite safe under the
+very horns of the bull, as long as they keep their presence of mind, so
+she set danger at defiance, and even went out of her way to court it
+with a coolness that was foolhardy.
+
+And it must be confessed that her supreme calmness and incredible
+audacity saved her more than once. The Conde de Onis, the colossal man
+with a long beard, was a mere puppet in the hands of the bold,
+unprincipled little woman.
+
+A mad passion had taken possession of them both, especially of her. By
+degrees she became so accustomed to not living without him, that a day
+was not bearable without seeing him alone, and to this end she brought
+incredible efforts of ingenuity and skill into play. If the combination
+of circumstances was such as to render it impossible for three or four
+days to have a _tete-a-tete_, her temper revolted against the restraint
+like an impatient prisoner, and she was ready to commit the greatest
+imprudence: she squeezed his hand and gave him little pinches in the
+presence of guests; she embraced him behind the doors, when under some
+pretext or another she escorted him into another room; and more than
+once she kissed him on the lips in the very presence of the Grandee,
+when he happened to turn his head, whilst Luis trembled and turned pale
+as a catastrophe seemed imminent.
+
+By the expiration of some months his engagement with Fernanda gradually
+cooled, and it ended by being broken off altogether. This was all a
+preconcerted plan of Amalia's, arranged from the beginning with
+consummate art: she began by telling him how long he might be with his
+_fiancee_, notified the number of times he could ask her to dance, and
+finally it was she who suggested what he was to say to her. And as she
+had foreseen, the heiress of Estrada-Rosa, being proud, could not brook
+her lover's coldness, and so gave him back his liberty and his word.
+
+The poor girl confided her trouble to Amalia, who was the only person
+who knew the cause of the much-talked-of broken engagement. She
+expressed great indignation at the count's behaviour, and spoke in
+strong terms of disapprobation of his conduct. In fact, she took the
+young girl's part and launched into praises on her behalf and spoke most
+flatteringly of her eyes, figure, discretion, and amiability; and she
+even went so far as to take ostensible measures for their
+reconciliation. In the bosom of confidence, particularly among the
+friends of Don Juan Estrada-Rosa, she was not contented with saying that
+Fernanda was superior to her ex-lover in every feeling, but she
+proclaimed Luis as an arrant impostor, hypocrite, &c. And when she saw
+him the next day in Jacoba's house, she embraced him, choking with
+laughter, saying:
+
+"What a character I gave you yesterday before the various friends of
+Don Juan! You don't know! pincers would not get the words out of my
+mouth again!"
+
+What with all this, and the remorse continually preying on him, the
+count was in a perpetual state of agitation. How far he was from being
+happy! But it was a way strewn with flowers, compared to what was
+coming. Five months after entering into this _liaison_, Amalia informed
+him that she believed she was _enceinte_. She told him this with a smile
+on her lips, as if she were mentioning that she had drawn a good ticket
+in the lottery. Luis felt giddy with terror, turned pale, and looked as
+if he were about to fall.
+
+"_Dios mio_! what a misfortune!" he exclaimed, covering his face with
+his hands.
+
+"Misfortune?" she returned in surprise. "Why? I am very happy."
+
+Then seeing his eyes dilate in stupefaction, she laughingly explained
+that she was glad to have a pledge of their love, and that she had no
+fear because she would have everything so arranged that nothing would be
+discovered. And in truth she laced herself so tightly that nobody would
+have thought another creature's life was bound up in hers. The anxiety
+and distress of the count during this time of expectancy was awful! If
+any one looked at her attentively he trembled, and if, in the course of
+conversation, any guest made a casual allusion to some act of
+dissimulation, he turned pale as he thought they were speaking of him.
+He imagined smiles and meaning glances in every face, and the most
+innocent remarks were fraught in his mind with the deepest and most
+compromising insinuations.
+
+In the meanwhile, Amalia ate and slept with composure, and her constant
+cheerfulness astonished the count, whilst it excited his admiration.
+Time went by, the seven months passed, and then the eighth. And hide as
+he would the fact from himself, there was no denying that the figure of
+his beloved was no longer slight; but when he made the remark to her in
+a great state of anxiety, she burst out laughing:
+
+"Be silent, you foolish creature! You notice it because you know about
+it. Who is going to suspect anything because I am a little stouter?
+Sometimes one likes a loose corsage."
+
+When the critical time arrived, she evinced a courage bordering on
+heroism. Luis wanted her to have a doctor.
+
+"But why?" she said; "Jacoba's services will be quite sufficient, and it
+would be dangerous to trust the secret to anybody else."
+
+The first symptoms came on in the early morning, so she kept her bed;
+but it was not until eight o'clock that she sent for Jacoba, who had
+been sleeping for some days in the house on pretence of making curtains.
+Then they were both locked in the room where everything in the way of
+linen was prepared; and without a groan, without an unnecessary
+movement, this brave woman went through the ordeal. The little creature
+was subsequently taken away by Jacoba in a bundle of linen after the
+servants had been sent out on various pretexts.
+
+The count wept with joy and admiration at the happy solution of the
+difficulty. But when Jacoba told him that he was to take the child to
+the Quinones' door, he was quite overwhelmed. However, although his
+lover's plan quite took him aback, he did what he was told, and the
+crowning audacity of the lady turned out as she had foreseen. So now
+that the child was safe for ever, their love not only seemed
+strengthened and purified, but they felt the delightful flush of victory
+over unheard-of dangers before finally arriving in the port of safety.
+
+With their heads bent over the child, and sometimes touching its
+forehead with their lips, they sat with their hands clasped in one
+another's, and talked, or rather wove dreams in their efforts to gain a
+glimpse into the unfathomable abysses of the future.
+
+"What was to be the fate of the lovely little creature? How was she to
+be educated?" Amalia said she would undertake to have it treated like
+her own daughter, she would have her brought up as a perfect little
+lady, and she was sure Don Pedro would not oppose her in the matter. And
+as he would have no sons, what was more likely than that he would take a
+fancy to it and leave her a lot of money at his death.
+
+But the count repudiated this idea with scorn. The child should have
+nothing from Don Pedro. He would leave her all his own money.
+
+"But perhaps you will marry and have children," returned the lady,
+glancing at him with a mischievous smile. Then his fingers were laid on
+her lips in protest.
+
+"Silence! silence! You know I can't bear anything of that; I am for ever
+united to thee."
+
+Whereupon she kissed him with effusion.
+
+"That's a compact, is it not so?"
+
+"It is a compact," he replied, in a tone of decision.
+
+"But do not trouble about leaving her your property in a will, because
+it would give rise to the suspicion that she is your daughter."
+
+This difficulty absorbed them both for some minutes. Both were busy
+devising some means of eluding it. The count wanted to leave it to some
+confidential person in trust; but this idea also bristled with
+drawbacks, and they thought it would be better for the money to
+accumulate in his name in some bank until she came of age, and then a
+father could be invented who had fallen from the skies.
+
+At last Amalia concluded by saying: "We shall talk for ever of this.
+Leave it to me."
+
+And he was only too pleased to leave it to her, as he had unbounded
+confidence in her inexhaustible imagination, power of will, and
+limitless audacity.
+
+When tired of talking of the future, they turned their attention to the
+present. The child had to be baptised, and the ceremony was fixed for
+the following day.
+
+"Yes, and we have settled that I am to be the godmother, and you the
+godfather."
+
+"What! I?" he exclaimed in astonishment. "But, my dear woman, do you not
+understand that it will give rise to suspicions?"
+
+But the lady was obstinate. She had set her heart on his being
+godfather. If it gave rise to suspicions, well and good. She would do it
+without the least fear.
+
+Then, seeing that he was really distressed at the idea, she changed her
+mind.
+
+"Do not vex yourself, man, do not vex yourself," she said, giving a
+little pull at his beard. "It was only a joke. It would be fun to see
+you hold it at the font. I believe you would call out: 'Senores, here!
+come every one of you and see the father of this child.'"
+
+It was finally settled that the godfather was to be Quinones, with Don
+Enrique Valero as his proxy, and she was to be the godmother, with Maria
+Josefa as her representative; and the count was quite satisfied with the
+arrangement. All that was cleverly and prudently arranged in a way to
+secure the welfare of his child. But just when he was feeling more
+comfortable, a noise in the passage made him jump from his armchair, and
+turn perfectly livid.
+
+"What is the matter, man?"
+
+"That noise?"
+
+"It is Jacoba."
+
+But seeing he was still uneasy, and his eyes looked scared, she got up,
+and holding the child in her arms she opened the door and exchanged a
+few words with Jacoba, who was in fact still there. After giving her the
+baby and locking the door, she came back and sat down again.
+
+"How could you be such a coward, eh?"
+
+"It is not cowardice," he returned, blushing. "It is being so
+constantly upset. I don't know what has come to me. Perhaps it is
+conscience."
+
+"Bah! it is because you are a coward. What is the good of having such a
+powerful body if you have no spirit in it?"
+
+Then, noticing the expression of pain and distress that overshadowed his
+face, she turned and embraced him with enthusiasm.
+
+"No, you are not a coward, but you are innocent, eh? And it is that that
+I love you for. I love you more than my life, and you love your little
+girl, don't you? I am all yours. You are my only love. I am not really
+married."
+
+Then she caressed him in a kitten-like way, passing her delicate white
+hands over his face, and kissing him several times; then she put her
+arms round his neck, and gave him little mouse-like bites. And at the
+same time, she, who was generally so grave and quiet, let flow a
+perfect stream of affectionate words which calmed and charmed him to
+a wonderful degree. The fire which shone in her mysterious, large,
+treacherous-looking eyes, now broke forth in veritable flames. Passion
+had taken possession of her being, but it was also fraught with the
+malicious pleasure of a satisfied caprice, vengeance and treachery.
+
+The Conde de Onis felt himself more in her power with every day that
+dawned. The caresses of his lover were tender, but her eyes, even in the
+moments of greatest abandon, retained a cruel cat-like look; and his
+love was strangely mingled with fear. Some times his superstitious mind
+would make him wonder if this Valencian woman were an incarnate devil of
+temptation.
+
+After saying three or four times that he must go without being able to
+break away from her, he at last got free from her arms, and rose from
+the armchair. The farewell was long as usual, for Amalia would not leave
+him until she saw he was quite intoxicated with the power of her
+caresses.
+
+Jacoba was expecting him outside the door. After taking him along
+several corridors, they came to the place of the secret staircase
+leading into the library. Here she signed to him to wait whilst she
+reconnoitered to see that nobody was about the passages. Then she came
+back again to tell him all was right, and the count went down with as
+little noise as possible.
+
+The intermediary left him at the passage after opening the door. Then he
+bent down with his hands on the ground to prevent any one seeing him
+from the street, and so crossed the passage to the pew. He opened the
+door and entered. The darkness blinded him. He made a few steps forward,
+when he felt a sudden blow on his shoulder, and a rough voice said in
+his ear, "Die, wretch!"
+
+The blood froze in his veins, but he gave a spring forward and saw a
+dark heap blacker than the darkness. Quick as a dart it threw itself on
+him, and he would soon have done for it with his enormous strength if he
+had not heard a stifled laugh, and the voice of Amalia said:
+
+"Take care, Luis, or you will hurt me!"
+
+He was dumb with astonishment for some minutes.
+
+"But how did you get here?" he said at last.
+
+"By the front staircase. I popped on this black cap and ran down."
+
+Then, seeing that he looked cross and disgusted at a joke in such bad
+taste, she stood on tiptoe, put her arms round his neck, and after
+pressing a long and passionate kiss upon his lips, she said, in a
+coaxing tone:
+
+"Now I know that you are not a coward, but I wanted to prove it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE JOKES OF PACO GOMEZ
+
+
+In spite of all the efforts of Paco Gomez, Garnet could not be made to
+believe that he was acting in good faith. His jocose nature and the
+practical jokes he had been known to perpetrate had made an unfavourable
+impression on the Indian. It was in vain that he put on a grave and
+circumspect manner and held long conversations on the rise and fall of
+stocks, besides praising his house above all modern buildings, and
+giving him valuable hints in the game of _chapo_, the dandy of Lancia
+saw that there was no dissipating the look of distrust in the old bear's
+bloodshot eyes. In this dilemma he appealed to Manuel Antonio for help,
+for he had such a delightful joke in his head that any assistance seemed
+better than giving it up.
+
+"Don't be so foolish, Santos," said the Chatterbox to him one evening,
+as he was walking through the Bombe with Garnet. "You see that as you
+have passed the half of your life behind a counter you don't understand
+these Lancians. I won't say Fernanda is deeply in love with you, but she
+is going the way to be so. I tell you, and I say the same everywhere,
+for I have remarked it for some time. Women are capricious and
+incomprehensible; they reject a thing one day, and want it the next,
+when they are then disposed to stretch a point to get it. Fernanda began
+by snubbing you----"
+
+"In every possible way, in every possible way," returned the Indian
+sullenly.
+
+"Pure fancy, my man; she is a very proud girl who will never make
+herself cheap. But proud as she may be, she will marry either the Conde
+de Onis or you, the only two matches there are in Lancia for her: the
+count with his nobility and you with your money. But Luis is a strange
+sort of man; I think he is quite incapable of marrying, and I am sure
+she thinks so too. You are the only one left, and you will be the one to
+get the prize. Besides, whatever women may say, they admire great strong
+fellows like you; why you are a perfect oak, my man," he added with a
+look of admiration.
+
+Garnet gave vent to a grunt of assent, and the Chatterbox passed his
+hands over his body, as if he were a learned connoisseur of the human
+masculine form.
+
+"What muscles, my boy! What shoulders!"
+
+"Yes, these shoulders have earned many thousand pounds."
+
+"How? Carrying sacks?"
+
+"Sacks!" exclaimed Garnet smiling scornfully. "They are for the common
+herd. No, great cases of sugar like waggons."
+
+The Bombe was deserted at that hour. It was a large promenade in the
+form of a drawing-room, which had been recently built on the site of the
+famous wood of San Francisco, from which there was a fine view. This
+wood of large, old twisted oaks, some of which formed part of a primeval
+forest, was where the monastery was founded which gave its origin to
+Lancia, and it served as a place of recreation and amusement to the town
+until the first houses were built there. Then it fell into a state of
+neglect, until the last municipal corporation carried out certain
+improvements which won the hearts of all reforming spirits. They made a
+promenade with little rustic gardens and a road among the trees that led
+to the town. On weekdays there was no one there but a few priests in
+long black cloaks and large felt hats; the secular element was
+represented by two or three little parties of Indians discussing in
+loud voices the price of shares, the value of certain plots of ground in
+the Calle de Mauregato just opened, or some valetudinarian come to get
+an hour's sunshine before the chill of the afternoon.
+
+And where were the ladies?
+
+Oh! the ladies of Lancia know perfectly well what is due to themselves,
+and they had far too great a regard for the laws of good form to appear
+on days that were not fete days; and even then they did not do it
+without taking proper precautions.
+
+No lady of Lancia would think of being so vulgar as to go to the Bombe
+on a Sunday before the arrival of others of her class; and it was a
+superhuman effort to arrange for all to appear simultaneously. So after
+three o'clock in the afternoon they were waiting about, gloved and
+bonneted, peeping at each other out of the windows.
+
+"The Zamoras are coming now!"
+
+"There go the Mateos!"
+
+And so they finally sallied forth in due dignity to the promenade where
+the band had been performing different fantasias on airs from "Ernani"
+or "Nabuco" for the edification of the children and a few appreciative
+artisans. It must not be thought that the distinguished society of
+Lancia went with one rush to the open-air salon. Nothing of the kind.
+Before putting foot there, they took a few turns in a little walk a
+short way off. From thence they took a survey, and ascertained whether
+anybody had yet ventured as far as the promenade.
+
+At last, by the time the shadows were falling amid the old oaks, and the
+fog was gathering from the mountains, and getting up the nostrils, in
+the throats, and down the bronchial tubes of the people of high degree,
+all the local beauties had assembled in crowds at the promenade. What
+was a catarrh, a cold, or even inflammation of the lungs compared to the
+disgrace of being the first at the Bombe!
+
+What a wonderful example of fortitude! What an instance of the power
+that self-respect exercises over the minds of superior beings!
+
+This exquisite sense of duty which Nature has written in indelible
+characters on the hearts of the worthy, was shown in a still more
+remarkable fashion at the private balls given by the Casino of Lancia
+every fortnight during the winter.
+
+It will be easily surmised that none of the high-born senoritas who
+demurred at appearing at the promenade when it was empty, were likely to
+be the first to arrive at the salon of the Casino. But as there was no
+side walk here, from whence they could take a bird's-eye view, and they
+could not keep a watch from the windows at night, these clever young
+ladies, as high-born as they were ingenious, hit upon a means of saving
+their honour.
+
+Soon after ten o'clock, when the ball was supposed to begin, they sent
+their papas or brothers on a little voyage of discovery. They went in in
+a careless sort of way, sat down in the armchairs, cut a few jokes with
+the raw youths in buttoned up frock-coats who were impatiently standing
+about, fastening each other's gloves, and then, making some excuse, they
+soon retired to tell their families that nobody had arrived yet.
+
+Ah! how often did those young men in the frock-coats wait the whole
+night in vain for the arrival of their beautiful partners!
+
+The candles burnt low, and the orchestra, after futilely playing two or
+three dances, became quite demoralised; and the musicians laughed and
+joked in loud tones, walked about the room, and even smoked.
+
+The maids and men-servants yawned and made allusions to the blessing of
+sleep, and at last the president gave the sign of dismissal, and the
+youths retired to their respective homes as sad as they were
+conventional.
+
+That was indeed a touching spectacle to see those heroic young girls
+sacrifice their great desire to go to the ball rather than outrage the
+fundamental principles on which the happiness and comfort of society are
+founded!
+
+Paco then came in with the Pensioner.
+
+"They will tell you the same as I," continued Manuel Antonio, shading
+his eyes with his ivory white hand.
+
+In the distance Paco really looked like a perch crowned with a cucumber,
+for his head was so unusually small that all his hats came down over his
+ears. Walking by his side was Senor Mateo with his enormous white
+moustachios and proud military bearing, although we know he was the
+greatest civilian that Lancia had known for centuries.
+
+Garnet gave a few grunts to express the profound contempt with which the
+two persons inspired him, the one for his want of conventionality, and
+the other for not having even a paltry investment in the Three per
+Cents.
+
+"Come, my dear fellows, and do me the favour of making this stupid
+fellow believe that he is a good match for any girl, although he will
+not believe it."
+
+"Certainly; for if Don Santos is not a match with five or six million
+reales, I don't know who is," exclaimed Mateo feelingly, as befitted the
+father of four marriageable daughters who did not marry.
+
+"Draw it mild, Don Cristobal; draw it mild!" said the Indian, with a
+stern look.
+
+"What? Have you more, then? I am glad of it. I only speak according to
+report."
+
+"I have five hundred thousand dollars, and not a _lapiz_[J] less."
+
+The three friends exchanged a significant look, and Manuel Antonio, not
+being able to keep from laughing, embraced him, saying:
+
+"All right, Santos, all right! But this about the _lapiz_ quite affects
+me."
+
+Garnet was a man who was continually tripping in his vocabulary. He
+really was ignorant of the proper way of expressing many colloquial
+terms, and the result was often very funny. Doubtless it was due to his
+not hearing well; it was some years since he had left America, and
+consorted with people of culture. His dreadful solecisms were quite
+proverbial in Lancia.
+
+"But this unhappy fellow surely does not think," continued the
+Chatterbox, regardless of Garnet's resentful look, "that because
+Fernanda Estrada-Rosa is a bit coquettish, that he is not taken with her
+little set-up airs like every other man! Fool, fool, more than fool!"
+and so saying he gave him a few taps on the large red nape of his neck.
+"Besides she is a daughter of Don Juan Estrada-Rosa, the greatest Jew in
+the province!"
+
+"But, man, Fernanda is quite different," said the Pensioner, who was not
+in the plot. "She is a very rich girl, and there is no need for her to
+marry for money."
+
+Then the others came down upon him with a vengeance: Where there is
+money more is wanted. Ambition is insatiable. Fernanda was very proud,
+and she would never stand being outdone in show by any other girl in
+Lancia. Now if Don Santos chose a wife in the town she would find her
+such a formidable rival that it would be a continual annoyance to her.
+The only person Don Santos had to fear was the Count of Onis, but he
+seemed to have gone off, for his eccentric character, and the strange
+attacks to which he was frequently subject, had ended by disgusting the
+young girl.
+
+Won over by these arguments, backed up by nods of intelligence from
+Paco, the Pensioner saw the wisdom of the idea, and went over to their
+side, and then the three tried their best to persuade the Indian that no
+young girl would hold out long against him, if he once laid siege to
+her.
+
+Paco alluded mysteriously to certain information in his possession,
+which was the strongest evidence that the girl's treatment of him was
+nothing but little airs of vanity put on to make herself more valuable.
+But it was a secret, he said, which could not be revealed without a
+breach of the confidence and regard due to the friend who had revealed
+it.
+
+In spite of all this Garnet would not give in. He was like a mastiff
+under the caresses and turbulent treatment of children, for he only cast
+angry looks at his tormentors, and every now and then gave vent to
+ominous growls.
+
+Manuel Antonio repeated the list of his subtle arguments, enforcing them
+with sundry embraces, pats, and pinches, for he was eloquent and
+plausible to a degree. Paco let Manuel go on, taking care to give him
+many a sly corroborative wink, for he was certain that Garnet had no
+confidence in his remarks. But he came in with the final stroke. After
+having had himself implored and entreated by his two allies, who
+promised eternal secrecy by the nails of Christ, he finally drew a
+letter from his pocket. It was from Fernanda to a friend at Nieva. After
+casually explaining how it came into his hands, Paco read with the bated
+breath of mystery:
+
+"There is no foundation in what you say of Luis. I have not renewed, nor
+do I wish to renew, my relations with him, and this for reasons too many
+to be given, and some of which you know. The suit of Don Santos, as
+there is nobody else, has a far better chance. He is certainly old for
+me, but very conventional and affectionate. I should not be surprised if
+I ended by having him."
+
+Garnet listened with great attention, opening his eyes unusually wide
+with astonishment. When Paco finished, he said in a deep voice, "This
+letter is _ipocryphal_."
+
+The three friends turned round in surprise, and great was their
+difficulty to keep from laughing, whilst Manuel Antonio improved the
+occasion by giving Don Santos another embrace and saying:
+
+"Go to, you rude, mistrustful thing! Show him the letter, Paco. Do you
+not know Fernanda's writing? Emilita is constantly having letters from
+her. You are too modest, Santos. I will not say you are a perfect
+gentleman, but you have a certain grace and a certain _je ne sais
+quoi_."
+
+"Yes, I should think so!" exclaimed Paco; "and you take what Manuel
+Antonio says, for he is a judge."
+
+"There are some who can tell at once, my dear fellow," continued the
+latter, in a quick voice. "They have only to cast their eyes on a face
+and they know whether it is handsome, ugly, or mediocre."
+
+But not wishing to waste any more breath in forwarding Paco's plans they
+left Garnet in peace, and the Chatterbox changed the conversation.
+
+"Ah! here come some friends of yours, Don Cristobal!"
+
+And raising his head the Pensioner saw eight or ten soldiers
+approaching. They were officers of the battalion of Pontevedra, which,
+to his disgust, had recently arrived for the garrison of the town.
+
+Mateo gnashed his teeth, and gave utterance to sounds indicative of his
+hatred of the armed force, and then exclaimed in an ironical tone:
+
+"How delightful to see warriors in time of peace!"
+
+"You are quite cracked about them, Don Cristobal. Soldiers are very
+useful."
+
+"Useful!" exclaimed the Pensioner, in a rage. "What use are they I
+should like to know? How are they useful?"
+
+"They keep the peace, man."
+
+"They keep war, you mean. The Civil Guard can keep us from rogues, but
+they foment dissensions and cause the ruin of the country. Directly they
+see the enemy appear, they take care to go off in another direction, and
+then they get appointments, crosses, and pensions. I maintain that as
+long as there are soldiers, there will be no peace in Spain."
+
+"But, Don Cristobal, supposing a foreign nation attacked us?"
+
+The Pensioner gave an ironical smile and shook his head several times
+before replying.
+
+"Get along, silly; why the only country that could attack us by land is
+France, and if France should ever do so, what good would these stupid
+little officers in uniform be to us?"
+
+"Well, apart from that, soldiers are good for trade. The shops profit by
+them, and the hotel-keepers benefit also."
+
+Manuel Antonio only defended the military to aggravate Mateo, but there
+was a shade of irony in his present remarks that was excessively
+aggravating.
+
+"That is just what it is! And it is that which annoys me so, for where
+does the money come from that they spend, you foolish fellow? Why, from
+you and from me, and from that gentleman; in fact, from every one who
+pays anything to the State in one form or another. The result is that
+they spend without producing, and so set a bad example in the towns; for
+idleness is a corrupting influence to those that are inclined to be
+lazy. Do you know what the army costs? Why, the naval and military
+Ministers take between them half of the national grant. That is to say,
+justice, religion, the expenses of the maintenance of our relations with
+other countries, and the working of all material interests, do not take
+as much to keep as these scarlet trousered young gentlemen. If other
+nations of Europe have a great army, what is that to do with it? Let
+them have it. Besides, they can allow themselves this luxury because
+they have money. But we are a poor little nation with only outside show.
+Besides, in other countries there are international complications, from
+which we are fortunately free. France is too afraid of the intervention
+of other countries to attack us, but if perchance it did attack us, it
+would conquer us just as much with an army as without one."
+
+The Pensioner was very emphatic in his arguments, which, with his eyes
+blazing with anger, he enforced with vehement gesticulations of the
+hands.
+
+Manuel Antonio was delighted at seeing him get into a rage; and at that
+moment the little company of officers passed near with a polite
+"Good-day," which they all returned excepting Don Cristobal, who took no
+notice of the greeting.
+
+"I really think you go too far, Don Cristobal. Now what do you think of
+Captain Nunez who has just gone by? Is he not a perfect gentleman with
+courteous, pleasant manners?"
+
+"He would be better with a pickaxe in his hand, and more useful to his
+country," returned the Pensioner crossly.
+
+"But what is the good of putting yourself out when, according to report,
+he is going to be your son-in-law, as he is going to marry Emilita?"
+said the Chatterbox with mischievous delight.
+
+Paco and Don Santos burst out laughing, for Don Cristobal was quite
+crushed, and with great difficulty he said:
+
+"Whoever heard such nonsense!" and then relapsed into silence, for the
+news was a dreadful blow, as it put him in the most awkward position.
+
+The silence was noticed by the others, who winked and smiled behind his
+back.
+
+But Paco was also pre-occupied, for when he had a practical joke in that
+little knob of a head of his, he was as restless and full of thought as
+a poet or painter with some great work on hand; and it was only after
+working hard for some days, that he all but won over the Indian to his
+plan; and the question of his going formally to ask Don Juan
+Estrada-Rosa for his daughter's hand in marriage was actually under
+discussion. According to Paco and his supporters, that was considered
+the most direct way, and best calculated to succeed, for any other
+seemed round-about. The day that Don Juan should see him come forward
+with his ten millions and an offer of marriage, he would spare no means
+to make his daughter consent, and she herself would not be averse. For
+as they could not have the Conde de Onis, who could she marry better
+than a man so rich, so proper, so robust, so _illustrious_? This last
+epithet, gravely suggested by Paco, nearly spoilt the whole thing, as he
+was splitting with suppressed laughter. Garnet noticing this fact cast
+an angry glance at him, and as his confidence was again shaken, a delay
+of some days ensued.
+
+Nevertheless, the moment arrived when the Indian gave credence to his
+words through overhearing him from a neighbouring room speak plainly to
+the Conde de Onis. From that day he put faith in him, and consulted him
+as to how to bring about his purpose. Paco said it was better not to
+mention it first to the girl.
+
+As good generals surprise the enemy and conquer by a bold, unexpected
+stroke, it was the unanimous opinion that the best course would be to
+call on Don Juan, ask for a private interview and go straight to the
+point. There was no fear but what the banker would jump at the idea; the
+girl would probably be somewhat surprised, but under the influence of
+her father she would soon give in. The important things of life were
+generally decided by a bold stroke--"nothing venture nothing have."
+
+Finally, Garnet gave in, and commenced proceedings with all due
+solemnity. The first thing to be considered was the hour at which it
+would be best to call, and twelve o'clock was finally decided on. His
+costume was also a subject of deep discussion; and Paco maintained that
+he would look most imposing in uniform, such as that worn by an honorary
+chief of the civil administration. It would not be difficult to get a
+nomination if he paid handsomely for it, but it could not be done under
+a month's delay, so the uniform had to be given up, and it was settled
+he was to wear a black frock-coat with his medal as town-councillor;
+the day was the last thing to be arranged, which was fixed for Monday.
+In the meanwhile the traitor Paco lost no time in letting out in
+conversation with Don Juan Estrada-Rosa that Garnet was hoping and
+wishing to be accepted as his son-in-law. Don Juan, who was rich as well
+as proud, and so adored his daughter that he thought a duke at least
+would come from Madrid to ask her hand in marriage, was furious, called
+him an impudent fellow, and swore that sooner than let her marry such a
+boor he would rather she remained unmarried.
+
+"Well, then, take care, Don Juan," said Paco smiling maliciously, "for
+the day will come when least expected when he will appear at your house
+to ask for Fernanda's hand."
+
+"He will do nothing of the sort," returned the banker, "he knows too
+well that he would be kicked downstairs."
+
+Having taken all these precautions, the terrible practical joker of
+Lancia felt he was quite secure. With the exception of the three or four
+friends who helped him to persuade Don Santos, nobody knew about his
+plot. But the Sunday afternoon preceding the event, he and Manuel
+Antonio went round and told people about the joke, and said that they
+had better be at the Cafe Maranon the next day if they wanted to see it
+out. In the provinces, where there are not many amusements, these
+practical jokes are made quite a business, and much time and thought are
+given to their conception and organisation.
+
+The youths of Lancia were delighted at Paco's project, for it presented
+especial attraction, the victim not being a poor fellow whom they might
+feel for, but a rich man; and in the depth of every heart there is
+always a grain of hatred for any one who has much money. So the news got
+bruited about, and on the following day there were more than fifty young
+fellows at the Cafe Maranon. But they did not make themselves
+conspicuous until Garnet appeared. The cafe was situated on a first
+floor (for the ground floors were never used at that time for such a
+purpose) in the Calle de Altavilla, almost opposite Don Juan
+Estrada-Rosa's house, which was large and sumptuous, although not so
+much so as the one that Don Santos had recently built, and that where
+the cafe was, was old and dilapidated. The resort of customers was a
+room, where there was a billiard-table, and two little side rooms
+furnished with little wooden tables for refreshment, all dirty, murky
+and shabby. How different were those times to the magnificent Cafe
+Britanico of today in the same street, with marble tables, colossal
+mirrors and gilded columns like the finest in Madrid!
+
+Spying through the little windows the gay assembly of youths, eager for
+excitement, saw Garnet pass by correctly dressed, balancing his colossal
+body on legs that looked too small for it. They saw him enter
+Estrada-Rosa's house, and heard the sound of the door being shut upon
+him. Nothing more was seen, but the windows of the cafe were
+simultaneously opened and filled. Those who could find no place got up
+on seats behind their companions. Every eye was fixed on the opposite
+door, and thus they waited for a quarter of an hour. At the end of that
+time the purple face of Garnet reappeared. It was indeed a fearful
+sight. It looked just as if the man had been nearly strangled, and his
+ears were the colour of blood. A perfect storm of coughs, shouts and
+howls greeted his appearance. The Indian turned his head and gave an
+astonished look at the excited crowd who were laughing for some unknown
+reason at him. But he was not long before he saw that he was the victim
+of a practical joke. His eyes glared fiercely round, and he burst out in
+a fit of intolerable rage:
+
+"Liars!"
+
+And he then fled like a wild boar pursued by a pack of hounds, amid the
+hisses and laughter of the youths, only turning his head from time to
+time to repeat the strong expletive.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE SENORITAS DE MERE
+
+
+So Emilita Mateo had really won the heart of a captain of the battalion
+of Pontevedra. But it had not been done without several days' hard work,
+in the way of coy glances, aimless laughter, childish pranks, mincing
+ways and numberless little tricks. She had, in short, called all her
+forces into play, being by turns straightforward and malicious, kind and
+rude, reserved and teasing, grave and frolicsome, like a wild thing,
+like a silly irresponsible child, but none the less adorable.
+
+Finally Nunez, Captain Nunez could not resist such a provoking mixture
+of innocence and guile; he was first taken with her, and ended by
+falling in love. He was a man with a wide face, lean, grave, and bilious
+looking, having a moustache and imperial, and languid, dull looking
+eyes, very conscientious in his duties, and very fond of taking long
+walks. This type of silent, conventional man is most susceptible to the
+charm of cheerfulness and vivacity. Emilita won his heart by calling him
+grumpy, giving him pinches by way of teasing him, saying that his words
+had to be drawn out with a corkscrew, and letting him have the full
+benefit of her chaff.
+
+The family of Mateos was quite upset by this wonderful success. Jovita,
+Micaela and Socorro, being elder sisters of the happy maiden, were both
+jealous and flattered. They felt that the preference of such a gallant
+infantry officer was an honour which was reflected over the whole
+family, and placed them in a superior position in the eyes of their
+friends and acquaintances. But at the same time, considering that
+Emilita was the youngest, they did not like her having a lover, or being
+married before themselves. It was decidedly premature for her to be
+engaged, as she was not more than twenty-four, and a smile of scorn and
+surprise contracted the lips of the three elder sisters at the idea of
+such an innocent, unconventional creature being married. So that
+although they sang the captain's praises to their friends, speaking
+highly of his personal attractions, crediting him with a brave and
+generous heart, testifying to his riches, as if they managed his
+exchequer, and vaguely referring to certain influential patronage which
+would put him, sooner or later, in the way of the distinctions of a
+general, they certainly never forgave him his chronological error.
+
+On the other side Don Cristobal, the father of that perverse, coquettish
+angel, found himself suddenly in such an awkward position that it nearly
+drove him mad. He was ashamed at having to give his consent to a
+daughter of his being courted by a soldier after having so often called
+the military idle and bloodthirsty, and having clamoured for the
+reduction of the army. How would he be able to face all his friends in
+the future? Many dreadful days of doubt ensued. His hatred against the
+army and the marines was so deeply rooted in his heart that it could not
+be eradicated in a moment. Nevertheless, he was obliged to confess that
+the very noble behaviour of Captain Nunez had influenced him to a great
+extent. The wish of seeing his daughters married was quite as strong as
+his dislike of the armed force. In his worry he deplored Nunez having a
+commission in the infantry. If he could only have been a sailor the
+gravity of the situation would have been so much lessened. He
+recollected that in his diatribes against the army, he had admitted that
+a few ships contributed to the safety of the colonies. The same thing
+applied to the civil guard, but as to the rest of the land forces there
+was no excuse, there was no means of getting out of the dilemma.
+
+Under such awkward circumstances he elected to shut himself up at home.
+The engagement of his daughter got spread abroad and became a settled
+affair, and he was afraid of practical jokes. Fear made him take the
+false step of playing fast and loose, which was unworthy of his
+character and antecedents. That is to say, that whilst continuing
+publicly to affect a scorn of the land forces, when talking with his
+daughter's bridegroom or other military men, he was quite suave and
+showed as much interest in the questions he asked them about their
+profession, as if they served in some civil office of the State. Nobody
+would have thought, to hear him enter into the details of the active,
+reserve, and militia forces, that the man entertained an eternal,
+undying hate against them. But the Pensioner attained a greater
+perfection in his role than anybody could have dared to expect. He did
+not pretend to get on with them as soldiers, when he considered them a
+social plague, but as men they might, according to their qualities, be
+worthy of esteem.
+
+The love affair of Emilita, like that of many others, had begun and gone
+on in the house of the Meres. These were two senoritas past eighty years
+of age, and not yet a hundred. From all accounts, they were already
+grown up at the beginning of the nineteenth century. They had no
+relations in Lancia, and nobody recollected their father, who died when
+they were little girls. He had held some appointment in the Exchequer
+department. It is possible, from its remote date, that he was a
+collector of the excise or some other taxes now extinct.
+
+In the first place the dress of these interesting senoritas savoured of
+the eighteenth century, to which they belonged. They could not put up
+with the fashions of the present day. They wore straight black gowns
+with lead sewn at the bottom to prevent their turning up, very long
+waisted bodies, tight sleeves with puffs, low cashmere shoes, and a
+coiffure too funny for anything. The mantilla they adopted was not of
+net, but of serge with a velvet fringe, such as is only worn by the
+working classes; and they carried a stick as a support.
+
+They affected a perfect courtesy, a versatility of character, and an
+insatiable passion for society and gaiety perfectly astonishing at their
+age. They certainly had not retained in the present century the licence
+of manners and wickedness which, according to historians, characterised
+the society of the past. It would be impossible to imagine creatures
+more simple. They seemed quite ignorant of life, everything surprised
+them, and they could not believe in evil. Thus they were frequently the
+victims of practical jokes at the hands of their friends and guests,
+without either of them expressing any great surprise at it. From time
+immemorial they had been accustomed to open their house of an evening to
+the young people of Lancia, who were attracted by the liberty prevalent
+there.
+
+The custom of _tutoyant_ everybody was tacitly allowed, and it was
+curious to hear young men of eighteen years of age talking so familiarly
+to old ladies who might have been their great-grandmothers. It was
+Carmelita here, and Nuncita there, because the eldest was named Dona
+Carmen, and the youngest Dona Anunciacion. Three or four generations had
+passed through that little drawing-room of the Calle del Carpo, so
+modest and neat, with its polished wood floors, straw-bottomed chairs,
+red damask sofa, mahogany sideboard with branch candlesticks, its
+tortoiseshell framed mirror, and several little pictures in pastels
+representing the story of Romeo and Juliet. The reception of the de
+Meres was the oldest institution of Lancia, and, contrary to the usual
+course of things, these old ladies who had not been able to marry
+themselves, had a perfect mania for helping everybody else to marry.
