S TO R I E S
BY
H
AUT
FOR EIG N
o
S PA N I S
HE T A LL W O M A N
T H E W H I T E B U T TE R FL Y
TH E
OR G A N I S
.
T
M OO R S A N D C H R I S T I A N S
B RE A D C A ST U PO N T H E
W A TE R S
C
H
B Y P é D Ro
T
BY
HO R S
Jos é
A N T ON I O
S E LG
Bv ( : u s r n v o
BY P é m
zo
DE
AS
Am
m o
A N T O N XO
B s rq u z n
on
Bv F B R N A N CA B A L LB RO
N E W Y OR '
MODH
AJ A a a O IMOTVIA 0 5 mm
’
A R L E S S CR I BN E R S S ON S
H
1 8 98
A L A RCé N
Au m
cé u
T
O R I E S BY
S
“
AUT
FOREIGN
S PA N I S
T H E T A LL W O M A N
T H E W H I T E B U TT E R F LY
T H E O R GA N I ST
M O O R S AND C H R I ST IA N S
B R E A D CA S T U P O N T H E
W AT E R S
HO R S
H
BY P é D R O
B Y Jos é
A N T ON I O
LG A S
G US T A V
BY
PE
BY
F ERN N
OLF
T
A
I
CA B A L L
C
R
E O
R
N E W Y OR '
C
HA R LE S
S C R I B N E R S S ON S
’
1 8 98
A L A R CON
SE
O AD O BE Q E
O A N ON O D A
BY
DR
DE
U
R
N
L A R CO
Cop yri g h t
,
1 89 8 ,
C H A R LES S C R IB NE R
’
by
S
SO
NS
PUBLI S
HERS
’
NOTE
The t ranslations i n thi s v olu m e where p re
a re us e d b y arran g ement
v i ou s l y p u b l i she d
w i th the owners of the copyri g hts (a s s p e cifie d
a t t h e b e g inn i n g of ea ch st ory )
Translat i ons
m a de es p eci a ll y f or the s e ri es a re covere d b y
Al l ri g hts i n b oth cl a sses
i ts g enera l cop yri g ht
are reserv ed
,
,
.
.
CO N T E N T S
THE TA LL
T HE
W O MA N
W H ITE
Ped ro
.
B U TT E RFLY
M A E S E PERE Z
,
TH E
.
.
B R EA D
AND
S e lga s
Gu st a v o
CH R I S T IA N S
CA S T
W A T ER S
UP O N
d e Al a rcén
E
I I
39
.
OR
GA N I S T
M OO R S
Jo sé
A n to n i o
PAG
T
.
.
Pe d ro
A d ol fo
B e c qu e r
.
97
.
A n ton i o d e A l a rc on
1 19
HE
F e rn a n Ca b a ll e ro
I
73
H
T E T A LL
WOMA N
BY
PEDR O A N T O N IO DE A LA R CON
From
Modern Gh osts
”
.
Pu b l i she d b y
Copyri gh t,
1 890,
Tra nsl a te d b y Roll o Og den
Ha rp er Brothers
.
by
Hrp r 8
a
e
'
B roth ers
.
.
H
T E
T A LL W O MA N
'
B Y P ED R O A N T O N I O
I
D E A L A R CO N
.
O W l i t tl e we re ally kn ow
”
re al ly kn ow
Th e speaker wa s Gab r iel a di stin gu ish e d ci v i l
e ngin eer Of th e m ou n tai n c or ps H e wa s se ate d
u n de r a pin e tree n e a r a sp r i ng o n th e cr est of
th e Guadar r am a
I t wa s only ab o u t a l eague
a n d a h alf d istan t fro m th e pal ace of th e E scurial
o n th e b o un da r y l i n e of th e p r ovin ce s o f M a
I kn o w th e pl ace sp r i ng pin e
d ri d an d S egovia
tre e a n d all b u t I h ave forgotte n i ts n am e
”
L e t u s S i t down
wen t o n Gabriel
a s th at
i s th e co r rect thi ng t o d o a n d a s ou r p ro gram m e
calls for a r est h e r e —h e r e i n th is ple asa n t a n d
cl as sic S pot fam o u s f or th e digestiv e p ro pe r ti e s
o f tha t spri ng a n d fo r th e m any l am b s h e r e de
v o u re d by ou r n oted te achers Don M iguel B o sch
Don M axi mo L agu n a D o n Augusti n P ascu al an d
oth er i ll ustrious n atu r al i sts S i t down a n d I wil l
tell yo u a st r ange an d won de r ful s tory i n pr o o f of
m y th esi s wh ich is th ough you cal l m e a n ob
s cu ra n ti s t fo r i t th at s upern atural eve n ts still o c
c ur o n th is te rr a que o u s glob e
I m ean event s
h ow
l i t tl e
my fri e n ds
,
we
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I
3
t
14
‘
H
T E TALI WO MA N
‘
.
wh ich yo u can n ot ge t i nto term s o f reas on or
sci en c e o r ph ilosoph y as t h ose words wo r ds
word s i n H am le t s ph ras e are u n derstood (or
”
are n ot u nders tood ) to day
Ga b riel was addre ssing h i s an i m ate d re m ark s
t o five person s of differe nt age s N on e O f th e m
was yo u n g t h ough onl y on e w a s wel l alon g i n
years
Thre e of th e m were like Gabri el e u
i
n e e rs
t
h
e
fo
urth
wa
s
a
pai
nte
r
a
n
d
th
e
fifth
g
I n c o mpa ny
w a s a Zzl téra teu r i n a sm all w a y
with th e speake r wh o wa s th e you ngest we h ad
all ridden up on h ire d m u le s fro m th e R ea l S i t io
d e S an L orenzo to s pe n d th e day b otani zing
am ong th e beau tiful pi n e groves of P e qu e ri n os
ch asi ng butterfl i es wi th gauze n ets catch i ng r are
beetle s un der the bark Of t he decayed pi ne s an d
e a t in g a col d l u nch o ut of a h ampe r wh i c h we
h a d pai d fo r o n sh ares
Th i s took pl ace i n 1 8 7 5 I t wa s th e h eigh t of
t h e su m me r
I d o n o t r e m e mbe r wh eth er i t wa s
S ai n t Jam es s day o r S ai n t Lo uis s; I am i n cl i n e d
f
t o th i n k i t was S ai n t L ou i s s Wh ichever it wa s
we enjoyed a delici o us cooln ess a t th at h ei g h t
an d th e h eart an d b r ai n a s wel l as th e stom ach
we r e there i n m uch better w o rk ing o rde r th a n M
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u su a L
Wh e n th e s i x frien ds were seated Gabri el co n
ti n n e d a s follows
I do n ot th i n k you wi ll accuse m e of b ei ng a
v isi o n ary
L uckily or u nl ucki ly I a m if yo u
,
.
,
,
TH E
T A LL WO M A N
1
.
5
wi ll allow m e to s a y s o a m an of th e m o de r n
world I h ave n o s upe r stitio n abo u t m e a n d a m
a P ositivi s t a s th e bes t of the m
a sm uch
a
l
fl
though I i ncl ude am o ng th e positive data of n a
t ure all th e mysteri o u s facul ties a n d fe el ings of
t h e soul
Well t h e n apropos of supe r n atu r al
phe nom e n a liste n to wh at I
o r extra n atural
h ave see n a n d h e a rd a l th ou g h I was n o t th e r ea l
he ro of the very stra nge story I a m going t o re
l ate a n d th e n tel l m e wh a t expla n ation O f a n
e arth ly physi cal o r n atural sort h oweve r yo u
m ay n am e i t ca n b e gi v e n of s o w o n de r f u l a n
o ccurre n c e
“
Th e c as e was a s follows
But wa it ' P ou r
”
m e o u t a drop fo r th e S ki n bottle m us t h a v e/g o t
c oole d o ff b y th is tim e i n th at bubblin g crysta l
li n e S pring locate d by P rovid e n ce o u th i s pi ny
cre st fo r th e exp r es s pu rp o se of co o l i ng a b o ta n
”
i s t s wi n e
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II
“
W E LL ge nt l em e n
.
