Dona Perfecta

by Benito Pérez Galdós

  CHAPTER XI

  THE DISCORD GROWS

  During the following days Pepe Rey made the acquaintance of several ofthe people of the place; he visited the Casino, and formed friendshipswith some of the individuals who spend their lives in the rooms of thatcorporation.

  But the youth of Orbajosa did not spend all their time in the Casino,as evil-minded people might imagine. In the afternoons there were to beseen at the corner of the cathedral, and in the little plaza formedby the intersection of the Calle del Condestable and the Calle de laTriperia, several gentlemen who, gracefully enveloped in their cloaks,stood there like sentinels, watching the people as they passed by. Ifthe weather was fine, those shining lights of the Urbs Augustan culturebent their steps, still enveloped in the indispensable cloak, towardthe promenade called the Paseo de las Descalzas, which was formed bya double row of consumptive-looking elms and some withered bushesof broom. There the brilliant Pleiad watched the daughters of thisfellow-townsman or that, who had also come there for a walk, and theafternoon passed tolerably. In the evening, the Casino filled up again;and while some of the members gave their lofty minds to the delights ofmonte, others read the newspapers, while the majority discussed in thecoffee-room subjects of the various kinds, such as the politics, horses,bulls, or the gossip of the place. The result of every discussion wasthe renewed conviction of the supremacy of Orbajosa and its inhabitantsover all the other towns and peoples on the face of the earth.

  These distinguished men were the cream of the illustrious city; somerich landowners, others very poor, but all alike free from loftyaspirations. They had the imperturbable tranquillity of the beggar whodesires nothing more so long as he has a crust of bread with which tocheat hunger, and the sun to warm him. What chiefly distinguished theOrbajosans of the Casino was a sentiment of bitter hostility towardall strangers, and whenever any stranger of note appeared in its augusthalls, they believed that he had come there to call in question thesuperiority of the land of the garlic, or to dispute with it, throughenvy, the incontestable advantages which nature had bestowed upon it.

  When Pepe Rey presented himself in the Casino, they received him withsomething of suspicion, and as facetious persons abounded in it, beforethe new member had been there a quarter of an hour, all sorts of jokeshad been made about him. When in answer to the reiterated questions ofthe members he said that he had come to Orbajosa with a commission toexplore the basin of the Nahara for coal, and to survey a road, theyall agreed that Senor Don Jose was a conceited fellow who wished togive himself airs, discovering coalbeds and planning railroads. Some oneadded:

  "He has come to a bad place for that, then. Those gentlemen imagine thathere we are all fools, and that they can deceive us with fine words. Hehas come to marry Dona Perfecta's daughter, and all that he says aboutcoalbeds is only for the sake of appearances."

  "Well, this morning," said another, a merchant who had failed, "theytold me at the Dominguez' that the gentleman has not a peseta, and thathe has come here in order to be supported by his aunt and to see if hecan catch Rosarito."

  "It seems that he is no engineer at all," added an olive-planter, whoseplantations were mortgaged for double their value. "But it is as yousay: those starvelings from Madrid think they are justified in deceivingpoor provincials, and as they believe that here we all wear tails--"

  "It is plain to be seen that he is penniless--"

  "Well, half-jest and the whole earnest, he told us last night that wewere lazy barbarians."

  "That we spent our time sunning ourselves, like the Bedouins."

  "That we lived with the imagination."

  "That's it; that we lived with the imagination."

  "And that this city was precisely like a city in Morocco."

  "Well! one has no patience to listen to those things. Where elsecould he see (unless it might be in Paris) a street like the Calledel Condestable, that can show seven houses in a row, all of themmagnificent, from Dona Perfecta's house to that of Nicolasita Hernandez?Does that fellow suppose that one has never seen any thing, or has neverbeen in Paris?"

  "He also said, with a great deal of delicacy, that Orbajosa was a cityof beggars; and he gave us to understand that in his opinion we live inthe meanest way here without being ourselves aware of it."

  "What insolence! If he ever says that to me, there will be a scene inthe Casino," exclaimed the collector of taxes. "Why didn't they tell himhow many arrobas of oil Orbajosa produced last year? Doesn't the foolknow that in good years Orbajosa produces wheat enough to supply allSpain, and even all Europe, with bread? It is true that the crops havebeen bad for several years past, but that is not the rule. And thecrop of garlic! I wager the gentleman doesn't know that the garlic ofOrbajosa made the gentleman of the jury in the Exposition of Londonstare!"

