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diff --git a/38293-h/38293-h.htm b/38293-h/38293-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ddce96 --- /dev/null +++ b/38293-h/38293-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7454 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Joy of Captain Ribot, by Armando Palacio Valdés. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top:.2em;text-align:justify;margin-bottom:.2em;text-indent:2%;} + +.c {text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} + +.cb {text-align:center;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;} + +.letra {font-size:300%; float:left;margin-top:-1%;} + +.nind {text-indent:0%;} + +.r {text-align:right;margin-right: 5%;} + +small {font-size: 70%;} + + h1 {text-align:center;clear:both;margin:8% auto 2% auto;} + + h2 {margin:8% auto 2% auto;text-align:center;clear:both; +font-size:110%;} + + hr.full {width: 50%;margin:5% auto 5% auto;border:4px double gray;} + + table {margin:2% auto 2% auto;border:none;text-align:left;} + + body{margin-left:2%;margin-right:2%;background:#fdfdfd;color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;font-size:medium;} + +a:link {background-color:#ffffff;color:blue;text-decoration:none;} + + link {background-color:#ffffff;color:blue;text-decoration:none;} + +a:visited {background-color:#ffffff;color:purple;text-decoration:none;} + +a:hover {background-color:#ffffff;color:#FF0000;text-decoration:underline;} + + img {border:none;} + +.figcenter {margin:auto;text-align:center;text-indent:0%;} +</style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Joy of Captain Ribot, by Armando Palacio Valdés + +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 Joy of Captain Ribot + +Author: Armando Palacio Valdés + +Translator: Minna Caroline Smith + +Release Date: December 13, 2011 [EBook #38293] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JOY OF CAPTAIN RIBOT *** + + + + +Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images available at The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p class="cb">The Joy of Captain Ribot</p> + +<p> +<br /> +<br /> +</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/cover_lg.jpg"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="367" height="550" alt="image of the book's cover" title="image of the book's cover" /></a> +</p> + +<h1>THE JOY OF CAPTAIN RIBOT</h1> + +<p class="cb">AUTHORIZED TRANSLATION FROM THE<br /> +ORIGINAL OF<br /> +<br /> +<big>A. PALACIO VALDÉS</big><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +BY<br /> +<big>MINNA CAROLINE SMITH</big><br /><br /><br /> +<br /> +<img src="images/colophon.png" width="80" height="127" alt="colophon" title="colophon" /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +NEW YORK<br /> +BRENTANO'S<br /> +1900</p> + +<p class="c"><br /><br /><br /><small>C<small>OPYRIGHT</small>, 1900, BY<br /> +BRENTANOS.</small></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="" +style="border:2px dotted gray;margin:5% auto 3% auto;text-align:center; +max-width:60%;"> +<tr><td><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Chapter: I., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">II., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">III., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">V., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">X., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII., </a> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII.</a> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<h2><a name="Introduction" id="Introduction"></a>Introduction</h2> + +<p>"We Americans are apt to think because we have banged the Spanish +war-ships to pieces that we are superior to the Spaniards, but here in +the field where there is always peace they shine our masters. If we have +any novelists to compare with theirs at their best, I should be puzzled +to think of them, and I should like to have some one else try"—wrote +William Dean Howells in <i>Literature</i>.</p> + +<p>When a work by one of the world's masters of fiction has called forth a +remark like the foregoing from a leading man of letters in America, it +would be a misfortune if the public to whom the remark is addressed +might not enjoy the privilege of acquaintance with that work. And it was +this most charming novel by Señor Armando Palacio Valdés, "La Alegria +del Capitán Ribot," that prompted Mr. Howells to write those words. Any +reader must be hard to please who would not take the keenest delight in +a story presented with a touch so delicate. The scene is laid in +Valencia, one of the earth's famous garden spots, where the touch of the +classic hand, laid upon the spot ages ago yet lingers. It is a story +dominated by the purest joy, as its serene Mediterranean landscape is +dominated by the purest sunshine.</p> + +<p>Every novelist of character must have some purpose in mind in a given +work, and the purpose of Señor Valdés in this is of no slight import. It +happens that, from an unclean quality that distinguishes the fiction of +a certain nation, the minds of many lands have been infected. For the +almost universal aim of its authors has seemed to be so pervasively to +color their pictures of life with one particular kind of sin as to give +the impression that it is a main factor of modern civilization, instead +of something that blots but a small proportion of the lives of men and +women in any land. So, when Señor Valdés wrote to me, several months +ago, about his new novel, he said: "It is a protest from the depths +against the eternal adultery of the French novel." And when I read the +book, I thought that "A Married Woman" would have been a good name for +the story, so nobly and so truly does it present a type of the true and +devoted wife in Cristina Martí—one of the great creations in modern +literature. The trait that makes Señor Valdés one of the most eminent of +living novelists is greatness of soul, finding expression as it does in +a consummate mastery of his art. That trait appears in his "La Fé" as in +no other novel that I know; and in the present story it pervades the +whole work, which, moreover, is clean, sweet, and wholesome in every +part. Magnanimity is a word that somehow implies that greatness of soul +derives itself from greatness of heart, and the magnanimity of Señor +Valdés is of a degree that transcends limitations of race, of creed, and +of patriotism.</p> + +<p>He has given evidence that in his catholic sympathies the fact of a +common humanity is sufficient for the inclusion of any man in his +brotherly regard. Of such as he the nations as yet count too few among +their sons. And when one of these speaks, no difference of tongue should +be allowed to bar our listening.</p> + +<p>In the same article that has furnished the text for these remarks, Mr. +Howells notes, among the admirable attributes in which this noble-minded +Spaniard excels, "something very like our own boasted American humor +with some other things which we cannot lay special claim to; as a +certain sweetness, a gentle spirituality, a love of purity and goodness +in themselves, and an insight into the workings of what used to be +called the soul." As to the specific qualities of the book before us, I +cannot better express my own sentiments than to continue in the words of +Mr. Howells:</p> + +<p>"La Alegria del Capitán Ribot is, as all the stories of this delightful +author are, a novel of manners, the modern manners of provincial Spain; +and, by the way, while we were spoiling our prostrate foe, I wish we +could have got some of these, too; they would form an agreeable relief +to our own, which they surpass so much in picturesqueness, to say the +least. The scene is mostly at Valencia, where Capitán Ribot, who +commands a steamer plying between Barcelona and Hamburg, is the guest of +the civil engineer, Martí. The novel is, as far as Ribot and his two +friends are concerned, a tender idyll, but on the other side it is an +exquisite comedy, with some fine tragic implications. Around all is +thrown the atmosphere of a civilization so different from our own, and +of a humanity so like the Anglo-Saxon, as well as the Russian and the +Scandinavian, even, that we find ourselves charmed at once by its +strangeness and its familiarity. There are the same temptations, the +same aspirations, the same strong desires, the same trembling +resolutions, masking under southern skies and in alien air; but +instantly recognizable by their truth to what all men feel and know."</p> + +<p>Mr. Howells has expressed a desire to have Señor Valdés for our own. So +far as a most intelligently sympathetic presentation of this beautiful +story in English can do so, I am sure that my friend the translator has +made him so.</p> + +<p class="r">SYLVESTER BAXTER.</p> + +<h1>THE JOY OF CAPTAIN RIBOT</h1> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>N Malaga they cook it not at all badly; in Vigo better yet; in Bilbao I +have eaten it deliciously seasoned on more than one occasion. But there +is no comparison between any of these, or the way I have had it served +in any of the other ports where I have been wont to touch, and the +cooking of a Señora Ramona in a certain shop for wines and edibles +called El Cometa, situated on the wharf at Gijon.</p> + +<p>Therefore, when that most intelligent woman hears that the <i>Urano</i> has +entered port, she begins to get her stewpans ready for my reception. I +prefer to go alone and at night, like the selfish and luxurious being +that I am. She sets my table for me in a corner of the back shop; and +there, at my ease, I enjoy pleasures ineffable and have taken more than +one indigestion.</p> + +<p>I arrived the 9th of February, at eleven in the morning, and according +to my custom I ate little,<a name="page_002" id="page_002"></a> preparing myself by healthful abstinence for +the ceremony of the evening. God willed otherwise. A little before the +striking of the hour a heathen of a sailor broke a lantern; the burning +wick fell upon a cask of petroleum and started a fire, which we got the +better of by throwing the barrel overboard with several others. But the +pilot-house was burned, together with much of the rigging and some of +the upper works of the steamer. In short, the consequences kept us busy +and on our feet nearly all night.</p> + +<p>And this was the reason why I did not go to eat my dish of tripe at the +Señora Ramona's, but notified her, by means of the speaking trumpet, to +be ready for me that evening without fail.</p> + +<p>It was about ten o'clock. Peaceful and contented, I descended the ladder +of the Urano, jumped into a boat, and in four strokes of my boat-man's +oars I was taken to the wharf, which stood deserted and shadowy. The +hulls of the vessels could hardly be made out and absolute silence +reigned on board them. Only the silhouette of the guards on their rounds +or that of some melancholy-looking passer-by was vaguely outlined in the +gloom. But the obscurity, that the few street-lamps were insufficient to +dissipate, was soon enlivened by the wave of light that proceeded from +the two open doorways of El Cometa. I fluttered away in that direction +like an eager butterfly.<a name="page_003" id="page_003"></a> There were only three or four customers left +in the shop; the others had departed—some spontaneously, some because +of intimations, each time more or less peremptory, given by Señora +Ramona, who always closed up promptly at half after ten.</p> + +<p>This woman greeted my appearance with a peal of laughter. I cannot say +what curious and mysterious titillation affected her nerves in my +presence; but I can affirm that she never saw me after an absence more +or less prolonged without being violently shaken by merriment, which in +turn inevitably resulted in severe attacks of coughing, inflaming her +cheeks and transforming them from their hue of grainy red to violet. Yet +I was profoundly gratified by that peal of laughter and that attack of +coughing, considering them a pledge of unalterable friendship, and that +I could count, in life and in death, upon her culinary accomplishments. +On such occasions it was my duty to double my spine, shake my head, and +laugh boisterously until Dame Ramona recovered herself. And I complied +therewith religiously.</p> + +<p>"Ay, but how good it was yesterday, Don Julian!"</p> + +<p>"And why not to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Because yesterday was yesterday, and to-day is to-day."</p> + +<p>Before this invincible reason I grew serious, and a sigh escaped me. +Dame Ramona went off in a<a name="page_004" id="page_004"></a> fresh fit of laughter, followed by a +corresponding attack of asthmatic coughing. When at last she recovered +herself she finished washing the glass in her hands, and called to three +or four sailors chatting in a corner:</p> + +<p>"Come, up with you! I am going to lock up."</p> + +<p>One of them ventured to say:</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit, Dame Ramona. We'll go when that gentleman does."</p> + +<p>The hostess, frowning grimly, volunteered in solemn accents:</p> + +<p>"This gentleman has come to eat some stewed tripe, and the table is set +for him."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the customers, feeling the weight of this hint, and +comprehending the gravity of the occasion, lost no time in rising to +depart. Gazing at me for an instant with a mixture of respect and +admiration they went out, wishing us good-night.</p> + +<p>"Well, Don Julian!" exclaimed Dame Ramona, her face brightening again, +"that tripe of yesterday fairly was of a kind to make one's mouth water +with delight."</p> + +<p>My face must have expressed the most profound despair.</p> + +<p>"And that of to-day—won't it do anything?" I inquired in tones of woe.</p> + +<p>"To-day—to-day—you will see for yourself."</p> + +<p>She waved her fat hand in a way calculated to leave me submerged in a +sea of doubt.<a name="page_005" id="page_005"></a></p> + +<p>While she was giving the last touches to her work, I took some absinthe +to prepare my stomach adequately for its task, at the same time +meditating upon the serious words that I had heard.</p> + +<p>Would it, or would it not, be so well seasoned, piquant, and aromatic as +my imagination depicted?</p> + +<p>But when I had seated myself at the table; when I saw the dish before me +and felt its bland fragrance penetrating my nostrils, a ray of light +illumining my brain dissipated that dark spectral doubt. My heart began +to palpitate with inexplicable pleasure. I comprehended that the gods +still held in reserve some moments of happiness in this world.</p> + +<p>Dame Ramona divined the emotion that overpowered my soul, and smiled +with maternal benevolence.</p> + +<p>"What's that, Dame Ramona?" I exclaimed, pausing with my fork held +motionless in the air. "Did you hear it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, señor; I heard a scream."</p> + +<p>"It called 'Help!'"</p> + +<p>"Out on the wharf."</p> + +<p>"Another scream!"</p> + +<p>I threw down the fork and rushed to the door, followed by my hostess. +When I opened it I heard a sound of incoherent lamentation.</p> + +<p>"My mother! Help! For God's sake! She is drowning!"<a name="page_006" id="page_006"></a></p> + +<p>In two jumps I leaped over the rampart between me and the wharf, and +made out the figure of a woman waving her arms convulsively and uttering +piteous screams.</p> + +<p>I saw what had happened, and, running to her, I asked:</p> + +<p>"Who has fallen in?"</p> + +<p>"My mother! Save her! Save her!"</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"Here!"</p> + +<p>And she pointed out the narrow space in the water between a lighter and +the wharf.</p> + +<p>Although narrow, it was too wide for me to reach the craft. I plucked up +courage, however, and sprang for the rigging rather than the deck, +managing to grasp a cable. In this way I dropped to the deck. Seizing +the first rope I came across, I made it fast and slid down to the +water's edge. Happily, the woman had also grasped the rope and so kept +herself afloat. When I got to her I endeavored to seize her by the head. +But only a wig remained in my hand! I made another attempt, and this +time caught her arm. I drew her to the side of the vessel. Then I saw +that it would be impossible to get her out without help. How could I +climb the rope with one hand only? Fortunately the cries of the +daughter, together with my own, aroused the crew of a lighter, composed +of four sailors, and they easily got us out. There were<a name="page_007" id="page_007"></a> some planks at +hand, and so we reached the wharf with her and took her to an +apothecary's near by, where she was at last restored to consciousness.</p> + +<p>While the apothecary was attending her, the daughter, pale and silent, +bent over her, her face bathed with tears. She was a young lady of good +stature, slender, pale, her hair black and wavy; her whole personality, +if not of supreme beauty, attractive and interesting. She was dressed +with elegance, her mother also; and I inferred that they were persons +distinguished in the town. But one of the throng that had pressed into +the shop informed me that they were strangers, and had been but a few +days in Gijon.</p> + +<p>When I found that she was neither dead nor hurt to any serious extent, +and feeling the chill of the bath penetrating me and making me shiver, I +wished them good-night.</p> + +<p>The young lady raised her head, came towards me with animation, and +seizing my hands cordially, looked into my eyes with tearful +earnestness, and murmured with emotion:</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you, señor! I shall never forget this!"</p> + +<p>I gave her to understand that my service deserved no thanks; that +anybody in my place would have done the same, as I sincerely thought. +The only real sacrifice that I had made was that of the stewed tripe; +but I did not say this, very naturally.<a name="page_008" id="page_008"></a></p> + +<p>When I reached the steamer and got into my room I felt so chilled that I +feared a heavy cold, if not pneumonia. But I rubbed myself energetically +with alcohol and wrapped myself so warmly in my bed that I wakened as +usual in the morning, healthy and lively, and in excellent humor.<a name="page_009" id="page_009"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">W</span>HEN I had dressed myself, and after I had complied with my ordinary +duties and looked after the carpenters repairing the damages from the +fire, I thought of the lady who had been on the point of drowning the +night before. In strict truth, the one whom I thought of was the +daughter. Those eyes were of the kind that neither can be, nor should +be, forgotten. And with the vague hope of seeing them again I went +ashore and directed my steps towards the apothecary's.</p> + +<p>The druggist informed me that they were stopping at the Iberia. So I +went to ask about the lady's condition.</p> + +<p>"Is it necessary that you should see them?" the chambermaid asked me.</p> + +<p>That was my desire, but I hardly ventured to say so. I told her it was +not necessary, but I should like to know how they had passed the night. +I was told that Doña Amparo (the old lady) had rested fairly well and +that the doctor, who had just gone, found her better than he had +expected. Doña Cristina (the young lady) was perfectly well. I left my +card and went down stairs somewhat depressed.<a name="page_010" id="page_010"></a> But I had no sooner +reached the street floor than the chambermaid came after me and asked me +to come back, saying that the ladies wished to see me.</p> + +<p>Doña Cristina came out into the corridor to meet me. She wore an elegant +morning-gown of a violet color, and her black hair was half-imprisoned +by a white cap with violet ribbons. Her eyes were beaming with delight +and she held out her hand most cordially.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Captain. Why were you avoiding the thanks we wished to +give you? I had just finished a letter to you in which I expressed, if +not all the gratitude we feel, at least a part. But it is better that +you have come—and yet the letter was not wholly bad!" she added, +smiling. "Although you may not believe it, we women are more eloquent +with the pen than with the tongue."</p> + +<p>She took me into a parlor where there was an alcove whose glazed doors +were shut.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," she called, "here is the gentleman who saved you, the captain +of the <i>Urano</i>."</p> + +<p>I heard a melancholy murmuring, something like suppressed sighing and +sobbing, with words between that I could not make out. I questioned the +daughter with my eyes.</p> + +<p>"She says that she regrets extremely having caused you to risk your +life."</p> + +<p>I replied in a loud tone that I had run no danger<a name="page_011" id="page_011"></a> at all; but even if I +had, I was simply doing my duty.</p> + +<p>Again there proceeded from the alcove various confused sounds.</p> + +<p>"She tells me to give you a tablespoonful of orange-flower extract."</p> + +<p>"What for?" I exclaimed in surprise.</p> + +<p>"She thinks that you also must have sustained a shock," explained Doña +Cristina, laughing. "Mamma uses that remedy a great deal, and makes us +all take it too. Just tell her that you are going to take it, and it +will please her immensely."</p> + +<p>Before I could recover from my astonishment I did as Doña Cristina +requested, and was immediately rewarded with a murmur of approval.</p> + +<p>"I have just given it to him, mamma," she announced, darting a +mischievous glance at me. "Now you may feel at ease!"</p> + +<p>"Many thanks, señora," I called out. "I believe it will do me good, for +I was feeling a bit nervous."</p> + +<p>Doña Cristina pressed my hand and struggled to keep from laughing. She +said in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Bravo! You are on the way to become a consummate actor."</p> + +<p>The strange and unintelligible sounds renewed themselves.</p> + +<p>"She asks if you have telegraphed to your wife,<a name="page_012" id="page_012"></a> and advises you not to +do so, as it might frighten her."</p> + +<p>"I have no wife. I am a bachelor."</p> + +<p>"Then to your mother," Doña Cristina had the goodness to interpret.</p> + +<p>"I have no mother, either; nor father, nor brothers or sisters. I am +alone in the world."</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo, so far as I could understand, showed herself surprised and +displeased at my lone condition, and invited me to change it without +loss of time. She also added that a man like me was destined to make any +woman happy. I do not know what qualities of a husband the lady could +have observed in me, except facility in grasping and sliding down a +cable. I responded that surely I desired nothing else; but up to now no +occasion had presented itself. My life as a mariner, to-day in one +place, to-morrow in another, the shyness of men like me who do not +frequent society, and even the fact that I had not met a woman who +really interested me—all this had impeded its realization.</p> + +<p>While saying this I fixed my gaze upon the smiling eyes of Doña +Cristina.</p> + +<p>A sweet and fanciful thought thereupon came into my head.</p> + +<p>"Let us change the subject, mamma. Everyone follows his own pleasure, +and if the Captain has not married it must be, of course, because he has +not cared to."<a name="page_013" id="page_013"></a></p> + +<p>"Exactly," said I, smiling, and gazing at her fixedly, "I have not cared +to marry up to the present, but I cannot say that I may not care to some +day when least looked for."</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile we wish that you may be happy; that you may get a very +handsome wife and a half-dozen plump children—lively and mischievous."</p> + +<p>"Amen," I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>The frankness and graciousness of the young lady were spontaneously +attractive. I felt as much at ease with her as if I had known her for +years. She invited me to seat myself on the sofa, seating herself there +also, speaking low that her mother might rest, for the doctor had said +that she had better not talk.</p> + +<p>I asked for the details of her mother's condition, and was told that she +had suffered a slight contusion on the shoulder, which the doctor had +said was of little account. She had also overcome the ill effects of the +chill. The only thing to be feared was the nervous shock. Her mamma was +very nervous; her heart troubled her, and nobody could say what might be +the consequences of that terrible shock. I did my best to assuage her +fears. Then to make conversation, I asked her if they were Asturians, +although knowing that they were not, both from what the doctor had said, +and because of their accent.</p> + +<p>"No, señor, we are Valencianas."<a name="page_014" id="page_014"></a></p> + +<p>"Really? Valencianas?" I exclaimed. "Then we are almost compatriots! I +was born in Alicante."</p> + +<p>So we continued the talk in Valencian, with pleasure unspeakable on my +part, and I think also on her part. She told me that they had been in +Gijon only nine days, having come to visit a nun who was her mother's +sister. They had had this intention for years, and had never carried it +into effect before, on account of the length and discomfort of the +journey. At last they had undertaken it, but unfortunately, it seemed, +for it had nearly cost her mother her life. They were pleased with the +country, although it seemed rather dull in comparison with their own.</p> + +<p>"O Valencia!" I exclaimed with ardor, "I who have visited the most +remote regions of the earth and have been on so many diverse shores, +have never found anything comparable to that land. There the sun does +not rise in blood, as it does in the North, nor scorch as in Andalusia; +its light is gently diffused in balmy and tranquil air. The sea does not +terrify as it does here; it is bluer and its foam is whiter and lighter. +There the birds sing with notes more dulcet and varied; there the breeze +caresses at night as by day; there the delicious fruits, that in other +parts are in season only in the heat of summer, are enjoyed the year +around; there not only the flowers and the herbs have scent,<a name="page_015" id="page_015"></a> the earth +itself exhales a delicate aroma. There life is not sad and weary. +Everything is gentle, everything serene and harmonious. And the +tranquillity of Nature seems to be reflected in the profound gaze of the +Valencian women."</p> + +<p>That of Doña Cristina, which was the most gentle and profound I had ever +seen, sparkled with a certain mischievous delight.</p> + +<p>"Who would think, hearing you talk, that you were a sea-wolf! You speak +like a poet. I am almost tempted to believe that you have contributed +verses to the periodicals."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" I exclaimed, laughing. "I am an inoffensive poet. I never +write either verses or prose; but you will pardon me for saying that +those eyes of yours revived in my memory various beautiful things, all +Valencian, and the poetry went to my head."</p> + +<p>Doña Cristina appeared to remain in suspense for a moment; she regarded +me with more curiosity than gratification, and changing the conversation +she asked graciously:</p> + +<p>"And the steamer that you are commanding—does she go to America?"</p> + +<p>"Only once in a while. Usually we run between Barcelona and Hamburg."</p> + +<p>"And your stop here is for several days?"</p> + +<p>"Just long enough to repair the damages from a little fire on board, day +before yesterday."<a name="page_016" id="page_016"></a></p> + +<p>On my part, I asked how long they proposed to remained in Gijon.</p> + +<p>"We had been thinking of leaving the day after to-morrow and stopping +some days in Madrid, where we expected to meet my husband; but now it is +necessary to postpone going on account of what has happened. At all +events, as soon as my mother has completely recovered herself and the +doctor gives permission, we shall start."</p> + +<p>I must confess it although it may seem ridiculous—that "my husband" +produced a strange sensation of chill and discouragement in me that I +could scarcely succeed in hiding. How the devil had it not occurred to +me that the young lady might be married? I cannot account for it to this +day. And conceding it to be the case, why should the information cause +such a bitter emotion when it concerned a person whom I was only just +beginning to be acquainted with? I cannot account for that either. I am +tempted to believe in the truth of what happens in the old comedies when +the gallant is fired with love at first sight of the lady. If I was not +on fire, at least I had on board all the materials for the fire.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, reason soon asserted its supremacy. I comprehended the +absurdity and the ridiculous character of my sensations, and, calming +myself, I asked about her husband with natural and friendly interest. +She told me that he was called<a name="page_017" id="page_017"></a> Emilio Martí, and was one of the +partners in the shipping house of Castell and Martí, whose steamers run +to Liverpool. Moreover, he had various other lines of business, for he +was an active and enterprising man. They had been married only two +years.</p> + +<p>"And you have no family?"</p> + +<p>"Not as yet," she responded, blushing slightly.</p> + +<p>She went on to tell me that they were both born in Valencia, where they +had always lived; through the winter in the city, Calle del Mar; in the +summer time at their villa in Cabañal.</p> + +<p>I knew several of the Castell and Martí steamers. I spoke of my +satisfaction in placing myself at the service of the wife of one of +their owners.</p> + +<p>We talked a little longer. I was downcast and felt a desire to go. I +managed to take my leave, but not without another dialogue with Doña +Amparo with closed doors and an interpreter. On reaching the street my +unfounded and even irrational depression was soon dissipated, as I +talked with acquaintances and went about my affairs. But all through the +day the figure of Doña Cristina was constantly present to my +imagination. I adore women who are slender and white, with great black +eyes. My friends used to tell me once that in order to suit my taste a +woman must be in the last stage of phthisis. They were not far from +right. My only love had been a consumptive, and she died<a name="page_018" id="page_018"></a> when all the +preparations were made for our marriage.</p> + +<p>The next day I held it to be in the line of my duty to go to the hotel +to inquire about the ladies. Doña Cristina asked me in and received me +with even greater cordiality, putting her finger to her lips and asking +me to speak in whispers like herself, for her mother was sleeping. We +seated ourselves on the sofa and chatted in low but lively tones. Doña +Amparo was well, and required nothing but attention.</p> + +<p>"Moreover (I will tell you in confidence), until they have finished her +wig she will not show herself outside her room."</p> + +<p>"Ah, the wig! Yes, I remember now."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you remember that you tore it off, wicked one!" she replied, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Señora, it was impossible to foresee! It is fortunate that I did not +tear her head from her body."</p> + +<p>We both laughed heartily, forcing ourselves at the same time to laugh +noiselessly. A moment later she said, in a way so natural that it +pleased me immensely:</p> + +<p>"I am hungry, captain, and am going to have some breakfast. Will you not +join me?"</p> + +<p>I thanked her and excused myself. But as I could not say that I had +breakfasted she said that of course I must breakfast with her, and went +out<a name="page_019" id="page_019"></a> to give some orders. I felt delighted, and even if I should say +enthusiastic it would not be an untruth. While the maid was getting the +table ready in the room where we were, we continued our chat, our mutual +confidence steadily growing. All through the breakfast she treated me +with a cordiality so frank and hospitable that it quite charmed me. She +cut bread and meat for me with her own hands and poured out wine and +water. When I wanted a dish or a plate, with provincial simplicity she +would jump up and take it from the sideboard without waiting for the +maid.</p> + +<p>I told her jestingly of the grave occupation in which her cries had +surprised me the night of the accident. She laughed heartily and +promised to make it up to me when I came to Valencia, by cooking a +paella for me by all the rules of the art.</p> + +<p>"Not that I have the mad presumption of expecting to make you forget the +tripe of Señora Ramona. I shall be satisfied if you eat a couple of +platefuls."</p> + +<p>"Why a couple? I perceive with sadness that you take me for a gross and +material being. I hope to show you, in the course of time, that apart +from these hours of tripe and snails, I am a man naturally +spiritually-minded, poetic, and even, to some extent, delicate."</p> + +<p>She ridiculed this, piling up my plate in most scandalous style, +inviting me not to dissimulate<a name="page_020" id="page_020"></a> my true condition, but to eat as if she +were not present.</p> + +<p>"Do not think of my being a lady. Fancy yourself breakfasting with a +companion—the pilot, for instance."</p> + +<p>"I have not sufficient imagination for that. The pilot is squint-eyed +and lacks two teeth."</p> + +<p>This lively and intimate chat intoxicated me more than the Bordeaux that +she poured for me without ceasing. And her eyes intoxicated me more than +the wine or the chat. Although we talked in whispers and checked our +laughter, occasionally there escaped me an indiscreet note. Doña +Cristina raised her finger to her lips. "Silence, Captain, or I shall +have to sentence you to the corridor before you have half breakfasted."</p> + +<p>She asked me to tell her something about my life. I gratified her +curiosity, relating my history, which was simple enough. We discussed +the pleasures of a sailor's life, which she thought superior to those of +any other.</p> + +<p>"I adore the sea, but the sea of my home above all. Here it makes me +afraid and sad. If you could see how often I go to the window of our +villa at Cabañal to look at it!"</p> + +<p>"But in Valencia I prefer the women to the sea," I remarked, having +reached too lively a stage.</p> + +<p>"I can believe it," she responded, smiling. "Oh, they are very +beautiful. I have a little cousin<a name="page_021" id="page_021"></a> named Isabel who is truly perfection. +What eyes that child has!"</p> + +<p>"Are they more beautiful than yours?" I asked presumptuously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mine are of no account," she answered with a blush.</p> + +<p>"Of no account?" I questioned with astonishment. "Indeed, there are no +others so bewitching on all this eastern coast, among all the beautiful +ones that there abound. They are two stars of heaven! They are a happy +dream from which one would never wish to awake!"</p> + +<p>She instantly became serious. She kept silence for a while, without +raising her eyes from the tablecloth. Then she said with an affected +indifference, not free from severity:</p> + +<p>"You have breakfasted fairly well, have you not? But on board the food +is better than at hotels."</p> + +<p>I kept silent for a while, in turn. Without responding to her question, +after a moment I said:</p> + +<p>"Pardon me. We sailors express ourselves too frankly. We are not versed +in etiquette, but our intentions must excuse us. Mine were not to say +anything impertinent."</p> + +<p>She was immediately mollified, and we continued our chat with the same +cordiality until the end of the breakfast.<a name="page_022" id="page_022"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span> WENT back to the ship in a worse state than that of the day before. +The lady occupied my thoughts more than was desirable for content or +peace of mind. I went back again that afternoon and again the next day. +Her interesting figure, her eyes—so black, so innocent, and so piquant +at the same time, were rapidly penetrating my soul. And as always +happens in such cases, her eyes first began to please me and then her +voice began to enchant me; soon it was her fine hands, like alabaster; a +little after that the soft veil of hair that adorned her temples; +immediately thereupon, three little dimples in her right cheek. At last +I found happiness in a certain defective way she had of pronouncing the +letter R.</p> + +<p>These and other discoveries of like importance could not be made, it is +evident, without due attention, all of which, instead of pleasing the +lady, annoyed her visibly. She always received me cordially, but not +with her former frankness of manner. I observed, not without pain, that +in spite of the gayety and animation of her conversation she revealed a +bit of disquiet in the depths,<a name="page_023" id="page_023"></a> as if fearing that I might again say +something unwelcome. While comprehending this, nevertheless I had not +the force of will to stop gazing at her more than I should.</p> + +<p>At last the wig was brought in secret to the hotel. Doña Amparo tried it +on in the most absolute privacy; she found it imperfect. It was returned +to the hands of its maker; various changes were effected in it without +either the public or the authorities becoming aware of the fact, and +after various trials equally secret the good lady emerged as fresh and +juvenile as if my sinful hands had never attacked her charms. For in +spite of all—that is, in spite of the wig, of years, and of +obesity—Doña Amparo had not completely lost her charms.</p> + +<p>They invited me to take a drive with them through the environs of the +city. The pleasure with which I accepted may be imagined. On reaching +the country we alighted, and for an hour we feasted our eyes upon that +smiling and splendid landscape. I found myself happy, and this happiness +incited me to show towards Doña Cristina great deference and gentleness +of speech. I felt impelled to say to her everything beautiful and +interesting that occurred to me. But she, as if divining these perverse +tendencies of my tongue, curbed it with tact and firmness, asking me +some indifferent question whenever there seemed to be<a name="page_024" id="page_024"></a> any danger of my +uttering something indiscreet, leaving me with her mamma while she went +on ahead, or taking pains to make her mother talk. This did not +dishearten me. I was so stupid, or so indiscreet, that in spite of these +clear signals I still persisted in seeking pretexts for directing +various whiffs of incense towards her. I declare, however, that I did +not think I was acting the gallant. I believed in good faith that such +obsequiousness and such flatteries were legitimate; for we Spaniards +from remote antiquity have arrogated to ourselves the right of telling +all pretty women that they are pretty, without other consequences. But +she cast doubts upon the correctness of such a proceeding. That these +doubts were not ill-founded I see clearly enough, now that the mist of +my sentiments has been completely dissipated and I read my soul as in an +open book.</p> + +<p>It chanced that that same afternoon, on our way back to the city, seeing +the numerous and handsome country houses that we passed, Doña Cristina +remarked:</p> + +<p>"Our place at Cabañal is very charming, but not sumptuous. My husband is +not satisfied with it; he wants something better."</p> + +<p>"He wants something better?" I cried without stopping to think. "But if +I were your husband, I could desire nothing!"</p> + +<p>The lady kept silence for a moment, turned her<a name="page_025" id="page_025"></a> face towards the window +to look at the road, and murmured ironically,—</p> + +<p>"Well, sir; let us have patience."</p> + +<p>I believe that not only my cheeks, my forehead, and my ears turned +scarlet, but even the whites of my eyes. For several minutes I felt on +my face the impression of two red-hot bricks. I did not know what to +say, and seeking escape from my embarrassment I turned to the other +window and remained in ecstatic contemplation of the landscape. Doña +Amparo, who had remarked nothing, spoke in response to her daughter's +observation:</p> + +<p>"Emilio is a very good man, very industrious, although somewhat +fantastic."</p> + +<p>"How is he fantastic?" exclaimed Cristina, turning sharply, as if +struck. "Because he desires what is better, more beautiful, and seeks to +acquire it? That shows rather his good taste and good will. For if the +world did not have men who aspired to perfection, who always see a +'farther on' and who take steps to approach it, neither these handsome +country houses nor others still better, nor any of the comforts that we +enjoy to-day would exist. The idlers, the spendthrifts, and the poor in +spirit ridicule such ideas so long as they are not realized; but when +the hour comes that the ends aimed at can be seen and touched, they shut +themselves up in their houses and refuse to congratulate those who made +it possible because they do not<a name="page_026" id="page_026"></a> care to confess their stupidity. Then +you know well that Emilio, however 'fantastic,' has never had the +fantasy to think of himself; that all his efforts are devoted to give +pleasure and prosperity to his family, to his friends, and to his +neighbors, and that all his life up to now has been a constant sacrifice +for others."</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo, during this vehement discourse, showed herself strangely +affected. I was astonished to see her stammer, rub her eyes, grow red in +the face, and fall backward as if in a swoon.</p> + +<p>"I—is it possible?—my son!"</p> + +<p>Uttering these incoherent words, she swayed, then seemed to lose all +sense of the external world. To restore her to consciousness it was +necessary for her daughter to bathe her temples with eau de Cologne and +apply sal-volatile to her nostrils. When at last she opened her eyes +there burst forth a flood of tears that flowed down her cheeks and +poured into her lap like a copious rain, some of which moistened my +coat. At these symptoms Doña Cristina again opened the little satchel +that she carried, that I could see contained numerous little flasks. She +took one of these, together with a lump of sugar, and moistened the +latter with several drops of liquid. She thrust the sugar into her +mother's mouth; that lady gradually recovered her senses and at last was +conscious of her whereabouts and of who was with her.<a name="page_027" id="page_027"></a></p> + +<p>On my part, being the indirect cause of the unfortunate scene, I +understood that nothing would be more suitable than for me to throw +myself out of the carriage window, even though I should fracture my +head; but imagining that the results of such a procedure might be too +melancholy, I hit upon a decorous substitute by biting at the head of my +cane and staring into vacancy. Doña Cristina did not choose to take +cognizance of these tragic manifestations, but they so penetrated the +heart of her mamma that the latter seized my hands convulsively, +murmuring occasionally:</p> + +<p>"Ribot! Ribot! Ribot!"</p> + +<p>Fearing that she might again enter into the world of the unconscious, I +hastened to take the flask of salts and hold it to her nose.</p> + +<p>The rest of the way back, heaven be praised! was traversed without +further mishap, and I made desperate efforts to have my foolishness +forgotten and forgiven, talking with all formality about various things, +principally of those most to the taste of Doña Cristina. At length I was +rewarded by seeing her bright face again unclouded and her eyes +expressing their accustomed frank joyousness. And, prompted by her +humor, she even went so far as to make gracious fun of her mamma.</p> + +<p>"Did you know, Captain Ribot, that mamma never swoons except when she is +with the family, or among persons in whom she confides? The<a name="page_028" id="page_028"></a> greatest +proof of the sympathy with which you inspire her is that which she has +just given."</p> + +<p>"Cristina! Cristina!" exclaimed Doña Amparo, half smiling, half +indignant.</p> + +<p>"Now, be frank, mamma! If Captain Ribot has not won your confidence, how +is it you ventured to faint away in his presence?"</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo decided to laugh, giving her daughter a pinch. When we +parted at the hotel door they invited me to breakfast with them the next +day, they having decided to leave for Madrid on the day after that.</p> + +<p>It could no longer be doubted; if I was not in love I was on the way to +be, with a fair wind and all sails set. Why was it that this woman had +impressed me so profoundly in so short a time? I do not think it was +merely her figure, although it coincided with the ideal type of beauty +that I had always adored. If I had fallen in love with all the white and +slender women with dark eyes that I had met in the course of my life, +there would not have remained any time to do anything else. But she had +a special attractiveness, at least for me, which consisted in a singular +combination of joyousness and gravity, of sweetness and brusqueness, of +daring and timidity, alternately reflected in her expressive +countenance.</p> + +<p>The next day, at the appointed time, I presented myself at the hotel. +Doña Cristina was in most<a name="page_029" id="page_029"></a> delightful humor and let me know that we were +to breakfast alone, for her mother had not slept well the night before +and was still in bed. This filled me with selfish satisfaction, +observing her merry mood. Before going to the table she served me an +appetizer, graciously ridiculing me.</p> + +<p>"Since you always have such a delicate appetite, and look so +languishing, I have ordered something bitter for you, to see if we +cannot give a little tone to that stomach of yours."</p> + +<p>I fell in with the jest.</p> + +<p>"I am in despair. I comprehend that it is ridiculous to have such a +ready appetite, but I am a man of honor and I confess it. One time when +I attempted to conceal it I missed my reckoning. One of my passengers +was a certain very charming and spirituelle lady towards whom I felt +somewhat favorably disposed. I could think of no better means to inspire +her interest than to feign an absolute lack of appetite, naturally +accompanied by languor and poetic melancholy. At table I refused the +greater part of the dishes. My nourishment consisted of tapioca, vanilla +cream, some fruit, and much coffee. Then I complained of weakness, and +ordered glasses of sherry with biscuit. Of course I suffered terribly +from hunger; but I overcame it finely in solitude. The lady became +enthusiastic; she professed for me a profound and sincere admiration, +and despised for their grossness<a name="page_030" id="page_030"></a> all those at the table who were served +with more solid nutriment. But, alas! there came a moment when she +unexpectedly came down into the dining-saloon and surprised me feasting +on cold ham. That ended the affair. She never spoke another word to me."</p> + +<p>"She did right," said Doña Cristina, with a laugh. "Hypocrisy is +something more shameful than a good appetite."</p> + +<p>We began our breakfast, and I gave her to understand that now that she +so abhorred hypocrisy I proposed to proceed with all possible frankness.</p> + +<p>"That is right! Entirely frank!" And she served me an enormous ration of +omelette.