I do n ot kn ow wh eth er
you e v e r h e a rd o f a n engin ee r of th e ro ads
corps n amed Telesfo r o X
h e d ie d i n
,
,
‘
1
8 603
“
’
No ;
”
’
I h ave n t
”
But I h ave
“
S O h ave I
H e w a s a y o ung fell o w f r om
Andal usia wi th a black m ousta c h e ; h e wa s to
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,
1
T A LL WO M A N
THE
6
.
h ave m arried th e M arqu i s of M ore d a s da ugh ter
”
but h e di e d of j au n di ce
”
“
“
Th e v ery on e s ai d Ga b riel
Well th e n
my frien d Telesfo r o six mo n th s before h i s death
wa s sti l l a m ost prom ising yo ung m an a s th ey
sa
nowadays
H
e
wa
s
good
l
ooking
w
el
l
bui
l
t
y
e nergetic a n d h ad th e glory of bei ng th e first
o n e i n h i s c l ass to b e prom oted
He had a l
r eady gai n ed disti n c ti on i n th e practice of h i s
professio n th r ough s om e fi n e pieces of w o rk
S everal di ff eren t compan ies were com peting f or
h i s se r vi ces a n d m any m a r ri age abl e wom e n we r e
al so com pe ting fo r h im
But T el esfo r o a s yo u
sai d was faithful to poo r Joaqui n a M oreda
A s yo u know i t tur ned o u t t h a t sh e die d s u d
d e n l y a t th e bath s o f S an ta Agueda at th e e n d
w
I
I
was
i
n
P
a
u
h
e
n
18
o f th e su m mer o f
59
re cei ve d th e s a d n e ws of h e r de ath wh ich a ff ecte d
m e very m uch on acc o u n t o f m y close f r ien dship
with Telesf o r o With h e r I h ad sp oke n on ly
o nce i n th e hous e o f h e r au nt th e wife o f General
L opez a n d I certai nly th o u gh t h e r bl ui sh p al lo r
a sym ptom o f bad h e a lth
But h o wever th at
m ay b e s h e h a d a disti ngui sh e d m an ne r an d a
gre at de al of grace an d was b es ides th e only
daughte r o f a t i tle a n d a title th at car r ie d s o m e
c o mfo rtabl e th ousa n ds with i t ; s o I felt s ure m y
good m athe m ati ci a n woul d b e i n con s ol abl e
Con seque n t l y as s o on as I was b ack i n M adrid
fifteen or twe n ty days after h is loss I wen t to s e e
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TH E
T A LL WO M A N
I
.
7
h i m very e a r ly o n e m orn ing H e l ived i n e l egan t
—
bachelor quarters i n L ob o S treet I do n ot re
m ember th e n u mb e r b u t it wa s n ea r th e C a rr e r a
d e S a n Jer on i m o
“
Th e young e ngin ee r was very m el anch ol y
alth ough c al m a n d appare ntly m aste r Of h i s grief
H e wa s al r eady at w o rk e ve n a t th a t h ou r l ab o r
i ng with h i s assistants over s om e rai lroad p l an s
o r o ther
H e wa s dresse d i n deep m ourn ing
“
H e gre ete d m e wi th a l o n g an d c l o se e m
b r ace wi t h out s o m uch a s sigh i ng Th e n h e
gave som e di r ectio n s to h i s a ssistan ts ab ou t th e
work i n h and an d afterwa r ds l e d m e t o h i s pri
vate O ffice at th e farthe r e n d of th e h ous e As
w e were o n ou r way th ere h e s aid i n a s orrow
ful ton e an d witho u t gl a n ci ng at m e
I a m very glad yo u h ave com e S eve r a l
ti mes I h ave fou n d myself wi sh ing you were h er e
A ve r y st r a nge th ing h a s h appe ne d to m e O n ly
a frie n d s uch as yo u are ca n h ea r Of i t wi th o ut
th i nking m e eith e r a fool or c r azy I wa n t t o get
a n Opi n io n ab o u t i t a s ca l m an d co o l as scie nce
itself
S it down h e wen t on wh e n we h a d reach ed
h is o ff i ce a n d do n ot i magin e th at I a m goi ng
to afflict y o u wi th a descriptio n of th e sorr o w I
a m s u ff ering— a sor r ow wh ich w i ll last as lon g a s
I l ive Wh y sh ou l d I ? Yo u ca n ea sily picture
i t to y o urself l ittle a s you kn o w Of trouble An d
a s fo r being co m forted I d o n o t w i sh t o b e
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2
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THE
18
T A LL WO MA N
.
e ith e r n o w or la ter o r eve r l Wh at I a m goi ng
to spe ak to you ab o u t wi th th e r equisite d e l i b
e ra ti o n going b ack t o th e very begi n n i ng O f th e
th ing i s a h orrible a n d mysteriou s occurren ce
w h ich w as a n i nfern al o me n Of my cal am ity an d
w h ich h as dist r esse d m e i n a frigh tfu l m an ne r
G o on I repl ie d S itti ng down
Th e fa ct
wa s I al m ost repe n te d h avi ng ente r e d th e h ou s e
a s I s a w t h e expression of abj ect fe a r o n my
fri en d s face
L i ste n th e n sai d h e wipi ng th e p e rs p i ra
”
tio n fr o m h i s fo r eh ead
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III
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I D O n o t kn ow w h eth e r i t i s d ue t o s o m e
i nbo r n fatal ity of i m agi n ation or to h av in g h eard
s ome s tory or oth er of th e kin d with wh ich ch i l
dre n are S O r ash ly al lo w e d to b e frighten ed b u t
th e fact i s t h at s i n ce m y e arl ies t ye ars n o th i ng
h a s ca u se d m e s o m uch h or r or an d al arm as a
w om a n al on e i n th e street at a l ate h our o f th e
n igh t Th e e ff e c t i s th e sam e w h ether I actu al ly
en co u nte r h e r or simply h ave a n i m age Of he r
i n my m i n d
Y o u ca n testify th at I w a s n eve r a co w a r d
I fough t a d uel on ce w h e n I h ad to l ike an y
other m a n Just afte r I h ad left th e S ch ool Of
E ngi neers my w or km e n i n D e s p e fi a p e rrOS revol t
ed
an d I f o ugh t th e m w i th stick an d pist o l u n ti l
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T H E TA L L
20
WOM A N
.
an d r e m embe r th at I was twe n ty fo ur yea r s ol d
th at I h a d expe r i e nce d a gre at m any ad v e n tu r e s
b y nigh t a n d ye t th at I h a d n ever h ad th e
sl igh test di ffi c ulty o f any s o rt with s u c h s oli tary
wom e n i n th e st r eets afte r m i dnigh t ' B ut n oth
i ng Of wh at I h ave s o fa r told yo u eve r ca m e to
h ave a ny i mportan c e si n c e th at i rr ation al fe ar
al ways l ef t m e a s s o o n a s I r each e d h om e o r
el s e i n th e st r e e t an d I w o uld
s a w a ny o n e
s c arcely r ecal l i t a f e w m i n u tes afterwards a ny
m o re th a n on e wo ul d r ecal l a stupi d m is take
w hich h ad n o r esul t of any con se qu en ce
Th i ngs were going o n s o wh en n ea r ly th r e e
yea r s ago (u n h appily I h ave goo d reaso n f o r
kn o wi ng t he dat e i t was th e n igh t Of N ovembe r
1 —1 6 I 8
w
a
I
com
i
ng
h
o
m
e
at
th
re
e
i
n
th
e
s
5
5 7)
m or n i ng
A s you re memb er I was l ivi ng th e n
i n th at l ittl e h o use i n Jardi n e s S tree t n ear
M o n te r a S t r eet I h ad j u s t c o m e at th at l ate
h ou r a b itter col d win d blowi ng at th e ti m e ou t
Of a s o rt o f a gam bling h ou se —I t ell yo u th i s
a lth ough I kn o w it wi l l s urprise y o u Yo u kn o w
t hat I a m n o t a ga mbl er I wen t i n t o th e pl ace
decei ve d by a n allege d fri e nd B ut th e fact wa s
th at a s pe opl e b ega n to drop i n abo ut m i dn igh t
comi ng from reception s o r th e th eat r e th e pl ay
b egan to b e very h e avy an d on e s a w th e glea m
Of gold i n plen ty Th en cam e bank b ill s a n d
n ote s of h a n d L ittl e by l ittl e I wa s carri ed
a way by th e feveris h an d sed uctive passi on an d
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T
HE T A L L
l ost
WO MA N
21
.
al l th e m o n ey I h ad I e ve n we n t away
owing a r ou n d s u m fo r wh ich I h a d left my n ote
be hi n d me I n sh o r t I rui ne d myself com
h
a t c a m e to m e
a
n
d
b
ut
for
th
e
legacy
t
l
e
l
e
t
p
y
af t e r wards togeth e r wi th th e goo d j ob s I h ave
h ad my s itua t io n w o ul d h a v e bee n e xt r e mely
criti c al a n d painful
S O I was goi ng h om e I s a y a t s o l ate a n
h our th at n igh t n u mb with th e cold h u ngry
ash am ed a n d di sgu s t e d as yo u ca n i m agi n e th ink
i ng abou t m y sick Ol d fath e r m ore th a n a b o u t m y
se lf I sh o ul d h ave to wri t e t o h i m fo r m o n ey
a n d th i s w o ul d a ston i s h a s m uch a s i t wo ul d
grieve h i m si n ce h e th ough t m e i n v ery easy ci r
J ust before reach i n g my stre et
c u m s t a n ce s
wh e re i t c r osse s P el ig ro s S treet a s I wa s wal king
i n fr o n t Of a n ewly b ui l t h ou se I pe r cei v e d so m e
th i ng i n i ts doo r way
I t was a tall la rge wom an
s t a n ding s t i ff a n d m oti o n l ess as if m ade Of wood
S h e seem e d t o b e abo u t s ixty years Ol d
He r
bol d an d m al ign an t eye s u n sh ade d by eyelash es ,
we r e fi xed o n m i ne like two d aggers H e r tooth
l e ss m outh m ad e a h o r ribl e gri m ace at m e m ean t
to b e a s mi le
“
Th e v ery te rro r o r deliriu m o f fea r wh ic h
in stan tly o vercam e m e gav e m e som eh o w a m ost
ac ute percep t i on s o t h at I co ul d d isti ngui sh at a
gl an ce i n th e two se c o n d s i t to o k m e to p ass b y
th at repugn an t vi si on t he sligh test d etails Of h e r
face a n d d r ess L et m e see if I can pu t t o ge th e r
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T H E T A LL
22
WO M A N
.