+Innumerable were the marriages due to that little drawing-room.
+Directly they heard that a young man was more attracted to one young
+lady than another, our senoritas set to work preparing the noose which
+was to unite them with an indissoluble bond. Indeed, they would allow no
+one to have the chair by a certain lady's side, so that when a certain
+gentleman should come it should be all ready for him, and he would only
+have to take it. Then they were loud in their praises of a certain
+gentleman to a certain lady, and would go to a certain gentleman full of
+the wonders of a certain lady's cleverness, economy, handiness, piety,
+and beauty. Then they repaired to the house of a certain young lady's
+mamma, where they had long private, important conversations, and they
+bearded a certain young gentleman's papa, when all their diplomatic arts
+were brought into play to soften his heart. And the reward of all these
+efforts was a little box of sweets on the day of the marriage! So all
+the mothers of marriageable girls adored the old ladies, and blessings
+and praises were showered upon them. They were hailed half a mile off,
+and on coming out of church, matrons hastened to offer them an arm as a
+support.
+
+But, on the other side, those who had any son of a marriageable age,
+regarded them with distrust and dislike, and dubbed them as interfering
+intermediaries.
+
+When the first touch of love was felt in the heart of some susceptible
+youth, he repaired immediately to the abode of the Las Meres.
+
+"Carmelita, I am in love!"
+
+"With whom, my heart, with whom?" asked the elder with the greatest
+interest.
+
+"With Rosario Calvo."
+
+"Aha! The rogue has good taste. There isn't a prettier or better
+educated girl. You were born for one another."
+
+And then the young fellow had the pleasure of hearing for some time
+panegyrics on his adored one.
+
+"I hope that you will help me."
+
+"As much as you like, dear heart."
+
+So at the end of a few days Rosario Calvo, who had never before set foot
+in the house of the de Meres, became a regular _habituee_ of the evening
+gatherings. However did they manage to get the girl there? It is
+difficult to say, but they had brought so many affairs to a successful
+issue that they certainly must have had some simple, sure recipe. They
+were as affectionate to their friends as if they were all near
+relations. Stories of self-abnegation were told of them which did them
+great honour. During the dreadful revolution of 1823, one of their
+guests, a cavalry lieutenant, took refuge in their house. The senoritas
+received him, and hid him for some days, and finally he escaped in the
+clothes of the servant. But hearing that the police were going to search
+the house, they were terror-struck at the thought of the lieutenant's
+uniform being found. Where could it be hidden so as not to betray him?
+Carmelita at this critical moment hit upon a brilliant, brave idea. She
+put on the uniform herself underneath her female attire. And yet this
+lieutenant treated them with such ingratitude that he never all his life
+found ten minutes to write them a letter of thanks.
+
+But this was not the only act of ingratitude on the part of their
+guests, who made as much use of their kindness as they could, enjoyed
+the company and conversation of the prettiest girls in Lancia, arranged
+matrimonial alliances, and directly all this business was concluded,
+they found that their affairs or their position precluded their
+frequenting the parties any more, and they scarcely greeted them when
+they met their old hostesses in the street. The same can be said of the
+mammas, who made so much of the senoritas before marrying their
+daughters, and dropped them when that was done. But this neglectful
+conduct neither damped the kindness of the good ladies nor quelled their
+optimistic spirit. They kept up an incessant stream of new-comers to
+their house, and whilst forgetting the ingratitude of the old ones, they
+set their minds on the worthiness that they attributed to the new.
+Besides, they harboured no rancour or ill-feeling in their hearts, and
+they were not even offended at practical jokes, although some of them
+were really very serious. Paco Gomez arranged one that was so startling
+that it is still told in Lancia with gusto.
+
+Ladies could not go to the parties every evening in the winter, they
+generally went on Saturdays and Wednesdays. But there were a few young
+men who hardly ever missed going at an early hour, even if they went on
+to other houses afterwards. On these quiet evenings a game of _brisca_
+was generally got up. Paco took Nuncita as a partner, and Captain Nunez,
+or some other young fellow, Carmelita. But one evening they were
+regretting that the signs made during the game were so common and
+hackneyed, that it was impossible to make them unnoticed by the
+opponents. So both sides agreed to change them. Paco taught some to
+Nuncita, and the opponent several more to Carmelita. But these new signs
+were all so improper that they are only seen in taverns and bad houses.
+Yet those innocent women took them as a matter of course in perfect
+unconcern. Some days went by and they were quite accustomed to their
+use, when Paco suggested a game to several of the guests. Then ensued a
+scene of comic surprise. Every time one of the two senoritas made a
+sign, there was an explosion of merriment. And instead of showing the
+door to the cruel shameless author of the joke, and forbidding his ever
+returning, the kind senoritas only crossed themselves in surprise, and
+laughed with the others when they found it out.
+
+"Blessed Santo Cristo of Rodillero! Whoever would have thought it! So we
+have committed all these sins in ignorance!"
+
+"I shall not confess them, then," exclaimed Nuncita, with
+determination.
+
+"You will confess them, child," returned the elder, severely.
+
+"But I won't."
+
+"Child!"
+
+"But I don't want to."
+
+"Silence, child, you will confess them three times. To-morrow I shall
+take you myself to Fray Diego."
+
+Nuncita still protested under her breath like a wilful child, until the
+severe glances of her elder sister made her be silent, but she was still
+in a pet. Sometimes without any reason she had these exhibitions of
+ill-temper and rebellion, and Carmelita had to call all her authority
+into play to bring her to reason, but this was a rare occurrence.
+Although only three or four years older than herself, Nuncita, from long
+custom, weakness of character, or maybe from liking to appear young
+before people, recognised her sister's authority and accorded her an
+obedience and submission that many mothers of daughters would envy. It
+was seldom necessary to call her to order, but when it was so, Nuncita
+bowed her head, and was soon seen to put her handkerchief to her eyes
+and leave the room, whilst Carmelita followed her movements with a fixed
+look and shook her head severely. A little more, and she would have
+chastised her in public and sent her to bed without any supper. For such
+reasons, and because Dona Carmelita frequently called her so, Dona
+Nuncita, who was over eighty years of age, went by the name of "the
+child" in Lancia.
+
+Both sisters worked heroically in the love affair of Emilita Mateo, and
+Captain Nunez was besieged in the regular way. For a month at least,
+until they saw he was well under weigh, no chair was left vacant for him
+excepting by the side of Don Cristobal's youngest girl. In the game of
+lottery, which was a perfect passion in that society, Nuncita took care
+that papers should be found with their names combined. When reference
+was made to the officer and Emilita they were mentioned as one person,
+already united and inseparable. Services of such great importance were
+repaid by the Pensioner by a gratitude which beamed from his eyes, and
+he would gladly have prostrated himself at their feet and kissed the
+edge of their square gowns. But his dignity and his long series of
+diatribes against the army chained his feet and forbade these, and all
+other manifestations of delight. He was deprived even of the consolation
+of exhibiting pleasure at the sight of the soldier at the promenade with
+his daughter. But we know that the senoritas cared little for the
+gratitude of their guests. They married them from their irresistible
+propensity in this direction, which was as much a necessity of their
+constitution as web-spinning is to the spider, or singing in the woods
+is to the birds. Once launched in matrimony, the men and women guests
+lost all attraction for the Senoritas de Mere. Their attention was
+immediately turned to the fresh young people who came and took refuge
+under their protecting wings. But there was one who caused them such
+bitter disappointment that a little more would have brought them to the
+grave. Never in their lives had they come across such an
+incomprehensible man as the count. What the poor things went through to
+put him in the right path, in the flowery path of Hymen! But the devil
+slipped through their fingers like an eel.
+
+For some evenings he appeared tender and devoted to Fernanda, never
+leaving her side for an instant. The glances of the two sisters were
+then fixed upon them with visible interest; by dint of signs they kept
+them from interruption, a little more and they would have requested the
+others to lower their voices, so that the noise should not disturb them.
+And then suddenly when least expected the count was absurd enough to
+leave his seat in an absent-minded way with a yawn, and walk off by
+himself and sit at a corner of the table; whilst Fernanda, on her side,
+was also very whimsical, for she would take the opportunity to start an
+animated conversation with the son of the Chief Magistrate of the Court
+without vouchsafing a look at her _fiance_. Carmelita and Nuncita were
+taken aback when this occurred, and they retired to rest full of
+consternation. After the final break, and when they were quite certain
+that the chance of bringing such a magnificent marriage to pass was not
+reserved for them, they lowered their ambition and turned their
+attention to Garnet who had been pressing for their help for some time.
+
+But impious fate was again against them. Fernanda snubbed any
+conciliatory remark that they made to her in favour of the Indian. If
+she noticed that the senoritas arranged the chairs, so that he would
+have to sit by her side, she instantly upset their manoeuvres and
+skilfully managed for a contrary effect. When sides were arranged for
+_brisca_ or _tute_ she would not accept him as a partner and preferred
+to give up the game than do so. In short she was so quick and wide awake
+that she was invincible on every side. Nevertheless, the de Meres
+persisted in their project, and worked for its accomplishment with the
+patience which is the surest means for the success of great
+undertakings.
+
+Some days after the practical joke of Paco Gomez on Don Santos, there
+assembled at the famous party, besides three or four youths, the same
+Paco, Manuel Antonio, Don Santos, Captain Nunez, Don Cristobal, Maria
+Josefa Hevia, and two of the Mateo girls.
+
+They were not yet thinking of playing. They were all seated excepting
+Paco, who was walking up and down the drawing-room, telling them the
+joke he had the other night at the theatre with Manin the majordomo of
+Quinones. Since the latter had been paralysed, his well-known companion
+had to go about the town without his shadow. But in consideration of the
+regard shown him by his master, the guests of Don Pedro took a good deal
+of notice of him, and in spite of the rusticity of his manners and the
+countrified aspect of his attire, they greeted him familiarly when they
+met him in the street, invited him into a cafe, and sometimes took him
+to the theatre. It was Manin here, and Manin there, the great peasant
+had made himself famous, not only in Lancia, but in the whole of the
+province. Those short breeches, those white woollen stockings with
+coloured stripes, that green cloth jacket and wide brimmed hat, gave him
+an original aspect in the town, where it would be difficult to find a
+man in such attire.
+
+He was an unfailing source of astonishment to strangers, especially as
+they saw him associate on an equal footing with the senores of the
+place; for they seemed to seek his society not only out of respect for
+the Grandee, but because they found pleasure in Manin's uncouth manners.
+Besides, Manin was a celebrated bear-hunter, and it was reported that he
+had occasionally had deadly struggles with the beasts. Those who were
+partial to that kind of sport professed great regard and respect for
+him. Nevertheless, the enemies that the majordomo had in his village
+laughed sarcastically, and said that the bears were all a farce, and he
+had never seen one in his life, much less struggled with them. They
+added that Manin had never been anything more than a country clown,
+until Don Pedro took it into his head to raise him from his obscure
+position.
+
+Impartiality obliges us to give this evidence, but we can take it for
+what it is worth. It must, however, be confessed that the conduct of
+Manin gave it a semblance of truth, for although he often offered to
+take his friends bear-hunting, he never kept his promise. But perhaps
+this was due to his respect for the well-being and safety of the bears
+of his country. Is it sufficient evidence for dubbing a man a mere
+country clown? Nobody could say so. It would be more logical to assume
+that the celebrated Manin, like everybody who rises above the common
+herd, was a victim of the insinuations of the envious.
+
+So Paco, with his usual freedom, quite regardless of the presence of
+ladies, told how he and some other friends who had a theatre ticket took
+Manin to the stage box. The majordomo had never before seen women
+dancers. When they first appeared on the scene, Manin, thinking that
+they had bare legs, was perfectly scandalised and fixed his eyes,
+glowing with anger and indignation, upon them. "But you have not seen
+the best," Paco said, "wait a bit." When the orchestra began to play,
+the dancers shook their castanettes, and with a turn they raised their
+legs as high as their heads. "Shame!" exclaimed the poor fellow,
+clapping his hands to his face. "What will happen next?"
+
+Paco told the story quite naturally, as he walked up and down the
+drawing-room, with his head down, and his hands in his trousers-pockets.
+The young ladies felt inclined to blush, and everybody laughed excepting
+Garnet, who was still smarting from the joke of the other day.
+
+From his corner, where he sat like a sulky bear, he cast grim and angry
+glances at Paco. What had happened in Estrada-Rosa's house, when the
+Indian went to ask for the hand of the senorita? Not a word could be got
+out of Don Juan nor his daughter; but a certain little servant-maid
+informed the world that Don Juan refused him with the deepest scorn,
+that Garnet made mention of his millions and maintained that Fernanda
+would never have a chance of a better marriage. Then Don Juan got in a
+rage, called him a sponger, and sent him off with offensive epithets.
+Every time Paco caught one of the angry glances, he smiled and winked at
+Manuel Antonio.
+
+"I say, Carmela," he said, coming to a stand before a little picture
+painted in oils, "where did you buy this San Juan?"
+
+"Jesus! senor," exclaimed Carmelita; "it is not a San Juan, but a
+Salvador! See how the poor little fellow is laughing!"
+
+"Ah! so it is a Salvador. What is the difference?"
+
+The Senoritas de Mere, hearing such a question, went nearly wild with
+amusement. They laughed till the tears came.
+
+"Ay, what, Paquito! Ay, what, my heart! You don't know the difference
+between a San Juan and a Salvador?"
+
+And they laughed and laughed again. They had not heard anything so funny
+for many years. When they were a little more composed, they dried their
+tears and used their handkerchiefs vigorously. Paco, who liked to see
+them so merry, went on to inquire:
+
+"But come, when did you buy this Salvador, that I never saw till now?"
+
+"It was in Nuncia's room, my dear; but it did not do there, because it
+came in the way of the bed, and so we put it here."
+
+"It was given to Carmela when papa was alive," said Nuncita, "by a
+painter from Madrid who spent a few days here."
+
+"Were you young then?" asked Paco, gravely, turning to Carmelita.
+
+"Yes, very young."
+
+"Was the painter famous?"
+
+"Very."
+
+"Then I know who it was. It was Murillo."
+
+"No; I don't think that was his name."
+
+"Then it was Velasquez."
+
+"That name sounds more like it. He was a young man, very short, and very
+gallant. Was he not, Nuncia?"
+
+"Did he not address some soft words to you?"
+
+Nuncita lowered her eyes and blushed.
+
+"Who would recollect these things now?"
+
+"He was very much in love," continued Carmelita; "and at the same time
+he was most well-bred and clever."
+
+"Of an amorous disposition, did you say? It can be no other than
+Velasquez."
+
+"He was not named Velasquez, he was called Gonzalez," interposed
+Nuncita, timidly.
+
+And after this remark she blushed again.
+
+"That's it! Gonzalez!" exclaimed her sister, recollecting.
+
+"Well, it is all the same; he would be a contemporary of his--of the
+great race of painters of the seventeenth century," remarked Paco, not
+the least put out by the laughter of the guests, who were astonished at
+the innocence of the poor women.
+
+"How did he make love to thee?" he continued, with a caressing touch of
+Nuncita's cheek. "It seems to me you were very coquettish, eh, Carmela?"
+
+This remark was provocative of a smile from the company.
+
+"Carmela, _por Dios_! and are these gentlemen going to make believe I
+was a coquette?" exclaimed the "child" in real concern.
+
+"They would only believe the truth, girl," said Paco. "Now, don't you
+recollect you lent a willing ear to the ecclesiastical attorney, called
+Don Maximo, and no sooner had he left the house than you were talking on
+the balcony with Lieutenant Paniagua?"
+
+Nuncita smiled with pleasure at the recollection of those times, and
+replied as she lowered her eyes with gracious timidity:
+
+"Don Maximo came to the house every day, but it was never a question of
+love."
+
+"Neither a courtship nor a refusal?" asked Paco. "Then confess that the
+one you really liked was the lieutenant, and done with it."
+
+"What! you were in love with a soldier?" asked Emilita, with pleasant
+volubility, as she cast a teasing glance at Nunez. "Then you must have
+had bad taste."
+
+The Pensioner became suddenly serious and his moustache went up in
+horror at his daughter's sally, but he was immediately calmed at seeing
+that the captain, instead of being offended, only returned a loving
+smile, and like all the rest treated it as a joke.
+
+"She is not the only one who has had such bad taste," said Carmelita,
+with marked insinuation, delighted at the chance of making such a clever
+hit.
+
+"And who was this lieutenant? Some useless puppy, like we have here?"
+continued Emilia, with the same taking levity.
+
+"Gently, gently, Emilia!" returned Paco. "Paniagua was lieutenant of the
+third regiment of infantry of Flanders, and a very brave man."
+
+"No, dear, no," interposed Nuncita, "to put the matter right, he was of
+the Royal Guard."
+
+"Was he not an archer?"
+
+"No, dear heart, I say he was of the Royal Guard."
+
+Don Cristobal hid his amusement under a fit of coughing, and Manuel
+Antonio and the young people laughed heartily.
+
+"Paniagua was a very remarkable man," continued Paco. "He was endowed
+with a decision of character befitting soldiers. The day that he
+arrived, he saw Nuncia at the window in the morning, and in the evening
+he managed to give her, in the portico of San Rafael after _nones_, a
+letter of declaration which ran thus:
+
+"'Senorita, in confusion and fear and doubting if in your kind
+condescension you will pardon my boldness, I confess that my only joy is
+in loving you.'"
+
+"Oh! you rogue! what a memory you have!" exclaimed Nuncita, now fairly
+overcome.
+
+The fact was, Paco, to whom, after many entreaties, "the child" had
+shown the letters she had kept of Paniagua's, learnt the original
+document by heart and recited it everywhere to the great delight of his
+friends.
+
+"He was what may be called a resolute man. The character of a person is
+shown like that. How different to the soldiers of the present day, who
+before proposing to a girl, dangle about for a whole year and then delay
+saying: 'Child, when shall we go to church?'"
+
+These words were uttered with a look at the corner, where Emilita and
+the captain were sitting. The latter took the remark and became serious,
+and the girl tried to look unconscious although grateful in her heart to
+Paco for giving the hint; whilst the Pensioner twisted his moustache
+with a trembling hand, fearing that Nunez would take offence, but glad
+with the hope that these opportune allusions would bring him to the
+point.
+
+Tired of conversation, the young people proposed a game of forfeits. It
+is a game which wide-awake men always turn to their own advantage.
+
+Fernanda let Garnet sit by her side. She was vexed at the winks and
+signs of Paco that she had noticed. She was a very proud creature, but
+she prided herself on her sense of justice. She could not bear anybody
+to be made fun of in her presence, even if it were the lowest, most
+insignificant being. Maybe the sense of pride, which was one of her
+tenderest and most touchy points, made her alive to the wounds inflicted
+on that of others. Although she hated Garnet, she was sorry to see him
+made an object of derision, particularly as she was the cause; but this
+did not prevent her treating him with overbearing airs herself; but it
+is thought, and not without reason, that although the rebuffs of the
+lady one loves may inflict misery, they do not sting like practical
+jokes. The Indian, seeing himself so honoured, was beside himself with
+delight, and set to overwhelming her as usual with a thousand
+attentions. Fernanda accepted them with a grave demeanour, but not with
+repugnance. Then came as usual that game of "three times yes, and three
+times no," the favourite of all present. Thus Society amused itself with
+what had entertained its fathers and grandfathers, and with what they
+thought would amuse their children. Innocent people! There was one
+spirit there to whom this attribute did not apply. Paco played with the
+peevish condescension, of a man in advance of his time, making many
+stupid mistakes, which showed the inattention characteristic of superior
+beings. Nunez, on the contrary, was all there. Never was a man more at
+home in such matters, nor one who entered into them more thoroughly. His
+bright intelligence had penetrated all the secrets of the game of
+forfeits, and he knew how to get the best out of everybody according to
+the circumstances in question. For example, when a young lady had to
+whisper to him, he instantly became deaf, and the girl was obliged to
+bend more and more until her ruddy lips brushed the ear of the captain.
+If he were condemned to represent the paper corner of the Puerta del Sol
+and consequently had to have pieces of paper stuck on his face, &c. &c.,
+the wily Nunez did not guess who it was doing it until he had passed his
+hands over the girl.
+
+But he gave the clearest demonstration of his portentous talent and the
+vast knowledge he had acquired in this department of science, when he
+proposed that the senorita, to whom he would tell what she had in her
+pocket, would have to kiss him. The young ladies were all so sure that
+he would not be successful that they willingly accepted the condition.
+He was certainly wrong in his attempt at guessing the contents of the
+pocket of Carmelita, wrong again with Fernanda, with Maria Josefa, with
+Micaela, but see, what a sly rogue! he knew exactly what was in
+Emilita's: some scissors, a handkerchief, a thimble, and three caramels.
+The girl began to groan and clasp her hands in a state of nervous
+collapse. "It was a trap! a trap!" The captain serene, unperturbed, and
+dignified as some hero of antiquity, refuted the imputation, and proved
+to satiety that there was no question of a trap. "I do not say," he
+added with a Mephistophelian smile, "but what it was an understood
+thing between us, as I was allowed to see beforehand what her pocket
+contained."
+
+The girl then became still more emphatic in her protestations against
+this statement, and she became agitated to an incomprehensible degree,
+and ran to the opposite end of the room, as far as possible from the
+captain, as if he were going to take by force what he had a right to.
+Those on her side were the women, whilst the men took the part of the
+captain. The drawing-room was then transformed into a perfect
+pandemonium. They all talked, laughed, and screamed without coming to
+any understanding. But, as is easily supposed, the one who screamed and
+gesticulated the most, was the girl concerned. Nevertheless, Don
+Cristobal, seeing there were no signs of coming to an understanding and
+wishing to countenance his daughter's course of action, intervened in
+the dispute like a majestic god extending his right hand to calm the
+waves of the stormy sea.
+
+"Emilita," he said in a tone of command, "play is play; give a kiss to
+this gentleman."
+
+It is noticeable that he did not say to "the captain," nor "to this
+senor officer." His lips still revolted at using a term exclusively
+military.
+
+"But papa!" exclaimed the younger daughter, red as a poppy.
+
+"It must be done!" he returned, with his extended right hand in the most
+commanding attitude that could be assumed by such a godlike pensioner.
+
+There was no help for it. Emilita, confused and ashamed, with her cheeks
+like two fires, advanced with a hesitating step to the brave captain of
+Pontevedra, who was sharp enough to bring his lips to play upon the
+brilliant colouring of her face.
+
+But lo and behold! hardly was this effected than up jumps a basilisk of
+a Micaela, who was indeed the most irascible of the four nereids who
+inhabited the depths of the dwelling of the Pensioner.
+
+"How shameless! These are not decent games, but low tricks. I am not
+astonished at Nunez, for men are what they are. But I am astonished at
+you, Emilita. It seems to me that a little more modesty and shame would
+not become you badly. But what is to be done, when those, whose duty it
+is to inspire you with it are the first to abet what is wrong?"
+
+This heated diatribe against the author of her days turned him pale and
+paralysed him. There was a moment of embarrassed silence; then they were
+all eager to defend Emilita, and maintain the purity and perfect
+innocence of such games. The argument repeated most often was that as
+there was no _malice prepense_ it was of no account, because the
+important thing in these matters was the intention.
+
+"Was the kiss given with intention?" asked one of the most dialectical
+youths. "No? Then it was as if it had not been given."
+
+Nunez assented gravely, being a little irritated, and eyeing his future
+sister-in-law with some misgiving.
+
+But she declined to surrender to such self-evident demonstrations, and
+continued to request, each time more violently and in a higher key, that
+her younger sister might have a little shame, and her senor father a
+little feeling. But as nobody appeared with these requisites in their
+hands, to comply with these requests, there was nothing for it but to go
+on lowering her diapason until her angry protestations were gradually
+transformed into a far-away mutter like the sounds of distant thunder,
+and the party returned to its normal state of calm.
+
+But the game of forfeits was over for that night. Nuncita, who was
+generally the one for bright ideas, suggested that they should play at
+_la boba_ (the fool). I do not know why, but this game had a particular
+attraction for the youngest of the Senoritas de Mere. It is impossible
+to say what it was that pleased the ex-fiancee of the Lieutenant
+Paniagua, when she managed to get the fool on to any of her girl
+guests, and what anxiety and concern she evinced when she had it herself
+and could not get rid of it. Paco Gomez took the pack of cards and took
+out the three knaves, then knowing Nuncita's weakness, and wishing,
+according to his temperament, to put her out a little, he made a sign to
+the others that she had the knave, and all the guests soon became a
+party to her keeping it. The result was that the "fool" was nearly
+always in the hands of "the child," and try as she would, no efforts
+could relieve her of it. This, in spite of her natural gentleness,
+finally enraged her. The party laughed, and so did she, but more with
+her lips than her heart. At last, in a moment of anger, she dashed down
+the cards and declared she would not play any more. Carmelita, seeing
+such an act of discourtesy, intervened severely as was her custom in any
+case of insubordination.
+
+"What temper is this? Wherefore this madness? What will these gentlemen
+think? They will say, and rightly, that you have no education, and that
+our family has not known how to bring you up. Now, take the cards at
+once."
+
+"I don't want to."
+
+"What! what do you say, stupid? You--you are mad. Was there ever such a
+wayward creature? Ta--take up the cards at once."
+
+Anger made her stutter so much that only incoherent sounds proceeded
+from her toothless mouth.
+
+"Hum!" muttered Nuncita as she twisted her lips into a sulky pout.
+
+"Child, don't enrage me!" cried her elder sister.
+
+"I don't want to, I don't want to," repeated the obstinate creature with
+decision.
+
+And at the same time she dragged her reluctant feet into the other room.
+
+But her sister immediately followed with the severest and most
+authoritative demeanour imaginable, prepared to correct that beginning
+of rebellion which in time might lead to most fatal consequences. A
+sound of dispute was heard, the sharp angry voice of Carmelita was
+raised, then it toned down, became more persuasive and reasoning, until
+it regained its normal suavity, as the echo of a sob reached the ears of
+the guests. Finally, at the end of some time, Carmelita reappeared with
+a slower step than her sister, with her eyes blazing with authority, and
+the majestic attitude befitting those who dictate laws to the beings
+Providence has confided to their care. "The child" came behind ashamed
+and submissive, with inflamed cheeks and tearful eyes. She reseated
+herself at the table without daring to raise her eyes to her elder
+sister, who still regarded her with a certain severity, humbly took up
+the cards, and began to play again. But instead of this touching example
+of respect and submission making a grave impression on the onlookers, it
+provoked a smile of amusement on almost all their faces, and there
+emanated from some of them inopportune bursts of laughter that were only
+repressed with difficulty.
+
+Nevertheless the game did not last long. The hour approached for the
+select party to disperse.
+
+"Maria Josefa, I saw your godchild at the promenade to-day," said Paco
+Gomez, as he absently shuffled the cards. "I gave it a kiss. She gets
+prettier every day. How old is it now?"
+
+"You can calculate. We had it baptised in February. Two and a half
+months."
+
+"Was it with its mother?" asked Manuel Antonio, smiling in a peculiar
+way.
+
+"No! I met the mother afterwards in Altavilla and exchanged a remark
+with her," he gravely returned with assumed naturalness.
+
+The greater part of the guests looked at him with a smile, and with an
+expression of reserved malice that surprised Fernanda. Only the two
+Senoritas de Mere and Garnet remained unconcerned without taking any
+notice of the conversation.
+
+"But what godchild of yours are they talking about--of the baby adopted
+by the Quinones?" asked the heiress of Estrada-Rosa of Maria Josefa.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, then, how are they speaking of its mother?"
+
+"Because these two have an evil tongue. God keep us from that!" returned
+the old maid, also smiling with malicious pleasure, and at the same time
+looking at the young girl with the pitiful kindness accorded to innocent
+creatures.
+
+"But who do they suppose is its mother?"
+
+"Who could it be?--Amalia!--Silence!" she added hastily, lowering her
+voice.
+
+Fernanda was stupefied. The news was so new and surprising to her that
+she kept her eyes fixed on her friend as if she had not heard. In the
+excitement of the moment she had not heard the first words of Paco, but
+only thought it was a question of his being warm in his praise of the
+beauty of the child.
+
+"It belongs to those it likens," murmured the Magpie of Sierra, with the
+same intentional malignity. "Yes, it is like its mother--and its father.
+Its father was a fine boy."
+
+Fernanda, a sudden prey to overwhelming curiosity, insane curiosity that
+urged her on, agitated and breathless without her knowing why, bent
+again towards Maria Josefa, and putting her mouth to her ear, she asked
+in an agitated voice:
+
+"But who is its father?"
+
+The old maid turned towards her, and fixed her eyes upon her with an
+expression of surprise mingled with the aforesaid indulgent compassion.
+
+"But don't you really know?"
+
+The girl made a sign in the negative, and at the same time she felt
+overwhelmed by terrible emotion. A cold chill swept suddenly through her
+inner being. Pale as death, she hung on the lips of Maria Josefa as if
+her sentence of life or death depended on them. Her excitement was quite
+evident to the lady, and after looking at her fixedly for a minute she
+said:
+
+"No! I won't tell you. What is the good? Perhaps it is all a calumny."
+
+Fernanda instantly regained her self-possession.
+
+"All right!" she returned, with a gesture of displeasure; "be silent,
+for after all what has all this to do with me?"
+
+This gesture wounded the old maid, who quickly returned with a malicious
+smile:
+
+"But it is precisely because it does concern you that I am afraid to
+tell you."
+
+"I don't understand."
+
+Maria Josefa bent towards her and said:
+
+"Because they say that the father of the creature is Luis."
+
+As she had anticipated the blow, Fernanda remained unmoved, and asked
+her with indifference:
+
+"What Luis?"
+
+"The count, girl."
+
+"And why should it concern me that Luis is the father?"
+
+Maria Josefa was somewhat disconcerted at this question.
+
+"Because he was your betrothed."
+
+"But as he is not so now," she returned, with a scornful shrug of the
+shoulders.
+
+And then she begun talking to Garnet, who was on her other side, but the
+indifference was only put on from pride. An inexplicable penetrating
+sadness fell upon her soul, and took complete possession of her without
+leaving her power to think or do anything.
+
+If Garnet had not been such a mere animal he would have seen directly
+that the smile with which she listened to his uncultured, rough
+conversation was only a stereotyped one without any expression
+whatever, and that the monosyllables and incoherent replies that fell
+from her lips showed very clearly that she was not listening to him, but
+to Paco Gomez, Manuel Antonio, and the others, as they went on
+chattering about the foundling child.
+
+With what interest did she catch every word that these busybodies
+interchanged. And as they went on making the fact clear with increasing
+details, intermixing joking remarks and funny inuendos, there was a
+tightening at her heart, and it gradually contracted as if they were all
+compressing it in their hands one after the other to hurt her, but her
+face remained calm, and not the slightest contraction showed the pain
+she was suffering.
+
+The party broke up at twelve as usual, and it was a great comfort to
+Fernanda to breathe the cool, damp, night air. She longed to be alone
+with her thoughts and think over what she had just heard.
+
+It had rained a good deal. The streets, paved with flat stones, shone in
+the light of the lanterns. On leaving the house some took the lower
+road, and others, amongst whom was Fernanda, went off in the direction
+of the plaza. They had only gone a few steps when they heard the loud
+trotting of some horses that had that instant come round the corner, and
+were bearing down upon them.
+
+"Ah! here is the Baron and his servant," said Manuel Antonio.
+
+It was, in fact, the hour in which the eccentric Baron took his habitual
+ride through the streets of Lancia. His famous horse was pirouetting as
+usual, and making such a noise that although his servant's steed was
+much more quiet, it seemed as if a squadron were going through the town.
+
+As they passed the party Manuel Antonio, with his usual forwardness,
+cried out, "Good night, Baron." But he only turned his awful face
+towards them, looked at them fixedly with his blood-shot eyes, and then
+proceeded without a remark.
+
+The Chatterbox abashed said:
+
+"Go on, drunk as usual!"
+
+They all pretended to look upon it as a joke, but at the bottom they all
+more or less felt the same alarm on seeing that sinister figure.
+Fernanda, as a woman, and in her particular state of mind, was visibly
+affected, and after they had passed she followed the two horses with
+eyes of terror until they were lost in the darkness.
+
+On retiring to bed, with her wounded heart, she wished to analyse the
+emotion which swayed her, and to trace it back to the cause. She felt
+ashamed of herself. Her pride made her cry out with rage in a loud
+voice:
+
+"What have these bad goings on to do with me? What have I to do with him
+or her?"
+
+But hardly had she uttered these words than she felt the scalding tears
+upon her cheeks, and the heiress of Estrada-Rosa quickly turned and hid
+her face, suffused with blushes, in the pillows.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE INCREASE OF THE CONTINGENT
+
+
+The terrible difficulties that were to arise with the marriage of
+Emilita, on account of the anti-bellicose opinions of her father, were
+got over with more facility than could have been expected.
+
+History will not speak (although it could with more reason than it does
+of many events) of that solemn day when Nunez had to go in proper form
+and ask Don Cristobal for the hand of his daughter, of the memorable
+embrace with which the latter received him, clasping him warmly to his
+civil breast with that incredible fusion of two heterogeneous elements
+created to repel each other, and the artless graces of the sweet coy
+angel are taken for granted and understood. If this particular page were
+the subject for any historian, he could not abstain from drawing
+attention to the extreme importance of such concord, which until then
+had been considered impossible, and at the same time he would
+impartially show the reverse side of the picture, laying before future
+generations the way the maligned patrician, Don Cristobal Mateo, was the
+victim of a social injustice, and of the persecution of his brother
+citizens.
+
+It must be said that all the world in Lancia thought themselves entitled
+to joke this respectable and ancient functionary on the marriage of his
+daughter, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly, but whenever the
+matter was referred to, allusion was made to the antagonistic opinions
+he had hitherto held on the abolition of the land forces. The marriage
+was called the increase of the contingent, and some were impertinent
+enough to give it that name before his future son-in-law.
+
+One can easily conceive what it cost him to give up a tiresome and
+ill-judged fad.
+
+But in spite of all the diatribes and murmurs of the neighbours, that
+hurt Mateo's feelings more than they affected his good humour, and in
+spite of the envy that burned in the majority of hearts, the increase of
+the contingent was to be consummated.
+
+The time fixed for the auspicious occasion was the month of August. By
+that time it had acquired such importance that, as generally happens in
+little places, hardly anything else was talked of. The relations of the
+Pensioner, and his four daughters were numberless, and they all expected
+to be invited on the day of the marriage. And then, on the other side,
+some of the worthy and punctilious officers of the battalion of
+Pontevedra, friends of the bridegroom, were filled with the same desire.
+
+As it was not possible to entertain so many people in the poetic
+dwelling of the Pensioner, they thought of celebrating the marriage in
+the country. The house most fitting for the occasion, by reason of its
+proximity to the town, was the Grange.
+
+Don Cristobal made the request to the count, with whom he and his
+daughters were on very friendly terms, and he immediately placed it at
+his disposal. The happy union, the safe pledge of peace between the
+civil and military elements, was celebrated early in the day at the
+church of San Rafael. Fray Diego performed the ceremony, as he enjoyed
+great prestige among the officers for being the strangest priest and the
+most inveterate toper of the capital. More than twenty ladies, and
+almost as many gentlemen, assisted at the service. That over, they all
+resorted to the Grange to spend the day there. Carriages were not
+required to go to a place so near the town. But they had the Count of
+Onis and the Quinones' to convey the bride and bridegroom, and a few
+elderly people like the two Senoritas de Mere. The guests included
+almost all the Grandee's party, several of that of the de Meres, and a
+good number of officers.
+
+The count had the old house arranged as well as possible. It was as well
+known to almost everybody as their own homes, for being so near the
+town, and having such a beautiful wood, it was the best place for _fetes
+champetres_, and the counts had never refused permission for these
+occasions. When they had arrived and enjoyed the chocolate, which was
+waiting for them in the large room, paved with brick on the ground
+floor, which served as dining-room, they dispersed without ceremony over
+the house and about the estate, prepared to kill the time as well as
+they could until the bell rang for dinner.
+
+The bride, with Amalia, who had been her bridesmaid, and two other
+ladies sat quietly in one of the rooms. Her eyes were shining, her
+cheeks red, and it was in vain that she tried to conceal the deep
+emotion she was feeling under a dignified and serious demeanour.
+
+Those in her company, who were all married, caressed her incessantly,
+passed their hands over her hair, gave her little pats on the cheeks,
+and sometimes took her by the hands and impressed a kiss on her
+forehead, with the half tender, half ironical condescension evinced by
+the long experienced to the novices in matrimony. There is not one who
+does not feel at the sight of a bride the echo of certain distant music
+in her heart, the taste of the honey of the remote moon comes to her
+lips; but it comes, alas! with the bitter taste of several years of
+matrimonial prose. In every married woman there is a poet disillusioned
+of his muse. Hence the Byronic smile on her face at the sight of the
+happiness shining in the eyes of a bride.
+
+Emilita had changed her character in a quarter of an hour. All the
+playfulness and sprightliness she had hitherto displayed was now changed
+to gravity and sedateness. She talked wisely with the matrons, her
+companions, about starting the larder, about domestic servants, who were
+considered by all to be dreadfully going down, and the price of meat.
+She seemed to have grown so old in this quarter of an hour that it was
+surprising not to see some silver threads in her golden hair. To turn to
+her sisters, they, in strange contrast, seemed to have lost some years
+since the investiture of the younger one. They had gone back to
+childhood. Like creatures longing to disport themselves in the light and
+air, the three rushed into the wood, making the silence that reigned
+there ring with their voices and innocent shouts of laughter. _Virgen
+del Amporo_! how they jumped! how they laughed! What impish tricks those
+little mad things were up to! For the greater enjoyment of the innocent
+games that their youthful retrogression demanded, they threw off their
+mantillas, let their hair loose, took off their gloves, cast aside fan
+and parasol, did all that youth could suggest, and were as pranksome as
+any children. Not only was their angelic hair allowed to float upon
+their shoulders, but they took off watches, rings, and bracelets and
+handed them to papa, taking him by the collar to give him a thousand
+caresses, like bright and affectionate children as they were. Then,
+seeing that some of the officers of the battalion were looking at them,
+they turned red and confused, pinned up their skirts until the foot and
+part of the leg was visible, and then ran through the wood, avoiding,
+like the nymphs of Diana, the ardent glances of the officers.