</p> + +<p>We went on chatting and laughing in undertones, but Doña Cristina did +not neglect to serve me with fabulous quantities of food, greater, in +truth, than my gastric capacity. I wanted to decline, but she would not +permit it.</p> + +<p>"Be frank, Captain! You have promised to be entirely frank."</p> + +<p>"Señora, this surpasses frankness. Anybody might call it grossness."</p> + +<p>"I do not call it so. Go on! Go on!"</p> + +<p>But soon, straightening herself back in her chair a bit, and assuming a +solemn tone, she spoke:</p> + +<p>"Captain, I am now going to treat you as if you had not only saved my +mother's life, but mine as<a name="page_031" id="page_031"></a> well. At one and the same time I wish to pay +you for her life and my own."</p> + +<p>My eyes opened widely without my comprehending the significance of such +words. Doña Cristina rose from her chair and, going to the door, opened +it wide. There appeared the maid with a big dish of stewed tripe in her +hands.</p> + +<p>"Tripe!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Stewed by Señora Ramona," proclaimed Doña Cristina, gravely.</p> + +<p>The joke put me in better humor yet. But how short was the duration of +that intoxicating delight! When we reached the dessert she informed me, +perfectly naturally:</p> + +<p>"I have news for you. We are not going to-morrow. My husband is coming +for us the day after."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" I exclaimed, with the expression of a man who is forced to talk +under a shower bath.</p> + +<p>"Although the journey is a bit uncomfortable, coming and going again at +once, he says that as mamma has probably not yet completely recovered +from her shock he does not like to have us travel alone."</p> + +<p>Saying this, she took the letter from her pocket and proceeded to look +it over. "He also tells me to give you a million thanks and is glad that +he is to have a chance to give them to you in person."</p> + +<p>I was looking at the back of the letter, but I<a name="page_032" id="page_032"></a> caught the words of the +ending: "Adiós, life of my soul," and it augmented the sadness of my +mood. However, I expressed my satisfaction at the prospect of knowing +Señor Martí so soon, but it required some effort to say so. As +melancholy began to take possession of me, and as Doña Cristina was not +slow in perceiving the fact, I found no better means of combating it +than to take more cognac after my coffee than was prudent. This produced +an exaltation that resembled, without being, joyousness. I chattered +away, and must have uttered many ridiculous things and some of them wide +of the mark, although I cannot remember. Doña Cristina smiled +benevolently. But when, for the fifth or sixth time, I took the decanter +to pour out another thimbleful, she touched my arm, saying:</p> + +<p>"You are already exceedingly frank, Captain. I will free you from your +word."</p> + +<p>"I am its slave, señora, at the cost of my life," I replied, laughingly. +"But I will drink no more. I am resolved to obey you in this, as in +everything you may command. But nevertheless," I continued, looking +boldly into her eyes, "there are things that intoxicate more than cognac +and all spirituous beverages."</p> + +<p>Doña Cristina's eyes fell and her fair face frowned. But instantly +smiling, she said vivaciously:<a name="page_033" id="page_033"></a></p> + +<p>"But you must not intoxicate yourself in any fashion. I abhor +drunkards."</p> + +<p>I did not wish to follow this advice; and though it is true I drank +little more, I insisted upon gazing at the fascinating lady. I continued +chatting like a dentist, and in the midst of my prattle I came near +giving utterance to more than one endearing phrase; but Doña Cristina, +ingeniously and prudently, cut these off before I had a chance to say +them.</p> + +<p>We both rose from our seats. We went to the balcony to look at the +traffic and movement on the wharf. With her permission, I was smoking a +Havana cigar. As her beautiful head occupied my thoughts more than the +traffic on the wharf, I noted that a little shell comb was falling out +of her hair.</p> + +<p>"If I were this little comb I should be very content with my place. I +would make no effort to escape."</p> + +<p>And boldly, with no thought of what I did, I raised my hand to her head +and put the comb back in place.</p> + +<p>She turned as red as a cherry, her eyes fell, and she remained silent +for several seconds; at last, looking me in the face with a lofty +expression, she said in a changed tone:</p> + +<p>"Señor, I do not know what motive induces you to take any liberties with +me. The service you<a name="page_034" id="page_034"></a> have rendered us entitles you to my gratitude, but +not to treat me without respect."</p> + +<p>My semi-intoxication was dissipated as by magic. It left me petrified +and ashamed as I had never before been in my life and never expect to be +again, and I scarcely had power to murmur a few words of excuse. I +believe she did not hear them. She turned her back disdainfully and left +the room.</p> + +<p>In about one moment afterwards there flashed through my mind an idea +that did not lack a certain probability, that is to say, that I was +superfluous in that place. And without waiting to examine it with +sufficient attention in the light of reasonable and serious criticism, I +put it immediately in practice, taking my hat and removing myself before +any grass had a chance to grow under my feet.</p> + +<p>Though I was on shipboard and in the consignee's office and in other +parts of the city, shame did not quit me all day long. It was fastened +to my face with a red seal and I was unspeakably mortified. My friends +laughed and murmured such words as "Martel tres estrellas," "Jamaica," +"Anís del Mono," and others which sounded like marks of liquors, but I +knew what ailed me, and this increased my woe. On the next day, after +washing and scrubbing myself energetically with soap, it seemed as if +there were some bits of that red seal still adhering to my skin.<a name="page_035" id="page_035"></a></p> + +<p>Of course I did all I could to forget Doña Cristina and her so holy +name, and seemed to succeed throughout the day. But at night her image +would not leave my couch for a moment; it twitched my feet, it pulled my +hair, and later, to make it up to me for these shocking tribulations, it +gently inclined itself towards me and lightly touched my cheek with its +lips.</p> + +<p>On awaking, a luminous idea attacked me. Martí was to arrive that day, +and it was my unavoidable duty to go to meet him at the station: first, +for courtesy's sake; second, to prevent his asking for me, and thereby +causing his wife any agitation; third, because my absence would surprise +Doña Amparo; fourth, because it was necessary not to reveal what had +occurred; fifth—I do not know what the fifth reason was, but I have an +idea that there was a fifth reason and that it had something to do with +the mad desire that I felt to see Doña Cristina again.</p> + +<p>The mail train arrived in the afternoon. I therefore had sufficient time +to think over the bother of such a step and to change my purpose. But +after considering it in all its aspects and then considering it again +and making infinite efforts for heaven to touch my heart, I still did +not repent, and my feet conducted me to the station almost in spite of +myself.</p> + +<p>On reaching the platform I saw my ladies talking<a name="page_036" id="page_036"></a> with an employee. +Availing myself of the prodigious diplomatic aptitude with which heaven +had been so good as to favor me, I passed along behind them at a slow +pace and profoundly absorbed in the contemplation of a pile of beets.</p> + +<p>"Ribot! Ribot!"</p> + +<p>I stopped, filled with astonishment. I turned my head to the southeast, +then to the north, next to the northeast, and so on successively towards +all the points of the compass until, after many unfruitful efforts, I +succeeded in locating the direction from which the voice proceeded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, señoras!"</p> + +<p>I approached them, overflowing with astonishment, and seized the hand of +Doña Amparo. I started to do likewise with Cristina and—did I not say +before that this lady was distinguished by a white skin? The statement +must be corrected. At that moment she might have been born in Senegal.</p> + +<p>I asked for her health without venturing to extend my hand, and she +responded, looking in another direction.</p> + +<p>"How is this, Captain Ribot?" asked Doña Amparo. "All day yesterday you +did not come, or to-day either."</p> + +<p>I excused myself, saying I had been occupied. Doña Amparo would not +accept my explanation and talked to me fondly. This lady showed herself +constantly more affectionate and amiable towards<a name="page_037" id="page_037"></a> me. While we were +talking, Doña Cristina did not open her lips. I felt hurt and confused. +I did not venture to look her in the face, but observed her from the +corner of my eye and noted that her face, instead of recovering its +ordinary aspect, became more and more cloudy. Her eyes persisted in +gazing in the opposite direction from where I stood.</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo, not remarking anything, monopolized the conversation. On my +part, I spoke little and incoherently. My having come at all was +weighing me down fearfully, and I had an impulse to leave under some +pretext, without awaiting the arrival of Martí. But before I could make +up my mind the station-guard sounded his trumpet announcing the train. +So it was no longer possible to go without grave discourtesy.</p> + +<p>The train came into the station, and among the goodly number of heads +that suddenly showed themselves at the car windows the eyes of Doña +Cristina discovered that of her husband.</p> + +<p>"Emilio!" she cried joyfully.</p> + +<p>"Cristina!" he replied in a like tone.</p> + +<p>And without waiting for the train to come to a full stop he leaped out +and embraced and kissed her effusively. But she, blushing like a +schoolgirl, and at the same time smiling with pleasure, brusquely freed +herself from his arms.</p> + +<p>"Always the same!" he exclaimed, laughing<a name="page_038" id="page_038"></a> heartily, as he extended his +hand to his mother-in-law.</p> + +<p>She, however, was not satisfied with his hand and seized him by the head +like a child and kissed him repeatedly, asking with hearty interest +about his journey as he inquired about her health.</p> + +<p>While they were talking I maintained a respectful distance from the +group. And then it was that Doña Cristina turned her eyes towards me +with a friendly smile, at the same time beckoning me to approach. That +unexpected smile caused me such pleasure and surprise that I could +scarcely hide my feelings. I hastened to obey.</p> + +<p>"He saved mamma!" she said, with a little emphasis, presenting me to her +husband.</p> + +<p>He grasped my hands affectionately, expressing boundless thanks. He was +a man of twenty-eight or thirty years, tall, slender, pale-faced and +black-eyed, his beard also black, silky, and abundant; a Levantine type, +like his wife—but delicate and fragile, at least in appearance.</p> + +<p>"Thanks to his bravery, we are not mourning a misfortune to-day," +continued the lady.</p> + +<p>"Señora!" I exclaimed, "the action was of no merit whatever. Any passing +sailor would have done the same."</p> + +<p>But she, paying no attention, went on to relate what happened with all +details, exaggerating my conduct.<a name="page_039" id="page_039"></a></p> + +<p>This panegyric from her mouth, after what had happened, caused me more +shame than pleasure. I felt the pangs of remorse, and what at first had +seemed to me a slight imprudence now appeared a lack of delicacy.</p> + +<p>Returning to the town I left them at the hotel door, refusing to stop +with them, in spite of Martí's insistence. In these first moments the +presence of a stranger might be unwelcome. But I agreed to take coffee +with him that evening at the Suizo. I hoped that he might bring his +wife, for she enjoyed taking a walk after dinner.</p> + +<p>But the hope was not realized. Martí came alone, saying that his wife +was fatigued and indisposed. I thought this a pretext, and it made me +sad. Perhaps that first moment had exhausted her effusive gratitude, and +distrust and rancor had returned to her heart.</p> + +<p>In less than an hour, Martí and I were excellent friends. He struck me +as a sympathetic person, of open nature, affectionate, cheerful, and +candid. The hundred affairs that occupied him did not leave him much +time to give to any one thing. In his conversation he sped lightly from +one affair to another, but showed himself ever wide-awake and energetic. +I let him talk, observing him with intense curiosity. The impression +from that first conversation that best remains with me was his fashion +of rumpling his wavy hair, running his<a name="page_040" id="page_040"></a> fingers back through it after +the manner of a comb, and giving a little cough when about to express +some idea that he deemed important. This mannerism, which in another +might perhaps seem ridiculous, had in him a gracious effect, boyish and +attractive. I cannot clearly express the sentiments that Martí inspired +in me at that time. They were an indefinable mixture of sympathy and +repugnance, of curiosity and jealousy, which can be accounted for only +by one who has found himself in a situation analogous to mine.</p> + +<p>The <i>Urano</i> was to weigh anchor the next day at flood-tide in the +afternoon. In the morning I presented myself at the hotel to take leave +of my new friends. Martí and his mother-in-law warmly expressed their +regret at my departure. Cristina did not make her appearance. She was +shut in her chamber at her toilet, as I understood, and had not the +kindness to have me asked to wait; on the contrary, she dismissed me so +abruptly that she seemed to fear I might.</p> + +<p>"<i>Adios</i>, Captain Ribot!" she called from within. "Pardon me for not +coming out; it is impossible at this moment. May you have a most happy +voyage; and again you have a million thanks from me. We can never forget +what you have done. A pleasant trip!"</p> + +<p>Martí urged me to breakfast with them, but I had much to do and +declined. Moreover, I must<a name="page_041" id="page_041"></a> confess I felt so melancholy that I wanted +to get into the street. He, as well as Doña Amparo, offered me a +thousand inducements to run down to Valencia on my return to Barcelona, +where the steamer always stayed for eight or ten days. He, as well as +his wife, would take great pleasure in entertaining me at their home. I +was obliged to promise to do so, but with the definite intention of not +complying.</p> + +<p>It was always difficult to get away from the ship; and the coldness of +Doña Cristina gave me no encouragement to make such a visit.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon Martí came on board to press my hand once more before +my departure. He again urged me cordially not to fail to make them a +visit. Again I made the promise, with the mental reservation already +mentioned. We finally bade each other a most affectionate farewell and I +put to sea, continuing my voyage to Hamburg.<a name="page_042" id="page_042"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">N</span>OT until I found myself on the bridge of my steamer, between the sky +and the sea, could I take account of the impression that the wife of +Martí had made upon me. How many hours I have passed that way, in the +solitude of the ocean, given over to my thoughts! Seldom have they been +sad. My life, after the profound grief caused by the death of my +fiancée, of which I have spoken, has generally had a tranquil, if not +happy, course.</p> + +<p>I was born in Alicante, my father a seafarer. In my school days I showed +a fondness for study. My father would have desired me to become a lawyer +or a physician; anything rather than a sailor. But I found such careers +prosaic, and impelled by the romanticism natural to youth, and to my +somewhat dreamy and fanciful temperament, I preferred that calling. My +father agreed to this with apparent reluctance, but was, perhaps, +pleased in reality by the appreciation that I showed for his own +profession. I soon learned navigation, and made two voyages to Cuba. But +my only sister having died and my mother feeling rather lonely, I felt +obliged to stay at home and lead the life of<a name="page_043" id="page_043"></a> a young gentleman of +leisure. Nobody was surprised at this. As my father was said to have +amassed a reasonable fortune, I was to a good degree exempt from the +hard law of toil.</p> + +<p>A few years later I fell in love. My marriage was arranged and would +have taken place had not Matilde, as she was named, been taken ill. Her +recovery was hoped for, but hoping and hoping, the good and beautiful +girl passed from life. My grief was so intense that my health and even +my reason were threatened. My parents could find no more adequate remedy +than to send me to sea again. I agreed with indifference. Now I went as +second officer in a steamer of the same company in which my father was +employed. After a few months my father was crippled by rheumatism, and +while he was undergoing treatment the owners placed me temporarily in +command of the <i>Urano</i>. Unfortunately he could not resume his place; +after dragging out a painful existence for some time he died. My mother +would have liked me to forsake the sea and again live leisurely at home +with her; but I had grown so accustomed to the sea, to the varied and +active existence of the navigator, to-day in one port, to-morrow in +another, that I could not be persuaded to forsake it. On board of my +steamer, therefore, to which I had become greatly attached, I reached my +thirty-sixth birthday. My mother died, and a<a name="page_044" id="page_044"></a> little later the incident +took place that I have just related.</p> + +<p>I have said that when alone with my thoughts I comprehended that Doña +Cristina had taken too much possession of them. Her image floated before +me like a dream. That look, now grave, now roguish, of her black eyes; +that impressionable shyness, her blushing like a schoolgirl in contrast +with her gracious self-possession; then her facile forgiveness, and the +repressed tenderness that she showed for her husband—all tended to +idealize her. But more than anything, I confess, my own temperament +contributed to this, and the solitude in which the mariner passes most +of his time. After the death of Matilde no true love had ever occupied +my heart again. Idle affairs, adventures for a few days, amused me along +various degrees of the scale. And so I had come to see the first gray +threads in my beard and hair. But my romantic nature, although dormant +in the depths of my heart, was by no means dead. The adventures in +folly, the coarse pleasures of the seaports, far from choking that +tendency, encouraged its revival. I never felt more thoughtful and +melancholy than after one of those affairs. To recover my equilibrium, I +would stretch out under the awning with a book in my hands; filling my +lungs with the pure sea air and opening my soul to the ideas of the +great poets and philosophers, peace and joy would return.<a name="page_045" id="page_045"></a> Reading has +always been the supreme resource of my life, the most efficacious balm +for its troubles.</p> + +<p>The adventure with Doña Cristina transported me to complete ideality, +and I breathed the atmosphere wherein I found myself most sane and +happy. So I occupied myself with pleasurable thoughts about her, without +considering that unhappy consequences might follow. Many a time, when a +pretty young woman had crossed my path in port, I would afterwards +tenaciously hold her image in my mind's eye. Again, in the solitude of +the sea, fancy would evoke her, I would imagine her in diverse +situations, I would make her talk and laugh, I would make her grow angry +and weep, and would endow her with a thousand charming qualities. And in +the companionship of this phantasm I would pass happy days, until on +arrival in port it would dissolve or be replaced by another.</p> + +<p>So now I attempted to do the same. But I could not succeed, even +partially. Doña Cristina had not fleetingly passed me by like many other +handsome women. The impression that she had left with me was much +deeper; she had stirred nearly every fibre of my being. Instead of +representing her as I chose, I saw her as she had appeared in reality. +And again I felt the shame and the sadness that she had made me +experience. On the other hand, her condition as a married woman deprived +my dreams<a name="page_046" id="page_046"></a> of the innocence that they had had on former occasions; it +tinged them with a sombre shade that was little pleasing to my +conscience.</p> + +<p>I therefore determined to clear my mind of these thoughts. I sought to +distract myself from such imaginings, to forget the beautiful +Valenciana, and recover my peace. Thanks to my efforts, and even more to +my prosaic occupations, I succeeded. But on skirting the eastern coast +on my return trip from Hamburg, when I doubled the cape of San Antonio +and there spread before my view the incomparably lovely plain that holds +Valencia and surrounds it with its garden of eternal verdure like a +brooch of emerald, the image of Doña Cristina appeared to me in form +more ideal, more seductive than ever; it took possession of my +imagination never to leave it again.</p> + +<p>I do not know how it was, but the day after arriving at Barcelona I +hastily adjusted the most important matters, left the ship in charge of +the first officer, and took the train for Valencia. I arrived at dusk, +went to a good hotel, dined, changed my clothes, and made the most +careful toilette I had ever made in my life. Then I went out to look up +the house of Martí.</p> + +<p>Not until then did I take account of the folly I had committed. I well +knew that Martí would receive me with open arms, and would be delighted +at my visit. But what would his wife think of it?<a name="page_047" id="page_047"></a> Would she not suspect +that its motive was an interested one, and put herself on her guard? The +idea that she might think that I sought payment in annoying gallantry +for my service at Gijon was abhorrent. I was tempted to return to the +hotel, go to bed, and leave the next day without letting anybody know +that I was in Valencia. Nevertheless, an irresistible impulse pressed me +to see her again. An instant, only for an instant, to engrave her image +most profoundly in my soul and then to go away and dream of it through +all my life!</p> + +<p>Walking slowly I came to the Plaza de la Reina, the most central and +lively place in the city. The night was serene, the air warm, the +balconies were open; before the cafés people were sitting outdoors. And +to think that there in Hamburg I had left the poor Germans shivering +with cold! I took a seat under the awning of the Café del Siglo, as much +for the sake of calming myself as to wait until they had finished supper +at the house of Martí. When I thought it was time, I entered the Calle +del Mar, which was near by. I followed its course, agitated and joyous, +and stopped before the number that Martí had indicated. It was one of +the most sumptuous houses of the street, elegant, of modern +construction, with a high principal story, crowned by a handsome upper +story. The great portal was adorned by statues and plants and +illuminated<a name="page_048" id="page_048"></a> by two clusters of gaslights. One of the windows was open +and at that moment there escaped the lively notes of a piano. "Is it she +who is playing?" I asked myself with emotion. I enjoyed the music for a +moment, and at last approached the door. The porter called a servant, +whom I told that I wished to see his master on urgent business. I was +shown into the office. Martí appeared without delay. What a cry of +surprise! what a cordial embrace he gave me! Then taking me through a +corridor, speaking to me meanwhile in a whisper that his wife might not +fail to be surprised, he ushered me into a room full of people.</p> + +<p>"Cristina, here comes the bad man!"</p> + +<p>She was at the piano. At the sound of her husband's voice she turned her +head; her eyes met mine. She instantly turned them away and back to the +piano just as quickly, as if she had seen something sad or alarming. But +controlling herself almost in the same moment, she rose, and, advancing +towards me with a forced smile, she extended her hand.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to see you, Captain Ribot. We are immensely pleased to +have you visit us."</p> + +<p>I felt my heart constricted, and I could not help responding with a +certain carelessness:</p> + +<p>"There is no occasion for such feeling. It is entirely casual. I had +some business to look after<a name="page_049" id="page_049"></a> in Valencia and on that account you see me +here."</p> + +<p>Martí embraced me anew.</p> + +<p>"I am enchanted with the rude frankness of you sailors! That is just the +way to speak! Away with these conventional lies that deceive nobody and +simply serve to show what actors we are. The main thing is that we have +you here and that your visit gives us genuine pleasure."</p> + +<p>Then turning to the company he added, not without a certain emphasis:</p> + +<p>"Señores, I present you to the captain of the <i>Urano</i>. I have nothing +more to say."</p> + +<p>An extraordinarily lean young man approached to give me his hand. His +skin was rough and weather-marked, as if he had come from long and +painful labors in the sun. He was prematurely bald, and from his mouth +there depended an enormous pipe stuffed with tobacco. He was dressed +with elegance, though a little carelessly.</p> + +<p>"My brother-in-law, Sabas."</p> + +<p>He was followed by a person of about the age of Martí, more or less, +tall rather than short, blonde, his mustache small and silky, his skin +flaccid, most carefully shaven. He was likewise fashionably dressed, and +with a care that contrasted with the negligence of the other.</p> + +<p>"My intimate friend and partner, Don Enrique Castell."<a name="page_050" id="page_050"></a></p> + +<p>These were the only men present. I was next taken before Doña Amparo, +who was working at her crochet, seated in a crimson-velvet chair; I was +then presented to the wife of his brother-in-law, a plump little woman, +round-faced, blonde, and blue-eyed, sitting on a divan and at work with +an embroidery frame on her lap. Beside her was a young girl of seventeen +years whose face of admirable correctness, soft and ivory-like, had the +same expression of timid innocence as the virgins of Murillo. She was +the daughter of a white-haired lady with an aquiline nose and severe and +imposing physiognomy, seated beside a gilded table with a newspaper in +her hands. Martí presented me to her as his Aunt Clara, a cousin of his +mother-in-law.</p> + +<p>The entire company welcomed me most kindly, particularly Doña Amparo, +who with tearful eyes seized both my hands, retaining them until the +excess of her emotion obliged her to drop them in order to raise her +handkerchief to her eyes. The conversation first turned upon the mishap +of that lady. My conduct was eulogized to a degree that put me to shame +and made me uneasy, and they discussed the causes of the accident. The +brother-in-law of Martí, with voice cavernous and husky, perhaps from +abuse of tobacco, bitterly censured the conduct of the authorities of +Gijon for not having properly lighted the wharf. I replied that almost<a name="page_051" id="page_051"></a> +all wharves were lighted in the same way, since they were not intended +for purposes of public pleasure but for the loading and unloading of +merchandise. He insisted upon his position, showing that in all maritime +cities the wharves are places of recreation. I replied that in that case +people must look out for themselves. Martí cut short the dispute by +asking me to what hotel I had gone, that he might send for my luggage. +In vain I opposed his doing so. Seeing that he felt hurt by my refusal I +gave way at last, all the more since the entire family joined in urging +me.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Cristina played the piano with careless fingers, talking +all the while with her sister-in-law. She was elegantly dressed in a +loose crimson gown beneath whose folds were revealed the lines of coming +maternity. Whenever I could I gazed at her with intense attention. And +when she observed it she seemed restless and nervous, and took pains +that her eyes should not meet mine. Martí went out to give some orders +about my chamber. His friend and partner, who had kept silent, reclining +negligently in an easy-chair with legs crossed, began to ask me various +questions about my voyages, the fleet of steamers, the ports where we +touched, and everything relating to the commerce in which the ships of +our line were engaged. The talk acquired the character of an +examination, for Castell showed that he knew as much as I did,<a name="page_052" id="page_052"></a> or more, +about such things. He had travelled much, knew two or three languages +perfectly, and on his travels had not only gained knowledge useful in +commercial affairs but a multitude of ethnographic, historical, and +artistic facts that I was far from possessing. He was a really +accomplished man, but I could not help noting that he was fond of +exhibiting his learning, that he carefully rounded his periods in his +talk and listened to himself, and that, without lacking in courtesy, he +did not conceal his slight appreciation of the opinions of others. On +the whole the man was not congenial to me, although I recognized his +excellent qualities. He had a voice clear and mellow like a preacher, +with grave and noble gestures that enabled him to display his hand, +which was short and beautiful, and ornamented with rings.</p> + +<p>Martí returned, and his Aunt Clara, without giving up her newspaper, +questioned him.</p> + +<p>"How is it with olives, now, Emilio? Have they not risen twenty centimos +this week?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, aunt, I am informed that they have risen and will rise still +further."</p> + +<p>"It couldn't be otherwise," she exclaimed in triumphant tones. "I told +Retamoso so last month, and he paid no attention to me. He is obstinate, +like a good Galician, and so short-sighted in business that he can +scarcely see the length of his nose.<a name="page_053" id="page_053"></a> If it weren't for me, I believe +that he would soon go into bankruptcy."</p> + +<p>The voice of the lady was vibrant and powerful; her sculptural head +raised itself so proudly when she spoke, her aquiline nose was held so +high, and her eyes flashed so imposingly that in her presence one might +fancy himself transported to the heroic age of the Roman republic. +Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi, could not have been more severe and +majestic.</p> + +<p>Martí coughed, to avoid replying, desiring neither to contradict his +aunt nor to offend his uncle.</p> + +<p>"And what do you say to the fall in cocoa?" she continued, with the +heroic accent that might be employed in asking a consul about a legion +surprised and overwhelmed by the Gauls.</p> + +<p>Martí contented himself with shrugging his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Yet he had the assurance to deny that it is anything serious," she +continued with increasing scorn. "It could only be hid from a man of the +narrowest, most limited judgment, altogether unadapted to ventures in +the wholesale trade. When I saw the Ibarra steamers arriving, loaded +with Guayaquil, I said to myself, 'Yes, indeed, this staple is bound to +fall.'"</p> + +<p>"Uncle Diego knows how to tell where the shoe pinches, all the same," +Martí ventured to remark.<a name="page_054" id="page_054"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed! Behind a counter, selling cheese and codfish by the +quarter pound, he would be invaluable. But as a man of business he is a +good-for-nothing; it is only because I have taken the trouble to think +for the two of us that we have been able to get where we are."</p> + +<p>At this moment there appeared in the doorway a short stout man, of a +pale complexion, bald, with small eyes, who greeted those present with a +pronounced Galician accent.</p> + +<p>"Good evening! How do you do?"</p> + +<p>"Hola! Uncle Diego! How do you do, Retamoso?"</p> + +<p>Doña Clara, caught in the act, turned her eyes again to her periodical, +without abating an atom of her dignity.</p> + +<p>Her husband, who, so far as could be seen, had heard nothing, shook +hands with those about him, kissed his daughter, and coming over to his +wife, said to her in affectionate tones:</p> + +<p>"Don't read at night, wife! Now, you know you are trying your eyes."</p> + +<p>Doña Clara took no notice. Retamoso, turning to the others, declared +with profound conviction:</p> + +<p>"She never can be idle. Isabelita, my daughter, entreat your mamma not +to read! Now, you know that she does too much. When she is not reading, +she is casting up accounts; when not casting up accounts, she goes down +to the warehouse to make<a name="page_055" id="page_055"></a> out bills; when not making out bills, she +writes letters; when not writing letters, she speaks English with the +Ricartes's governess. Hers is a wonderful head! I don't understand how +she is able to do so many things in turn, without being either disturbed +or fatigued."</p> + +<p>I owe it to Doña Clara to say that she seemed suspicious of this +panegyric, for instead of acknowledging it and showing herself gratified +by it, she made the gesture of an offended queen.</p> + +<p>"I do not disturb myself for such little things, dear, because I have +trained myself in a manner different from the women of your province. If +there they still go on spinning by the fireside, in the rest of the +world they hold a more brilliant position. Here is a sailor," she added, +indicating me, "who has travelled much, and can confirm this."</p> + +<p>I bowed and murmured some courteous phrases.</p> + +<p>"Well, all this does not hinder my admiring your ability," went on +Retamoso in a tone of exaggerated adulation. "Does not all the world +know it in Valencia? Am I to be the only one who does not, or pretends +not to know it? How many women might be educated like you, and yet not +have the capacity to accomplish in a month what you do in a day!"</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Ribot," queried Doña Clara, addressing me as if she had not +heard her husband, who<a name="page_056" id="page_056"></a> went on murmuring flattering phrases, opening +his eyes wide and arching his eyebrows to express the admiration which +possessed him, "among all the many ports that you have visited, have you +not met women with as much business faculty as men, or more?"</p> + +<p>"I have known some women at the head of powerful commercial houses, +directing with much wisdom, carrying on correspondences in several +languages, and keeping their books with perfect exactitude. But—I +confess freely that a woman engaging in industrial speculations, or +inclined to politics or business, appears to me like a princess with a +taste for selling matches and newspapers in the streets."</p> + +<p>"What's this!" exclaimed Doña Clara, throwing up her Roman head. "Then +you believe that the position of woman is nothing more than that of a +domestic animal, caressed or beaten by man, according to his caprice? +Woman should, in this view, remain always in complete ignorance, without +studying, without instruction!"</p> + +<p>"Let her be instructed as much as she likes," I replied, "but in my +notion woman has no need of learning anything, because she knows +everything——"</p> + +<p>"Just so!" interrupted Retamoso with enthusiasm. "That has always been +my opinion. Isabelita," he went on, turning to his daughter, "have<a name="page_057" id="page_057"></a> I +not said to you a thousand times that your mamma knows everything before +having to learn it?"</p> + +<p>I saw a smile flit over Martí's lips. Cristina rose from the piano where +she had been sitting and went out of the room.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand what you wish to say," declared Doña Clara, with a +certain acerbity.</p> + +<p>"Women who know how to make us happy, make happiness for themselves +also. What other knowledge can equal this upon the earth? The toils of +men, the callings conquered by civilization, go to achieve slowly and +painfully what woman performs at once and without endeavor, making life +more supportable, and alleviating its woes. Being, as she is, the +repository of charity and of the gentle and beneficent sentiments, she +guards in her heart the secret of the destiny of humanity, and transmits +it by heredity and education to her sons, contributing to progress in +this way more truly than ourselves."</p> + +<p>"That is more gallant than exact," interrupted Castell, impertinently. +"Woman is not the repository of progress, and has contributed nothing to +it. You may study the history of the arts, the sciences, and the +industries, and you will not find a single useful discovery that we owe +to the genius or the industry of a woman. This demonstrates clearly that +her mind is incapable of elevation to<a name="page_058" id="page_058"></a> the sphere wherein move the high +interests of civilization. Woman is not the repository of progress. She +is solely the repository of being; and as this is the case, two things +only ought to be demanded of her, health and beauty."</p> + +<p>"You would be right," I replied, "if the unique phase of progress lay in +useful discoveries. But there are others; and, as I understand them, +more important ones—the brotherhood of man, the moral law. This is the +true goal of the world."</p> + +<p>Castell smiled, and, without looking at me, said in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"For all that, I believe that I could name about fifty-seven other +goals, if I know the world."</p> + +<p>And lifting his voice he added: "I have discussed life with many men, +and I can declare that scarcely one has failed to assign his own +especial goal to the world. Among clergymen it is the triumph of the +Church; among democrats, political liberty; among musicians, music; and +among dancers, the dance. And yet the poor world contents itself with +existing, laughing once in a while at so much folly, and trampling +everybody under foot as it goes its way."</p> + +<p>He paused and settled himself more comfortably in his arm-chair. I felt +annoyed at those words, and especially at the scornful tone in which +they were uttered. I was going to reply with energy, but Castell +continued his discourse, tranquilly expounding<a name="page_059" id="page_059"></a> his thoughts in a series +of reasonings held together with logic, and expressed in elegant and +precise fashion. I could not help admiring the varied qualities of his +erudition, his penetrative talent, and, above all, the clarity and grace +of his choice of words. Like submissive slaves, all of those in the +dictionary came trooping to his tongue's end, to express his thoughts +easily and harmoniously.</p> + +<p>His theories seemed strange and sad to me. The world bears its goal in +its own existence. Morality is the result of especial conditions that +life has unfolded for itself upon our planet. If the human race had been +produced under conditions of life like those of the bees, it would be a +duty for unmarried women to deal out death to their brothers, as the +workers do. All manifestations of life, even to the highest, are ruled +by instinct. The virtuous man, like the degenerate, is moved by an +irresistible impulse of his nature. Morality, which the religious man +admires as a divine revelation, is nothing more than an invention +destined to satisfy this or that instinct.</p> + +<p>I really found myself without enough courage to contradict successfully +his audacious assertions. My reading was wide, but desultory, as I had +read more for entertainment than for instruction.</p> + +<p>Then, too, I had never cultivated expression; because my profession did +not require it, and I<a name="page_060" id="page_060"></a> wrestled with great difficulties whenever I tried +to express my thoughts.</p> + +<p>Martí came to my aid, cutting off the discussion in a jocular fashion.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what is the destiny of woman according to my +brother-in-law, Sabas?"</p> + +<p>All looked up, including the one spoken of.</p> + +<p>"Sewing on buttons."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you say that," muttered Sabas, ill-humoredly, taking +his pipe in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't I say it? There isn't a man in the Peninsula who has lost +more buttons than you! Yet I could not mention one of having gone to +your house and not finding Matilde sewing on some."</p> + +<p>Sabas muttered some unintelligible words.</p> + +<p>"What does <i>she</i> say?" asked Martí.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he loses enough!" said the plump lady, laughing.</p> + +<p>But her husband, coloring, gave Martí a severe glance.</p> + +<p>"If he loses as many as there are in the world," interrupted Doña +Amparo, from her little red-satin elbow-chair, "buttons are not +everlasting, and I believe that my son would rather go like Adam than +trouble others to sew on his buttons!"</p> + +<p>She spoke these words with emotion as if they were accusing her son of a +fault.</p> + +<p>"Although he loses more than there are in the<a name="page_061" id="page_061"></a> world, it is a matter of +no importance, and not worth while for you to put yourself out about, or +be vexed with us," replied Martí.</p> + +<p>"I am put out about it because it seems to me that everybody has a +desire to find fault with my son. The poor fellow is always in disgrace. +But until the day he dies his mother will always defend him!"</p> + +<p>She uttered these words with even more emotion. I saw with astonishment +that she was preparing to weep.</p> + +<p>"But, mamma!" exclaimed her son-in-law.</p> + +<p>"But, mamma!" exclaimed her daughter-in-law.</p> + +<p>Both of them appeared contrite and concerned.</p> + +<p>"Such is my maternal passion, my children!" went on Doña Amparo, +struggling not to weep. "I cannot help it! We all have faults in this +world, but a mother is not able to endure those of her children. I +suffer horribly when anyone points them out to me, and much more when it +is a member of the family. Some such sad ideas come into my head! It +seems to me that you do not care for—I believe that I could die content +if I knew that you cared as much for one another as I care for you."</p> + +<p>Excess of emotion prevented her from saying more. She let her needlework +fall upon her lap,<a name="page_062" id="page_062"></a> leaned her forehead upon her hand, and seemed half +ready to faint away.</p> + +<p>Her daughter-in-law hurried to bring her flask of salts, and she began +to smell it. Martí also assisted, with filial solicitude. Both showered +a thousand affectionate attentions upon her, soothing her and making +excuses. Thanks more to their tender words, I think, than to the salts, +the sensitive mother recovered her faculties. When these were restored, +she tenderly kissed her daughter-in-law's brow and seized Martí's hand, +begging pardon for having offended them.</p> + +<p>As I already knew a little of the character and whims of Doña Amparo, I +was not surprised that Retamoso and his wife, Isabelita and Castell, +paid scarcely any attention to this incident, and went on talking among +themselves as if nothing had happened. Sabas, the cause of the disquiet, +tranquilly smoked his pipe.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had calmed his mother-in-law, Martí invited me to come +with him that he might show me the room intended for me. It was +luxurious and elegant, exceedingly luxurious it seemed to me who had +passed my life in the narrow confines of a ship's cabin, or in our +modest dwelling at Alicante. When we reached this room, a maid was +making ready my bed under the señora's inspection. As we entered unheard +she was herself smoothing the sheets with her delicate hands. Our<a name="page_063" id="page_063"></a> +footsteps made her lift her head, and as if she had been caught doing +something wrong, she seemed annoyed, relinquished her task, and said to +the maid with an ill-tempered accent:</p> + +<p>"Well, you may go on with this, and see if you can finish it quickly."</p> + +<p>She was going out, but her husband detained her, taking her hand.</p> + +<p>"Have orders been given for bringing up cold coffee and cognac?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; Regina will stay and see to everything," she replied with +some impatience, drawing away her hand and walking out.</p> + +<p>I enjoyed her embarrassment with ill-concealed delight. As we went out +again into the corridor I said to Martí, to make talk, and also out of +curiosity:</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that Doña Amparo was a good deal upset."</p> + +<p>"You saw that!" he exclaimed, laughing in the frank and cordial manner +that characterized him. "The least thing upsets her. The poor thing is +so good! I am as fond of her as if she were my own mother. Her one +desire is for us to love her. She is so sensitive that the least little +sign of indifference, the smallest neglect, affects her deeply, and +almost makes her ill. For that matter, although we all go on carefully, +and are very attentive to her, it is not enough. Fancy this! I have<a name="page_064" id="page_064"></a> +taken up the custom of kissing her good-night before going to bed! If by +bad luck I forget it for one day, the poor lady cannot sleep, thinking +that I am vexed with her, wondering if she has offended me without +knowing it; and next day she casts timid, anguished glances at me that I +do not understand until my wife explains the enigma to me. I laugh, and +go and smooth her down."</p> + +<p>When we returned to the parlor, the company was dispersing. Castell gave +me his well-cared-for hand, shaking mine, expressing with the careless +coolness of a man of the world his pleasure in knowing me. Sabas and his +wife showed more warmth. Doña Clara, majestic and severe, said +good-night to me without mentioning Jupiter or Pollux, or any other +pagan divinity, which surprised me. Retamoso improved a moment of +confusion to say to me half in Galician:</p> + +<p>"It may be that you are right, Señor de Ribot, and that women are not +made for business. But mine is an exception, you know. Oh, a marvel! You +have already had opportunity to be convinced of this. A veritable +marvel. Phs!"</p> + +<p>And he arched his eyebrows and showed the whites of his eyes, as if he +beheld before him the Himalayas or the pyramids of Egypt.</p> + +<p>Cristina took leave of them all from the head of the stair with the +gracious gravity that suited so<a name="page_065" id="page_065"></a> well her attractive face. I had eyes +for nobody but her. Doña Amparo kissed everybody, kissed her son, her +daughter-in-law, Doña Clara, Isabelita, and also, even, Retamoso. I do +not say she kissed Castell, but I believe it was more from lack of +courage than lack of inclination.