my im pressi o n s i n th e wa y a n d form in wh ich I
received t h em as t h ey were e ngrave d i n e ff a ce a bly
o n my brai n i n t he l igh t o f th e street lam p wh i ch
s h o ne l uri dly over th at gh astly scen e But I a m
exciti ng myself too m uch though th ere i s reason
e n ough fo r i t a s you will s e e fu r th e r on
D on t
be co n cer ned h oweve r f o r th e s tate of my m in d
I am n ot ye t crazy '
“
Th e fi rs t th i ng wh i ch st r uc k m e i n th a t
wom a n a s I wil l call h er wa s h er extre m e h eigh t
an d th e b readth of h er b ony sh ould ers Th en
th e rou n dness a n d fix i ty of h er dry owl eyes th e
e norm ou s si z e of h e r protr u di ng n ose an d th e
great dark cavern Of her m o u th
F i nal ly h er
dress l ike th at o f a yo ung wom a n Of A v a p i e s
th e n e w l ittle cotto n h an dkerch i ef wh i ch s h e
wo r e o n h er h ead ti ed u n der h er ch i n an d a
di mi n utive fa n which sh e c arrie d Ope n i n h e r
h an d an d with wh ich i n a ffec t e d m odes t y s h e
was covering th e m iddl e of h er wa ist
“
N oth i ng coul d b e a t t h e sa m e t im e m ore
ridiculous a n d m ore awful m ore l augh a b l e an d
m o re tau n ting th an th at lit t l e fa n i n th ose h uge
h and s I t see m ed l ike a m ake bel ieve sceptre
i n th e h an ds Of s uch a n ol d h i d eous an d bony
gian tess ' A l ike e ff ect was produce d by t h e
sh owy pe r cal e h an d ke r ch ief adorn i ng h er face
by th e s ide Of th at cu t wate r n ose h o oke d a n d
m ascu lin e ; for a m om e n t I was le d t o b el ieve (o r
I wa s very glad to) t hat i t wa s a m a n i n di sgui se
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TH E
T A L L WO MA N
23
.
B ut h e r cyn ical gl a nce an d h a r s h sm ile
were thos e of a hag Of a witch a n e n ch an t r ess
—
F
ate
a
I kn o w n ot wh at ' The r e wa s som e
3
2
thing about h er to j ustify fully th e a v e r sio n a n d
frigh t wh ich I h ad bee n cau sed al l m y l ife l ong
by w o me n walki ng al o n e i n th e stree t s a t n igh t
O n e w o ul d h ave sai d th at I h ad h ad a p r ese nti
m e n t of t h at e n c oun te r f ro m m y cradle O n e
would h ave sai d th at I was frigh te ne d by i t i n
s t i n ct i v e l
a
s
e
v
e
ry
l
iving
be
ing
fears
a
n
d
d
ivin
es
y
an d scents an d r e c o gn izes its n atu r al e ne my b e
fo r e eve r bei ng i n j ure d by it before e v e r h a v ing
seen i t a n d s o lely o n h e a r ing i t s tread
I did n ot dash away i n a r u n wh e n I s a w
m y life s S ph inx
I r estrai ned m y i m puls e t o d o
s o l ess o u t Of sh a me a n d m an ly p r ide th a n o u t
Of fe a r l est my very f r igh t sh ould r e v eal t o h e r
wh o I was o r S h o u l d giv e h er wi ngs t o fo ll ow
—
m e t o ov ertake m e I do n o t kn o w wh at P a n i c
l ike th at d r eam s o f d ange r s w h i c h h a v e n eith e r
for m n o r n am e
“
M y h o use wa s at th e o pp o site e n d o f th e
lo ng a n d n a rro w st r eet i n w h ich I w as alon e
e nti r ely alon e wi th th at mysteriou s ph an t o m
wh om I th ough t abl e to a n n i hi late m e with a
O W sh oul d I eve r get h om e ?
w or d H
Oh how
a n x io usly I l oo ke d towa r ds th at distan t M o nte r a
S t r eet br o ad an d well ligh ted wh e r e th e r e are
police m e n to be fou n d at all h ours ' I de c ided
fi n ally to get th e bette r o f my weakn e ss to d i s
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THE
24
T A LL WO M A N
.
s e mb l e an d h id e th at wr etch ed fea r ; n ot t o
h aste n my pace b ut t o keep on ad v an cing
s lo wly eve n at th e c o st Of years o f h ealth or l ife
an d i n th is way little by li t t l e t o go on getti ng
n ea r e r to my h ouse e x e r ting myself to t h e u t
m os t n ot to fall fai nti ng o n th e g r ou n d before I
reache d i t
“
—
was
wal
king
al
o
ng
i
n
th
i
s
way
I m u st
I
h ave take n a b out twe n ty step s af t e r l e avin g b e
h i n d m e th e doo r way wh ere th e wom a n with th e
fa n was h idden wh e n su dde n ly a h or r ibl e i dea
cam e to m e — h o r rible yet very n atural n e v e rth e
l ess —th e i dea th at I woul d look back t o s e e if
my e n e my wa s fol lowi ng m e O n e th i ng or th e
o t h er I th ought wi t h th e r apidi t y Of a fl as h Of
ligh t n i ng : e i t he r my al ar m h as s om e f ou n d a
tio n o r i t i s m adn ess ; if it h a s a ny f o u n d ation
th i s w o m an wi ll h ave starte d after m e wil l b e
ove r taking m e a n d there i s n o h ope fo r m e on
e a r th But if it i s m adn ess a m e r e s uppos iti on
a p a n i c f r igh t l ike a ny oth e r I wi ll c on vi n ce m y
self Oi i t i n th e pres en t i n st an c e an d for every
case th at m ay occu r h e r e after by seeing th at th a t
p o o r Ol d wom a n h as stayed i n th at d o or way to
protect h erself fr om th e col d or t o wait till th e
doo r i s open ed ; a n d th e r eupo n I can go o n to
my h ou se i n perfect t r a n quilli ty an d I S h all h ave
cu r e d myself of a fa n c y th at ca u ses m e g r e at
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m o rt i fic a t i o n
‘
Th i s
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r e as o ni ng
gon e th r ough with I
,
m ade
THE
T A LL WOM A N
25
.
a n extraordi n ary e ff ort a nd tu rne d my head Ah
Gabri el —Ga b riel ' h ow fea r ful i t was ' Th e
tal l woma n had foll owed m e wi t h s ile n t tread
w a s righ t ove r m e alm os t t ouch i ng th e with h er
fa n alm ost lean ing h er h ead o n my sh oulder
Why wa s sh e doi ng i t —
why my Gabriel
?
h
Wa s s e a th ief
W a s a h e r eally a m a n i n
Was S he s o m e m al ici ou s ol d h ag
d isgu i se ?
wh o h a d see n t h at I wa s af r ai d Of h er ? Was
s h e a spectre conj ure d up by m y ve r y c owardice ?
Was s h e a m ocking ph an tasm Of h u m an se lf de
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,
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ce p t i o n
I could n e v e r te l l yo u all I th o ugh t i n a
si ngl e mom en t If th e truth m ust b e told I gav e
a scream an d flew away l ike a ch il d Of four years
wh o th in ks h e see s th e Black Man I d id n ot
s top r u n n i ng u n ti l I got ou t i n to M on tera S tre e t
O n ce t h ere m y fea r l eft m e l ike m agi c Thi s i n
spite of th e fact th at th at st r eet also w a s de
Th e n I t urne d m y h ea d to look back to
s e rt e d
Jardine s S tre e t I coul d s e e down its wh ol e
l ength I t was ligh te d well e n ough fo r m e to s e e
th e t al l wo m a n if s h e h ad drawn b ac k i n a ny
directi o n an d by Heave n I coul d n ot s e e h e r
s tan di ng st ill wal ki ng or i n an y w a y ' HOW
ever I was very c areful n o t to go b ack in to th at
stree t agai n Th e wretch I sai d to myself h as
sl unk i n to som e oth er doorway B u t s h e can t
m ove wi th ou t my seei ng h e r
“
J ust th e n I s a w a pol ice m a n com i ng u p
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TH E
26
T A LL W O M A N
.
