Dona Perfecta

by Benito Pérez Galdós

  CHAPTER XX

  RUMORS--FEARS

  On the day following that of this lamentable quarrel, various rumorsregarding Pepe Rey and his conduct spread through Orbajosa, going fromhouse to house, from club to club, from the Casino to the apothecary'sand from the Paseo de las Descalzes to the Puerta de Baidejos. They wererepeated by every body, and so many were the comments made that, if DonCayetano had collected and compiled them, he might have formed withthem a rich "Thesaurus" of Orbajosan benevolence. In the midst of thediversity of the reports circulated, there was agreement in regard tocertain important particulars, one of which was the following:

  That the engineer, enraged at Dona Perfecta's refusal to marry Rosarioto an atheist, had raised his hand to his aunt.

  The young man was living in the widow De Cusco's hotel, an establishmentmounted, as they say now, not at the height, but at the depth of thesuperlative backwardness of the town. Lieutenant-colonel Pinzon visitedhim with frequency, in order that they might discuss together the plotwhich they had on hand, and for the successful conduct of which thesoldier showed the happiest dispositions. New artifices and stratagemsoccurred to him at every instant, and he hastened to put them intoeffect with excellent humor, although he would often say to his friend:

  "The role I am playing, dear Pepe, is not a very dignified one; but togive an annoyance to the Orbajosans I would walk on my hands and feet."

  We do not know what cunning stratagems the artful soldier, skilled inthe wiles of the world, employed; but certain it is that before he hadbeen in the house three days he had succeeded in making himself greatlyliked by every body in it. His manners were very pleasing to DonaPerfecta, who could not hear unmoved his flattering praises ofthe elegance of the house, and of the nobility, piety, and augustmagnificence of its mistress. With Don Inocencio he was hand and glove.Neither her mother nor the Penitentiary placed any obstacle in the wayof his speaking with Rosario (who had been restored to liberty on thedeparture of her ferocious cousin); and, with his delicate compliments,his skilful flattery, and great address, he had acquired in the houseof Polentinos considerable ascendency, and he had even succeeded inestablishing himself in it on a footing of familiarity. But the objectof all his arts was a servant maid named Librada, whom he had seduced(chastely speaking) that she might carry messages and notes to Rosario,of whom he pretended to be enamored. The girl allowed herself to bebribed with persuasive words and a good deal of money, because shewas ignorant of the source of the notes and of the real meaning of theintrigue, for had she known that it was all a diabolical plot of DonJose, although she liked the latter greatly, she would not have actedwith treachery toward her mistress for all the money in the world.

  One day Dona Perfecta, Don Inocencio, Jacinto, and Pinzon wereconversing together in the garden. They were talking about the soldiersand the purpose for which they had been sent to Orbajosa, in which thePenitentiary found motive for condemning the tyrannical conduct of theGovernment; and, without knowing how it came about, Pepe Rey's name wasmentioned.

  "He is still at the hotel," said the little lawyer. "I saw himyesterday, and he gave me remembrances for you, Dona Perfecta."

  "Was there ever seen such insolence! Ah, Senor Pinzon! do not besurprised at my using this language, speaking of my own nephew--thatyoung man, you remember, who had the room which you occupy."

  "Yes, I know. I am not acquainted with him, but I know him by sight andby reputation. He is an intimate friend of our brigadier."

  "An intimate friend of the brigadier?"

  "Yes, senor; of the commander of the brigade that has just arrived inthis district, and which is quartered in the neighboring villages."

  "And where is he?" asked the lady.

  "In Orbajosa."

  "I think he is stopping at Polavieja's," observed Jacinto.

  "Your nephew and Brigadier Batalla are intimate friends," continuedPinzon; "they are always to be seen together in the streets."

  "Well, my friend, that gives me a bad idea of your chief," said DonaPerfecta.

  "He is--he is very good-natured," said Pinzon, in the tone of one who,through motives of respect, did not venture to use a harsher word.

  "With your permission, Senor Pinzon, and making an honorable exceptionin your favor, it must be said that in the Spanish army there are somecurious types----"

  "Our brigadier was an excellent soldier before he gave himself up tospiritualism."

  "To spiritualism!"

  "That sect that calls up ghosts and goblins by means of the legs of atable!" said the canon, laughing.

  "From curiosity, only from curiosity," said Jacintillo, with emphasis,"I ordered Allan Kardec's book from Madrid. It is well to know somethingabout every thing."

  "But is it possible that such follies--Heavens! Tell me, Pinzon, does mynephew too belong to that sect of table-tippers?"