  These and other conversations of a similar kind were to be heard in therooms of the Casino in those days. Notwithstanding this boastful talk,so common in small towns, which, for the very reason that they aresmall, are generally arrogant, Rey was not without finding sincerefriends among the members of the learned corporation, for they were notall gossips, nor were there wanting among them persons of good sense.But our hero had the misfortune--if misfortune it can be called--to beunusually frank in the manifestation of his feelings, and this awakenedsome antipathy toward him.

  Days passed. In addition to the natural disgust which the social customsof the episcopal city produced in him, various causes, all of themdisagreeable, began to develop in his mind a profound sadness, chiefamong these causes being the crowd of litigants that swarmed about himlike voracious ants. Many others of the neighboring landowners besidesUncle Licurgo claimed damages from him, or asked him to render accountsfor lands managed by his grandfather. A claim was also brought againsthim because of a certain contract of partnership entered into by hismother and which, as it appeared, had not been fulfilled; and he wasrequired in the same way to acknowledge a mortgage on the estate ofThe Poplars executed in an irregular form by his uncle. Claims swarmedaround him, multiplying with ant-like rapidity. He had come to thedetermination to renounce the ownership of his lands, but meanwhile hisdignity required that he should not yield to the wily manoeuvres of theartful rustics; and as the town-council brought a claim against him alsoon account of a pretended confusion of the boundary lines of hisestate with those of an adjoining wood belonging to the town-lands, theunfortunate young man found himself at every step obliged to prove hisrights, which were being continually called in question. His honorwas engaged, and he had no alternative but to defend his rights to thedeath.

  Dona Perfecta had promised in her magnanimity to help him tofree himself from these disgraceful plots by means of an amicablearrangement; but the days passed, and the good offices of the exemplarylady had produced no result whatever. The claims multiplied with thedangerous swiftness of a violent disease. Pepe Rey passed hour afterhour at court, making declarations and answering the same questionsover and over again, and when he returned home tired and angry, thereappeared before him the sharp features and grotesque face of the notary,who had brought him a thick bundle of stamped papers full of horribleformulas--that he might be studying the question.

  It will be easily understood that Pepe Rey was not a man to enduresuch annoyances when he might escape from them by leaving the town. Hismother's noble city appeared to his imagination like a horrible monsterwhich had fastened its ferocious claws in him and was drinking hisblood. To free himself from this monster nothing more was necessary, hebelieved, than flight. But a weighty interest--an interest in which hisheart was concerned--kept him where he was; binding him to the rock ofhis martyrdom with very strong bonds. Nevertheless, he had come to feelso dissatisfied with his position; he had come to regard himself asso utterly a stranger, so to say, in that gloomy city of lawsuits,of old-fashioned customs and ideas, of envy and of slander, that heresolved to leave it without further delay, without, however, abandoningthe project which had brought him to it. One morning, finding afavorable occasion, he
opened his mind to Dona Perfecta on this point.

  "Nephew," responded that lady, with her accustomed gentleness, "don't berash. Why! you are like fire. Your father was just the same--what a manhe was! You are like a flash--I have already told you that I will bevery glad to call you my son. Even if you did not possess the goodqualities and the talents which distinguish you (in spite of some littledefects, for you have those, too); even if you were not as good as youare; it is enough that this union has been proposed by your father, towhom both my daughter and myself owe so much, for me to accept it. AndRosarito will not oppose it since I wish it. What is wanting, then?Nothing; there is nothing wanting but a little time. The marriage cannotbe concluded with the haste you desire and which might, perhaps,give ground for interpretations discreditable to my dear daughter'sreputation. But as you think of nothing but machines, you want everything done by steam. Wait, man, wait; what hurry are you in? This hatredthat you have taken to our poor Orbajosa is nothing but a caprice. Butof course you can only live among counts and marquises and orators anddiplomats--all you want is to get married and separate me forever frommy daughter," she added, wiping away a tear. "Since that is the case,inconsiderate boy, at least have the charity to delay for a little thismarriage, for which you are so eager. What impatience! What ardentlove! I did not suppose that a poor country girl like my daughter couldinspire so violent a passion."