Cab alle r o de G r aci a S t r eet a n d I sh oute d to h i m
with o ut stirri ng fro m m y pl ace I tol d h i m th at
there was a m a n dresse d a s a w o man i n Jardi nes
S t ree t
I directed h i m to go ro un d by the w a y
of P eligros an d Ad uan a S treets wh ile I woul d
r e m ai n w h ere I wa s a n d i n th at way th e fel lo w
wh o was p r ob ab ly a t h ief or m u r dere r coul d n ot
e scape u s Th e p o l ice m an did as I said H e
wen t th ro ugh Ad uan a S t re et an d as soo n a s I s a w
h is l a n tern co mi ng al o ng Jardi n es S t r ee t I a l so
wen t up i t resol utely
“
W e soo n m et a t about th e m i ddl e Of th e
block with o u t e i t her Of u s h avi ng en cou ntere d a
soul al th o ugh we h ad exam i n e d door af t er door
”
H e h as got i nto s om e h ouse sai d th e
policem a n
”
“
Th at m us t b e s o I r epl ied Ope ning m y
d o or with th e fixe d p urpos e of m o ving to som e
o t h e r s tre et th e n ext day
‘
A fe w m om e n ts late r I was i n m y ro om I
al ways ca r ried m y l atch key S O a s n ot to h ave
t o distu r b m y good Jos é N eve rth el ess h e was
wai t i ng f o r m e t hat n igh t M y m i sfortu n e s Of
t h e 1 sth a n d 1 6 th of N ove mb e r were n ot ye t
e n de d
”
What h a s h appen ed ? I as k e d h i m i n
s u r p r ise
”
Maj o r F a l cOn was h e r e h e replied wit h
“
evide n t agitati on wai ting fo r you f r o m eleve n
t ill h alf past two an d h e told m e th at if you ca m e
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28
THE
T A LL W O M A N
IV
“
M Y f r ien d T e l esfo r o ,
.
.
”
Gab ri el we n t o n af t er
h aving drai n e d an o t h er glas s Of wi n e
a lso
r este d a m om en t wh en h e re ach e d th i s poi nt an d
th e n h e proce eded as foll ows :
I f my story en ded h e r e p erh ap s yo u would
n ot fi n d a nyth i ng e x tra ordi n ary o r supern atur a l
i n it You wo ul d s a y to m e th e sa m e t hing th at
m e n Of good j udgm e n t sai d to m e a t that t im e :
th at eve r y o n e w h o h as a lively i m agi n ati on i s
subj ect to s om e i m p u l s e of fe ar or o t h e r ; th at
m i n e cam e from b elated sol itary wom en an d
th a t th e o l d creatur e of Jar d in es S t ree t w as on ly
som e h om eles s waif wh o wa s goi ng t o beg of m e
wh en I s c ream ed an d ran
F o r m y part I tri e d to b e l ieve th at i t was
I e ven cam e to beli eve i t at t h e e n d Of s e v
so
eral m on th s S till I w o uld h ave give n years o f
my l ife to b e s u r e t h a t I was n ot aga i n to e n
coun te r th e tal l w o m an B ut to day I w oul d
give eve r y d r op Of m y bl ood t o be ab l e t o m ee t
h e r agai n
Wh at f or ?
T o kil l h e r o n th e sp o t
I d o n ot u n derstan d you
“
You will u nderstan d m e wh e n I tell y o u
th at I d id m ee t h er agai n th ree weeks ago a few
h o urs before I h ad th e fata l n e ws Of m y p oo r
i
a
de
ath
a
u
n
s
o
J q
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THE
T A LL WO MA N
29
.
Tel l m e about i t te l l m e about i t '
Th ere i s l i t t le m ore to tell I t was fi v e
O clock i n th e m o r n i ng I t was n ot yet ful ly ligh t
th o ugh th e dawn was vis ible fro m th e s fre e ts look
i ng t o ward s th e e ast Th e street l amps h ad j ust
bee n put out an d th e p o l icem e n h ad with drawn
As I wa s goi ng thr o ugh P rado S t r ee t so a s to
get t o th e o th er e n d of Lo b o S tree t th e dreadful
wom a n c ro ssed i n fron t of m e
S h e di d n ot
look a t m e an d I th ough t s h e h a d n o t see n
me
S h e wo r e th e sam e dress a n d ca r rie d th e
s am e fa n as th ree years before My trepidati o n
an d alar m were greater th an ever I ra n r api dly
across P rado S tree t as soo n as sh e h ad passed
alth ough I di d n ot t ake my eye s o ff h e r s o as
to m ake sure th at s h e did n ot l ook back and
wh e n I h a d re ach e d th e o th e r e nd Of L obo S tree t
I pa n ted a s if I h ad j u st swu m a n i mpetu ou s
st r eam Th e n I presse d o n wi t h fres h spee d
towards h o me fille d n o w with glad n ess r ath e r
th a n fear f o r I th o ugh t th at th e h a t efu l wi tch
h ad b e e n con que r ed a n d sh orn of h e r po wer
from th e very fact th a t I h a d be en s o n ea r h e r
a n d yet th a t s h e h a d n ot see n m e
B ut so o n a n d wh e n I h ad al most r eache d
th is house a rush O f fe ar swept over m e i n t h e
th ough t th a t the crafty o l d h ag h ad se e n a n d
recogn ize d m e t h at s h e h ad m ade a pre t en ce of
n ot k n o wi ng m e s o a s to let m e get i n to L ob o
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T A LL WO M A N
THE
0
3
.
S t r eet , W h e r e
it wa s still r a th er dark a n d wh ere
s h e migh t s e t upon m e i n safety th a t s h e would
f o l low m e th at s h e was alre ady over m e
—
U po n th is I l ooked aro un d
a n d the r e s h e
wa s ' Th ere a t my sh oul der al m os t tou ch i ng
m e with h e r c loth es gazing at m e wi t h h e r b orri
bl e little eyes di spl ayi ng th e gloom y cavern Of
h er m ou t h fa n n ing h ersel f i n a m ocking m an n er
as if to m ak e fun of m y ch i ldish alarm
I pas se d fro m drea d to th e m ost furiou s
ange r to s avage an d de sperate rage I dash e d
at th e h eavy Ol d creature I fl ung h er agai n st
th e wall I pu t m y h an d t o h er throat I fel t
of h e r fac e h e r b r east th e straggling l ocks Of
h e r g r ay h ai r u n ti l I was th oroughly convin ced
th at s h e was a h u m an being— a wom an
M ea n whil e S h e h ad uttered a h owl wh ich
was h oa r s e an d pi erci ng at th e sam e ti me I t
seem e d fal se an d fe igne d t o m e l ike th e hypo
critical expressi on of a fea r wh ich S h e di d n ot
r e ally feel
I m m edi ately af terwa r ds s h e ex
claim ed m aki ng beli eve cry th ough s h e w a s
n o t crying
bu t lo o king at m e with h e r hye n a
eye s :
Why h a v e you p icked a qua rr e l with
me
Th is rem a r k i nc r ease d m y frigh t a n d weak
e n ed my wrath
”
“
“
Th e n yo u r em emb e r I cried th at y o u
”
h a v e see n m e s om ewh e r e else
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TH E
T A LL WO M A N
3
.
1
”
sh o ul d s a y so my de ar s h e r epli ed
m ockingly
S ai n t E uge n e s nigh t i n J ard i n es
”
S tree t three years ago
My very m a rr o w was ch i lled
Bu t wh o are you
I a sked with out l etting
go Of h e r
Wh y do yo u foll o w m e Wh at b usi
n ess h a v e you wi t h m e ?
”
I a m a poor weak wom an s h e a n swe r e d
“
Y o u h ate m e a n d you a r e
with a devilis h lee r
afrai d o f m e wi t h out any r e ason I f n o t tel l
m e good s i r wh y y o u we r e s o f r igh te n e d th e
”
firs t ti m e yo u s a w m e
Because I h ave l o ath e d you eve r si n ce I
Becau se yo u a r e th e evi l spiri t Of m y
w a s b or n
”
l ife
I t seem s then th at yo u h ave k now n m e
for a long t im e Wel l lo ok m y s on s o h ave I
”
known you
”
“
?
?
You h ave kn o w n m e
H ow lo n g
“
S i nce before you were born ' A n d wh e n
I s a w you pass by m e th ree ye ars ago I s ai d to
myself t/
za t 5 Me
“
B u t W h at a m I to yo u
Wh at are yo u to
me ?
Th e devil ' replie d th e h ag spi tting full
i n my face fre eing h erself from my grasp an d
r u n ni ng away with am azing swiftn ess
S h e h el d
h er skirts h igh er tha n h er kn ee s an d h er feet di d
n ot m ake th e s l igh test n o ise a s they t o u c h ed t h e
groun d
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TH E
32
“
T A L L WO M A N
.
m ad n ess to try to catch h er B e
sides peopl e were already passi ng th r ough t h e
Carrera de S a n Jer on im o an d i n P rado S tree t
t oo
I t was broad dayligh t Th e tal l wo ma n
kept o n run n ing o r flyi ng as far a s H uer t a s
S t re et wh ich was n o w ligh ted u p by th e s u n
Th e r e s h e stoppe d to look back a t m e S h e
waved h er c l ose d fa n at m e on ce or twi ce
t hreate n i ngly a n d th e n disappea r ed a ro un d a
corn e r
“
Wai t a l ittl e l on ger Gabriel D O n ot yet
p r onou n ce j u dgmen t i n th i s case where m y l ife
a n d sou l are con cern e d Li ste n to m e two m i n
utes l onge r
“
Wh en I e n te r e d my h ouse I m e t C o l o nel
F a l cd n wh o h ad j ust com e to tel l m e th at my
Joaqui n a m y betroth ed al l my h ope a n d h appi
n e ss a n d j oy o n earth h a d died t h e day before i n
S an ta Agueda
Th e u nfortu n ate father h ad tel e
—
graph e d F a l cOn to tel l m e m e wh o shoul d h ave
divi n e d i t a n h our before wh e n I m et th e evi l
spi r i t of m y life ' D on t y o u u n dersta nd n o w
t hat I m u s t kill th at bor n e ne my Of my h appi n ess
t h at vi l e ol d h ag wh o i s th e livi ng mo c kery of
m
desti
ny
?
y
B ut wh y do I s ay ki ll ? I s sh e a w om a n ? I s
?
a
h
um
a
n
bei
ng
Wh y h ave I h ad a pre s e n ti
sh e
men t o f h e r ever si n ce I w a s born ? Why di d
Why
s h e recogn ize m e wh e n sh e fi rst s a w m e ?
d o I n eve r s e e h e r except whe n so m e g r eat ca l
‘
I t wa s
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THE
T A L L W O MA N
amity h as befalle n m e
D eath
I s sh e L ife ?
i s s h e ? Wh a t i s s h e
?