</p> + +<p>At last we four found ourselves alone. In order to prolong the waking +moments, I begged Cristina to play on the piano a piece from an opera. +She showed herself willing, and, without replying, seated herself on the +piano stool, fingered the keys lightly for a moment, then commenced to +sing in a half-voice the serenade from Mozart's "Don Juan." As I did not +know of this accomplishment my surprise was great, but even greater my +pleasure. Hers was a contralto voice, grave and sweet. The music of the +great masters has always the power to move us, but when the voice of an +adored woman transports the soul, music truly seems as if it had come +hither from the heavens. I enjoyed for some moments a happiness +impossible to describe. My very being was transformed, enlarged, +quickened with love and joy. When the last notes of the lovely +accompaniment died away, I remained swallowed up in a delicious ecstasy, +scarcely knowing where I was.</p> + +<p>Martí pulled me out of that abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Come, come! The Captain is falling asleep!"</p> + +<p>We all rose. Doña Amparo retired to her room,<a name="page_066" id="page_066"></a> but not until Martí had +kissed her hand, giving me at the same time a mischievous wink.</p> + +<p>"If you need anything," said Cristina to me, "you have only to ring the +bell."</p> + +<p>And without giving me her hand, she wished me good-night. Martí +accompanied me to my room, and took himself off, chaffing me +affectionately.</p> + +<p>"If you are not able to sleep without the smell of pitch, Captain, I +will order a piece brought up and we will set it on fire."</p> + +<p>When I found myself alone, all the impressions of the evening were +loosed in my heart like imprisoned birds, and began fluttering about in +a bewildering whirl. Why was I there? What did I expect? How was this +going to end? The kind welcome and frank cordiality of this noble family +moved me. The heartiness of Martí filled me with confusion and shame, +but the lovely form of Cristina rose up before me, adorable, +bewildering, blotting out all the rest. The thought of being so near +her, when I had resigned myself to see her no more, overwhelmed me with +felicity. I asked again and again, how would this end? At last I slept, +kissing the hem of the sheet that her hands had smoothed.<a name="page_067" id="page_067"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">A</span>CCORDING to my morning custom I rose first of anybody in the house, and +went out to take a walk in the city. I had seen much of Valencia, and +was always gratefully impressed by the quiet animation of her streets, +her serene heavens, her perfumed balminess. Yet how different from those +impressions was the sensation that I now experienced.</p> + +<p>The beautiful city of the east was awakening from sleep. People began +stirring in the streets; balconies were opened, and faces, pearl-white +and with magnificent Arab eyes, were visible behind the flower-pots. As +a morning greeting the gardens sent forth odors of pinks and +gillyflowers, mallows and hyacinths; the sea its breezes fresh and +wholesome; the sky its rays of radiant light. Valencia awoke and smiled +upon her flower-gardens, her sea, and her incomparable sky. Her +fortunate situation made me think of ancient Greece; and as I saw +passing me the happy, peaceful, intelligent faces of her inhabitants, I +longed to repeat the famous words of Euripides to his countrymen: "Oh, +beloved sons of the beneficent gods! In your<a name="page_068" id="page_068"></a> sacred and unconquerable +country you reap the glory of wisdom as a fruit of your soil; and you +tread stately evermore with sweet satisfaction beneath the eternal +radiance of your skies."</p> + +<p>I doubt if anyone, Greek or Valencian, was ever more content than I was +at this moment. But as a sorrowful moment waits eagerly upon every +joyous one in life, I was disappointed, on returning to the house, not +to see Cristina. Martí and I breakfasted alone in the dining-room; and I +learned from him that his wife had already breakfasted, and was in her +own room.</p> + +<p>What man was ever so gay, so affectionate as Martí? He began to tell of +his family, his friends, and his projects exactly as if we had been +friends all our lives. His projects were innumerable—tramways, harbor +improvements, railroads, street widening, etc. I could not help thinking +that for carrying out all these plans not only an enormous capital would +be needed, but also an activity almost superhuman. Martí seemed to +possess it. At that time, besides the steamboat traffic that almost ran +itself and took up but little of his time, he was exploiting some zinc +mines in Vizcaya, was building several wagon roads in several provinces, +and was opening artesian wells in Murcia. In this last he had already +used a large sum without getting much result, but he was sure of +success.</p> + +<p>"When we strike water," he said to me,<a name="page_069" id="page_069"></a> laughing, "I intend to sell it +by the cupful like sherry."</p> + +<p>He expressed himself rapidly, incoherently at times; but always +pleasingly, because he put his whole soul into every word.</p> + +<p>I contrasted his confused and vehement mode of expression with that of +his friend and partner, Castell, so firm, so clear, so polished. We +spoke of him, and Martí outdid himself in eulogies of his personality. +There was not apparently in all the world a man better informed, more +talented, or upright. He knew everything; the sciences had no secrets +for him; the planet hid no corner that he had not explored. He was, +moreover, highly trained in the plastic arts, and he owned a collection +of antique paintings, picked up on his travels, that was famous in Spain +and in foreign lands.</p> + +<p>"But—Castell is a theorist, did you know it?" he ended by saying, +winking one eye. "We are two opposites, and maybe because of this we +have been friends from childhood. He has always been given to studying +the foundation of things, and their reason, philosophy, æsthetics. I +don't understand anything of all that, I have a temperament essentially +practical, and if you will not think me boastful, I will venture to say +that in Spain there is a greater lack of useful men than of +philosophers. Does it not seem as if there is a plethora of theologians, +orators, and poets? If we wish to take our<a name="page_070" id="page_070"></a> place beside the other +countries of Europe it is necessary to think about opening ways of +communication, making harbors, pushing industries, exploiting mines. In +my modest sphere, I have done all that I could for the progress of our +country; and if I have not accomplished more," he added, laughing, "do +not believe that it is for lack of will, but for want of the precious +metal."</p> + +<p>"And Castell is your partner in these enterprises?" I asked him.</p> + +<p>"No; we are not associated except in the steamboat line. He is a man who +is fretted by figures. He is rich and wishes to enjoy his fortune +tranquilly. But although he does not mix much in business, when there is +any lack of money he finds it for me without hesitation, because he has +full confidence in me."</p> + +<p>"It seems as if this taste for business is in the family. Your Aunt +Clara also shares this temperament," I said, to satisfy the curiosity +that had pricked me since the previous night.</p> + +<p>"My Aunt Clara is a notable woman of great talent. But I believe, +without speaking ill of her, that the soul of the house, who has made +all the money, is her husband. Oh, my Uncle Diego looks out for number +one. There is no abler nor more prudent merchant on all the eastern +coast. Believe me, anything he lets go by isn't worth stooping to pick +up."<a name="page_071" id="page_071"></a></p> + +<p>"Surely, according to what I have been given to understand by himself, +it is the señora who guides him in difficult matters, who really holds +the tiller in the business."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Martí, smiling and a little out of countenance, "I do +not doubt that my Aunt Clara gives him some good counsel, but not of +necessity. In Valencia he is considered a bit crafty. It is possible +that there may be some truth in it. You know the Galicians——"</p> + +<p>He coughed to hide his embarrassment, and to change the conversation. I +had already taken notice that it was repugnant to him to find any fault. +He found himself on terra firma only when he was praising people, and he +did this with such ardor that he seemed to taste a peculiar pleasure in +it. Rare and precious quality, that ever made him more worthy of esteem +in my eyes!</p> + +<p>When we had finished breakfast, I pretended that I had occupations, and +left him to look after his own. I went out into the streets again, and I +soon encountered Sabas in one of the nearest ones. He seemed to me even +more dried up and black than last night. He saluted me with grave +courtesy, and after turning and joining me, urged me to accompany him to +his house, as it was necessary for him to change his clothes. I was +surprised at this necessity, as I could not see that he was damp or +untidy. Later I found out that it was his custom<a name="page_072" id="page_072"></a> to change his garb +three or four times every day, following the elegant rules of court +life.</p> + +<p>Meantime, as we wended our way to his house, not far from that of his +brother-in-law, he informed me that he had a collection of canes and of +pipes—a very notable collection. It appeared that it was one of the +sights most worthy a visit of any in the city, and with an amiability +that I appreciated highly, he offered to show it to me. He lived in a +charming little house. His wife came to open the door for us, to whom he +said laconically:</p> + +<p>"I have come to change."</p> + +<p>We went to his room, and he at once proceeded to open the cupboards +wherein he kept the canes. There were, indeed, a lot of them and of many +kinds, and he exhibited them with a pleasure and pride that filled me +with even more astonishment than their number and variety.</p> + +<p>"You see this palasan; it has forty-two knots. It had forty-three, but +it was necessary to take off one, because it was too long. Look at this +other one, this violet stick." He stroked it. "Feel it. This one is of +tortoise-shell. It is the real thing—a white one. It was brought to me +by the captain of one of my brother-in-law's steamers."</p> + +<p>The door of the room was half-opened and a little red head appeared.</p> + +<p>"Papa, mamma let us come to give you a kiss."</p> + +<p>"Run away; we are busy now," replied the father<a name="page_073" id="page_073"></a> solemnly, dismissing +the child with a gesture. But I had gone to the door, and I kissed with +pleasure that little red head. He was a bright child of six or seven +years. Behind him came another smaller one, red-headed too, and leading +by the hand a girl of three or four years, dark, with great black eyes +and curling black hair. I have never seen more lovely little creatures. +I caressed them all warmly, and especially the little girl, whose +velvety eyes were marvellous. But they were all timid, and without +paying attention to my questions, looked doubtfully at their father. His +face showed sternness and annoyance. He seemed offended that I found his +collection of children more notable than his canes. He kissed them as if +in compromise, and when his wife came running to find them, he said to +her sharply:</p> + +<p>"Why did you let them come in here while I was busy?"</p> + +<p>"They got away while I was getting out a shirt for you," she answered +humbly.</p> + +<p>And pushing the chicks before her, she drove them from the room. After +this I felt hopeful that her husband would terminate his exhibition of +canes. He finished at last, and I, knowing that I flattered him, uttered +a thousand exaggerations about his collection, which profoundly +delighted him. He then took the liberty of dressing before me. His wife +began to wait upon him like the<a name="page_074" id="page_074"></a> most efficient and servile of valets. +She put on his shirt; she put on his cravat; she got down upon the floor +to fasten the buttons of his shoes. This happy husband let himself be +dressed and polished off with a restrained gravity, meantime prattling +about his canes and pipes, these collections being, it appeared, the aim +and end of his existence. From time to time he reproved his meek spouse.</p> + +<p>"Don't fasten it so tight! Less dressing and more rubbing on these +shoes! Tell the maid that I wish her to take care not to daub my shoes. +I don't care for that cravat; bring me a scarf that will tie!"</p> + +<p>Finding a button off his waistcoat, he was struck dumb. He stared at his +wife with a look so severe that it made her flush.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how I missed it," she stammered. "It came off when the +waistcoat was washed. I put it aside to sew it on. I was called to the +kitchen, and after all I forgot all about it."</p> + +<p>"Nothing, it is nothing! Of what consequence is one button more or +less?" he said with a sarcastic smile.</p> + +<p>"You know I am very sorry about it."</p> + +<p>"Have I not told you it is nothing, madam? Why do you worry about it? +One button, one button! What does one button signify compared to a bit +of gossip with the laundress?"<a name="page_075" id="page_075"></a></p> + +<p>"But, man, for heaven's sake, don't be like that!" she cried in anguish.</p> + +<p>"Have I said anything?" he shouted, furious.</p> + +<p>Matilde controlled herself and occupied herself with sewing on the +button.</p> + +<p>"How <i>should</i> I be? Say!" he persisted with unabated fury.</p> + +<p>His wife did not look up.</p> + +<p>Sabas then permitted several snorts to escape him, mingled with +incoherent words, and accompanied by a gnashing of teeth that the +sarcastic smile still upon his lips made even more repellent.</p> + +<p>With heroic courage I tried to soothe his troubled spirit. The winds +fell, the waves became tranquil, and he said to me affably:</p> + +<p>"You are going to dine on a <i>paella</i> to-day. I know it already from +Cristina. My sister has a cook who stews like an angel."</p> + +<p>Matilde finished sewing on the button. When she lifted her head I saw +tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>Sabas gave the signal for starting, but first he sent his good lady to +find his gloves, to bring his stick, and then his handkerchief. He +drenched it with scent from a perfume bottle, gave the last polish to +his shoes, and a few touches of the comb to his whiskers. Matilde +fluttered about him like a butterfly, arranging his coat and his cravat +and his hat with her plump white hands. And when he, dismissing her, +took her chin in his hand with a<a name="page_076" id="page_076"></a> careless, protecting gesture her eyes +shone with a radiant, triumphant expression that seemed to transport her +to the heavens.</p> + +<p>In the passage as we were going out we encountered the three children, +who would have thrown themselves upon their father to be kissed, but he +stopped them with a threatening gesture.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't now. I should be all slobbered over."</p> + +<p>I, who had no fears of being daubed, kissed them with pleasure, wishing +to make amends to them for his crossness. Vain hope! They received my +caresses with indifference, following with their eyes their elegant and +morose papa.</p> + +<p>Matilde watched us from the top of the stair, having eyes for nothing +but her husband. She noticed that the collar-band of his shirt did not +fit well, on account of his overcoat, hastened to pull it down for him +and turn it up; and profited by the opportunity to give a few more +touches to his whiskers with her fingers.</p> + +<p>It was now eleven o'clock in the forenoon. The streets were full of +people. The sun shone in the sky in all its splendor. We breathed a +perfumed air, proving ourselves to be in the city of flowers. At every +step we encountered servants carrying branches and sprays of them that +loving ones were sending to delight their friends. In Valencia flowers +make up so large a part of life, and their<a name="page_077" id="page_077"></a> use is so general and +natural, that the sending of flowers is like saying good-morning. +Contemplating this profusion of carnations, roses, and lilies that +rejoice the eyes and make fragrant the air, I could not help saying, +"This is the city where there is so much that is lovely to enjoy that it +matters little what one does with one's days!"</p> + +<p>I could have gone about the streets with pleasure until time for dinner, +but Sabas felt himself in duty bound to invite me to take an appetizer, +and we entered a café in the Plaza de la Reina.</p> + +<p>While sipping a glass of vermouth Sabas showed himself loquacious and +expansive, but without losing his natural gravity. He talked to me about +his family and friends. I saw at once that he had an analytical +temperament of the first rank, clear perceptions, and a keen instinct +for seeing the weak side of people and things.</p> + +<p>His sister was a discreet woman, affectionate, of upright and noble +intentions—but her character was excessively difficult; she enjoyed +opposing people; at times she lacked courtesy; she was wanting in +docility, in a certain meekness absolutely essential in a woman; lastly, +although really generous, she did not make herself liked.</p> + +<p>I should have enjoyed protesting against this absurd summing up. It was +precisely these qualities of her character, at once timid and resolute, +and her coldness a bit harsh, that made me more<a name="page_078" id="page_078"></a> in love than ever. I +abstained, however, for prudential reasons, from speaking.</p> + +<p>His brother-in-law was, poor fellow, an industrious man, generous, +intelligent in business—but absolutely incapable, as everybody knew. +All the world imposed upon him and used him. He was of a temperament so +volatile that as soon as he had undertaken one project he was tired of +it, and thinking of another. This had made him lose a great deal of +money. He could not tell how many enterprises Martí had engaged in. Some +of them would have been very successful if he had stayed in them; but he +scarcely encountered the first difficulties in them before he threw them +aside, abandoned them. He had only shown himself persistent where it was +absolutely useless—in the matter of the artesian wells. What a lot of +money the man had already carried off and buried in that wretched +business! The one thing that had really turned out well had been the +steamboats, and these he did not start, but inherited them from his +father.</p> + +<p>His friend Castell possessed great learning, expressed himself +admirably, and was immensely rich—but had not a scrap of heart. He had +never shown any affection for anybody. Emilio was mistaken through and +through in thinking that he returned the passionate, fervent adoration +that he felt for him.<a name="page_079" id="page_079"></a></p> + +<p>"But do not touch upon this point when you are again with him, as I have +tried it several times. Whenever the conversation brings in the name of +Castell it is necessary to open the mouth, roll up the eyes to their +whites, and fall into an ecstasy, as if one beheld a divinity of +Olympus. Castell knows this weakness of my brother-in-law, approves of +it, and gives himself airs over it. For the rest, on the day when he has +any need of him, he will see how the matter stands then."</p> + +<p>"But Martí told me that he finds money for him when he needs it in his +business," I put in.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," he agreed with his sarcastic smile; "I do not doubt that he +finds money for him, but everybody in Valencia knows the meaning of +that."</p> + +<p>I asked no questions. Having been admitted into the intimacy of the +family, I would not prompt him. Sabas went on:</p> + +<p>"This man is, moreover, vicious and immoral. He has been entangled for +years with a woman who has borne him several children; but this is no +obstacle to his bringing back a charmer with him whenever he makes a +foreign journey. He has already had three, one of them a Greek, a +beautiful woman! He keeps them a while and presently tires of them, like +lackeys who no longer please him. This, you understand, makes a great +scandal in a provincial capital; but as he is named Don Enrique Castell +and owns eight or ten million pesetas, nobody<a name="page_080" id="page_080"></a> wishes to offend him. The +priests and the canons, and even up to the bishop, take off their hats +to him a league off."</p> + +<p>"I have been told of the wealth of your relations, the Retamosos!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; that is a much more modest fortune; it is counted by thousands +of duros, not by millions; but all that has been earned bit by bit, did +you know it?—peseta by peseta, at first behind a counter, and then at a +desk."</p> + +<p>"Your Aunt Clara, it seems, is a lady of much judgment in business."</p> + +<p>Sabas roared with laughter.</p> + +<p>"My Aunt Clara is an imbecile! She has never done anything in all her +life, except speak English with governesses and show her classic nose in +the Glorieta and the Alameda. But my Uncle Diego is the slyest Galician +born in this century. He laughs at his wife, and he is capable of +laughing at his own ghost. I do not consider that he has ability for any +great enterprises. He has not, as I just said, the genius of affairs; +but I assure you that, among those who handle small amounts, I have +never known, nor do I think you could readily find, a more cautious +man."</p> + +<p>In this fashion my elegant friend continued his studies of his family +with a criticism implacable, yet clever and at times witty. From that he +went on to talk about his native city; and I found his<a name="page_081" id="page_081"></a> observations +concerning the character of the Valencians, their customs, politics, and +administration of provincial affairs, sharp and to the point. I confess +that I had mistaken him. I had at first taken him for a mere coxcomb, a +vapid and frivolous young man. He turned out to be a man of good +understanding, observing and clever, although a little exaggerated in +his analyses, and sufficiently severe.</p> + +<p>We went out of the café, and before going to the house, we took another +turn in the streets. Naturally, as I am a native of the east coast, son +of a sailor, and myself a sailor, the aspect of the great Mediterranean +city had an especial seduction for me. The narrow streets, tortuous, +clean, with their profusion of fine shops; the large number of ancient +stone houses with artistic façades, belonging to noble families that +have made their names known and respected throughout the world; the hill +towers, among whose turrets one may imagine still flit the old-time +archers; the bridges with their benches; the Lonja, whose rooms of +exceptional size and beauty shelter the richest traders of Spain; the +lively market-place and open space about—all reveal, together with her +mercantile traditions, an ancient and opulent capital. All spoke to me +of the grandeur of my race.</p> + +<p>I gave myself into the hands of my companion, who took me to the +flower-market. We were not<a name="page_082" id="page_082"></a> long in penetrating an iron-walled passage +where, on one side and the other, leaving space in the middle, was seen +a multitude of pale, black-eyed women exhibiting their +merchandise—carnations, roses, lilies, hibiscus, and iris. Great was +the animation in this little place. Ladies, with their rosaries and +mass-books in their hands, stood before these venders, examining their +wares with liberal and intelligent eye, and bargaining everlastingly +before deciding to buy. Gentlemen laden with branches and sprays were +given numerous instructions concerning their arrangement. Servants and +shop-girls also hastened to the stalls, took their little handful of +flowers, stuck some of them in their hair, and leaving their bits of +copper, marched happily away with others in their hands, to continue +their tasks. With what enthusiasm they would look at their +flower-fillets! With what pleasure they breathed their fragrance!</p> + +<p>As we cruised among the stalls I observed that most of the +flower-venders greeted my friend by name, smiling amiably upon him, and +asking him if he had no orders to give.</p> + +<p>"You are popular in the market," I said to him, laughing.</p> + +<p>"I am a good customer, nothing more," he answered modestly.</p> + +<p>And placing his hand on my shoulder, he pushed me towards one of the +doors, where we stationed<a name="page_083" id="page_083"></a> ourselves, somewhat retired and half-hidden +among the foliage.</p> + +<p>"This is a strategic point," he said to me. "You will see how many fine +figures pass by here within five minutes."</p> + +<p>And truly the ladies who entered by the other door, after making their +purchases or giving their orders, went out by this one. They passed so +near us that their dresses brushed us. My companion had a compliment or +a pleasant word for all. Many of them knew him and greeted him; some +paused an instant to respond with gracious repartee to his gallant +phrases. I was surprised at the impudence with which this man, married, +and understanding good form, thus paid court to women; and yet more that +they accepted his gallantries without reserve.</p> + +<p>I have seen many beautiful faces in the various lands where my wandering +life has carried me, but nowhere so many, so delicate, of such opaline +transparency of complexion, of such exquisite purity as now. Then, what +eyes! The soul moved in their blackness and mystery as if yearning to +enfold you in happy dreams—sweet, voluptuous, unfathomable eyes, that +seemed to hold both love and death. From among the multitude of heads +there was cast upon me a swift glance. It was she; yes, it was she! +While still she was hid in the crowd, I knew it was she who approached! +My<a name="page_084" id="page_084"></a> heart began to beat violently. In a few moments she appeared. She +was dressed in black, and wore a mantilla. In one hand she carried her +mass-book and a rosary wound about her wrist like a bracelet; in the +other, a bunch of carnations. She was with her cousin Isabelita, and +both were accompanied by Castell. I cannot explain the sort of +impression that man made upon me at this moment. My heart was +constricted as if in the presence of great danger, and the vague +antipathy he had inspired me with the night before was transformed into +hatred. The violence with which this feeling was born within me +surprised me, but I did not confess to myself the cause of it. I held it +well in hand and forced myself to appear as agreeable as I could.</p> + +<p>They seemed surprised when they saw us. Castell and Isabelita +congratulated us on the excellent position that we had chosen.</p> + +<p>"What doesn't this rogue know about the conduct of gallantries!" +exclaimed the daughter of Retamoso, giving Sabas a tap on the shoulder +with her book. And then, laughing, she blushed like a poppy.</p> + +<p>"Come, cousin," returned Sabas, "at least you know that I haven't +offered you any gallantries. But we still have time. You are got up with +so much elegance that on seeing you I forget our family ties."<a name="page_085" id="page_085"></a></p> + +<p>Isabelita blushed even more, if that were possible. Sabas persisted in +his compliments. Castell came to his aid. Meanwhile Cristina glanced +absently from one to another. I divined that it was to avoid meeting my +eyes.</p> + +<p>Sabas spoke to her:</p> + +<p>"Little sister, aren't you going to put one of your carnations in my +button-hole?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" she answered.</p> + +<p>And handing her book to her cousin, she took the largest and most +beautiful one in her bouquet and fastened it where he bade her.</p> + +<p>Moved by a sudden impulse, and with a daring that I thought I had lost +towards this woman, I said:</p> + +<p>"And is there nothing for the others?"</p> + +<p>"Would you like one?" she asked me, handing me one with a glance.</p> + +<p>"No; I desire the honor of having you fasten it in my button-hole," I +replied firmly.</p> + +<p>There was an instant of suspense. She showed indecision; but at last +picked out another carnation and hastily put it in its place. I thought +I noticed (it may have been illusion, I do not know) that her hands +trembled. Oh, <i>Dios</i>, with what pleasure I could have kissed them!</p> + +<p>"And I? Do I not have my turn?" asked Castell then, bowing with an +amiable smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw! we have already had enough of<a name="page_086" id="page_086"></a> carnations," she said +crossly, going on out of the door.</p> + +<p>"I came too late," murmured the banker in some confusion.</p> + +<p>"Would you like one of mine?" Isabelita asked him, timidly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, with the greatest pleasure."</p> + +<p>And he bowed smiling, and apparently delighted while the young girl +placed the carnation in his coat. Yet I understood that he was +disgruntled.</p> + +<p>We all followed Cristina; and her cousin paired off with her, Sabas, +Castell, and I walking behind. But we had not walked far when Sabas saw +a charming shop-girl, and stopped to chat with her. Castell and I waited +for him a moment, but seeing he was not likely to finish soon, we +followed on after the ladies.</p> + +<p>"This brother-in-law of Martí's seems to me a youngster of a good deal +of ability," I said to my companion.</p> + +<p>"As a critic?" asked Castell, laconically.</p> + +<p>"As a critic?" I returned, surprised.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he is admirably endowed with power to see the weak and strong +sides of things, to weigh and measure, to compare, to penetrate the +labyrinths of conscience. But these faculties are exercised upon others; +it never occurs to him to apply them to himself. Thus all his analyses, +criticisms, wise and pointed counsels, are wasted; and he is an<a name="page_087" id="page_087"></a> +absolutely fatuous and useless man. He has undertaken five or six +careers, and gone on in none of them; he wasted his patrimony in +gambling and dissipation; he martyrizes his wife, neglects his children, +and he is at present living on his brother-in-law."</p> + +<p>"A good panegyric!" I exclaimed, laughing.</p> + +<p>"You will hear the same from all sensible people in town. This does not +hinder him from being an agreeable fellow, popular and generally liked; +and this is because his defects can scarcely be called public, but +private vices."</p> + +<p>We joined the ladies at last, and arrived at Martí's about the hour of +dinner. My hosts had invited in my honor the company of the night +before, all of them with the exception of Castell being members of the +family. Emilio made me sit at his wife's right. The touch of her dress, +the perfume that floated from her, and a yet more mysterious fluid +wherewith her nearness filled me, intoxicated and upset me. This went so +far that, desiring to show myself gallant and attentive to her, I could +scarcely say or do the most ordinary things. I spilled water on the +tablecloth, I asked her three times if she liked olives, and dropped the +olive-fork in offering her one. But I was happy, and I could not conceal +it.</p> + +<p>She showed herself courteous and a little more<a name="page_088" id="page_088"></a> kindly disposed, +thanking me for my attentions and gracefully covering up my blunders.</p> + +<p>It made me even more happy when Castell fixed his glance upon the +carnation in my button-hole, and asked me with his cold, ironical smile:</p> + +<p>"Captain, would you take a thousand pesetas for that carnation you are +wearing?"</p> + +<p>"A thousand pesetas!" exclaimed Martí, looking up in surprise.</p> + +<p>I was indescribably agitated, as if I had been surprised in the act of +committing a crime. I knew no better than to smile stupidly and exclaim:</p> + +<p>"How full of jokes you are!"</p> + +<p>But Cristina held up her beautiful head proudly, and turning to Castell, +she said:</p> + +<p>"Captain Ribot is a gentleman, and does not sell the flowers that a lady +bestows upon him."</p> + +<p>"Ah, so she bestowed it upon you!" said Martí, and turning to Castell +added: "But, Enrique, would you wish Ribot to sell you this carnation, +when, if she had given it to me, I, although her husband, would not let +you have it for your whole fortune?"</p> + +<p>And at the same time he gazed at his wife with a look of intense +affection. The innocence and nobleness of that man moved me. He must +have touched the soul of Cristina. Dropping her head again, she murmured +in intense tones:</p> + +<p>"Thou art thou—<i>tu!</i>"<a name="page_089" id="page_089"></a></p> + +<p>These simple words were a poem of tenderness.</p> + +<p>"It is well known," observed Castell with the same indifference, "that +there are things in the world that cannot be and should not be bought +with money. Unfortunately men are not in the same category with them, +and therefore we pursue material and even gross objects until we secure +them, however remote they may be."</p> + +<p>"But I do not find them remote," said Sabas. "It seems to me that money +serves well enough for almost all the cases that present themselves. +Thus you hold another carnation to be better than this. This was given +me by a lady. All right, Castell, I will let you have this one for two +pesetas."</p> + +<p>The company laughed. Cristina seemed vexed and said to her brother:</p> + +<p>"You are rude; you are a clodhopper. Matilde, do me the favor of taking +the carnation away from that pig. After that, he shall not keep it."</p> + +<p>Sabas covered it up with his hands.</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit, my girl, wait a bit. If Castell pays the two pesetas, I'll +give it up. Until then we do not separate, no!"</p> + +<p>"Here it is!" said Castell, taking the money out of his pocket-book and +passing it across the table.</p> + +<p>"There—go!" said Sabas, passing over the carnation.</p> + +<p>This jest produced a shout at the table. Yet it did not please Cristina. +She was furious, and<a name="page_090" id="page_090"></a> called her brother names, and vowed that she would +never give him another flower as long as she lived.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile I had had time to recover from the extreme agitation that the +words of Castell had caused me. We finished dining gayly, but Cristina +did not again appear smiling and cordial as before.</p> + +<p>Two hours later I took the train for Barcelona, where my presence was +indispensable. I was accompanied to the station by Martí and Sabas. +Martí made me promise another and a longer visit.</p> + +<p>"After my next voyage," I told him, "I am thinking of asking the +company's permission to stop at home when they change the order of time +for the ships, six weeks hence. Then I will come down from Alicante and +spend a week or a fortnight with you."</p> + +<p>"We shall see if you are a man of your word," he replied, squeezing my +hand affectionately until it was time for me to take the train and be +off.<a name="page_091" id="page_091"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span> DO not know what relation exists between salt water and love, but +experience has made me realize that there exists in it some mysterious +and stimulating virtue. On land I am able to control somewhat my most +vehement sentiments and conquer them. Once on board I am a lost man. The +most insignificant attraction takes on gigantic proportions and in a +little while knocks me flat. So it happened that while in Valencia I +proposed to myself to make nothing of flattering invitations, and never +again in my life to return to stand before Doña Cristina, continuing in +this commendable resolution until I left Barcelona, no sooner did I find +myself afloat than it vanished like the mist, and seemed to me a +veritable absurdity.</p> + +<p>It was from Hamburg that I wrote to the shipping house, asking +permission to remain over one voyage at home, to arrange certain family +affairs. Meanwhile it had come about that I was not able to think of +anything but the wife of Martí. Not even in dreams did she leave my +mind; every word she had spoken sounded ceaselessly in my ears, as if I +had in my brain a phonograph charged with<a name="page_092" id="page_092"></a> conversations, and in my +heart I felt every one of her gestures and movements. On returning +towards Valencia the delight of thinking that soon I was going to enjoy +a sight of my idol produced in me a sentiment of mingled shame and +remorse. I feared a disdainful reception from her, and I feared also an +affectionate and cordial one from her husband.</p> + +<p>I did not intend to lodge in his house, to hush my noisy conscience. +After spending six days in Alicante, I went to Valencia with a friend +who chanced along, and made him an excuse for not going to the house of +Martí. I did not go directly to see him, preferring to go later. I went +out first to take a walk in the streets. But while walking through one +of the principal streets, I saw not far distant three ladies looking at +the fashions in a shop-window.</p> + +<p>As I drew near I perceived that one of them was Cristina, and the other +two, Doña Clara and Doña Amparo. I hastened up to them, and saluted them +standing behind them. (How could I do such a thing?)</p> + +<p>Cristina turned her head; and, as if she had seen something alarming, +she gave a cry and ran forward hastily a few steps. My astonishment was +great and the surprise of these ladies was scarcely less. Perceiving at +once the strangeness of her conduct, and as if ashamed, she turned and +came<a name="page_093" id="page_093"></a> and welcomed me with unusual amiability. She explained her cry and +her flight by declaring that a few moments ago she had given a bit of +alms to a poor creature who had been a criminal, and all at once, +without knowing why, it seemed to her as if he had followed them and was +going to attack her. Doña Amparo and Doña Clara were satisfied with +this, and laid her attack of nerves to her condition; they wished her to +come into a shop and take a quieting draught, but Cristina said no.</p> + +<p>I knew better than this, and walked on with them, saddened because I +knew.</p> + +<p>Martí received me with lively delight, professing to be vexed with me +because I had not sought the hospitality of his house; but I, fortified +by my excuse, held fast, and would not give in. Sabas also showed +pleasure at seeing me. I could not do less than offer him my compassion +on seeing in his face traces plainer than ever of his arduous labors +beneath the sun. The result of these, by what I could gather, was the +acquisition of an amber mouthpiece with his initials engraved upon it, +of which he was so proud that it seemed as if all the vigils and +anxieties that it had cost him had been well spent.</p> + +<p>It was not necessary to inquire what impression my arrival made upon +Castell. His cold, ceremonious courtesy made unnecessary any inquiries +of that sort. Really it seemed to me that the<a name="page_094" id="page_094"></a> lightly disdainful +attitude that he held towards all the world was a little emphasized +towards me. Perhaps I was ill-tempered, but a secret instinct warned me +that this man hated me, and I paid him in his own coin.</p> + +<p>Cristina was now quite advanced in her maternal expectations. Although +women do not consider themselves beautiful at this time, except to their +husbands, I found her more beautiful and interesting than ever, an +indubitable proof of the depth of the affection wherewith she had +inspired me. Her imaginary fears and her agitations at sight of me only +increased it, and I credited her lack of courtesy to these imaginary +fears. I noted that after the meeting she took pains not to look at me; +but the very haughtiness with which she did it showed that some +agitation ruled her spirit, and that I was not absolutely indifferent to +her. Such was at least my illusion at the time.</p> + +<p>Although I was not lodged in his house, the cordiality of Martí and my +secret longing forced me to go every day to dine and spend some time +with them. It was impossible for me to hide my love. At the risk of +being observed (not by Martí, who was innocence personified, but by the +others), I scarcely quitted the sight of Cristina. Whenever occasion +presented, I made plain what was passing in my soul. If she dropped +anything upon the floor, I was there to hasten and pick it up. If she<a name="page_095" id="page_095"></a> +glanced towards the door, I had already run to close it. If she +complained of any ill feeling, I proposed all the remedies imaginable. +In short, I showed to all concerned a lively interest and anxiety that +came from my heart. She received these attentions with a serious face, +sometimes with a certain diffidence; but I understood that she would not +permit herself to take the slightest notice, and this sufficed me.</p> + +<p>One day I grew more daring. Showing no such intention, I went nearer and +nearer to her until my arm touched her dress. Then she got up brusquely +and placed herself elsewhere. These silent rebuffs produced a melancholy +impression upon me. But I was compensated by other enjoyments, fanciful, +perhaps, but that did not hinder their being delicious. When we were +sitting at table, although as I have said she took great pains not to +look at me face to face, she could not help glancing about, and her eyes +would meet and thrill my own. When this happened, I believed I could see +that her face colored slightly.</p> + +<p>Love did not wholly stifle my powers of observation. I mean to say that +I loved the wife of Martí and studied her at the same time. I soon came +to see and understand that beneath her rare and gracious mingling of +timidity and ease of manner, of insistent happiness and supercilious +seriousness, there existed in her a depth of exquisite sensibility,<a name="page_096" id="page_096"></a> +carefully and even ferociously guarded. The modesty of sentiment was so +strong in her that any manifestation of tenderness caused it to retreat. +She preferred to pass for hard and cold rather than that anyone should +read her soul.</p> + +<p>Unlike her mamma, who was delighted to receive endearments, and who +kissed everybody, she never gave a caress to any member of her family, +and avoided receiving one whenever possible. Her husband himself, when +he found himself a little rebuffed, took it with his jolly shout, +accepting everything with a laugh. In spite of this they all loved her +dearly, and looked upon her coldness as a graceful oddity, with which it +pleased her at times to snub them a little.</p> + +<p>Because of her character, the least expression of affection from her +lips had an inestimable value. But it was necessary to turn it off and +pretend that it was not noticed. If it was observed and she knew it, all +was lost. She returned at once to her brusqueness, cutting off gratitude +with some ironical or disdainful speech. She also had the spirit of +contradiction well developed; that is to say, she was wont to antagonize +other people, not from pride or ill-humor, as I was soon convinced, but +rather because of her great reserve, which made it repugnant to her to +show the real strength of her feelings.</p> + +<p>And with all this—an extraordinary thing!—<a name="page_097" id="page_097"></a>there was never a creature +whose features expressed more fully the movements and emotions of her +spirit, even to the faintest shades of thought. Whatever dominated her +for the moment, whatever stirred her, in spite of barred fortress that +she sought to guard, was revealed in her eyes, in the changeful lights +on her face, in all her gestures and movement.</p> + +<p>Martí showed himself every day franker and more cordial towards me. +This, it may be divined, made it possible for none but a villain to +breathe in an enterprise against him. And I, who did not hold myself +that, was embarrassed and saddened. We were inseparable from the first. +Not only did we dine and take our coffee together, but he often insisted +that I should accompany him while he was attending to his business; he +soon made me his confidant and even asked me to give him advice. At +last, after I had been five or six days in Valencia, he joyously +proposed that we should thee-and-thou each other, and without waiting +for my response began to do so with a cordiality that touched me. I +experienced a mingled pride and humiliation, pleasure and pain; thinking +how the confidence of this man brought me nearer his wife, yet held me +all the more removed from her morally. I had occasion to prove this only +a few hours afterwards. When we were again at the house, I, out of +shyness, did everything possible to conceal that we had so<a name="page_098" id="page_098"></a> soon adopted +a new method of addressing each other. Martí made it plain directly. +Cristina lifted her head surprised, looked at us both an instant, and +dropped her eyes again, but not before I had, I believed, surprised in +them an expression of annoyance. I guessed what passed in her soul.</p> + +<p>Martí invited me the next day to visit his estate at Cabañal, where he +had certain orders to give about the house and garden. The family was +usually installed there by May, the present month; but this year, on +account of the happy event that was expected, the moving out had been +postponed.</p> + +<p>We made the trip on foot, by the road and across the fields, in order to +see the farms and gardens that lie between the city and the sea. I +consented with good will, and at the hour for the promenade we started +out upon our way, walking slowly until we reached the place.</p> + +<p>My companion never closed his mouth after we came out of the house. The +discussion of his affairs engrossed him to such an extent that he paid +no attention to the delicious country, carpeted with flowers, whose +white cottages seemed like doves alighted near us. Round about every one +of the little houses with their sharp-pointed roofs grew a grove of +orange-trees, pomegranates, and algarrobos. Beyond were cultivated +fields with flowers and vegetables, some set with roses, lilies, +carnations, gillyflowers; and others with strawberries,<a name="page_099" id="page_099"></a> alfalfa, and +artichokes. Running about among them on the well-beaten paths were +beautiful brunette children, who stopped to gaze at us with their deep, +dark eyes. The father of the family, bending to his task, would always +lift his head as we passed and salute us gravely and silently, lifting +his hand to his hat of coarse straw.</p> + +<p>Martí did not see this, and scarcely the road we were walking on.</p> + +<p>"One of two things! Either this business of the artesian wells will turn +out well, in which case I not only hope soon to get a return on the +capital employed, but I shall also make a good income for myself and my +heirs; or it will turn out badly, and then it will look as if the +capital were lost, but it will not really be so, because of my +disposition and personal knowledge, trained and skilful in this class of +work, which I think I should immediately use in making canals from a +river in the province of Almeria, where there are great tracts of land +that might prove very productive if watered, and which need only +irrigation and ways of communication. It is a project that I have been +turning over in my head for several years. You know well how much time +and money it takes in Spain to get people together for this sort of +business. Not only are directors, capitalists, and superintendents +lacking, but even workmen who know how to carry out a certain class of +works that I undertake. Well,<a name="page_100" id="page_100"></a> whether the artesian wells turn out well +or ill, I still have this knowledge ready at my command."