  "I think it was he who indoctrinated our valiant Brigadier Batalla."

  "Good Heavens!"

  "Yes; and whenever he chooses," said Don Inocencio, unable to containhis laughter, "he can speak to Socrates, St. Paul, Cervantes, orDescartes, as I speak to Librada to ask her for a match. Poor Senor deRey! I was not mistaken in saying that there was something wrong in hishead."

  "Outside that," continued Pinzon, "our brigadier is a good soldier. Ifhe errs at all, it is on the side of severity. He takes the ordersof the Government so literally that, if he were to meet with muchopposition here, he would be capable of not leaving one stone uponanother in Orbajosa. Yes, I advise you all to be on your guard."

  "But is that monster going to cut all our heads off, then? Ah, Senor DonInocencio! these visits of the army remind me of what I have read inthe lives of the martyrs about the visits of the Roman proconsuls to aChristian town."

  "The comparison is not wanting in exactness," said the Penitentiary,looking at the soldier over his spectacles.

  "It is not very agreeable, but if it is the truth, why should it not besaid?" observed Pinzon benevolently. "Now you all are at our mercy."

  "The authorities of the place," objected Jacinto, "still exercise theirfunctions as usual."

  "I think you are mistaken," responded the soldier, whose countenanceDona Perfecta and the Penitentiary were studying with profound interest."The alcalde of Orbajosa was removed from office an hour ago."

  "By the governor of the province?"

  "The governor of the province has been replaced by a delegate from theGovernment, who was to arrive this morning. The municipal councils willall be removed from office to-day. The minister has so orderedbecause he suspected, I don't know on what grounds, that they were notsupporting the central authority."

  "This is a pretty state of things!" murmured the canon, frowning andpushing out his lower lip.

  Dona Perfecta looked thoughtful.

  "Some of the judges of the primary court, among them the judge ofOrbajosa, have been deprived of office."

  "The judge! Periquito--Periquito is no longer judge!" exclaimed DonaPerfecta, in a voice and with the manner of a person who has just beenstung by a snake.

  "The person who was judge in Orbajosa is judge no longer," said Pinzon."To-morrow the new judge will arrive."

  "A stranger!"

  "A stranger."

  "A rascal, perhaps. The other was so honorable!" said Dona Perfecta,with alarm. "I never asked any thing from him that he did not grant itto me at once. Do you know who will be the new alcalde?"

  "They say a corregidor is coming."

  "There, say at once that the Deluge is coming, and let us be done withit," said the canon, rising.

  "So that we are at the brigadier's mercy!"

  "For a few days only. Don't be angry with me. In spite of my uniform Iam an enemy of militarism; but we are ordered to strike--and we strike.There could not be a viler trade than ours."

  "That it is, that it is!" said Dona Perfecta, with difficulty concealingher fury. "Now that you have confessed it----So, then, neither alcaldenor judge----"

  "Nor governor
of the province."

  "Let them take the bishop from us also and send us a choir boy in hisstead."

  "That is all that is wanting--if the people here will allow them todo it," murmured Don Inocencio, lowering his eyes. "They won't stop attrifles."

  "And it is all because they are afraid of an insurrection in Orbajosa,"exclaimed Dona Perfecta, clasping her hands and waving them up and down."Frankly, Pinzon, I don't know why it is that even the very stonesdon't rise up in rebellion. I wish you no harm; but it would be a justjudgment on you if the water you drink turned into mud. You say that mynephew is the intimate friend of the brigadier?"

  "So intimate that they are together all day long; they wereschool-fellows. Batalla loves him like a brother, and would do anythingto please him. In your place, senora, I would be uneasy."

  "Oh, my God! I fear there will be an attack on the house!"

  "Senora," declared the canon, with energy, "before I would consentthat there should be an attack on this honorable house--before I wouldconsent that the slightest harm should be done to this noble family--I,my nephew, all the people of Orbajosa----"

  Don Inocencio did not finish. His anger was so great that the wordsrefused to come. He took a few steps forward with a martial air, thenreturned to his seat.

  "I think that your fears are not idle," said Pinzon. "If it should benecessary, I----"

  "And I----" said Jacinto.

  Dona Perfecta had fixed her eyes on the glass door of the dining-room,through which could be seen a graceful figure. As she looked at it, itseemed as if the cloud of apprehension which rested on her countenancegrew darker.

  "Rosario! come in here, Rosario!" she said, going to meet the younggirl. "I fancy you look better to-day, and that you are more cheerful.Don't you think that Rosario looks better? She seems a different being."

  They all agreed that the liveliest happiness was depicted on hercountenance.