33
.
I s sh e S atan
I S sh e
I s s h e An ti c h r ist ? Wh o
?
V
.
I W I LL spa r e y ou , my dea r f r ie n ds ,
”
c o nti n ue d
“
Gab r iel
th e argu me n ts an d r e m arks wh ich I
used to s e e if I coul d n o t c al m Te l esfo r o fo r th ey
are th e s a me p r ecisely th e sa me wh ich y o u a r e
preparing n ow to advan ce to p ro ve th at th e r e i s
n oth i ng s upe r n atu r a l or superh u m a n i n m y st o ry
Y ou wi l l eve n g o furth e r ; y o u wil l s a y th a t my
frie n d wa s h alf c r azy ; th at h e a l ways wa s s o ;
th at at least h e s u ffe r e d fro m tha t mo r a l di seas e
wh ich som e cal l p an ic te r ro r an d o th e r s e m o
t i o n a l i nsan i ty ; th at eve n granti ng th e t r uth o f
wh at I h ave relate d about th e tal l wom an i t must
all b e referre d to ch an ce coi ncide n ce s of date s
a nd even ts a nd fi n ally th at the poo r Ol d crea t
u r e co ul d a l so h ave b ee n cra z y o r a th ief or a
begga r o r a pr o cu r ess —a s th e her o of m y st or y
”
sai d to h i m self i n a l uci d i n te r va l
”
“
A very prope r supposi t i o n e x clai m ed G a
“
b ri e l s com r ade s
th at i s j ust wh at we we r e
”
goi ng to s a y
“
Wel l l iste n a fe w m i n ute s l o nge r a n d yo u
w ill s e e th at I wa s m istake n a t th e tim e as yo u
a r e m i stake n n o w Th e o ne wh o u n fo r t u n ate ly
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3
T A LL WO M A N
TH E
34
.
n o m istake wa s Tel esfo r o I t i s m u ch
easie r t o speak t he wo r d i nsa nity th a n to fi n d
a n e x pla n ation f o r s o m e thi ngs th at h appe n o n
”
th e e a r th
”
S peak spea k l
“
I am goi ng t o ; a n d th is ti m e as it i s th e l ast
I wil l pick u p th e thre ad of my st o r y with o ut fi r s t
”
d r i nking a g l ass o f wi n e
m ade
.
‘
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VI
.
days a f te r th at c o n ve r sati o n w ith Tel
e s f oro I was se nt t o th e provi n ce o f Albacete i n
my c apaci ty a s e ngi n eer Of th e m ou n tai n c orps
N ot m any weeks h ad passed bef o r e I l ea r ned
f ro m a con tracto r fo r p ubli c wo r ks th at m y u n
h appy frie n d h ad bee n attac k ed by a dre adful
f o r m of j aun di ce ; it ha d t urn e d h i m e n ti rely
g r een a n d h e recli ned i n a n a r m ch a i r with ou t
w o rking or wi sh ing t o s e e anyb ody weeping
n igh t a n d day i n th e m ost i n con sol abl e a n d bi t
Th e doctors h ad gi v e n up h ope Of h i s
t e r gr ief
getti ng wel l
“
Th i s m ade m e u n de r sta n d W h y h e h ad n ot
an s we r e d m y l ette r s I h ad to r esort to Co l on el
F a l cé n a s a s o u r ce Of n e ws O f h im a n d all th e
wh i le th e r epo r ts k ept getting m o r e u nfa vorable
and gl o om y
A fte r a n abse n c e of five m o nth s I r eturn ed t o
A
F EW
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6
3
T A LL W O M A N
TH E
.
wi th th e fact th at th e dead m a n h ad to l d m e
abou t th e scen es i n Jardi n e s S tr ee t an d L ob o
S tree t a s i f defyi ng m e a s if decl ari ng m e th e
i nh e r i to r of th e h ate wh i ch s h e h ad ch eri she d
fo r my u n fortu n ate frie nd
“
I confess t h at a t th e t ime m y frigh t was
g r eater th a n my won der at th ose n e w coi n ci d en ce:
I t se e me d evi den t to m e t h at som e
a n d a cci d e n ts
s upern at ura l re lation a nteceden t to e arth ly life
h ad existed betwe e n th e mysteri ou s ol d w o m a n
an d Telesf o r o But for th e tim e bei ng m y sol e
con c ern wa s ab o u t my own l ife my o w n soul
—
m y own h appi nes s al l Of wh ich w o ul d b e ex
pose d to th e gre ates t pe r i l if I s h o ul d r eal ly
i nh eri t s uc h a curse
Th e tal l w o m a n bega n to l a ugh S h e p o i n te d
a t m e conte m ptu ously with th e fan a s if s h e h a d
read my th ough t s a n d were publicly exp o si ng
m y c o w ard ic e I h ad t o l ea n o n a frien d s a rm
t o keep m yself from falling Th e n S h e m ade a
pitying o r di sdai n fu l gestu r e t u r n e d o n h e r h eels
a n d we n t i nt o th e cem e t ery H er h ead wa s
t urn e d to wa r ds m e S h e fa n n e d h erse l f a n d
n odde d t o m e at th e sam e ti me S h e si dl e d
al ong am ong th e grave s wi th a n i nde scribable
i nfern a l c oqu etry u ntil at l ast s h e disappe ared
f or eve r i n th at l abyri nth of tomb s
I s a y fo r eve r sin ce fiftee n yea r s h ave passed
a n d I h ave n eve r see n h e r agai n If s h e was a
h u m a n b ei ng s h e m ust h ave die d bef o r e th i s ; if
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THE
T A LL W O M A N
37
.
wa s n o t I r est i n th e con v icti o n th a t s h e
despi sed m e too m uch to m edd le with m e
N ow then bring o n your th eories ' Gi ve
m e you r Opi ni on about th ese strange ev ents D o
stil
l
r
ega
r
d
th
e
m
a s e n ti r ely n a tu r a l
u
o
y
sh e
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H WHITE
T E
BUTT E RFLY
BY
JO S E S E LG A S
Transl a ted b y Ma ry J S erran o
.
.
H
IT E
WH
T E
BUT T E R FLY
B Y JO S E S E L G A S
ER TA
h as j ust c o mp l ete d h e r se v e n teen th
ye a r
Bl i s sfu l age i n wh ich L o ve firs t
wh ispers h i s te n de r se cr ets to a m aide n s h e art
But crue l L ove wh o f or e v ery se c re t h e reve als
draws forth a sigh
But h ere i s Berta a n d b e
si de h e r i s a m irror to ward wh i c h s h e t ur n s h e r
eye s ; s h e looks a t h e r self i n i t fo r a m o m en t
a n d sigh s a n d th e n s h e s m iles
A n d go o d re a
s on s h e h as to s m il e fo r th e m i rro r r eve al s t o
he r t he l ovelies t fa c e im agin able wh ate v e r d i s
quiet Lo ve m ay h ave awake ne d i n h er h ea r t th e
i mage wh ich s h e se es i n th e m i rro r i s e n c h a n ting
e nough to di spe l it
An d wh y sh o ul d i t n ot ? L et u s s e e
Wh at
h as h e r h ea r t t o l d h e r
I t h a s told her th at
”
”
i t is s a d
S ad ' a nd why ?
O h f or a very
si m ple r e ason
Be c au s e i t t h r ills i n respon se to
a new st r ange feeli ng n eve r kn own bef o re I t
fan cies —cu r i ous caprice —th at i t h as change d
”
”
“
“
own e r s
An d wh y is th at ?
Th e fact is
th at it h as lea r n ed i t kn ows n ot wh e r e th at m e n
a r e ung r ateful a n d i nco nstan t a n d th is i s th e
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41
WH I TE B U TT E R F L Y
THE
42
”
r eason
.
“
why Berta sigh s
Ah An d wh at doe s
”
th e m irr o r tel l her to con sol e h er ?