  The arguments of his aunt did not convince Pepe Rey, but he did notwish to contradict her. A fresh cause of anxiety was soon added to thosewhich already embittered his existence. He had now been in Orbajosafor two weeks, and during that time he had received no letter from hisfather. This could not be attributed to carelessness on the part of theofficials of the post-office of Orbajosa, for the functionary who hadcharge of that service being the friend and _protege_ of Dona Perfecta,the latter every day recommended him to take the greatest care that theletters addressed to her nephew did not go astray. The letter-carrier,named Cristoval Ramos, and nicknamed Caballuco--a personage whoseacquaintance we have already made--also visited the house, and to himDona Perfecta was accustomed to address warnings and reprimands asenergetic as the following:

  "A pretty mail service you have! How is it that my nephew has notreceived a single letter since he has been in Orbajosa? When thecarrying of the mail is entrusted to such a giddy-pate, how can thingsbe expected to go well? I will speak to the governor of the province sothat he may be careful what kind of people he puts in the post-office."

  Caballuco, shrugging his shoulders, looked at Rey with the most completeindifference.

  One day he entered the house with a letter in his hand.

  "Thank Heaven!" said Dona Perfecta to her nephew. "Here are lettersfrom your father. Rejoice, man! A pretty fright we have had throughmy brother's laziness about writing. What does he say? He is well, nodoubt," she added, seeing that Pepe Rey opened the letter with feverishimpatience.

  The engineer turned pale as he glanced over the first lines.

  "Good Heavens! Pepe, what is the matter?" exclaimed Dona Perfecta,rising in alarm. "Is your father ill?"

  "This letter is not from my father," responded Pepe, revealing in hiscountenance the greatest consternation.

  "What is it, then?"

  "An order from the Minister of Public Works, relieving me from thecharge which was confided to me."

  "What! Can it be possible!"

  "A dismissal pure and simple, expressed in terms very little flatteringto me."

  "Was there ever any thing so unjust!" exclaimed Dona Perfecta, when shehad recovered from her amazement.

  "What a humiliation!" exclaimed the young man. "It is the first time inmy life that I have received an affront like this."

  "But the Government is unpardonable! To put such a slight upon you! Doyou wish me to write to Madrid? I have very good friends there, andI may be able to obtain satisfaction for you from the Government andreparation for this brutal affront."

  "Thanks, senora, I desire no recommendations," said the young man, withill-humor.

  "But what a piece of injustice! what a high-handed proceeding! Todischarge in this way a young man of your merit, an eminent scientist.Why, I cannot contain my anger!"

  "I will find out," said Pepe, with energy, "who it is that occupieshimself in injuring me."

  "That minister--but what is to be expected from those infamouspoliticasters?"

  "In this there is the hand of some one who is determined to drive me todesperation," declared the young man, visibly disturbed. "This isnot the act of the minister; this and other contrarieties that I amexperiencing are the result of a revengeful plot, of a secret andwell-laid plan of some implacable enemy, and this enemy is here inOrbajosa, this plot has been hatched in Orbajosa, doubt it not, dearaunt."

  "You are out of your mind," replied Dona Perfecta, with a look ofcompassion. "You have enemies in Orbajosa, you say? Some one wishes torevenge himself upon you? Come, Pepillo, you have lost your senses.The reading of those books in which they say that we have for ancestorsmonkeys or parrots has turned your brain."

  She smiled sweetly as she uttered the last words, and taking a tone offamiliar and affectionate admonition, she added:

  "My dear boy, the people of Orbajosa may be rude and boorish rustics,without learning, or polish, or fine manners; but in loyalty and goodfaith we yield to no one--to no one, I say, no one."

  "Don't suppose," said the young man, "that I accuse any one in thishouse. But that my implacable and cruel enemy is in this city, I ampersuaded."

  "I wish you would show me that stage villain," responded Dona Perfecta,smiling again. "I suppose you will not accuse Uncle Licurgo, nor anyof the others who have brought suits against you; for the poor peoplebelieve they are only defending their rights. And between ourselves,they are not altogether wanting in reason in this case. Besides, UncleLicurgo likes you greatly. He has told me so himself. From the moment hesaw you, you took his fancy, and the poor old man has conceived such anaffection for you--"

  "Oh, yes--a profound affection!" murmured Pepe.