</p> + +<p>"That seems to me exactly the idea," I said, absorbed in the +contemplation of the beautiful, variegated floral carpet that was spread +before us.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think that's it!" exclaimed Martí, with emphasis. "But these +ideas, friend Ribot," he went on, gayly flinging out his arms as if to +embrace all mankind, "these ideas only come after some years of +experience, and not even then unless one has practical sense and a +vocation for business."</p> + +<p>"Yes, aptitudes can be developed, but they cannot be acquired."</p> + +<p>"There is my brother-in-law, Sabas. I make superhuman efforts to +discover in him some ability, something he can do, and I only succeed in +putting myself out. Whatever matter I confide to his care, even if I +give him precise and definite instructions, he manages to knock all to +pieces. It has got so tiresome that I leave him in peace and employ him +in nothing whatever."</p> + +<p>I could not help thinking that this punishment was not found very cruel +by the brother-in-law, and yet it came into my imagination that he might +have purposely provoked it as certain naughty children provoke it from +their teachers, but I kept these and my other observations to myself.</p> + +<p>"It is very different with my friend Castell. Of wide and penetrating +talent, with a remarkable<a name="page_101" id="page_101"></a> mind, immense learning, a profound knowledge +of the sciences and arts, and even of mechanics—but from the first +moment of application he is discouraged by the least scrap of an +obstacle in his way. He is all obstacles and doubts and scruples. He +loses heart before he begins anything and he has given up business. To +carry out an industrial enterprise a knowledge of the matter is not +enough; it must be studied; it is necessary that the one who undertakes +it should possess an essentially positive mind—above all, that he +should have, like me, an iron will."</p> + +<p>Little by little we drew nearer to Cabañal. I have already described +these shores of the sea whose great plain lies blue beneath the sun. We +walked on enveloped in its light and breathing the fragrant air. The +joyfulness of such a scene, serene and luminous as a picture by Titian, +the idyllic bits that we came upon here and there, entered into the soul +and overflowed it with a gentle felicity. In all this joy, this soft +tranquillity, Martí with his beautiful, waving locks, his great, +innocent eyes, did not seem to me so forcible a man as he wished to +appear, not altogether of iron.</p> + +<p>Before coming to the first houses of the village we turned off to the +left. There at a distance was a white villa that Martí told me was his +property. On the way I saw a curious plot of ground whose walls were +made of perfectly symmetrical and<a name="page_102" id="page_102"></a> equal-sized stones. These walls +seemed to be in ruins, and through great openings I could discern +certain structures, great iron pipes, rusted and fallen in pieces to the +ground, wheels and other portions of machinery.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" I asked, surprised.</p> + +<p>Martí coughed before replying, pulled a bit at his shirt cuffs, and +declared, with a gesture between peevishness and shamefacedness:</p> + +<p>"Nothing—a factory of artificial stones."</p> + +<p>"But it does not seem to be running."</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Whom does it belong to?"</p> + +<p>"To me."</p> + +<p>I shut up, because I understood how much the subject mortified him. We +went on several steps without deigning to cast another look upon the +abandoned factory, when, turning, he suddenly exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Don't imagine that I didn't know how to manufacture stone—all these +walls are built of the products of the factory. Take up a piece of the +stone and examine it."</p> + +<p>I took up a piece, examined it, and saw that in fact it had, in +appearance at least, all the necessary qualities of resistance. It gave +me pleasure to say so. Martí explained that the failure of the factory +was due to the scarcity of workmen. Valencia was a province that for +centuries had neglected industrial<a name="page_103" id="page_103"></a> for agricultural pursuits; it lacked +hands. Then the manager had not properly filled his place; the increase +on tariffs and freights, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>The subject was undoubtedly vexatious to my friend. He spoke of it in a +low voice, with a frown on his forehead, and he avoided looking at the +unlucky factory. So in order to mortify him no more, I showed the least +possible interest in all the rusting machinery, and went onward without +bestowing another particle of attention upon it.</p> + +<p>We came at last to the walls of his grounds. We entered them by a +wrought-iron gateway, and crossed a handsomely laid-out garden to +approach the house. This was a modest structure, but sufficiently +spacious, and furnished within in considerable luxury. The furniture, +suitable for the summer season, was simple and elegant. But that which +roused my enthusiasm was the extensive park that stretched beyond, whose +walls reached to the seashore, upon which it opened by a wrought-iron +gateway. Formerly this had been a productive field. But first Martí's +father and then himself had transformed it into a vast garden. Shady, +gravelled pathways were bordered by orange-trees, lemons, pomegranates, +and many other sorts of fruit-trees. Here was a little grove of laurels, +and in the middle of it was a stone table surrounded by chairs. There +was a grotto tapestried with jasmine and honeysuckle; yonder was<a name="page_104" id="page_104"></a> a +thicket of cannas, or cypresses, and in the centre a statue of white +marble. And like a base for decoration, there was the azure line of the +sea, into whose waves seemed ready to fall the oranges that hung from +the boughs. The sun, that was already sinking, enveloped the garden and +the sea with a sudden blaze of illumination; its golden rays were +scattered over the white paths of the enclosure, made the whitewashed +house resplendent, penetrated the thickets of cypress and laurel, +lighting up the marble faces of the statues, and hung drooping from the +branches of the trees like threads of the gold of waving tresses. At the +right were visible over the walls the masts of little fishing boats with +their simple rigging, and yonder extended the town of Cabañal in a rare +and picturesque blending of fishermen's cots and aristocratic mansions +wherein the grandees of the city came to spend the summer. More distant +still was the port and the tall masts of steamboats.</p> + +<p>Martí showed me all the grounds, although without much pleasure or +pride. Business, past and future, burdened him; he did not know how to +throw it off. It was only when we came to a corner next the beach that +he was enough distracted for a few moments to point out to me a +summer-house in the Greek style that was admirably introduced into this +smiling landscape. It was adorned within by carved furniture brought +from Italy, statues and<a name="page_105" id="page_105"></a> vases. It had a little lookout balcony towards +the sea, and over the door was inscribed a name that caused me a slight +tremor.</p> + +<p>"The building of this summer-house was a thing of my wife's. That is why +I had her name put over the door."</p> + +<p>From thence we returned to the house by new and ever more beautiful and +embowered pathways. Before reaching it, we came upon a little artificial +hill, and, topping it, a bit of a castle. About it was a little pond of +water, imitating a moat. We crossed it by means of a drawbridge, and +ascended by a narrow footpath between hedges of box and orange, arriving +at the top in the time that it takes to tell of it. The path, because of +its artful windings, produced the effect of being measured by rods, +instead of by inches. Over the door of the little castle was engraved +another name that also made me tremble, although in a very different +way.</p> + +<p>"The idea of the little artificial hill was my friend Castell's, and, +naturally, it bears his name—which is all the better that it exactly +suits it," he added, laughing.</p> + +<p>For me the pun had much less charm. Perhaps the antipathy with which the +subject inspired me had part in this. We entered the diminutive castle +and ascended to its roof. From there were admirably revealed not only +the park, which did not seem so vast, but also a good part of<a name="page_106" id="page_106"></a> the +cultivated grounds, all the harbor, and the Puerto Nuevo and the grand +expanse of the sea. Above its innumerable wavelets, above the freshness +and dark depths of the water hung the crystal vault of the sky, dappled +with delicate tints of rose. The sun flung a river of gold across the +waves. Among the flowery fields and the fields of maize shone the little +white cottages nestled among their oranges and cypresses. Beyond +Valencia was Miguelete, and in the distance the encircling mountains, +that at this hour seemed all of violet and mauve and lilac.</p> + +<p>"What is this hut?" I asked, disagreeably impressed by the sight of an +ugly brick structure which reared itself up on the confines of the park.</p> + +<p>"Nothing—that was an attempt at a beer manufactory," replied Martí +dryly.</p> + +<p>And again his brow was furrowed by the frown.</p> + +<p>"And did it not get to the making of it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there was some made. It turned out badly on account of the quality +of the water. The maker, whom I got here from England, did not explain +this to me in time, and I was obliged to waste money enough uselessly."</p> + +<p>Coughing perfunctorily, he pulled at his shirt-cuffs, ran his fingers +through his hair, and hastily descended the stair of the little castle, +followed by me. There was in every movement of this man when he +expressed pleasure or annoyance so much<a name="page_107" id="page_107"></a> heartiness, such childlike +innocence, that I felt myself constantly more attracted to him. It +seemed to me that I had loved him for a great while.</p> + +<p>When we came away from his estate the sun was already setting behind the +distant mountains. We made our way around the house, and crossed the +grounds again and through the fields of maize, the gardens and orchards. +It was the hour of stopping work, and the laborers in the fields, with +their Valencian kerchiefs about their heads, were resting at the doors +of their cottages under the sweet fresh tendrils of vine-covered arbors. +Their children were climbing upon their knees and dancing about them +while the mothers prepared the rice for supper.<a name="page_108" id="page_108"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">W</span>HEN we arrived at the house, night had already fallen. The family was +assembled in the dining-room and the table set. Isabelita dined at her +cousin's, and Retamoso and Doña Clara were getting ready to leave +without their daughter. Sabas and Castell dined there also. We were +joyously welcomed, and all, except perhaps Cristina, attacked me with +questions concerning the impression that the country-place had made upon +me. I showed myself enthusiastic, not merely for courtesy, but because I +really was so. I enlarged heartily upon the enchanting situation, the +taste and care with which the place was laid out, the elegance of the +Cristina pavilion (I believe that I insisted too much on this point), +and I finished by saying that I should not find it unpleasant to spend +all my life there.</p> + +<p>"In the Cristina pavilion?" asked Castell, with his ironical smile.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" I responded boldly, casting a quick look at Martí's wife. She +seemed to be thinking of something else at this moment, but I divined,<a name="page_109" id="page_109"></a> +none the less, that she did not lose a word of what I said.</p> + +<p>"Then it's your taste to live caged like a canary. I also should like +very well to live in that way, but on condition that I should be taken +care of by a hand chosen by myself."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he also looked out of the corner of his eye at Cristina, +who kept her face turned the other way, and looked terribly dignified.</p> + +<p>"But I, who am not a sybarite, make no condition whatever," I returned, +laughing.</p> + +<p>Martí slapped his friend several times upon the shoulder affectionately.</p> + +<p>"As if we did not all know you, you old rascal! You would live in the +way you are talking about a fortnight perhaps. At the end of that time +you would be so bored with your cage, with lovely hands, and canary seed +that you would throw it all over."</p> + +<p>Castell protested against this judgment, declaring that fickleness in +love depends not so much upon the temperament and its changes as upon +the vague but pressing necessity that we all feel to seek for the being +who can respond to our inmost sentiments, our most intimate aspirations, +our secret longings; or, to speak in more prosaic words, although less +clear also, those that adapt themselves exactly to our physical and +moral individuality.<a name="page_110" id="page_110"></a></p> + +<p>"I have not found—like you," he concluded daringly, "among so many +women, the one who meets all the necessities of my being, many of them +unimportant perhaps, but none the less existent. If, like you, <i>or +before you</i>" (he uttered these words in a peculiar manner), "I had +chanced upon her, then certainly my career of gallantry had ended, and +you would have had no cause to call me, as now, an old rascal."</p> + +<p>His attitude, his accents, and the furtive glances that the rich +ship-owner cast from time to time upon Cristina while he was talking, +confirmed me in the suspicion that I had conceived, whereof I have not +before had occasion to speak, that this gentleman was paying court to +the wife of his intimate friend and associate.</p> + +<p>The effect of this dawning suspicion upon me was deplorable. I already +hated my rival; now to myself I called him false friend, traitor, +double-faced! But at the same time a voice cried out in my conscience +that I, though a new friend, was not perceptibly better. This voice +distressed me indescribably.</p> + +<p>The talk went on, and Castell found occasion to say all he chose to +Cristina, as if nobody but herself could hear. His well-chosen words +admirably fitted the gestures, quick and speaking, wherewith he +emphasized them. Cristina talked with her mother, but by her evident +agitation and by the<a name="page_111" id="page_111"></a> cloud of vexation which darkened her face I +guessed that she was listening to what Castell said, and that it was not +to her liking. In that moment, with a frown upon her forehead and a +proud expression in her eyes, she seemed to me more adorable than ever.</p> + +<p>Retamoso, with his hat already on his head, came up to Castell, and +bending as if to speak in his ear, but in reality talking loud enough to +be heard by his wife, said in his attractive Galician accent:</p> + +<p>"Señor Castell, you are in the right—like a saint! The question hits +the mark, hits the mark. If I had not had such good judgment in choosing +a companion, what would have become of me, poor fellow! What a +darling!—eh? What a treasure! Ssh! silence, keep the secret for the +present, but I wouldn't have had two pesetas. Silence, ssh!"</p> + +<p>And arching his eyebrows and making up faces expressive of admiration +and restrained bliss, he moved away, shuffling his feet. His beloved +better half, who had heard perfectly well, gave him a sidewise look +which was not shining with gratitude, and turning up her hawk's nose, +she said good-night to us with imposing severity.</p> + +<p>We were now all standing up and preparing to seat ourselves at the +table. Martí, observing that his piece of bread was a little broken, +exclaimed jestingly:<a name="page_112" id="page_112"></a></p> + +<p>"Aha, I think I find here the footprints of my little mouse, don't I, +Cristina?"</p> + +<p>She smiled assent.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I'll be banished for picking at your bread, some day."</p> + +<p>Then, as Martí turned to talk with Castell, I went up to the table +carelessly and, pretending something else, contrived to get a morsel of +the bread that Cristina had picked at, and ate it with inexplicable +pleasure. This did not escape her, and I noticed that her face took on a +slightly annoyed expression.</p> + +<p>"Come, come to dinner, and everyone to his place!" she cried, with a +pretty grimace of vexation.</p> + +<p>I obeyed humbly, and seated myself in my accustomed place. The dinner +was a gay one.</p> + +<p>Martí was talkative and full of fun. As if he had not until then made +enough of the beauties of his estate at Cabañal, he enlarged upon them +with an enthusiasm that I had communicated to him on our walk. He ended +by proposing that we should go there afternoons for picnics, since +circumstances hindered the moving out altogether. It is needless to say +with what delight I heard this proposition. Cristina welcomed it with +pleasure, and also the others at the table. Sabas remarked, with his +habitual gravity, that perhaps he should not be able to go every day.<a name="page_113" id="page_113"></a></p> + +<p>"No; we know already that we need not count upon you. It would not do, +would it—to throw over all business in the Plaza de la Reina and the +Café del Siglo?" said his sister, laughing.</p> + +<p>"It isn't that, my girl!" exclaimed the elegant creature, piqued. "You +know that I am not particularly fond of rural amusements."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I know that you are one of the citified, and cannot breathe +except in an atmosphere of tobacco smoke."</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo hastened, as always, to the rescue of her son.</p> + +<p>"It will please me very much if Sabas does not go, for picnics always +disagree with his stomach."</p> + +<p>"What would it matter to Cristina if I had to stay shut up?" exclaimed +the critic with an affectation of bitterness.</p> + +<p>"Poor little thing! You get on admirably on late suppers at the club, +with olives and champagne."</p> + +<p>Martí intervened and cut off the dispute between them, seeing that Doña +Amparo was already making ready to faint away. Everyone has his own +preferences in the matter of amusements and it was folly to try to +impose our own upon others. "Everybody has a right to be happy in his +own way," and if Sabas found himself happier under a roof than under the +open sky, he had no wish to disturb him.<a name="page_114" id="page_114"></a></p> + +<p>"All that I beg," he ended by saying, "is, that although he is not to be +of the party, that he will let Matilde and the children come with us."</p> + +<p>Sabas generously granted this petition, and all friction seemed to be +ended; but Cristina, who still wished to tease him a little, said with a +mischievous smile:</p> + +<p>"Of course we understand that this means the afternoons when she has no +buttons to sew on."</p> + +<p>"Cristina, Cristina!" cried Martí, half vexed, half laughing.</p> + +<p>We all did all we could to restrain our laughter. Sabas shrugged his +shoulders with apparent disdain, but remained surly the rest of the +evening.</p> + +<p>The next day and the days thereafter, without his honorable company but +with that of Matilde and the eldest of his children, we made our +excursions to Cabañal.</p> + +<p>Martí and Castell's carriages took us thither directly after breakfast, +and brought us to the city at sunset. This time was spent chatting on +the upper balcony of the summer-house while the ladies embroidered or +sewed, or we went out into the park, where we played like children with +balls or hoops.</p> + +<p>Sometimes we left the place and ran about the village or went down on +the beach, where we were greatly entertained by watching the fishing +boats coming in; at other times we directed our footsteps<a name="page_115" id="page_115"></a> into the +country, visited some of the cottages, usually that of a certain Tonet, +an old servant of Martí's, who owned the little farm where he lived. +There we often rested, and his wife welcomed us with chocolates or +peanuts or served us some other refreshment.</p> + +<p>But the important business of the afternoon was the picnic, or rather +its preparation. For it interested us that the picnic was spread and +eaten in the open air. We carried the alcohol stove and the rest of the +things to some distant and shady place in the park. The ladies put on +their aprons; the gentlemen, in shirt-sleeves, made chocolate or coffee, +or fried fish that we had just bought on the beach, and passed a happy +time. How happy I was when the party gave me the task of stewing up some +sailor's dish, and I went about among my scullions and scullionesses +with the stewpan in my hands, despotically giving them exact orders and +sometimes—who would believe it?—going so far as to forget that I was +in love!</p> + +<p>Yet I was more and more in love all the time; there is no doubt about +that. Neither when I said to Cristina in an imperious tone, "Bring me +the salt!" nor, when I reproved her sharply for cutting the fish up into +too small pieces, did it even enter my imagination that a more perfect +creature could ever have existed under the sun. In the country the +supercilious severity that I had often remarked in<a name="page_116" id="page_116"></a> her disappeared. Her +mood was gay, changeful, lively, and she invented a thousand tricks to +make us laugh, while from her lips witticisms flowed continuously. She +was the soul of our excursions, the salt that seasoned them.</p> + +<p>I could not keep my eyes away from her. I listened to her and stared at +her like an idiot. Sometimes, though not often, she made me feel that I +was carrying water in a sieve. For example, one afternoon, standing in +the summer-house, she showed us a thimble that she had bought. Everybody +examined it, and I also after the others, then I contrived to keep it +without being noticed. A good while passed; nothing more was said about +the thimble. But when we left the mirador to go to our picnic she +crossed in front of me and said without looking at me:</p> + +<p>"Put the thimble in this little basket."</p> + +<p>It was of no use to be cunning and crafty with her. She saw everything; +she observed everything.</p> + +<p>Another afternoon, when her sister-in-law Matilde was playing on the +piano and she standing turning the leaves of her music, I stole up +silently from behind. Pretending to find myself enraptured by the music +and looking closely at its sheets, I devoured with my eyes her alabaster +neck and the fine, soft hair, there where the black locks of her head +seemed to die away and be lost like exquisite music that melts in +pianissimo. Well, then<a name="page_117" id="page_117"></a> as if she had eyes for seeing what was behind +her, she raised her hand to the neck of her dress and pulled it up with +a gesture of impatience. It was an admonition and a reprimand. But in +spite of her dumb rebuffs and reproofs and although she used seldom to +look at me, I felt myself happy beside her. And this was because in +these rebuffs and in the sternness of her countenance I found no +distaste for myself, nor desire to mortify me. Everything emanated from +a noble, if exaggerated, sentiment of dignity, without counting the +intense affection that she professed for her husband, of which she +constantly gave clear proof. Nor in this either was she unworthy the +exquisite delicacy of her sentiments. Instead of showing herself tender +and submissive towards him as so many women would have done in her case, +she shunned showing any fondness in my presence and, whenever it was +possible, avoided the caresses that he would have given her. Sometimes +he laughingly asked her the reason for such severity, but she remained +inflexible.</p> + +<p>Of her sense of justice and the instinct that inspired it she gave +witness more than once, although it was always tacit. I had gone to the +house one morning. There was no one in the dining-room but herself and +her mother. She happened to ask for a glass of water. I took it upon +myself to anticipate the servant, went to the sideboard,<a name="page_118" id="page_118"></a> took a goblet +and a little tray, and was about to pour out the water and serve her +when she interrupted me dryly:</p> + +<p>"No, let it be. I am not thirsty now; it was a whim."</p> + +<p>I was very much crestfallen, and even more saddened than humiliated. I +cut short my visit and retired. That afternoon I stayed at the <i>fonda</i> +and did not go to Cabañal as usual.</p> + +<p>At night I went to the house when they were finishing supper, entered +with a stern countenance, and did not try to glance at her. But I saw +plainly that she looked at me, and I wished her to keep on until I saw a +humble expression on her face.</p> + +<p>In a few moments she addressed me with unusual amiability, seeking to +make amends. I stood my ground rigidly. Then she said in a clear voice +and with a gracious smile that I can never forget:</p> + +<p>"Captain Ribot, will you do me the favor to pour a little water into one +of those goblets and bring it to me?"</p> + +<p>I served her, smiling. She smiled a little too before drinking it, and +my resentment was melted like ice in the warmth of that smile.</p> + +<p>Castell was always one of the party on our excursions to Cabañal. +Sometimes, though rarely, he drove out alone in one of his traps.</p> + +<p>I no longer doubted that he paid court to Cristina and had also observed +the love that I felt for<a name="page_119" id="page_119"></a> her. But he owed it to his immeasurable pride +not to seem to notice a rival so little formidable; I could not see the +slightest change in him. He continued to treat me with the same refined +courtesy, not exempt from patronage, and—why should I not say it?—with +also a sort of benevolent compassion. It is true that Castell extended +this compassion towards all created beings, and I think I should not be +wrong in affirming that it went beyond our planet and diffused itself +among other and distant stars. As a general rule, he listened to nobody +but himself; but at times, if he were in the humor, he would invite us +to express our opinions, making us talk with the complacency shown to +children; listening, smiling sweetly at our nonsensical chatter and our +little mistakes. It was a regular secondary-school examination. When he +deigned to pry into my limited field of knowledge I could not help +fancying myself a microscopic insect that had by chance fallen into his +hands, that he twirled and tortured between his encircling fingers.</p> + +<p>They all listened to him with great deference. Martí ever showed himself +proud of having such a friend, and believed in good faith that neither +in Spain nor in foreign lands existed a man to compare with him—in the +world of theory, of course, because in practical matters, Martí was all +there, as I knew.<a name="page_120" id="page_120"></a></p> + +<p>But Isabelita, Cristina's cousin, listened to him with even more +absorption. It is impossible to imagine a more complete attention, an +attitude more submissive and devoted than that of this girl with a +profile like an angel, when Castell held forth. Her pure and pearl-like +face was turned towards him; she sat perfectly still as if in ecstasy; +the lashes of her innocent eyes did not move.</p> + +<p>The one who took the least pleasure in the dissertations of the rich +ship-owner was, as far as I could see, Cristina. Although she forced +herself to hide it, I was not long in divining that the science of her +husband's friend and associate did not interest her. She often grew +absent-minded and, whenever she could find a plausible pretext, she +would leave the room. Can it be supposed that this lack of reverence for +a representative of science lowered her in my eyes? I think not!</p> + +<p>I noted further that, although Cristina joined apparently the projects +of her husband, and never contradicted him when he discussed them with +his usual frankness before us, she showed lively vexation when Castell +encouraged them. When the millionaire, therefore, would begin a pompous +eulogy of Martí, praising in affected language his clear sight, his +decision and activity, Cristina's face would change; her cheeks would +lose their delicate rose-color; her brow would be knitted, and her +beautiful eyes would take on a strange fixity.<a name="page_121" id="page_121"></a> Usually she could not +stand it to the end. She would get up and leave the room abruptly. The +good Emilio, intoxicated with gratitude and pleasure, took no notice of +this.</p> + +<p>What a soul was that of this man, how noble, how sensitive, how +generous! Chance brought to my knowledge a magnanimous action that +raised him still more in my eyes. With the freedom that he had given me +from the first, I entered his private office one day unannounced at a +rather inopportune moment. His mother-in-law sat sobbing (for a change) +in an arm-chair, and he with his back towards the door was opening his +safe. On hearing me he turned and quickly shut the door of the safe. He +seemed a little more serious and thoughtful than usual, but the generous +expression of his face had not disappeared. He greeted me, making an +effort to appear cheerful; then turning to his mother-in-law and putting +one hand upon her shoulder, he said affectionately:</p> + +<p>"Come, mamma, there is nothing to grieve about. Everything will be +arranged this afternoon, without fail. Come now, go to Cristina and rest +a little. You must not make yourself ill."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you!" murmured the suffering lady, without ceasing to +weep and blow her nose.</p> + +<p>Recovering finally at least a part of her energies, she left the place, +not without giving me a<a name="page_122" id="page_122"></a> strong, convulsive grasp of the hand and +drawing her son-in-law to the door for three or four kisses. He shook +his head and said, smiling:</p> + +<p>"Poor woman!"</p> + +<p>I gave him a glance of interrogation, not venturing to put the question +in words. Martí shrugged his shoulders and murmured:</p> + +<p>"Tss! It's the same as always. Her son abuses the bounty of this poor +woman and it gives her a great deal of trouble."</p> + +<p>As I perceived that he did not wish to go into further explanations, I +refrained from inquiries, and we talked of other things. But a moment +later Cristina came into the office, not in a good temper, and asked +him:</p> + +<p>"Mamma has been begging money of you, hasn't she?"</p> + +<p>"No, my girl," replied Martí, coloring a little.</p> + +<p>"Don't deny it to me, Emilio. I have known all since this morning."</p> + +<p>"Very well, what of it? The thing is not worth wrinkling this little +brow," he answered, touching it tenderly.</p> + +<p>Cristina remained silent and thoughtful a few moments.</p> + +<p>"You know," she said at last firmly, "that I have never opposed your +expenditures for Sabas. I have enjoyed your generosity towards all, but +your treatment of my brother has especially pleased<a name="page_123" id="page_123"></a> me. Yet I have +asked myself sometimes, 'Will this generosity of Emilio have really good +consequences? Will it not encourage my brother to continue in his idle +and dissipated habits?' If he were alone in the world, he might indulge +in such luxurious ways without much danger. When he came to want, you +could, by reducing him to strict necessities, keep him on his feet. But +he has a wife, he has children, and I fear that they will have to bear +the consequences of your generosity and of the habits which, thanks to +your kindness, their father does not abandon. And, too," she added in +low tones that trembled a little, "at present we have no great +responsibilities, but we shall have them——"</p> + +<p>"I believe you; we shall have them!" exclaimed Martí. "It looks to me as +if the first of them would not be many days in arriving!"</p> + +<p>Cristina's cheeks colored swiftly. Emilio, changing his tone, went over +to her, put his arm about her shoulders affectionately, and said to her:</p> + +<p>"You are right in this, as you are in everything that you say. You are a +hundred times more sensible than I am. Perhaps I should have refused +Sabas if he had come begging of me, because I am already a little tired +of his affairs; but your mother comes—when I see her crying—you don't +know how that moves me."</p> + +<p>Cristina lifted to him her eyes shining with immense<a name="page_124" id="page_124"></a> gratitude, her +face quivering with feeling; fearing that she could not control her +emotion, she suddenly left the room.</p> + +<p>"Poor little thing!" said Martí, smiling once more. "She is very right. +Sabas is a bore."</p> + +<p>"He gambles, doesn't he?" I ventured, because of the confidence that had +been shown me.</p> + +<p>"It would be better to say he is skinned by sharpers. What a fellow! He +has lost, and promised to pay, five thousand pesetas."</p> + +<p>"He promises it, and you have to pay it."</p> + +<p>"Possibly. But what is to be done? It is not all his fault. He has a +mother who is too soft."</p> + +<p>"And a brother-in-law who is too kind," I thought.</p> + +<p>Martí put his arm across my shoulders, and we went thus to the +sewing-room to find Cristina and Doña Amparo. They were both there, the +first frowning and meditative, the other completely overcome by her +emotions. Matilde came in presently to breakfast with them. I perceived +that she was sad and seemed as if ashamed. Soon after two ladies dropped +in for an intimate call, and conversation cleared up the heavy +atmosphere of the room.</p> + +<p>Cristina went out for a moment to attend to some of her domestic +matters, and I noted that she left her handkerchief forgotten upon her +chair. Then, with the dissimulation and ability of an accomplished<a name="page_125" id="page_125"></a> +thief, I went over to it, sat down as if absent-mindedly, and when +nobody noticed, I took the precious object and hid it in my pocket. +Cristina appeared again, and I noticed that she glanced about at all the +chairs in search of her handkerchief; then she shot a glance at me, and, +I firmly believe, guessed from my manner that I had it. Then not daring +to ask me for it aloud and at the same time unwilling to give up and let +it pass that she allowed me to have it, she went about searching in all +the corners of the room, asking:</p> + +<p>"Where can my handkerchief be?"</p> + +<p>Nobody but me observed it, because all the rest were absorbed in +conversation. At last I saw her sit down in her chair, take up her work, +and go on with it in silence.</p> + +<p>I went away to luncheon at the <i>fonda</i>, without accepting their +invitation to remain. I had a vehement desire to enjoy my precious +conquest by myself; for I considered it such in my mad presumption after +she gave over looking for it. Once in my quarters and assured that the +door was fastened, and that nobody could see me through the key-hole, I +snatched the kerchief from my pocket and gave myself up to a sort of +madness which even now makes me blush when I remember it. I breathed its +perfume with intoxication, kissed it numberless times, pressed it to my +heart, swearing to be eternally faithful, put it away with the pictures<a name="page_126" id="page_126"></a> +of my father, took it out to kiss it, and put it away again. At last I +came to the end of all imaginable extravagances, better suited to a +young student of rhetoric than to the captain of a steamboat of three +thousand tons.<a name="page_127" id="page_127"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>N the afternoon I was with the family at Cabañal as usual. Martí did +not accompany us, having to attend to a certain business matter. (Did it +have to do with the five thousand pesetas that his brother-in-law had +lost?) At all events, I was selfish enough to rejoice at his absence. +During the trip out and the hours that we stayed at the place, I +observed something in Cristina's manner and gestures that made my heart +tremble with joy and hope. I cannot explain how, without her looking at +me nor once speaking directly to me, I felt overwhelmed by a celestial +happiness, but so it was. We passed all the afternoon in the +summer-house. The ladies worked at their sewing or embroidery. I read or +made believe to read. Cristina, affected by an unusual languor, did not +rise from her chair until the moment of leaving. While the others +laughed and jested, I saw that she kept silence and was grave although +without any apparent cause. Her face was slightly flushed. My +imagination suggested to me the idea that it was because of the thoughts +drifting through her soul and the timidity<a name="page_128" id="page_128"></a> that they inspired. On the +dark and gloomy horizon of my life light began to dawn; so my heart said +to me. During that unforgettable afternoon, I was as happy as the angels +must be in Paradise, or the author of a drama when he goes out on the +stage to receive applause between the leading old man and young lady.</p> + +<p>After dining at my hotel I went to take coffee at the Siglo, with the +intention of going thence to Martí's house. I encountered Sabas on +entering, his pipe in his mouth, seated among several of his friends, +whom he was haranguing in his own solemn and judicial manner. He saluted +me from a distance with a wave of the hand, and presently seeing that I +was alone, separated himself from the group and came to join me.</p> + +<p>He was in a jovial mood and did not seem in the least cast down by his +folly of the day before, nor ashamed of it. We talked of our daily +excursions to Cabañal, and I described them as very lively and +delightful. He did not care to contradict me openly, but I understood by +his gestures more than by his words that he looked upon all that as +childishness unworthy a serious and mature man like himself. For one who +could appreciate them, Valencia held pleasures more highly flavored, +other fascinations; and he was sorry that I was out of them without +tasting them. He did not say what they were, but from what I already +knew, it was<a name="page_129" id="page_129"></a> readily to be supposed that they had some relation direct +or indirect with roulette.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen the famous stone factory?" he asked me in serious tones, +although his eyes gleamed with a malicious smile.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have seen it."</p> + +<p>"A fine business! And also the celebrated beer distillery?"</p> + +<p>"Also."</p> + +<p>"Better business yet! isn't it?"</p> + +<p>Then sounded in the depths of his throat a chuckle that could not be +uttered because at that moment he was earnestly sucking his pipe. I was +confused, as if he had said something offensive about one of my family, +and I responded vaguely that certain enterprises turn out well, and +others ill, and that their fortunes depend upon fortuitous circumstances +more than upon the intelligence and industry of whosoever undertakes +them.</p> + +<p>"Tell that of others, but not of my brother-in-law," he answered with +sarcastic gravity. "Emilio's enterprises are always brilliant, because +his is a practical genius, essentially practical."</p> + +<p>"He seems to me a very clever man," I remarked with some embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"Not at all; not at all; I will not admit a bit of it. His is a +practical, and his friend Castell's a theoretical genius."</p> + +<p>"We have already talked a little about that," I<a name="page_130" id="page_130"></a> replied smiling, to +turn his scalpel away from the unpleasant subject.</p> + +<p>"They are both geniuses, each one in his own fashion, the only geniuses +that we have in Valencia."</p> + +<p>I did not know what to say. That sarcastic tone annoyed me extremely. +Sabas must have observed this, because exchanging it at last for another +more serious, he set himself to make, as usual, a careful and reasonable +analysis of his brother-in-law's conduct. It was something to see and to +admire, the gravity, the aplomb, the air of immense superiority with +which that man talked over others, the penetration with which he +uncovered the hidden motives of all their acts, the incontrovertible +force of his arguments, the sorrowful divination with which he +formulated them. It was such that I could not do less than acknowledge +to myself that every one of his observations hit the mark; but although +I knew this, I was both astounded and indignant while I listened. I +tried to hold the opposite side, but I could see that this only served +to make clearer the perspicacity and conclusiveness of his judgments, +and when I had taken my coffee and smoked a cigar, I got away from him.</p> + +<p>"For all that," I said, shaking his hand, "I have no room for doubt that +Emilio is a very good fellow, and full of talent."</p> + +<p>"Agreed!" he responded, returning the hand-shaking,<a name="page_131" id="page_131"></a> "but confess that a +little common sense would be useful to him!"</p> + +<p>I left the café angry and miserable. I was very glad to get away from +the sight of the dolt who had spoiled my morning. I directed my steps +slowly towards the house of Martí, but on the way my thoughts took a +sadly audacious direction. I was filled with a moral suffering, that had +since morning afflicted me; this, mingling with my flattering hopes, +made me so that I had not strength to mount the steps, and in front of +the door I turned about, went to my hotel, and went to bed.</p> + +<p>That was for me a memorable night! As soon as I had put out the light I +understood that it was going to be long indeed before I could woo sleep +to come to me. A whirl of wild thoughts filled my brain, disordering, +agonizing. The lovely vision of Cristina came in the centre of all, but +did not succeed in calming their ardor, nor controlling them. In vain +fancy called up the scene of the handkerchief and that adorable face, +softened and moved, the sight whereof had made me happy all day long. In +vain I invoked the celestial felicity that sooner or later must descend +upon me. Whether it was illusion or reality, I thought that the fruit +was ripening, and already responded with delicate tremors to the +continued shaking that my hand gave the bough. Perhaps it would be long +in falling into my lap. But I ought to confess that<a name="page_132" id="page_132"></a> this alluring +future possibility did not leave me peaceful and joyous as I had hoped. +I tried to become so by closing my eyes, but this did not do it. My eyes +were only the more widely open. My forehead burned my hand when I passed +it across it. I experienced a strange restlessness that obliged me to +change my position constantly. The curious suffering whose first slight +stings I had felt during the day, now pierced me fiercely and +intolerably.</p> + +<p>This suffering was nothing else but remorse. To be really happy it is a +necessity that a man should be contented with himself, and I was not. +Another image, melancholy and grief-stricken, followed always after that +of Cristina in the interminable procession of my thoughts, disturbing +the happiness of which I had had a glimpse. It was that of Martí. Poor +Emilio! so good, so generous, so innocent! His mother-in-law wrung money +out of him and would have ruined him to support her son in his idleness; +his friend, whom he looked upon as a brother, deceived him; his +brother-in-law, upon whom he heaped kindnesses, ridiculed him publicly. +He had no heart near him that was loving and faithful except that of his +wife. And I, an outsider, to whom he had offered so much frank and +affectionate hospitality, I would snatch it away! The idea weighed down +my heart, made me feel myself disgraced. In vain I forced myself to +picture in lovely colors what it would be to be<a name="page_133" id="page_133"></a> the lover of Cristina, +to taste of the intense pleasure of passion, and the joy of conquest. In +vain I tried to make my fault seem less by recalling to mind the +shortcomings of others. In my ears sounded ever a voice assuring me that +to go on would be to be unhappy. And my quivering nerves kept me tossing +between the sheets with my eyes ever more and more wide open.</p> + +<p>The hours went by, sounding slowly, sonorously, and sadly from the +cathedral clock. I tried earnestly to shut my eyes and go to sleep, but +fiery, invisible fingers pressed open my eyelids. At last I bounced out +of bed, struck a light, dressed myself, and began walking the floor. And +when I had paced back and forth for a while, searching the most secret +corners of my heart, I understood what must of necessity be done. I had +recourse to chloral, more chloral than I had ever taken in nights like +this of sleeplessness and struggle. I renounced my desires once for all, +my hopes, the enjoyments of love and the flatteries of self-love. I +entered into my spirit with a lash and drove from it the perfidy of will +which, for the few pleasures that it gives us, causes us so many burning +wounds. This cost me labor, for it hid itself away in all sorts of +corners, obliging me to pursue it closely, leaving it no point to stop +upon. But at last I succeeded in driving it out in sober earnest, and I +stopped in the middle of the room, tired out, perspiring like<a name="page_134" id="page_134"></a> one who +has performed some heavy task, but at peace. I undressed again, lay down +on the bed, and the winged god, son of sleep and night, bore me away in +his arms to the mysterious palace of his father.</p> + +<p>When I awoke, the sun, already high in the heavens, was shedding its +golden rays upon the city. As soon as I had dressed myself I went +directly to the house of Emilio. The husband and wife were together in +the sewing-room, and with them were Doña Amparo, Isabelita, Doña Clara, +a dressmaker, and a domestic. The first question that was asked me was +where I had been the night before. I excused myself with a headache. +Cristina, who was embroidering near the balcony, did not lift her eyes, +but I noted on her face the same expression of gentle compassion that +she had worn during the episode of the handkerchief. And, too, while I +was talking with the others I saw that she stole a swift and timid +glance at me.</p> + +<p>I improved a moment when all were occupied, and approached her. Drawing +the handkerchief from my pocket, and in a voice so low that the company +could not hear me, yet not low enough to make any secrets suspected, I +said:</p> + +<p>"I have carelessly kept a handkerchief of yours, thinking that it was my +own. Until I got home I did not perceive my mistake. Here 'tis; take +it."</p> + +<p>She lifted her head and gave me a look of intense<a name="page_135" id="page_135"></a> surprise; her face +flushed a vivid carmine; she took with a trembling hand the handkerchief +that I held out to her, and again bent her brow over her embroidery +frame.