Wh y th e
”
“
m i rr o r tell s h er th a t sh e is b eautiful
Yes
“
Yes ; th a t h e r eyes are da rk a n d l ustro us h e r
eyebrows m agn ifi c e nt h e r c h eeks fres h a n d
” “
”
“
?
r o sy
An d W h at th e n
I t i s plai n ; h e r
h e a r t is fi l l e d with h ope a n d th e r efore i t i s th at
”
Berta s mil es
This i s th e co n diti o n of m in d I n wh ich we fi n d
U p to th e p r ese n t s h e h a s passed h e r l ife
her
with ou t th i nki ng of anyth i ng m ore seriou s th a n
th e i n n o c en t pra nks of chi l dhood ; s h e wa s a
ch ild up t o th e age o f seven teen b u t a h oiste r
o u s gay rest l ess d aring m i sch ievou s ch ild ; s h e
turn ed th e h ou se u p si de d o wn a n d i n the s am e
wa y s h e woul d h ave bee n capabl e Of t urn i ng th e
w o rld upside down ; s h e h ad n ei t h er fears n o r
dutie s ; sh e pl aye d l ike a crazy th in g an d slept
l ike a fool
F o r h e r m oth er h ad di e d before
Ber t a was Ol d e n ough to k n ow h er ; a n d al t h ough
h er m other s portrai t h un g at th e h ead Of h e r
bed th is i m age at o nce swee t an d s eriou s wa s
n ot s ufficien t t o re strai n th e th ough tle ss i m p et u
th e gi r l
S h e was besides a n on ly
o s i ty Of
daugh ter a n d h e r fath e r Of wh om we sh al l give
som e ac c ou nt l ate r adore d h e r
In ad dition to
a l l th i s h e r n urse wh o ac t e d a s h ous ekeeper i n
th e h ouse was a t th e s a m e t i m e t h e accom pl ice
a n d t h e apol ogi st Of h er pranks for th e truth i s
s h e lo v e d h e r l ike th e apple of h e r ey e
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HE W H I TE
44
B U T TE RFL Y
T
.
day t o a n o th e r i n th e twi n klin g Of a n eye s o
t o sa y
An d s ed ate n ess bec o m es h er well very wel l
—
S h e s ee ms talle r m o r e
m o r e every t h ing ; n o t h
i ng bette r c o ul d b e asked of h er ; bu t S i n ce s h e
h as becom e s en sibl e th e h ous e i s sile n t Th e
s ongs th e t u m ult al l th e b oi sterou s n ess Of th e
past h ave disappeare d Th e g o od n u r se wh o i s
e nch anted to se e h e r s o qui et s o s il ent s o sedate
ye t m i sses th e n oisy gaye ty t h at form erly fi l l e d
th e h ouse ; a n d if the ch oic e h ad b ee n given t o
h e r she wou ld h ardly h ave kn own whi ch to prefer
I n th is way th e days pass c al m an d tran qu il
B erta wh o h ad a l ways bee n s o e arly a r i ser doe s
n o t n o w ri se very e arly
D oes s h e sl eep m o r e ?
Th at i s wh at n o o n e kn ows b ut if s h e sle eps
m ore S h e certain ly eats les s ; a n d n ot only t h I s
b ut fro m tim e to ti m e a n d wi th ou t a ny appa r e n t
c a use h eart breaki ng s ighs e scape h e r
Th e n urse wh o idolize s h e r a n d wh o woul d d o
anyth i ng i n th e wo r l d t o pleas e o r t o s erve h er
O b serves i t al l bu t says n oth i ng S h e s ays n oth
i ng b ut sh e th in k s the m ore Th at i s to s a y
th at at every sigh s h e h ears sh e draws down h e r
m outh scre ws u p h er eye a n d says t o h e r self :
”
H m th ere i t i s agai n
O f cours e s h e would not r em ai n silen t for l ong ;
for sh e wa s n ot a wom an t o h ol d h e r tongu e
e asily Besides Bert a s seda t en ess was n ow ge t
ti ng t o b e a fixed fact an d th e n urse wa s a t th e
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T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFLY
45
.
en d of h e r pati en ce ; fo r as s h e w a s ac c u stomed
“
to s a y A loaf th a t i s pu t i nto th e ove n twisted
”
wil l n ot com e o u t Of i t s t raigh t
An d if sh e s ucceeded i n keepi ng sil e nce for a
few days i t was on ly becau se sh e was waiti ng
for Berta herself to speak a nd tel l h er wh at wa s
o n h e r m i n d ; b ut Berta gave n o sign t h at s h e
h e r ; h e r h eart re m ai n e d closed to
u n de r s t o o d
the nurse n otwith sta nding all h er e ff o r ts t o ope n
i t Th e key h ad b ee n l os t a n d n on e Of thos e
th at h u ng at th e h ou sekee per s girdl e fitted i t
I t w o ul d be n ecess a r y to force th e l ock
O n e day th e n urse l eft Off te m porizi ng a n d took
th e bul l by th e horn s S h e e n tered Ber t a s room
wh ere s h e fou nd h e r e ngage d i n faste n ing a fla m
i ng r e d c a r n atio n i n h er dark h ai r
”
Th e r e th at 3 wh at I l ike to s e e s h e s aid
“
T hat s righ t n ow
Wh at a beautiful pin k ' I t
is as r ed as fire An d pi nks Of t h at co lo r do n t
g ro w i n y o u r flowe r bed s '
Berta cast down h er eyes
Yo u th i n k I can t s e e wh at i s going o n b efore
”
“
m y eye s sh e con ti n ued wh e n yo u kn ow th at
n othing ca n e scape m e Yes ye s I sh oul d l ike
to s e e th e girl th at coul d h oodwi nk m e ' B ut
wh y don t you s a y s ometh i ng ?
H ave yo u l o s t
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ou r
y
t on g u e ?
”
Be r ta t u r n e d as re d as a poppy
”
“
“
Bah ' cri e d th e n u rs e
Th at pin k m us t
h a v e fl own o ve r fro m th e terrace i n fron t Of you r
.
.
46
T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
w i n dows
.
I ca n s e e th e plan t fro m h e r e ; th ere
we r e fou r pi nks o n it yesterd ay an d to day th ere
a r e only th ree Th e n eighbor e h ? Wh at folly '
”
T h ere is n eith e r sen s e n o r r ea so n i n th at
Th is t i m e Berta tu r n ed p ale a n d looked fixe dly
a t h er n urs e as if s h e h ad n ot t a ke n i n th e s e n se
of h er wo r ds
”
“
I don t me an r e s u me d th e n u r se th at y o u
o ugh t to ta k e th e vei l or th a t th e n eighbo r i s a
m a n to b e l ooked do wn upo n eith e r b u t y o u
a r e worthy Of a ki ng a n d th ere i s n o s o rt o f s e n s e
i n th i s A fe w sign al s from W in dow t o wi n dow ;
a fe w s ide l ong gl an ces a n d th e n —wh at
N ot h
i ng Y o u wil l fo r ge t e ach oth e r I t wi l l b e ou t
”
of sigh t o ut Of m i n d with b oth Of y o u
B e r ta sh ook h e r h ead
You s a y i t wil l not be s o ? aske d th e n u r s e
”
I s a y i t wil l n ot an s were d Be rta
“
An d wh y n o t ? L e t u s h ea r why n o t ? Wh a t
security h ave you
B e r ta di d n ot allow h e r t o fin is h
”
O u r vows s h e s ai d
Vows
cried t h e n u r se crossi ng h erse l f
I s th at wh e r e we are l— Vows
s h e r epe ate d
“
scorn fully ; pretty th ings th ey a r e — wo r ds th at
”
th e wi n d carries away
S om e m e mo r y of h e r o wn youth m u st h ave co m e
t o h e r m i n d at th is m o m e n t fo r s h e sigh ed an d
the n we n t o n
“
A n d w o uld th ey by c h a n ce h e th e fir st vo w s
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TH E
W H I T E B UTT E RFL Y
47
.
TO day i t i s al l v e r y
i n the worl d to be b roke n
well th e r e i s n o o n e e lse f o r yo u t o se e bu t th e
neighbo r ; b u t to m orr o w ?
”
“
N eve r
repl ied Berta
”
“
Wo r s e an d worse return e d th e n u rs e ; fo r
i n th at case h e will be th e fi r st to tire of yo u an d
th en h ol d h i m i f y o u c an TO d ay h e m ay b e
as s weet a s h on ey t o y o u b u t to m o r row i t will
be an o t h e r s tory Wh at are yo u goi ng to say ?
Th at h e i s y o u ng a n d h an dsom e
S illy silly
girl I s h e an y th e l es s a m a n f or th at ? D O you
wan t to kn ow wh at m e n are ?