+
+And when they reached a distant solitary spot, where the shadows
+deepened, and they were beyond the reach of mundane noises and malicious
+eyes of men, they shouted with delight like God's little birds to their
+companions to come and enjoy the delightful quiet where they could
+display their charms and enjoy themselves without fear of being
+surprised. Then one proposed to play at skipping and the rest acceded,
+clapping their hands. Jovita was the first. Jump, jump, until she fell
+on the grass in a state of exhaustion, pressing her hand to her heart
+that palpitated with fatigue, not with the insane agitation of youthful
+passions. Then another jumped, and then another, until they were all
+exhausted but merry, their rosy cheeks and bright eyes showing the
+pleasant happiness accruing to an innocent mind. When tired of this they
+proposed the game of "Let them give unto the kite a little onion with
+the mite." What laughter and merriment ensued! How the quiet wood echoed
+with the silvery voices of those beautiful, delicate creatures! Wearied
+of this game they dispersed for a little. A few formed a group seated at
+the foot of the trunk of an oak, and went in for the pleasant enjoyment
+of recounting in a low voice a thousand puerilities; others went in with
+enthusiasm for the search of little blue flowers, with which they made
+chains to deck themselves with; others ran after each other like
+swallows in the air uttering piercing screams the while. The steadier
+ones devoted their efforts to catching grasshoppers and other timid
+insects. But they soon reassembled, for a very daring girl proposed
+climbing a tree if they helped her; and another one said Yes, she would
+help her. So bear a hand! the spirited girl, who was named Consuelo, set
+about putting her little feet in the most accessible branches. The
+wayward companion, who was no other than Socorro, the third of the
+Pensioner's sirens, helped her. Consuelo finally climbed to where two
+branches crossed, from thence she got on to another, and all the nymphs
+applauded, and shouted with enthusiasm.
+
+But lo and behold! Rubio, the lieutenant of the Third, a man known among
+his companions in arms as a genius in the art of enslaving the opposite
+sex, suddenly raised his bold head above the bushes. The nymphs, on
+seeing him, uttered a piercing cry, and stood petrified in the act in
+which he had surprised them. Consuelo, from the top of the tree,
+apostrophised him violently. If it had been in her power she would have
+immediately transformed that new Actaeon into a stag. But there, _entre
+nous_, it is possible that she would have preferred first to transform
+him into a husband, regardless of a more exact rendering of the
+classical metamorphosis.
+
+But Rubio, the lieutenant of the Third, knew perfectly well what these
+shrieks and apostrophisings were worth. He was not put out, he smiled
+maliciously, and called with a rough voice to his brothers in arms. What
+confusion! What terror among those merry daughters of the wood as the
+sons of Mars approached in a closed line! Without picking up their
+mantillas, gloves or parasols, nothing, in short, that belonged to them,
+they fled through the plantation uttering cries of terror. But the
+satyrs in red trousers willingly followed them, caught them up, and took
+them captive with hateful laughter. In the meanwhile poor Consuelo,
+besieged by three of these bold satyrs, simply declined to come down
+until they went fifty yards off. But they, the cruel creatures, they
+refused. The nymph entreated, got angry, and was on the point of crying,
+but neither her anger nor her tears could soften the stony hearts of the
+infamous satyrs. At last she resigned herself to coming down, and
+although she took many modest precautions, they managed to see a foot
+charmingly shod, and a suspicion of leg, which made them roar with
+delight. But where was Rubio? Where was the most terrible and fiercest
+of all? They did not know, but at the end of some time he appeared from
+the glade, bringing with him Socorro, the most sentimental of Don
+Cristobal's undines. His cruel features bore an expression of triumph,
+and hers evinced the shame and submission of a captive. Many hours
+later, near midnight, seated at a table of the Cafe Maranon, and
+surrounded by eight or ten of his companions, the lieutenant of the
+Third related with a malevolent smile his conquest of the nymph,
+calculating that he had managed to imprint at least twenty-five or
+thirty kisses on different parts of her bewitching face, and all the
+sons of Mars applauded and celebrated this fresh triumph of their heroic
+companion with Homeric shouts of laughter.
+
+Finally the conquerors modified their tyranny, and order was
+re-established, thanks to the opportune arrival of the Senoritas de
+Mere, who appeared with Maria Josefa and Paco Gomez. The little ladies,
+the only ones, in fact, to whom the matrimonial event was due, had
+turned over their boxes for a befitting toilette for the occasion, and
+Carmelita wore a dress of black bombazin, which only came out on state
+occasions, whilst Nuncita, being younger and less sedate, was able to
+wear a clear dress bordered with flowers, such as are only seen in
+pictures of the past century. They were very cheerful, satisfaction
+shone in their eyes, but their legs were not equal to the eternal youth
+of their hearts; they supported themselves on sticks, and leant with
+their free hands on the arms of their companions. They were received
+with cheers and hurrahs. Many rude jokes were levelled at them, to which
+nobody assented more willingly nor laughed more heartily than the little
+saints of Mere, so there was little merit in quizzing them. They were
+never seen to be cross with their friends, and so fun was pushed so far
+with them that it sometimes bordered on coarseness; but they were very
+prone to intestine warfare, and to get cross with each other; however,
+we know the leading feature of these performances.
+
+The bold spirit of Lieutenant Rubio, sharpened, by the circumstances,
+conceived a most happy idea; he thought the best way of passing the time
+until the dinner-hour would be to construct a swing in which the ladies
+could be pulled backwards and forwards for some minutes by the
+gentlemen, who would have the pleasure of managing the apparatus. No
+sooner said than done. Ropes were found, a board was cut, in less than a
+quarter of an hour everything was in order. Whilst the arrangements were
+being completed, Rubio kept on giving expressive winks to his
+companions, who understood, smiled, held their tongues, and greatly
+admired the audacity and penetration of the lieutenant of the Third. The
+swing was now fixed. Who is to be the first? They all evinced the same
+shame, and the same colour suffused their cheeks. One mischievously
+thought of suggesting Nuncita. The rest applauded the idea. Nuncita held
+back in dismay. Carmelita neither conceded, nor withheld her permission.
+The entreaties were repeated on all sides.
+
+The young men seemed each minute to be more taken with the idea. At
+last, almost by force, and amid the frantic applause of the party,
+Cuervo, the herculean cornet of the First, took the "child" up in his
+arms and seated her on the board.
+
+"Hold tight, Nuncia!" cried Paco Gomez, whilst the aforesaid cornet and
+some other friends began to swing her.
+
+"Gently! gently!" exclaimed Carmelita.
+
+No fear; they were careful because they were afraid she would fall. But,
+carefully as they moved the swing, the air gradually began gently to
+raise her skirts. The officers laughed and went on with the swing until
+there was quite an exhibition.
+
+"Go it! go it!"
+
+The girls, with mingled amusement and shame, hid their faces, fell into
+each other's arms, and whispered into each other's ears.
+
+"Stop! stop, gentlemen!" cried Carmelita.
+
+Nobody took any notice. The "child's" clothes went higher and higher.
+One did not know where they would stop.
+
+"Stop! stop! por Dios, senor cadet!"
+
+"Go it with her!" cried the soldiers.
+
+And the swing went quicker and quicker, and Nuncita was so frightened
+that she had no time to think of modesty.
+
+"Senor cadet! senor captain!" cried Carmelita all trembling, waving her
+arms, with her lower jaw distended, beating against the upper one, which
+was also distended, with a strange trembling. "Senor captain, stop, por
+Dios! For the love of the Holy Virgin! Stop! stop! stop!"
+
+"So-o-o!" exclaimed Paco.
+
+But the captain was obdurate and would not leave off. The skirts of
+Nuncita were now as high as they could go. The young girls turned their
+backs, and some ran laughing to hide themselves among the trees. It was
+only when the officers had completed their shameless act that they gave
+in and allowed Nuncita to get down. Her sister, instead of being angry
+with the guilty ones, flew upon "the child" full of fury, with her eyes
+flaming with rage.
+
+"Get down, you bad girl! you shameless creature! Is this the education
+you learnt from your parents? Is this what the confessor tells you to
+do?"
+
+Nuncita, quite upset, puckered up her face and began to cry.
+
+The young men and women tried to calm the infuriated Carmelita. The
+captain and the cadet took all the blame. It was in vain. The anger was
+not appeased until it had vented itself in many violent and offensive
+remarks. The poor "child," seated sobbing on the ground with her face
+hid in her hands, excited the compassion of all present, who interceded
+for her incessantly.
+
+It was then a question as to who was to get up into the swing next?
+Nobody wished to, which was very natural. How could one be swung by such
+bold, shameless men? It was in vain that soldiers and civilians
+explained their conduct in the past event, and solemnly swore not to do
+it again, but to be orderly and prudent and always under the ladies'
+orders. But they were not to be trusted. The lieutenant Rubio especially
+inspired them with a great terror as they considered him, and not
+without reason, as the instigator of all the shameless tricks.
+
+But when they were quite at their wits' end, lo! and behold Consuelo,
+the brave, determined child, who shortly before had climbed the tree,
+whispered to one of her companions, came forward and said, to the horror
+of the other girls:
+
+"I will do it. Help me, gentlemen."
+
+A cry of enthusiasm greeted these spirited words. For some instants
+nothing was heard but "Viva Consuelo! viva Consuelo!" from the delighted
+company. There was not one that did not wish to help her and load her
+with flowers and presents. The athletic cadet, with a knightly air,
+knelt on one knee and asked her to place her foot on the other. The
+intrepid girl, nothing loth, consented, and with one spring she was on
+the seat. Both soldiers and civilians thought they were in luck's way.
+They exchanged looks of intelligence, they had no intention of keeping
+their word, and they were determined to repay the girl's confidence with
+the blackest treason. But when they were getting the apparatus ready and
+preparing to execute their malicious design, Consuela made a sign to her
+friend, who immediately came forward with a handful of pins and fastened
+her skirts together in such a way that even when the swing moved the
+point of her foot could not be seen.
+
+The weaker sex applauded with mad enthusiasm.
+
+"Good, Consuelo! good!"
+
+The men, vexed and defeated as they were, dared not protest too much,
+but they complained of her want of confidence, whilst the maiden
+herself, proud of the feat, looked at them with a smile of derision. The
+pins were such a success that no girl got up into the swing without
+prudently having her skirts pinned together.
+
+Whilst such memorable scenes were being enacted in the wood Jaime Moro,
+scorning rural pleasures, tried to get Fray Diego and Don Juan
+Estrada-Rosa to make up a party for a game of _tresillo_.
+
+He was bored in church, he was bored in the woods, in the town, and in
+the country. He only recovered his serenity of mind, and regained his
+equanimity and cheerfulness of spirits, when he took the cards into his
+hand. Fate was against him. There were no cards in the house. But he did
+not give in. He went down into the kitchen, called a servant aside who
+looked sharp and active, and giving him a _pourboire_, he told him to
+run to the town and get a couple of packets of cards. In the meanwhile
+he was strenuous in his efforts to entertain his companions, chatting
+away on subjects most interesting to them, and, above all, trying to
+conciliate Don Juan, who showed a decided tendency to go off and take a
+turn in the grounds and pay a visit to the mill like the other guests.
+Moro was at his wits' end, fearing he would not hold out till the
+servant's return, but happily he arrived in time. Directly he held in
+his hands the much-desired cards he was another man. Secure now of
+victory, he dragged off his friends to one of the quiet rooms of the
+house, had a square table brought, candles, beer, cigars, and there they
+were!
+
+After such a narrow shave of losing it, Jaime Moro enjoyed his pleasure
+with a gusto that was enviable. A large number of shallower people,
+without sufficient imagination to understand or enjoy the delights of
+_tresillo_, had gone off, with the Pensioner as their guide, to take a
+turn round the place, and afterwards to visit the new-fashioned mill
+which the count had had erected a short time ago.
+
+Captain Nunez, the bridegroom, with a few of his friends who were less
+partial to the feminine sex, such as Garnet, Don Enrique, Saleta, Manin,
+and a few others, were of the party. They could not get the count to go
+because he was not to be found. It was said he was giving orders to the
+men and surveying some works a little way off, but he was not anywhere
+about. However, a capable sort of half majordomo volunteered to act as
+guide.
+
+The property was situated on the decline of the same hill as that on
+which Lancia is built. At the back of the house there was a wood that
+shut out the view of the town, so that although it was so near it seemed
+as if it were a hundred miles away; at the same time it protected it
+against the north and west winds, only leaving it exposed to the gentle
+breezes from the south and east. The noises of the town did not
+penetrate as far as there; only the bells of the cathedral muffled by
+the distance sounded sweetly at certain hours of the day. The high road
+goes behind the wood. Another little one branching from it brought it
+into communication with the estate. As we know, there was no park _a
+l'Anglais_ here, or _au Francais_, no little gardens, or cascades, or
+artificial grottoes. It was a property half for amusement, half for
+work. First came the wood, then the house with its courtyard, then a
+large deserted garden, and then immense meadows extending along the
+skirt of the hill as far as the river and even to the opposite bank.
+Sheep graze in these meadows, and the tinkling of their bells with the
+barking of the dogs are heard. It is easy to imagine that you are in the
+bosom of solitary nature, so profound is the peace, only broken by the
+song of a bird or the moo of a cow.
+
+The excursionists went through the stables that were in good order, for
+the count was much interested in the cattle. Nevertheless, Saleta
+affirmed that he had seen much better in Holland, and one or two coarse
+incidents were here given to show the care of the Dutch in this respect.
+When they had been over the stables, they took the road across the
+fields and went down to the river, adorned on either side with alder
+trees and poplars, which formed at intervals a thick coppice, under
+which the river made its dark and gloomy way. The Loro is one of the
+smallest, and yet one of the most original rivers in Spain. Before
+arriving at the sea, "to die" as the poet says, it makes as many twists
+and turns as any crafty old fellow, who tries to evade the law to which
+all created beings are subject. It is impossible to imagine a more
+capricious stream. It sallies forth, brave and buoyant, as if it were
+going on for miles straight away to the ocean. But after a quarter of a
+mile it stops, turns, and meanders back nearly to where it started from,
+which gives some cause for thinking that it is going to take a higher
+course. It then starts afresh, not willingly, but by force of
+circumstances; this time it is lost to view, and everybody thinks it
+will never reappear, but it is not so. When the sly fox knows that he
+cannot be seen from the town, he sets about returning to it, but for
+shame's sake he makes a little detour, and stays a short while at some
+village near the same district. It never takes a frank and open course.
+Like all depraved characters it abhors the light, and takes every
+opportunity of avoiding trouble, by hiding under bushes, where it stops
+and grows corrupt in degrading idleness. Nobody can trust it. Many fine
+young men have been deceived by it seeming like an old rheumatic
+invalid, incapable of taking a step, and following its invitation to
+bathe where they were made to think it was only about a foot and a half
+deep, they were miserably drowned in its slimy depths.
+
+In this river there were no naiads of celestial beauty ready to cleave
+the crystal waters with their alabaster arms, and no gracious undines
+with fair hair to come forth at night and play upon the surface.
+
+The river Loro is gloomy, inimical to all poetic fancy, no fantastic
+figures hover there. The only thing it seems to take pleasure in
+harbouring is a vast quantity of frogs, so large that it makes one giddy
+to think that a number of them can live together, and the banks resound
+with the cheerful sound of their harmonious voices, which thundering
+sound prevented Saleta declaring, as he did when a little distance off,
+that when on the banks of the Yumuri on a certain evening, he was lucky
+enough to kill a crocodile with a stone. 'Tis true that under the
+piercing glance of his colleague Valero, he hastily added that the
+crocodile was quite young and only had one row of teeth.
+
+They went for some distance along the gloomy bank of the Loro and
+crossed it by a rustic bridge, where the count had had it turned from
+its course by means of an aqueduct to work a mill. But just then a
+sudden desire seized the friends of the bridegroom, who were genuine
+representatives of the most vigorous and masculine element of the
+battalion, to show off the strength and muscular power of their legs. A
+lieutenant jumped the aqueduct. A captain, to be in no way behind the
+subaltern, did the same, but he got his feet wet. His _amour propre_
+being excited, he took off his coat and jumped it again easily. The
+others did the same. The scene then assumed the appearance of the
+Olympian games, or still more those of the famous American display. But
+Nunez was a great jumper. He was well known in all the army, especially
+in the infantry, as an adept in this art. He jumped three or four times
+with the greatest ease; but naturally wishing to surpass his companions,
+and give a striking proof of his skill, he affirmed in a scornful tone
+that that was nothing, and that he was capable of jumping the aqueduct
+backwards. These words were received with respect by his colleagues, but
+also with a silence which the captain took for sceptical. He did not
+divest himself of a particle of his uniform, such courses were only for
+neophytes, but took a leap, and arriving at the edge of the water,
+turned and jumped, but unfortunately his feet were caught in some rushes
+and he fell flat into the stream. He was hidden for a moment from the
+sight of his friends, and came up puffing and blowing like a regular
+triton, saying that it was nothing, and that he was going to jump again
+to show them how it could be done. But his father-in-law would not allow
+it. He passed his hands over his body to see if he were wet, as of
+course he was, and then a prey to the wildest agitation, he, who a short
+while since would have exterminated the whole army completely, set to
+bawling:
+
+"He must change his things! Now, at once!--Inflammation of the
+lungs!--Change his things!--Shivers!--Rheumatic fever!"
+
+And other exclamations more or less coherent that gave proof of his
+profound interest in the officer's health.
+
+In spite of his martial calling, Nunez acceded to the entreaties, and
+turned back to the house with his face frowning and furious, fully
+resolved to undress as far as his underthings, and go to bed whilst they
+sent to Lancia for a change of clothes. All his friends crowded round
+him, and so they arrived at the house.
+
+Emilita, who was at the window, seeing them come along like this, asked
+in surprise:
+
+"What is this?"
+
+"Nothing," cried Papa, "but Nunez fell into the aqueduct."
+
+On hearing these words, Emilita naturally uttered a shriek of horror,
+and fell senseless into the arms of several ladies. Nunez, transformed
+into a hero, forgetting his own health, ran to her assistance. In a few
+moments the place was filled with glasses of water, and two or three
+bottles of anti-spasmodic appeared upon the scene. When she began to
+recover consciousness and the critical moment of tears arrived, her
+sister Micaela, no longer able to control herself, attacked her father
+violently:
+
+"This has been an act of cruelty! Do you think your daughter has a heart
+of bronze? You must indeed be deficient in tact to hurt a poor creature
+like this!"
+
+The poor creature repaid the defence with an affectionate look as she
+gave her her hand. The Pensioner, being then reduced to the last stage
+of humility, scarcely dared to murmur, that seeing that Nunez was at her
+side, there was no cause for so much concern.
+
+The ladies thought that Micaela had been disrespectful to her father,
+but they could not do less than admit that it had been a blunder, and
+they were full of sympathy for the unhappy bride.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+FERNANDA AND THE WINE
+
+
+Fernanda was not present at any of these scenes. Early in the day she
+had resorted to the wood, but soon tiring of playing the part of modest
+nymph with her friends, she wandered off to more solitary places. Her
+head, generally so erect, was bowed under the weight of depression or
+preoccupation; her flexible, supple figure moved from side to side like
+the body of a bedouin; those dark African eyes, the most precious
+ornament of the noble city of Lancia, were fixed upon the ground, and
+the very deep line on her forehead testified to the fixed, gloomy drift
+of her thoughts.
+
+How much she had gone through these two months! The impression that her
+love for the count had made in her heart, checked at first by pride and
+the hope of having it returned, had full sway directly she discovered
+the secret of his disaffection, and her whole being became possessed
+with the passions of love and jealousy. These feelings were all the more
+acute, inasmuch as she clearly saw that she had long been deceived by
+Luis, who had feigned affection for her whilst his heart was given to
+another.
+
+The miserable treachery of Amalia enraged her and inspired her with
+horror and exasperation. But that of the count, it must be confessed,
+added poignancy to her grief and depth to her passion.
+
+Nevertheless she knew how to maintain the same friendly relations; but
+in spite of herself, and without her even being conscious of it, a
+slight shade of bitterness and scorn betrayed itself at times either in
+her manner, eyes, or tone, which did not escape the attention of the
+sharp Valencian.
+
+With her _ex-fiance_ she retained a circumspect demeanour; she dropped
+the aggressive tone she had taken with him, and adopted a more suave and
+formal manner, but to her vexation, the emotion she experienced when
+speaking to him was not unfrequently revealed by a slight alteration in
+her voice, and by her turning alternately red and white. Her inner life
+during those six months was devoured by a feverish, anxious, uncertain
+activity, veiled with difficulty under a tranquil, proud demeanour. At
+times she could not bear the tension of the dumb rage which possessed
+her, and it vented itself in a torrent of burning, insulting words,
+which were uttered in a low voice, when she surprised any sign of
+intelligence between the traitors. Her ardent, proud nature, flattered
+by a father who indulged her to a fault, and by a score of adorers
+prostrate at her feet, rebelled like a wild colt against this obstacle,
+the first she had ever encountered in her life.
+
+In these moments of frenzy she fostered ideas of revenge. She wrote
+several anonymous letters to Don Pedro, but none arrived at their
+destination, for she tore them up before posting them, because the
+pride, that was one of her characteristics, revolted against such a low
+proceeding; and they were destroyed with bitter tears of anger. After
+tearing up the last that she wrote she had reason to be glad of her
+course of action, for she casually learnt that very evening, that no
+letter reached Quinones without first passing through the hands of his
+wife.
+
+Sometimes, unable to bear it any longer, she would throw herself into an
+armchair where she remained for a long time with her eyes fixed, in deep
+and miserable meditation. At these moments she was a prey to sudden fits
+of tenderness, she confessed without shame, nay even with voluptuous
+enjoyment, the love that she felt; she pardoned Luis with all her heart,
+and vowed to love him all her life long in silence and never to belong
+to another man. As days went by this feeling increased and took the form
+of a morbid, irrational desire. The excitement of her feelings, which
+took possession of her whole being, combined with the bitterness of
+wounded self-love, fostered this same desire. There was little wanting
+when she saw Luis at her side to make her open her heart to him and
+confess the passion that consumed her.
+
+Hardly conscious of what she was doing, Fernanda sought for her
+_ex-fiance_ all over the place. Everything interested her; the wood, the
+house, the servants, even the animals grazing in the meadows were
+accorded a sympathetic glance. How pleasant even that tumble-down house
+corroded with damp and mice seemed to her! After wandering for some time
+through the most solitary parts of the wood, she absently made her way
+to the meadows; there she went along until she came to a certain spot
+where there were some workmen making a ditch to drain the land. She knew
+without inquiring that the count after inspecting the work for some time
+had gone off. She waited for a little while to divert attention, and
+then she went on with a slow step dragging her parasol along the ground
+like one who is uncertain where to go next. In fact she did not know,
+but that was not for want of an object, but because she knew not where
+the count was. A cruel idea floated in her brain without taking
+form--she fancied that Luis at that moment might be alone with Amalia.
+By degrees, as she walked through the fields, the idea gained force, and
+the stronger it grew, the more her heart was filled with spite and
+anger. Why? was she not perfectly aware of their criminal relations?
+Yes, and the more angry the idea made her, the more determined she was
+not to stand it, for she thought she had a right to prevent their being
+together. Without having a clear notion of what she was about, she
+quickened her step. Her nerves became more and more agitated; by the
+time she arrived at the courtyard she was perfectly certain that the
+adulterers were together, and alone. She entered the house, and like one
+who visits it from curiosity she explored it all, even to the most
+remote little rooms. But she did not find them, and the fact of not
+finding Amalia anywhere confirmed her suspicions. Tired with hunting
+about, and excited with nervous anxiety, she went again into the open
+air. She avoided people who might detain her and repaired to the garden,
+and directly she put her foot there she was imbued with fresh hope of
+finding them. That verdant spot where the little trees left to their own
+sweet will, were so interlaced as to form an impenetrable mass was a
+perfect place for love passages. She went cautiously and noiselessly
+along the paths which had almost disappeared under their carpets of
+grass, intersected in many places by brambles and branches of trees.
+Sometimes a little clump of irises obstructed her path and she was
+obliged to jump over it, or else a rhododendron, stretching its boughs
+to embrace a camellia in front, had formed a bower so low that she was
+obliged to bend a good deal to get along. She thought she heard the
+sound of voices a little distance off. She stood motionless and waited
+for some minutes, and then she turned to listen, and directed her steps
+to the spot whence it came.
+
+It was them! Yes, it was them.
+
+Before hearing the voice distinctly she knew it was them. They were
+going down a path much narrower and more secluded than the others,
+bounded on one side by the wall, and on the other by a high, quickset
+hedge.
+
+Amalia had hold of the count's arm with an air that was half imperious,
+half careless, with her eyes on the ground, whilst he, smiling and
+subservient, bent towards her as he whispered words into her ear.
+Fernanda watched them through the foliage from a distance. Emotion glued
+her to the ground for some instants. The awakening of her pride as a
+woman seemed to outweigh her sense of misery and anger.
+
+After an anxious scrutiny of Amalia's appearance, she could not forbear
+murmuring:
+
+"What can this man have fallen in love with? Yes, she is a skinny cat!"
+
+Her next thought was:
+
+"What are they saying?"
+
+Seized with a strong desire to hear their words, and without thinking of
+the danger that she ran, she went nearer and nearer to the hedge,
+bending her body so as not to be seen. Having found the shadiest, safest
+spot, she listened, although she could only hear them as they passed by,
+as soon as they were a little way off not a word was audible, so the
+snatches of conversation were rather incoherent.
+
+"Her legs are very rough. You should see how fat she is getting. Neither
+starch nor rose powder soothes the irritation of the skin," said the
+lady.
+
+"They are talking of the baby," thought Fernanda.
+
+"I have never seen her in her bath. How much I would give to be present
+one day!"
+
+"It is because you do not want to."
+
+"No, no, but I do not want to expose you to the danger that would accrue
+from my doing so."
+
+No more could be heard, but she felt she must wait for them to get to
+the end of the path and then turn.
+
+"So I hear you were at those childish, silly old ladies," she heard
+Amalia say as they repassed her hiding-place.
+
+"I assure you I was at the Casino. All the members of the club met to
+discuss the question of the re-decoration of the _salon_. It was to be
+over at ten, and we did not get away until twelve. You know the
+argumentative, aggressive character of Don Juan, don't you? I have not
+been to the de Meres for an age. Since some people set to----"
+
+The words were here lost again to Fernanda.
+
+That Don Juan must be her father? She would soon find out.
+
+When they reappeared the count was tenderly caressing the hand of his
+beloved, and smiling and chatting with an expression of rapturous
+happiness.
+
+"I have often thought of giving up seeing you. At night when I am alone
+in bed, I am a prey to terrible remorse, and I say to myself, 'There
+must be an end of this,' and I determine to leave Lancia, and I map out
+a new plan of life: I imagine myself travelling over all Europe; I
+forget you; I return at the end of some years, and instead of the old
+love a tender friendship fills my heart in which we can indulge without
+fear of Heaven's chastisement. But as the morning dawns, these
+resolutions vanish; I succumb to temptation; I see you at your house,
+and the more I see you, the more I hear your adored voice----"
+
+Fernanda clutched at the trunk of a magnolia for support.
+
+As they turned, it was Amalia who was speaking:
+
+"This is not true. I have told you that I am always haunted by a black
+shadow. However much I pretend to imagine that I am the first----"
+
+"The first and the last! I shall never love another woman but you."
+
+"You don't know how jealous I am of the past. Every day more so. Tell
+the truth. Did you love her or not?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then how could you----?"
+
+Fernanda could hear no more, but she had heard enough to make the tears
+rush to her eyes. She was about to withdraw, when she saw the traitors
+come to a standstill at the end of the path.
+
+Amalia threw her arms around her lover's neck, pressed her lips upon his
+mouth, and gave him a kiss that was prolonged, prolonged for an
+eternity. Fernanda closed her eyes; when she opened them they were going
+away hand in hand.
+
+She lets them leave the garden, and then follows them immediately. Where
+are they going? Once in the courtyard, she notices that they stop and
+turn in the direction of the house. She enters on their track, but they
+have disappeared, and she does not know to which room they have
+repaired. She imprudently explores them all, overwhelmed with emotion
+she cannot control, whilst given over to a strong burning desire to find
+them out.
+
+"Where are you going, Fernanda?" asks a young man.
+
+"I am going to find the bride."
+
+"Then you are going wrong, for she is at the other end of the house in
+one of the rooms looking north."
+
+She turned back to avoid suspicion, and then explored the building
+again. At last she arrived at a certain little room which was locked,
+and which was no other than the celebrated Countess's Chamber. She was
+about to turn the handle of the door as she had done to the others when
+a slight sound rooted her to the spot. She put her ear to the door. "It
+is them!"
+
+She left the place and ran like mad to the wood, where, arrived at a
+solitary spot, she sits at the foot of a tree and leans her head against
+the trunk. With her eyes fixed on space, her face changed and sad, and
+her hands crossed upon her knee, her whole attitude was expressive of
+dumb, despairing agony.
+
+The hour for dinner arrived. Two parallel tables had been arranged in
+the large _salon_ on the ground floor.
+
+The dispersed party reassembled at the magic word of dinner shouted to
+the four winds by the rough voice of Manin and the silvery one of Manuel
+Antonio.
+
+When poetic sentiments have their course in the open air in the middle
+of woods they greatly facilitate the secretion of the gastric juices. So
+the nymphs as well as the fauns did full justice to the olives, the
+cucumbers, and the slices of sausage before sitting down to the tables.
+By the unanimous voice of the military and clergy, worthily represented
+by Fray Diego, the task of giving each guest his seat was to be
+undertaken by the bride.
+
+The merry, wayward Emilita, transformed suddenly into a very grave
+matron, filled the office with a tact and amiability that won her the
+approbation of the assembly; every girl was given the youth she liked
+best as a partner, and to every older person, was accorded the companion
+who was most congenial in character and tastes.
+
+But mad was the applause when she put Lieutenant Rubio between the two
+Senoritas de Mere. She left this facetious act to the last, which
+cleverness saved the officer from thinking it was intentional.
+
+Finding himself the victim of such a trick the military man was put out,
+and was even on the point of protesting against this arrangement of
+Emilita, but he controlled himself against this outrage of all the laws
+of gallantry; and as he was taking his place it occurred to him to
+parody the words of Napoleon as he looked at his two neighbours: "From
+the height of these two seats forty centuries contemplate me."
+
+This remark won the applause of the company, and put the injured
+creature into a good humour, and he got on so well with his little old
+friends that he was that evening voted a capital sort of fellow.
+
+Moro was seated by the side of the count, and during the dinner he
+impressed on him the advantage of having a billiard-table in the palace
+of the Grange. He knew every make, but the best was indisputably that of
+Tutau of Barcelona, and he praised up the article as if he were a
+traveller for the house. Luis' face showed his disappointment and
+vexation at not being by Amalia, but Emilita neither dared to put him
+there, nor by Fernanda. The first would have been a scandal, the second
+a vexation to both.
+
+They feasted like at a banquet in the "Iliad." But the Achilles of this
+extensive repast was Manin, the rough Manin who, according to those
+that were next to him, consumed no less than eleven calabashes of wine.
+Certainly Manin deserved being called, if not a Sueve, as that would
+offend Saleta, at least a Lombard. He talked and halloed as if he were
+in the street.
+
+The three Fates of the Pensioner, who from the time Fray Diego gave his
+blessing to their sister, had gained so much childish grace, threw
+pellets of bread at the officers, who cast glances at the bride, and
+winked at their friend Nunez, as they murmured remarks which sent them
+off into fits of laughter.
+
+Paco Gomez was having a battle royal with Maria Josefa. It was difficult
+to say which of the two had the worst of it, and which launched the
+sharpest, most envenomed darts. Saleta being some way off from his
+friend and censor, Don Enrique Valero, was enjoying himself to his
+heart's content, relating to Don Juan Estrada-Rosa and two other
+gentlemen how he made the conquest of a certain English lady, wife of a
+consul he had known at Hong-Kong, on his way out to the Philippines. The
+ship only stopped there twenty-four hours. In this short time he won her
+heart and made her go off with him. But he had to separate from her at
+once, for the event was made the subject of a diplomatic reclamation on
+the part of Great Britain.
+
+Manuel Antonio being suddenly seized with a great interest in a scarlet
+subaltern by his side overwhelmed him with delicate attentions.
+
+"Federico--a little olive--don't take so much mustard, it will spoil it.
+Keep yourself for the partridges. I know they are most excellent. Do you
+like Bordeaux? Stop a moment, I will get you some."
+
+And rising from the table in his eagerness to serve, he fetched a couple
+of bottles and placed them before the youth.
+
+"So Lancia seems to agree with you. When you came six months ago you
+looked thin and pale. I said, 'What a sad sight, and a young man so
+bright and pleasant.' Because I thought you were suffering from the
+chest. I know you had a hard time of it in Barcelona. Eh? and see now,
+whoever would have thought it? I recollect that when you arrived you
+wore a gabardine of the colour of flies' wings, very well made, and a
+scarf of a very pretty sky blue. I recollect that the civil costume
+suited you very well, but I like you better in uniform. It may be fancy,
+but I can't help it. I say that with the uniform and with the moustache
+you are, to my mind, just perfect."
+
+Sundry significant coughs from the officers facing them paralysed him
+suddenly. But it did not affect him long, for he was incapable of being
+put to shame by anybody.
+
+The one who was the most put out and cross was the ensign himself.
+
+As the banquet drew to its close some of the gentlemen, favoured by the
+Muses, rose to propose toasts in verse or something approaching it. And
+those who had not a poetic vein congratulated the bridal pair in prose,
+but the result in either case was the same--to wish the bride and
+bridegroom an eternal honeymoon; and the periodical which announced the
+marriage the following day, also expressed the same wish. The toast of
+the father of the bride was the most original and interesting of all.
+Was it not strange to hear the bitter enemy of the armed force sing its
+praises, and declare himself a sworn partisan of the increase of the
+contingent, and the pay of the officers? He was so moved at his own
+words that the tears coursed down his cheeks. Of course some said he
+wept the wine he had drunk, but we are far from believing this
+malevolent insinuation, first, because it is absurd to talk of weeping
+wine, and secondly, because his tone was so sincere and his manner so
+pathetic that nobody could doubt that his words came from the bottom of
+his heart.
+
+"It is a comfort," he said--"yes, it is a comfort that God has let me
+see my daughter marry an honourable soldier--for to speak of a soldier
+in Spain is to speak of honour. To keep up the army, to honour the army,
+is to keep up and honour the honour of the nation. To keep up the army
+is to keep up the power and prosperity of the country. To keep up the
+army is to keep up our prestige with the greatest nations of Europe. To
+keep up the army is to live respected by the world. To keep up the army
+is to keep up ourselves. To keep up the army----"
+
+"Let the army be kept up, but let Don Cristobal sit down," called out
+somebody.
+
+The Pensioner held his position, cast a look of sad reproach to the
+place whence the voice had come, raised his pocket handkerchief to his
+eyes to dry his tears, calmly drank the wine that remained in his glass,
+and gravely took his seat amid the applause and laughter of the company.
+
+Fernanda did not open her lips during the dinner. All the efforts of
+Garnet, who, through the kindness of Emilita had been placed near to his
+much-desired lady love, were without effect. Neither by talking of
+saffron and describing how tobacco is gathered, making exact
+calculations on each load of sugar, and what would be the profit if duty
+were lowered, nor going over the hundred and one interesting details of
+the importation of salted meats from the Argentine Republic and the
+codfish from Newfoundland, could Romeo extract more than dry
+monosyllables from his Juliet. All she did was to hand him her glass
+from time to time, and say in an imperious tone: "Some more wine."
+
+The Indian quickly complied with the request, and the young lady emptied
+the glass at one gulp, put it on the table, then cast her contemptuous
+eyes over the guests, and fixed them persistently upon Amalia. By
+degrees those eyes became heavier, the eyelids drooped, they became
+inflamed and turned from one side to the other with more difficulty.
+
+Don Santos, who was astonished at this manner of drinking, ventured to
+say:
+
+"Fernanda, you drink like a fish. Stupid! I am afraid I have offended
+you."
+
+"Give me wine," returned Fernanda, giving him such a strange look that
+it quite upset him.
+
+All the toasts having been now given, drunk, and responded to, the
+cheerful company again dispersed. The Pensioner and the officers averse
+to love-making were the only ones who remained at table. They entered
+into discussions on the best way of increasing, without much affecting
+the Treasury, captains' pay by eight dollars, lieutenants' by five, and
+ensigns' by three a month. Without this reform, the interested parties
+explicitly stated that there would very soon be a complete dissolution
+of the army, and it would cease to be the pivot of the honour of the
+country, and we should never rise to the dignity of other nations, nor
+have prosperity, power and honour in our lives.
+
+Jaime Moro went in search of Fray Diego and Don Juan Estrada-Rosa and
+dragged them to the _tresillo_ table. Don Juan had lost and so was
+reluctant, but the plausible fellow managed to convince him that the
+reason he had not won in the morning was because he, Moro, never lost at
+that time, but his luck always turned in the afternoon, so he had a good
+chance of winning now.
+
+Seated at the end of the table was Manin, who, without interfering with
+the officers' conversation, employed himself in lazily cutting slices of
+bread with his clasp-knife, and putting large pieces in his mouth, which
+he washed down with long draughts of Burgundy left in the bottles. He
+did not approve of the dinner that Maranon, the master of the cafe of
+Altavilla, had supplied them. After stuffing like a savage, he said that
+all the dishes were just as if they came from the perfumers, and that
+where there was plenty of beans with black pudding, sausage and marrow
+bones, no macaroni was wanted. It must be observed that to Manin every
+dish he did not know was macaroni, which was a source of much amusement
+to the Grandee.
+
+Whilst concluding the meal so indecorously, he kept up a stream of
+complaints against it, and Don Cristobal, at whom he cast sundry angry
+glances, seemed to be held in some degree responsible for it.