</p> + +<p>After that, tell me frankly if I have not the right to laugh at Cæsar, +Alexander, Epaminondas, and at all the heroes of pagan antiquity in +general! At least I live in the intimate conviction (and this thought +makes me vastly greater in my own eyes) that if Epaminondas had found +himself in my shoes he would not have returned the handkerchief.</p> + +<p>I turned anew to the group and joined the chat with animation, although, +perhaps, it was an excessive animation. My soul was profoundly moved and +it should be declared among these frank confessions that, although I +felt no pride in my heroism, neither did I experience that sweet content +that the moralists say always accompanies good actions.</p> + +<p>I lunched with them and we went afterwards to Cabañal, where the +afternoon passed as merrily as ever. But my gayety was only feigned; +although I wore myself out pretending it, and to divert myself, I am +sure I cut a sorry figure.</p> + +<p>Cristina did not care to hide her preoccupation. All the afternoon she +was thoughtful and serious, even to the point of making herself +remarked.</p> + +<p>When night came, praise God! I would have opportunity to turn the key +that locked up my<a name="page_136" id="page_136"></a> thoughts and weighed down my soul, and ease my pain a +little.</p> + +<p>It chanced that Martí had brought from his library the works of Larra, +and he read to us, to pass the time, one of his most delicious pieces, +entitled "El Castellano Viejo." We all laughed and applauded the gifts +and ingenuity of the great satirical writer. From this we went on to +talk of his life and his tragic end in the flower of his youth, for he +was not yet twenty-eight years of age when he voluntarily quitted this +world.</p> + +<p>"And why did he kill himself?" asked Matilde.</p> + +<p>"For that which men usually kill themselves, for—a woman!" answered +Martí, laughing.</p> + +<p>"I believe you! When they don't kill themselves on account of money," +exclaimed the young wife, showing herself a trifle annoyed.</p> + +<p>"That kind have not wholly lost their senses, but there are many more of +the first sort," he returned, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, very much. And was she married or single—this one who +interested him?"</p> + +<p>"Married. It is said that he maintained relations with her during the +absence of her husband, that his return was announced, and that then +she, repentant or timid, made known to him her resolution to break off +with him. The grief of Larra was so severe that he was not able to bear +it, so he shot himself."<a name="page_137" id="page_137"></a></p> + +<p>"But she did right, and he was very stupid to leave life when he was so +young and when there are so many women to choose from and marry."</p> + +<p>"He was already married," said Martí.</p> + +<p>"He was married!" exclaimed the women indignantly and all together.</p> + +<p>"And had several children."</p> + +<p>"Then he should be quartered! He ought to be hung! The scoundrel should +be cast out with the other refuse! It would serve him right!"</p> + +<p>The wrath of the ladies made us laugh. Someone observed that she also +was married, and that this fact had not seemed to irritate them so much.</p> + +<p>"Because women are weak creatures. Because women do not run after men. +Because they are deceived by honeyed words. Because men rouse their +compassion, pretending to be mad and desperate!"</p> + +<p>"You are right," I said, to calm them. "The one who resists ought not to +have the same responsibility, if failing at last, as the one who makes +the attack. But coming to the concrete example of which we were talking, +my opinion is that Larra gave more proofs of suicidal egotism than of +high and delicate love. If he had really loved this woman, he would have +respected her penitence, would have considered her all the more worthy +of adoration, and would have found in his own heart and in the nobleness +of the adored being resources<a name="page_138" id="page_138"></a> to make life worth living. But to leave +life, to deprive his children of a father and his country of a true +Spaniard, makes me, at least, think that he did not love his beloved for +the lovable qualities heaven had bestowed upon her, but for his own +sake."</p> + +<p>The ladies joyfully agreed with me. This roused Castell's pride of +wisdom; or perhaps he only gave way to his ever-present desire to +instruct his fellows, believing himself infallible. He leaned back in +his chair, and holding my attention by his little finger glittering with +rings, delivered a complete course in philosophy. His was a well-linked +chain of reasoning, elegant sentences, a great abundance of +psychological, biological, and sociological facts—all to show that "man +is irrevocably fettered to his own sensations;" that "no other sincere +motive exists except that of pleasing them;" "the world is a battle +without a truce;" "struggle is the inevitable condition for the +preservation and upholding of the great machine of the universe," and so +on.</p> + +<p>"Without struggle, friend Ribot," he concluded, "we should return to the +condition of inert matter. Combat trains us and strengthens us; it is +the sole guarantee of progress. He who, led away by a mad notion, +strives to suppress antagonism towards other creatures attacks the very +root of existence and attempts to violate the most sacred of its laws."<a name="page_139" id="page_139"></a></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" I exclaimed with emotion. "He would be mad, but I affirm that +he would experience immense pleasure in attacking this sacred law. I +should like nothing better than to get up some morning and smash it into +bits. I have passed the greater part of my life upon an element where +this sacred law demands a fervent worship. In the depths of the sea the +creatures devour one another with indefatigable devotion; the greater +religiously swallow up the less. You may rest assured, Señor Castell, +that the great machine of the universe will not suffer any damage from +their sins. But I confess frankly that I have never become accustomed to +these proceedings, wherein marine animals have the advantage over +terrestrial ones. Some nights in summer, on the bridge of my boat, I +have asked myself: 'Is it possible that man is obliged to imitate this +ferocious struggle everlastingly, and be forever implacable to all who +are below him? Will there not come a day when we will gladly renounce +it, when compassion will rise above interest, and the pain that we cause +not only to our fellow-beings, but to any living creature, become +unendurable to us?'"</p> + +<p>"Dreams, nothing more! Nor are you the first who has followed this +chimera."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, let us dream!" I cried, with more passion than I suspected +myself capable of, "let us dream that this sad reality is no more than +an<a name="page_140" id="page_140"></a> appearance, a horrible nightmare from which perhaps the human spirit +will one day awaken. And meanwhile so much!—let every man manufacture +his magic world and travel through it, companioned by love and +friendship and virtue, by all those beautiful visions that make life +joyful. For life, Señor Castell, however balanced and physiological it +may be, is a sad and insipid thing when the imagination is not moved to +adorn it. If capricious fortune should ever drag me, like Larra, into +being enamored of a woman who belonged to another" (here my voice did +not change in the least), "I should not perfidiously attempt to gain her +affection away from her husband, to win pleasure or joy. At least, I +should not hesitate to strike down my own joy pitilessly. I should +rather try to make use of my poor imagination, as great Petrarch made +use of his divine one, to love her, to keep her image sacred in the +depths of my heart, to give her unselfish adoration; and my life, by +contact with this pure love, would gain elevation and nobility."</p> + +<p>From the beginning of our talk I had felt the eyes of Cristina resting +upon me. Now I saw her rise hastily and go to the piano to conceal her +emotion. Doña Clara, Matilde, and Isabelita applauded. Emilio, laughing, +threw his arms about my neck.</p> + +<p>"What warmth, what enthusiasm, Captain! I am a man essentially +practical, and not in the least<a name="page_141" id="page_141"></a> able to argue with Enrique; but you +have answered him, and said things very agreeable, and very fine, and, +what is rarer, you know how to say them very well."</p> + +<p>This was the truth, in spite of my modesty. It was the first and only +time in my life that I felt myself an orator. And if in that moment the +directors of the Athenæum at Madrid had invited me there, I think I +should not have minded giving in the capital a lecture on "The Future of +the Latin Races," or any other topic however grand!<a name="page_142" id="page_142"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">F</span>ROM that day her attitude towards me changed materially. She showed +herself less diffident and distrustful; she did not seek so carefully to +avoid looking me in the face. When I entered she did not suddenly turn +serious as she used. Little by little her freedom of manner increased, +making her cordial, and affectionate too, within the bounds of her +reserved temperament. Her delicacy hindered her from recompensing me in +words for what I had uttered in her presence; but she used her ingenuity +to find a way to make me understand that she approved of me.</p> + +<p>One afternoon there was talk of certain things that had been bought and +left forgotten in a shop. Martí wished to send a servant for them. She +said with apparent indifference:</p> + +<p>"Captain Ribot, do you not go through the Calle de San Vicento? Then do +me the favor to get this parcel and bring it to me to-night."</p> + +<p>I was overwhelmed with delight. At night when I delivered it to her she +received it with more indifference than ever.</p> + +<p>"Thanks!" she said dryly, without looking at me.<a name="page_143" id="page_143"></a></p> + +<p>It did not matter. I was sure she had given me a reward. I felt happy +and peaceful.</p> + +<p>But next day, after this small bounty and grateful success, adverse fate +had prepared for me a graver alarm than I had ever experienced in my +life of peril and hazard. Neither when I ran aground in the Rio de la +Plata, nor when the sea knocked away the bridge and half our masts in +the English Channel, did I feel my heart so constricted by any sudden +encounter. The agent to furnish me with this most cruel trial was Doña +Amparo. We had been chatting in this lady's sewing-room, Cristina and I. +While they worked I had been turning over an album of portraits of all +of the family and many of their friends. I inquired, and Doña Amparo +told me, who the originals were. Cristina remained silent.</p> + +<p>"Who is this charming child?" I asked, gazing at the likeness of a +little girl of ten or twelve years. "What beautiful eyes!"</p> + +<p>"Don't you recognize her? It is Cristina."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" I exclaimed, surprised. And, looking at her, I observed that she +was crimson.</p> + +<p>"She was then in school. Wasn't she very lovely?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think so," I stammered.</p> + +<p>"Mamma, don't say such absurd things. She looks like a picked chicken!" +exclaimed the one under discussion, laughing.<a name="page_144" id="page_144"></a></p> + +<p>"Like a picked chicken!" cried the mother indignantly; "you were plump +as possible. From that time you have done nothing but lose ground. I +would give something to see you now as you were then. And Ribot will say +the same."</p> + +<p>"Señora," I murmured, although in confusion, "no doubt she was very +beautiful at that time, but I think that the present is better worth +while."</p> + +<p>Cristina blushed more yet, and bent over her work serious and silent. +Her mother did not choose to drop the subject. I did not venture to +contradict her openly; I only uttered monosyllables or phrases of +doubtful interpretation. At last we gave up this conversation, so +dangerous to me. We were told that the hairdresser had come, and +Cristina went to her room.</p> + +<p>I continued turning over the album, and Doña Amparo went on moving back +and forth the ivory needle of her lace-work. We preserved silence; but +three or four times, on lifting my eyes, I observed that she was looking +at me with irritating persistence. Finally I could see that she laid +down her work, doubtless to look at me more to her liking.</p> + +<p>"Ribot," she uttered in a low voice.</p> + +<p>I thought it well to seem deaf.</p> + +<p>"Tss! Ribot."</p> + +<p>"What did you say, señora?" I asked, pretending to come out of my great +abstraction.<a name="page_145" id="page_145"></a></p> + +<p>"Look me in the face."</p> + +<p>"How? I do not understand."</p> + +<p>"Will you look me in the face?"</p> + +<p>As I had not been doing anything else, this petition would have been +tremendously absurd if it had not been even more disquieting.</p> + +<p>"Now, move your chair a little nearer."</p> + +<p>This new demand appeared to me much more disquieting. I drew up, none +the less, according to orders, dragging the chair with an ill-omened +squeak. Adopting a tranquil and unembarrassed air, distinctly contrary +to what would have suited me at that instant, I waited for what it was +she had to say to me. Doña Amparo gazed at me smiling, and then, with a +deep look, she said:</p> + +<p>"Ribot, you are in love with my daughter Cristina!"</p> + +<p>I grew pale, then crimson; afterwards other shades of yellow, green, and +blue. Indeed, I think my face was a rainbow for the space of several +seconds.</p> + +<p>"Señora! I! How can you suppose it? On my life, what a notion! What an +idea!"</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo, on seeing me in such a terrible state of agitation, became +frightened, and turned pale also. She reached out immediately for her +smelling-bottle; with one hand she held up my head, and with the other +put it under my nostrils. I was given salts to smell in such a moment as +that!<a name="page_146" id="page_146"></a></p> + +<p>I took my bitter cup as best I could, thanked her, and, with smothered +words and faltering tongue, ascribed my emotion to my natural surprise. +The accusation was so grave that really——</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo smiled benevolently, doubtless to calm me, and would not +consent that we should say another word before I took a drop of ether to +fortify me. I swallowed it not without difficulty, for my throat was +constricted so that I was scarcely able to breathe. Then, to mollify the +just indignation of this lady, I returned to my discomfited and +incoherent protestations against such a monstrous supposition.</p> + +<p>I in love! How could it be possible that I should have the hardihood, +the audacity? Her daughter was a model of all the virtues. Nobody would +have the rashness to offend her with other sentiments than those of +respect and admiration—I least of all, a friend of Martí, who was such +a gentleman, so loyal, who had given me so many proofs of unmerited +esteem, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>"All this is very well, Ribot," declared Doña Amparo, emotionally +sniffing her smelling-salts, "but this does not hinder you from being on +fire, mad, lost, for my daughter."</p> + +<p>"You deceive yourself, señora. I assure you that you——"</p> + +<p>"Come, confess yourself," she said, putting one hand on my shoulder, and +looking at me<a name="page_147" id="page_147"></a> with a smilingly mischievous face: "nobody can hear."</p> + +<p>"Señora, for God's sake!"</p> + +<p>"Confess, sinner! Confess yourself!" and she gave a gentle and +affectionate little pull at my beard.</p> + +<p>I was terrified, dreading something decidedly unpleasant.</p> + +<p>"Let us keep the secret between us two. You are in love with Cristina, +as Castell has been for some time."</p> + +<p>"Enough of this!" I said, trying to find a way to escape.</p> + +<p>"He is a much worse rake, and, between the two, frankly I prefer you."</p> + +<p>I was stupefied. What was it that this señora preferred? Why was she +talking to me in this manner? Where was she going to stop?</p> + +<p>"Isn't it true that Cristina is very lovely?" she went on with the same +flippancy. "She is such an interesting type, of such delicacy! It is not +strange that you should become enamored of her. Of course, I will not +have her talked about."</p> + +<p>"Señora!"</p> + +<p>"No! I know what you would say! She is the best of creatures, virtuous, +incapable of failing her husband. Further, Emilio has no equal, so much +affection, so much loyalty, so splendid! He adores his wife. I am as +proud of him as if he<a name="page_148" id="page_148"></a> were my own son. I would not consent, for +anything in the world, that he should have the least trouble."</p> + +<p>"He will not have any on my account, make yourself easy," I ventured to +say.</p> + +<p>"That is honorable in you, Ribot," she replied, pressing my hand. "You +are very good, enough better than that rascal of a Castell," she added, +smiling sweetly. "And, truly, you could not do less than be fond of +Emilio. He is so good. I always find him so affectionate towards me. But +who can blame any poor fellow for falling in love! The wrong is in +murmuring soft nothings in the ear of Cristina when Emilio is not +looking. We will suppose that they are foolish things, that she has eyes +like this and a skin like that. But that is not right. Emilio is his +best friend, and if he suspected, he would be disturbed. You, Ribot, are +much more respectful. You would not let yourself gaze, except by +stealth. But what eyes he makes at her! Come, now, let us see, sinner, +did you fall in love at Gijon or here?"</p> + +<p>"I beg of you, señora—I—I feel so much upset, I must ask you to allow +me to retire."</p> + +<p>"How reserved you are, Ribot! Well, this pleases me. Men of few words +are those who best know how to care. But with me you ought not to be so +timid. I know the affection you have vowed her. Open your heart to me, +so that I can do<a name="page_149" id="page_149"></a> everything possible to console it. To whom better than +me can you unbosom yourself?"</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks, señora. Permit me to go. At present I feel that I +should not be able to say anything in reason."</p> + +<p>"I understand you! I understand you, dear Ribot!" declared Doña Amparo, +pressing one of my hands with emotion between both her own. "You are +like me, exceedingly sensitive, exceedingly emotional. Don't you want +another drop of ether? Neither you nor I is fit for this world. I cannot +bear to see anyone suffer. Now here you see me, me who, in spite of my +adoration for my son-in-law, for whom I would willingly give my life, am +dissolved in tears at seeing you suffering on account of my daughter. I +am weeping like mad."</p> + +<p>And truly Doña Amparo did not in this moment malign herself.</p> + +<p>"Frankly, Ribot," she went on rackingly, "if it were possible for +Cristina to care for you without troubling Emilio, I would myself go and +intercede for you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you," I murmured, pressing her hand before I got mine +away.</p> + +<p>"Believe me, you are as dear to me as a son, and I would give something +if——"</p> + +<p>Here her voice strangled in her throat, and I improved the precious +opportunity to stride with tragic footstep from my scene of trial.<a name="page_150" id="page_150"></a></p> + +<p>I went out in indescribable confusion. I felt angry, wrathful at such a +woman, who with so much frivolity and folly lifted the veil of the most +delicate secrets, the deepest intimacies of her family life. Between my +teeth I called her coarse, imbecile, a bad mother. My anger carried me +so far as to accuse her of an inclination to trade upon her child's +attractions, of having been born for the part of a <i>Celestina</i>. Yet +little by little I calmed myself, and with calmness arrived at last at +justice. Doña Amparo was absolutely idiotic, of this there was no doubt; +but she was not a bad woman. Hers was a heart that spread itself like +butter over the first comer. It was necessary to her to be looked after +and petted like a child or a dog, and like them she knew no difference +between the hands that bestowed caresses. Reflecting thus, my spirit was +little by little inspired with less wrathful sentiments; but I could not +help thinking, all the same, that if the foregoing conversation should +become known to Cristina, she would fall dead of shame.</p> + +<p>I encountered her in the office with her husband and Castell. Emilio, +who was beginning to organize and get under way his famous project for +putting canals through the province of Almeria, was in an excellent +humor. I suspected that Castell had finally facilitated the matter with +the needful. Emilio was babbling away, chaffing his<a name="page_151" id="page_151"></a> friend +affectionately about his scepticism and theories, and his apathy towards +business. If he had Castell's means at his disposal, he would undertake +to become the richest man in Spain, at the same time giving bread away +to many families and furthering the progress of the nation. When I +entered, the torrent of his chaffing was diverted to me, and he +threatened to marry me off within a period of not more than two months. +Then he began talking to me about his project. As soon as the great +family event we were all hoping for had come off, he would go to Almeria +to hasten the preparation for the canal. He drew from the desk a lot of +portfolios and showed me the plans, explaining details, and trying to +stir up in me the same enthusiasm that animated him. I gave him a +religious attention, but only in appearance. I really lost not one +movement of Castell's while I looked over the papers, for I suspected +him. I saw him manage skilfully to get near Cristina, who with one foot +on the balcony sill was turning over a book. When he got near her, under +pretext of examining the book she held, I observed that he brought his +cheek near hers until it almost touched; and although his back was +towards me and I, of course, could not see his lips move, I knew that he +was whispering something to her. The lady moved her head abruptly away +and tried to withdraw; but—oh, what a surprise!—Castell detained her, +taking<a name="page_152" id="page_152"></a> hold of her wrist. At the same time with his other hand he tried +to put a letter between her fingers. Cristina refused to take it. There +was a struggle in silence. My heart beat in my breast. I was afraid that +Martí would turn his head and see what was going on. Not for sake of the +villain Castell, it may be readily understood, but to save my friends +from the scandal and from cruel trouble, I did everything possible to +keep him occupied. Cristina's frightened eyes were several times turned +towards us; then not getting free otherwise, and fearing that which was +surely going to happen, if this struggle were prolonged a few seconds +more, she decided to take the letter, which she crumpled and hid in her +hand. Then, pale, yet smiling, she came over to us and busied herself +also in looking over the plans, forcing herself to seem at ease. But her +face did not lose its intense pallor and her whole body was trembling.</p> + +<p>As for Castell, I never saw anybody cooler, serener, or showing less +emotion of any sort. He remained a little while quiet, his hands in his +pockets, looking out over the balcony into the street. Then he walked +about the room. Now and then he would give Cristina a quick, +scrutinizing glance. In spite of the profound aversion with which he +inspired me, I could not help admiring the man's incredible audacity and +at the same time his perfect self-control and unquenchable confidence<a name="page_153" id="page_153"></a> +in himself. I have never known anyone to whom other created beings +represented less.</p> + +<p>I did not lose sight of the hand in which Cristina had crumpled the +letter. Emilio went on through the portfolios without ceasing his long +prolix explanations. Then rising from his chair and taking Castell's +arm, he halted him in his walk.</p> + +<p>"Do you—don't you want to go into such a business?" he said in the +chaffing tone.</p> + +<p>"You know already, Emilio, that I can't serve you," replied the other, +with his placid and patronizing smile.</p> + +<p>"In work, no—I know that. But as a figure-head you can do me a great +service. As you are rich and are known as a scientific man (you know +that, although you don't care much about it), it is necessary that you +should take the most important position, and be president of the council +of administration. No work will be demanded of you. You shall be given a +comfortable arm-chair, and you can, from time to time, drop off to +sleep, scattering benedictions."</p> + +<p>Cristina had remained near the table. Standing up, she, with a lofty +expression, cast one full glance at Castell. Then unfolding that which +she held, she tranquilly tore it up and flung the tiny bits into the +waste-paper basket.<a name="page_154" id="page_154"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">O</span>UR way that afternoon lay towards the cottage of Tonet, where some +refreshment was prepared for us. This Tonet, a regular Moor according to +his eyes, his complexion, and his teeth, was a wonder at preparing +<i>paellas</i> and playing on the flute. Whenever it occurred to us to go and +visit him, he received us with the gravity and courtesy of a feudal +señor. Scarcely opening his lips, he made himself understood to his wife +and children by signs, had chairs brought for us under the arbor, and +soon afterwards he used to serve us figs, dates, chufas, and fresh +cinnamon cakes, with which his pantry was always provided. When we had +let him know we were coming, as on the present occasion, he offered us +ice cream, rich with vanilla and filberts. He was a meek, sad man, +seeming careless of all things. He was never joyful, but liked to see +joyousness in others. On Sundays and on many afternoons when his work +was done early, he would come out and sit down alone in front of the +cottage and play softly for a while on his flute. He did not do it for +his own pleasure; it was a lure, nothing more. Little by little he drew +to his own<a name="page_155" id="page_155"></a> cottage the young people from all the cottages round about, +and a dance was improvised. His eldest son, a boy of fourteen years, +played on the taboret and was almost as grave and silent as he. Both +passed hours, one blowing and the other beating his instrument, serious, +melancholy, with eyes fixed on space, and heeding neither much nor +little the noisy dance that their music evoked.</p> + +<p>Sabas, who was of the party this afternoon, marched abreast with me as +we were making our way across the fields of high Indian corn, already +bursting into ears. The first subject that he proposed for my +consideration, sucking his pipe and spitting at regular intervals, was +of a nature essentially critical. Why did his brother-in-law persist in +keeping up this estate with so little of it under cultivation, and at so +much expense, when by so little effort it could be made productive? +Every one of the constituent elements of this proposition was separately +examined by a rigidly mathematical method. To do so he formulated in the +first place certain definitions, clear, distinct, and luminous. What is +an estate for recreation? What is a productive estate? What is an estate +of combined pleasure and utility? After this he laid down certain axioms +as profound as they were indisputable. All that is productive ought to +produce. To attain an end one ought to employ means. Man is not alone in +the world, and ought<a name="page_156" id="page_156"></a> to consider his family. Vanity should not +influence human actions. One-sided propositions immediately followed +with their premises and corollaries; then he would go on to the end +gently, but with invincible logic to prove the proposition on which hung +the following corollary: Emilio is an active and enterprising man, but +at the same time a careless fellow.</p> + +<p>Satisfied, with good reason, by the method and intuition and the logic +wherewith the Supreme Being had so highly favored him, Sabas continued +sucking and spitting with dizzying rapidity. The second subject which +this lucid soul attacked this afternoon directly concerned me.</p> + +<p>"Come, tell us, Ribot, have you never thought of getting married?" he +asked me after a long pause, taking out his pipe and fixing a +scrutinizing gaze upon me.</p> + +<p>I confess I felt disturbed. I understood that the depths of my soul were +next to be sounded, and trembled, perceiving that this transcendent +critic was disposed to exercise his scalpel on me.</p> + +<p>"Tss! Sailors think little of that. Our life is incompatible with family +pleasures."</p> + +<p>"Sailors, when they arrive at a certain comfortable condition and have +reached an independent position like you, have the right to retire +peacefully and enjoy a comfortable life," he replied with the gravity +and firmness which<a name="page_157" id="page_157"></a> marked every utterance that came out of his mouth.</p> + +<p>How did he know that I had reached an independent position? Solely by +his marvellous intuition, for I had given nobody an account of the state +of my affairs. I admired such tremendous penetration from the bottom of +my heart, and was humbly disposed to find out how much more he knew +about me.</p> + +<p>Sabas meditated several minutes. And while he meditated, sucking his +pipe, his cheeks sunk in a supernatural manner. The energy that he +expended upon that tobacco smoke was such that I was persuaded he must +be swallowing it.</p> + +<p>At the same time the intensity of his reflections influenced in like +manner the secretion of his salivary glands.</p> + +<p>"Why should you not marry my cousin Isabelita?" he said to me suddenly, +with that brusque and peremptory accent which characterizes men who rule +their kind by their power of thought.</p> + +<p>Isabelita was walking on with Matilde in front of us. I grew pale, +fearing she might have heard these serious words, and frightened and +confused, murmured some incoherent words.</p> + +<p>"Yes," proceeded the critic, "my cousin is a very nice girl, very +modest, and more, she admires you extremely."</p> + +<p>"Admires me!" I exclaimed, amazed. "And<a name="page_158" id="page_158"></a> for what does she admire me?" I +asked candidly.</p> + +<p>Sabas laughed noisily, coughed, and got rid of his nicotine.</p> + +<p>"She will tell you that when you are alone with her, hand in hand."</p> + +<p>"You do not understand me," I returned, nettled. "What I wish to say is +that I do not see anything in myself to be admired by anybody. And as +for Isabelita, I have always believed that she had dedicated all of her +admiration to Castell."</p> + +<p>"That is nothing special. A man with eight million pesetas is an +admirable being. But the admiration, in this case, will not bring any +practical result. All the world knows that Castell keeps the mother of +his children, and no young lady of good family thinks of him. With you +the case is different; it would be possible for it to be quickly carried +to a satisfactory solution; and my opinion is that you ought to leave +your steamboat and try at once for this elegant craft. Isabelita is +sensible, modest, well-educated, diligent; she is accustomed to the +strict economy of a house where they turn a dollar over a hundred times +before parting with it; an only child, and heiress of all her father's +money. And my Uncle Retamoso owns more than people imagine. Who ever can +tell exactly how much money a Galician has? Probably while he lives you +would not have a right of five centimes; but<a name="page_159" id="page_159"></a> what does that matter to +you? In the first years of marriage you can keep yourself well enough on +your capital, and when necessities grow greater, and certain additional +things become necessary, you can make a raise on your prospects as his +son-in-law, enough to carry you over until a certain joyful event——"</p> + +<p>Other wise reflections poured like busy and knowing bees from the mouth +of that extraordinary man. In my life seemed gathered together all the +loose ends of existence, all its aims fulfilled, and the quintessence of +human relations extracted.</p> + +<p>While my future was thus being discussed, although I found myself +embarrassed by the new perspective offered to my view, I had, none the +less, enough largeness of mind to admire the logic of his discourse, his +surprising wealth of figures, richness of diction, turns of expression, +subtle and logical distinctions, and the perfect links of his chain of +reasoning. The breathing world, I believe, held no secrets from this +man, and the mechanism of his reasoning worked with the exactness of a +chronometer.</p> + +<p>When we reached the cottage and were seated to partake of the +refreshment that had been prepared for us, Emilio, who was near me, +asked me in an undertone:</p> + +<p>"Then it is decided that you are going to leave us to-morrow?"<a name="page_160" id="page_160"></a></p> + +<p>"There is no help for it. The boat is due any moment now."</p> + +<p>"What a pity!" he exclaimed in a melancholy tone; and placing one hand +affectionately on my shoulder he added: "Do you know, you rascal, that +we are getting used to you!"</p> + +<p>I was moved by his words, and more yet by the cloud of sadness that +darkened his cheerful, sympathetic face. I kept silence. He did the +same. Throwing himself back in his chair, he remained unlike himself, +thoughtful and melancholy. At last he turned to me and said, almost in +my ear:</p> + +<p>"If you would take my advice you would give up your sea-faring life, +which, say what you will, is a little risky, and marry and settle down. +Why be always alone? Do you never think of old age, and how sad it would +be to pass the last years of your life in the power of self-seekers, +without children to make bright your home, without a wife who of herself +brings order and comfort?"</p> + +<p>"But I am an old fellow already," I answered smiling, but sad in the +depths of my soul, "I am thirty-six years old."</p> + +<p>"That is a good age for a man. And then, by your looks and strength and +suppleness, you are only a boy. I know," he added, casting a mischievous +glance towards the place where Isabelita was, "a girl of eighteen Aprils +who would marry<a name="page_161" id="page_161"></a> you in preference to all the young bucks of the city."</p> + +<p>"Bah! this girl would laugh if you should propose to her a man double +her age."</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe it! Because you know it already, I will tell you in +confidence that Isabelita admires you."</p> + +<p>"But, man——"</p> + +<p>"No, no. I know particularly that she admires you."</p> + +<p>The thing was serious. This unexpected admiration made me anxious and +timid. I could not see my face in a mirror, because there was none +there; but a glance at my shaggy, brown hands and at my feet, neither +small nor especially well-shod, made me unable to divine the nature or +extent of my charms.</p> + +<p>Well, well, the least that a man can do when, with reason or without, he +finds himself admired by a girl, is to pass her the plate of olives and +ask her if she likes them. This is exactly what I did a little after I +had had it brought to my notice that I had fascinated Retamoso's +daughter. She pricked one with her fork, and at once her lovely face was +covered with blushes, as if she had pricked my heart. I was not sure, +but I figured that the next thing after this was to serve her a bit of +sausage. The same blushes dyed her brow for this hash as for the olives. +The consecutive repetition<a name="page_162" id="page_162"></a> of this physiological phenomenon filled my +spirit with alarm. My gallant sentiments grew so animated that I did not +stop offering her entertainment at very short intervals for some time. I +think that if she had taken all I offered her that afternoon, medicine +would have been powerless to counteract the effects of my attention, and +that angelical being would have spread her wings for heaven, the victim +of an indigestion.</p> + +<p>Once started on the downward path of soft nothings, I did not hesitate +to sit down beside her and let her know that she had wonderful eyes, +indescribable; cheeks that were smooth, rose-colored, indescribable; +hands little and shapely and charming and—also indescribable. The +knowledge of these facts caused her profound surprise, to judge by the +look of incredulity that appeared upon her countenance. She told me that +truly I knew very well how to go on, and that only a rascal of a sailor, +accustomed to flatter women all along the coast, could find such a +proceeding possible. Saying this, she grew redder than a cherry.</p> + +<p>The conversation went on for some time in this sweet and pleasant +fashion, as if we were playing at fencing in a comedy, and while it +lasted the blood ebbed and flowed constantly in the face of Isabelita. I +outdid myself, as the critics say of bad actors in the journals; that +is, I was jolly, smart, full of chaff, and absolutely stupid. Our chat<a name="page_163" id="page_163"></a> +attracted the attention of the rest, and I could see that they looked at +us with curiosity and glanced mischievously at one another.</p> + +<p>I don't know now what fatuity made me do it, but I begged Tonet to play +on his flute, and I proposed that, when the company came, we should +dance together. She accepted readily, and laughed a good deal (was it at +me?) when we were thus matched. I invited Isabelita, that's sure, and I +began jumping about with her like a rattle-pated student, and I was not +long in discovering that in a little while everybody was watching us +attentively. My agitation was not calmed by this. However, I went on +hopping about at a great rate, while everybody applauded, crying +<i>vivas</i>, and looking at us with laughing eyes. Only the silent Tonet and +his immobile son fixed theirs upon us as grave and melancholy as if they +wished to remind us of the nothingness of all things human, and the +brevity of existence.</p> + +<p>Cristina, who until then had been quiet, and on whose brow I could see +the lines marked by the scene of the morning, now began quickly to wake +up a bit. Her face was so lively that everybody admired it. They had not +seen her like that in years. Doña Amparo declared that since she was a +little girl, when her playfulness and tricks had caused her mother more +than one start, Cristina had not frolicked in such fashion. We +encouraged her,<a name="page_164" id="page_164"></a> applauded her, threw her <i>chufas</i> and almonds until she +began to show a wish to dance also. Emilio and her mother would not let +her, on account of her condition. But nonsense and witticisms kept on +issuing from her mouth, splitting everybody's sides with laughter. She +had a lively wit, and she got her words off with a brusque naturalness +that gave them a great effect. Some things that she said seemed to me a +little dashing, but I admired her so much that I did not mind them. When +anyone talks a great deal of nonsense, it is almost impossible to keep +within strictly prudent limits.</p> + +<p>"This is all right," said Sabas in my ear, seating himself beside me. +"Now you have a chance to strike while the iron is hot. Get in with my +uncle. Talk to him about the subject that will butter your bread."</p> + +<p>I laughed, but took no further notice. I went on paying court to +Isabelita with everybody's good will. I mistake—Doña Clara looked at us +now and then with eyes whose expression was a trifle more severe than +usual, and she sniffed her Roman nose when we chanced to take a little +luncheon of <i>chufas</i>. I do not know but I may be wrong, but two or three +times I had a notion that I heard her murmur the English word, +"Shocking!" This would have been nothing strange, for in difficult +places this illustrious matron preferred the Anglo-Saxon language to her +native idiom. That which<a name="page_165" id="page_165"></a> I can fearlessly affirm, and nobody will +contradict, is that I saw her eat more than a kilo of chocolates, and +that this operation, however vulgar in itself, did not make her lose one +atom of her majesty.</p> + +<p>The hour arrived for us to go back to the house for our carriages, to +return to the city. But at the moment of starting to walk, Cristina felt +very badly. I saw that she grew pale and put her hand several times to +her head and heart. The sal-volatile of Doña Amparo was of no avail; +neither was the orange-flower water nor the Melisa water, nor other +remedies that, like faithful friends, accompanied this nervous lady +everywhere. Cristina begged us to leave her alone a moment with Tonet's +wife, who would bring her a cup of <i>tila</i>. A quarter of an hour later +she came out of the cottage, serene, but with reddened eyes. The nervous +crisis had ended in tears.</p> + +<p>The sun had already disappeared when we started on our walk through the +fields of Indian corn and the little fruit orchards. Calming my dashing +gallantry and stifling the gush of vanity that had burst forth in my +spirit at the supposed admiration of Isabelita, I remained silent and +sad. As I was walking apart in company with her and Matilde, I did my +utmost to hide it; but seeing that this was impossible, and fearing that +they would notice my mood, I made a feint for the purpose of<a name="page_166" id="page_166"></a> falling +back to walk alone. I was displeased with myself. The gallantry of that +afternoon seemed to me a treason to my true sentiment, to the sweet and +delicate love that I guarded like a treasure in the depth of my heart. I +could not but think with disgust that I had descended to the most +trivial cheapness. I was afraid, with good reason, that Cristina, whose +regard and esteem for me had seemed increasing, would despise me from +that hour, and this thought hurt me deeply.</p> + +<p>Since her indisposition she had not turned towards me or looked at me, +nor spoken a word to me. Luck made it so that she could not help +speaking. She had forgotten her watch and left it in the cottage and +wished to go back for it. I quickly anticipated her. When I returned +with it, she waited for me, a little apart from the others.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," she said, with a hard, cold face, and tried to rejoin the +rest.</p> + +<p>Whoever has experienced the pangs of love will believe me when I say +that that gloomy countenance gave me inexpressible joy.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me a moment, Cristina; I have something to say." I spoke with +a voice not quite under control.</p> + +<p>"You may say it," she replied, looking over my head at the horizon, and +in a glacial tone that, for a like reason, warmed instead of chilling +me.<a name="page_167" id="page_167"></a></p> + +<p>"I wish to beg advice of you and I scarcely dare. Did you notice that +this afternoon I paid a little more attention to your Cousin Isabelita, +as if I were courting her?"</p> + +<p>"No. I have noticed nothing," she answered, more sharply still.</p> + +<p>"Because this is the truth—and I venture to say it, it is only because +of the great difference in age between us—I only did it because +Isabelita admires me."</p> + +<p>She gazed at me stupefied, as if she suspected that I had gone mad.</p> + +<p>"At least this is what I have been informed in turn by Sabas and +Emilio."</p> + +<p>"What idiots!" she exclaimed, her lips smiling, understanding my +meaning. "They are capable of making sport of everything. Fortunately +you are a man of sense, and take no stock in such nonsense; and if not, +you would stop at my poor cousin."</p> + +<p>"In this case, I have, after all, taken certain steps towards winning +her good will, and before going farther I wish to obtain your approval."</p> + +<p>"My approval!" she exclaimed, agitated, and with a choking voice. "But +what need have you of my approval? I have no part in the matter. Beg it +of her parents."</p> + +<p>"Before begging it of her parents I desire it from you. I know that you +have no direct interest<a name="page_168" id="page_168"></a> in the matter, but it has to do with your +cousin, of whom you appear to think a good deal, who has distinguished +me with her esteem, however little merited. Nobody can give me true +counsel in this case better than you; so I beg it of you, in the name of +our good friendship, as a favor which I shall appreciate all the days of +my life."</p> + +<p>She remained silent for some time.</p> + +<p>We walked on together through the high-growing corn which made even +dimmer the fading twilight.</p> + +<p>I watched her out of the corner of my eye, and it seemed to me that I +could detect slight, almost imperceptible, changes sweep over her face. +Soon her brow contracted and her lips moved several times before a sound +escaped them. At last she said in a trembling voice:</p> + +<p>"It makes me very happy that you have made your choice at last. Men +ought not to live alone, and especially those who, like you, have an +affectionate, indulgent temperament, and know how to appreciate the +delicate heart of a woman. Isabelita is almost a child; I can tell you +little about her character. You will take it upon yourself to form her. +But I can assure you that she knows how to fulfil the duties of a +housewife. She is industrious, careful, economical; and under these +qualities are hid others that will show themselves. She is very pretty, +too."<a name="page_169" id="page_169"></a></p> + +<p>"You have forgotten the one which makes her dearest and most attractive +to me."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"That of being your cousin."</p> + +<p>Her beautiful face darkened; she frowned and replied in a sharp tone:</p> + +<p>"If you do not care for my cousin for herself, if you would take her as +a toy to distract you from other illusions, or, which would be worse, to +follow and nourish them in secret, you would commit a great sin; and I +should in such case advise you not to think of her, but to leave her in +peace."</p> + +<p>Uttering these words, she hastened on and joined the others, leaving me +alone.</p> + +<p>When we got into the carriages to return to the city, I was melancholy, +too wrapped up in serious meditations to go on playing the boy with +Isabelita. Under pretext of a headache I found a place alone at the +back, and to support my pretext I did not go up to Martí's house, but +retired to my hotel.</p> + +<p>At eight o'clock in the morning I heard the cheerful voice of Emilio, +who came into my quarters like a hurricane, threw open the windows, and +sat down on my bed.</p> + +<p>"You can't go to-morrow, Captain!" he cried, laughing, and pulling my +beard to finish waking me.</p> + +<p>"Why?" I asked sleepily.</p> + +<p>"Because to-morrow you are going to be god-father<a name="page_170" id="page_170"></a> to a little girl more +beautiful than the morning star."</p> + +<p>"What! Cristina——?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; Cristina was taken ill after you left us. We thought that it was +to be like her afternoon indisposition; but she, who ought to know, +begged us to send for the woman she had engaged for the case. I was +afraid she might not succeed, and sent for the doctor; but Cristina +would not consent that he should come into her room. When the woman took +charge of her, the poor—Oh, what courage, what suffering, Captain! Not +a groan, not a moan. I walked about dead, torn to pieces, praying God +that she would scream. I don't understand suffering without a sound. I +am appalled by temperaments like Cristina's, that not one complaint +escapes in the worst of pains. At two o'clock in the morning my brave +little woman came through her trouble, making me father of the +prettiest, healthiest, cleverest little one the sun of Valencia ever +shone on. I'm sure of it, although I have not yet seen it."