Be r ta goi ng u p to h e r n urse p ut h e r h an d o v e r
h e r m outh a n d an s were d quickly
”
N O I do n t wan t to k n o w
Th e nu r s e left Berta s room h o lding h e r h a n ds
to h e r he a d an d s ayi ng to h e r sel f
“
M ad stark sta r i ng m ad I
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We kn ow already th at Berta h as a fathe r an d
now we are going to l earn th at th i s fath e r with
o u t being i n an y way an extraordi n ary being i s
yet n o com m on m an T O l ook at h im o n e woul d
take h i m to b e over s ixty ; b ut appea r an ce s a r e
i n this case dece itful for h e i s n ot ye t forty n i n e
I n th e s am e ci ty i n wh ich h e dwells l ive som e
wh o were compan ion s o f hi s ch il d h o od a n d th ey
a r e stil l young ; bu t Berta s fa th e r beca m e a
widower sh ortly after hi s m ar r i age a n d th e los s
O f h is wife pu t a n e n d t o h i s you th
H e s ettl ed
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48
WH I T E B UTT E RFLY
TH E
.
a ff ai r s ga v e u p hi s b usi n es s r ea l i z e d a pa r t
Tha t
o f h i s property an d retired fro m th e world
i s to s a y t h at h e devote d h i m s elf to th e ca r e Of
h i s da ugh ter i n wh o m h e b eh eld th e liv 1 ng im age
Why sh oul d h e wi sh to
of th e wife h e h ad l os t
b e you ng a ny l onge r ? H e gre w age d th e n l o ng
before h e h a d grown Old
—
Be r ta Berta I n th i s n am e all h is th ough ts
were ce n t r ed an d i n h i s th ough ts th ere wa s m uch
of sweetn ess a n d m u c h o f bitte r ness fo r th ere i s
n ot i n th e c ircl e Of h u m a n h appi nes s a cup Of
h on ey th at h a s n ot i ts dr o p of gall
T O see h i m n ow walki ng up an d down h i s roo m
l o ok ing n ow at th e ceiling n o w at th e fl o o r bi t
i ng h is n ai l s an d st r i king h i s fo r eh ead on e w o u l d
thi n k th e h eave n s we r e abo u t to fal l down an d
cr u s h h i m o r th e ea r th to op e n up u n de r h i s
fee t
S u d de n l y h e st r u ck h i s f o re h ea d with h i s Ope n
p alm a n d crossi ng ove r t o the d oo r of th e r o o m
h e rai sed th e c urtain p ut ou t h is h e ad a n d Ope n e d
h i s l ips to s a y s o meth i ng b ut th e words re
m ai ne d u n u t t ered a n d h e s tood wit h h i s m outh
wi de ope n gazing wi th a m aze m e n t at th e n urse
w h o wi th out Observi ng th e m ove m en t Of th e cur
tai n wa s app r oach ing t h e d o or gesticulati ng v io
l e n tl y ; i t wa s eviden t th at s h e h ad s o m eth ing
ext r ao r di n ary o n her m in d
Berta s fath e r dre w aside ; th e n urse e n te r e d
th e r oo m a n d t h e t wo r e m ai n e d face to face
h is
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T
HE
W H I T E B U TT E RFLY
49
.
l ooki ng at each oth er a s if t h ey h ad n eve r see n
”
each oth e r befo r e
”
Wh at i s th e m atte r N u r se Juan a ? aske d
Berta s fath e r
I n eve r s a w you lo o k l ike th at
”
b ef o re
“
Wel l y o u l o o k n o be tte r you se lf Any on e
w o ul d s a y to s e e y o u th a t yo u h ad j us t r ise n
”
from th e g r ave
Ber ta s fath e r sl o w l y a rc h e d h is eyeb ro ws
h e aved a profou n d S igh a n d si nking i n to a ch ai r
a s if weighe d down by th e b u rde n of e x is ten c e
h e asked agai n
”
Wh at i s th e m atte r ?
”
“
“
Th e m atte r i s an s we r ed t h e n u r se t h a t
”
th e devi l h a s g ot i n t o th is h ou se
”
“
I t i s possi b l e h e a n swe r ed ;
a n d if y o u
add th at i t is n ot a n h ou r si n ce h e left th i s ro o m
”
you wil l n ot b e far wrong
Th e L ord h a v e m ercy o n u s ' ex c l aime d th e
”
“
n u r s e : th e devil h ere l
”
Yes N urse Ju an a th e de v i l i n pe r s o n
”
An d you s a w h i m ?
”
I sa w h i m
Wh at a h orrible v i s it o r ' ex c l ai m e d Ju ana
c r ossi ng h ersel f
”
“
“
NO
s ai d Berta s fath er
h e i s n o t h orri
ble ; h e t o ok th e appe aran ce Of a h an dsom e
”
y o ung m an wh o h as all th e ai r Of a terribl e r ake
”
“
An d h ow d id th i s dem o n c om e i n ?
”
By th e d o or J u an a by th e do o r
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4
,
.
T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
O
S
.
With ou t kn o cki ng ' Wi th ou t waiting t o be
l et i n
”
Th at i s th e devi l s w a v
r eplied Be r ta s
“
fath e r ; h e will sli p i n a nywh ere I wa s n ot
expecti ng h i m I wa s reading th at book th at i s
l ying Ope n on th e table an d a s I was turn ing
ove r a le af I felt som e th i ng l ike a breath Of ai r ;
I l o oke d up a n d s a w h i m bef o re m e
I wa s
s tru ck wi th a m azem en t I trie d t o ri se b ut h e
p u t h i s h an d o n m y S h oul de r an d o b lige d m e to
rem ain seate d ; an d h e s m i le d al l th e ti m e th at
i s to s a y h e l augh ed i n my face H e m ade a
th ousan d excu ses i n deed t r eating m e with such
fam iliari ty th at before I h a d O ff ere d hi m a ch air
h e took o n e h i m self an d s a t d o wn i n i t as if h e
”
h ad b e en i n h is o wn h ou se
N urse Ju an a li st ene d with o u t m ovi ng a m u scl e
of h e r face an d s h e woul d h ave th ough t th at
Be rta s fath e r w a s j esti n g i f th e te r ro r depi cted
On h i s cou n te n a nce h ad n o t t esti fied t o th e truth
o f h i s words
Besi des th e g o od m an w a s n ot i n
th e h abit of j esti n g H a d h e b e co m e su dden ly
M ad a m a n of s o m uch good s en se
Th e
m ad ?
n urse crosse d h erself i n wa r dly wi th ou t kn owing
wh at to th i n k of wh a t sh e h ad j u st h eard
”
?
s h e asked
An d w h o wa s h e l ooki n g for
“
?
w
an t
w h at did h e
”
H e cam e i n boldly an s w ere d Berta s fath e r
“
H e wan te d m e a n d h e ca m e t o m ake a p r o
”
p o sal t o m e
’
’
,
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,
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T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFLY
2
5
.
“
What a m a n
c r ie d the n u rse i n d i s m a y
Berta s fath e r was very ki n d h ea r te d an d h e
h ad a ve r y good Opi nio n of m anki n d
th us it wa s
th at h e sh ook h is h e ad desponde ntly a s h e t e
plied :
A m a n — A m a n w o ul d n o t be s o crue l t o m e
To take Be r ta from m e i s to ta k e m y l ife
I t is
to a ssassi n ate m e wi th ou t allowi ng m e a ch a n ce
t o defen d myself ; an d th at i s th e m os t h orribl e
part of i t— th ey wi ll b e m a r ried a n d Be r ta wi ll
”
b e u n ited fo r l ife to th e m urde r e r of h er father
Th e n urs e folde d h er ar m s a n d the r e wa s a
m o me n t Of so r rowful sile n c e
S udden ly sh e sai d
”
—
Ah l Berta will r efuse
A bi tte r s m ile c r osse d th e l ips o f th e u n h a ppy
fat h e r
”
“
Y o u th i nk s h e wil l n ot ?
sai d th e n u r se
”
N o w we S h all s e e
An d s h e t urn ed to go fo r Be r ta b u t a t th e s am e
m o m en t th e cu r tai n was r ai se d an d Be r ta e nte r e d
th e ro om
Th e re d ca r nati o n gl o we d i n h e r bla c k h ai r
l ike fi r e i n th e darkn e ss ; h e r eye s shon e wi th a
s trange l igh t a n d i n th e fearl ess expressi on of
h er cou n ten an ce was t o b e divi n ed th e st r e ngth
o f an u n al terabl e resol ution
S h e looked al tern ately at h e r fath e r an d a t h e r
n u r se an d th e n i n a t r embl ing voice s h e sa i d
I k no w all I t m ay be t o my l if e l ong h a p
.
’
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THE
WH I T E B U TTE RFLY
53
.
i
n
s
s
e
p
i t m ay be to my etern a l m i se r y ; b u t t h a t
”
m an i s th e m aste r of my he a r t
S h e sm ile d fi r s t at h e r fath er a n d the n at h e r
n u r se ; an d left th e r o o m with th e sam e t r a n quil
l i ty with wh i c h s h e h ad e n tere d i t
Th e n urse a nd th e fath e r rem ai n e d sta n din g
wh e r e S h e l e f t t h e m m oti o n less d u mb a s
.
.
,
t ou n d e d
,
,
.