+
+Suddenly the door was opened with a great clamour, and four girls rushed
+into the room in such a state of excitement that the little party was
+quite taken aback. Without paying any attention to the others, they all
+turned to Quinones' majordomo:
+
+"Manin, a bear! Manin, a bear!"
+
+"Where?" he asked, without moving.
+
+"In the wood."
+
+"Who put it there?"
+
+The four stood astounded at this strange question. At last one of them
+ventured timidly to remark:
+
+"He came by himself."
+
+"Bah! bah! bah!" returned the majordomo rudely.
+
+And he returned to his lumps of bread with more ardour than ever, which
+perhaps justified malicious people of the town saying that they did not
+want to hear of the bears he had killed, for he was nothing but a rustic
+clown.
+
+"But, child, say how you saw it," said the sympathetic Consuelo, who now
+put in her word, whereupon one who was paler than the others advanced
+and said with some difficulty:
+
+"How fearful! _Madre mia_, how fearful! I thought I should have
+died--because you see the bear--the bear was horrible."
+
+She was in such a state of panic, that she could only utter these
+incoherent words.
+
+Then the resolute Consuelo came forward, and said in a firm voice:
+
+"You see, Manin, this child was with us in the thickest part of the wood
+a long way off. She heard a bird sing, a mavis I believe--was it not a
+mavis? Very well, then she heard a thrush, and she turned in the
+direction whence the sound came. She went some distance, but could not
+come across it. When she turned back, the bear came out of the bushes,
+it attacked her, pulled her to the ground, and without doing her any
+harm, we do not know why, it went off and disappeared."
+
+The famous bear-hunter then quietly rose from his seat, and said in the
+quiet, firm tone pertaining to heroes:
+
+"Let us go and see what it is."
+
+He asked for a gun, and followed from afar by the pallid damsels, he
+beat the wood. The only thing forthcoming was a German pig, one of a
+pair that the count had to improve the breed. The female had died, and
+the male wandered about sad and alone in the depths of the wood whilst
+his companion was metamorphosed into black puddings and chops. There
+were strong suspicions that the author of the attack was this widowed
+hog, but the young lady of the adventure swore and maintained that it
+had been a bear that had attacked her, and that they were not to tell
+her it was that animal, because she had often seen a bear in the
+zoological museum of the university.
+
+Fernanda had gone off some time before with Garnet. They repaired to the
+garden. There the young lady took his arm and went several times up and
+down the same path, where she had seen the count and Amalia.
+
+"You are very much in love with me. Is it not so?" she asked, suddenly.
+
+The Indian surprised, murmured: "Oh! yes; they say that I am an ass, and
+it is true."
+
+"And what do you feel. Come let us see. What do you feel? Explain
+yourself."
+
+"I, what?" he exclaimed in surprise.
+
+"Yes, what do you feel when you see me? What do you feel when another
+man comes near me? Take the count for instance. What do you feel at this
+instant with my arm in yours? Describe me your sensations; what passes
+in your mind."
+
+"I, senorita.... I don't know how to describe it.....Your word is my
+law as much as if I were one of your family ... and it is the same with
+Don Juan your father, although he may be a bit cantankerous.... What
+does it signify to me if he be cantankerous or not? If I married you, I
+have a house thank God.... Yes, and it is not because I say it, but my
+house is worth more than his, as you know. But we would travel first, in
+France, Italy, England, whereever you like.... And if it cost us five
+thousand dollars, what would that matter?"
+
+Garnet held forth for some time in this strain, and Fernanda turned a
+deaf ear to him. At last the boasting tone bored her, and she said, with
+a touch of anger:
+
+"Will you be quiet, sir?"
+
+Poor Don Santos was quite crushed, and they went on in silence for some
+time.
+
+"How ugly all this is!"
+
+"What?"
+
+"Everything! The house, the wood, the meadows, the garden. See how
+hideous this magnolia is!"
+
+"The house is very ugly, and very old; I have often said so. Still, they
+might give it a coat of whitewash and paint the balconies. The wood is
+worth nothing, it is no use, and it takes up space that would be
+valuable for garden produce, or wall fruit or such like."
+
+Fernanda burst out laughing.
+
+"Don't you suffer sometimes from sadness, Don Santos?"
+
+"Sadness? never. I am always cheerful. Only once when I was robbed of
+eight thousand dollars by a knave I had an angry fit which lasted for
+two days."
+
+"How ugly the sun is, now seen through the branches of the trees!"
+
+"Would you like to return to the house?"
+
+"No, take me to the river. I have a burning face, and I should like to
+refresh it with a little water."
+
+They went down by the meadows to the river, and there the heiress of
+Estrada-Rosa, in spite of Don Santos' advice, bathed her face for some
+time. After she had dried it, they slowly ascended the path to the
+house.
+
+"How am I now? All right, eh? You can't think how everything bores me
+here! I can't do any more; all this wearies me. I was not born to walk
+about the meadows like the cows. I like cities, salons, luxury. I should
+like to travel as you say and see Paris, London, Vienna. How stupid
+Lancia is! Is it not so? These eternal walks on the Bombe! That San
+Francisco Park! That tower of the Cathedral so black and so sad! Then
+always the same faces. The only amusing person in Lancia is yourself.
+Whenever I see you I cannot help smiling. Why do they call you Garnet? I
+think your colour is more like a turquoise. You had slaves there in
+America. Oh! how I should like to have slaves! It is so tiresome to ask
+for things as a favour! But, no, in America they have yellow fever. I
+should prefer to go to China."
+
+The more she went on talking, the more excited she became, contradicting
+her own words, as her thoughts became more and more incoherent. Don
+Santos tried to make a remark, but she stopped him by putting her hand
+on his mouth.
+
+"Let me talk, sir! I want to tell you all."
+
+The Indian began to be anxious as the excitement of the girl went on
+increasing. She chattered away in a familiar, rude sort of way.
+
+"Give me a cigar."
+
+"Fernanda! A cigar! You will be ill."
+
+"Silence! what are you saying fool? I sick! You are trying to annoy me!
+Give me a cigar or I will leave you here."
+
+The Indian took out his case, and the pretty heiress took one, bit off
+the top with her sharp teeth, and asked for a match. Garnet gave her a
+lighted one, at the same time shaking his head in disapproval. When she
+had taken two or three whiffs, she made a gesture of disgust and
+exclaimed:
+
+"What infamous cigars! Look, smoke it yourself."
+
+And she put it in his mouth. There was no gesture of disgust with Garnet
+as he smoked it.
+
+"I should think I will smoke it!" he said with a smile of beatitude.
+"They cost me two hundred dollars the thousand, but now you have tried
+one, they are worth a million."
+
+"Come on and don't make impertinent speeches. Take me to the house. This
+glare sickens me."
+
+They reached the courtyard arm in arm. There a young fellow called out
+to them:
+
+"Where are you off to? The people are in the wood."
+
+"Tell the people that I scorn them all," returned Fernanda, with an
+angry gesture that provoked a smile from the youth.
+
+"You don't know the house?" she added, lowering her voice and turning to
+Don Santos. "Then I will be your guide, you shall see it."
+
+They mounted the mouldy, shabby staircase, and Fernanda, chattering
+continuously, did the honours of all the rooms to the Indian.
+
+"Here is the celebrated Countess's Chamber!" she exclaimed with a
+peculiar intonation when they reached it. "I am tired."
+
+They went in and the girl shut the door.
+
+"It is pretty, eh? It is the most beautiful and the brightest room in
+the house. If this furniture could only tell amusing secrets, it never
+would have done. Look, tell me something to make me laugh or you will
+see me cry like a very schoolgirl. See now, I am crying. Sit down here
+you silly. What a pretty waistcoat you have on! How well it shows the
+line of the figure! Look at this couch. It is large, eh? It is wide, it
+is beautiful, it is artistic. Look, then, I should like to burn it. To
+avoid sitting on it I am going to sit on your knees."
+
+And she suited the action to the words. Garnet lost his head when he
+found himself with such a sweet burden, and with incredible audacity he
+put an arm round her waist.
+
+The girl jumped up as if she had been pinched.
+
+"What are you doing, you brute? Do you think that we are in the
+plantation and that I am some black wild creature?"
+
+After looking at him for some time with angry eyes, her face cleared and
+her lips expanded in a sweet smile.
+
+"Do you love me very much?"
+
+"Of course not," said the Indian, in a teasing tone.
+
+"Then you shall have one minute's happiness. See, I will let you give me
+a kiss, mind only one, and you must swear that nobody shall know about
+it."
+
+The Indian made a solemn promise.
+
+"Good! now give me the kiss here on the temple. The first and the last
+you will ever give me in your life. Wait a bit," she added once more
+jumping up. "For this kiss I am to give you fifty buffets on your purple
+cheeks. Do you agree to the compact?"
+
+Garnet immediately consented. The young girl then reseated herself on
+his knees, and bent her head to receive the kiss.
+
+"Good! now it is my turn!" she exclaimed with childish merriment.
+"Prepare to receive your buffets. What cheeks! _Dios mio_, how
+magnificent! Do you see how blue they are? Well, I am going to turn them
+green. Attention! One! the first. Two! the second. Three! the third.
+Four! Five!"
+
+The strong, small hand of the beautiful vixen struck into the red cheeks
+of the Indian with no slight effect. His eyes began to get as red and
+angry as those of a wolf, his blood suddenly became inflamed, and with a
+sudden movement, he seized her roughly by the waist.
+
+Fernanda uttered a terrified cry.
+
+"What is the matter? Why are you angry?"
+
+"Leave me, leave me, you brute!"
+
+She struggled in desperation but she could not release herself.
+
+Once more free, she was perfectly sober. She cast a vague, strange look
+at the Indian, and this look, suddenly assuming an expression of horror,
+was fixed upon him as upon some wild animal that had just attacked her.
+
+"What are you doing here? Ah, yes!" she exclaimed raising her hand to
+her forehead. "My God! What has come to me? Am I dreaming?"
+
+Then once more fixing her angry, menacing eyes upon him, she cried in a
+rage:
+
+"What are you doing standing there? Leave the room immediately! Leave
+the room! leave the room!" she repeated with a voice which grew louder
+each time.
+
+But when the Indian got as far as the door, she rushed before him, flew
+along the passages, and when she reached the staircase she fell down in
+a swoon.
+
+She was lifted up and every care was bestowed upon her. When she
+recovered consciousness a torrent of tears streamed from her eyes, and
+continued all the afternoon. And when the party started for home she was
+still weeping.
+
+"Did you see that this girl of Estrada-Rosa cried from the effects of
+wine?" said Captain Nunez, laughing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE MASQUERADE
+
+
+Shortly before the rosy dawn opened wide the windows of the East, Satan,
+who rose in a mischievous humour, sent the most knavish and wanton of
+the demons to Lancia with orders to awaken it from its slumbers. So the
+minister of hell waved his black wings over the city, and gave vent to
+loud discordant laughter, which was effectual in arousing all the
+inhabitants from their dreams. They awoke with the most immoderate
+desires to upset, make fun of, and laugh at all ruling authorities, to
+improvise couplets, and say rude things. One of these people, we can
+imagine it must have been Jaime Moro, called his servant directly he had
+jumped out of bed, and asked him with a smiling countenance if Don
+Nicanor, the bass of the cathedral, would lend him his instrument. The
+servant without replying, instantly left the room, and soon reappeared
+with an enormous serpent (wind instrument) in his hands. And without any
+respect for his master, he applied the mouthpiece to his lips and
+produced a sound like the roaring of a lion. Moro, lightly attired as he
+was, made a pirouet and gave three or four taps of the heel in sign of
+great appreciation, as if that barbarous sound had touched the most
+delicate fibres of his heart. After trying himself to produce the same
+noise and ascertaining that he was quite equal to the achievement, he
+dressed himself, and after taking a hurried breakfast, he sallied into
+the street, wrapped in his cloak, under the folds of which he had put
+the instrument that had so delighted him. He stopped everybody with a
+mysterious wink, and retiring to the nearest portico, he, full of
+excitement, showed them his hidden treasure. Nobody asked what he was
+going to do with it. They smiled, squeezed his hand significantly, and
+whispered in his ear:
+
+"When is it to be?"
+
+"To-night. The carriage leaves at twelve."
+
+"They will escape us."
+
+"Bah! all precautions are taken."
+
+And he went on his way muffled up to the eyes, for the cold was indeed
+diabolical.
+
+The others not only smiled and pressed his hand, but each of them took
+from the pockets of his overcoat or from inside his gabardine some
+powerful instrument, albeit of an inferior kind to the above-mentioned
+one, and Moro applauded and praised each one, without boasting of his
+own superiority. And so he continued his round-about and tiring walk
+until he arrived not at Don Romana's confectioner's shop, which was the
+usual glorious termination of his morning expeditions, but at the house
+of Paco Gomez. The place resounded with the quick steps and many voices
+of a number of busy young people. They were all working with great
+energy, and with a diligence rarely seen in workshops. Some were cutting
+out banners, others were moulding cardboard masks, some were painting
+black letters on the sides of a lantern, some were dressing up two guy
+figures in gorgeous attire, and some were trying the mouthpieces of
+various wind instruments and serpents similar to that brought by Moro.
+The scene of action was an immense dismantled room. Paco Gomez lived in
+the palace of a marquis, to whom his father was majordomo and who never
+came to Lancia. The implacable practical joker was a vigilant and
+careful director of all the work of his companions, leaving the room
+every minute to give orders to the servants, or to receive some message
+sent to him. Never was he more indefatigable. He was generally rather
+disagreeable, and even with his jokes he brought to bear a certain
+scornful manner, either real or assumed, that made him more formidable.
+But now he strained every nerve in the matter, for it was a question of
+the most stupendous and best-arranged farce that the town of Lancia had
+ever witnessed since the monks of San Vicente came to found it. The
+cause of it was that Fernando Estrada-Rosa was to marry (the pen
+scarcely dares write it), Fernanda Rosa was to marry (how difficult it
+is to say it), was to marry Garnet!
+
+From the time of the memorable scene at the Grange, Fernanda lived in a
+stupor of misery, in a depression of body and soul that alarmed her
+father. The doctor was sent for, and he said it was nothing more than a
+nervous attack, which would be cured by a journey to the court, drives
+and amusements. But the girl absolutely refused to try these remedies.
+She declined drives, theatres, parties, and, still more, a journey
+anywhere. She only went from her room to the dining-room, and from
+thence to her father's room, where she only stayed a short time. She had
+no energy to go on to the second floor, nor spirit to enter into, and
+direct the duties of the servants. She was mostly shut up in her own
+room, where she had nothing to do, and she would throw herself into a
+chair and remain for a long time motionless with her hands on her knees
+and her eyes fixed. Sometimes she began to read, but finding that the
+book conveyed nothing to her mind, she ended by casting it aside.
+Sometimes she appeared at the window, and remained whole hours with a
+miserable face upon the balcony, whilst her eyes were fixed on space, or
+on a point of the street without seeing the passers by, or replying to
+the many greetings made to her, or noticing that she was making herself
+an object of curiosity to the neighbours. But all at once she was seized
+with a desire to go to Madrid, and the journey had to be arranged
+instantly. She expressed her wish in the morning, and by the evening the
+father and daughter were in the diligence, so eager and vehement had the
+girl been in demanding the journey. Once started, her state of mind was
+completely changed. She threw herself madly and wildly into all the
+pleasures of Madrid that were attractive to a rich, beautiful,
+provincial girl. She passed two months in the intoxication of theatres,
+drives, grand evening parties, and concerts. A nervous sort of
+cheerfulness seemed suddenly to have taken possession of her, and she
+appeared happy in the midst of the noise and whirl of society, where she
+was soon known by the nickname of "The African." To add to the gaiety of
+her life, she liked to dine at cafes and restaurants like a dissipated
+youth. Don Juan was divided betwixt his pleasure of seeing her
+contented, and the acute sense of discomfort that the disorganised life,
+so contrary to his usual habits, and age, caused him.
+
+One afternoon, as they were returning from the drive on the Prado,
+Fernanda suddenly began sobbing violently. Don Juan was astonished and
+taken aback, for she had been laughing all the afternoon, and making fun
+of a certain youth who persisted in following the carriage.
+
+"What has come to you? Fernanda, my daughter!"
+
+The girl did not reply. With her handkerchief to her eyes, and her body
+shaken by her sobs, she only wept more bitterly.
+
+"Fernanda! _por Dios_! people are looking at you!"
+
+The crying then changed to an attack of nerves, and Don Juan told the
+coachman to drive home at once. But before arriving there, the young
+girl ceased weeping, raised her head, and said in a tone of
+determination:
+
+"Papa, I want to go back to Lancia!"
+
+"All right, my daughter; we will go to-morrow."
+
+"No, no; I want to go now, at once."
+
+"But think, there is only one hour before the train goes."
+
+"There is plenty of time."
+
+There was nothing to be done but to have their things packed in the
+trunks and to rush in haste to the station, and the nerves of the
+excited girl were only somewhat calmed when the whistle of the engine
+announced their departure and they were off over the arid tracts of land
+outside Madrid.
+
+The day following her arrival at Lancia, she did not appear to greet her
+father, nor to take chocolate with him as usual. When the father was
+thinking of calling her, a servant suddenly entered his room looking
+pale and agitated.
+
+"The senorita is taken very ill!"
+
+Don Juan repaired to his daughter's apartment, and found her in all the
+agonies of violent sickness.
+
+"Quick! fetch the doctor!" cried the poor father.
+
+Fernanda made a negative gesture, and weakly muttered: "No; send for the
+father confessor."
+
+But no notice was taken of this remark. The doctor came, and after
+carefully considering the case, he called Don Juan aside and said to
+him:
+
+"Your daughter has taken a large quantity of laudanum."
+
+"For what?" asked the father without understanding.
+
+"For the reason that these quantities are generally taken--to poison
+herself."
+
+"Daughter of my soul! what have you done?" cried the unhappy parent, and
+he was about to rush back to his daughter's room, but the doctor
+detained him.
+
+"She is in no danger now. She has brought up all the poison, and with
+the medicine I am going to give her she will soon be quite herself. The
+important thing now is to avoid a repetition of the act."
+
+"Oh, no! I will see about that."
+
+And he ran to his daughter's room, but he could not get a word out of
+her; she persisted in asking for the father confessor. At last he went
+himself to fetch the priest, and soon returned with him.
+
+During the confession Don Juan walked up and down the wide corridor of
+the house, a prey to burning curiosity. At last the father confessor
+appeared, and without replying to the father's dumb look of inquiry, he
+took him by the hand and conducted him to his own room, where they shut
+themselves in. When they came out at the end of an hour the old banker's
+cheeks were on fire, his white hair was in disorder, and his eyes showed
+signs of weeping. He bade farewell to the canon on the staircase and
+went back to his room, where he remained with the door locked. There he
+stayed all day and all night, without heeding the messages that his
+daughter sent him to come and see her.
+
+The father confessor offered himself to interview Garnet and make all
+the arrangements. The Indian chuckled with delight when he learnt what
+was wanted. But his plebeian nature and avarice, which had always been
+his ruling passion, turned his head. When the canon came to discuss the
+matter with him, he found him completely changed; he hesitated, grunted,
+shook his head, talked in broken phrases of the luxury that Fernanda had
+been brought up to, and of the great expenses accruing to matrimony. In
+short, he asked for a _dot_. The father confessor, who was a just man,
+full of feeling, could not contain himself before such low conduct, and
+he overwhelmed him with insults. But the churl did not mind that. Being
+sure of Don Juan's daughter, he stood his ground, laughed like a beast,
+scratched his head, and muttered some coarse remark which increased the
+canon's anger.
+
+When, with many evasions, he had to acquaint Don Juan with what had
+happened, the disgraced parent was nearly mad with despair and anger. He
+tore his hair, used very strong language, and spoke of shooting his
+daughter and then himself. With much trouble the canon succeeded in
+calming him. At last he listened to reason and the negotiations went on,
+and after disputing like merchants over the amount of the _dot_, it was
+settled what it should be, and Garnet consented to give his toad-like
+hand to the most highly prized girl in Lancia at that time.
+
+But the worst had to come. Fernanda had to be told. When she learnt that
+a marriage was arranged between her and Don Santos, she was utterly
+overwhelmed with dismay, and she fainted away. When she came to, she
+plainly said that she would never do it, no, not if they flayed her
+alive. Neither her father confessor's remarks, nor the prospect of
+disgrace, nor the tears of her father, could persuade her. It was only
+when she saw her frantic parent put the mouth of the revolver to his
+temple to take his life, that she rushed to stop him, promising to
+accede to his wish. And this was how this unnatural marriage came about.
+
+When the noble sons of Lancia learnt the arrangement, they were all
+overwhelmed with disgust. An immense wave of shame swept into their
+cheeks. This wave of feeling only came to Lancia with such marked effect
+when there was a question of fate favouring some Lancian more than was
+just. If somebody drew a successful lottery ticket, or got some good
+appointment, or if it were a question of a marriage with a rich woman,
+or a great success in business, or somebody got famous by his talent,
+the fine perspicacity of the inhabitants of Lancia was in revolt, and at
+once set to work to depreciate the money, the talent, the instruction or
+the industry of the neighbour, and to put things in their true light.
+Such a feeling might easily be confounded with envy, nevertheless the
+truly observant would soon gather from the remarks in the gatherings at
+shops and in the gossips in the streets, that it was only love, albeit
+it might be too warm, which prompted them to deteriorate the merits of
+their neighbours and thus generously to renounce the reflected glory
+which might have accrued to them from a false conception of their value.
+The marriage of Garnet caused profound astonishment, which was followed
+by an outcry of indignation. Never were the cheeks of Lancians so dyed
+with shame as they were at that moment; not even when the press of
+Madrid happened to eulogise a certain comedy written by a son of the
+place. What rude remarks ensued, first against Don Juan, and then
+against Fernanda! Strange to relate, the young men were wild with rage;
+they maintained that legislation was deficient if it had no power to
+prevent such unnatural proceedings. The result of all this was that the
+turbulent feelings aroused by the news were to be vented by the youths
+of Lancia in a stupendous farce, of which we have witnessed the
+inaugurations, to testify to their profound disgust at such an
+out-of-the-way marriage.
+
+The persons concerned heard of the plan, and they tried to evade the
+blow by keeping the day of the ceremony secret, and then to have it
+celebrated outside the place. But their precautions were of no avail.
+The young men found out that the marriage was to be in the early days of
+February at the estate that Estrada-Rosa had, half a mile from Lancia.
+Spies were placed in the Calle de Altavilla and round about Garnet's
+house to prevent them going off unobserved, and a thousand ingenious
+plans for the annoyance of the bridal pair were hatched in the most
+fertile brains of the town. As the preparations for the carnival were at
+the same time, it was decided that the first blow should be in the form
+of a great burlesque masquerade that was to leave the house of Paco
+Gomez at twelve o'clock and parade the streets. In a carriage drawn by
+four oxen arrayed in pink calico, with their horns adorned with branches
+there were three mummers which were supposed to represent Fernanda
+Estrada-Rosa, her father, and Garnet, the latter in a cocked hat. From
+time to time the carriage stopped, and they performed such a ridiculous
+farce that the people roared with delight, and crowds gathered to
+witness it. Fernanda was made to kiss Garnet with transports of
+enthusiasm, and he being smaller could only encircle her with his arms
+below her waist, and Don Juan meanwhile was laughing and shaking a bag
+of money. Occasionally another mummer appeared from the bottom of the
+carriage, and he was supposed to represent the Conde de Onis. He gave
+Fernanda a kiss, turned his back on Garnet, and then vanished as quickly
+as he came. As this pantomime was to be performed in the Calle de
+Altavilla, in front of Estrada-Rosa's very house, the scandal was
+dreadful, and the crowds immense. Don Juan in a paroxysm of anger
+acquainted the Governor, who was a great friend of his, with the facts,
+and determined to leave with Fernanda the next day. The malicious
+youths, who had foreseen this determination, had contrived means to
+render it ineffectual, and they had prepared as we have seen a grand
+performance of rough music for the night.
+
+It had to be ready betimes, for the marriage had not yet taken place,
+but they did not want them to escape without it. Armed then with as many
+noisy instruments as they could muster, with great glass slides on which
+were painted the same grotesque figures of the carriage, with coarse
+designations below, three hundred youths assembled in Altavilla with
+torches in their hands, and they were accompanied by half the people of
+the place, who encouraged them with their laughter. The noise was
+horrible. When it ceased, a voice was heard to shout some indecent
+couplet, upon which the hilarity became outrageous. Lieutenant Rubio,
+always original, crept along the cornice of the chapel of San Fructuoso,
+situated almost in front of Estrada-Rosa's house, and rang a bell. Paco
+Gomez went swiftly from one group to another prompting them in the most
+insulting couplets, so that the chief points should be given in the
+loudest tones. Moro went on blowing his serpent enough to hurt his
+lungs, whilst the Chatterbox who had been one of the most active
+promoters of the "rough music," treacherously entered the house of Don
+Juan, pretending to come like a faithful friend, when in reality he was
+spying out what was going on there. But the political chief thought it
+was time to officiate as Neptune and calm the stormy waves. When the
+"rough music" had got so far, he sent to Altavilla, Nola, the head of
+the municipal guards, accompanied by two of the company, who happened to
+be Lucan the Floren and Pepe le Mota, with orders to stop the scandal
+and clear the street. The Lancians had long given up recognising the
+divine origin of authority, when it was represented by Floren, or Pepe
+le Mota. And not only did they cast a doubt upon their right divine, but
+when they saw them from afar the spirit of rebellion seemed to increase.
+Was this because the Lancians were predestined by the blind impulses of
+their nature to war against the established order? It is not very
+probable. None of the historians of Lancia have noted rebellion against
+institutions as an especial characteristic of the race. It is more
+natural to suppose that what irritated them most was the nose of Nola,
+which was just like the button of an electric bell, and the unpleasant
+voice of Lucan the Floren, and the monstrously bent legs of Pepe le
+Mota. Besides, these respectable agents of government authority were
+quite cognisant of the anarchical tendencies manifested sometimes by the
+people of Lancia. But they never thought that their appearing without
+proper precautions among the crowd of Altavilla, would entail their
+leaving it without truncheons, without sabres, without kepis, and with
+buffeted cheeks. Nevertheless, such is the recorded account.
+
+The political chief, not wishing to submit blindly to the decrees of
+fate, sent immediately for the lieutenant of the civil guard to come
+with eight of his company, to avenge the unfortunate Nola, Lucan,
+Floren, and Pepe le Mota. Inflamed with success the harlequins of
+Altavilla tried to resist. In the meanwhile the lieutenant, a prey to
+martial ardour, ordered all swords to be unsheathed, and with a fierce
+smile he charged upon the crowd like a wild boar, and all the Lancians
+were terrified at the sight. There was a strong tendency to retire from
+the field of battle, but at that moment somebody infused courage into
+their hearts by holding out deceptive hopes of victory. "Down with the
+civilians!" "Down with the cocked hats!" "Death to the potato-face!"
+Such were the seditious cries that issued from the throats of those rash
+youths. And some stones were thrown at the same time. The trombones,
+bassoons, and cornets a piston, of which the harmonious strains had
+accompanied so many mazurkas in the bosom of peace, were suddenly
+transformed into warlike weapons, shining formidably in the light of the
+torches. The cocked hat of the lieutenant was struck ignominiously to
+the ground by one of them. Whereupon he picked it up, and his bellicose
+spirit was so stirred, that a line of foam encircled his lips, and he
+rushed into the battle with his eyes aflame and breathing hardly. Then
+the youths of Lancia rallied with renewed vigour, whilst menacing cries
+filled the air, and the swords of the civilians were soon heard upon
+some of their backs.
+
+The retreat of the fine young fellows of Lancia on that memorable night,
+when pursued by the bloodthirsty civilians, was like the flight of a
+herd of deer from jackals.
+
+The ground was strewn with bronze instruments, witnesses of the fray.
+The indomitable lieutenant gave vent to his anger for some time in the
+streets, animating his company with strong interjections, and urging his
+party on to the pursuit of the rebels, like a hunter calling his pack of
+hounds in pursuit of a stag.
+
+Thus it was that Paco Gomez, being persistently followed by cocked hats,
+found himself obliged to avoid a blow by jumping into the larder of the
+confectioner shop of Don Romana, where he fell headlong to the ground on
+a dish of soft eggs, and completely destroyed a magnificent burrage tart
+destined for the precentor of the cathedral. And it was the same with
+Jaime Moro, who, after losing Don Nicanor's serpent in the fray,
+narrowly escaped being immolated by the magnificent sabre of a civilian.
+It was only by taking the precaution of lowering his head, when the
+blow was struck, that he escaped an effusion of blood. The sword came in
+contact with the wall of a house, doing no little damage thereby; and
+months afterwards, Moro delighted in showing as a trophy the piece that
+was broken away, to strangers who came to Lancia, and with the relation
+of his prowess on that memorable night, his heroic heart was filled with
+pleasure.
+
+Many others of those magnanimous youths underwent considerable
+discomfort from their conduct; some from the sword-cuts, and the
+majority from the falls and the shocks which resulted from the
+disbandment. Nevertheless the victory was not gratuitous for the agents
+of the government.
+
+Besides the destruction of the cocked hat of the lieutenant, and several
+contusions of his subordinates, the constitutional power suffered an
+important reverse in the person of one of its oldest representatives--in
+the person of Nola, the head of the municipals. As we know, this person,
+who was so unpopular in Lancia on account of the shortness and excessive
+roundness of his nose, lost in the first struggle his kepis, his sword,
+and the honour of his cheeks. Anger and revenge reigned in his heart.
+But he could not do anything to gratify these feelings, because he was
+deprived of all coercive means. Instead, however, of prudently retiring
+to the portal of the Ecclesiastical Court, like Floren and Pepe le Mota,
+he remained in the middle of the street contemplating the battle with
+anxiety, and on seeing that it was going in favour of the institutions
+that he represented, delight overflowed his municipal heart.
+
+"Good luck to the guardians! Long may they have it! Down with the
+rabble! These vagabonds are punished for once!"
+
+Such were the bellicose cries that issued from his throat. Nevertheless,
+when least expected, considering that his enemies were flying in
+complete confusion, he received a blow on his button of a nose from what
+turned out to be the smooth, compact surface of a piece of lime. The
+whole of his nervous system was affected by the blow, and being unable
+to withstand such a shock, he fell senseless to the ground, after his
+brave spirit managed to utter the melancholy remark, "I am undone! These
+shameless fellows have done for me!"
+
+So fell that valiant supporter of order, that brave fellow, who had
+always been victorious in his incessant struggles with the vagabonds of
+the suburbs. He was lifted up and taken into Don Matia's apothecary's
+shop which happened to be near. From thence he was taken to the
+hospital, and the town lost its protecting shield for some days, for
+neither Lucan el Floren nor Pepe le Mota could be compared with Nola in
+energy. Whilst these events were going on in Altavilla and the adjacent
+streets, Don Juan Estrada-Rosa, a prey to indescribable rage, was pacing
+his room and tearing his hair. The hypocritical consolations of the
+Chatterbox, or as he was also termed the Magpie of Sierra, were
+powerless to calm him; and he talked of rushing into the street and
+avenging himself upon the insolent mob.
+
+"What has my poor daughter done to them?" he exclaimed with a trembling
+voice which nearly broke into sobs.
+
+Fernanda had retired early to her room and gone to bed. It is difficult
+to know whether the excitement in the street conveyed anything to her or
+not. When Don Juan after a sudden resolution went up to her room to
+waken her, the eyes which encountered the candle that he lighted, were
+dry and brilliant, without signs of having either slept or wept. He told
+her to dress immediately, and he gave orders to the servants to light
+all the lights of the house, so as to deceive those without, and he then
+went out with her by the coachhouse door which led into a little
+solitary street. They were only accompanied by Manuel Antonio, and they
+went by the quietest streets to the house of the Pensioner. Once there,
+they sent a message to Don Santos for him to come immediately and
+another to the father confessor. When they had both arrived, the father,
+daughter, and these two gentlemen, with Manuel Antonio and Jovita Mateo,
+sallied forth secretly from Lancia by the high-road of Castille. After
+going some way they waited for the coach that Don Juan had ordered. The
+six had to manage as best they could in the little carriage, and it fell
+to Manuel Antonio's lot to sit on the box. Half an hour later they were
+at the banker's country-house. An altar was quickly erected, and before
+the morning broke, the father confessor blessed the union of the
+affianced pair. Fernanda did not open her lips the whole way, and she
+preserved the same silence during the preparations for the ceremony. She
+appeared tranquil, in a state of absolute indifference, or rather of
+somnolence, like a person who having been violently awakened from a
+dream is hardly conscious of what is going on around. And this lethargy
+continued after pronouncing the "Yes" before the altar. Neither the
+affectionate, eloquent conversation of the priest, nor the incessant
+jokes of Manuel Antonio during the breakfast, nor the caresses of
+Jovita, nor the assumed rough sort of cheerfulness of her father, could
+draw her from her strange absence of mind. The day broke, a sad, foggy
+day that filtered through the windows in a melancholy fashion. They all
+did their best to seem cheerful; they talked in a loud voice, they made
+fun of the servant's dullness, and Manuel Antonio's fear of some
+_contretemps_. Nevertheless, a deep sadness pervaded the atmosphere.
+When there was a pause in the conversation, the brows wrinkled and the
+countenances darkened, and when it was resumed the words sounded
+melancholy in the luxurious dining-room.
+
+The bride retired to change her dress, and she soon reappeared with the
+same impassive demeanour.
+
+According to Don Juan's arrangements they were to go immediately to the
+next town and there take the postchaise. The insulting people of Lancia
+were thus to be frustrated. When they went down to the garden, where
+the carriage was waiting, a cold, fine rain was falling. Fernanda kissed
+her father and got into the carriage. On receiving that kiss on his
+cheek, the poor old man felt as if a current of cold air passed through
+him paralysing his members and freezing his heart.
+
+The priest cried:
+
+"Good-bye, Fernanda, take care of yourself, Fernanda. Good-bye, Santos.
+Come back soon."
+
+And so they were off. In less than an hour they arrived at Meres, waited
+for the diligence, and got in. The attentions of Garnet could not
+provoke a smile or gracious word from the lips of his bride, but his
+grotesque gestures and the nonsense that he talked sometimes brought a
+look of fatigue and disgust into the young girl's marble face. She slept
+at intervals or looked with vacant eyes at the landscape. When they
+arrived at the neighbourhood of Leon it was night.
+
+But what happened at Leon? On arriving at the place, where the diligence
+changed horses, they found a large crowd of people, they heard rough
+voices and the discordant sound of musical instruments with the jingling
+of bells, and large transparent pictures were seen waving over the
+crowd.
+
+Paco Gomez, being richer in resources than Ulysses, had written
+beforehand to some friends of his at Leon, suggesting that they should
+organise some rough music when Garnet and his bride passed that way.
+Everything was in readiness. Nevertheless the preparations would have
+come to naught had it not been for the treachery of Manuel Antonio, for
+on his arrival at Lancia he secretly made Paco acquainted with all that
+was taking place. Whereupon Gomez profited by the telegraphic
+communication, recently instituted, and put himself in communication
+with his followers. Fernanda was some time in realising that this
+excitement was on her account, but when some cries that reached her
+ears made her sensible of the fact she turned pale, her eyes dilated,
+and uttering a cry she threw herself against the little window with the
+intent of throwing herself out, but Garnet caught her by the waist. The
+young girl struggled for some moments in fury, but not being able to
+free herself from those strong bear-like arms, she threw herself back in
+the seat, covered her face with her hands, and burst into passionate
+sobbing.
+
+_Dios mio!_ Her sin had indeed been great, but what a fearful
+punishment!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+FIVE YEARS AFTER
+
+
+Five years have passed. The noble city of Lancia has changed little in
+appearance and still less in customs; several gilded cages in the form
+of gorgeous houses, built with Indian money round about the San
+Francisco Park; foot-ways in various streets that never had them in
+former times, three more lamps in the Plaza de la Constitucion; a
+supplementary municipal guard that owed its existence, less to the
+necessities of the service, than to the efforts of the justice of the
+peace, a fellow of excellent ideas almost entirely devoted to Venus, and
+whose propitiatory sacrifices to Vulcan were only made at the expense of
+the municipality; in the Bombe promenade a few bronze statues with
+falling drapery of which the erection caused great scandal, and the
+magistrate Saleta was informed at the Grandee's evening party that the
+half nude was a hundred times more suggestive than the complete; a few
+silver threads in the heads of our old acquaintances; and the radiant
+countenance of Manuel Antonio, the most fetching of all the sons of the
+famous city, showed signs that his beauty was on the wane, like a dream
+fading in the cold wind of morning, or snowdrops falling in the silence
+of a day in winter.
+
+The same vegetative, dull, sleepy life; the same gatherings in the
+shop-parlours, where the sweets of slander were regaled; and personal
+nicknames still weighed like lead upon the well-being of several
+respectable families. On sunny afternoons there were the same groups of
+clerics and military airing themselves in the Bombe. The great bells of
+the cathedral continued to peal at certain hours, when old lady-devotees
+were seen hastily wending their way to the service of the rosary, or
+nones, and the monotonous voice of the canons sounded solemnly in the
+silence of the old vaulted aisles.
+
+In Altavilla at the evening hour the eternal groups of youths still
+laughed and talked in loud tones still loth to let any pretty
+dressmaker, or plump servant-maid pass by without rendering them homage
+with their eyes or lips, and not seldom with their hands. And there in
+the heights of the firmament there were the same clusters of greyish
+clouds heaped together in solemn silence over the old cathedral to
+listen on melancholy autumn nights to the wind moaning through the high
+tin arrow on the tower. We are in November. The Conde de Onis was
+accustomed to ride on dull days as well as fine. The society of men
+pleased him less and less. His character had become more secretive and
+melancholy. Sin had destroyed the feeble germs of cheerfulness which
+nature had put in his heart. The gloomy, extravagant, fanatical
+temperament of the Gayosos had been increased by the incessant gnawing
+of remorse, his imagination was distorted, his slight activity
+enervated, and his whole existence darkened.