  "Don't be foolish," continued his aunt, putting her hand on his shoulderand looking at him closely. "Don't imagine absurdities; convinceyourself that your enemy, if you have one, is in Madrid, in that centreof corruption, of envy and rivalry, not in this peaceful and tranquilcorner, where all is good-will and concord. Some one, no doubt, who isenvious of your merit----There is one thing I wish to say now--and thatis, that if you desire to go there to learn the cause of this affrontand ask an explanation of it from the Government, you must not neglectdoing so on our account."

  Pepe Rey fixed his eyes on his aunt's countenance, as if he wished topenetrate with his glance the inmost depths of her soul.

  "I say that if you wish to go, do so," repeated Dona Perfecta, withadmirable serenity, while her countenance expressed the most completeand unaffected sincerity.

  "No, senora: I do not wish to go."

  "So much the better; I think you are right. You are more tranquil here,notwithstanding the suspicions with which you are tormenting yourself.Poor Pepillo! We poor rustics of Orbajosa live happy in our ignorance. Iam very sorry that you are not contented here. But is it my fault if youvex and worry yourself without a cause? Do I not treat you like a son?Have I not received you as the hope of my house? Can I do more foryou? If in spite of all this you do not like us, if you show so muchindifference toward us, if you ridicule our piety, if you insult ourfriends, is it by chance because we do not treat you well?"

  Dona Perfecta's eyes grew moist.

  "My dear aunt," said Pepe, feeling his anger vanish, "I too havecommitted some faults since I have been a guest in this house."

  "Don't be foolish. Don't talk about committing faults. Among the personsof the same family every thing is forgiven."

  "But Rosarito--where is she?" asked the young man, rising. "Am I not tosee her to-day, either?"

  "She is better. Do you know that she did not wish to come down stairs?"

  "I will go up to
her then."

  "No, it would be of no use. That girl has some obstinate notions--to-dayshe is determined not to leave her room. She has locked herself in."

  "What a strange idea!"

  "She will get over it. Undoubtedly she will get over it. We will seeto-night if we cannot put these melancholy thoughts out of her head. Wewill get up a party to amuse her. Why don't you go to Don Inocencio'sand ask him to come here to-night and bring Jacintillo with him?"

  "Jacintillo!"

  "Yes, when Rosarito has these fits of melancholy, the only one who candivert her is that young man."

  "But I will go upstairs----"

  "No, you must not."

  "What etiquette there is in this house!"

  "You are ridiculing us. Do as I ask you."

  "But I wish to see her."

  "But you cannot see her. How little you know the girl!"

  "I thought I knew her well. I will stay here, then. But this solitude ishorrible."

  "There comes the notary."

  "Maledictions upon him!"

  "And I think the attorney-general has just come in too--he is anexcellent person."

  "He be hanged with his goodness!"

  "But business affairs, when they are one's own, serve as a distraction.Some one is coming. I think it is the agricultural expert. You will havesomething to occupy you now for an hour or two."

  "An hour or two of hell!"

  "Ah, ha! if I am not mistaken Uncle Licurgo and Uncle Paso Largo havejust entered. Perhaps they have come to propose a compromise to you."

  "I would throw myself into the pond first!"

  "How unnatural you are! For they are all very fond of you. Well, so thatnothing may be wanting, there comes the constable too. He is coming toserve a summons on you."

  "To crucify me."

  All the individuals named were now entering the parlor one by one.

  "Good-by, Pepe; amuse yourself," said Dona Perfecta.

  "Earth, open and swallow me!" exclaimed the young man desperately.

  "Senor Don Jose."

  "My dear Don Jose."

  "Esteemed Don Jose."

  "My dearest Don Jose."

  "My respected friend, Don Jose."

  Hearing these honeyed and insinuating preliminaries, Pepe Rey exhaled adeep sigh and gave himself up. He gave himself up, soul and body, to theexecutioners, who brandished horrible leaves of stamped paper while thevictim, raising his eyes to heaven with a look of Christian meekness,murmured:

  "Father, why hast thou forsaken me?"