</p> + +<p>He got up from the bed, took several turns in the room, came back and +sat down, got up again, and went through a series of evolutions that +showed the delightful agitation of his spirit. I felt deeply moved too, +and congratulated him with hearty words. When he stopped at last, I +asked him:<a name="page_171" id="page_171"></a></p> + +<p>"So you do me the honor of being god-father?"</p> + +<p>"It will give me great pleasure if you will accept. To tell the truth, I +thought first of Castell. You don't mind, do you? Enrique is more than a +friend and brother to me. It would be the natural thing. But I will tell +you privately, Cristina opposed it. Religious scruples, do you see? +Enrique professes such upsetting ideas and declares them with such +excessive frankness, the ladies cannot forgive him. It is all because he +is not a practical man. He might hold all the notions he liked if he +would keep them a little more to himself when he is among women. As for +me, I laugh at his materialistic ideas. Enrique a materialist, when +there is not a more generous man in the world! Because, in spite of his +great talents and his wonderful powers of illustration, do you know, +Enrique is a child, a heart of gold!"</p> + +<p>As he uttered these words with an accent of conviction, he shook his +black, curly head in a way that made me want to laugh and to weep at the +same time.</p> + +<p>"And what does Cristina say to the substitute?"</p> + +<p>"When I proposed your name, she was delighted."</p> + +<p>I was delighted too, hearing this. I dressed hastily and marched off to +make the acquaintance<a name="page_172" id="page_172"></a> of the new star. The next day we went to church, +and I performed my duty with emotion, yes, bursting with pride. Later I +took the train for Barcelona, promising my friends to return soon to +visit them, and to make the visit permanent by settling my camp in +Valencia.<a name="page_173" id="page_173"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span> THOUGHT this matter over, and my purpose became fixed during my +voyage. I found that, although not rich, I had enough to live +comfortably on; and when I returned to Barcelona I offered my +resignation to the shipping house.</p> + +<p>I cannot clearly explain the sentiments whose tumult at that time filled +my soul. Confusion reigned therein. Intense love for Cristina, the +angelic beauty and innocence of Retamoso's girl, the desire for repose +and for a comfortable and tranquil life that all men feel on arriving at +a certain state, and the sharp prickings of conscience that questioned +my right to obtain it under such conditions, struggled together within +me. But there was one sentiment which, however silenced, was stronger +than the others—the ardent desire to be near Cristina, to live in her +intimate circle, and never to lose sight of her charming face. I held no +thoughts against the peace of her heart or the honor of her husband, but +only to be happy enjoying her presence all of my life.</p> + +<p>In this mind, neither saint-like nor criminal, I took the train for +Valencia two months after I<a name="page_174" id="page_174"></a> had left it. In a train that passed mine in +a station on the way, I caught a glimpse, through a window, of the +silhouette of Sabas, and near it the red head of a woman who was not +Matilde.</p> + +<p>"Sabas, Sabas!" I called.</p> + +<p>When he saw me, he saluted me affectionately with his hand. The lady who +was beside him also smiled cordially; I did not see why, for I did not +know her. I remained puzzled. I was doubtful if I had not been mistaken. +Was it really Matilde? I was not long in finding out.</p> + +<p>I reached Valencia before dark. After leaving my things at the inn, I +hired a conveyance to take me out to Cabañal, where I knew that Martí +was now installed. I was anxious to consult with him about my plans. As +I drew near the country house I felt my heart beating violently. This +roused anew my sentiment of honor. "Are we like this?" I said to myself +scornfully. "While thinking of binding yourself by a sacred fetter, of +offering yourself to an innocent young girl, you cannot control your +impulses! You are going to press the hand of a friend, to make him your +confidant, your kinsman, while still your spirit is not cleansed of +traitorous thoughts!"</p> + +<p>The family was assembled in the dining-room. I observed at once a +certain sadness and unusual gravity on their faces. They all wore long +faces, filled with a consternation that alarmed me excessively.<a name="page_175" id="page_175"></a> Martí +embraced me, however, with his accustomed cordiality, showing sincere +delight at my arrival. I gave my hand to the others and, coming to +Matilde, I said to her, without stopping to think:</p> + +<p>"So you are a widow? I saw your husband in a station. We had no chance +to speak, but we greeted each other."</p> + +<p>I had not finished uttering these words before I was stupefied by her +beginning to weep bitterly. She pressed my hand convulsively and, +between the sobs that rent her breast, said:</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Ribot! Many thanks! My husband was running away with the young +lady."</p> + +<p>"I saw a red-headed lady beside him, but I did not think—" I stammered, +abashed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, the young lady," she sobbed.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, but what has been said can't be unsaid; but, yes, she +seemed young to me."</p> + +<p>"She would like to seem young! She is more than thirty years old!" she +cried angrily; "more painted and bedizzened than a doll in a bazaar. You +should see her mornings on her balcony!"</p> + +<p>Martí came to my aid, saying in low tones:</p> + +<p>"She was the young lady in the company acting at the theatre."</p> + +<p>"Ah!"</p> + +<p>Everybody kept still and looked at the floor as one does when paying a +visit of condolence. Nothing could be heard in the room but the +increasingly<a name="page_176" id="page_176"></a> poignant sobs of the outraged wife. The situation was +trying, agonizing in the highest degree. Fortunately Doña Amparo had the +happy inspiration to faint away, and this accident introduced an element +of variety into the scene which we immediately improved. We ran to her +aid. We opened flasks with shining stoppers. The dining-room was filled +with the penetrating fragrances of the apothecary's shop. Tears, +embraces, sighs, kisses. At last her equilibrium was restored, and she +came to herself.</p> + +<p>I thought I would lose my head in the odor of ether; but before this +could happen Martí drew me from the room, and carried me off to his +office.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see such a wretched affair?" he cried, shaking his head in +immense annoyance.</p> + +<p>"But what is it all?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing; the other night he won three or four thousand pesetas at play, +and he has gone gayly off to spend them with an actress."</p> + +<p>"What madness! But he will come back!"</p> + +<p>"I believe you; he'll come back when he has run through with every +dollar, as he did the other time."</p> + +<p>"The other time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; three or four years ago he eloped with a circus-rider. But then he +carried off more money than this time."</p> + +<p>I had no wish to seek for more details, for I saw<a name="page_177" id="page_177"></a> that Martí was going +to break down. There is nothing sadder than the sadness of a happy man. +To distract him, I turned the conversation, and talked of myself and the +projects I had under way. His face changed at once, and a cheerful smile +played about his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Bravo, Captain! At last you are going to be our own," he cried, hugging +me until he choked me.</p> + +<p>We talked the matter over carefully. At last we decided that, +considering my age and character, I must not conduct myself like a +youth, but with all due formality. After gaining the consent of +Isabelita, which Martí seemed to think already assured, I must, before +entering upon our relations, visit her people and talk seriously with +them. This plan captured his imagination and he drove along assuredly. +He cheered me, embraced me several times, calling me cousin, and +promising me to help me all that he could, and promised, too, that +Cristina would do the same.</p> + +<p>We returned to the dining-room. Our cheerful countenances were in great +contrast to the solemn and dejected ones there. Doña Amparo's eyes still +showed the water-marks of their recent flood. Matilde—there is no +saying how she was. Isabelita, who was staying with her cousins, +received me with the same blushes, but without any great signs of +rejoicing, which I attributed to the trouble her<a name="page_178" id="page_178"></a> family was in. Castell +was, as always, cold and disdainful. Cristina—I cannot express how I +found Cristina. Her eyes had a strange sadness, which impressed me +painfully. I at once imagined that she found herself bowed beneath the +burden of some great wrong, and that this could be nothing else but the +infamous gallantry of Castell. Perhaps he had narrowed the circle. +Perhaps—oh, what a thought!</p> + +<p>All at once I saw her eyes brighten with delight at the entrance of the +nurse with my god-daughter in her arms. She was a beautiful rosebud, +fresh, sweet, delicate, and probably, as that is the rule, dowered with +marvellous intelligence. Martí would have testified to that with his +blood.</p> + +<p>To carry conviction to our minds, he found no more adequate means than +to enter upon a series of mimic representations, certain of which had a +surprising success. First he intoned a hymn of the Church with the voice +of a precentor. The little girl at once began to put up her lips and +burst out crying. Then he sang some <i>sequidillas</i>, and the youngster at +once cheered up and began to bounce, trying to get down on the floor, +doubtless to run away on all fours. He barked, he mewed, he crowed like +a cock, and we understood at once that the little one had no lack of +zoölogical notions, but had an idea of the classifications introduced in +the animal kingdom.<a name="page_179" id="page_179"></a></p> + +<p>Martí demonstrated the thesis in a way which left no room for doubt, and +proud of the impression on the assemblage that his notable experiments +succeeded in making, he considered it proper next to take the child from +her nurse's arms and toss her up and down in his own like a bottle of +ink. Maybe he imagined that by this method of concentration he would +invigorate still more her psychic faculties. But he did not go on with +this long enough to make her black. The little creature, not +familiarized with his novel method, objected to it with loud screams and +all the indignation of her soul. Cristina took her, did all that she +could to hush her, and gave her again to the nurse, who was the one who +really brought calm into her outraged heart.</p> + +<p>Before we went in to supper, they obliged me to dismiss my cab. Castell +would take me back in his own. I tried to get out of this, because the +company of this gentleman grew constantly more distasteful to me; but it +was not possible. Emilio, with his characteristic impetuosity and slight +knowledge of men, gave the order to the coachman to depart.</p> + +<p>They placed me beside Isabelita. Everybody would say that that was +perfectly natural, and that I ought to have been whispering to her all +the evening. Of this I have nothing to say. Perchance, if they had been +asked if I should touch<a name="page_180" id="page_180"></a> her foot gently with my own and fondle her hand +underneath the table, some of them would have held a contrary opinion +and would have discussed it more or less at length. But I, deciding that +the majority would finally decide in favor of it, did not hesitate in +anticipating the decisions of such a tribunal.</p> + +<p>At twenty minutes after ten I settled down in a corner of the +dining-room where Retamoso's girl was, and where I could chat freely +with her. I told her first that she was the only woman in the world who +could make me happy; second, that by my frank and sympathetic character, +and by my honorable intentions—and because of the voice I said it in—I +deserved what would make me happy. In accordance with these things I was +resolved that on the following day I would give an account of this +matter to Señor and Señora Retamoso. It was then twenty-five minutes +after ten.</p> + +<p>Our deliberations continued a little longer. Castell was accustomed to +depart at eleven, and he asked me politely if I wished to do the same. I +agreed, as was proper, since the family would wish to retire, and we +betook ourselves to the city. During the ride I had occasion to think +once more that it was an error of nature that I had hair on my face, and +that instead of a hat I should have covered my childish thoughts with a +thick hood. That gentleman, penetrating into the secret laboratory<a name="page_181" id="page_181"></a> of +life, arranged the facts of being in his mind, taking pains to pit his +ideas against my inexperienced reasonings; sometimes yawning, again +smilingly pardoning my puerilities. Take it all together, he handled me +so well that, in consequence, I could feel a real hood on my head. But +that which stirred me up most was his gracious manner of considering me +a man; and the recognition of this attitude towards me irritated me more +than ever, and I swore between my teeth that I would never ride again in +his cab, but would, instead, go on my own feet.</p> + +<p>Next day, solemnly attired in a coat which had made the voyage to +America eleven times and to Hamburg thirty-seven, I presented myself at +the Retamoso house. It was situated on the Plaza del Mercado, not far +from the Lorija, and was more substantial than beautiful, of modern +construction, only one floor above the business rooms, with a plain +front destitute of ornamental carvings, with three large doors and three +little stone balconies. But it was much more spacious than its exterior +promised. Its warerooms, occupying the corner part, were large and high +as the salons of a palace. Great piles of codfish, barrels of flour and +of alcohol, cases of sugar and cocoa filled it, forming narrow and +intricate passages. Through these I went, half-suffocated by the +distasteful odors of these products of overseas, and preceded by a +clerk<a name="page_182" id="page_182"></a> with a pen behind his ear, until I reached the back of the room, +where there were three glass doors, giving upon a <i>patio</i>. Near one of +these was a low railing of pine, painted green; in the middle, a single +table and a big desk; and behind the table and the desk, a little man +with an embroidered velvet skull-cap. It was himself, Señor Retamoso.</p> + +<p>"Señor de Ribot! What good fortune is this?" he exclaimed, rising to +come out of the enclosure, making numberless bows, and lifting his hand +as many times more to his skull-cap. "To what do we owe the honor?"</p> + +<p>"I wish to speak a few words to you," I answered, casting a significant +glance at the clerk, who, understanding, disappeared in the zigzag +passages.</p> + +<p>The face of Señor Retamoso underwent an enormous change. The delight +that had overspread it was swiftly succeeded by a deep sadness. It was +as if a cloud had intercepted in an unexpected fashion the rays of life +and warmth, withering and drying up that which a moment before had been +joyous welcome.</p> + +<p>"Very well. I will be with you in a moment," he murmured, re-entering +the enclosure, carefully locking the safe and putting the key in his +trousers pocket.</p> + +<p>This done, he came out and, facing me, said in a glacial way:</p> + +<p>"I am at your service."<a name="page_183" id="page_183"></a></p> + +<p>"This good man thinks I have come to beg money," I said to myself, +surprised at this change.</p> + +<p>"The occasion of this visit," I said with hesitation, "is a little +delicate. It is possible that you know."</p> + +<p>"I know nothing," he declared, resolutely cutting me short.</p> + +<p>"I meant to say it is possible that you have suspected——"</p> + +<p>"I have suspected nothing," he said in turn, more dryly still.</p> + +<p>A little irritated by these interruptions, I said with spirit:</p> + +<p>"It is all the same. You are going to know now. It has to do with a +certain sympathetic understanding established between your daughter +Isabelita and me. As this sympathy might in time be transformed into +affection, and be carried to the point of loving relations, I thought +that I ought to consult the will of her parents. My age forbids +flirtations or a clandestine courtship. Further, the friendship that +binds me to Martí, in whose house I had the honor of meeting your +daughter, and the kindness, however unmerited, with which your wife and +you have honored me, oblige me to conduct myself frankly and loyally."</p> + +<p>The round face of Uncle Diego resumed its first expression. The cloud +that intercepted the rays of delight had been chased away.<a name="page_184" id="page_184"></a></p> + +<p>"Oh, Señor de Ribot! What do I hear? I knew nothing. I had heard +nothing. I am a poor man. Why not go to my wife, who understands it much +better, and will know what I ought to answer?" he exclaimed smiling, all +honey, lifting his hand to his embroidered skull-cap, and throwing back +his leg so as to make a deeper bow.</p> + +<p>"I thought of seeing both of you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Señor de Ribot! But why? Come, come with me. I will take you to the +place where you can adjust this account. I know nothing about these +experiences, but there is one in the house who knows more than Merlin. +Take care, Señor de Ribot, take good care. Keep your stirrups. Whoever +has to come to an understanding with my lady needs the use of his head."</p> + +<p>Going on like this, he conducted me to a staircase, and by it we +ascended to the principal story. Once arrived, he squeezed my hand hard +between his own, and, in a falsetto voice, recommended me to look out +for myself when talking before his wife, and not be disconcerted in her +presence. He promised that he would help me all that he was able, but +that I must not expect much, as he also felt constraint before Doña +Clara.</p> + +<p>"She is a deep woman, Señor de Ribot. When I say this, I say all."</p> + +<p>Without freeing me, he led me to the door of a parlor, and gave two +knocks upon it with his<a name="page_185" id="page_185"></a> knuckles; the voice of Doña Clara was heard, +saying:</p> + +<p>"Enter."</p> + +<p>Retamoso again squeezed my hand to encourage me, and we entered the +apartment.</p> + +<p>Doña Clara was discovered dressed in black, as correct and elegant as +ever, seated in a leather chair, with a book in her hands. She took from +her aquiline nose her gold-bowed glasses and let them hang suspended +over her breast by their golden chain. She gave me her hand, at the same +time casting upon me a look so imposing that, in spite of the valor +wherewith her spouse had inspired me, I could do no less than tremble. +Then she took her tragic figure up out of her chair and went and sat +down in the middle of a sofa of green velvet, inviting us by a gesture +to place ourselves in the arm-chairs that were on either side. We obeyed +orders, and Retamoso, finding no more excellent resource as a +preparation for the session than to rub his knees with the palms of his +hands, looked at me meanwhile sadly and anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Señor de Ribot," he said at last, "I beg you to tell my wife what you +have just had the kindness to tell me."</p> + +<p>"It has to do, señora," I said in a trembling voice, "with a delicate +matter that I desire to submit to the approval of you both. So if I take +the liberty of speaking of it to you, it is solely<a name="page_186" id="page_186"></a> that, no matter +what, it cannot be said that I lacked in showing the respect and esteem +with which you inspire me. Between Isabelita and me an especial +friendship, is beginning to take shape——"</p> + +<p>"I know it," interrupted Doña Clara solemnly.</p> + +<p>There followed a moment of suspense, then I went on:</p> + +<p>"Isabelita, because of the gifts of character, innocence, and modesty +which adorn her, deserves not only affection, but hearty admiration. I +cannot, naturally, explain all the charm that she has for me since I +have felt myself attracted towards her. I found courage to give her to +understand this, and I flatter myself to think that she did not take it +ill. Until now no bond has existed between us, except a sensitive +attraction——"</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Doña Clara once more, with the same solemnity.</p> + +<p>I felt even more constrained. Retamoso gave me several encouraging +grins, and taking breath, I was able to go on:</p> + +<p>"From then until now I can affirm that there has been nothing serious +between us. I could not do otherwise, as I would never think of aspiring +without the permission of her parents. But however this inclination may +seem unexpected, when I embarked for Hamburg two months ago, I carried +the thought with me, and the resolution to strengthen this dawning +friendship——"<a name="page_187" id="page_187"></a></p> + +<p>"I know it," once more said Doña Clara with even more solemnity, if that +were possible.</p> + +<p>I remained mute and confused, giving up my disclosures, which the +supernatural penetration of this lady left useless. But I could not help +admiring the singular contrast between these consorts—he knew nothing, +she knew everything.</p> + +<p>Retamoso gave me several mischievous winks, making me understand that +this was to be expected and had nothing surprising in it. Doña Clara, at +the end of a short silence, held herself up still more erect, and +blowing her nose in a manner to inspire a monkey with awe, said:</p> + +<p>"Before going farther, I beg you to let us continue the conversation in +English. The subject is so serious and delicate that it demands it."</p> + +<p>I profess and have always professed a great admiration for the language +and literature of Great Britain. On the little book-shelf of my cabin +voyaged always the "Tom Jones" of Fielding, the "Don Juan" of Byron, and +certain books of Shakespeare. But, in spite of this admiration, I had +never supposed that it was the only idiom in which grave and delicate +subjects could be treated. I did not seek, however, to oppose this fine +philological stroke, nor to discuss the preference that the stern mamma +of Isabelita showed for one branch of the Indo-European languages over +its sister tongues, and hastened to yield to her request.<a name="page_188" id="page_188"></a> With this the +surprise, delight, and grins of Retamoso reached a climax. He put his +finger to his forehead, arched his eyebrows, opened his eyes absurdly, +and several times when Doña Clara could not see, being turned towards +me, he lifted his hands to heaven, murmuring unheard:</p> + +<p>"What a woman! What a woman!"</p> + +<p>Doña Clara, without being at all set up by this idolatrous worship, let +me know in guttural and emphatic English that nothing of all I had said, +done, or thought had been hid from her, and that she knew also all that +had been said, done, or thought by her daughter Isabelita. This +declaration filled my mind with a feeling of littleness and limitation +that ended by humbling me. In the impossibility, then, of supplying any +facts she did not know, or of uttering one thought worthy of the +intellectual height of this lady, I took upon myself the role of calming +down, submitting my feeble reasons beforehand to her own.</p> + +<p>After sniffing several times like a ship displaying its banner on +weighing anchor in a port, and after fixing upon her nose her gold-bowed +glasses to contemplate me for a while in silence, Doña Clara found it +well to give me some account of her intentions. Isabelita was a child, I +was a man. Laying down these two propositions, at first sight +undeniable. Doña Clara logically deduced from them that it was necessary +to be careful. A child does<a name="page_189" id="page_189"></a> not generally know what she wants; a man is +in duty bound to know. Further, it was impossible to put aside what I +wished for.</p> + +<p>"Señor de Ribot," Retamoso at this point interrupted, "will you be so +kind as to put what my wife says to you into Castilian for me?"</p> + +<p>This was done, and when he found out what was meant, he expressed noisy +enthusiasm, exclaiming energetically:</p> + +<p>"Just so! That's it! Exactly! That's it, that's it! Just so! That's it!"</p> + +<p>Doña Clara did not pay the slightest attention to these words, and +keeping her nose pointed the same way, submitted me to a long and +careful examination. Although I was sufficiently upset, I answered her +questions clearly, and had the satisfaction of noting certain slight +signs of acquiescence that touched my pride. She examined my +pretensions, and (as a result of the conscientious investigation +concerning my conduct, which was carried to the extreme) Doña Clara +declared at last, turning her head slowly towards her husband like a +globe revolving on its axis, that I was "a decent person," a thing that +I had never doubted in my most extravagant moments.</p> + +<p>Every phase of the investigation was successively and faithfully +interpreted by me into Castilian, so that Señor Retamoso could +understand. Everything won from him the same warm approval, and<a name="page_190" id="page_190"></a> was +greeted with a salvo of "That's it's!" and "Just so's!"</p> + +<p>Doña Clara terminated the interview by rising from the sofa, and with +the same firmness, the same impassive calm and sang-froid, let me know +that here would be my home, and that she would have much pleasure in +receiving me whenever I wished to come. Saying this, she let her glasses +drop by means of a clever and surprising jerk of her nose, and presented +me her hand. I took it with the greatest veneration.</p> + +<p>"Permit me, Señor de Ribot! One moment, one moment, no more!" exclaimed +Retamoso, who, following our example, had also risen. "I have not the +knowledge that my wife has, nor do I understand foreign tongues. So I am +not sure that I understand all that you desire. It seemed to me that I +understood that there is something between you and Isabelita."</p> + +<p>"Are we still there?" I said between my teeth, looking at him with +surprise and anxiety. As for Doña Clara, she cast a look upon him that +might have ground him to powder.</p> + +<p>"Yes, señor," I replied shortly at last.</p> + +<p>"Bear with me, Señor de Ribot. I am a little slow of understanding, and +especially in matters so fine as these. Yet I believe I understood +(pardon me if I mistake) that you desire our permission to pay court to +her. Pardon me, for<a name="page_191" id="page_191"></a> heaven's sake, if I do not express myself like you +two."</p> + +<p>"Yes, señor, I desire your authorization to confirm my relations with +Isabelita."</p> + +<p>"Precisely! That's it! I see that I am not mistaken. Well, then, sir, I +am agreeable to all that Doña Clara has said, and if she had said more, +I should be still more agreeable. You already know my opinion of you, +Señor de Ribot. When there is a head in the house capable of giving +useful advice in all affairs, why bother one's head discussing them? +Only I desire that in this nothing is promised on our side. For the +present, nothing is settled. If later, Señor de Ribot, we are of the +same opinion, and all come to an understanding, we shall be able to talk +in another fashion. My wife has already talked in another fashion, and I +have not cut her short; but you understand me, señor?"</p> + +<p>I understood perfectly that this crafty Galician, before giving his +word, wished to find out exactly how much I was worth. I let myself be +imposed upon by the ruse. I accepted what he proposed, saying that my +visit was not an official one, but merely a simple call of courtesy and +respect, and that I desired that they should retain their liberty, as I +retained my own.</p> + +<p>"That's it! Just so! Nothing is settled."</p> + +<p>Doña Clara had maintained her rigid and immovable<a name="page_192" id="page_192"></a> position while we +were talking, gazing into space over our heads in an attitude solemn and +disdainful; nothing would give an idea how grandiose it was, except the +Minerva of Phidias on top of the Acropolis, if by chance this work of +the antique pagan master had been preserved intact until our time. She +remained thus until I, taking myself to the stairway, disappeared from +her horizon. Retamoso went down stairs with me, took me as far as the +door, pulled off his skull-cap, and uttering a thousand oh's and ah's, +pressed both my hands with inexplicable tenderness, and said in my ear, +as he dismissed me, "It is understood, Señor de Ribot, that nothing is +settled, isn't it? My opinion is that nothing should be settled."</p> + +<p>My good Martí laughed not a little when I related to him the details of +this interview. He congratulated me warmly, and, carried away by his +fanciful optimism, he sketched out twenty plans, each more agreeable +than the last, for my future. I was to become very rich, and be +associated with him and Castell in a steamboat line whose direction +should be my charge. I should also have a part in the business of the +artesian wells when they began to strike water. In regard to the canals +from the river, he expressed sincere regret that it was impossible at +present to give me anything to do. I replied that that did not weigh on +me; I would try to live without it. My resignation moved him so<a name="page_193" id="page_193"></a> much +that he finished by saying, running both hands through his tresses:</p> + +<p>"I shall be very much annoyed if, after all, we don't find a way for you +to get a show in this business, for it is going to be the best thing +ever done in Spain before to-day."</p> + +<p>When what had taken place was made known to Cristina, she showed herself +more affectionate and kind to me than usual. I observed, none the less, +on her face a melancholy expression that she tried in vain to conceal. +She made a visible effort to appear gay, but at the best she seemed a +bit absent, and her great black eyes were often fixed upon space, +revealing deep absorption.</p> + +<p>I stayed to supper with them. We were at table, besides the married +couple and their mamma, Isabelita, Castell, and Matilde, with all her +children, who entertained us very much. The deserted wife, whose eyes +were now always red, smiled sadly, seeing the tenderness and enthusiasm +with which these little creatures inspired me. There was not lacking +someone—I think it was Doña Amparo—to hint that I was going to be a +most affectionate father, which caused Isabelita a veritable suffocation +of blushes. This color came back several times during supper, because +Martí thought well to season it with more or less transparent allusions +to our future kinship. Above all, when he opened a bottle of champagne, +and, lifting the goblet, drank<a name="page_194" id="page_194"></a> to the wish "that Captain Ribot would +cast anchor in Valencia for life," the cheeks of his cousin did not set +fire to the house, because, fortunately, there was no combustible +material stowed near them.</p> + +<p>When we rose from table to take a turn in the garden, I offered my arm +to Cristina. I had a lively desire to talk with her, to sound her soul, +which seemed to me to be disturbed. Before seeking refuge in another +port, where the fate that was controlling me was drawing me, I ought to +know that it was the will of God; but never, never could I forget that +dream of love. This was the truth. Although I had made heroic efforts to +drive it away, thinking of other scenes, other joys, other duties, it +returned persistently to charm my nights and to disturb my conscience.</p> + +<p>I had already taken her hand upon my arm when Castell, coming up to us +and making a little bow, said:</p> + +<p>"Have we not arranged that this evening I was to be your escort?" At the +same time he cast upon her a particular look; it was threatening, and +did not soften the cold smile that played about his lips.</p> + +<p>Cristina responded with a timid glance and hastened to release my arm +from her own, saying in an altered voice:</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain Ribot. Enrique had invited me before——"<a name="page_195" id="page_195"></a></p> + +<p>And they departed down the stairway. From above, when the light of the +vestibule fell upon their faces, I could see that Castell was talking to +her with an angry gesture, as if he were making recriminations, and that +she was excusing herself with the greatest humility.</p> + +<p>Oh, God! the veil that had hid the truth from me was swiftly torn away. +That man must even now be her lover. All the blood in my veins rushed to +my heart. I felt giddy and was obliged to grasp the railing so as not to +fall.<a name="page_196" id="page_196"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span> CAN swear that no anger entered into the agitation that I experienced. +My pride did not resent her preference. I only felt a mortal sadness as +if the last illusion left to me in life had flown away and escaped. And +more, the deep love wherewith she inspired me was not quenched or +lessened. The respect and idolatry of my sentiment were weakened, it is +true, but its tenderness was at the same time increased. The goddess had +fallen from her pedestal and was transformed into a woman. Losing in +majesty, she had gained in charm.</p> + +<p>During the days following, I observed that the humble expression of her +face that had so much surprised me grew more marked. From this I judged +that she acknowledged her fault and begged my pardon. Instead of showing +myself troubled, I did everything possible to appear more respectful and +cordial than before. She recognized this, and constantly gave me proofs +of her affectionate friendship. Her heart was noble; if she had fallen +in her own sight, it was owing to<a name="page_197" id="page_197"></a> fatal circumstance, and not to her +vicious inclination. Such were then my sentiments.</p> + +<p>And Martí? Poor Emilio! Every time that I saw him I felt more and more +attracted by his generosity and innocence. I thought that he was a +little thinner, but always cheerful and always confiding. We spent one +afternoon alone at the seaside. As neither he nor I was out of humor our +conversation ran playfully from one subject to another, and we laughed +at the anecdotes we happened to remember. One of those that I told had +better fortune than it deserved. He laughed so much that at the end he +grew pale, put his hand to his chest, and, to the great terror of us +both, threw up blood. I helped him as well as I could, carried him to a +fountain near by, where he drank water and washed himself. I was much +startled by this. I could scarcely speak. I encouraged him, however, +telling him that this was not important, and citing numerous cases of +friends who had had this sort of thing without any serious consequences. +When he had composed himself, he smiled.</p> + +<p>"You are right. It is nothing. I am sure that my lungs are perfectly +sound, because until now I have never even coughed. I will take a little +better care of myself, and when summer comes, I will go as a +precautionary measure to Panticosa. But it is necessary to keep all this +from Cristina. You know how women are. Don't say<a name="page_198" id="page_198"></a> anything to Castell +either. He is very pessimistic, and his affection for me would make him +alarmed. He would be capable, in his anxiety, of revealing it to +Cristina."</p> + +<p>My eyes, in spite of myself, filled with tears. Seeing this, he appeared +surprised; there was a moment of suspense; then, laughing aloud, he +embraced me, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"You are very original, Captain! There is some strength to be desired +here too! But I confess that if I had not such a practical temperament, +and were not accustomed to examine every subject coolly, this would make +me apprehensive. Fortunately, I know what to count on in the strength of +my constitution."</p> + +<p>"My emotion was caused by surprise," I hastened to say, to mend matters. +"And then I am not very well these days; my nerves are upset. But, as I +have said, this means nothing, especially for you, who seem to be such a +robust man."</p> + +<p>"The most robust of men! I have nothing more than a rather weak stomach, +and sometimes a little kidney trouble. Except for this, I am an oak. If +this were not so, how could I endure all the work loaded on my +shoulders, the frequent journeys, and all that I have to carry?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly. I have no doubt of it. And you have never before felt any pain +in your lungs?"<a name="page_199" id="page_199"></a></p> + +<p>Martí took a few steps, looked at me closely, and in a voice made to +seem strong by a special effort, answered:</p> + +<p>"My lungs are those of an athlete!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed?"</p> + +<p>"Those of a gladiator," he insisted, shaking his head with an air of +unquenchable conviction.</p> + +<p>Upon this he launched into a panegyric of his respiratory apparatus with +much enthusiasm and warmth. He could not have been more eloquent if he +had been a commercial traveller and was offering it as a sample to a +great commercial house. I congratulated him with equal enthusiasm on the +possession of such a perfect example. Inspired by his own eulogies, he +struck his chest, taking deep breaths, then sang the last aria of +"Lucia." After that, who could have any doubts of his organs?</p> + +<p>We returned to the house, he in an excellent humor, but not I; for in +spite of his weight of testimony, I was not able to dismiss certain +apprehensions. Indeed, as our pathway narrowed, and he walked ahead of +me, his narrow shoulders, his long neck and drooping ears, did not +remind me of the figure of Milon of Crotona nor any other winner in the +Olympian games. It seemed to me that such magnificent lungs as he said +he had would not have chosen such a poor lodging.</p> + +<p>It was the hour of twilight. The park began to<a name="page_200" id="page_200"></a> be filled with darkness +and mystery. Although we were in the last days of September, the fresh +blossoming flowers of that fortunate region filled the air with +fragrance. The trees were as green and leafy as in early spring; the +turf shone in eternal freshness. But mingled with the luxurious, +romantic scent of heliotrope, roses, and violets came from surrounding +orchards other heavier breaths of ripe fruits. The fruitful earth filled +the air of heaven with the perfume of grapes and melons, pears and +apples, drying hay and Indian corn.</p> + +<p>In front of the house, seated in rocking-chairs, we found Cristina and +her mother, Isabelita, Castell, and Matilde. Her children were running +about the garden, cackling and gabbling like parrots, while their +unhappy mother watched them with a melancholy smile. When we appeared in +front of a close thicket of Indian cannas, Castell was seated beside +Cristina, talking to her in low tones. She cast one glance at her +husband, then at me, and at once lowered her eyes with a serious, +pondering expression on her face; but raising them again, she +scrutinized Emilio carefully, while he sat down, chatting and laughing +with exaggerated volubility. Cristina got up, went over to him, and +said:</p> + +<p>"Emilio, you are pale. Do you feel ill?"</p> + +<p>"I? What an idea! I never felt better. It is because I have been +laughing all the afternoon.<a name="page_201" id="page_201"></a> The captain has a stock of delicious +anecdotes. At supper we must tell some of them; not all, though, for +they are all colors."</p> + +<p>She was not satisfied; but although she went and sat down, her eyes +never quitted him. Castell made efforts to attract her attention, +talking into her ear. The conduct of that man seemed to me the height of +cynicism.</p> + +<p>Soon it was quite dark, and we went into the dining-room, where it was +light and the table ready. Just as we were going to sit down at it, a +servant entered, and calling Martí apart, gave him a letter, with an air +of mystery. He opened it at once and was not able to repress a movement +of annoyance. Pocketing it and excusing himself for a few moments, he +took his hat and went out. Our curiosity was excited, but nobody said +anything. At last Cristina, whose anxiety was evident, asked the man:</p> + +<p>"Who gave you the letter?"</p> + +<p>"A gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Did he wait for an answer?"</p> + +<p>"No, señora. He wanted to speak with the señor, and he went across by +the main door to wait for him."</p> + +<p>The unusualness of the incident, and the mysterious manner of the +servant, increased our curiosity extraordinarily. We had not long to +wait for its satisfaction. Martí presented himself in a few<a name="page_202" id="page_202"></a> moments, +and, putting his hat down on a chair, asked jocularly:</p> + +<p>"Don't you all know whom I shall have the honor to present to you?"</p> + +<p>We all looked eagerly at him.</p> + +<p>"A gentleman whose name begins with an S."</p> + +<p>"Sabas!" exclaimed Matilde.</p> + +<p>Her next act was, with quivering face and violent gestures, to hurry her +children out of their chairs, and, pushing them wildly before her, get +them out of the room, herself following after.</p> + +<p>We all stood up in our agitation. The nose of the deserting husband was +promptly stuck in at the garden door, and behind it entered its +interesting proprietor. A groan from Doña Amparo. A convulsive embrace +next, tears in abundance.</p> + +<p>Sabas, although in the arms of his mother, cast a wandering and +afflicted glance about the dining-room.</p> + +<p>"Matilde! My children!" he cried in a dramatic manner.</p> + +<p>"All have abandoned thee except thy mother!" responded Doña Amparo in +most pathetic accents.</p> + +<p>Sabas leaned his head, a resigned victim, against the maternal bosom. At +this Doña Amparo hugged him yet more fervently, ready to give her +life-blood for her abandoned son. He freed himself at last, arranged his +cravat, and held out his hand to us solemnly, in the dignified attitude +of a<a name="page_203" id="page_203"></a> general who concludes a capitulation after a heroic resistance.</p> + +<p>He went up to greet Cristina, but she turned her back upon him, and went +out of the room. He shook his head in a sentimental manner, and gave us +a sweet, expressive glance. Then he raised his eyes to heaven, as if +petitioning for the justice that earth denied him.</p> + +<p>I was truly alarmed to see that his face was black and the skin peeled +off in some places, especially the nose.</p> + +<p>He looked as if he had returned from a scientific and civilizing +expedition into Central Africa, rather than from a romantic expedition +with a young lady to the capital of Catalonia.</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo made him drink a glass of orange-flower water to calm him. +There was no need of it. His attitude on that critical occasion, at once +tranquil and resigned, impressed us profoundly. However, when he had +drunk the orange-flower water, he said with astonishing firmness:</p> + +<p>"I must see Matilde."</p> + +<p>And, joining the action to the word, he proceeded, full of majesty, +towards the door. He went on into the inner rooms. And we all followed +him, we were so fascinated by his noble and severe manner.</p> + +<p>We were filled with anxiety concerning the dramatic scene that was going +to take place. Sabas<a name="page_204" id="page_204"></a> opened two or three doors consecutively, without +being able to find his wife. But his intrepid heart was not cast down. +Without uttering a word he mounted to the upper story. We followed him +anxiously.</p> + +<p>Matilde was in her room, and Cristina was with her. At sight of her +husband she groaned wrathfully, and started towards another door to try +to get away again. Cristina tried to detain her.</p> + +<p>"Let me go!" she cried madly; "I don't wish to see him."</p> + +<p>"Matilde, for heaven's sake!" cried Cristina, embracing her.</p> + +<p>"Let me go, let me go! Everything is over between us two!"</p> + +<p>Then the fugitive, standing in the middle of the room, showed that his +strength was leaving him. He put his hand feebly to his forehead, his +legs doubled under him, and, taking just enough steps towards a sofa to +reach it, he fell across it in a swoon.</p> + +<p>We all ran to his aid, and his offended wife was not the last one. On +the contrary, it was she who, grieving and trembling, bathed his temples +with water, and unfastened his waistcoat and shirt to help him breathe, +exclaiming wildly:</p> + +<p>"Sabas, my Sabas! Forgive me!"</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Doña Amparo applied to his nostrils various chemical products +of a stimulating nature.<a name="page_205" id="page_205"></a> The rest of us helped on the restorative work +more or less modestly, bringing a carafe of water, uncorking bottles, or +giving air to the fainting man by means of a fan.</p> + +<p>The only one who remained inactive, seeming indisposed to offer any +hygienic aid to her brother, was Cristina. Standing erect near us, she +looked strangely severe. Doubtless her behavior might seem to some +persons cruel and unnatural; but not to me, for my deep, unreasoning +love for this woman made all that she did seem right and proper, her +every movement adorable.</p> + +<p>At last Sabas returned to the world of consciousness, and asked of his +mother, who was in front of him, that which has been asked so many +times:</p> + +<p>"Where am I?"</p> + +<p>"With your wife!"</p> + +<p>"With your mamma!"</p> + +<p>"Who adores you!"</p> + +<p>"Who idolizes you!"</p> + +<p>Four feminine arms embraced him, and four lips were pressed almost at +the same time above his skinned nose.</p> + +<p>His eyes wandered about the room at all of us as if he did not know us, +and were fixed at last upon his wife; then he groaned frightfully:</p> + +<p>"Matilde! Matilde! Matilde!"</p> + +<p>Then he hugged her and fell back in an attack of convulsive laughing. +His loud laughter joined<a name="page_206" id="page_206"></a> to the sobbing of his wife and the wails of +Doña Amparo made a terrifying mixture that would have melted the hardest +heart. More, by virtue of the contagion that all the world knows lies in +this sort of an attack, I felt a shocking desire to laugh also. By hard +work I managed to stifle it. I left the room and went down again to the +dining-room. The others were not long in following me, leaving Sabas +restored and at peace with his wife and his mother. Ten minutes later +they came down also. Cristina gave the order to serve the soup, and I +observed with some astonishment that Sabas dined with an excellent +appetite, and during dinner showed himself as gay and disputatious and +smart as ever. His wife devoured him with eyes of pure affection, and +devoted herself to waiting upon him.