+
+People worried him. He imagined hostility in their glances, and he saw
+hidden meanings in their most innocent remarks that made his blood boil
+with rage. He never dared enter churches, nor fall on his knees as
+formerly before the bleeding crucifix in his mother's room. If he heard
+hell mentioned, he fled in terror. He gave plentiful alms to churches,
+and paid for Masses he never heard; he put candles before the images,
+and in the privacy of his chamber he puerilely amused himself in asking
+fate, by the tossing of money, whether he would be eternally damned or
+whether he would only go to purgatory. When he heard the chant of
+priests going to a funeral he grew pale, trembled and stopped his ears.
+At night he would suddenly jump up from sleep in a cold sweat, crying
+miserably: "There is nothing but death, nothing but death!" For some
+time he lived thus in almost utter retirement without going out more
+than he was made to by her, whose will ruled his own. But at last his
+suffering became too intense, and he feared his gloomy thoughts would
+upset his reason, so he took to riding or walking in the country until
+he was tired out. The physical fatigue relieved his mind, and the sight
+of nature soothed his tormented imagination.
+
+It was a dark, cold evening. The clouds pressed heavily upon the hills
+looking towards the north, and hid the high mountains of Lorrin that
+stretch like a distant curtain in the west. Heavy rains had fallen
+converting the low part of the town into a lagoon, and the roads, which
+went from thence, into seas of mud. In spite of this, the count ordered
+his horse to be saddled. He left Lancia by the Castilian Road, and
+galloped amid splashes of mud across meadows and chestnut woods. The
+yellow leaves of the trees shone like gold, a thousand little streams
+made their uncertain way down the base of the hill where the waters were
+deposited on the pasture land with its gentle soft green undulations. A
+darker fringe marked the stream of the Lora, which hides itself
+mysteriously under the osiers and thick lines of alder trees. The count,
+with his head thrown back and his eyes half closed, inhaled with delight
+the fresh humidity of the afternoon. The road flanked the hill in gentle
+decline. Before crossing it, and losing sight of the town, he stopped
+his horse and cast a look back. Lancia was a heap, albeit not large, of
+red roofs over which waved the dark arrow on the cathedral spire. Below
+was a yellow spot--the oak-wood of the Grange, and a little lower down
+were the old orange-coloured turrets of his solitary house. The rain had
+ceased. A cold wind dispersed the clouds and scattered them behind the
+mountains; the sky became clear with the pale blue of autumn days, and a
+few stars appeared like diamonds in the horizon. The trees, mountains,
+streams and verdure-clad valley shone indistinctly under the clearness
+of the twilight. The count again put his horse to a gallop and quickly
+descended the hill which hid Lancia from view. The wind affected his
+senses and whistled in his ears producing a sweet intoxication that
+dissipated the black clouds of his imagination. Along the muddy road he
+only met a stray herd of cattle with its driver, or a waggon drawn
+leisurely by oxen, in which the carter carelessly slept at the bottom.
+But before turning a corner he thought he heard the distant sound of
+wheels and bells. It was the coach that arrived at Lancia in the
+evening. As it passed by him, he cast an absent glance into the
+interior, two large shining eyes encountered his own, which gave him a
+sort of an electric shock. He quickly turned his head again, but there
+was nothing then to be seen but the back of the coach disappearing in
+the distance. He pulled the rein of his horse and followed it, but after
+a few moments in a stunned sort of way stopped ashamed, and went on with
+his ride.
+
+"It must be Fernanda." A passing, but very definite feeling told him the
+fact. Nevertheless he might be mistaken. He had heard no news of her
+arrival. He knew that she had been a widow for some months. Garnet had
+at last met his end like an ox from a fit of apoplexy. But at the same
+time everybody knew that the widow of the Indian bore a deadly hatred
+against Lancia ever since the humiliating practical joke that her
+compatriots had played on her at the time of her marriage. The fact of
+her not having come there at the death of her father the preceding year
+was a clear proof of it. The Count thought of all this for some minutes,
+and then put it from his mind, for his thoughts were changed by the
+sight of a dark thick cloud which presaged another storm. But something
+indefinite and sweet remained in his mind, which put him in a good
+humour. He turned the horse and arrived at Lancia very late in the
+evening, very tired, and covered with mud; but his heart was light and
+cheerful without his knowing why.
+
+Fernanda never hesitated for an instant. She saw him, and knew him so
+well, that she even noticed the marks that time and care had left upon
+his face. He seemed older, and she thought she saw silver streaks in his
+long red beard. At the same time she was agreeably impressed by the
+suffering, anxiety, and sadness that she read in the eyes that rested an
+instant upon her. The memory of her old _fiance_ had always remained
+green in the depths of her heart. Neither treachery, scorn, nor the
+thousand distractions to which she resorted in her frivolous, restless,
+Parisian life had been able to destroy it. If she had found happiness in
+the power of wealth and health, she would not have been open to that
+soft wave of sympathy which delighted her for an instant. In such
+perverse pleasure in the count's sadness there was the bitterness of the
+slighted woman, but there was also a certain breezy, vapourous feeling
+like hope, which sang and laughed in her soul, and dissipated the black
+thoughts which had accumulated in her mind. It was necessity, and not
+will which obliged her to return to Lancia where she had vowed never
+again to set her foot. Her husband had made a will in her favour, which
+his brothers had disputed, and the consequence was a lawsuit, which was
+soon given in her favour.
+
+She came accompanied by an old servant of her father's, whom she had
+made her _dame de compagnie_, and a majordomo. From Madrid she had
+telegraphed to a cousin who, with Manuel Antonio, two of the daughters
+of Mateo, and a few more friends were awaiting her arrival on the badly
+paved Place of the Post, where the diligence stopped. And then followed
+embraces, huggings and kisses, questions, exclamations and tears. The
+offended heiress of Estrada-Rosa never thought she could have felt so
+much pleasure in returning to her native place. In the ardour of their
+affection, her friends almost carried her off to her house. There they
+all left her with the exception of Emilita Mateo, to whom Fernanda
+signed to remain. Then the two friends, with their arms round each
+other's waists, went slowly up that wide polished staircase which
+Fernanda had so often trod as a child with bare feet. They soon shut
+themselves in the old library of Estrada-Rosa to enjoy an hour of sweet
+confidences. Amid smiles, kisses, and vows of eternal friendship the
+history of those five years was told. Fernanda talked of her late
+husband in a tone that lapsed from compassionate to depreciative, for
+she had lived with him in a state of antagonism of ideas and tastes that
+had kept them apart. She had been neither happy nor miserable. They had
+been five years of excitement, filled with crowded streets, splendid
+theatres, magnificent hotels, gorgeous dresses, many acquaintances, and
+not a single friend. Her husband devoted himself to the satisfaction of
+her fancies like some wild bear who obeys the whip of the keeper with
+growls. They had had one child that had died at four months old.
+
+The skittish Emilita was very unhappy in her marriage. Nunez had turned
+out a fast man. Fernanda knew something about it, but not much. It is
+not easy to go into certain significant details in letters. He began
+very well, but then he went wrong with bad companions; at first he took
+to gambling, then to drinking, then he went after women, and it was this
+last that Emilita felt so deeply. She had willingly pardoned him all the
+rest. She had borne his coming home drunk in the early hours of the
+morning, she had pawned her earrings and her mantilla for him, but she
+could not stand seeing him going into the house of a bad woman who lived
+in the Calle de Cerrajerias. On saying this the Pensioner's daughter
+burst into a torrent of tears. The sight of her trouble was the more
+distressing, as a piquant sort of cheerfulness had always been her
+peculiar characteristic. Fernanda caressed her tenderly and wept with
+her. After some minutes silence she said:
+
+"But do you go on loving him?"
+
+"Yes, girl, yes," she exclaimed with rage, "I cannot help it. I am more
+and more blindly in love."
+
+"Well, _por Dios_! Your poor father must be very much put out."
+
+"As you can imagine! And the worst of it is," she added, weeping
+bitterly, "that now he has returned to his mania against the army. He
+says awful things about soldiers! Yes, yes, awful! Directly I enter the
+house he begins going on, on purpose to annoy me. My sisters support
+him. They call us idle good-for-nothings, and say that the contingent
+ought to be reduced."
+
+Here the tender heart of the wife of Nunez was torn with sobs. Fernanda,
+who had also cried at the sight of her affliction, could not help
+smiling.
+
+"Your sisters, too?"
+
+"I should think so! They all--they all want it to be reduced!"
+
+When the daughter of Estrada-Rosa had shown her that the reduction of
+the land forces was not so easy as it seemed, her spirits gradually
+rose. Then they arranged a surprise for the Lancian society. Fernanda
+was to appear that evening without previous announcement at the house of
+Quinones. The idea filled them both with childish delight, and after
+concerting the details, Emilita went off, promising to return and fetch
+her friend. It was ten o'clock when they both mounted the stone steps,
+which were as damp as ever, of the large seignorial stairway of the
+Quinones. On arriving at the top, Emilita would not let the servant
+announce them, but opened the door herself, and pushed Fernanda in. She
+was an apparition calculated to throw all the guests into ecstasies. The
+daughter of Estrada-Rosa was resplendent in a most elegant dress from
+one of the first modistes of Paris. Her beauty, which her compatriots
+had only known in the bud, had blossomed during the five years of
+refined and elegant life into a magnificent rose. She had always been
+admired for the dignity of her bearing, the brilliancy of her large dark
+eyes, and the delicacy of her skin, but her beauty had acquired in Paris
+the necessary adjuncts of the most finished manners, and a perfect taste
+in dress--two distinctions she would never have attained in Lancia. Her
+black silk dress revealed her neck and shoulders, and a few strings of
+pearls, twisted in her hair, were all the ornaments she wore. Amalia was
+the first to see her, and the sight of her beauty caused a sudden chill
+at her heart, but she recovered herself immediately and ran to greet
+her.
+
+"Oh! I knew you had arrived, but I never thought you would be so kind
+as----"
+
+Their eyes met and that glance revealed the hatred that burned in the
+depth of their souls. But circumstances were changed. Five years ago
+Amalia had been the most elegant and distinguished lady of the place;
+the only one whose bearing and refinement of manners had raised her to a
+more cultivated and spiritual sphere. But Fernanda now had the advantage
+of her, for the former had visibly aged. Many silver threads were
+noticeable in her hair; her complexion, always pale, had lost its
+freshness; then her desire and taste for dress had palled, and she had
+gone on taking the tone of the ordinary commonplace society surrounding
+her, and so had become more and more careless of her appearance. A
+bitter smile wreathed her lips, as she exchanged the necessary greetings
+with Fernanda, who enjoyed her triumph with a grave, serene content.
+
+The ladies immediately surrounded her. There was a rush of kisses and
+embraces, accompanied with loud expressions of delight. The men, who
+formed a circle behind, also stretched out their hands and pressed that
+of the beautiful traveller. And between so many congratulatory and
+pleasant greetings, and either from forgetfulness or shame, nobody dared
+make any remark about the loss that the young girl had recently
+sustained, and so there was no allusion made to the cross old bear who
+slept his eternal sleep in a cemetery at Paris. When the excitement of
+the greetings had somewhat abated, Amalia took her smilingly by both
+hands and exclaimed as her eyes swept over her costume:
+
+"Do you know mourning is very elegant in Paris?"
+
+Fernanda made a _moue_ of disdain.
+
+"Dress is of little importance if mourning is in the heart," said Maria
+Josefa, whose tongue had grown considerably sharper in the five years
+that had passed.
+
+Fernanda's cheeks flushed red. She was as ashamed as if it were a crime
+at not feeling the loss of Garnet. Then, irritated by the sense of
+antagonism, she was on the point of showing her vexation; but she turned
+her back and began talking to some other ladies.
+
+At that moment the Conde de Onis came out of the library and advanced to
+greet her. She gave him her hand with an affectionate smile.
+Nevertheless, the dark circles round her eyes betrayed her emotion. To
+hide her feelings she went on to the library saying with assumed levity
+that she would leave them all as she much wished to see Don Pedro.
+
+The noble Grandee was sitting in his chair with the cards in his hand.
+His hair and his beard were white, but just as erect and fierce-looking
+as ever. His energetic features seemed more marked; his piercing eyes
+shone with a fiercer fire. Moving with difficulty his great athletic
+body, so helpless in the lower limbs, the lines of his face were
+distorted with an expression of ferocious impotence that inspired
+sadness and fear. But if he was broken down in body, his proud spirit,
+seemed only to assert itself the more remarkably. His respect for
+himself at bearing the name of Quinones increased every day, with his
+scorn for all other people born under the stigma of any other name.
+Being profoundly thankful to Heaven for the favour accorded him, he
+would have thought it a sin to envy other men the power of using their
+legs. What was the good of Juan Fernandez being able to walk, run and
+jump if, after all, he was only named Juan Fernandez? The only thing
+that troubled him sometimes was whether it was befitting the dignity of
+a Quinones to have utterly helpless extremities, and if it would not be
+preferable for them to participate in the glory of the rest of his body.
+But such unpleasant thoughts were put away by thinking that dead or
+alive, those extremities occupied a superior position in society.
+
+When Fernanda entered the library he fixed his eyes on her, and gave her
+a look, which took her in from head to foot. Neither the girl's beauty,
+nor bearing, singularly elegant as it was, seemed to please him, for he
+immediately turned to the cards and said in an insolent, patronising
+tone:
+
+"Holla, little one! Is it you? When did you arrive?"
+
+In spite of being offended at such a tone, Fernanda saluted him
+affectionately.
+
+"I am pleased to see you so well, dear," he continued, "and I take the
+opportunity of condoling with you. You know I have not written letters
+for years. I was sorry about Santos. Do you hear, Moro? Are you ever
+going to give me a decent card again? He was a good subject, an
+excellent neighbour, incapable of harming any one. You will not get
+another husband like him. He had one quality not easily met
+with--modesty. In spite of the money that he made he never pretended to
+go out of his sphere; he always showed himself respectful to his
+superiors. Was it not so, Saleta, that he was not one of those parvenu
+popinjays who, as soon as they hear the clink of money in their pockets,
+forget all about profits and percentage, as if they had never gone in
+for them. Valero, sit down and say if this trick will be mine. Have you
+come to settle here, child? or are you going back to the _franchutes_?"
+(francais).
+
+Fernanda, who was keenly alive to all the gall of this discourse, made a
+cold reply, and after a few words she returned to the drawing-room.
+
+Don Pedro was vexed by the stamp of elegance and distinction borne by
+the daughter of Estrada-Rosa. He was angry to think that any one could
+rise in their turn, albeit but a few degrees. He abhorred all that was
+foreign, especially Paris, where he imagined the Los Quinones had no
+especial prestige. He even suspected with horror that they were unknown
+there. But, as may easily be supposed, he put such a disagreeable idea
+out of his head. For if it took complete possession of his mind, what
+was left for the noble gentleman? Death, and nothing else.
+
+The party of _tresillo_ was composed of old acquaintances. Saleta, the
+great Saleta, whose lies went on flowing from his mouth so glibly and
+easily that he always had to go on lying. But Lancia almost lost in him
+one of its most magnanimous amusing fellows; for, retiring on a pension
+three years ago, he went and settled in the country, but he only stayed
+there one year, for he became homesick for Lancia, Quinones' gatherings,
+and, above all, the jokes of his colleague Valero; so he left the
+Gallician regions and came back to live with the Lancians. Valero,
+having become President of the Chamber, became every day more bombastic,
+noisy, and lisping. He was sitting on the left of the distinguished
+host. Facing him was Moro, the unattainable ideal of all the
+marriageable girls, whose indefatigable head easily stood twelve hours
+of _tresillo_ without any ill-effects, or fatigue. Of all the
+institutions created for men, the most solid and respectable is that of
+_tresillo_. It may well be compared to the immutable laws of nature, so
+unchangeable is its stability. It was as true to Moro that a spade is
+worth more than a club, as that falling bodies represent a movement
+uniformly accelerated. And there, in the dark corner of the room, the
+celebrated Manin was sleeping in the same armchair, with his short
+breeches, green jacket, and hob-nailed boots. His hair was grey, almost
+white, but that was not the worst of it, for the sad part was, that he
+was no longer regarded in the place as a fierce hunter, grown grey in
+contending with the bears of the mountains. That legend had gradually
+passed away. His compatriots were right: Manin was nothing but a country
+clown. His deeds of prowess were now a subject of joke, and he was
+looked upon as the old buffoon of the mad, illustrious Senor de
+Quinones.
+
+Fernanda managed at last to withdraw from the congratulations of her
+friends, and retired to a corner apart. She was sad. The hostility of
+the people of the house depressed her, but that was not the chief cause
+of her sadness, although she tried to think so. The real reason of it,
+ashamed as she was to confess it to herself, was Luis. The kind greeting
+of her old _fiance_ had suddenly awoke all her recollections, all her
+illusions, and all the joys and sorrows of old times that slumbered in
+the depth of her soul like birds amid the leaves of a tree. The
+agitation of her mind was intense, but nothing, or very little, betrayed
+itself in her grave and cold demeanour. Nevertheless, she felt a great
+shock when she heard the following words close to her ear:
+
+"How beautiful you have grown, Fernanda!"
+
+She had been so full of thought that she had not noticed the count had
+taken a seat by her side. Involuntarily she raised her hand to her
+heart, and she replied immediately with a smile:
+
+"Do you think so?"
+
+"Yes; and I am getting old, am I not?"
+
+She made an effort, and looked him straight in the face.
+
+"No; nothing but a few grey hairs in your beard, and rather a weary
+look."
+
+The trembling of her voice contrasted with the apparent indifference
+which she chose to give to her tone.
+
+The count instantly grew serious. He put his hand to his brow, and at
+the end of some moments, he replied in a gloomy tone, as if he were
+speaking to himself:
+
+"Weary! yes, that is the right word. Very weary! Weariness is exhaled
+from every pore."
+
+Then they were both silent. The count was plunged in profound meditation
+which brought a deep furrow to his brow. After a while he renewed the
+conversation by saying:
+
+"I saw you before I came here."
+
+"Where?" she asked with assumed surprise.
+
+"On the road. I went out this afternoon for a ride, and the post-chaise
+passed me. I knew you perfectly."
+
+"Well, I did not see you. I only recollect meeting two or three
+peasants, but I did not recognise anybody."
+
+On saying this a wave of crimson surged to her face in spite of herself.
+To hide her confusion she turned her head, and her eyes met those of
+Amalia, brilliant and steely, as they rested upon her. They looked at
+each other for an instant. The feline mouth of the Valencian was
+wreathed in a smile. Fernanda tried to respond by a similar one, but it
+was a failure. She turned again to the count, and talked of indifferent
+subjects, of theatres, music, and projects of travel.
+
+Nevertheless, Luis became more and more preoccupied; he seemed to lose
+his self-control, and talked at random, as if his thoughts were straying
+afar. He was silent for some moments, struggled to say something, moved
+his lips, but instead of their articulating what he wanted, they
+expressed something quite different, something trivial and ridiculous
+that he was ashamed of directly he had said it. Fernanda watched him
+attentively, regaining the calmness and self-possession that he was
+rapidly losing. She seemed absorbed in the conversation, describing her
+travelling impressions with naturalness, and expressing her opinions
+with unconcern, as if there had been nothing between them but an old
+and tranquil friendship. Finally, availing himself of an instant's
+silence, he summoned resolution to say:
+
+"When I approached you, you seemed very thoughtful. Of what were you
+thinking?"
+
+"I do not recollect. Of what would you have me think?"
+
+The count hesitated a moment; then encouraged by the gracious smile of
+his _ex-fiancee_, he ventured to say:
+
+"Of me."
+
+Fernanda looked at him in silence with playful curiosity, under which
+shone a delight impossible to hide. The count coloured up to the eyes,
+and he would gladly have cut his tongue out before having said those two
+fatal monosyllables.
+
+"All right," said the girl, jumping up from her chair. "_Au revoir_, I
+am glad to see you friendly."
+
+"Listen!"
+
+"What is it?" she said, turning back, as she was going away, and
+glancing at him with two smiling, malicious eyes that completed her
+conquest of him.
+
+"Pardon, if my words offended you."
+
+Fernanda tossed her head disdainfully and went off, exclaiming:
+
+"Repent sinner, or hell will have you!"
+
+"Hell!"
+
+This word, uttered at random, as a joke, gave him a sudden shock, and
+called him back again to the habitual tenor of his thoughts. All the
+Gayosos had lived under the influence of this baneful idea. But the
+terror of his ancestors seemed concentrated in his mind, tormenting and
+maddening him to a degree. Amalia had had a hard struggle to distract
+him for a little time from his scruples. Therefore, when she now signed
+to him to come to her she saw he moodily rose from his seat, and came
+towards her with slow, unwilling steps. She had too much tact and pride
+to show any vexation at the short conversation just held with his old
+_fiancee_. She received him with the same smile, speaking with her
+habitually assumed tone of cheerfulness, and she did not mention
+Fernanda's name. But her pallid lips contracted with anger every time
+his eyes turned towards the girl, which they often unwittingly did.
+
+A beautiful child with blue eyes and long fair hair now appeared at the
+door with a servant.
+
+"Oh, how late!" exclaimed the Senora de Quinones. "Why are you so late
+in bringing her, Paula?" she added severely.
+
+The servant replied that the child was so amused at playing: "Let them
+give to the kite," that she cried every time they wanted her to go to
+bed.
+
+"Are you not sleepy yet, my treasure?" said the lady drawing her to her,
+and passing her hand caressingly over her curls.
+
+The guests were very interested in the little creature, and she went
+from one to the other, receiving caresses from one and the other, and
+returning them with good-night kisses.
+
+"Good-night, Josefina. Until to-morrow, my treasure. Have you been good
+to-day? And has your godmother bought you a doll that shuts its eyes?"
+
+The count regarded her with tears in his eyes, whilst he made incredible
+efforts to master his emotion. He always felt the same when he saw the
+child. When his turn came he only brushed her fair cheek with his lips;
+but Josefina, with the fine instinct of children, who always know who
+loves them, threw her arms round his neck, and gave evidence of
+particular affection for him. Fernanda also regarded her with intense
+interest, with a curiosity so great, that she opened her eyes wide.
+Josefina was six years old, she had a creamy complexion, eyes of
+infinite sweetness, and something sad and delicate about her diminutive
+person. One detected at once her likeness to the count. When the child
+left him, his eyes met Fernanda's, and he was so embarrassed, that he
+took a seat farther off.
+
+Josefina was dressed with taste. The Senores de Quinones brought her up
+with every indulgence like an adopted child. This had been for some time
+the favourite topic of gossip in Lancia. The cost of her little hats was
+guessed at with the greatest interest; the number of her toys was
+commented upon, and calculations were made as to what her marriage _dot_
+would be. But such remarks ended by getting stale. It was only when the
+subject came up, that some sarcastic allusion was made, or some new
+discovery whispered. The child came to a stop before a group, in which
+figured Maria Josefa, the young lady with the long spiteful tongue, and
+Manuel Antonio, as beautiful as the first rays of morning.
+
+"Listen, Josefina; who do you love best--your godmother or your
+godfather?" asked he of the child.
+
+"My godmother," replied the child, without hesitation.
+
+"And who do you love most--your godfather or the count?"
+
+The child looked at him astonished with her large blue eyes, and a shade
+of distrust passed over them, as, with a frown on her beautiful brow,
+she returned:
+
+"My godfather."
+
+"But does not the count bring you lots of toys? Does he not take you in
+his carriage to the Grange? Has he not brought you the little waggon?"
+
+"Yes, but he is not my godfather."
+
+The group received this reply with a smile. They knew that the child
+lied, for Don Pedro was not a man to inspire any one with affection.
+
+"But I think the count is also your--fa--godfather."
+
+"No such thing. I have only one godfather," returned the child, now
+getting angry. And then she left the group.
+
+She then went to where Amalia was, and placing herself before her, she
+crossed her little arms upon her chest, and making a curtsey, said:
+
+"Godmother, your blessing."
+
+Whereupon the lady gave her her hand, which the child kissed with
+reverence. Then, taking her in her arms, she kissed her on the forehead.
+
+"You must go to bed, my daughter. Go and ask your godfather for his
+blessing."
+
+So the child went to the library. These old world customs were a great
+pleasure to the Senor de Quinones. Josefina approached him timidly. That
+great paralysed gentleman always inspired her with dread, although she
+tried to hide it according to her godmother's injunctions.
+
+"Senor, your blessing," she said in a subdued voice.
+
+The pompous old Grandee paid no attention, and looked at the cards he
+held in his hand, whilst wrapped in his grey cloak with the red cross,
+he seemed to grow bigger and bigger before the frightened eyes of poor
+Josefina. She thought that there was nobody in the world more immense,
+more imposing, and more worthy of respect than that noble senor; and Don
+Pedro shared the same opinion, so that all other beings with whom he
+came in contact seemed a chaotic mass, in which only two or three were
+possessed of any individual character. The child waited, with her little
+arms crossed, for about a quarter of an hour. At last the Senor de
+Quinones, after playing a good card, condescended to cast a severe look
+upon the child which turned her pale. He then stretched out his
+aristocratic hand with a gesture worthy of his namesake, Peter the Great
+of Russia, and Josefina pressed her trembling lips upon it and then
+withdrew. The bombastic old fellow was not quite pleased at his wife
+treating the little foundling with so much indulgence, but he consented
+because it flattered his vanity, for Amalia, knowing his weak point,
+said:
+
+"Treating her like a servant is what anybody would do in Lancia. We
+ought to do things in another fashion."
+
+So Don Pedro could not but see the weight of that undeniable truth.
+Josefina crossed the drawing-room to go to bed. As she passed by
+Fernanda, she caught her by the arm and dragged her to her. All the joy
+and love that filled her heart overflowed with vehemence upon the little
+creature whom she covered with kisses. She forgot all about her rival
+whom she considered defeated. She only thought that it was a child of
+his, his blood, his very image. And she kissed with ecstasy those blue,
+deep, melancholy, eyes, that creamy skin, and those yellow curls that
+surrounded her face like a golden aureole.
+
+"Oh, what beautiful hair! What beautiful curls!"
+
+And she pressed her lips on the child's head with so much feeling that
+she was not far from crying.
+
+At that moment a sharp, imperious voice sounded in her ears.
+
+"Not gone to bed yet! you naughty girl."
+
+And on raising her eyes, Fernanda saw Amalia with a pallid face and
+compressed lips, take the child roughly by the arm, and after giving her
+a sharp shake, she dragged her to the door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+AMALIA'S RAGE
+
+
+The next morning Paula, by command of the senora, took the child off to
+the ironing-room, sat her in a high chair, and asked a young girl, who
+was working at the window, for some scissors.
+
+"What are you going to do?" Josefina asked.
+
+"Cut your hair."
+
+"Why? I don't want my hair cut."
+
+Whereupon she got down from the chair with determination, but Paula
+turned back and put her up again.
+
+"Be quiet," she said severely.
+
+"I don't want to, I don't want to," she doggedly returned.
+
+"It is certainly a shame to cut such beautiful hair," said one of the
+girls who was ironing.
+
+"What do you mean, child? An order is an order."
+
+And taking hold of one of the precious curls of hair, she cut it off
+with the scissors.
+
+"Leave go, Paula!" cried the child, "I am going to tell godmother."
+
+"Yes, precious, go and tell your godmother, indeed? All right, you shall
+tell her when it is done."
+
+And paying no further heed to her protestations, and letting the words
+fall on deaf ears, she went on with the task quite undisturbed. But the
+child got down again, angry and furious. Then Paula called the
+sempstress Concha to her assistance, and she held her down on the chair
+until she was despoiled of every one of her curls, after which they
+arranged what was left as best they could.
+
+"What a pity!" said the laundress again.
+
+"It is not so bad, child," returned Paula, combing it with admiration.
+
+At that moment the senora appeared at the door of the room.
+
+"Godmother! come godmother! Look, Paula and Concha have cut my hair."
+
+Amalia advanced some steps, avoiding the child's gaze, fixed her stern
+eyes upon her head and said in an imperious and cold tone:
+
+"That is not right. Shave it off."
+
+And she went away with a frowning brow, whilst Josefina, astonished,
+followed her with her eyes. Never had she seen her godmother so cold and
+stern. She was sad and thoughtful, and remained thus without making the
+slightest movement, until Paula had accomplished her task.
+
+The little head was soon as smooth as a melon. The servants shouted with
+laughter.
+
+"Child of my soul! what have they been doing to you?" exclaimed Maria,
+the ironer, with a tone of regret, although she could not repress a
+smile.
+
+"Don't say that, woman," retorted Concha with a shade of bitterness.
+"Yes, she does look ridiculous."
+
+She was a woman of five-and-twenty or more, extremely small, almost as
+small as Josefina, with sharp, keen eyes, and all the servants were
+afraid of her.
+
+Paula laughed too and passed her hand over the little creature's head.
+
+"When we want a jar for the vinegar we shall know where to go for it,"
+continued Concha.
+
+The wave of pity passed away. Guessing that the child had fallen into
+disgrace, the servants became quite facetious, exchanging jokes which
+were not pretty, but which made them nearly die of laughter. Josefina
+remained with her head down, quiet and silent. Then the jokes began to
+take effect, and two tears dropped from her long eyelashes.
+
+"Crying for your little wig? What a shame to hurt her! It is not your
+fault, but theirs who brought you up like a princess, when you are only
+like us, and less than us," she added in a low tone, "for we have got
+fathers."
+
+"Come, Concha, drop that! Don't fret the little monkey, you will soon
+have fresh hair," said Maria, in a maternal tone.
+
+The child, touched by the kindness, began to sob and left the room.
+
+When she entered the drawing-room in the evening like that, the count
+could not repress a gesture of anger, and cast an interrogative glance
+at Amalia, who replied to the gesture and look with a provoking smile.
+And in a loud voice she said that the child's hair had been cut by her
+orders, for she had noticed that she was beginning to be vain. It is so!
+and people flatter her so much that she has become unmanageable.
+
+The count, enraged, immediately took the opportunity of repairing to
+Fernanda's side, where he renewed the conversation of the previous
+evening. The two were loquacious and affectionate. Fernanda related her
+life in Paris with no lack of details; and Luis was particularly
+expansive, not hiding the cheerfulness of his heart, and talking with
+animation in spite of Amalia's angry glance fixed upon him. During a
+pause, Fernanda raised her smiling eyes to her _ex-fiance_ and asked
+him, but not without a slight blush:
+
+"Don't you know why the child's hair has been cut?"
+
+The count looked at her without replying.
+
+"Because I praised it yesterday, and allowed myself to kiss it."
+
+It was the first time that Fernanda took his secret for granted. He
+felt a great shock; his face grew red, and so did hers. For some time
+neither of them could speak.
+
+During the following days the count often walked down the Calle de
+Altavilla, and he spent a great deal of time in the Cafe de Maranon.
+Lancian society was moved to its very foundation at such an important
+turn of events, and henceforth he was an object of interest to three
+hundred pairs of eyes. He gave up going every day to the Quinones'
+house, and went occasionally to the de Meres' little party, as it
+continued to be called in Lancia, although only one of the old ladies
+was now left in this world. Carmelita had died at least three years ago.
+Only Nuncia the youngest was left, and she was quite paralytic. From the
+armchair to the bed, and from the bed to the armchair was all that she
+could manage with great difficulty. She was also deprived of moral
+support, as in her sister she lost her protector from impulse. Since she
+was buried there was no one to keep her in order. With the sudden
+promotion to the category of persons _sui juris_, the poor "child" was a
+prey to great distress, everything worried her, everything was an
+insuperable difficulty. Those sharp scoldings had been less overwhelming
+to her, for if they had caused tears, they had been salutary in checking
+her juvenile ebullitions, and so prevented the fatal consequences
+attending her inexperience. Her guests were a few youths, and several
+young men of our acquaintance, with a sufficient number of graceful,
+pretty damsels who came to the house on the look out for a husband. For
+the "child," in this, and in every respect, kept up religiously the
+traditions bequeathed by her sister. She was the firm protector of all
+the courtships that arose in Lancia, however ill-advised they might be.
+The little house of the Calle del Carpio continued to be the forge,
+where the conjugal happiness of the worthy neighbours of Lancia was
+forged. The most constant visitor was Paco Gomez, because the house of
+the Quinones was closed to him in consequence of one of his remarks. A
+certain stranger meeting him in Altavilla with a few others asked him
+how the Grandee came to be paralysed.
+
+"He is not really paralysed," returned Paco, for he is not disabled at
+all, only his legs can't put up with all the heraldry stuff that he has
+got in his head, and so they double up rather than take a step.
+
+This came to Quinones' ears through a traitor, and he gave orders he was
+henceforth not to be received. He was the soul and the delight of the
+"child's" party, and the incessant way he made fun of Nuncita kept all
+the guests in a fit of laughter.
+
+"I say, Nuncita, look! Don't talk too much, for do you know I saw your
+leg, and--and--and----"
+
+The poor octogenarian blushed like a girl of fifteen. Nothing could have
+confused her more than this inopportune reference to the afternoon of
+the swing. Luis and Fernanda took to seeing each other there once or
+twice a week. Away from the angry eyes of Amalia, the count found it
+very pleasant, and he recovered his serenity of mind. They had long
+talks in a low voice without being disturbed by anybody. On the contrary
+the "child" took good care to give them room and opportunity.
+Nevertheless, he still visited at the Quinones' house, and he saw Amalia
+secretly when she demanded it, but he was evidently colder and more
+distant. She was perfectly aware of the change, but she did not show her
+colours, and she did not mention his _ex-fiancee_. However, one day she
+could not help doing so.
+
+"I know that you spend a great deal of time at the de Meres' talking
+with Fernanda."
+
+He denied it in a cowardly fashion.
+
+"Take care what you do," she continued, fixing her eyes on him, "for
+treachery may cost you dear."
+
+He was so accustomed to the dominion of this terrible woman that the
+words sent a chill through him, as if some misfortune were hanging over
+his head. But when he came out into the street, away from the magnetic
+influence of those eyes that upset him, he was conscious of an impotent
+feeling of rage. "Why, after all, should she threaten me? Is she my
+wife? What right has she to me? What we are doing is a grave sin, it is
+a crime. Who can deprive me of repentance, of reconciling myself with
+God and being good?" Repentance had latterly been to him a vague desire
+due to his love being on the wane, and to his great fear of hell. Now it
+had changed into a real wish. Certainly it offered several attractions.
+He would renounce the sin bravely, purify himself, free himself from
+eternal fire--and then have Fernanda.
+
+For some time past there had been only one bright spot in his criminal
+connection with Amalia--and that was Josefina. This little creature,
+white and silent as a snow-drop, sweet as a lily with the innocence of a
+dove, and the tender melancholy of a moonlight night, was like a
+delicious, refreshing balsam to his soul--a prey to remorse. How often,
+when holding her in his arms, he had asked with surprise how such an
+innocent, pure, divine being could be the child of sin. But that same
+child caused him fresh cruel torments. Never to see her alone, from day
+to day, to be obliged to hide his affection for her, to have to kiss her
+coldly like the others, and more coldly than the others, not to be able
+to call her the child of his heart, not to hear her lisp the tender name
+of father, sometimes saddened him to a point of despair. On one or two
+occasions he had been allowed to take her to the Grange. Then he passed
+hours in ecstasy, holding her on his knees, and caressing her
+passionately.
+
+The child had become accustomed to these violent expressions of
+affection and she liked them. Sometimes she felt her fair head wet with
+the tears of her friend. Raising her eyes in surprise she would see him
+smile, then smiling too, she would reach up her coral lips for a kiss.
+
+"Why are you crying, Luis? Have you a pimple?"
+
+Josefina knew no more serious reason in the world for crying. She loved
+Luis dearly, and his general coldness saddened and surprised her. By
+degrees she had come to understand with precocious instinct, that the
+count loved her more than the others did, but he had to hide his
+feelings. So she, following his example, also adopted an indifferent
+manner with him when in public. But when they were alone, she
+reciprocated his expressions of affection with equal enthusiasm, and
+this without knowing why, without accounting to herself for what she
+did.
+
+From the day her godmother ordered her hair to be cut, Josefina noticed
+that she had fallen into disgrace. She was not now kissed with
+transports of delights, her slightest wishes were not acceded to, and
+she was no longer the constant source of interest in the house.
+
+Amalia took to scolding her, using a cold, displeased tone towards her,
+and the servants followed the example of the senora. The poor child,
+without knowing what the change signified, felt her little heart sink,
+she explored the faces of those about her with her beautiful deep eyes,
+and tried to decipher the enigma that they hid. She became daily more
+grave, more retiring, more timid. And as she found she was denied the
+toys or the sweetmeats that they used to lavish upon her open-handed,
+she left off asking for them.
+
+Amalia, instead of delighting as formerly in her infantile ways,
+appeared to avoid them, she gave orders she was not to be brought to her
+bed in the morning as usual. When they met on the stairs, she passed by
+without looking at her. At the most she would go up to her and say in a
+displeased tone:
+
+"You have not washed yourself yet. Go, see you are put right." Or else,
+"They tell me you did not know your catechism lesson. You are getting
+very idle. Take care and be good, because if not I shall lock you in the
+cellar with the rats."
+
+She had formerly busied herself in teaching her, in putting the needle
+into her hand, and guiding her little fingers. Now she almost always
+left this task to the servants. She lived in a state of gloomy
+preoccupation which did not escape the domestics' notice. Josefina also
+was conscious that her godmother was changed, not only with regard to
+herself, but in her whole manner of life. And so her mind gradually
+conceived the idea that she was sad, and that she was suffering, and
+that this was the cause of her bad temper. One day the lady was alone in
+her room. She had flung herself in an armchair and sat motionless with
+her head thrown back and her hands hanging down, apparently asleep.
+Nevertheless, Josefina, who passed by the room, and ventured to look
+through the crack of the door, noticed that her eyes were open, very
+open, and that she was frowning dreadfully. Without knowing what she
+did, with the blind confidence that children have in themselves, she
+pushed open the door and entered the room. She went silently up to the
+senora, and throwing herself suddenly on to her lap, and looking at her
+with timid affection, she said:
+
+"Give me a kiss, godmother."
+
+The lady was startled.
+
+"How is it you are here? Who gave you permission to come in? Have I not
+told you not to come up without you are called?" she asked, frowning
+still more severely.
+
+"I want to give you a kiss," said Josefina in a subdued voice.
+
+"Don't bother me with kisses, and mind you don't come up again without
+permission."
+
+But the child, overwhelmed with emotion, not knowing to what to
+attribute this moroseness, and wishing to overcome it at all costs,
+began to cry, as she threw herself once more upon her lap and tried to
+reach her face.
+
+"Give me a kiss, godmother."
+
+"Go! leave me!" replied the lady, preventing her raising herself higher.
+
+The child was obstinate.
+
+"Don't you love me? Give me a kiss."
+
+"Go away, child!" she cried, in a fury. "Go away, at once!"
+
+At the same time she gave her a hard push, and Josefina fell on to the
+ground where her head came against the leg of a chair.
+
+She got up, raising her hand to where she was hurt, but she did not cry.
+A feeling of dignity, often shown by childish hearts, gave her strength
+to keep from crying, although her eyes were filled with tears. She cast
+one look of unspeakable sadness on her godmother, and then ran from the
+room. When she reached the staircase, she threw herself down on one of
+the steps and burst into a fit of sobbing.
+
+The thorns of life were indeed piercing the delicate flesh of that child
+whose path until then had been strewn with flowers. Amalia's spite grew
+worse every day, and the reserve and timidity of the child increased in
+proportion. But as she was only a child, this sadness would vanish when
+under the impulse of a fancy, and it was at such moments that the
+coldness and spite of the lady were most evident.
+
+"Senora, Josefina does not want to put on her green frock."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"She says it is dirty."
+
+Amalia then rose, repaired to the child's room, took her by the arm, and
+shaking her roughly, she said:
+
+"What is this pride? Don't you know, silly, that you are only here out
+of pity? Take care and don't vex me, or one day, when least expected, I
+will put you in the street where you came from."
+
+The servants heard these words and always bore them in mind. Until now
+Josefina had been brought up like a child of the senores, now she was
+treated like an illegitimate child, and afterwards like a little pariah.
+The servants now took pleasure in paying off the little attentions they
+had been formerly obliged to accord her, and the sharp rebukes they had
+incurred on her account.
+
+Concha in particular, the dwarfish maid, felt an indescribable delight,
+peculiar to her malignant, spiteful character, every time that the
+senora evinced in any way her scorn for the adopted child. Josefina had
+a large, cheerful room looking on to the garden. Although Concha was
+head maid and dressmaker of the house, she had a duller room that she
+shared with Maria looking on to the street. Josefina's room had always
+been an object of envy to her. More than once she had given strong hints
+on the subject; and now, profiting by her mistress's state of mind, she
+got permission to sleep in the child's room under the pretext that
+Paula, who occupied the next bed, snored so loudly. So she installed
+herself comfortably there, and made use of the little girl's toilet
+things. A few days later she sent her to sleep with Maria without saying
+a word to her mistress. When Amalia did know of it, it had been going on
+for some time, and she heard it without any resentment at not having
+been told before, and she did nothing to alter what had been done.
+
+Soon after, she thought of another means of degrading the child.
+Josefina dined at table with the senores. The pompous old Grandee had
+not consented to this at first, but he at last conceded to the
+importunities of his wife. Concha, full of spite like her senora, set to
+intriguing to deprive the foundling of this privilege. Exaggerating what
+it gave to do, the mess that it made, and the disturbance of the waiting
+at table, the little girl was finally removed to, and located at, a
+little table, which was put in the ironing-room near the kitchen. A few
+days after Amalia, in a fit of bad temper, said that the double service
+could not be tolerated, and that she was to dine in the kitchen with
+the servants. Concha sat her on a stool, pushed her a plate of thick
+soup and a tin spoon saying: "Eat."
+
+The child raised her head in amazement, but seeing the malignant smile
+in the girl's eyes, she put it down again, and began to eat without any
+protest whatever. Concha was not pleased at this, for she wanted to see
+her rebel and cry.
+
+"What is it? Don't you like your spoon? Then, child, you'll have to eat
+with it as I do, who am quite as good as you. What do you take yourself
+for, you little fool? Do you think because you wear a fine hat and a
+cambric chemise you are a young lady? Young ladies don't come in a
+basket covered over with dirty rags." And so she went on, bursting into
+sarcastic, insulting laughter until poor Josefina at last began to cry.
+Although the other servants were not so malignant, they were pleased at
+the child's humiliation. They ended by taking her part, whilst Concha,
+relentless and colder and harder than marble, went on persecuting her
+with the greatest cruelty. A few days later, as Josefina was passing
+through the ironing-room to the dining-room, she heard Concha say to
+Maria:
+
+"I say, girl, have you ironed the foundling's clothes?"
+
+She stopped, not knowing of whom they were speaking, and cast an anxious
+look from one servant to the other, until a simultaneous shout of
+laughter from them both made her understand that they were speaking of
+her.
+
+"Why do you call me a foundling?" cried the innocent child, with
+difficulty repressing her tears. "I will go and tell my godmother."
+
+"Go run and tell her," returned Concha pushing her to the door.
+
+And henceforth she went by that name among the servants. Amalia
+prohibited her being brought into the drawing-room in the evening. The
+count, whose only chance of seeing his child was on these occasions,
+asked for an explanation, and the lady replied that as she had to get
+up early for her lessons, she required more sleep; but he did not feel
+satisfied. He knew that some harm was brewing, but fearing a worse evil
+he had the sense to be silent.
+
+Then Amalia thought of a more direct way of wounding the count. The
+child whom she had not only deprived of her caresses, but of all her
+position in the house, was in a fair way to be an extra little servant.
+In one instant the transformation was completed. The senora gave orders
+for all her hats and clothes to be put on one side, and for her to be
+dressed in the poorest, oldest things out of the press; that she was to
+be treated like the rest of the servants, and perform little offices in
+the kitchen that were within her power.
+
+The courtship of Fernanda and the count was getting more conspicuous
+every day. Although they abstained from talking intimately in the house
+of Quinones before the jealous Valencian, she was not oblivious to what
+was going on. Her eyes, like two rays of light, seemed to pierce her
+lover's brain and read what was there: Luis was in love with his old
+betrothed. The adulterous connection weighed on his mind like a heavy
+stone. She, the loved and preferred of former days, was now old and
+faded beside that splendid rose who had just reached perfection. If he
+had not given her up already, it was through his weakness of character,
+through the powerful ascendant she had managed to get over him during
+the seven years of their _liaison_. But he wanted nothing better than to
+break with her. She read it perfectly in his furtive glances, and in the
+gloomy abstraction that weighed upon him, in his sudden, unnatural
+cheerfulness, in his fear and servility which increased every time he
+came near her. One evening the count asked for a glass of water. A
+sudden light came into Amalia's eyes--the longed-for moment had arrived.
+She pulled the bell, and said in a peculiar tone to the maid who
+answered it:
+
+"Paula, send a glass of water."
+
+A few minutes afterwards Josefina came in, poorly clad, with a little
+coarse linen apron, and shod with rough shoes. Her little hands had
+difficulty in carrying a tray with water, and sugar, and sugar-tongs.
+The guests were astounded, and Luis turned pale. The child advanced to
+the middle of the room looking timidly at her godmother, who signed to
+her to go to the count. The count staggered as if he had had a blow, but
+seeing the little creature standing before him, he hastened to take the
+glass, and raised it with trembling hand to his lips. Amalia's eyes
+meanwhile looked cold and indifferent, but the imperceptible trembling
+of her lips betrayed the cruel delight she was feeling. A significant
+silence pervaded the gathering whilst this scene was being enacted.
+
+Directly Josefina had left, the Senora de Quinones explained this change
+to her guests with perfect naturalness. Some punishment had been found
+necessary for the arrogance that the child had taken to showing towards
+the servants. It would not be for long. Nevertheless, it was a daily
+struggle with the will of Quinones, who objected to her being brought up
+with so much indulgence.
+
+"The fact is," she concluded in a tone so natural that it would have
+reflected credit on an actress--"the fact is, sometimes I am obliged to
+put her in her place in my house. What good is it to raise her to a
+position she cannot maintain? Any day we may die, and the poor thing
+will have to support herself by work, if she does not find a husband
+before then. And what husband would take a girl with many requirements,
+and no money?"
+
+The guests were not deceived. She really did not expect that they would
+be. All that was a pure sop to conventionality, but nobody was deceived
+as to the real facts. The count left soon after, being unable to control
+his vexation.
+
+"This business of Luis is not going on very well," said Manuel Antonio
+to a little party going home by the Calle de Altavilla consisting of
+Maria Josefa, the Pensioner, and his daughter Jovita. "If ever the
+marriage of Fernanda does come to anything, it will be at the cost of
+much unpleasantness."
+
+"Do you think so?" asked Maria Josefa, to draw him out.
+
+"_Madre!_ Are you mad, woman? Don't you know Amalia as well as I do?"
+
+"And what has Amalia to do with Luis' marriage?" asked Jovita, to whose
+maidenhood simplicity seemed befitting in spite of her two-and-thirty
+years.
+
+"Ay! It is true there is this little girl here," exclaimed the
+Chatterbox with comic, mocking gestures. "I did not think of that!
+Nothing, nothing, little monkey; go on in front, these are matters for
+grown-up people."
+
+The Pensioner's daughter was pricked to the quick at this remark and
+made an insolent retort. Manuel Antonio repaid it with another, and a
+regular quarrel was started, in which bitter pointed words were banded
+and it lasted as far as the house of the Pensioner, who had made
+fruitless efforts to re-establish peace between them. As usual, the
+Chatterbox got the best of it, for his remarks combined the vigour of a
+male with the subtle spite of a female.
+
+The next day the count had an interview with Amalia in which he
+expressed his vexation at the scene of the preceding evening. The lady
+was amiable and condescending, and justified her conduct by its being
+for the welfare of the child. But Luis noticed that she spoke in a
+peculiar manner, and he detected a tone of bitterness and irony in her
+words that astonished him. He left her in a preoccupied and uneasy frame
+of mind, and for some days he could not shake off the unpleasant
+impression of the interview. But his love was rapidly taking possession
+of every corner of his soul and finally conquered even that
+preoccupation. He was profoundly in love. And as it always happens his
+timidity increased in proportion to his love. At first he seemed serene
+and courteous in his long conversations with Fernanda, losing no
+opportunity of demonstrating his admiration and devotion to his
+_ex-fiancee_. But he suddenly lost his _aplomb_, and he shunned all
+reference to his own feelings; and he avoided all gallant remarks, but
+Fernanda was not deceived. This love had at last come after the lapse of
+all that time. Ah! how many tears it had cost her!
+
+Although their conversations were on commonplace subjects, they had a
+delicate, exquisite savour. They talked for hours and hours without
+being tired, and for the pleasure of being near to, and listening to,
+each other. Fernanda chatted in all the joy of her heart without minding
+the timidity of her adorer, and with the enjoyment of seeing the puerile
+pains he took to avoid his confession of love, knowing that she could
+have him at her feet directly she gave the sign. The moment came at
+last. One day the beautiful widow determined to declare herself. They
+were talking of marriage and second marriages. Luis began to get
+excited, and to give his opinion in a trembling voice, trying to change
+the conversation. Suddenly Fernanda said with perfect calmness and in a
+determined tone:
+
+"I shall not marry a second time."
+
+He turned pale. His face became so sad that the girl, repressing a smile
+with difficulty, repeated the remark with still greater decision:
+
+"I shall not be led into a second marriage--unless it be with you."
+
+The count gazed at her in delight.
+
+"Is it really so?" he finally asked, in a trembling voice.
+
+"Yes, it is really so!" she returned, looking at him with a smile.
+
+"Give me your hand, Fernanda."
+
+"Take it, Luis."
+
+They held each other's hands affectionately for some moments. Then the
+count rose without saying another word. When he arrived home he wrote
+her a long letter of six pages, describing his passion in the most
+glowing colours, giving her fervent thanks, and three or four times
+calling himself an unworthy fellow. The marriage was arranged to take
+place at the end of the year of mourning, of which there were still two
+months to run. They decided to keep the matter secret, and not to have
+the ceremony in Lancia. A few days before the wedding-day she was to go
+to Madrid, where he would join her, and there at the capital they were
+to be united for ever.
+
+It is very difficult in little towns to hide anything, and to conceal a
+projected marriage is impossible. Every pair of eyes and every pair of
+ears seemed magnified to a hundred, so intensely were sight and hearing
+concentrated on the couple. By their gait, looks, and manner of
+greeting, and leaving each other, the ingenious Lancians guessed by
+veritable magic of what the couple was thinking, and they calculated
+exactly the progress of the affair that excited such interest in them.
+
+As Manuel Antonio was passing the old-world dwelling of the count, he
+saw a maid come out with a cardboard box in her hand. The Chatterbox at
+once scented a wedding, so he took breath and followed her.
+
+"How do you do, Laura?" he said, passing her. Then turning quickly, he
+said in a careless sort of way:
+
+"How is your master?"
+
+"The senor is not ill."
+
+"Ah! But I was told--well, have not seen him for two days. Are you going
+shopping for the senora?"
+
+"They are shirts for the senor conde."
+
+"From Ramiro's? Let me see them, as I have to get some too."
+
+The maid opened the box, and the Chatterbox examined the contents.
+
+"They are very fine; they would be too dear for me."
+
+"Yes, senor, they are dear, and yet the senor does not think they are
+good enough. He wants them of silk, at whatever cost, and although I
+have been to every shop I can't get them. There is nothing for it but to
+order them."
+
+"Of silk? _Madre!_ Then he is going to be married!"
+
+"I don't know about that, senorito," the maid hurriedly replied, with
+signs of confusion.
+
+"Get along, little hypocrite!" he returned, laughing; "you know as well
+as I do, as well as everybody. And when is it to be?"
+
+"I tell you I know nothing."
+
+But the Chatterbox insisted so much, and was so eloquent and familiar,
+that after some time the servant let out what she knew.
+
+"But look here, I cannot tell you anything for certain of what is going
+on, but I think he will marry shortly, from some remarks I heard the
+other day of the senora countess."
+
+"What remarks?"
+
+"She said to the housekeeper that when her son married she would go for
+a time to the Grange, and afterwards, looking through the keyhole, I saw
+her crying. Then Fray Diego was in the house the day before
+yesterday--but I don't know whether I ought to say."
+
+"Get along, woman; what does it matter. Do you think I am a gossip?"
+
+"Well, I heard him say when he was leaving: 'No, no, they are quite
+right, it is much better for them to do it in Madrid. This is a very
+spiteful place.'"
+
+The pleasure that Columbus felt at the discovery of the New World was
+nothing in comparison to that of our Chatterbox. He not only knew
+without any kind of doubt, that they were going to be married, but he
+had ascertained where the ceremony was to take place. Overwhelmed with
+such splendid news, and wishing to pour it forth to somebody, he
+stopped to consider where it would have the most effect. His thoughts
+went straight to Amalia; so to the Palace of Quinones he directed his
+mincing little steps.
+
+It was the hour of twilight. The senora was sitting in her boudoir,
+doubtless absorbed in one of those intense, mournful meditations to
+which she had for some time been a prey. Manuel Antonio was jovial and
+chatty, and set about cheering her up as much as possible, making the
+blood circulate with renewed energy in that ulcerated heart, so that the
+shock should be more painful when it came. He asked for chocolate, and
+they took it together with pleasant conversation. Amalia seemed to
+forget her worries, and when she was just becoming quite cheerful, zas!
+the bomb fell. But it fell gently, with that infinite art known only to
+men endowed with a feminine mind.
+
+The only thing he regretted was not being able to see her face. The room
+was almost dark. But he was quite conscious of the gravity of the
+explosion by the sound of her voice and the coldness of her hand as she
+bade him good-bye. Amalia remained standing for a long time, rigid and
+motionless. She leaned against the heavy curtain to look into the
+street, and measured the height of the drop. She tried to open her desk
+to get a bottle of essence, but she turned the key too roughly and
+hampered the lock. Then she left the room and wandered about the dark
+passages and staircase in a vague, uncertain way like a phantom. Then,
+far away, she saw a point of light, and involuntarily made her way to it
+like a moth.
+
+It was the dining-room, and seated at the table playing with some little
+clay shepherdesses, the remains of past possessions, was Josefina. The
+shade of the lamp concentrated a bright light upon the little head,
+round and yellow as an orange. Amalia stopped an instant and looked at
+her with an ardent gaze, devouring that grave melancholy face which bore
+such a striking resemblance to Luis. She made a step, and the child
+turned her head. The expression of her blue eyes was equally sweet and
+sad, and the movement of her eyelashes the same. The wife of the Grandee
+covered the distance between them with two steps, and fell upon her like
+a hungry tiger. She struck, bit, and tore her, and that open face soon
+bore large purple marks from her hands, and blood began to flow. The
+child, mad with fear, uttered piercing cries. She had scarcely had time
+to see her godmother, and she did not know what had happened. Amalia,
+insatiable, went on striking and hurting. The cries of the victim
+increased her fury; at last she paused.
+
+"Godmother, what are you doing?" exclaimed the poor child, running into
+a corner.
+
+This question, and the look of anguish which accompanied it, infuriated
+the lady afresh, and she beat her again unmercifully. The little
+creature covered her face with her hands. Then she caught her by the
+ears and nearly dragged them off. Not satisfied with that, and angry at
+not being able to hurt her face, she took up a feather broom that was on
+the table, and hit her sharply on the hands with the handle, leaving
+them black and blue. At last the child managed to escape. The servants
+who had gathered to witness the scene with astonishment, let her pass
+and run down the passages to the staircase. The street door was open.
+The coachman on taking the horses to water, had left it so. Josefina
+went out of the house, fled down the street of Santa Lucia, passed under
+the archway of Santa Barbara, crossed the Archbishop's Square and so to
+the gate of San Joaquin, to the Sarrio Road.
+
+Evening had closed in. A fine but very fast rain was falling, which soon
+made her wet to the bones. The wretched little creature ran for some
+time, and at last stopped from sheer fatigue. The side wall of the road
+being low at that part, she sat down, and then began to feel the pain
+from the blows. She put her hands to her head, then to her face, from
+which she felt a hot liquid pouring that she thought at first was rain.
+She soon saw it was blood. Blood! the thing in all the world of which
+she had the greatest fear! Still a prey to terror, she did not moan. She
+took a fold of her little frock and dried herself, or rather she washed
+her face, for the frock was wet; but what she felt most, and what hurt
+her in a horrible way, were her hands. Not knowing what to do to
+alleviate the pain she began to blow on them. Then she sucked them. But
+the pain was so intense that at last she exclaimed, sobbing:
+
+"Oh! my hands!"
+
+At this moment there arose before her, amid the shadows of the night,
+two enormous figures that froze her with horror. One of them stooped
+down and took her by the arm.
+
+"What are you doing here?" he said, in a rough voice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE BARON'S JUSTICE
+
+
+In a large room in the dreary house of the los Oscos, furnished with
+four old pieces of furniture, and carpeted with two inches of dust, two
+of our acquaintances in this story were seated at an oak table. One was
+the baron, the master of the house, the other, his friend Fray Diego.
+They had an empty jar of gin before them, another half full, and some
+drinking-cups.
+
+Neither table-cloth, table-cover, nor tray were there. The table was
+only covered with many-shaped stains of gin and wine, which, in happy
+conjunction with the dust, had been left during the course of years and
+months. The room is dull because the Calle del Pozo is dull, and the
+dirty window-panes have not been cleaned for years, and the evening is
+closing in.
+
+By the little light that penetrated, it could be seen that the faces of
+both men were excessively red, so red that it seemed wonderful that
+blood did not burst from their bloodshot eyes. The baron had arrived at
+the apotheosis of fiery and fearful ugliness. The crimson scar across
+his cheek stood out so sharp and black with corrugations, that it was
+fearful to see it. His fierce, waxed moustache was more white than
+black. He was dressed in black sheep skin, and he had a red flat cap on
+his head, of which the great tassel fell sometimes over his ears and
+sometimes over his nose, according to the movement of the ogre-like
+body. They were silent for some time. Fray Diego occasionally raised
+his hand to the bottle of gin, filled his friend's glass, then his own,
+which he gravely drank at one draught. The baron was not so quick; he
+took his glass, raised it to the level of his eyes, and made a series of
+faces at it, which were sometimes horrible to witness. Then he touched
+it with the edge of his lips, made faces again, touched it again, and
+finally, after many attempts and vacillations, decided to swallow it. It
+was in this grave, quiet way that the two old soldiers spent nearly
+every evening of the year. The town knew it, and it was a subject of
+bets with the jocose inhabitants which of the two would die first from
+apoplexy. Fray Diego had served in the ranks of the Pretender. Then he
+became a friar and went to the Philippines, and finally he left the
+monastic rule, and lived in Lancia as an independent priest. They had
+not known each other during the war, but when they came to Lancia they
+became united with indissoluble ties of friendship by their ideas being
+the same, by the recollection of the glorious battles in which they had
+taken part--and by the gin.
+
+"Long live the Pope, the head of all the kings of the earth!" exclaimed
+Fray Diego after a long silence, in which they both appeared to be
+asleep. At the same time he gave a great thump to the table which made
+all the glasses and bottles ring.
+
+The baron took hardly any notice. He went on winking at the glass he had
+before him, and after swallowing the contents very leisurely, and
+licking his lips three or four times, he said:
+
+"Gently, gently, Fray Diego! You don't know what the Popes are."
+
+"Long live the Pope, the head of all the kings of the earth!" repeated
+the cleric, giving a still louder thump upon the table.
+
+"Take care, Fray Diego! The Popes have always been very ambitious."
+
+"Senor baron!" exclaimed the priest in a voice so emphatic as to be
+comic; "you have a soul as ugly as your face!"
+
+The baron was unmoved at the insult, and after a time he said, with
+perfect tranquillity:
+
+"Don't be a fool. What has my face to do with the matter? I am catholic,
+apostolic, Roman; but if to-morrow the king our senor" (here he raised
+his hand to his cap) "were to send me with a detachment to Rome, I would
+go like the Constable of Bourbon, sack it, and take the Pope."
+
+"And I say that if his Holiness sent me to put a bayonet through the
+stomach of that constable, you may be sure I would put two."
+
+"No."
+
+"How no?" roared the chaplain, getting in a rage.
+
+"Because the constable died three centuries ago."
+
+"I am glad of it, for he has then been burning three centuries in hell."
+
+"All this is very well, _Pater_, but the king is always to the fore, and
+others have only to be silent and obey."
+
+"The Pope is never silent, senor baron."
+
+"Then he must be gagged."
+
+"I should like to see it done! Presumption! presumption! a hundred times
+presumption! Who would dare to do it if Fray Diego de Areces were near?"
+cried the cleric convulsed with rage, and jumping up, whilst his eyes
+blazed with fury.
+
+"Sit down, _Pater_, and calm yourself, and take another glass, for Fray
+Diego de Areces is only a common vessel."
+
+The chaplain instantly calmed down, delicately poured out the liquor
+into the two glasses, and swallowed his own share with pleasure, after
+which his head fell on his breast, his eyelids dropped, and he was
+asleep. The baron, radiant with delight, looked at him sharply with
+cunning eyes, then, profiling by his companion's temporary
+obliviousness, he took another glass, saying, "The nones."
+
+It was a peculiar feature of those delightful sessions that the gin
+changed the character of both. The irascible, impetuous temper of the
+baron was softened in a remarkable way whilst the beneficial effects of
+alcohol lasted. He was cheerful, communicative, conciliatory, nobody's
+remarks upset him, nothing seemed worth getting angry about. Fray Diego,
+on the contrary, who, in his normal condition, was always a jovial,
+jocose priest, turned into a very devil for disputing and nagging, and
+he betrayed a combative disposition that nobody would have suspected
+under his round, placid face and pious calling.
+
+He roused himself at the end of a few minutes, looked at the baron
+fixedly for some moments with strange ferocity, and said stammeringly:
+
+"Will the senor baron kindly explain to me what he means by a common
+vessel?"
+
+"Come, I've done with that. Are we to go on about that? What does it
+signify to you what the one or the other means?"
+
+"Because I choose to know; we must understand one another."
+
+"We have understood each other. You have two pints of gin inside you and
+I another two, or perhaps more," he added, with several winks.
+
+"It is not so, senor baron, it is not so! We must understand each other
+once for all, stupid!"
+
+"Here there are no barons and no priests," exclaimed the noble in an
+excess of good humour, jumping up from his seat. "Here we are only Uncle
+Francisco--that is I, and Uncle Diego, that is you--are we not? Your
+hand upon it."
+
+Advancing with his hand extended he staggered, but kept his feet.
+
+"Give me your hand, my brave fellow!"
+
+The cleric was pacified, and they shook hands.
+
+"Now an embrace for the legitimate King of Spain."
+
+"Don't speak to me of embraces," cried the priest, again getting angry.
+"I recollect Vergarra's embrace, fool!"
+
+"Don't bother yourself, my friend, for we shall pay him out.
+
+    "Ay, ay, ay! mutila
+    Chaplen gorria."
+
+And he began to sing the Carlist hymn in a hoarse voice, but soon
+interrupting himself, he said:
+
+"Well, Uncle Diego, sing! Give over tears now!"
+
+His friend was in fact shedding great tears as he recalled the treachery
+of Vergarra.
+
+"Cheer up, soldier! A drink to the extermination of the negroes would
+not come amiss."
+
+Fray Diego admitted by a movement of his head that he would willingly be
+a party to this consolatory toast, but he did not move from his seat.
+They quaffed another glass, and the effect upon the emotional soul of
+the baron was so marvellous, that immediately he began dancing an
+English breakdown on the table, which did not stop Fray Diego's copious
+flow of tears.
+
+"Hum! I don't care for this foreign dance," he observed at last with a
+final jump. "I prefer the _danza prima_.[K] Come here, Uncle Diego."
+
+Whereupon he took the priest by force by both hands, dragged him from
+his chair, and made some turns with him, intoning one of the long
+monotonous songs of the country. Fray Diego felt rejuvenated as he was
+reminded of the spring-time of his life in the country, when his uncle,
+the Cure of Areces, thrashed him well for getting out of the window by
+night to pay court to the girls of the neighbouring villages.
+
+"Listen, Diego," said the baron stopping suddenly. "Don't you think
+before we go on we had better drink a glass to the souls of our
+betters?"
+
+The priest willingly assented, but the glasses and the empty bottles
+were rolling on the ground. The baron opened a cupboard and drew from
+thence fresh elements of spiritual life. This funereal glass inspired
+him with the happy idea of covering the chaplain's head with his own
+flat cap and adorning his own with the other's shovel-hat which was
+lying upon a chair. So clad they went on dancing, making a very
+remarkable pair. But the baron slipped and fell.
+
+"Help me up, Uncle Diego."
+
+The priest took him by his outstretched hands and pulled him up. But the
+weight of the noble was too much for him, and they both rolled on the
+ground together.
+
+"Rise, Uncle Diego!"
+
+"Up, Uncle Francisco!"
+
+They both rolled over with barbarous shouts of laughter. At last the
+baron regained his footing. The cleric soon followed his example. But
+his soul, which had been momentarily illumined by the recollections of
+his youth, suddenly reverted to blood and extermination. He turned
+fiercely on his friend:
+
+"Let us understand once for all, fool! Why did you call me a common
+vessel just now? eh? eh? Why?"
+
+"I will explain to you presently, man," returned the baron calmly, "but
+we will drink first a toast to all faithful Christians, whose visible
+head is the Pope--I say, if you like."
+
+The chaplain made no objection.
+
+"Well, then, I called you a common vessel because a common vessel you
+know is used for cooked potatoes."
+
+So saying the baron fell into such a violent fit of merriment that he
+very nearly choked. In the meanwhile the prominent eyes of his comrade
+looked at him with such a menacing expression that they nearly dropped
+from their sockets and fell upon him, as they visibly increased in size
+like a locust's.
+
+"And why cooked potatoes? I have as much courage as you, fool! as I
+showed in the action of Orduna and Unza, and besides, I have six crosses
+at home."
+
+"You? you?" said the gentleman, unable to resist a smile. "You never
+served excepting at the mess of the company."
+
+The fury of the brother at hearing this was unbounded. He halloed, he
+stamped, he thumped the table. Finally he rushed to the door, from the
+threshold of which he began to apostrophise his friend with excited
+gestures.
+
+"You say this because you are in your own house! Come out and say it
+here! Come out with me!"
+
+The baron looked at him with smiling curiosity.
+
+"Calm yourself, calm yourself, Uncle Diego."
+
+"Come out and fight with me! with sword, pistol, or what you like."
+
+"Very well, man, very well. We will come out and kill each other; but it
+will only be to please you."
+
+He then went with uncertain steps to the cupboard, and with some
+difficulty, for it was now completely dark, he put his hands into the
+press, and feeling about, drew forth two large cavalry swords.
+
+"Take one," he said, handing one to the chaplain.
+
+Fray Diego drew it from its sheath and began to fence with it. Whilst
+making these experiments Don Francisco regarded him with great
+satisfaction.
+
+"Well, let us go," said the priest returning the weapon to its sheath.
+"Quick, march."
+
+And taking his shovel-hat that was lying on the floor, and concealing
+the sword under his robes, he passed out of the door. The baron caught
+up his cap, put on a heavy overcoat and followed him.
+
+"Stop!" he exclaimed, before he had gone four steps. "Don't you think
+that we have left some liquor behind?"
+
+Fray Diego gave an affirmative grunt. They re-entered the room, and
+feeling on the floor they came against the jar of gin that was not
+completely empty. This they poured into the glasses, and drank up all
+there was. Their next act was to sally into the street. The rough-stoned
+pavement was wet. A fine rain was falling, but it was so thick that it
+penetrated clothing as much as a sharp shower. Night had completely
+closed in; and as, according to the municipal customs, it wanted a good
+half-hour before the celebrated oil-lamps were lighted, darkness
+enveloped the rain-driven town. The two heroes, animated by a warlike
+spirit, perambulated the Calle del Pozo with determination, the cleric
+before, the noble behind, both muffled up to the eyes, each with the
+instrument of murder under his arm. They entered the Calle de las
+Hogueras, passed under the walls of the fortress and out by the road
+that runs by the old wall of the town. As the water filtered through
+their clothes, it refreshed their bodies, and partially equilibriated
+their tempers. Fray Diego became visibly calmer, and the black clouds of
+depression that oppressed him gradually dispersed, but the baron's
+haughty, cruel spirit became meanwhile a prey to the morbid conditions
+of the other. But both facing the prospect of death pursued their
+intrepid course through the night and rain. They went for some distance
+by the old wall until they came to the Sarrio road, which they took.
+They had not proceeded five minutes along it when they heard a groan.
+They stopped at once, and approaching the side-wall they caught sight of
+a bundle, which, on coming nearer, they found to be a child.
+
+"What are you doing here?" said the baron, seizing her by the arm.
+
+"Pardon!" exclaimed Josefina, overwhelmed with terror. "For goodness'
+sake don't beat me, senor! I have already been beaten so much."
+
+The gentleman immediately loosened his hold, and changing his voice and
+tone, said:
+
+"No, my child, no; nobody shall beat you. How do you come to be here at
+this hour?"
+
+"My godmother has beaten me a good deal, and I ran away from home."
+
+"Have you not a father?"
+
+"No, senor."
+
+"Do you live in Lancia?"
+
+"Yes, senor."
+
+"Who is your godmother?"
+
+"A lady."
+
+"What is her name?"
+
+"Amalia."
+
+"By Jove!" exclaimed Fray Diego, striking his forehead with his hand.
+"It is the adopted child of Don Pedro Quinones."
+
+"Is not Don Pedro the husband of your godmother?"
+
+"Yes, senor."
+
+"Come, get up, my child. You can't stay there. Come with us."
+
+"Oh, no, for God's sake! Don't take me to my godmother."
+
+"No, we won't go there. You are wet, little creature," he added,
+touching her clothes. "Come, come."
+
+The two heroes had meanwhile put their swords on the wall, and when they
+went off to Lancia with the child between them, they left them there
+regardless of the damp tarnishing and rusting the steel.
+
+"And why did your godmother beat you?" asked Fray Diego as they walked
+slowly to accommodate their steps to those of the child.
+
+"Because I was playing with the sheep."
+
+"The sheep! But do Don Pedro's sheep come and sleep in the house?"
+
+"Yes, senor, they sleep in the cardboard box."
+
+"Look here, child, what are you saying?" said the cleric stopping.
+
+When the inquiry led to the understanding that the sheep were of clay,
+Fray Diego resumed his walk, protecting the fragile form of the little
+creature with his long cloak. But his hand happening to touch her face,
+he noticed with surprise that the moisture on his fingers was warm. He
+communicated this fact to the baron, and as they had now reached the
+first houses of the town, they put the child in a doorway, lighted a
+match and had a look at her. Her whole face was bathed in blood and cut
+across with deep gashes, whilst her hands were covered with bruises. The
+heroes looked at each other in horror, and the same wave of indignation
+inflamed their cheeks. The baron then gave vent to a string of strong
+imprecations. These, and his fearfully ugly face, made such an
+impression on Josefina, that she fled crying to a corner. They managed
+with some trouble to tranquillise her, and after drying her face with a
+handkerchief, Fray Diego took her up in his arms (the baron had
+attempted it in vain), covered her with his cloak, and set off for the
+ancient house of the los Oscos.
+
+Here they took her in hand. The baron, who had attained some knowledge
+of surgery in the campaign, carefully washed her wounds, closed them
+with plaister, and dressed the contusions with a very efficacious
+ointment that he had by him. The touch of the rough hands of those
+veterans seemed as soft as velvet as they came in contact with the
+child's skin. A woman could not have tended her with more delicacy,
+attention, and devotion.
+
+Josefina soon forgot her fears. That ugly gentleman was not bad. She
+ventured to ask for water. The baron replied that the best thing she
+could have to strengthen her would be a glass of sherry. One was
+brought, and whilst the child drank it, the two champions of the
+legitimate king retired into a corner of the room to deliberate.
+
+They decided that the thing to be done was to take the child to the
+house of the Quinones. The baron undertook to take the little creature
+back, and then he would tell her godmother what he thought of her; he
+would tell her she was an infamous woman, a vile, perverse creature, and
+if she dared ill-treat the poor helpless child again, he would go to her
+house, slit her ears, and then tie her by the hair to the tail of his
+horse, and so drag her through the town. Fray Diego did not agree to so
+much cruelty, but the baron declared that nothing would induce him to
+swerve from his sinister plan of making a terrible example of her.
+
+It cost some trouble to make Josefina go with them. They only managed it
+by promising she should not be beaten again, and that in truth her
+godmother would be very kind to her for the future. That was all she
+wanted! And they added that if she dared touch a hair of her head,
+lightning of God! he would wring her neck like a chicken's! and would
+give her a sound whipping with his horse's bridle. And the countenance
+of that gentleman was so fearful as he uttered these threats that the
+child never doubted for an instant that they would be fulfilled.
+
+Whilst making their way to the house of the Quinones, the baron
+continued to break out into insulting expressions and threats of murder
+against the wife of the Grandee. Fray Diego made futile attempts to calm
+him. But his murderous feelings had so got the upper hand, that the
+ex-Brother, fearing a catastrophe, left him at the door of the palace.
+The baron pulled the bell. As he was not acquainted with the feudal
+custom of the house, he did not pull more than once, so, as he was
+thought to be a plebeian, the door was not opened immediately. The
+surprise of the servant was great when he saw that terrible senor, who
+inspired such respect in the town, and he hastened to ask pardon for not
+having admitted him more promptly. The baron asked for Don Pedro
+Quinones.
+
+He was requested to enter, and the servant preceded him up the large
+stone staircase. On arriving at the first floor, he was asked to wait
+whilst he was announced.
+
+A few minutes afterwards Amalia appeared. She cast a sharp, angry glance
+at the child, whom the baron held by the hand, and turning to the
+gentleman she said in a cold, haughty tone:
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"I came to bring this child that I found in the street--and at the same
+time to have a few words with Don Pedro or with you."
+
+With this last remark the baron's voice perceptibly changed.
+
+"Do you not know me?" he added, seeing that the lady looked at him
+fixedly without replying.
+
+In little places everybody knows everybody, especially persons of
+position, although they may not be intimate with them, but Amalia
+replied in a barefaced manner:
+
+"I have not that honour."
+
+"I am the baron de los Oscos."
+
+The lady bowed.
+
+"Paula," she said, turning to a servant who had entered, "take this
+child. And Pepe, light the lamps in the blue room."
+
+"Senora," began the baron, "I found this child in the Sarrio road,
+covered with blood and contusions. I asked her who had brought her to
+that pass, and she told me that it was her godmother. I cannot believe
+it."
+
+"Then you can believe it, for it is true," said Amalia interrupting him.
+
+The baron stopped speechless and confused. Then he continued:
+
+"It is possible that you had some reason for punishing her, but I am
+deeply sorry."
+
+Here Amalia again interrupted him:
+
+"And I am sorry that you are sorry."
+
+"My object in coming here," said the baron, who was fast losing his
+aplomb, "was to warn you, was to beg you--as I have been told you have
+had the charity to take this foundling--to continue the good work by
+protecting, sheltering and educating her, and when it is necessary to
+punish her will you do so with kindness, for the poor little creature is
+delicate and weak, and the blows might put an end to her life."
+
+"Is this all you have to say to me?" asked the lady, coldly.
+
+The dreadful face of the baron contorted suddenly on hearing this
+question; his eyes flashed, the deep wound stood out on his face by
+reason, no doubt, of his great internal emotion. Formidable sounds were
+heard in his throat, low rumblings presaged a coming storm. But those
+noises finally calmed down, the signs of disturbance ceased, and instead
+of the crater giving forth, as it was feared, a stream of burning lava,
+rocks, and ashes, it only weakly emitted the two words:
+
+"Yes, senora."
+
+"Very well, then. I take this opportunity of bidding you welcome to the
+house in the name of Quinones and myself."
+
+At the same time she pulled the bell rope and rose from her seat. The
+baron also rose muttering words of thanks and proffers of service.