</p> + +<p>When we finished, he rose before taking his coffee, lighted a good +cigar, and asked his brother-in-law if he would let him take his cab.</p> + +<p>"But are you going out?" his wife asked him with surprise and annoyance.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am going to take my coffee at the Siglo. I haven't seen a single +one of my friends yet. I shall be back soon."</p> + +<p>Matilde tried to keep him, begging that he would not go that night, +caressing his hands, with no result except to make him cross. Observing, +however, the bad effect this had upon us, he changed<a name="page_207" id="page_207"></a> his tone and +embraced her, saying in endearing accents:</p> + +<p>"Goosie! Aren't you going to let me go and celebrate our +reconciliation?"</p> + +<p>With this the infatuated wife was satisfied and content, brushed the +dust from his shoes, and went with him to the cab door.</p> + +<p>We remained in the dining-room some time. Emilio was the first to start +to bed, saying that he felt sleepy. I thought that his hemorrhage had +affected him more than he had acknowledged. Matilde went up to put her +children to bed. We remained chatting, Isabelita and I in one corner, +Cristina and Castell in another, while Doña Amparo embroidered by the +light of a lamp between.</p> + +<p>This state of things impressed me uncomfortably. We seemed like two +pairs engaged in courtship, watched over by the mamma; and this idea, so +far as it concerned Cristina and Castell, could not but fill me with +great repugnance. Such was my faith in that woman that I scarcely +believed what I saw. I was absent and melancholy, and with difficulty +kept up the conversation with my intended.</p> + +<p>My intended! The winds were driving me upon a coast where I didn't know +whether I was going to be shipwrecked or find a snug harbor. I confessed +to myself with alarm that since my dreadful convictions about Cristina, +my heart was less inclined than ever to admit another woman.<a name="page_208" id="page_208"></a></p> + +<p>When Matilde came down after getting her children to bed, in order to +get out of this scarcely decent situation, and also to rid myself a +little of the sadness that overpowered me, I proposed that we take a +turn in the park. The proposition met with favor, and Cristina was the +first to accept it, rising from the sofa where she had been sitting. But +Castell said, with his usual decision:</p> + +<p>"I don't feel equal to it. It is much too damp in the park at this +hour."</p> + +<p>Cristina turned and sat down again beside him.</p> + +<p>"We are not so much in fear of dying, are we, Matilde?" I said smiling. +She and Isabelita followed me. Doña Amparo stayed with her daughter and +Castell. We went to the end of the garden, and from there entered the +open spaces of the park, where the balmy air did me a great deal of +good, for my brow had been burning and my heart filled with mournful +presentiments.<a name="page_209" id="page_209"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HE park, wrapped in the shades of night, seemed like a forest; it was +more grand and mysterious. The magnolias, cypresses, and araucarias that +half covered the ground might be imagined cavaliers wrapped in their +cloaks, silent and threatening. The foliage did not stir; the gravelled +roads scarcely showed their whiteness; the footpaths were submissive to +the darkness. We followed the first of these in a sort of vague +disquiet, exchanging few words. The same emotion seemed to seal our lips +and oppress our hearts. When I recall those first moments of that night +and the overwhelming melancholy that oppressed me, I cannot help being a +bit superstitious.</p> + +<p>But if the darkness inspired sadness and a vague dread, the fragrances, +some sweet, some keen, that filtered through the silent leaves, invited +us to go farther. We inhaled, as we went on our way, a thousand +delicious odors, from the scarcely perceptible breath of violets to the +strong, dominating perfume of the magnolia.</p> + +<p>On arriving at a certain place, a sort of little opening where the +languorous, sensuous perfume<a name="page_210" id="page_210"></a> of heliotrope dominated all others, +Matilde made a gesture of pleasure. It was her favorite fragrance. She +would not let us go any farther, and made us sit down on a rustic bench +so that she could get her fill of it, as she said. But, unluckily, that +perfume, subtle with Oriental love, immediately recalled to her memory +the poetical image of her spouse. And, fascinated by this recollection, +she entertained us for some time by relating the most interesting +particulars of his domestic life—at what hour this extraordinary being +got up in the morning, how soon afterwards a glass of water with lemon +in it was introduced into his precious organism, how many slices of +toast he took with his coffee, how many pipes he smoked, how he walked +about the house, and even how, every Thursday, he took magnesia to +cleanse and purify this splendid work of nature.</p> + +<p>As if in sympathy with her enthusiasm, and desiring to give testimony to +the admiration that such a rare and beautiful subject inspired, a gentle +light suddenly shone over the place. We turned our eyes towards the sea, +and saw the moon coming up above its quiet waves. The waters smiled; in +the park the silver, smooth leaves of the magnolias, the silky-whiteness +of the roses, the tops of the cannas and laurels glittered in luminous +points of light. The darkness fled away into the depths of the thickets, +forming dense, impenetrable masses.<a name="page_211" id="page_211"></a> Soon the moonlight began +penetrating these also, as the moon rose higher in the azure vault, +scattering golden rays.</p> + +<p>Matilde, who was reminded by everything in heaven or on earth of Sabas, +thought that it was now time to get his bed ready for him, and asked us +to come into the house. Isabelita did not wish to go so soon. The night +was delicious; she would stay alone with me. I did not wish to say +anything about the unusualness of this, to disturb her angelic +innocence. We sat for some moments on the same bench, chatting about +indifferent matters.</p> + +<p>I was not long, however, in bringing the conversation to our projected +marriage. It interested her immensely. She must have six dozen of +chemises, and four of petticoats, and three of this, and eight of that. +I could not help her much in all that. I was absent-minded or critical, +and, without knowing why, responded but poorly and with little tact when +she consulted me. But my attention was held when the child began to talk +about our house, and the expenses it would occasion, and the +expenditures we must count upon to furnish it. I was surprised at the +ease and capacity wherewith she discussed economic subjects. She not +only understood what concerned her father's business, but also exchange, +discounting bills, stocks, and so on. For some time I listened with +amazement while she discussed the probable<a name="page_212" id="page_212"></a> rise of certain public +stocks that her father had recently bought, of the transferring of +others that he held, of the sudden fall of the stock of the tobacco +company, of treasury bonds, and a thousand other things of whose +existence I scarcely knew. This financial erudition did not impress me +agreeably. I understood the necessity of a woman's having some knowledge +of affairs in order to rule over her house properly; but so much +mercantile knowledge shocked my temperament, which was not at all +practical, and, more yet, the idea it gave me of this young creature. It +seemed impossible that such old words could issue from such youthful +lips.</p> + +<p>But this was not the only thing. Going on from one thing to another with +strange smartness, the child reached the point of inquiring the amount +of my capital. I did not try to hide it from her. At the first hint I +told her, with complete clearness, one house, a little land, a few bonds +of the company in whose service I had been—about sixty thousand dollars +all reckoned.</p> + +<p>Isabelita kept silence a moment.</p> + +<p>"It isn't much," she said at last, with a certain antagonistic +inflection I did not know in her.</p> + +<p>And, after another pause, she added, with a forced smile:</p> + +<p>"My father thought that you were much richer."</p> + +<p>"But you perceive how mistaken he was," I said,<a name="page_213" id="page_213"></a> with a smile still more +forced. "We are almost always deceived about others, sometimes thinking +them richer than they are, sometimes more noble."</p> + +<p>This was all that I said. I felt an enormous, overwhelming repugnance, +almost a nausea. In one instant I had made up my mind. I would not marry +this self-hawker, with her angelic profile, for all the treasures of +earth.</p> + +<p>And, curiously, as soon as I made this resolution, I felt at peace and +almost happy. I felt as if I had thrown off a great load. So, to the +surprise of Retamoso's daughter, who had remained thoughtful, and a +little put out by my words, I began to show myself gay and never more +merry.</p> + +<p>But the evening was advancing, and as I was not interested in +conversation, and wished to be alone and think over the proper method +for breaking off with her, I proposed that we should return to the +house. As we got up we heard a murmur as of people coming; we did not +know any other way except to sit down again. Castell and Cristina sailed +into the little open space. From the darkness of the place where we were +sitting, we could see them plainly, for the moonlight completely +enveloped them. I perceived at once that the conversation was a serious +one. He came along smiling, bending his head insinuatingly towards her, +to talk close to her ear. Cristina was pale, with frowning brow, her +gaze hard, and fixed on<a name="page_214" id="page_214"></a> space. I wished to get up at once, but +Isabelita held me back. They passed before us without seeing us. As for +him, we could not hear him, because he spoke very low; but some of her +words reached our ears distinctly.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing more to be said about that."</p> + +<p>This sentence, uttered with unusual energy, impressed us forcibly. +Isabelita grasped my wrist with a nervous hand and stood up to follow +them. And, truly, if curiosity excited her, my own was no less; but as I +knew where that would lead me, and as it seemed to me indecorous to +surprise such a secret, I tried to stop her. It was useless. The girl +pulled away from me, and was off after them. I followed also, +determining to do something to attract their attention in some way. But +by this time I could no longer see Isabelita. I went forward in the +darkness, which was there very dense, guided only by the sound of their +voices. In a few moments I realized that Castell and Cristina had +stopped. I still advanced and saw that they were in a glorieta, or +arbor, formed by four great laurels, planted a little distance apart, +whose branches interlaced. I approached with a cautious step. Isabelita +was outside the arbor with her ear glued to the branches. When I came up +to her, she flashed one hand over my mouth and the other arm about my +neck so hard that she hurt me. I was stupefied by such violence, whose +reason I<a name="page_215" id="page_215"></a> could not imagine. Weakly, and because I thought it would save +Cristina's modesty, I remained passive and quiet.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you consider," said Castell, "my patience of several years, my +sufferings, the silent, constant service I have given you, a mere +caprice. Perhaps you suppose that my self-love is concerned in this +rather than a deep, irresistible passion. Have I not an equal right to +suppose that the disdain with which you have so many times humiliated me +is the work of pride and of obstinacy more than of virtue?"</p> + +<p>"You may suppose whatever you like. The way you judge me—"</p> + +<p>"I know you," interrupted Castell. "Nobody could be more charming. I +have never found a woman whose beauty and whose character appeared to me +more interesting and worthy of admiration."</p> + +<p>I heard a slight sniff of disdain and then these words:</p> + +<p>"I would prefer you to admire me less, and let me live more at peace. +But it is not about this that I wish to talk at present. I consented to +come out with you, and find myself here at this improper hour, at the +risk of my husband's honor, which is dearer to me than life, because I +see a way to solve the problem of my life. Rich or poor, happy or +disgraced, I am resolved to live in honor and peace."<a name="page_216" id="page_216"></a></p> + +<p>Nobody can imagine exactly what went on within me at that moment. The +horrible suspicions, almost certainties, which had smeared the image of +my idol, fled like black spectres. I saw her again in all her purity, +with an aureole of virtue that was her glory and charm. A celestial +happiness descended into my heart. All my body trembled, seized with an +irresistible emotion.</p> + +<p>"You might search everywhere, you might look the wide world over, for +one whose happiness concerns me more than your own, and you could not +find one," said Castell.</p> + +<p>"That is very little to say," replied Cristina with a sarcastic accent.</p> + +<p>"Because you think that nothing on earth moves me or interests me, don't +you? There you are wrong. Before I gave rein to this disgraceful +passion, I lived in a state of perpetual interest in all things. Cities, +mountains, rivers, the ocean, society, art, passing affections, +everything moved me and attracted me. To-day all these things are +objects of loathing in my eyes. Barren boredom, a wearing contempt, and +a causeless weariness dog me everywhere, surrounding me like poisonous +vapors. All the nerves of my life are parched—except one. When this is +stirred, my being trembles, my faculties are roused, the horrible spell +that binds me is broken, and daylight breaks upon my spirit——"<a name="page_217" id="page_217"></a></p> + +<p>"Better say night. A bad conscience has need of night."</p> + +<p>"Conscience always stops on the steps of the temple of love. Did you +ever know anyone who, truly in love with a woman, devoured by desire for +her, has been hindered by conscience? I know nobody. If any human being +came to me with a tale like that, I should tell him frankly that he +lied. No mouse ever hesitated before cheese; no man before a woman, in +fear of his conscience."</p> + +<p>"All the worse for men if that is so. But I repeat it is not about this +that I wish to speak at this moment. At the risk of your carrying out +your half-veiled threats, I am resolved to put an end to this +persecution, and it shall be ended. Indeed, it shall be ended!"</p> + +<p>"Do you know one thing, Cristina? I have come to think that you enjoy +being obstinate rather than virtuous."</p> + +<p>"Do you know another thing, Castell? I have always thought that there is +no love whatever in your make-up, but, instead, a monstrous vanity that +has need of satisfying itself at the cost of the honor and happiness of +your best friend."</p> + +<p>"If there was nothing in me but vanity, how long would it have taken it +to be revenged upon this scorn, these insults? I doubt if there is a +woman in the world who knows how better to cut the heart with a gesture, +envenom the soul, and<a name="page_218" id="page_218"></a> fill it with mad anger by a glance. I am +persuaded that you cannot love, but only scorn, a man. If you condescend +to your husband, it is because he is a poor, miserable thing who doesn't +dare hold up his head in your presence."</p> + +<p>"Spare your insults! This is well! If you had always talked like this, I +should have been saved much pain. Now let us come to the other matter. +It is absolutely necessary that from this night henceforth you must +cease to mortify me, either with words, looks, or hints of any kind. It +is absolutely necessary that, if you cannot treat me with respect as the +wife of your friend, I should be to you as any indifferent person. And, +further, I am resolved, thinking everything over, to give an account of +what has passed to my husband."</p> + +<p>"This is decreed?" he asked in a mocking tone.</p> + +<p>"This is decreed!" she said angrily.</p> + +<p>There was a pause.</p> + +<p>"And are you not afraid," he asked at last, speaking slowly, "if +following upon the thousand tortures and humiliations that you have made +me suffer, and my despair of ever being successful with you, if no +compassion follows, that my love might be turned into hate, and that I +take means that the event which overthrows me should engulf you and +yours in yet more frightful ruin?"</p> + +<p>"No, I am not afraid," she replied with fiery pride.<a name="page_219" id="page_219"></a></p> + +<p>"You do well. I shall not take any revenge whatever."</p> + +<p>"You may do it if you choose," she interrupted him impetuously. "Emilio +is a man who likes luxuries and comforts, I know, but he cares very much +more for his wife and his honor. If the alternative were offered him, he +would give his fortune gladly, if not also his life. So you may ruin him +as soon as you please. If nothing is left us, we two can go to work. But +when he finds himself in somebody's office as a humble clerk, nobody can +come up to him and call him a complaisant husband; and when I go through +the streets, the people in Valencia may lean out of their balcony +windows and say: 'This poor woman that we see there with a basket on her +arm used to have her carriage and go dressed in her silks;' but they +shall not say, I swear it, 'She who goes yonder is a prostitute.'"</p> + +<p>Her voice sank as she uttered the word. I felt my throat constrict.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh! this is too much!" exclaimed Castell.</p> + +<p>"Yes." She repeated the word firmly. "And it is all the same whether one +sells oneself for fear or to get money."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, Cristina, but it seems to me that you are giving the +conversation rather a romantic turn. 'A basket on her arm.' This is +folly! I call your good judgment in against such nonsense. Here is a man +who loves you with all the strength<a name="page_220" id="page_220"></a> of his soul, who to win your love +would be capable of making any sacrifice, even of his life. You have +already taken away all my hope, and, in abandoning the contest, at least +don't make me out a seducer in a novel of the kind that stirs up the +wrath of dressmakers."</p> + +<p>"Let us stop talking. I cannot stay here any longer," she said. I could +see that she stood up.</p> + +<p>"Yes, let us put an end to it. I give up trying for you, but not loving +you. I renounce the idea of vengeance, as I have told you. But +understand, however, that this is only a truce. My hopes that you will +love me some day will not be banished. Separated from you, I shall wait +with patience for a time when our paths shall cross again and I shall +offer you the poor heart that you have coldly trampled upon."</p> + +<p>"Very well. Good-by."</p> + +<p>Castell also stood up. More by Cristina's next words than by what I +could really see, I understood that he was holding her.</p> + +<p>"Let me go!"</p> + +<p>"Before you go, I want the reward that my sacrifice merits. Let me kiss +these glorious eyes."</p> + +<p>"Let me go!" she repeated forcibly and fiercely.</p> + +<p>"I have renounced all," he said as energetically, but lowering his +voice; "but I swear to you I will not renounce this kiss, if it costs me +my life."</p> + +<p>"Let me go, or I shall scream."<a name="page_221" id="page_221"></a></p> + +<p>"Scream as much as you like. If you want to make a scandal and perhaps +kill your husband—his death for one kiss—I am willing."</p> + +<p>At that moment I entered the glorieta and put my hand on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Who is it? Who goes there?" he exclaimed, giving a jump that separated +him widely from Cristina.</p> + +<p>"There is no need of being alarmed. It's me."</p> + +<p>"And who are you?" he replied, drawing a revolver and pointing it at me.</p> + +<p>"Keep your gun for thieves, or hold it in readiness for some traitor +who, abusing the confidence reposed in him, tries to seize upon honor +and happiness. There are no thieves or traitors here."</p> + +<p>"If there are no thieves, there are at least persons about devoting +themselves to overhearing private conversations. But for such persons a +whip would be more suitable than a revolver," he returned in sarcastic +tones.</p> + +<p>"Keep your sarcasms likewise for a more opportune occasion. Nobody here +has tried to overhear conversations. They are heard when they come to +one's ears, and I am sincerely sorry that I was here at this time to +hear them. If I had been asleep in my bed, I should have avoided the +sorrow of entering into the foul and hidden corners of the human +conscience."</p> + +<p>"You lie!" he cried, coming wrathfully towards<a name="page_222" id="page_222"></a> me. "You were spying +upon us. How can you talk of foulness when you are sunk in filth +yourself? You have been spying upon us, I repeat it. I have seen you +doing that for some time past. By what right do you follow our steps and +pretend to interfere in the affairs of this family, you who are an +outsider?"</p> + +<p>"An outsider interferes when he sees anyone is in need of help," I +replied calmly. "Moreover, I have not the habit of following any path, +except those of the ocean currents. I have not insulted you, and you +have no right to insult me as you have been doing."</p> + +<p>Then he, perhaps taking my calmness for cowardice, or possibly wishing +to provoke a violent scene, so as to extricate himself from his +difficulty, grabbed me by the lapels of my coat, shook me, and bringing +his threatening face up to mine, yelled:</p> + +<p>"Yes, señor, you have followed us, and I will not endure it. Do you +hear? Yes, I have insulted you, and why? Are you not satisfied with one +insult? Then here goes for another."</p> + +<p>I caught his arm in air. I caught hold of the other one also, and +holding him like a vise, because here my greater muscular strength was +of service, gave him several shakings and forced him backwards into the +foliage of the arbor.</p> + +<p>A voice sounded in my ears:<a name="page_223" id="page_223"></a></p> + +<p>"Give up, Enrique, give up! Don't risk your life for anybody!"</p> + +<p>I paused, stupefied. My fingers relaxed their hold and released their +captive. Turning my head, I saw before me the virginal figure of +Isabelita. Yes, it was she.</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much," I said smiling.</p> + +<p>But I was of no consequence. She did not even glance my way. With an +agitated countenance, her eyes fixed upon Castell, she took his hand and +led him out of the glorieta.<a name="page_224" id="page_224"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">C</span>RISTINA was sitting down, her face hidden in her hands. I went up to +her.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me for coming in here. I was not master of myself."</p> + +<p>"You did exactly right; thank you," she murmured, without changing her +position.</p> + +<p>We remained silent. Presently, rising abruptly, she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Come, let us go in! let us go in!"</p> + +<p>And emerging from the glorieta, she went hastily towards the house. I +followed her, and catching up with her, suggested the propriety of not +presenting herself in such a disturbed state to Emilio.</p> + +<p>She did not reply to me, but she changed her direction, and turned her +steps towards a narrow acacia path, where the light of the moon could +scarcely penetrate. I soon lost sight of her. I paused a moment, +debating whether to go on to the house or follow her. I decided upon the +last, because I was afraid she might stumble anew upon Castell.</p> + +<p>I followed the path, and saw her as she came out in front of the little +pavilion that bore her name.<a name="page_225" id="page_225"></a> I joined her and advised her to rest there +a moment.</p> + +<p>The salon, profusely adorned with statues and vases, offered at this +hour a mysterious enchantment. The moon shone through the crystalline +windows. The polished furniture, the porcelains, the pictures hanging on +the wall, reflected the moonlight mournfully. The marble statues threw +huge dark shadows upon the walls, tragic and threatening.</p> + +<p>Cristina dropped upon a sofa, and I sat down beside her.</p> + +<p>We remained silent for some time.</p> + +<p>"When, for the first time," I said at last, "I had the pleasure to enter +your house, I felt as if I saw a little bit of heaven below—joy, +cordiality, serene and innocent happiness, the tender love of a wife who +inspires respect, the restful felicity of a husband free from any of the +suspicions that embitter existence—a yoke of love and peace; and about +you plenty, riches, all the good gifts of life. Shall I surprise you if +I say that among the leafage of so many joys I have seen uplifted the +head of the serpent?"</p> + +<p>"I do not doubt it," she replied pensively, looking out at the heavens +through the crystal-clear windows.</p> + +<p>"If I could not see your face, I should still be able to divine what you +are feeling. Your eyes<a name="page_226" id="page_226"></a> are not able to conceal what passes in your +soul. How happy you would have made me by confiding to me your troubles! +I am a new friend, I know, but the affection that you and Emilio inspire +in me could not be more sincere."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you, Captain Ribot," she murmured, "but it is not +possible."</p> + +<p>"It is not possible, truly. How could it be when I lack skill to +persuade you of the sincerity of my sentiments? I confess that there +have been reasons why you should not give me your confidence. I have +repented with all my soul, and I beg your forgiveness."</p> + +<p>As if these words agitated her, she rose, pushed aside a hanging +curtain, went to the piano that stood open, ran her fingers over the +keys, then came and sat down again.</p> + +<p>"I understand by what I overheard," I said, after a pause, "that Castell +has some hold over you—that you are in his debt."</p> + +<p>"Our entire fortune is in his hands."</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"Emilio has been to him for money to use in his business, which was +ruined."</p> + +<p>"And this was given in the hope of obliging you to accept his devotion?"</p> + +<p>"It is possible. Castell is more of a business man than a lover. No +matter what he pretends, buying and selling is his business. He has +always<a name="page_227" id="page_227"></a> had the idea of getting absolute control of the steamboat line."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that after what has been overheard, he will desist for a +little in trying to get possession of it."</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>She sat thoughtful for a few moments. Then, as if she were talking to +herself, she said in a dull voice:</p> + +<p>"The day that Emilio and I were married he was at my house from the hour +of the ceremony until I went to change my dress. We were going to Madrid +to spend a few days. When I came down, I stumbled upon him waiting for +me on the stairs. He made some gallant speeches to me at that time, and +begged a spray of my orange flowers, which he put next his heart. I gave +it to him against my will, from bashfulness, from timidity. He was +repulsive to me from the first moment. Later, when we were at the +station, and he came to give me his hand for good-by, he said, almost in +my ear, 'If some day it chances that you get tired of him, remember that +he has friends who admire you as much or more than he does.'"</p> + +<p>"What insolence!"</p> + +<p>"I did not like to say anything to my husband then; I have not wished to +since. The friendship that united them was strong, and I hesitated to +break it. How many times since then I have asked myself if I did right +or wrong!"<a name="page_228" id="page_228"></a></p> + +<p>"And before that he had not addressed you especially?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and no. Once we were at Denia. Castell was there, and I danced +with him at a ball at the house of some friends; it was several months +before I knew Emilio. That evening he made a little love to me and +almost declared himself. I took that for what it was, the diversion of a +traveller who does everything he can think of to keep from being bored. +And, indeed, he left Denia, and Spain, and spent nearly two years in +travelling. When he came back, I was going to be married to Emilio. It +was only a fortnight before the wedding."</p> + +<p>"Providence has been cruel placing such a man in your pathway, and +giving him power to cause you so much trouble."</p> + +<p>She did not answer. She remained thoughtful for a while; at last, +looking at me with her great eyes full of interest, said:</p> + +<p>"But you are so very, very good, Ribot. Don't let us talk any more about +my troubles, but think of those that <i>you</i> have to bear."</p> + +<p>"Bah! 'tis quite the contrary with me. I should give thanks to God that +I have been undeceived in time. Somehow I have always suspected that the +girl was in love with Castell, although Emilio and Sabas were so certain +of something else. And, to be frank, I also love someone else better."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you marry her?"<a name="page_229" id="page_229"></a></p> + +<p>"Because, because—I don't know why; that is to say, if I knew and if +you also knew—but there are things that I do not care to confess to +myself."</p> + +<p>These words made her look troubled. I was repentant at once, as the rays +of the moon let me see on her forehead that frown dreaded of yore.</p> + +<p>"No, Cristina, no!" I hastened to say vehemently, "I beg you not to +think that which I read in your eyes. I have been through bitter +struggles, despairing conflicts with myself. I have stumbled, and fallen +too, but I have risen; and—I can say it without pride—never shall +treachery find shelter in my breast. I have not Castell's brilliant +qualities. I am far from possessing the advantages that make that man +admired and sought after; but if I possessed them all, I swear I would +not use them to stab a friend in the back. Far more than the +satisfactions of love, more than all the enjoyments of earth—and even +those of heaven if they were offered me—I hold the peace of my own +conscience."</p> + +<p>The warmth of my tones and the sincerity of expression with which I +uttered these words made her lift her head and look at me in a slight +amaze. Her brow grew calm, and a sweet smile lingered upon her lips.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have already come to see that you are more original in that way +than could at first have been imagined. I think it much better this +way."<a name="page_230" id="page_230"></a></p> + +<p>And saying so, she graciously held out her hand to me, and I pressed it +with as much respect as emotion. At this moment a shadow fell across us, +then one appeared before us, saying:</p> + +<p>"Good-evening."</p> + +<p>Both Cristina and I were painfully startled.</p> + +<p>"You here, Emilio? I thought you had gone to bed," she said, instantly +controlling herself.</p> + +<p>"No, no; I didn't go to bed. I felt the heat, like the rest of you, and +came out for a turn in the garden. I heard the sound of conversation, so +I came in."</p> + +<p>In spite of the natural voice he made a point of using, there was +something in his manner and a strangeness in his tones that disquieted +us immensely.</p> + +<p>"It is a very beautiful night," he went on, beginning to walk up and +down the place with his hands in his pockets. "The month of September +has not fallen behind August. Even in the mornings it is scarcely cool +yet. I found I had no desire to go to bed."</p> + +<p>I replied to him in words as unimportant as his own. He gave no sign of +having heard me. He went on walking up and down in an absorbed manner, +and at last he went over to the balcony and stood motionless looking out +through the glass. Then he opened one of the windows and stepped outside +to get more of the cool night air.<a name="page_231" id="page_231"></a></p> + +<p>Cristina gazed at him without moving an eyelash. In her eyes a great +anguish was visible. She seemed alarmed. Thus several minutes passed in +silence. At last, as if unable longer to endure this tension, she rose +impetuously, went to her husband and put her hand on his shoulder, +saying:</p> + +<p>"Come, let us go to the house."</p> + +<p>"As you like," he replied dryly.</p> + +<p>We went out of the pavilion and along the avenue of acacias that led to +it. I tried to walk with Martí and to talk with him. I saw that he +shrank from my company, and answered with few words. Before reaching the +house he took his wife's arm and went on ahead, leaving me behind. This +mute rebuff made my heart ache. I followed with a sadness that presently +gave way to decided impatience, thinking with what injustice I was +treated. As we went along in this fashion, there came into my mind the +strong resolution to enter into a clear and definite explanation with +him, and disclose to him all that had passed.</p> + +<p>We arrived at the door of the house and paused under the glass portico. +Through the opened window of the dining-room I could see Isabelita, +Castell, and Doña Amparo.</p> + +<p>"Come," I said, with affected indifference, "you two are going to bed +and I into the city."</p> + +<p>"Won't you wait until we can order the carriage?" asked Cristina +timidly.<a name="page_232" id="page_232"></a></p> + +<p>"No; I have an appetite for a stroll in the light of the moon. <i>Hasta +mañana.</i> Good-night."</p> + +<p>I offered Emilio my hand.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, with an unusual gravity. "I am going with you as far as +the farthest gateway. I, too, feel like a stroll."</p> + +<p>I gave my hand to Cristina. For the first time in her life she pressed +it with singular force, at the same time giving me an anxious look of +supplication. I, moved to the depths of the soul, answered her eyes with +my own, promising her in that way that she might depend upon me.</p> + +<p>We walked away slowly, taking the path that led to the entrance gate. +Martí walked with his hat in his hand, and preserved an obstinate +silence. I waited for him to break it before we parted, promising myself +to be faithful to the silent promise that I had made to Cristina. So it +was he who, as we approached the boundary wall, paused and, without +looking at me, spoke:</p> + +<p>"Married men, Ribot, often have an exaggerated susceptibility. Not only +do their own affections torment them, but the fear of becoming objects +of ridicule sometimes obliges them to be suspicious even when they are +by nature confiding. The friends of such men do well to avoid awakening +this susceptibility, conducting themselves on all occasions with care +and delicacy. By this means friendship is yoked to gratitude."<a name="page_233" id="page_233"></a></p> + +<p>"You are right," I replied. "So far in my life I have managed to fulfil +this obligation towards all men with whom I have had to do, not merely +towards friends, as you say, but towards men of my general acquaintance. +An unfortunate accident placed me in a situation that wounds your <i>amor +proprio</i>, if not your honor. Understand, however, that Cristina——"</p> + +<p>"We will not talk of Cristina," he interrupted, gazing firmly into my +eyes. "Every night of the year before going to sleep I give thanks to +God for having united me to her. To-night will be the same as the +others."</p> + +<p>"We will talk about me, then. An unfortunate accident, I repeat, placed +me in a situation to hurt the susceptibility that has been mentioned. I +deplore this with all my soul, although I do not find myself to blame. +In any case, it would have been an indiscretion. However, these matters +are of such peculiar delicacy that a recent friendship cannot risk the +consequences of the slightest annoyance. If you feel any such annoyance, +I am resolved to take myself away from here, and never again set foot in +your house."</p> + +<p>There was no response. We pursued in silence the remaining distance to +the gate. When we reached it, he paused and, without looking at me, said +in a trembling voice:</p> + +<p>"Although I feel it very much, I cannot do less<a name="page_234" id="page_234"></a> than accept your +resolution. Perhaps I am making myself ridiculous in your eyes and in +those of anyone who might know of what has passed; but what would you? I +prefer to be considered absurd rather than see disturbed in the +slightest degree the tranquillity that until now I have enjoyed."</p> + +<p>"You are right," I said. "In your place I should do the same. To-morrow +morning early I shall leave Valencia, and it may be that we shall never +meet again. I desire you to know, none the less, that this is one of the +profoundest griefs of my whole life. I appreciate your friendship more +than you realize. I am grateful for your affectionate hospitality, and I +shall never console myself for having unintentionally caused you the +least trouble. If some day you have need of me, all that I have is +yours."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you, Ribot," he murmured, moved.</p> + +<p>He put one hand on the latch of the gate, and with the other lifted his +hat. I did not care to let him see that I knew he did this to avoid +taking my hand, so, without extending my own, I went out into the road.</p> + +<p>"<i>Adios</i>, Martí," I said, turning my head, "God keep you always as happy +as you have been until now."</p> + +<p>"<i>Adios</i>, Ribot. <i>Muchas gracias.</i>"<a name="page_235" id="page_235"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">T</span>HE gate closed. Through its bars I could see him going farther and +farther away, his uncovered head bowed, until he was lost to sight among +the trees. I stood alone in the middle of the road. A profound +depression filled me; it was as if I had lost something that had been +the chief interest of my existence.</p> + +<p>With slow step I began my departure from that pleasant place, believing +that I should never return to tread this path again. Indeed, these +latest events had followed one another so hastily and precipitately that +I could scarcely realize them. One moment I had been in that house as +the accepted friend about to become a member of the family. The next, I +left it as a stranger whose name would soon be forgotten. Yet in the +midst of my sorrow, in the mournful night that had fallen upon my heart, +shone one consoling star; it was Cristina's look of supplication. In +that house, perhaps, my name would now no more be spoken, but she would +never forget it. This thought gave me inexpressible consolation. I went +on my way with a firmer<a name="page_236" id="page_236"></a> step, and when I came to the last corner of the +walls surrounding the estate, I stopped beside it. I looked at it +sorrowfully for a little, then, going up to the stone, I kissed it many +times. Then I went on again, blushing as if someone had seen me.</p> + +<p>The moon on high bathed the country in luminous purity, transforming it +into a sleeping lake. The plain stretched before me, bordered by the +mountains whose crests seemed floating in the distance in a white mist. +Here and there the little groves of orange-trees and laurel stood out in +the fleecy whiteness, or great cypresses rose solitary and still, +casting their shadows across the road. Beyond smiled the sea, reflecting +the light of the moon.</p> + +<p>The sweetness of that night penetrated my heart, refreshing it. The +fields, still abounding in flowers and fragrant with the odors of ripe +fruits, soothed my senses and calmed the fever of my thoughts. I went on +with a lighter step. Valencia already slumbered lightly upon her couch +of flowers. Her street lights shone afar like stars of earth. Those of +the heavens formed a rich canopy above, protecting that fortunate city.</p> + +<p>When at some distance from the country house, I felt the need of resting +a little while. I did not care yet to be among people. It was necessary +to get my thoughts together and contrive some plan of life in place of +that that had, in one moment,<a name="page_237" id="page_237"></a> been upset. I sat down on a stone, drew +out a cigar, lighted it, and calmly began smoking. I had not been +sitting there long when I heard the sound of an approaching carriage. At +first I did not know whether it was coming from Valencia or Cabañal. +When I was convinced it was from the latter, I felt strangely uneasy, +and thought of concealing myself; but instantly changing my mind, I +determined to remain where I was. Soon I descried the horses; they drew +near. It was Castell's cab, as I feared.</p> + +<p>When he was quite close I planted myself in the middle of the road and +called to the coachman in an imperative voice:</p> + +<p>"Stop!"</p> + +<p>He made a gesture of surprise, but stopped the horses almost as they +came upon me. As he was pulling them in with the reins, obliging them to +stop in time, the man recognized me and said:</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Don Julian."</p> + +<p>Castell had been leaning half out of the window. When I approached him +he looked at me in surprise, then springing up with a fiery gesture he +reached for his pocket, crying:</p> + +<p>"If this is an attack, take care!"</p> + +<p>"No, it is not an attack," I said, lifting my hand in sign of peace; "I +wish to speak with you."</p> + +<p>"Send me your seconds and I will speak with them," he said haughtily.<a name="page_238" id="page_238"></a></p> + +<p>"Before doing that, it is necessary to speak with you a moment," I +replied.</p> + +<p>He stared at me a little while as if trying to discern my intentions. +Convinced, doubtless, that they were not bellicose, he opened the cab +door and said coolly:</p> + +<p>"Get in!"</p> + +<p>I sat down facing him. The carriage went onward.</p> + +<p>"I desire to know," I said, at the end of a moment, "if it was you who +let Martí know that he would find Cristina and me alone in the +pavilion?"</p> + +<p>He opened his eyes wide in no feigned surprise, and answered in an +ungracious manner:</p> + +<p>"I don't understand what you are saying to me."</p> + +<p>I perceived that this was true, and I went on, modifying my tone.</p> + +<p>"After you and I separated, she and I went along the acacia path to the +pavilion, for the purpose of giving Cristina time to recover herself +before going to the house. She found herself very much upset and did not +care to present herself to her husband in that state. After we had been +there a little while, Martí came unexpectedly. He was angry, naturally; +sought an explanation with me, and in consequence I have left his house +never to return."</p> + +<p>"I knew nothing of it. Although I feel no obligation to give you any +satisfaction whatever, since there is a question between us to be +settled<a name="page_239" id="page_239"></a> on other grounds, I will yet tell you that I did not speak one +word to Martí about the affair. It rests with you to believe me, or not. +But it certainly surprises me that after having had an explanation with +him, you should leave his house and now be talking with me as cordially +as ever."</p> + +<p>"It is very simple. I did not speak one word about what I had just +heard."</p> + +<p>"You have allowed him to suspect you of treachery?" he asked in the +greatest surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, señor."</p> + +<p>"And why have you done so?"</p> + +<p>"For my pleasure."</p> + +<p>He cast a hostile, suspicious glance at me, shrugged his shoulders, and +remained silent. I broke the silence after a moment.</p> + +<p>"The pleasures of men, Castell, are as varied as their physiognomies. +However much you may have thought yourself in love with Cristina, I +believe I was more. I adored her with all my soul, with all the powers +of my heart. But to win her by treacherous means would, far from causing +me joy, be the worst misfortune that could befall me upon earth. I +should never sleep quietly again. I have made a cruel sacrifice, but I +have made it for love of her, for the peace of my conscience. The tears +that you see in my eyes now refresh my soul; they do not scorch it. I am +going away, going away for good. You will remain, and perhaps<a name="page_240" id="page_240"></a> time may +bring it about that you can gain what I have so much desired; but +wandering upon the sea, alone on the deck of my ship, I shall be happier +than you. The stars of heaven shining above me will say: 'Be joyful, for +you have done right.' The wind whistling through the rigging, the waves +breaking against the sides will say: 'Joyful, joyful!'"</p> + +<p>The light of the moon illuminated his face. I saw a smile gradually +spread over it.</p> + +<p>"These same waves that will say such agreeable things to you will think +nothing of swallowing you like a fly some day. The winds will help them +finish the task, and the stars of heaven will be present with all +possible serenity. You are living in a profound error, Ribot. There is +no other happiness upon earth except in possessing what one desires."</p> + +<p>"Although to get it you stab a friend to death from behind?"</p> + +<p>There was a moment of suspense, but he presently said firmly:</p> + +<p>"Although to get it 'twere necessary to walk over men."</p> + +<p>"There is neither good nor evil, then?"</p> + +<p>"In life the good of some is the evil of others, and it will be so to +the end of time. You may have seen some time a nest of swallows? The +little ones wait anxiously for the arrival of the mother; she<a name="page_241" id="page_241"></a> comes +gently, opens her bill and, with loving care, feeds them one by one. How +interesting! How full of tenderness such a sight! But the insects that +have been destroyed and fall into the beak of the swallow to serve her +in feeding her children—does the spectacle seem so tender and +interesting to them? On the other hand, you see a man go stealthily up +to another, knock him down with a blow, take the money out of his purse +and carry it away to his house to buy bread for his children. How +horrible! You shudder and hurry quickly away from such a scene. But why? +If you were an insect you would go along there buzzing joyously."</p> + +<p>"But we are given a conscience."</p> + +<p>"Conscience does not prevent us from being fatally fettered. You find +yourself in love with Cristina, the same as I am; both of us desire her. +You are held back by fear of remorse, but I pursue my undertaking with +no fears whatever. We both follow an instinct. Mine is more sane, +because it tends to augment my vitality, while yours tends to diminish +your strength. You need not laugh nor be so much surprised. Remorse in a +world where necessity rules is absurd. Think you that the heroes of +Homer and Aeschylus hesitated at fratricide or incest? Yet they were, +nevertheless, the most noble examples of human kind."</p> + +<p>"I am far from opposing you in augmenting<a name="page_242" id="page_242"></a> your vitality," I replied, +ironically; "but would it not be better that you seek a wife of your +own, rather than another's."</p> + +<p>"Another's, another's!" he repeated under his breath. "That is +conventional, like all the rest."