+
+"Pepe, take the senor baron down."
+
+He made a profound reverence, which Amalia returned in a lesser degree,
+and the gentleman turned on his heels and left. As he descended the
+staircase quite nonplussed, his face on fire, and his eyes aflame, it
+was a great relief to think of the drawing and quartering, the loss of
+eyes, the horse's tail and other fearful punishments of the Visigoth
+epoch, to which the senora belonged by virtue of her barbarous behaviour
+and her cruel, arrogant spirit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE MARTYRDOM
+
+
+Scarcely had the door been shut behind the baron when Amalia had the
+child brought into her presence.
+
+"Come here, senorita, come here! We have not seen each other for some
+time! How have you spent it? Have you got on well? The baron is very
+gallant with ladies, is he not?"
+
+The child uttered a sharp cry.
+
+"Oh! my ear!"
+
+"Go on your knees, you grub! Ah! Then does all I have done for you count
+for nothing? Are you going to show your teeth before you have finished
+sucking? On your knees, you little rogue! You bad girl!"
+
+Josefina fell in a heap in a corner of the room. Amalia kept her burning
+gaze fixed upon her for some time. At last, removing her eyes from her,
+she asked Concha and Paula, who had brought the child in, how she came
+to escape. The coachman was to blame. Then ensued strong language
+against the coachman, who was said to be drunk, and with threats of his
+dismissal if such an act of carelessness occurred again. Then followed
+many remarks upon the baron's appearance. What was that brute doing at
+such an hour in the Sarrio road? Who was the cleric who was with him?
+After these came a very sad survey of the ingratitude and naughtiness of
+the child who fled from the house which had given her shelter and made
+her protectors a laughing-stock. The servants agreed that she deserved a
+very sharp punishment. The lady then dismissed them, and stopped them
+with an imperious gesture when they were going to take the child. Once
+alone, Amalia took a book and began to read quietly by the light of a
+lamp, whilst the child, on its knees in the darkest corner, sobbed
+bitterly. Three or four times she raised her head and darted an angry
+glance at the dark corner, expecting a louder groan from the child so
+that she could spring upon her. An hour went by--an hour and a half. At
+last she shut the book, went out, and returned in a few minutes. She
+began slowly to undress. When half undressed she took the lamp, and
+approaching the child, obliged her to get up, when she conducted her to
+the bed, and showing her the floor, she said:
+
+"This is your bed. You will sleep here in your clothes."
+
+When she had finished undressing, the child said in a weak voice:
+
+"Forgive me, godmother, I won't do it again."
+
+But these words fell on deaf ears, and she got into bed and put out the
+light.
+
+Her eyes remained open in the darkness. The hours chiming their quarters
+and their halves in a melancholy tone from the clock of the neighbouring
+cathedral did not close them. They were like two mysterious lamps, only
+giving light within as they illuminated a thousand sinister and
+tormenting ideas. Dark thoughts and fierce desires crowded and pressed
+under that low forehead. She considered the marriage of Luis an
+abominable treachery. Without recollecting her own want of honour
+towards the poor old paralysed man God had given her for a husband, nor
+thinking how her sin had spoilt the life of the count, threatened to die
+in solitude, without family ties to cheer his latter days, she made him
+entirely accountable for the wrong, and for all the bitterness she was
+now feeling in losing the only pleasure that had brightened her gloomy,
+monotonous existence. The only pleasure. Her love did not deserve any
+other name. In that ardent, despotic, restless spirit there had never
+been a question of tenderness. She was completely ignorant of the
+delicious, poetic thoughts that ennoble a passion and make it
+pardonable. Her life had been passed in insane excitement, tormented by
+the idea of being happy at all costs. She had lived for the last seven
+years under the sway of her licentious, insatiable passion. Never did a
+melancholy thought of remorse bear witness in that depravity to a single
+moral sentiment. Her thirst for pleasure drove her into a thousand
+extravagant and dangerous courses. She was not contented with gathering
+under her roof all the youth of Lancia and dancing occasionally as a
+condescension, but she required for her enjoyment company every day,
+picnics, masquerades, &c., and she liked to dance until she nearly fell
+with exhaustion, like a country lass of fifteen summers. She found it
+necessary to contrive secret interviews with her lover at most
+extraordinary hours, and on most unheard of occasions. Her ungovernable
+passion led her to defy public opinion, and delight in making light of
+precaution. If the count gave her a word of warning, she flew into a
+rage. She lost more than he did. Slander never hurts the man, but only
+the woman, who has to bear all the disgrace. But she went into fits of
+laughter at the thoughts of slander or disgrace. If she were at all put
+out, she was quite capable of proclaiming her sin in Altavilla when
+there was a gathering of people. The count got more and more alienated
+from this woman, who upset all his moral, theological, and social ideas,
+and finally inspired him with dread. This turned to terror and
+insufferable foreboding, that made him long for his liberty, especially
+after Amalia smilingly made a certain revelation to him.
+
+"Do you know, dear," she said, "I nearly did such a mad thing this
+morning. Quinones sent me to pour out his drops of arsenic that he has
+taken for some time. I took up the bottle quickly and, as if pushed by
+the elbow by an invisible hand, I poured half of the contents into the
+glass. Don't tremble, coward, for there was no motive in the matter. I
+never felt anything like it. I swear to you that my will was not party
+to it. I was controlled by a superior will which strove to overpower
+mine. I put the glass upon the table, looked at it for an instant, and
+held it up to the light. There was nothing, not the slightest sign to
+denote that it was an instrument of death. I put it on the tray and
+walked with it towards the library without considering what I was doing.
+But suddenly in the passage I came to myself like awakening from a
+nightmare. I suddenly saw the blunder I was going to make, and I let the
+glass fall on the ground."
+
+"It was not a blunder, it was a horrible crime you were about to
+commit," said the count angrily, as a sweat of horror came over him.
+
+"Very well, crime or blunder, or whatever it was, it was stupid in every
+way, you know, for one would see by the symptoms that it was a question
+of poison."
+
+Those words, uttered in a tone of assumed levity, made more impression
+on the count than any former ones, and henceforth he could not go near
+her without experiencing a strange feeling of repugnance.
+
+Her youth passed, but she paid no attention to the fact until the
+arrival of Fernanda. Having no rivals in Lancia, her carelessness of her
+personal appearance daily increased, and she completely lost the subtle
+coquetry by which women perpetuate the charm of their person. It was
+only the sight of the splendid beauty of the daughter of Estrada-Rosa
+that made her give a thought to herself. She then began to think about
+the adornment of herself. She procured all kinds of cosmetics, she sent
+for dresses to Madrid, and availed herself of all the arts of elegance.
+It was late. That miserable, neglected body, worn out by years and
+ill-health, could not regain its freshness and grace.
+
+This _idee fixe_ corroded her brain during her long, wretched vigil. No
+longer to inspire love! To be old, and an object of repugnance! Her mind
+was torn with a thousand fears. Luis was marrying. Why? Had she not
+sacrificed to him her youth, honour, and salvation, if there was
+anything after this life but the infernal regions?
+
+What was the good of it? At the first sign of decay in her face all his
+promises had vanished like a dream; the seven years of love had
+disappeared in the abyss of time without leaving the most insignificant
+sign. But she had not wrinkles yet; she was not so old--five-and-thirty,
+not more. She suddenly put her hand on the table by her side, lighted
+the candle, and jumped out of bed. She went to the looking-glass and
+looked at herself for some time, passing her fingers over the surface of
+her face to ascertain that the much-feared wrinkles were not there.
+
+A groan from behind made her turn her head. She raised the candle and
+fixed an angry glance upon the child, stretched upon the ground,
+trembling with fear. The child could not sleep. Her feverish eyes looked
+at her anxiously, her lips again murmured: "Pardon."
+
+Without paying her any attention, the wife of Don Pedro went back to bed
+and put out the light. The rays of the morning sun, as they penetrated
+the room, fell upon the two sleepless beings. With God's daylight
+commenced the barbarous torture of an innocent creature.
+
+Her fertile, diabolical imagination set to inventing torments with which
+to feed the hate which consumed her. The sight of suffering was a
+necessity to her. Josefina was sent down barefooted with a pencilled
+note to Concha. The missive said: "Concha, I send you this little rogue.
+Punish her as you think fit."
+
+Amalia knew what an executioner the maid would be, and, in fact, she
+expressed satisfaction at receiving this note, which flattered her
+vanity and her instincts.
+
+"Do you know what this paper says?" she asked, in an aggressive tone.
+
+Josefina made a negative sign. She read writing badly, especially when
+written as carelessly as that of the senora. The sempstress, however,
+made her spell out the words until she quite understood them.
+
+"There, you see, you are sent for me to punish you for what you did
+yesterday."
+
+On saying this she smiled sweetly, as if she were saying that she had
+something nice to give her.
+
+The child looked at her in surprise.
+
+"Punish me? Godmother has already made me sleep on the floor."
+
+"It does not matter, that is very little for such naughtiness as running
+away from home. You will have to have a whipping. I am sorry, my child,
+because you have never had this punishment, and it will hurt you very
+much. Young ladies have delicate flesh; they are not like us who are
+accustomed as babies to intemperance and blows. Come along!"
+
+At the same time she drew from her stays one of the formidable
+whalebones then in vogue.
+
+The child drew back in alarm, but the needlewoman caught her by the arm.
+
+"Don't think of escaping, for then you will come in for a double share."
+
+Josefina seized her hand, weeping bitterly.
+
+"Don't beat me, for God's sake, Concha! You know my godmother beat me
+yesterday. Look, look at my hands. My head also hurts me. The ground was
+so hard. I love you very much. I have never blamed you to godmother."
+
+"Silence! silence!" returned the sempstress, trying to disengage herself
+gently from the little hands. "There is nothing to be done but
+obedience. The senora gives the order."
+
+"No, por Dios! Concha, no, por Dios!" replied the little creature
+between her sobs. "I love you very much, and godmother too. If you don't
+beat me I will give you my box of sheep."
+
+"Really?" said Concha, mollified.
+
+"Yes; now, directly, if you like."
+
+"And your housewife?"
+
+"That too."
+
+"And the little cupboard with the mirror?"
+
+"Yes, the little cupboard too."
+
+Concha gave signs of giving in. The child looked at her with anxious
+eyes.
+
+"And you promise always to be good?"
+
+"Yes, I promise always to be good."
+
+"Never to run away again."
+
+"Never."
+
+"Very well," she said, in an affectionate, condescending tone; "then if
+you promise to be good, and you don't tell the senora, and you give me
+all that you say, then--then--go on child!"
+
+And in one instant she pulled her clothes off and began to beat her
+unmercifully, laughing like a mad woman with delight.
+
+The screams of the child reached the second floor. The wife of the
+Grandee was standing before the glass arranging her hair. She stopped. A
+singular shiver ran through her, a certain indefinable, vague emotion
+like a tickling sensation that one can't with certainty term pleasant or
+unpleasant. Anyhow it was something that modified that insufferable
+fever that the frenzy of rage had raised in her heart. She stood
+motionless until the cries had ceased. Her eyes shone, her pulse beat
+higher.
+
+It is thus they say that the heart of a wild beast beats at the sight of
+its victim. It was the commencement of the child's martyrdom. Under the
+weakest pretexts she inflicted the cruellest punishments, giving
+evidence of an imagination so fertile that it would have delighted the
+executioners of the Holy office. Not only did she strike her for the
+most innocent offences and pinch her and bite her, but she delighted in
+keeping her in continual dread of dreadful punishments, and so making
+her suffer day and night. She made her go barefooted into the garden on
+the coldest mornings to fetch her a flower, or she kept her whole hours
+with her head in the sun to keep the birds from picking at a currant
+bush. She made her sleep on the ground by the side of her bed, when she
+sent her several times down into the kitchen for water. She reduced her
+to eating food she knew she did not like, and deprived her of what she
+knew she liked.
+
+As the days went by her madness and cruelty increased. At first she made
+a pretext of some act of carelessness on the part of the child to
+torment her. Afterwards she did not stop there, but she did it when it
+came into her mind, or when her physical state impelled her to do so.
+One torture of her own invention was that of pricking her hands with a
+needle, and she delighted in seeing them covered with indentures in a
+few days, when there was scarcely room to put another stab. She deputed
+this task to Concha, the executioner of her orders, who fulfilled it
+most conscientiously. She made her learn by heart long pieces of
+catechism much beyond her power. And if she stumbled three times, she
+said: "Go and ask Concha for a kiss."
+
+This was the phase she had invented in derision for the little creature
+to get a stab with the needle. She was never allowed to change her
+underclothing, so the delicate skin of the child soon became chafed, and
+she could not help scratching herself. Whereupon Concha flew into a
+rage, accused her of having the itch, and pushed her from the room. It
+got worse and worse. The microscopic maid, at the instigation of her
+mistress, insisted on her wearing boots too small for her which made bad
+places on her feet and caused her dreadful pain.
+
+One of the most terrible tortures the child suffered was when Amalia
+took it into her head she was not to cry. Sometimes she let her sob and
+moan under the blows, and she seemed to revel in the tears of the little
+creature, and in hearing her piteous entreaties between the sobs; but
+occasionally she insisted on her suffering in silence. As this was
+impossible she became like a ravenous wild beast.
+
+"Be silent!"
+
+The child could not, and a groan escaped.
+
+"Silence!" she repeated, accompanying the command with several blows.
+
+So Josefina tried to be silent, and made desperate efforts in the
+attempt, but in spite of herself the difficult respiration took the form
+of a groan. More blows.
+
+"Silence, or I will kill you."
+
+The little creature shut her mouth with all her might; she turned livid,
+and sometimes she fell down senseless. That tender heart was breaking
+from distress of mind.
+
+At such moments Amalia experienced a diabolical sensation of mingled
+pleasure and pain similar to that which is felt in scratching a boil.
+Her boil was that violent passion--a mixture of love, licentiousness and
+arrogance. Not being able to vent upon her former lover the
+mortification which tore her heart, she wreaked her vengeance on the
+fruit of their love. When the child was bleeding and trembling at her
+feet, her looks of anguish, her gestures, and the tone of her voice
+seemed to her those of her lover, humiliated and supplicating, and then
+she experienced an awful pleasure which made her eyes shine and her
+nostrils dilate.
+
+Josefina was a miniature likeness of Luis. When she had been happy, her
+face mobile and smiling, and her eyes shining with cheerfulness, it had
+not been so apparent; but now misery and pain had given to her look a
+profound melancholy, and to the lines of her face a certain expression
+of fatigue that were the two things which characterised her likeness to
+the Conde de Onis. When those beautiful blue eyes turned towards her in
+sweet resignation, when those red lips trembled in asking pardon, the
+Valencian felt a voluptuous feeling pervade her worn-out body, so that
+she was reminded of the pleasures she had experienced in the indulgence
+of her unlawful passion.
+
+After all, she thought, she had not aged at all, in nothing but the
+fading of that face of hers and her head producing white hairs with such
+horrible rapidity. Her body, her breast, her arms, her neck retained the
+same alabaster hue, the same adorable brilliancy, the mark of a fine and
+beautiful race. She touched herself in search of consolation with
+feverish hands, and encountered the same softness and freshness. That
+body had not worn out. She still felt her own youth, the ardent
+circulation of her blood, the thirst for enjoyment, and the yearning for
+the rapture of love.
+
+And yet all those delights were gone for ever; the novel of her life
+that had embellished her dark existence of latter years had come to the
+last chapter. She was an old woman! It was a settled fact. At this
+thought that branded itself on her brain as with a hot iron she felt
+overwhelmed by an animal necessity to cry, roar, or tear. It was at such
+times that the child underwent the cruellest punishments, and her
+fragile existence incurred real danger. Terror was another of the
+sufferings she frequently inflicted on her. In the late hours of the
+night she made her get up, and sent her to the most remote rooms of the
+house in search of something. The child returned pale, trembling, and
+overwhelmed with fear. Sometimes her terror was so great that she let
+the candlestick fall, and returned running and screaming with fright.
+Then Amalia, enraged, pinched her and struck her, and pretended she must
+go again to the place named. Then the little creature let herself be
+tortured rather than expose herself afresh to the same fright. On one of
+these occasions Amalia smiling fiercely, said:
+
+"Ah! So the senorita is so cowardly? Very well, I must undertake to cure
+you of this weakness."
+
+She recollected the extraordinary impressionability to nocturnal terrors
+that Luis had confessed with shame in moments of expansion. So she
+prepared dreadful alarms for her. Sometimes she hid behind a door, and
+when she was passing gave a loud cry as she seized her by the neck. At
+other times she took a knife and said her death had come, and told her
+to turn down her nightgown so that she could cut her throat easier. But
+this last did not produce as much effect as she expected. Josefina
+unconsciously longed for death which would release her from such a
+martyrdom. For a more efficacious cure of fear, Concha and she invented
+a fearful practical joke which would have been enough to terrify a brave
+man, much less a child six years old. They both dressed themselves up in
+sheets, left the room partially lighted whilst the child slept, put on
+masks like skulls, and at midnight they came in uttering fearful cries
+like souls from another world. When the little creature awoke and saw
+those apparitions, she was paralysed with terror, then she clapped her
+hands to her eyes and her whole body was bathed in a cold perspiration.
+Her heart beat so violently that it could be heard at a distance, she
+gave vent to a few hoarse, terrified cries, and finally, putting her
+hands to her breast, she fell senseless to the ground, a prey to fearful
+convulsions.
+
+Her timidity was incurable; and, moreover, she was henceforth subject to
+faintings and to nocturnal frights. She would wake up with signs of
+great fear, look fixedly at one point in the room as if some apparition
+were there, her heart beat violently, and her brow was bathed in sweat.
+In such moments she completely lost consciousness. Amalia called her in
+vain. It was only when she put her hands upon her that she uttered a cry
+of fear and sunk her head in terror.
+
+Serious disputes arose between Concha and Maria the ironer on account
+of these tortures. Maria was naturally compassionate, and she was sorry
+to see the martyrdom of the child, although she did not know all, for
+Amalia took care to keep it from the servants with the exception of
+Concha. Although Maria was not ill-tongued she could not abstain from
+blaming her mistress's conduct in the kitchen.
+
+"My dear, it is worse than the Inquisition. It does not seem that we are
+Christians, but Jewish dogs. At one time so indulged that she was
+spoiled, and now suddenly the little angel is treated worse than an
+animal. I say the matter has gone beyond bounds! I cannot see such
+wickedness."
+
+"Silence, little fool and meddler," interposed Concha, "who made you
+boss of the show? If the senora wishes to teach the child what is right,
+is she to consult you how to do it? Do you know what it is to bring up
+children? If she has to be punished it is right it should be done by a
+hardworking, honourable woman. Some day she will give her thanks for
+it."
+
+"Yes, thanks, indeed! She will give them from the cemetery. A month
+hence she will be gone."
+
+"Very well, and what is that to do with you? Are you her mother?"
+
+They quarrelled three or four times like this, and the dwarfish
+sempstress's shamelessness and evil-mindedness always showed themselves.
+
+At last being unable to endure such a spectacle with patience, Maria
+determined to go away. One day she went to the senora, and with the
+excuse that ironing was bad for her, she asked for her wages. Amalia was
+quite aware of the real reason, as she knew of her having complained of
+her cruelty, but she dissimulated as usual:
+
+"Yes, girl, I understand that ironing is tiring for you. You don't enjoy
+much health. I also have not been well for some days. To contend all
+one's life with sickness, and now at the end to have this child, on
+whom all my hopes were founded, turn out so ungrateful and perverse! I
+don't know how I have patience."
+
+Maria hesitated for an instant.
+
+"Well, you see, senora--children will be children."
+
+The wife of the Grandee saw that if she pursued the subject the ironer
+would say something disagreeable, so she cut short the remark, paid her
+her wages, and dismissed her affably.
+
+This did not prevent the servant telling in confidence at a certain
+house where she went in service what was going on at the Quinones. The
+news spread in the same confidence from one to another, and in a short
+time there was a considerable number of persons acquainted with the
+cruelties perpetrated on the child.
+
+The Conde de Onis, to avoid the curiosity of the public, which worried
+him above all things, and also to be free of Amalia, to whom he had told
+nothing, had removed about a month ago to the Grange. He had not written
+to his old love, although he thought of doing so every day to tell her
+of his determination to marry. But so great was the terror with which
+the Valencian inspired him, that the pen fell from his hands every time
+he took it up to acquaint her with the fact. He thus let the days go by
+in this continual state of indecision, thinking with anxiety how enraged
+she would be, and like all weak natures, hoping that some unforeseen
+event would arrange a compromise. That way of breaking the connection
+without any quarrel or explanation whatsoever was quite in accordance
+with his character. He knew nothing of his child's tortures,
+nevertheless he felt such sudden anxiety when he thought of her that his
+nerves were quite shaken, and he walked up and down the room in visible
+agitation. The passionate love with which Fernanda had inspired him had
+made him forget Josefina a little. He occasionally thought of her with
+bitterness; he thought that even if he married Fernanda, he would not
+attain happiness if he could not see his child every day; although he
+quite understood that that would be impossible whilst she remained in
+Amalia's power. Then he thought of taking her away with him, and it gave
+him pleasure to imagine wild projects of getting hold of her, and flying
+with her and Fernanda to some remote and tranquil spot in the world.
+
+The count was going through one of these days of vacillation when
+Micaela, the most excitable and violent of the Pensioner's four undines,
+appeared at the Quinones' house. She came for the purpose of asking
+Amalia's advice about a dress that she was planning for the next ball at
+the Casino. In spite of her thirty years and more, she still laid siege
+to the masculine sex. Visitors at this hour were rare, but as the noble
+family of the Pensioner was so intimate with the senora, the servant did
+not hesitate to show her up to the boudoir where she was.
+
+"How tiresome of me, is it not? But, dear, it is the only time that I
+thought I should find you alone," she said, with the gracious volubility
+that characterised the Mateo's daughters.
+
+Amalia received her cordially, albeit with a certain surprise and
+uneasiness that escaped Micaela. They entered on the matter in hand, and
+the question of dress soon completely absorbed them. Amalia took her
+friend towards the window. But they had not said many words, when
+Micaela thought she heard a feeble groan in the room. Turning her head,
+she saw in a corner Josefina on her knees, tied by the elbows to the
+dressing-table so that she could not get up without raising the heavy
+piece of furniture, which was far beyond her strength. Amalia hastened
+to give an explanation:
+
+"This child is getting so naughty that I am obliged to tie her to keep
+her quiet. Yesterday she bit the sewing-maid's finger, now she has just
+broken a looking glass. One has not patience to bear it!"
+
+Micaela, who was shocked at the punishment, was silent. The wife of
+Quinones went on talking with assumed indifference about the dress; but
+in spite of its being a theme that ought to have interested her, the
+girl was absent-minded, and cast frequent glances at the child. Josefina
+let another groan escape, whereupon her godmother turned round with
+ill-repressed anger.
+
+"Will you be quiet? will you be quiet?" And she looked at her for some
+time with extraordinary severity.
+
+She returned to the conversation, but a slight change was noticeable in
+her voice. Micaela paid less and less attention. Indignation had risen
+to her throat, and she would have ended by making some unpleasant remark
+to her friend, if the child had not moaned again.
+
+"Come, I see she is not going to leave us in peace," said the lady,
+making an effort to smile, "I shall have to set her free."
+
+Then she went and untied her, taking some time to do it, for the cord
+was tied as many times round her little body as if she were a heavy box.
+But when the time came for the child to get up she could not. No doubt
+the muscles had become strained during the hours she had been in that
+painful position.
+
+"Up, longshanks!" she said jokingly, as she helped her to rise.
+
+Micaela watched the scene in stupefaction, whilst her eyes blazed with
+fury.
+
+"You did not like the position, eh? Then, my child, if you don't want to
+return to it, you must be good and obedient. Is it not so, Micaela?"
+
+But Micaela did not open her lips, feeling each moment more brow-beaten
+in spite of the honeyed smile on the Valencian's face.
+
+"Very well," she continued, caressing the red face of the child, "you
+are forgiven now, but take care about being naughty. Go down and ask
+Concha for a kiss."
+
+On hearing these words, the child grew deadly pale, remained motionless
+for some moments, and finally went to the door with an uncertain step.
+Before arriving there, Micaela, who observed her attentively, noticed
+that she raised her eyes full of tears, but Amalia merely pursued the
+conversation on toilettes. Before three minutes had elapsed low, distant
+cries of the child reached the boudoir. Micaela was thunderstruck, and
+she bent her head towards the door so as to hear better. But Amalia
+quickly rose from her seat and went to shut it. The cries were still
+audible, but the nervous girl had meanwhile to listen to Amalia's
+remarks. She was seized with great uneasiness, her face became flushed,
+and she was a prey to the burning desire of shaming the wicked woman,
+and overwhelming her with such opprobriums as Jew, scoundrel, infamous
+one. She suddenly became aware of all that went on in that house. First
+the jealousy, then the news of the marriage of Luis falling like a
+bombshell, then the miserable revenge wreaked on the child for the
+forsaking of the father. She well knew the spiteful nature of the
+Valencian. But what good would it do to insult her at that moment? It
+would only make a great scene, and she would be sent from the house. In
+spite of her violent temper, Micaela had a kind heart. What she was most
+intent upon, was doing something to help the unhappy little creature.
+And she had sufficient self-control to dissimulate a little, and to
+consider that the best course was to tell everything immediately to the
+count, who must be ignorant of such cruel revenge. She finished the
+interview as soon as possible, and took her leave without being able
+entirely to hide her distress. Once in the street, she felt the
+necessity of unburdening her heart. She thought of Maria Josefa who
+lived in the neighbourhood, and who professed such tender affection for
+the foundling.
+
+She entered her house agitated and trembling, and before uttering a
+single word, she fell on the sofa and fanned herself with the end of her
+mantilla.
+
+"Uf! I am suffocated. I don't know what has come to me. She is an
+infamous creature--a wicked woman who ought to burn in hell! I have
+always said so, only my fools of sisters would not believe me. This
+choking is very tiresome.... She has a heart of stone!"
+
+"But what is it?" asked the wise old maid with terror, and dying of
+curiosity.
+
+Then the nervous daughter of the Pensioner, stuttering with rage, told
+her how she had found Josefina, the pallor of the child at the curious
+suggestion of the godmother, and then the cries she had heard as if she
+were being tormented. Maria Josefa immediately united her imprecations
+with those of the girl. Then they went over all the instances of cruelty
+that they knew of the wife of the Grandee, and they made up their minds
+to acquaint the count with what had happened after ascertaining a few
+more details. For this purpose they had that same afternoon a talk with
+Maria, the laundry-maid, who had left the Quinones house some days ago.
+At first she was cautious for fear of the consequences, but she
+concluded by letting her tongue loose and recounting the thousand
+iniquities perpetrated on the foundling by the Senora de Quinones. They
+were horrorstruck. They thought of telling the judge; but besides making
+an enemy of the fiery Valencian (which be it said to their credit they
+did not much mind for such a cause) they knew that it would be a
+fruitless effort. The Quinones were the most important people of the
+place. Don Pedro being the head of the Government Party in the province,
+all the authorities were quite under his influence. Everything would be
+covered up and remain as it was before. The best thing was to appeal to
+the count; but he was at the Grange just then. Besides, although
+everybody, or nearly everybody, knew the secret of the child's birth,
+it was impossible to take it as a matter of course. After some debates
+they decided to write him the following letter, signed by Maria Josefa:
+
+     "Senor Conde de Onis,--My esteemed friend, I beg, with due reserve,
+     to tell you that the child that was adopted by our friends the
+     Quinones, in whom we are all so much interested, is an object of
+     cruel tortures in that house; and I believe that it is our duty to
+     intervene to stop it. You will tell me what ought to be done, which
+     I as a woman would not think of. If you would like to hear
+     particulars of the martyrdom of the little creature you can refer
+     to Maria, who left service in Don Pedro's house some days ago.
+
+            Your affectionate friend,
+
+                    MARIA JOSEFA HEVIA."
+
+
+Luis crumpled up the letter in his clenched hands, and all the blood
+rushed to his face. Without thinking of what he was doing he left the
+house, and almost unwittingly took the road to Lancia, where he arrived
+in a few minutes. The vague and terrible presentiment that had oppressed
+him was finally realised--Amalia was revenging herself cruelly. The
+underlying drift of the letter was evidently an appeal to him, as the
+father of Josefina, and the cause of her misery. Not knowing what course
+to take, he went to think it over at his house, where he only had an old
+woman in charge. From her he ascertained the whereabouts of Maria, and
+finally sent her a message to come and see him. The laundry-maid was
+quite aware of the object of the summons. She went to the town as
+quickly as possible, and after making him promise not to make use of her
+name, she gave him a circumstantial account of what the innocent child
+was exposed to. He listened, pale and horrorstruck, unable to repress
+the violent, quick beating of his heart. When she came to certain
+hateful and terrible details, the count began to pace up and down the
+room like a caged wild beast, as he tore his hair, struck his brow, and
+uttered cries of rage. Once more alone, a thousand wild ideas passed
+through his mind. He thought of going to the Quinones' house and taking
+away the child by force; he wanted to wring the neck of the vile woman;
+he wanted to tell Don Pedro the whole story; he wanted to inform the
+judge, and have the infamous creature imprisoned.
+
+Fortunately, these fits of rage were as short as they were violent, and
+then ensued prostration and tears. He went to the house of his _fiancee_
+and told her with sobs what had happened, thus making his confession for
+the first time. The good Fernanda mingled her tears with his, distressed
+at the fate of the unhappy little creature, and at the misery of her
+lover. They spent some time talking over the terrible events, and
+seeking means of thwarting that direful revenge. Fernanda at last
+persuaded him to try gentle means. To think of compassing anything by
+force was absurd, for the count, not having yet acknowledged his sin, he
+had no legal right over the child. To provoke a scandal was useless. No
+servant would dare witness against his mistress, and things would be
+worse than they were before. Finally, the count decided to write a
+letter to his old love.
+
+"I have just heard that our Josefina, our adored Josefina, is undergoing
+incredible tortures at your hands. I believe it is a vile calumny. I
+know your character is quick and fiery, but it is noble, and I cannot
+attribute such cowardice to you. I only write to you to ascertain that
+the angelic little creature continues to be the delight of your life. If
+it should not be so, tell me, and we will find some means of
+transferring her to my care. I suppose you are aware of the step I am
+about to take. I have nothing to say to you on the subject. The step was
+inevitable, sooner or later. At all events, you can be sure that my
+remorse is softened by the sweet recollection of the years that I have
+loved you. Farewell! Write me some kind word."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE CAPITULATION
+
+
+Josefina was wasting away. Her cheeks were as pale as wax; there was
+constantly a look of terror in her sweet, gentle eyes, around which
+suffering had traced a purple circle. She spoke little, and never
+laughed. When she was left in peace she sat in some corner, and remained
+motionless looking at one spot, or she went to the window and wrote on
+the panes of the glass with her finger.
+
+Sometimes, in spite of such misery, the childish nature asserted itself.
+If the cat approached her slowly with his tail in the air, his back
+arched, soliciting a caress with a weak purr, she would throw herself
+upon the ground, call him, drag him to her, stroke his fur, scratch his
+head, tickle the back of his neck, and murmur words of affection in his
+ear, a course of spoiling that the animal received with transports of
+delight.
+
+"I love you, I love you. You are my good cat. Are you not good? You must
+not scratch me as you did. Who do you like best in the house? Say,
+treasure. Who gave you a sardine yesterday? Who puts you a saucer of
+milk every day? And if I could always give you fish too, I would,
+because I know it is what you like best. Is it not, my treasure? But you
+must not steal or you know you will be beaten. Don't get on Manin's bed
+and be naughty or you will be killed. I heard so the other day in the
+kitchen. And catch a lot of mice, so that godmother will like you and
+will not turn you out."
+
+The cat, delighted, purred from the depths of his throat with pleasure,
+and rubbed himself more and more vehemently against her. The child held
+him up to her mouth, put her arms around him, pressed him to her heart,
+kissed him, and sometimes, forgetting her sufferings, she shed tears of
+tenderness. But any noise in the next room made her jump up with terror
+in her eyes, she pushed the cat away from her and stood motionless,
+waiting for what was to come, and it was almost always some cruel
+punishment.
+
+"You naughty girl! So you dirty your clothes like that crawling about on
+the floor! Wait a bit! wait a bit!"
+
+Continual shocks had so upset her constitution that her health was quite
+out of order. But although it was not her fault she was treated as if it
+were, and once Concha's fury was so great that she seized her by the
+ears and made her lick the ground.
+
+The most terrible hour for the little creature was lesson time. Amalia
+gave her early in the morning long pieces of sacred history and grammar
+to learn. Josefina retired to a corner and made desperate efforts to
+commit them to memory. A little before the dinner hour Concha, who was
+deputed for the task, took a chair, drew out the famous whalebone, and
+with that in one hand, and the book in the other, she commenced her
+pedagogic functions. Every time the child hesitated or forgot a word, it
+cost her a blow from the whalebone on her face, hand, or neck; and as
+her memory was not very strong the pounding was incessant.
+
+It was still worse when her godmother taught her. Concha was coldly
+cruel, but Amalia became irritable directly; the crying of the child
+worried her nerves, she flew into a rage like a hungry panther, and
+finished by striking her frantically until she fell trembling and
+bleeding at her feet.
+
+Her hatred to the little creature seemed increased if possible after
+the letter from the count. Her pride, wounded to the quick by the cold,
+self-sufficient, insulting diplomacy conveyed to her mind by the words
+of her old love, she vented her rage upon the daughter. Besides, the
+idea of Luis being distressed at hearing of the tortures was an
+additional inducement to continue them unsparingly. Let her suffer! let
+him suffer! the vile, perfidious creature who had taken her youth, and
+then when she was old cast her from him like an old rag to be swept
+away.
+
+On one of these days of intense raging anger the life of Josefina was in
+imminent danger. At the usual hour she had been summoned to the
+dining-room for her lessons. Concha took a seat and drew with unfeigned
+delight the fatal whalebone from her bosom, for the administration of
+blows seemed a physical pleasure that day. Trembling as usual the child
+came and gave her the books, and then with stammering tongue began
+saying a chapter of sacred history, when Manin's entrance interrupted
+them. He came in with his eternal green jacket, short breeches and rough
+manners, making the floor tremble under his hobnailed boots. It was this
+costume, which even in the country was out of date, that chiefly gave
+rise to the notoriety and fame he had been supposed to have as a
+formidable bear-hunter. He entered with his head down as usual; he
+peered in at the door, saying:
+
+"Concha, haven't you anything to eat here?"
+
+"Is your stomach so empty, Manin?" returned the needlewoman laughing.
+
+The peasant opened his mouth wide to join in the laugh.
+
+"Yes, God have mercy! I can't wait a minute more. You all seem
+barefooted Brothers in this house; you have no thought of food till the
+time comes."
+
+"Well, come along you great greedy creature," said Concha putting the
+book and whalebone on the chair, and going in a petulant way to the
+dresser.
+
+They quite understood each other these two. The needlewoman was hard,
+cruel, and stubborn, but the majordomo knew how to get at the few grains
+of good humour she had. He teased her unmercifully, he pinched her when
+she passed by him, and said a thousand coarse, shameless things to her
+which she knew how to take in the opposite sense. And the dwarfish maid,
+who was neither kind nor pretty, and whose cruel nature had choked every
+germ of pleasantness and transformed her into a priestess of misery, a
+fatal, pitiless Eumenide, was pleasant and obliging to that brute. She
+admired his bearish manners, his roughness, his greediness, and his
+insolent, careless way of treating everybody, including the pompous
+Senor de Quinones. Manin was a solemn-faced rogue with his shameful
+rudeness, his deportment of a brave hunter of wild beasts. Sly-faced
+rogue! for with all his shameless rudeness, his posing as a hunter of
+wild beasts, and his slovenly dress, he had known how to take life
+easily in this world without spoiling his hands, nor hurting his back by
+hard work in his village. The needlewoman fetched a plate of cold meat
+and put it on the oilcloth of the table without any apology for a
+serviette; then she cut half a loaf and left him with the indispensable
+bottle of white wine and a glass by the side of the meat. Concha then
+re-seated herself, and the child approaching repeated the words that she
+had just said. In a few moments, zas! a blow with the whalebone and a
+cry of pain. Immediately afterwards another blow and another cry, and so
+it went on. The needlewoman was delighted that she stumbled more than
+usual. Manin devoured his food in silence, only occasionally turning his
+head with marked indifference towards the sad scene. Soon he began
+murmuring at every blow like a machine:
+
+"Give it! Go it! That was good! There's a blow!" and other similar
+exclamations.
+
+The sacred history lesson came to an end, and there was a respite before
+taking the grammar, when the maid began joking cheerfully with the
+majordomo. She was in an angelic humour.
+
+"Did you ever see such meat?"
+
+"Fine, truely fine."
+
+"The worst of it is it will spoil your appetite for dinner."
+
+Whereupon the room then vibrated with the fellow's laughter.
+
+"This? Yes! It would be something for me to lose my appetite. You will
+have to put a hot iron in the water, like you do for the senora."
+
+"I would put it on your body, you great pig."
+
+"Look here, Concha, none of your teasing; because although you are only
+a little bit of a thing, and you have roguish eyes and a mouth like a
+cherry, you shall have such a blow one of these days, without your
+knowing whence it comes, that all that little row of pearls I see now
+shall be knocked down your throat."
+
+"Silence! silence, you old clod-hopper; you are a fine one for blows.
+You couldn't give them if you tried in such a tight costume. You are
+indeed a fright."
+
+"You are not saying this from your heart, but because you think it
+fine."
+
+"I know very well that there is a good deal behind all that. (And here
+he gave her a few rough digs in the ribs). If I could catch you in a
+maize field!"
+
+"It would only be as if you caught me in the market-place. No; you are
+nothing but jaw and tongue."
+
+"And hands too to touch what is nice," returned the barbarian, taking
+hold of the needlewoman's chin with his hand.
+
+"Leave go! leave go, you pig!" And she gave him a blow on the fingers
+with the whalebone. Then the rude fellow caught hold of her again, and
+she defended herself again in the same way. He then tried to get hold of
+her waist, whereupon the maid ran across the room pretending to be
+angry.
+
+"Don't touch me, Manin, or I will call the senora."
+
+But Manin did not care; he ran after her with grunts and laughter,
+catching hold of her here and seizing her there, whilst his cheeks,
+which were as hard and coarse as an elephant's hide, came in for blows
+from the servant, without showing that he felt them. The furniture was
+knocked about, the ground shook, the plates rang on the dresser, and
+still he did not give in, but he grew more and more false and fawning.
+The rogue knew that, irascible and fiendish as the little woman was, she
+was open to flattery like all human beings, and that it was for the
+interest of his stomach to keep her in a good humour. Finally, roaring
+like a bull, he caught her by the waist and held her up in the air. He
+held her up without any effort, as if she were a three-year old child.
+
+"Now, little spitfire, what do you say now? Where is your courage? Where
+are your hands? Come, witch, and ask pardon, or I will let you fall like
+a frog," roared the great bear, moving her to and fro in the air.
+
+"Let me go, Manin! Let me go, ass! There will be a row! Look here, I
+shall scream!"
+
+At last he put her down gently, and the maid, panting, dishevelled and
+frowning, so as to look more angry, said in an excited voice:
+
+"You have no shame, Manin. If we were not in this house as we are I
+would smash this lamp on your face for your rudeness and insolence. But
+here are the servants listening to all this, and what will they say?
+Don't say another word, for I won't answer you."
+
+"So you can scream now, vain little thing, after you have been in the
+seventh heaven," muttered Manin, in a drawling tone, looking at her
+angrily and pushing up his beard.
+
+"If you don't get out of my sight, you ruffian!" exclaimed the little
+servant, as she looked at him with laughter in her eyes, in spite of
+herself.
+
+Then Manin re-seated himself for the consumption of the rest of the
+bread, and to drink another glass of white wine. Josefina meanwhile
+sobbed in a corner, putting her wounded hands to her mouth and patting
+her cheeks, contused with the whalebone blows. Manin then deigned to
+cast a look at her.
+
+"Don't cry, little fool, the pain of the blows will go by, and the sense
+will remain in your head for ever," he said, cutting a piece of bread
+with his clasp-knife and putting it into his mouth. "If you would like
+to know my opinion, the more they beat you, the more pleased you ought
+to be. What would you be if Concha was not kind enough to beat you well?
+A little ignoramus, not worth a measure of acorns, a little beast, God
+save the comparison. And now what will you be? As fine a woman as you
+can see." (He paused whilst he cut another piece of bread and chewed it
+so that it caused a large lump in his right cheek). "Come, if I had had
+masters like you have to bruise my skin with blows, I should not be an
+ass now; they would not call me Manin, but Don Manuel, and instead of
+being a miserable underling I should be going about giving myself airs,
+walking down Altavilla with my hands behind me like the senores, and
+reading the papers in the casinos." (Another pause, and another cutting
+of a hunch of bread). "It is nothing but just, if you will see it so.
+How can you learn such difficult things without a few whippings? Whoever
+learned _daque_ without being beaten? Nobody. Then if you get learning
+you should thank God for having put a mistress over you like an aureole.
+For the end will please you; you will have soft hands and delicate feet,
+is it not so?"
+
+Concha, having now resumed her severe manner, seated herself and made an
+imperious gesture to the child to approach. It was the turn for grammar
+and it went worse than the history, either from want of memory or
+because she was upset by fear. Then the whipping recommenced; a
+whalebone blow now and then, then oftener and oftener. Manin, true to
+his pedagogical opinions, applauded with his mouth full, and cut his
+bread into wonderful geometrical shapes before conducting them with all
+solemnity to his mouth. The faults were many, the blows were the same.
+But at the end of the lesson Concha thought that besides the punishment
+at every fault there was a certain reparation due for general
+naughtiness, and so she had better conclude by a beating that would
+include everything. Therefore she jumped up from her chair, and
+brandishing the formidable whalebone, exclaimed:
+
+"Now to make you study better and to open your mind! Now!"
+
+The blows were so hard and so many that, trying to escape the torture,
+the little creature seized hold of the skirts of her torturer with her
+clenched hands. Without knowing how, perhaps through having carelessly
+caught hold of them, the string which held them broke and they fell off,
+leaving the needlewoman only in her undergarment. She gave a cry of
+shame and quickly pulled up the skirts. Then, without waiting to tie
+them on again, she cast a glance of the deepest anger at the child and
+left the room holding her things on with her hands.
+
+"You have done it finely now--finely, finely, finely!" said Manin,
+dexterously cutting the mouthful he was about to raise to his lips.
+
+The little creature paralysed with terror did not cry even; her wounds
+ceased to hurt her. At the end of a few minutes Concha reappeared
+accompanied by the senora, who came in with a sarcastic smile.
+
+"It seems that the senorita takes pleasure now in unrobing girls in
+public. You like that, senorita, do you not? Manin must have had a nice
+view of Concha. Eh, Manin?"
+
+She took a few steps forward. The child receded in dismay.
+
+"Don't be afraid, senorita. I have not come to beat you. Who gives heed
+to whippings? I have only come to invite you to take a turn in the
+cellar--the cellar with the rats--you know it. There you can amuse
+yourself in undressing any rat of the many that will pay their respects
+to you. Come along. Give me your hand so that I can take you with all
+ceremony."
+
+The child ran behind a chair, from whence, being pursued by Amalia and
+Concha, she got under the table, and finally took refuge behind the
+majordomo.
+
+"Manin! Manin! For God's sake hide me!"
+
+But he took her by the arm and handed her over to the senora. Then they
+each took a hand, and in spite of her piercing cries they dragged her
+off.
+
+"To the cellar, no! to the cellar, no! Godmother, pardon. Kill me
+sooner. See what a terror I have. No, not to the cellar for the rats to
+eat me!"
+
+The servants came out in the passage and assisted at the scene in solemn
+silence. The cries of the child were soon lost in descending the dark
+winding staircase leading to the underground cellar.
+
+Amalia opened the door of the horrible place and pushed her daughter
+inside. She banged the door to, and the child running to get out, caught
+her hand in it. A fearful cry of pain was heard. The Valencian reopened
+the door, and gave such a rough push to the child that she was thrown on
+the ground, and then she turned the key.
+
+The cellar was a dark, damp prison, only lightened by a few stray rays
+of light from an ox-eye above. It had once been used as a wine-cellar,
+now there were only empty bottles there. Scarcely was the child alone,
+when she got up, looked round mad with fright, tried to cry, but she was
+unable to utter, and finally, extending her hands in an excess of
+fearful trembling, she fell senseless to the ground. At the end of half
+an hour the stable-boy, who had witnessed the incarceration, came to the
+door being moved by compassion, and looked through the keyhole. There
+was nothing to be seen. He called very gently:
+
+"Josefina."
+
+The child did not reply. He called louder. The same silence. Alarmed, he
+called and knocked at the door with all his might without obtaining any
+reply. Then, at the risk of losing his place, he went quickly upstairs
+to say what had happened. Amalia sent Concha with the key to see what
+had occurred. Paula and she together carried the little creature
+upstairs senseless, cold, and with all the signs of death upon her face.
+Afraid of the complications that might arise, the wife of the Grandee
+put her quickly to bed, where she soon came to herself, but a serious
+fever immediately set in. The doctor was sent for. He found her very
+ill. To account for the injury of her hand and the contusions about her,
+Amalia, clever in lying, invented a story that the doctor believed, or
+pretended to believe. She hovered for some days between life and death.
+Amalia followed the course of the illness with anxious eyes. She was not
+unhappy at the thought of losing the being upon whom she had vented the
+bitter disappointment of her heart, but she was distressed at the idea
+of losing her revenge at one blow. When Josefina had been in bed three
+days, she heard that Fernanda had left for Madrid the previous evening
+in the postchaise, and that Luis would only be four or five days before
+joining her. This was a severe shock; a burning wave of bile inundated
+her heart, and that night she too had fever. So they were escaping!
+There would be no possible revenge for the traitor. He would go to
+Madrid; he would marry; he would perhaps have news there of his
+daughter's death, but the caresses of his adored bride would soon put it
+out of his mind. Of that long, ardent love affair there would be nothing
+left but a man parading his bliss through Europe, and a poor old sad
+woman in Lancia, a laughing-stock for the Lancian circles. Her flaccid
+flesh trembled. The revengeful instincts of her race cried out in futile
+rage. No, no, it could not be! She would sooner drag his dead daughter
+to his feet; she would sooner kill him with a stab in the heart!
+
+A singular and terrible idea occurred to her--to tell her husband
+everything. She ignored what she would incur herself, but it would
+provoke an immediate scandal. Don Pedro was violent, and he enjoyed
+great power and prestige. Who could say the harm that such a bomb would
+cause? Certainly he was paralysed, and he could not take personal
+revenge; but would not that proud, punctilious man find means of
+repaying the injury that had been done him? She would come to grief
+herself, but she would willingly fall if the traitor paid for his
+treachery. After a long struggle with these thoughts she did not dare
+run the risk of making the confession by word of mouth, nor writing
+under her own name, but, disguising the handwriting, she wrote an
+anonymous letter:
+
+     "The child that you adopted six years ago is the daughter of your
+     wife and a gentleman who visits your house, whom you call your
+     friend. I do not tell you the name. Look for him, and you will soon
+     come across the traitor.
+
+                  (Signed) A FAITHFUL FRIEND."
+
+She posted the epistle and anxiously waited to see the effect.
+
+Don Pedro received it in her presence and read it, whilst her face
+violently contracted and assumed a cadaverous pallor.
+
+"Who writes to you?" she asked in a natural way.
+
+The Grandee replied immediately, and folding and retaining the letter,
+he said, with some effort to control his voice that trembled:
+
+"Nobody. One of the persons I recommended, complains that he has been
+kept waiting. This governor! He has nor memory, no regularity at all!"
+
+Anxiously and restlessly awaiting the course of events, she retired to
+her boudoir. Jacoba came in the evening with an air of mystery and gave
+her a letter from the count.
+
+"What does this man want with me?" she asked in a surprised, vexed tone.
+
+"I don't know, senorita. He wrote the letter in my house, and is there
+waiting for the answer."
+
+The count's letter ran thus:
+
+     "Amalia, I know that our child is in danger of death. By all that
+     you love best in the world, by the salvation of your soul, grant me
+     an interview. I must speak to you. If this evening it cannot be,
+     come to-morrow to Jacoba's house.
+
+                   Yours, LUIS."
+
+"Yours! yours!" she murmured with a bitter smile. "You have been mine,
+but you have changed your owner, and it will cost you dear."
+
+"Shall I take the answer, senorita?"
+
+She stood pensive for a few minutes, walked up and down the room
+completely absorbed in thought, went to the window and looked through
+the panes. Finally, half turning round, she said very abruptly:
+
+"Very well; I will go to-morrow at the hour of Mass."
+
+"He asked after the child with the greatest interest."
+
+"Say that she is better."
+
+The intermediary retired, and Amalia remained for a long time looking at
+the street through the window-panes without seeing it. From seven
+o'clock in the morning of the following day, Luis was waiting for her in
+Jacoba's little house. It only consisted of a kitchen on the
+ground-floor and a little bedroom upstairs, and both so low that the
+count's head, with his hat on, touched the ceiling. In this little room
+he was walking up and down with impatient steps, with his hands in his
+pockets looking cautiously every minute through the blinds of the only
+window there was. The lady did not arrive until nine o'clock. He saw
+her coming with her mantilla veiling her eyes, her missal in her hand,
+and her rosary hanging on her wrist, with a firm, self-assured step, as
+if she were coming to give orders to her old protegee. When he heard her
+voice in the kitchen his heart beat quickly, he began to tremble, and in
+his agitation he forgot all that he was going to say.
+
+"How are you, count?" she said, with perfect naturalness as she came in
+and gave him her hand.
+
+"Very well--and thou?"
+
+She raised her head as if she were surprised to hear him _tutoyer_ her,
+and replied, as she looked at him fixedly:
+
+"Perfectly."
+
+"And the child?"
+
+"Somewhat better."
+
+The man's face brightened at hearing this news. A ray of happiness shone
+in his eyes, and taking the hand of his former lover, he led her to the
+poor, straw-stuffed sofa, and said:
+
+"Let us sit down, Amalia. Although it may be a liberty on my part, I beg
+of you to let me go on _tutoyant_ you when we are alone. I do not
+forget, I never can forget, how many happy hours I owe you, and how much
+happiness you brought into my sad, monotonous life. You revealed to me
+all that was sweetest and best in my heart without my hardly suspecting
+it. All the first impulses of my soul were for you. Until now, you alone
+had penetrated it and sounded, and knew its melancholy, weakness, and
+tenderness. If I separate from you, it is only in obedience to a law of
+nature which impels us all to found a family. I have nobody in the world
+but my mother, who may soon leave me alone. You ought not to mind my
+wishing to make a home, and have an heir to my name and estates.
+Besides, my conscience rebukes me."
+
+The count, delighted at the improvement of the child, was more expansive
+and loquacious than usual, being unable to hide his happiness, and
+thinking everything was arranged according to his wishes. Josefina was
+happy with her mother, he happy with Fernanda, and Amalia, being
+resigned, would grant him a sweet affection that would get purer every
+day.
+
+She looked at him now with a certain quizzical curiosity.
+
+When he had finished, she said, with a sarcastic smile:
+
+"From the night you saw Fernanda in her splendid _recherche_ dress, this
+feeling of conscience must have been insupportable."
+
+The count smiled too, somewhat shamefacedly.
+
+"Don't believe it, Amalia. I have always felt remorse. Certainly, on
+getting old, one sees things more clearly. My beard is white in many
+places, as you can see. That which is excusable in a youth as wildness,
+as an irrepressible ebullition of vitality, becomes crime in an older
+person. Love at my age ought not to clip the wings of reason, and if it
+does, it merits the term of madness. My determination may be hard for
+both of us. It is very trying to me; it costs me a good deal to break
+loose from a _liaison_ that force of time has almost converted into a
+habit. Besides, unfortunately, there exists a bond between us which is
+impossible to break completely. Destiny has brought forth from the mire
+of our sin a beautiful blossom, a sweet white lily. Let us remove the
+stain from her brow, although she is the offspring of an unlawful
+passion, do not let us corrupt her with our blameworthy conduct. Let us
+make ourselves worthy of her by living like Christians."
+
+"All this is very well, only I am sorry that this course of Christian
+doctrine has come so late, and so simultaneous with the arrival of your
+old _fiancee_ to the place, because it seems as if you had completely
+forgotten your catechism, until she came to refresh your memory. But,
+after all, it is not for me to interfere as it does not concern me. The
+gist of it all is that you are going to marry. You do well. Man is badly
+off alone, and when he finds a worthy companion like you have done, he
+ought not to lose the opportunity. Fernanda is a very good girl; I am
+sure that she will make you happy; you will have many sons, and after a
+long and happy life you will go to heaven."
+
+This state of resignation surprised Luis and he could not help feeling
+somewhat taken aback.
+
+"And you, too, will be happy?" he timidly asked.
+
+"I? what does it signify if I am happy or unhappy?" she said, shrugging
+her shoulders disdainfully.
+
+"Don't say that, Amalia! Happiness is not that madness to which we have
+given ourselves up these seven years. There is a taste of bitterness in
+that, which I have noticed for some time and which you will soon
+perceive. A pure, worthy life, a quiet conscience, and the esteem of
+honourable persons will give you more pleasure than criminal passion.
+Besides, you have what I have not; you have an angel with you, a
+fragrant, beautiful lily that will sweeten your existence."
+
+"Ah, yes, Josefina! Really, so she is to be the one who is to afford me
+my only pleasant times in the future!"
+
+This was said with such a strange inflexion of voice, so sharp and so
+strident that Luis shivered.
+
+"What do you mean by that?"
+
+"I mean what I say, that it is fortunate I have Josefina to cheer me."
+
+"But you say it in such a strange way."
+
+The Valencian then gave a curious forced laugh of sinister sound that
+came from the back of her throat.
+
+Luis looked at her fixedly, getting more and more uneasy.
+
+"But what a fool you are, Luis! How more than foolish! Egotism has so
+blinded your eyes that you cannot see what is before you. If you were
+twenty, this innocence might perhaps inspire me with pity, but at your
+age it only fills me with scorn and derision. To think that three or
+four insolent remarks on morality and conscience will suffice to make
+me contentedly accept the humiliation you impose upon me; to suppose
+that I, whom if you do not know, you ought to know, am going to consent
+to be cast away like an old rag, that I am to crawl like an enamoured
+slave at the feet of Fernanda, to serve her as a footstool when she
+mounts to her couch, is the height of stupidity and nonsense. Why don't
+you ask me to be bridesmaid at once?"
+
+The count looked at her with dilated eyes full of anxiety and fear.
+
+"So what I have heard of the tortures you have inflicted on our daughter
+is true?"
+
+"Quite true! And you do not yet know all. Look here, I am going to tell
+you all, so that you may not say you are deceived."
+
+Then, in a few incisive words, with a cruel satisfaction revealed in her
+voice, she put before him the fearful picture of the pain and misery
+suffered by the unhappy little creature during the last few months. The
+account was infinitely more shocking than the one Maria, the ironer, had
+given. The count, pale and overwhelmed, without making the slightest
+movement, looked the picture of despair. He soon covered his face with
+his hands, and so listened until the end.
+
+"Oh, how infamous! oh, how infamous!" he groaned to himself.
+
+"Yes, very infamous, but I hope to be more so. Have you heard all these
+infamies? Then they are nothing compared to what I shall do."
+
+"You shall not do it, you wicked woman!" exclaimed Luis. "I would sooner
+strangle you with my own hands."
+
+The Valencian rushed to the door.
+
+"If you come a step nearer, I'll shriek!"
+
+"Oh, infamous, infamous person!" exclaimed the count, again in a deep
+voice, "and God allows such monsters upon the earth!"
+
+He took a few steps back and cast himself again upon the sofa. He
+rested his elbows on his knees, and put his head between his hands.
+After some time he raised it saying:
+
+"Well, what do you exact from me?"
+
+Amalia took a step towards him.
+
+"That which you ought to expect, if you have any common sense left. I
+don't ask for our connection to continue, because at the pass we have
+come to it is not possible; it would be like giving the lie to love, and
+I have too much pride for that. But I do not want you or this woman to
+make me a laughing-stock; I am not going to be made a subject of
+derision to those who know of our connection: and those are all who
+visit at the house. I demand as the condition of the child being as she
+was, that you immediately break with Fernanda and think no more of her."
+
+"But, Amalia," he exclaimed, in accents of misery, "you know quite well
+it is impossible; my wedding is fixed; all Lancia knows it. Fernanda is
+waiting for me in Madrid; only a few days are wanting----"
+
+"And if only a minute were wanting, this wedding shall not take place.
+If you marry Fernanda the child shall pay for the offence in the way you
+know."
+
+"Oh, I will prevent it. I will tell the authorities. I will ask for the
+care of the child."
+
+"This is only talking for talking sake, Luis," replied Amalia, calm and
+smiling. "The authorities of Lancia are under the Quinones. Nobody would
+dare say a word against me."
+
+"If I refer the whole matter to Don Pedro."
+
+"He will not believe you, and if he did believe you, instead of impeding
+my revenge which is also his, he would help me."
+
+A long silence then ensued. The count was plunged in thought with his
+hand pressed against his brow. Suddenly he rose hastily, and walked up
+and down the room in an agitated way.
+
+"It cannot be! it cannot be!"
+
+The Valencian followed him with her eyes. At last she said, as she
+walked to the door:
+
+"Good-bye."
+
+The count retained her with a gesture. "Stop."
+
+Amalia stopped motionless, with her hand on the latch of the door as her
+piercing glance rested upon him.
+
+The count went on walking for some time without paying any attention to
+her.
+
+"Very well," he said, in a hoarse voice, stopping short, "the marriage
+shall not take place; you will tell me what I am to do."
+
+His altered face evinced the calmness of despair.
+
+"You will have to write a letter to Fernanda to bade her farewell."
+
+"I will write it."
+
+"Now, at once."
+
+"Now, at once."
+
+Amalia went to the stairs and asked Jacoba for a writing-case. As there
+was no table there, she put it on the chest of drawers. The count
+approached and began to write standing. Amalia approached too.
+
+"This is what I want you to write to her."
+
+It was the rough draft of the letter. The count cast his eye over it.
+
+     "My good friend Fernanda," it ran, "I wanted you to be away so as
+     to tell you in writing what would be beyond my powers to say to
+     you. I cannot be yours. It is not necessary to give you the reasons
+     because you will guess them. Would that I loved you enough to
+     ignore everything and fly with you! Unfortunately, or fortunately,
+     there are things that weigh on my heart more than love. Pardon me
+     for having deceived you and try to be happy as it is the wish of
+     your best friend.
+
+                  "LUIS."
+
+He traced the lines of this letter with a trembling hand, and before
+finishing it, tears rose to his eyes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+JOSEFINA SLEEPS
+
+
+The noble Grandee easily guessed the author of his disgrace. As soon as
+he read the anonymous letter and recovered his self-command, his
+suspicions fell upon the Conde de Onis. In this he was only influenced
+by the likeness that he now clearly saw between him and the foundling.
+For either his excessive pride had blinded his eyes, or else because
+Amalia had known how to keep him deceived, he had never noticed anything
+between them beyond a cool, conventional friendship at which nobody
+could have taken umbrage. The same pride arrested the course of his
+bitter thoughts by making the most of this consideration. Why give any
+importance to what an anonymous letter said? Why not suppose it was a
+vile calumny by which some enemy tried to envenom his existence? But the
+dart had gone so deep into his heart that he could not pull it out. All
+the considerations invented by his inclination could not destroy the
+perfect conviction that, without his knowing how, had taken shape in his
+brain. Sundry details, unnoticed at the time, soon stood out and guided
+him like lighted torches. The first of all was naturally the illness of
+his wife simultaneous with the appearance of the child. He recalled her
+strange aversion to having a doctor to see her; then the indulgence and
+extreme attention lavished on the child. He also recollected the visits
+that at one time his wife made to the Grange on the pretext of getting
+plants. There was no circumstance connected with the count's friendship
+and the finding of the child that he did not turn over and weigh
+thoughtfully. He became silent and meditative. The hard look of his
+piercing eyes was always fixed upon Amalia directly she came into the
+room. Sometimes he had the child fetched on some pretext or another, and
+looked at her for a long time trying to decipher in the lines of her
+face the enigma of her existence.
+
+Amalia saw all this, and read the thoughts of her husband like an open
+book.
+
+"When is Luis to be married?" asked the Grandee one day in an assumed,
+careless tone.
+
+"They say it will be some time yet. He has to arrange I don't know how
+many matters before going to Madrid," she replied, with the greatest
+calmness.
+
+"Is he still at the Grange?"
+
+"Yes, always; he only comes in sometimes of an evening, according to
+what he told me one day when I met him in Barrosa's shop."
+
+The very next evening the count appeared at the party.
+
+"What? You here? Have you left the Grange?" Don Pedro asked, with a
+penetrating glance.
+
+"Definitely, no; I have the carriage below. I am going back to sleep."
+
+"You must be dull there, eh?" asked Don Cristobal Mateo.
+
+"In the day, no; I am very busy with agricultural occupations, with the
+mill, cattle, &c. But the evenings are very long."
+
+Luis only came for the sake of seeing his daughter. Amalia had not
+allowed it until the child had partially recovered; then she was dressed
+as before, and she resumed her old rights. But not the affection. The
+charm was gone, because Luis hated her, especially through having had to
+submit through coercion. With the ardent passion full of love and
+mystery there had also mingled an attachment to the little creature.
+But the tortures that her mad anger inflicted on the little girl had
+made a gulf between them. The poor child, clad in rich clothes, wandered
+alone about the palace of the Quinones without inspiring any one with
+tenderness. Amalia avoided her. The servants, ashamed of their unkind
+treatment, and sulky at the sudden change which put the foundling again
+above them, did not speak to her. The long martyrdom she had undergone
+and the terrible illness with which it terminated had made great ravages
+in her appearance. Her pale cheek was as transparent as mother-of-pearl;
+there was still a dark black circle from agitation and pain round her
+eyes. The count's heart contracted every time he saw her, and it cost
+him some effort to restrain his tears.
+
+Amalia did not tell her lover of the imprudent anonymous letter she had
+sent to Quinones. Fearing from her husband's excitability some serious
+consequence would ensue, she determined to get him off the scent, as it
+was not possible to restore his tranquillity. The course that seemed to
+her best to take was to remove his suspicions from Luis and put them on
+Jaime Moro. He was the only one who, by his position, age, and
+appearance could seem like a probable lover. She began by treating him
+before Don Pedro with particular partiality, picking him out from the
+other guests in a very conspicuous manner. She cast smiling, significant
+glances at him; she took pleasure in standing behind his chair when he
+was playing at _tresillo_ and joking with him; she called him every
+minute to her on some pretext or other, and then kept him at her side
+with long whispering conversations in which her cheek came in close
+proximity with his. It was not so easy as it seemed to make a conquest
+of Moro, although it was only a make-believe. He was not at all
+churlish; on the contrary, he had a just reputation of being gentlemanly
+and courteous with ladies; but when ladies stand in the way of billiards
+or _tresillo_ there is nobody six miles round so cross and uncivil.
+Amalia was a great bore to him when the _tresillo_ players were waiting
+for him. Then his answers to her questions did not come readily; he
+smiled mechanically and gave frequent longing glances at the table where
+his companions were enjoying the delights of some trick with a good
+suit.
+
+"Moro, sit here, we will have a chat together."
+
+Moro trembled as if the world were coming to an end. He took a seat by
+the side of the lady with a face that was very long, not at all
+consistent with the passion that was supposed to consume his breast. The
+Grandee had paid little heed to these marks of favour and insinuating
+smiles of his wife. He looked at them with vacant eyes without any
+suspicion arising in his mind, which was entirely turned in the right
+direction. Nevertheless, Amalia was so persistent and seemed so
+engrossed, that the noble gentleman began to pay heed to those signs and
+to attribute some significance to them. The Valencian felt the pleasure
+of triumph. Her machinations were about to be realised. And to give an
+important, decisive stroke to her plot, she suddenly thought of a
+dangerous trick. She was seated in a corner with Jaime Moro at her side,
+quite in sight of Don Pedro. Moro was _distrait_ as usual, and the wife
+of Quinones had to make prodigious efforts to sustain the conversation;
+she smiled, she coquetted, she involved him in a mesh of honeyed
+phrases, which she greatly intensified with her smile so as to attract
+Don Pedro's attention.
+
+"What is it? Are you looking at my bracelet?"
+
+Moro had not noticed it.
+
+"It is very pretty," he quickly returned politely.
+
+"It belonged to my mother. It is better than it looks. This portrait,
+which is of my grandmother, is made in mosaic. Look!"
+
+Whereupon she raised her hand, and Moro looked at it with assumed
+admiration.
+
+"Look well at it."
+
+And she raised it a little more so as to bring it near his face. Then
+seeing out of the corner of her eye that Don Pedro was looking at her,
+she lifted it a little more so as to brush the lips of the young man;
+then she instantly withdrew it with a quick gesture. Moro was quite
+taken aback. He involuntarily looked at Don Pedro, and seeing that his
+glance was fixed on him with a cold piercing look, he coloured up to the
+eyes; and Amalia rose and left the room as if to hide her confusion.
+
+The proud Grandee was fully overwhelmed by the secret that he thought he
+had discovered. His ideas underwent a sudden shock. Agitated by a
+thousand conflicting suspicions, dominated by furious anger, he moved
+the cards in his trembling hands without thinking of them, for his mind
+was full of awful revenge against his wife and against him. Against
+whom? Who was the traitor? Doubt inflamed his rage. What he had seen was
+very conclusive. Nevertheless, he could not get the Conde de Onis out of
+his mind. The testimony of his eyes was arrayed against his instinct, a
+voice within that told him continually the name of his enemy.
+
+The count himself then appeared at the party. He greeted Amalia coldly,
+and was going straight to the library, when Manuel Antonio caught hold
+of him by the tail of his coat.
+
+"Where are you off to, Luis? Come here, boy; don't go and bury yourself
+in the game directly. Look here, Maria Josefa and Jovita have been
+disputing every evening about the date of your marriage. But I said to
+them: 'Don't dispute any more. If Luis comes to-day he is so kind that
+he will certainly tell you himself.'"
+
+"Then you told them wrong," replied the count, approaching the group.
+
+"Have you turned so cross then?"
+
+"It is not crossness, it is ignorance. These ladies know very well that
+things don't happen as, and when, we wish. If I were to name a date now,
+and it turned out differently they would think that I had been making
+fun of them."
+
+In spite of the efforts he made to smile, the face of the count
+expressed infinite sadness, and his voice was low and hoarse.
+
+"No, no! nothing of the sort!" exclaimed Jovita, laughing. "Tell us any
+day, and if it should turn out differently we shall think it was not by
+your wish."
+
+"Very well, then, to-morrow."
+
+"So soon as that!" cried both old maids in astonishment.
+
+"You are not easy to please. What day do you want me to marry? Fix it
+yourselves."
+
+The count had not said a word to anybody about his marriage being broken
+off. The innate weakness of his character made him withhold a piece of
+news that would so soon spread abroad. He fought shy of public curiosity
+and avoided questions at which his face might betray the cause of such a
+determination. And he trembled and became profoundly sad every time,
+like now, the matter was alluded to. Until then nothing had transpired.
+It was thought in the town from day to day that he would go to Madrid to
+join his bride. Nevertheless, Manuel Antonio, whose olfactory sense was
+superior to that of all his contemporaries, had scented something. And
+with the tenacity and dissimulation of an Isabella of England, he began
+to collect bits of news and piece them together in such a way that at
+the present time he was very near the truth.
+
+"You seem very sad, Luisito," he said to him suddenly. "You look more
+like making your will than being married."
+
+The count was affected, and not knowing what to say, he answered, with a
+forced smile:
+
+"Marriage is a very serious step."
+
+He then tried to beat a retreat, but Manuel Antonio retained him again.
+He wanted to get a key to the enigma at all costs, and to have his
+suspicions confirmed, so seconded by Maria Josefa, who knew better than
+he what line to adopt, he kept up the conversation for some time on the
+difficult subject. Luis was on thorns. He kept looking at Amalia, as if
+he were claiming what she had been obliged to concede him. The lady at
+last rose, put her head out of the door, and then resumed her seat. In a
+few moments Josefina's pale, gentle face appeared. She cast her sad eyes
+over the room, and at a sign from her godmother she directed her steps
+to the library. She passed the count, he half turned towards her and
+gave her a rapid, anxious look, which did not escape the sharp eyes of
+his interlocutors. The child raised her eyes shining with a happy smile
+to his. It was a magnetic shock that suddenly filled her childish heart
+with joy. The guests tried to keep her, but obedient to the command of
+her godmother she went on to the library. A few minutes afterwards,
+Quinones sharp voice was heard:
+
+"Is not the Conde de Onis there? Why does he not come in?"
+
+"I am coming, Don Pedro," returned Luis, quickly, glad to escape from
+the boring group.
+
+On his entering the library, in less time than it takes to tell, a
+terrible scene took place that put everything in commotion, and
+terrified the guests. Don Pedro, with the cards in his hand, was with
+Jaime Moro and Don Enrique Valero. Saleta, who made the fourth, was
+sitting talking to the chaplain behind him. Three or four people were
+standing round the table watching the game. Josefina was near the noble
+Grandee with her arms crossed, waiting for the benediction before going
+to bed. At the count's entrance, Quinones darted a rapid, sharp glance
+at him, and then gave one of deep hatred at the child, as he said, with
+a sarcastic smile:
+
+"Ah, do you want your blessing? Take your blessing."
+
+And so saying he gave her a tremendous blow that felled her to the
+ground, whilst blood flowed from her mouth and nostrils.
+
+Luis seemed to feel the blow in his own cheeks. All the blood left them
+and he turned deadly pale; then his will being overpowered by a blind
+impulse, he cried out:
+
+"It is a vile shame! It is a cowardly act!"
+
+He then tried to throw himself on Quinones, but the others held him
+back, whilst Don Pedro called out in a loud voice, mad with anger, "At
+last! At last, dog!"
+
+He made a supreme effort to rise from his chair and attack the destroyer
+of his honour. He half managed it, but finally fell back senseless with
+his mouth distorted. The guests had all risen and rushed to the library.
+The ladies shrieked in terror. The men behind asked what had happened.
+The Conde de Onis cast a frenzied look at them, stepped to the spot
+where Josefina was lying, lifted her from the ground, and with her in
+his arms, he tried to pass out, but Amalia stood in the way.
+
+"Where are you going?"
+
+Then she tried to snatch the child from him. But Luis stretched out his
+hand, caught the Valencian by the hair, and after shaking her roughly
+three or four times, he cast her away from him, and made for the
+drawing-room door. He flew down the staircase and out into the street,
+where his carriage was waiting for him, and jumping into it with his
+precious burthen, he said to the coachman:
+
+"Quick, to the Grange!"
+
+The heavy vehicle jolted along the badly paved streets, and he was not
+long in reaching the high road. The moon shone high in the firmament.
+Great thick clouds floated across its disc, but it reappeared directly.
+A stormy wind soughed in the upper atmospheric regions. Silence and
+peace reigned below.
+
+Josefina still remained unconscious. The count wiped the blood away
+with his handkerchief. Then he tried to revive her by imprinting long,
+passionate kisses upon her alabaster cheek.
+
+At last her eyes opened, she looked at the count with a strange
+intensity and then they lighted up with a sweet smile:
+
+"Is that you, Luis?"
+
+"Yes, my life, it is I."
+
+"Where are you taking me to?"
+
+"Where you like."
+
+"Take me far away, very far away! Take me to your house. Take me, even
+if you can't feed me. Being with you I shan't mind dying."
+
+The count pressed her to his heart and covered her with kisses.
+
+"Yes, yes, you are going to my house," he exclaimed, whilst tears bathed
+his cheeks. "You shall never leave it, because they would have to take
+my life before they should take you. Listen, Josefina, I am going to
+tell you something. Try and understand. Make an effort and you will do
+so. I am your father. The Senores de Quinones took you into their house;
+but I am your father. Do you understand?"
+
+"Yes, Luis, I understand you."
+
+"They took you in because I was wrong enough to give you up to them
+instead of keeping you with me."
+
+"Now I understand you, Luis. You were not wrong. You were good, and I
+love you."
+
+"Yes, child of my soul, I love you more than my life. Forgive me."
+
+"I love you too--but not them. I loved godmother once, but not now. She
+has beaten me so much. If you could but know! She bit me, she scratched
+me, she dragged me on the ground, she told Concha to beat me with a
+broom, she tied me with a string like a dog."
+
+"Don't, don't, you kill me!" said Luis, sobbing.
+
+"Don't cry, Luis, don't cry! See how kind you are; you are crying for
+me."
+
+"Should I not cry for you as you are my daughter? I am your father!
+Don't you know it, don't you know it?"
+
+"Yes, I know it. You are my father, and I am your daughter. I am
+sleepy--let me sleep upon your breast."
+
+And her little fair head sank in sleep. The count bent his own to
+imprint a kiss upon her brow, and his lips encountered the fire of
+fever.
+
+The little creature enjoyed a few minutes lethargic sleep. Occasional
+cold shivers ran through her delicate little body. At last she awoke
+with a cry.
+
+"Luis, they are taking me away! Look at them, look at them! There they
+are!" Her eyes were full of wild terror.
+
+"No, daughter, no, they are trees on the road waving their branches
+towards us."
+
+"Don't you see Don Pedro threatening me? Don't you hear what he is
+saying?"
+
+"Calm yourself, my soul, it is the roaring of the wind."
+
+"You are right. They are gone now. Look how the moon is shining! Look at
+the beautiful fields and the quantities of flowers! A palace of crystal!
+There is a child playing with a white cat. How lovely! It is prettier
+than Rose. Let me play with her, Luis."
+
+"You shall play as much as you like, and I will buy you a white cat and
+a white dove that will eat out of your hand."
+
+"No, I don't want you to spend money; I am contented if you don't leave
+me."
+
+"Never, you shall live with me always, because you are my daughter. Go
+to sleep, my heart."
+
+"Darkness again! It has come back. Take them away, Luis, take them! for
+God's sake! How they are pulling at me!"
+
+"Don't be afraid, you are with me. Look, there is the moon again. Do you
+see how it shines? Sleep, my heart."
+
+"It is true--Yes I see the fields full of flowers--I see the white
+cat--The child is not there--Where is it, Luis?"
+
+"It is in my house waiting to play with you. We are very near now. Go to
+sleep."
+
+"Yes, Luis, I am going to sleep. You tell me to, don't you? I ought to
+obey you because I am your daughter. I am cold. Hold me tighter."
+
+He pressed her closer and closer to his breast. Josefina slept at last.
+The carriage rolled along the deserted road, past the fields lighted by
+the light of the moon. The wind moaned in the distance. The trees began
+to wave their branches.
+
+The drive to the Grange was reached.
+
+Luis bent his head to wake the child, but on giving her a kiss, he felt
+the coldness of death. He raised her quickly, he shook her violently
+several times as he called her loudly:
+
+"Josefina! Daughter! daughter! daughter! Wake up!"
+
+The fair head of the child fell from one side to the other like a lily
+with a broken stem.
+
+_Printed by_ BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
+
+_London & Edinburgh_
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[A] A peseta is worth 9-1/2_d._
+
+[B] Spanish game of cards.
+
+[C] One of the Spanish military orders formed to wage war against
+infidels.
+
+[D] Spanish games of cards.
+
+[E] About L700 or L800.
+
+[F] Spanish game of billiards.
+
+[G] The officer who collects the king's revenue.
+
+[H] About L300.
+
+[I] About L400.
+
+[J] _Lapiz_, a black stone. He meant to say _apice_, the smallest part.
+
+[K] An old-fashioned dance still in vogue in Galicia and Asturias. One
+chants a song, and the others join in the chorus.
+
+[Illustration: book back cover]
+
+
+
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