</p> + +<p>He remained thoughtful for several minutes, looking out at the landscape +through the window. I watched him with a mixture of curiosity and +repugnance. Those blue eyes of his with their steely reflections +inspired me for the first time with a sudden dread.</p> + +<p>"The virtuous? Draûpadî," he began saying slowly, without taking his +eyes from the scene, "one of the most interesting heroines of antiquity +had five husbands, all brothers. Those heroes enjoyed her love in +common, without dishonor or remorse. If we lived in like simplicity, to +aspire to Cristina would be moral and plausible; we should be offering a +woman two new protectors. Why does it cause you so much horror to share +a woman with a friend? The world began in that way and will end in that +way."</p> + +<p>"It may end as it chooses!" I exclaimed. "Now and evermore, it will be a +sin voluntarily to cause pain."</p> + +<p>"Don't be a child, Ribot," he replied with his irritating +self-sufficiency. "There is only one undeniable truth in this world, and +that is the common impulse of plants and animals, insects and<a name="page_243" id="page_243"></a> man. In +the serene region where life abides, everlasting life, sorrow and death, +signify nothing. The one supreme end of the universe is to augment the +intensity of this life."</p> + +<p>I did not respond. I remained thoughtful and silent in my turn for some +time, gazing out of the other window at the road. At last I saw the +first houses of the suburbs.</p> + +<p>"Will you have the kindness to ask the man to stop?" I said; "I wish to +get out here; and to-morrow I leave Valencia without fighting with you. +Attribute this to cowardice if you like. It will be a new sacrifice for +me to make on the altar of my love, and to the friendship that I owe +Martí. I do not aspire to be a Homeric hero like you, nor dream of +leaping triumphantly upon the bodies of my enemies. Will you stop?"</p> + +<p>He gave me a big, contemptuous stare, and pulled the cord, saying +coldly:</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether or not you are a coward; but I can tell you on the +spot that you are one of those people who are self-deceived, and live in +delusions concerning themselves and the world about them."</p> + +<p>The cab stopped. I opened the door and stepped out upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"<i>Adios</i>, Castell," I said, without giving him my hand. "You may seek +that happy region which I do not desire to know. I will remain in this<a name="page_244" id="page_244"></a> +other that is more sorrowful yet more honorable."</p> + +<p>He shrugged his shoulders without answering, and turned his eyes away +from me disdainfully, as he again pulled the cord. Then he leaned back +comfortably. The carriage departed, and I began walking slowly towards +my hotel. I followed the white highroad whereon scattering houses now +cast shadows, until I reached the city's streets, and lost myself in +their labyrinth.</p> + +<p>In the Calle del Mar I found myself in front of the house of Cristina. +On her bedroom balcony grew a rose-mallow. I made sure that nobody saw +me, then I climbed up to it and picked some of its leaves. I went to the +hotel, and up to my room, and was soon sleeping sweetly with those +leaves held fast in my hand.<a name="page_245" id="page_245"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">O</span>NCE more the sea! Port traffic, the noise of loading and unloading, +troublesome business in the consignees' office—afterwards lonely, +tranquil hours lulled by the songs of the sailors and the murmur of +waters against the keel! I did not let my dream of love weigh down my +soul. At the end of several months, it remained a tender and poetic +impression which gave reality to my existence. Yet when one night we +passed Valencia, and I saw the lights of Cabañal shining in the +distance, I was surprised to find myself singing on the bridge in a low +voice the farewell from "Grumete"—</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poetry"> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0em;">"<i>Si en la noche callada</i></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 0.25em;"><i>Sientes el viento!</i>"</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>And, without being able to help it, my eyes filled with tears like a +sentimental female. But that soon passed, and I soon recovered the +joyous mood which seldom, thank heaven, forsook me.</p> + +<p>I heard from a friend in Barcelona that Castell had married Isabelita +Retamoso. Much good may it do! I learned from the same man that the<a name="page_246" id="page_246"></a> +steamship company, Castell and Martí, had gone to pieces, and that both +partners were involved in a ruinous lawsuit. On hearing that, I could +not refrain from exclaiming with exquisite delight:</p> + +<p>"Ruined, it may be! but dishonored, no!"</p> + +<p>My friend stared at me surprised, and it cost me not a little to evade +an explanation. Did not some self-satisfaction enter into my pleasure? I +am almost sure it did. I do not give myself out for a saint, and not +even the saints are able to get rid of self-love entirely. At last, on +my return from Hamburg, after one of my voyages, I found in Barcelona a +letter that had been waiting for me several days. It was from Martí, +although written in another hand. He told me that he was very ill, and +in trouble, and invited me in extremely affectionate terms to come and +make him a visit if it were possible. He did not explain what his +troubles were, nor allude in the least to the misunderstanding that had +been between us, perhaps not to let his amanuensis into our secrets; but +the whole letter breathed of his hearty desire to be all right with me +again, and to make me forget my unhappy departure from his house.</p> + +<p>I took the train immediately for Valencia. I entered the city at +nightfall, one year and three months after leaving it. I went to the +hotel where I had then stayed. The hotel-keeper received me with cordial +demonstration, and told me, without<a name="page_247" id="page_247"></a> my asking, many details of the +lawsuit between Castell and Martí. Martí was ruined. He had lost his +directing share in the steamboat line, in which his partner still +remained. Following that, to reimburse himself for capital loaned, +Castell transferred Martí's credit. The creditors sold all his property +at auction, including that at Cabañal and the house in the Calle del +Mar.</p> + +<p>"If, in spite of all this," said my host, "Don Emilio enjoyed good +health, he could easily get up again, for he is young and he has a great +head for business. But the poor man is very ill, very ill. I have not +seen him for some time, but by all that I hear it is his last sickness."</p> + +<p>These words made me very sad. It was dinnertime; but, although I went +and sat down at table, I could scarcely take a morsel of food. I went +out afterwards, intending to go to the house of Martí—he was living now +in an apartment in the Calle de Caballeros. Before arriving I turned +about, fearing to disturb him at that hour, or cause him any emotion +that might hinder him from resting well. I directed my steps to the +residence of his brother-in-law, Sabas, that he might prepare Martí, or +at least advise me when it would be best for me to go to see him. +Sabas's plump wife, as lively, busy, and sweet as ever, received me with +her usual affability. Her idolized husband had gone out.<a name="page_248" id="page_248"></a></p> + +<p>"He is at Emilio's house?" I said, as the natural thing.</p> + +<p>"No, I believe—" she hesitated. "You had better go to the theatre. +Maybe he is there. As the doctor found Emilio better to-day, he said +that he would go and celebrate."</p> + +<p>She blushed as she uttered these words. I showed no surprise, in order +not to increase her confusion. After kissing my old friends, her +children, I went off to the theatre that she named in search of their +elegant papa.</p> + +<p>When I entered, the play had already begun. I took up a position in a +corner behind the stalls and scrutinized the theatre. I was not long in +seeing him in his place in a proscenium box. These boxes in the +provinces, as in the capital, are the sacred spots, whence the superior +beings of each locality radiate their splendors. Accustomed to lay down +the law for the multitude, the gilded youths who meet there, converse, +argue, smoke, and yawn, firmly convinced that they have no duties to +fulfil towards the masses, those who listen placidly from the stalls. +They dwell separate like the gods of Olympus, in conscious enjoyment of +their perfections and their power, grinning at the actors, tossing +compliments to the actresses, and from time to time talking in loud +voices with their kind in the opposite boxes, over the heads of the +rabble of the unfashionable.<a name="page_249" id="page_249"></a></p> + +<p>Sabas belonged to the ruling caste, although his face showed none of the +marks that characterize it, neither the flabby flesh, the pallid skin, +nor the loose mouth, signs of the life of self-indulgence.</p> + +<p>His dark, sunburned face, peeled in places, offered rather an extremely +industrious aspect. It would not have been strange if he had arrived +that same night from Madagascar or Java, after enriching himself in a +caoutchouc expedition. This was doubtless the opinion of the contralto +of the company (much richer in avoirdupois than in voice), to judge by +the timid admiration and the blushes wherewith she received his ardent +compliments every time that the exigencies of the piece obliged her to +go near his box. I sat down in one of the <i>butacas</i> and waited for the +fall of the curtain. I confess that I was less interested in what was +going on on the stage than in the play that was revealed between the box +and the footlights. Sabas, leaning his chin in his hand with a purely +Oriental languor, fixed his gaze of serpent-like fascination upon the +contralto. She, overcome with an irresistible terror, made efforts to +flee from that glance and escape. In vain. In spite of herself, even in +the most important scenes and against all the demands of the play, she +would break abruptly away from the tenor in a love duet and turn towards +that tropical and fascinating man of the quivering nostrils. She +listened with eagerness to his voice<a name="page_250" id="page_250"></a> vibrating like a cry in the +desert, hoping ever that he would end by offering her fifty elephants, a +necklace of pearls, and the heads of three rajahs, his enemies.</p> + +<p>When the act was ended I went without delay to the box. Sabas received +me with the grave indifference which, in all perfectly cultivated +countries, expresses elegance. I explained my wishes at once. He +accepted them benignly; disdaining his conquest, secure like all heroes +of arriving always in time to conquer, he took his hat and we left the +theatre. We walked for some time in silence. I felt my heart oppressed +with sadness wherein I perceived with alarm a certain anticipation of +something pleasant. This something could be nothing else than the +presence of Cristina. Yes, I recognized it with shame; yet in that sad +hour it absorbed me more than anything else in the world.</p> + +<p>Sabas stopped after a time, took his pipe from his mouth, and, looking +at me attentively some moments, remarked solemnly:</p> + +<p>"You see how it is, friend Ribot. The madness of my brother-in-law has +carried him to the extreme that I have prophesied so many times."</p> + +<p>"Poor Emilio!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, poor indeed. At present he hasn't a peseta, nor anybody who will +lend him one."</p> + +<p>"The worst of all is, according to what has been told me, his illness is +very serious."<a name="page_251" id="page_251"></a></p> + +<p>He found nothing to answer to this. After a while he again took out his +pipe and paused.</p> + +<p>"Does it seem to you, friend Ribot," he exclaimed in indignant accents, +"as if a man with a family has the right to throw away his capital +according to his own caprices and reduce that family to destitution?"</p> + +<p>I shrugged my shoulders, without knowing what to answer, suspecting that +Sabas included himself among the most important members of that +suffering family.</p> + +<p>He put his pipe back between his teeth, and having, doubtless, thus got +himself in connection with his electric current, contrived to move +onward. He was not long in interrupting it, by taking out the pipe +again, spitting, and going on talking.</p> + +<p>"I understand perfectly how a bachelor can dispose of his means as he +pleases; how, getting up some morning out of humor, he could go out on +the balcony and toss over everything that he owns. At most there is only +himself to pay for the consequences of his whims. But when a man who is +not alone in the world, who has assumed sacred obligations to fulfil, +throws himself into senseless speculations and wastes an important +property, his conduct seems to me not merely imprudent, but also +immoral."</p> + +<p>I did not doubt that Sabas included among these sacred obligations that +of providing him with<a name="page_252" id="page_252"></a> means to submit to his own fascinations all the +sopranos and contraltos who presented themselves on the Valencian +horizon; and not to say anything impertinent, I determined to hold my +peace. In this manner, using his pipe like a manipulator of an electric +machine to retard or hasten his fancy, and slopping over in a torrent of +critical wisdom, we reached at last the house where his brother-in-law +lived. It was not so sumptuous as that in the Calle del Mar, but new and +elegant. We mounted to the apartment on the second floor, which was the +one that Martí occupied, and rang. Regina, the old <i>doncella</i>, came out +to open for us, and on seeing me could not refrain from a cry of +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Don Julian!"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" I exclaimed, putting my finger on my lips.</p> + +<p>Next, I seized upon my god-daughter, taking her in my arms and silently +covering the child with warm and tender kisses. But she did not receive +them in the silence that was to be desired. Frightened by my beard, and +perhaps pricked by it, she began at once crying to heaven.</p> + +<p>I heard the voice of Cristina.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?"</p> + +<p>And she appeared from the end of the corridor. On seeing me, she paused +for an instant, then immediately came on to me, holding out both hands +with an affectionate gesture.<a name="page_253" id="page_253"></a></p> + +<p>"Oh, Captain! My poor Emilio is dying!"</p> + +<p>I saw her eyes cloud with tears. I pressed those beautiful hands that I +held, and murmured some words of hope. Perhaps her fears were +exaggerated. Emilio had always enjoyed good health; but this sort of +temperament bore disease for many years. I asked if it were possible to +see him at that hour, and, having been answered affirmatively, made +ready to go in. Cristina would not let me enter until she had first +prepared him. He was very nervous, and a sudden emotion might injure +him. While she was gone to perform this gentle duty, Sabas improved the +opportunity to give me his hand, dark as an Asiatic colonial's, in +good-by and departed with his energetic characteristic importance. +Through the door that still stood open I saw him go down the stairs +carrying in his ardent glance desolation and tears for the contralto.</p> + +<p>"Come in, come in this minute!" It was the voice of Emilio, a little +hoarse, but as vigorous as ever. I hastened towards the place whence +came the sound, and entered a room where the luxury of the furniture was +in contrast with the modesty of the things in the rest of the place. He +was reclining in an arm-chair with two cushions at his back, wearing an +elegant dressing-gown. The light of a candle fell on his face, where I +could see very clearly the fatal signs of tuberculosis. But that face +was beautiful, more beautiful and more interesting<a name="page_254" id="page_254"></a> than any I had ever +seen. The hair of head and beard was longer; this with the whiteness of +the skin and the great, black, melancholy eyes made him look like the +Nazarene. Those eyes shone at sight of me with a frank and cordial +expression. He took my hand and, pressing it affectionately between his +own, said several times in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Captain! Captain! Captain! How good you are!"</p> + +<p>I found myself too much moved to speak.</p> + +<p>"How do you find me? In a very bad way, don't you?" he asked at last, +after a long silence.</p> + +<p>"I hope I shall see you better soon," I answered, making an effort to +control myself and hide the emotion that mastered me.</p> + +<p>At the same time I took the candle, and bringing it nearer his face, +pretended to examine it with close attention.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what ails you?" I asked. "It's <i>morriña</i>!"</p> + +<p>"What is that?" he asked, opening his eyes wide.</p> + +<p>"It is an illness that attacks the Galicians when they lose an amount +exceeding fifty centimos."</p> + +<p>I saw a smile steal over his lips and, glancing gayly at his wife, he +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"The same as ever! He doesn't seem to me a bit changed—no!"</p> + +<p>I understood that the kindest thing I could do<a name="page_255" id="page_255"></a> at that moment was to go +on joking. I plucked up my courage and unlocked my stock of +buffooneries, although they can't be called very witty. Soon I had the +pleasure of hearing him laugh heartily. His face brightened, his eyes +shone; in a few minutes we were chatting together with the same gayety +as if he were perfectly well and had not lost a centimo of his capital.</p> + +<p>Cristina watched us with a melancholy smile. She was happy in seeing her +husband so cheerful, although she knew that this could not last long.</p> + +<p>And, indeed, a violent attack of coughing soon came to interrupt most +sadly our chat. He became livid and half-stifled, holding his head +between his hands.</p> + +<p>"The chill of the night air is bad for you. It is the chill of night +that brought it on, Emilio," said Cristina. "It is time for you to go to +rest."</p> + +<p>He lifted his hand, making lively signs of negation with it. When the +attack subsided, and he could speak, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"No, don't take him away from me! I feel much better. The captain is a +mouthful of oxygen. He brings me the good sea air."</p> + +<p>I stayed half an hour longer, to please him. At last I went, not before +promising to return early the next day. I did not wish to go in that +night to pay my respects to Doña Amparo. I had already had notice from +Sabas that she had taken up a<a name="page_256" id="page_256"></a> fashion lately of fainting away at sight +of any friend whatsoever. As the hour seemed to me unseasonable for such +an organic phenomenon, I deferred it until another more suitable.</p> + +<p>Cristina came with me to the door.</p> + +<p>"How do you find him?" she asked, fixing an anxious look upon me.</p> + +<p>"I don't find him well. But while there is life, who knows? who knows?"</p> + +<p>Nobody could help knowing. She also knew; but the unhappy lady sought +some way to hide the truth from herself.</p> + +<p>I went away with my head in a whirl, and my heart torn and rent. The +force I had used to appear cheerful upset my nerves, and I could not +sleep. Poor Martí! Never had he seemed to me more hearty, more innocent, +more worthy to be beloved. Not one word, not the most insignificant +allusion to the treacherous actions of his friend Castell, nor the +inhuman manner in which he had ruined him. And in the days following it +was the same. His soul not only knew how to avoid filth like the feet of +ladies, but did not believe in it.</p> + +<p>I wrote to our shipping house to say that, for reasons of health, I +wished to stay on land during the next voyage, and constituted myself +companion and nurse to my unfortunate friend. I was seldom away from +him. When I left him I saw a sadness in his eyes so sincere that I +wished to stay. Every<a name="page_257" id="page_257"></a> day he lost strength; I saw that he grew +constantly weaker. He began to have cruel stiflings that threatened his +life. While they lasted I fanned him, and Cristina bathed his temples. +But when he came out of these attacks like a man who has succeeded in +escaping an imminent peril and unexpectedly finds himself safe and +sound, he would be talkative and gay, assuring us that very soon he +would be able to go out into the streets and take up his business again.</p> + +<p>His business! Neither illness nor ruin had been able to uproot his +passion for projects and his liking for great industrial enterprises.</p> + +<p>"If you could guess, Captain, the idea which I have had for days in my +head!" he said to me once, looking at me with his candid eyes and +pushing back his hair. "A grand project, and sensible, too, at the same +time. At fifteen kilometres from Valencia there is a river that can be +made to produce a waterfall of a thousand horse-power. Suppose that two +hundred are lost in harnessing it, there would still be eight hundred, +which, well distributed, would move almost all the industries of the +city and give light to it all. Manufacturers and the city would save an +enormous amount, and to become the owner of that waterfall would be a +brilliant stroke of business. Because, as you can see——"</p> + +<p>Here he took a paper, drew out a pencil, and set<a name="page_258" id="page_258"></a> himself to scheming +with figures with as much enthusiasm as if the operatives were already +installing the great electric machine that was to distribute power to +all the factories of Valencia, with so many horse-power and such and +such qualities as if he had the magazine in the house.</p> + +<p>Cristina and I exchanged a look over his head, and we knew not what to +say. Formerly this passion had been his peril. Now it seemed to console +him. So, not to go against him, we followed his fancy, and praised his +project to the skies. This made him so happy that his cheeks burned and +his glassy eyes shone with pleasure. Cristina could not control her +emotion, and hastily left the room. I went on admiring the project +warmly, so that he would not notice her going, and went so far as to +promise to invest my small capital in the enterprise. With this his +gayety came to an end. Quickly changing his expression, he pressed my +hand, and, looking at me sorrowfully, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"No, Ribot, no! Although the affair is all plain enough, there might be +some bad luck. I will not risk your capital!"</p> + +<p>"There would not be any risk," I replied; "I would gladly put it in, +because it seems to me that this is a sure thing."</p> + +<p>"Absolutely sure!" he said, with the accent of unquenchable conviction, +which at another time would have made me smile. "But I won't give<a name="page_259" id="page_259"></a> you +any shares in it until it is under way and has begun to pay dividends."</p> + +<p>Poor Martí! He was going fast. His cheeks fell in, the circles under his +eyes grew deeper; he passed his nights in coughing and his days in +torment between pain and choking.</p> + +<p>The fainting fits of Doña Amparo grew constantly more frequent and +prolonged. Her sensibility became so over-excited by this, that the +fluttering of a butterfly was enough to throw her into a convulsion, +from which she could only recover by covering everybody's face, as of +old, with tears and kisses. As for me, being the friend most often at +hand, I received the greater part of these inundations.</p> + +<p>Sabas came every day at eleven o'clock, before going for his usual +promenade to the café where he took his vermouth. If the doctor had said +that the invalid had less fever (and he often said it to encourage him), +this gave our dandy so much satisfaction that he could not do less than +celebrate by going to breakfast at the café, and then go off on an +excursion with friends of both sexes.</p> + +<p>We saw the end approaching. As the fatal hour drew near, Emilio showed +himself less and less apprehensive, occupying himself constantly with +making calculations and planning out new schemes. Even in the middle of +the night he would beg for paper, and scratch down figures.<a name="page_260" id="page_260"></a></p> + +<p>"Next week I think I shall be able to be out," he said to me one +morning. "There is nothing ailing me now. The pain in the kidneys is all +gone; my tongue is almost clean. If this cough that keeps me awake would +only leave me, I should be quite well. To-day I feel just like walking, +like taking a good long walk."</p> + +<p>And he proved his words by getting up from his chair and taking several +steps.</p> + +<p>"I am going to the dining-room," he said, opening the door; "see what a +surprise I am going to give Cristina."</p> + +<p>And he walked down the passage. I stood looking at him from the +threshold of his room. When he had got about half-way, the poor fellow +toppled, and before I could get to him, fell his length upon the floor. +Several years have passed since then, and yet they have not been able to +obscure in my soul the shamed and melancholy smile he gave me as I came +to him.</p> + +<p>"That's bad, Captain!"</p> + +<p>I lifted him and carried him in my arms back to his chair. He weighed no +more than a child. Cristina, as well as I, reproved his imprudence, but +we readily convinced him that his weakness came from lack of +nourishment. If he would eat more his strength would increase rapidly, +and we should soon see him able to walk out in the garden as of old.</p> + +<p>Although Cristina knew the seriousness of his<a name="page_261" id="page_261"></a> condition, and made +herself no illusions regarding the outcome, I observed in her a sort of +ignorance or disregard which, at such a time, could not fail to make me +anxious. She thought certainly that his illness was unto death, but by +every word that came from her mouth I perceived that she judged the end +to be very far off. I could see that it was very near. And yet it was +nearer than even I supposed. On the day following his fall in the +passage, I went to see him between ten and eleven o'clock in the +morning. Contrary to his custom, he had not dressed. He said he found +himself a little fatigued from coughing. I cheered him up by calling him +only lazy, and sat down beside him. I found him indeed very feeble, and +looking very much discouraged. In spite of this he was chatty and +cheerful as always. At last he decided to get up, but before doing so we +decided that he should take a little cup of broth to give him strength. +Cristina went out to prepare it. A few moments after, the sick man had +an attack of coughing and choking that nearly overcame him. I did not +call Cristina, not wishing to alarm her, and began to fan him, as usual, +to give him air, hoping that he would quickly recover. Yet, without +knowing why, I felt more disturbed than usual. My heart beat violently, +seeing that pallid face, with its closed eyes and the opened mouth +struggling for breath. As the seconds went by, my anxiety increased<a name="page_262" id="page_262"></a> in +like measure, and I reached my hand towards the bell-button. But at that +moment Martí opened his eyes and smiled sweetly. I calmed myself and +said:</p> + +<p>"Now you are better! It has passed."</p> + +<p>"Open the shutters. I can't see well," he answered me. These words +brought back my alarm. The shutters were open. Yet I made a movement to +go, to please him; but as I tried to leave him, he seized one of my +hands.</p> + +<p>"Ribot, Ribot!" he cried, gazing at me with sightless eyes. "Do not +leave me! I am dying, do not leave me!"</p> + +<p>He raised up, convulsively grasping my hand. His expression changed +quickly, his eyes glazed. His head rolled about as if it would be +disjointed, then he fell heavily backward. Horror and stupefaction kept +me a moment stunned, gazing at the floor. But recovering myself, I took +his head between my hands and held it against my breast, crying:</p> + +<p>"Martí! my friend, my brother! Canst thou hear? In this world of +treachery there are few men left like thee!"</p> + +<p>And I kissed that brow where had never fallen the shadow of a sinful +thought.</p> + +<p>At that moment a hand touched my shoulder. I turned as if it had stabbed +me and saw her eyes straining wide with terror and her trembling form +that fell prone upon the ground.<a name="page_263" id="page_263"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span>T is impossible to describe what took place in that house upon the +death of Emilio. Everybody adored him; to all he was like a loving +father, ready to sacrifice his own wishes for those of others.</p> + +<p>The grief and woe of Cristina were so great that we feared for her life. +After a few days, however, it was necessary to think about business +matters. Those of Martí were so much entangled that his unfortunate +family was likely to become quite destitute. The only one to call upon +in regard to his affairs, as the nearest relation, was Sabas; but this +profound person, for whom the human heart had no hidden corners, +despised the prosaic details of existence. He lived like a god in a +state of perpetual joy, removed from the toils and anxieties that +afflict mankind. It was necessary that I grasp the reins. I begged +permission to do this, and took hold of the work with little knowledge, +but with illimitable interest and good will. At the end of six months of +hard work, struggling with creditors, lawyers, and clerks, I succeeded +in disentangling the snarl. The debts were all paid and a small<a name="page_264" id="page_264"></a> income +was rescued for Cristina, sufficient to enable her to live comfortably +but without any luxuries. I breathed freely again, and enjoyed my +success as much as if I had brought through successfully some gigantic +undertaking.</p> + +<p>The gratitude of Cristina was my sweetest reward. In a grave and +reserved way, as she did all things, she made me understand it +constantly. This gratitude, joined to the innocent caresses of my +god-daughter, who now began to prattle, calling me "Uncle Ribot," as if +I were of her own blood, fully repaid me for all my endeavors. All that +troubled me was to note with what scrupulous care Cristina reduced the +expenses of her house, and the straits she endured. I told her this care +was exaggerated—her income would permit her a little more leeway, but I +did not succeed in making her see it. After a while I came to understand +that her economy did not cause her the slightest pain. I thought she +rather enjoyed it, and by this means was saving up to add to the small +inheritance of her little daughter. Later I found out, not without +indignation, that these savings served to support the household of her +elegant brother. He had gone on applying the scalpel to all of our +actions. Persuaded after a while that neither the kindness of his sister +nor my business ability would henceforth provide him with means +sufficient to make the conquest of even one single chorus girl, he<a name="page_265" id="page_265"></a> +decided at last to go to work, watching the bank in a gambling club.</p> + +<p>None of her ancient splendors seemed to be missed by Cristina, as far as +I could ascertain, neither handsomely furnished rooms, nor carriages, +nor servants. The property at Cabañal alone excited in her a melancholy +regret. Only when we mentioned that did she become sad and pensive. This +was very natural. Her passion for the country, for a free and peaceful +life was strengthened now by the gentle memories that that estate kept +for her heart. There had fleeted the happiest hours of her life. After I +had observed this on a number of occasions, the thought was born in my +brain to try to buy the place. I quickly thought over the state of my +property. As I was a man of few wants, I could part with a third of what +I had, and there would still be enough left me to live upon. As soon as +I was convinced of that, every hindrance got on my nerves. I could not +rest until I had gone to Barcelona, where lived the banker to whom the +estate had been assigned, and had had a talk with him. Cabañal had gone +at auction for eighteen thousand duros. I soon saw that its present +owner would like to get it off his hands for the same money, then his +profits would not all be eaten up in the expense of keeping up the place +as it had formerly been. At last, after several conferences and enough +bartering, we agreed upon the contract<a name="page_266" id="page_266"></a> and the deeds were passed, I +making him promise to keep the transaction a secret. Then I made a deed +of gift to my god-daughter of the property. With both documents in my +pocket and with my heart light with joy, I returned to Valencia. Before +taking possession of the country house it was necessary to buy, and +instal there, furniture as nearly as possible like that which the house +had had before. It cost me some labor, but I performed it with +inexplicable enjoyment. It is needless to say that where I laid myself +out to have everything perfect was in Cristina's own room—her +<i>tocador</i>. By means of untiring search I was able to find some of the +same pieces of furniture that had been there before, and I bought them; +others I ordered copied, and they turned out very like. As soon as all +was ready I took possession of the place, cautioning all persons who had +served me, and the gardener, too, not to let the matter get noised +abroad before it was time to open the house.</p> + +<p>The birthday of my god-daughter arrived. Several days before, I had all +the furniture put in place in the country house, and I took pains to see +that all was placed as nearly as possible as it had been formerly. I +knew so well every arrangement of that house that it was not difficult +for me to make it look very homelike. Cristina's room took a good deal +of time, for I aspired to have it lack not one detail. The furniture, +the curtains, the<a name="page_267" id="page_267"></a> articles on the dressing-table, even the coverlet on +the bed, had been restored or copied with utmost exactness. On the +birthday I carried my god-daughter a fine toy in the morning, promising +her another for the afternoon. And for the afternoon I invited her, with +her mamma and Doña Amparo, to take an excursion into the country, to +picnic in some secluded spot, to celebrate that memorable date. The +coachman, previously instructed by me, drove us about for a time, then +brought up in the neighborhood of Cabañal. There I made him stop and +said:</p> + +<p>"Señoras, I don't know whether I have committed an indiscretion. If I +have, I beg your pardon beforehand. Knowing Cristina's passion for +Cabañal, I have had our picnic prepared there. I am a friend of Puig, +who bought it, and when I was in Barcelona he gave me permission to go +into the house, and to take as many people with me as I liked. I repeat, +you must forgive what I have done, if you do not approve of it."</p> + +<p>Doña Amparo declared it very nice, and was joyful to the soul at +visiting once more the place that had always pleased her. But Cristina's +face was something to behold. She had never let me see it so forbidding. +She controlled herself, however, in silence; and I, taking no notice of +her annoyance, ordered the coachman to go on. The gardener and his men +played the drama of receiving<a name="page_268" id="page_268"></a> us as guests, and conducted us to a +glorieta where I had had the table spread. Before our picnic, I invited +them to take a little walk, but Cristina refused emphatically, affirming +that she had hurt her foot. As Doña Amparo did not care to leave her +alone I went with my god-daughter; the little one and I amused ourselves +by running and frolicking about in those shady avenues. When we returned +I observed that Cristina's eyes were red and that her mamma was drooping +with evident intentions of popping off.</p> + +<p>But I did not care to go into any of that. Joyful and merry as I had +never been, I began to open the baskets and distribute their contents, +aided by the little girl and the man who had brought them from the +hotel. By a great effort, and to conceal her suffering, Cristina took a +few, but very small, mouthfuls. Doña Amparo, however, ate heartily. But +Julianita, the little one, and I knew how to do our duty. To finish off, +I opened a bottle of champagne. Then, standing up and taking my +god-daughter on one arm, I swung the glass high with the other, +exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"To the health of Julianita! To the health of my little girl!"</p> + +<p>I drained the glass, then gave the baby the drops in the bottom.</p> + +<p>"I promised thee a present for this afternoon, and thou shalt see that I +keep my promise. Thy<a name="page_269" id="page_269"></a> present is this estate, of which thou hast been +despoiled. I bought it for thee some days ago. Receive it, my daughter, +with this tender kiss which I place upon thy cheek, and may heaven bless +thee with many and happy days!"</p> + +<p>Cristina rose up from the bench, pale and trembling.</p> + +<p>"Captain Ribot! It cannot be!" she cried in a choking voice.</p> + +<p>"Here is the deed of the property, and here is the deed of gift," I +answered, presenting the documents.</p> + +<p>"But my daughter cannot accept such an enormous sacrifice!"</p> + +<p>"I have few necessities and no near relations. The law gives me the +right to choose my heir. I have already chosen her," I added, placing my +hand on the curly little head of my god-daughter.</p> + +<p>She remained quiet with her eyes fixed upon the ground. At last she went +out of the glorieta, and without opening her lips started towards the +house. I followed her at a distance, leaving the fainting form of Doña +Amparo to the care of the child and the servant. I observed that she +walked faster and faster. When she reached the door she was almost +running. She paused a moment, kissed the wall, and entered.</p> + +<p>I followed her as she went about the rooms; I heard her exclamations of +delight, and even saw her<a name="page_270" id="page_270"></a> go into her own room. At sight of that, a cry +escaped her, and she fell sobbing upon the white-wood bed.</p> + +<p>I went over to her and said:</p> + +<p>"This room holds yet within its walls the perfume of a sacred and +peaceful life. The furniture had been scattered through the city; and +these pieces, that could claim nobody as one master, on finding +themselves together again will speak to you, Cristina, in the sweet and +mysterious language of their souvenirs. I consider myself happy in +having restored them, and happier yet in having worked for so many days +to arrive at this moment."</p> + +<p>She rose from the bed, and, holding out her hand, said to me in a +trembling voice:</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Ribot, many thanks. You are indeed a faithful friend to us. +God will reward you for all the good you have done, for I can never +repay you."</p> + +<p>I was moved to the depths of my soul by those simple words.</p> + +<p>"Cristina," I replied, "I accept the title that you so nobly bestow upon +me. I have been a loyal friend to you and to Emilio; I have watched over +his interests and his honor with ceaseless care. But I have watched over +my thoughts with even more diligence; because thoughts are restless +things, and might, against my will, go straight away and annoy you. I +have nothing to reproach myself with. I<a name="page_271" id="page_271"></a> have always loved you as I love +you now, with the respect that divine beings inspire. But in spite of +all my efforts to stifle it, a strong desire lifts itself in my soul, +and I feel that I shall never find peace if I do not suffer it to live, +or at least need not kill it. Forgive me, Cristina, for the question I +am going to ask. But may I not hope that some day you will call me by +another name than friend?"</p> + +<p>She remained grave and silent, looking down at the floor. Then she sat +down in a chair near the candle-stand, leaned her elbow on the little +table, and her head in her hand, and there she sat in a thoughtful +attitude. I knelt down beside her and let myself hope.</p> + +<p>"Get up, Ribot," she said, giving me a sad and affectionate glance. "It +causes me pain and almost shame to see at my feet the man who sweetened +the last hours of my husband, who has sacrificed himself for me, and his +fortune for my daughter. My heart tells me that this man should not be +refused my very life if he asks it. But do you not think, Ribot, that +there is something between us that ought to stop us, something that +would overshadow the happiness that you have a right to? Remember the +circumstances when we first knew each other. Examine the secret impulses +that brought you to this place, those that you have felt since, your +struggles, your thoughts, your joys and pains during these three years +and a half. And<a name="page_272" id="page_272"></a> tell me frankly if you do not imagine that conscience +would not whisper to us that we had not acted with perfect delicacy. I +believe it would; and I think I know you well enough to know that it +would be enough to disturb the serenity of your life. This is what I +hear speaking within my secret heart. While it is there, do you not +think that if we were united there might rise in our world an infamous +suspicion that would wound, even in his grave, our cherished one?"</p> + +<p>I understood the truth of these words and my heart sank. The tears +rushed to my eyes. I hid my face in my hands to conceal them.</p> + +<p>"What? Do you weep, Ribot?" she exclaimed, leaning her head upon mine. +"No, in God's name! no, do not weep, my friend! I have no right to cause +you the slightest pain. I will do as you wish."</p> + +<p>I shook my head and answered:</p> + +<p>"Let me weep for a moment. It will pass."</p> + +<p>My tears fell abundantly. When I lifted my head I saw that they were +also streaming down her cheeks. I stood up and, drawing out my +pocket-handkerchief, said smiling:</p> + +<p>"Do you see! It's over! Sadness and I were never very constant friends."</p> + +<p>Then she took my hands and, pressing them warmly, looked into my eyes, +exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Yet, truly, I would not hurt you! After my<a name="page_273" id="page_273"></a> husband, no man has ever +inspired me with so deep an affection!"</p> + +<p>"These noble words not only give me strength to live," I answered, "but +they make life lovely to me. How many times, leaning on the bridge of my +ship, I have felt happy gazing at the shining stars! And why not now, +when I can see these sweet eyes, so frank and so serene? Let me see them +all my days, and I promise you I will always live in joy and peace!"<a name="page_274" id="page_274"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p class="nind"><span class="letra">I</span> KEPT my promise. Since then my days go on, happy and full of peace. I +fixed my residence in Alicante, but for long spaces of time, indeed +during almost half the year, I am in Valencia. And when I am there, I am +looked upon at Cristina's house not merely as a friend, but as a member +of the family. Nobody fails to show delight when I am seen arriving, but +most of all does my coming please my god-daughter, an enchanting little +girl of five years, with eyes as luminous as her mother's. As soon as +she hears my step, she comes running to meet me, laughing and jumping, +throws herself upon my neck, covers me with kisses, and pulls my beard +in a way to bring tears—of pleasure.</p> + +<p>I can hear her voice on the stair at this moment calling:</p> + +<p>"Uncle Ribot! Uncle Ribot!" While I stay in Valencia she comes to the +hotel for me every morning with her nurse. We go out together. We walk +about the streets and in the Glorieta. We go into the confectioners' +shops (Julianita knows all the best ones that are to be found in the +Hacienda)<a name="page_275" id="page_275"></a> and buy sweets. We go to the flower-market and buy flowers. +And when luncheon time comes, we go to the house loaded with parcels and +sprays of flowers. The mamma comes and opens the door for us. Her +beautiful eyes shine with joy, and always glisten with gratitude.</p> + +<p>There is nothing more that I long for. Secure in the affection of these +beings that I love, and in my own self-respect, I watch calmly the +fleeting of the hours. Snow has begun to show slowly about my temples, +but it does not touch my heart. Neither envy nor boredom enters it. And +if, as I have heard Castell say many times, life has no flavor, I am +persuaded that he does not know what it can give. For me it has a +delicate, exquisite savor. I am an artist in happiness. This thought +increases my pleasures.</p> + +<p>And when inexorable death knocks at my door I shall not wait for him to +call twice. With firm step and tranquil heart, I will go to meet him, +and giving him my hand say:</p> + +<p>"I have done my duty, and I have lived happily. Nobody has suffered +because of me. Whether I am led to a sweet eternal sleep, or to a new +incarnation of this impalpable force that fills me, I have no fear. Here +I am!"</p> + +<p>But, no! it is not death that will in that moment knock at my door. It +is life, radiant, immortal, divine! From my opened window I feel it and +see<a name="page_276" id="page_276"></a> it. The sun rises in the firmament and sheds its rays upon the +garden. The flowers, shining, exhale their perfume. This light and these +odors intoxicate me. Everything is riant, stirring, singing, in the +world that I behold from my balcony. Beautiful is life! Her fruitful +breath meets my own softly. What joy in the freshness of this springtime +morning! The birds among the boughs sing joyfully with melodious voices +in concert with the sunbeams.</p> + +<p>But I would not exchange all their melodious voices for one that is now +calling me impatiently from the stairway:</p> + +<p>"Uncle Ribot, I am waiting for you!"</p> + +<p>"I am coming, my girlie; I am coming."</p> + +<p class="c"><br /><br /><br />Press of J. J. Little & Co.<br /> +Astor Place, New York</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="transcriber" +style="border:2px dotted gray;margin-top:5%;"> +<tr><td align="center">The following typographical errors were corrected by the etext transcriber:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">He had also overcome the ill effects of the chill=>She had also overcome the ill effects of the chill</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">The world bears it goal in it own existence.=>The world bears it goal in its own existence.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">irresistible impluse of his nature=>irresistible impulse of his nature</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Si en la nocha callada=>Si en la noche callada</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Joy of Captain Ribot, by Armando Palacio Valdés + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JOY OF CAPTAIN RIBOT *** + +***** This file should be named 38293-h.htm or 38293-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/2/9/38293/ + +Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images available at The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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