Th e devil th e n h ad s ucceede d i n gai n ing a n
en t r ance i n to Ber ta s h ouse i n th e m an ne r i n
wh i ch we h ave see n a n d n o t only h a d h e gai ned
a n e n tra nce i nto it b u t h e h ad take n possessi on
H e wa s
o f it as if i t h a d always bee n h i s o wn
h ardly ou t of i t b efore h e was back a gai n H e
spen t i n i t several Of h i s m orn i ngs m any Of h i s
af t e r n oon s an d al l h i s even ings a n d th ere wa s
n o way Of escaping h i s as siduous vi si ts f or Berta
wa s al ways th ere to receive h im A nd i t was n ot
easy to b e angry with h im e i t h er ; f or h e p os
sessed the c h arm Of a n irresi stible gayety an d
o n e h ad n o t on ly to b e r esign e d b u t to S h o w
pleasu r e at h i s con sta n t prese n c e
Besides
n either Berta s fath er n or th e h ou sekeepe r d are d
to t r eat h i m coldly ; th ey fel t c o m pel led by wh a t
I rr e sis tibl e spel l they kne w n o t to receive h i m
w ith all h o no r a n d wi t h a s m ili ng coun te n an ce
Th is i s th e case wh e n th ey are u nder th e i n flu
e nce Of hi s p r e sence : b ut wh en h e i s a b sen t th e
f at h e r a n d th e n urse t r eat h i m wi th out any c e r e
’
,
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,
HE W H I T E
54
T
B U TT E RFL Y
.
m o n y wh ate v er T h e t wo get toge th e r i n se cr et
a n d i n wh ispe r s reve nge th em sel ve s u pon h i m by
picking h i m to piece s I n th ese secret backb it
i ngs th ey give ve n t to th e aversi on wi th wh i ch h e
i n spi r e s th em ; an d th e fath er a n d th e n urse b e
tween t he m le ave h i m with ou t a si ngle g o o d
qual i ty
An d i t i s n o t wi th out reas o n t h at th ey b e r ate
h im for si n ce h e t o ok th e h o use by stor m n oth ing
i s don e i n it b u t wh at pl eases h i m ; h e i t i s wh o
rul es it h e i t i s wh o orders everyth i ng F or
Berta th i nk s th at all h e does is righ t an d th ere
i s n o h elp fo r i t b ut to b ow i n si len ce t o h er wil l
Bu t th ey a r e n o t satisfied with berating h im ;
th ey als o c on spire agai n st h i m Wh at m e an s
S h al l th ey take to overth r ow th e powe r Of th i s
u n lawful r ul er —
fo r i n th e e ye s Of th e h o us e
keepe r h e i s a u surper a n d i n th o se o f Berta s
fath e r a ty r a n t ; —tu r n hi m ou t of th e h ouse ?
Th i s i s th e o n e t h o ugh t Of th e c on spirators Bu t
h o w ? Th i s i s th e di ffic ul t y wh ich conf r o nts th em
Two m e an s enti rely Opposed t o ea c h oth e r
—
occu r to th e m to fly from h im or to m ake a
TO fly i s th e pl a n Of Ber t a s
sta n d agai n st h i m
father ; i t i s th e resource whi ch i s m os t con s is ten t
with h i s pacific ch aracter TO fly far f ro m h i m
fa r a way to th e en ds of th e e arth
Bu t to th i s th e h ousekeeper an swers :
“
F ly from h i m ' Wh a t n on sen se ' Wh e r e
co uld we go th a t h e would n ot fol l ow u s ? N O ;
.
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WH I TE B U TT E RFLY
THE
55
.
s u ch folly is n ot to be th ough t of Wh at we o ugh t
to do i s to take a firm stan d an d defen d o u r
”
selves again st hi m
“
Defe n d o ursel ves agai n st
Be r t a s fathe r
With w h at w eap o ns ? Wi th
wh at strength
”
N eith e r strength n or w eap o n s a r e r e qui r ed
r epl ied t he n urse
S o m e day you b a r t he doo r
agai n st h i m an d th en h e m ay kno c k i n v ai n
”
S ata n turn s away f r o m cl osed doo r s
”
“
N u r se Juan a th a t i s fo l l y
r eplied Be r ta s
“
fathe r ; if h e doe s n ot com e i n by th e d oo r h e
w il l c o me i n by th e wi ndow o r do w n the c h i m
.
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’
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’
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ne
y
”
.
Ju an a h i t h e r l ips re fle cti v e l y f or wh at s h e h ad
n eve r bee n ab l e to explai n satisfa c to r ily t o h e r
s elf was h o w h e h ad su c ceede d i n en tering th e
h o u se f o r th e first ti me f or th e doo r wa s a l w ays
kept closed ; i t was n ecessary to kn o ck t o h a v e
i t Opened ; a n d i t was neve r Open e d un less u nde r
th e i nspe c ti o n of th e h ou sekeepe r ; s h e a l ways
wan ted to kn ow wh o c am e i n an d wh o we n t ou t
an d i n th i s s h e was very p articu lar How th e n
h a d h e bee n ab l e t o co m e i n w ith o u t being s ee n
o r h ea r d ?
H e r first i n qu i r ies o n th is m yste r i o us p o in t
we r e add r esse d to Berta —a n d Be r ta an swe r e d
si mpl y th at h e h ad e nte r ed wi t h ou t kn ocking b e
c ause th e door wa s ope n
Th i s th e n u r se f ou n d
i mp o ssibl e to believe
,
,
,
.
.
.
H
56
T E
WH I T E
BUTT ERFL Y
.
S h e r e m ai ne d
th ough tful th e n f or th i s de m o n
Of a m an i t see med c ou ld i n t r ut h e n te r th e
h o use eve n if th e do o r we r e ba rr ed
The c o nspi r ators di d n o t get beyon d th ese tw o
c o u r se s Of action to fly o r to defe n d th em sel v es
TO fly wa s im p o ssib l e an d to defe n d th em selves
wa s i m pra c ti cable
Be r ta s fath e r a n d th e h o u se
kee per discusse d th ese t wo poi n ts d ai l y wi th ou t
see ing l igh t o n an y si de An d m u st th ey resign
th e m se lve s t o living u n de r th e d i ab o l ical yoke of
th a t m a n ? Both foun d th em s elves i n a s ituation
th at wou ld be diffic u l t t o desc r ibe Th ey li ve d
i n co n sta n t t r epidati o n fe a r ing th ey knew n o t
wh at
A n d wh o the n i s th i s m an wh o r u l e s th e m
with h i s p r es e n c e a n d wh o h as m ade h im self
i s n a m e i s Adria n
m aste r Of Be r ta s h ea r t ? H
Bake r h e l ives al on e a n d h e p os s e s s e s a l a rge
f or tun e Th i s i s all th at is know n ab ou t h i m
F o r th e r est h e i s y o ung tall graceful i n fig
u r e wi th h ai r like g o l d an d a co mplexi o n a s fai r
a s sn ow ; arde n t a n d i mpassione d i n speech an d
w ith steadfas t sea r ch i ng an d m elan ch oly eye s
b l ue as th e bl ue Of deep wate r s
H is m an ne r s c ould n ot b e m o r e n at u r a l a ff e c
H e en te r s t h e
t i o n a t e an d si m pl e th an th ey a r e
h ou se a n d r u ns up th e stairs two steps at a tim e
N oth ing s t o ps hi m
If h e m eet s B e r ta s fath e r h e
r u sh e s t o h i m an d e mb r aces h i m an d th e goo d
m an t r e mbles fr o m h ead t o f o ot i n th e p r essure
,
,
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’
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’
'
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H W H IT E
T E
E F LY
BUTT R
of
57
.
th o se a ff e c ti o n ate e m b r a c es I f i t i s th e
h ou seke epe r wh o c o mes t o m eet h i m h e l ays h is
h a n d affe c tion ately o n h er sh o ul de r a n d h e a l
ways h a s som e plea san t r em ark t o make s o me
c un n ing flattery wh ich a wake n s i n th e n u r se a
st r ange e m o tion S h e feel s a s i f t he s a p of you th
we r e of a s udd en flowing th ro u gh he r v e i ns
The r e i s n o way of escapin g th e m agi c of h i s
wo r ds th e spel l of h i s voice th e ch a r m of hi s
p r esence J u an a h a s Obse r ve d that whe n h e looks
a t Be rt a h is eyes sh i n e wi t h a ligh t l ike th a t wh i c h
th e eyes Of cats e m it i n th e dark ; s h e h as Ob
se r ve d als o th at Be r ta t u r n s pale u n de r th e
powe r of h i s gla n ce a n d th at S h e bows h e r h ea d
u nde r i t as if yieldi ng t o th e i nfl ue nce Of a n i r r e
s i s t i b l e will
S h e has obse rv e d stil l m o r e : s h e h a s o bse rv e d
th at th is mysteri o u s m a n at times si ts l ost i n
though t h i s ch i n r esti ng o n h i s h an d a n d a f r ow n
o n hi s b r ows a s if h e s a w so me dre adfu l v isi o n
b efore hi m a n d th at p r ese n t ly as if awake n ing
from a d r eam h e talks an d s m ile s a n d l augh s a s
before Be r ta s fath e r h as O bse r ved on h is side
that h e k n o ws s o m eth ing ab o ut e v eryth i ng u n de r
s tan ds s o m eth i n g Of eve r yth i ng h a s a n expl an a
tio n for everythi ng compreh e n ds an d divi n e s
e v eryth i ng as i f h e possesse d th e secre t of al l
th i ngs An d th ese Ob se r vati o n s th ey c om m u n i
cate to e ach oth e r filled with w o nde r a n d a m a z e
m e nt
.
,
,
,
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,
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,
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58
T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFLY
.
S o m eti m es ,
sitti ng besi de Berta h e a m u se s
hi m self w i n ding th e li n e n flos s o r th e S il ks wi t h
wh ich S h e i s e mbroidering or i n c ut t i ng fan tastic
figures o u t of any sc r ap Of paper t h at m ay be a t
h an d Th e n h e i s li ke a ch i ld At o th e r ti m es
h e speaks of th e world a n d Of m en Of foreign
co untrie s a n d Of re m ote ages wi th s o m uch grav
ity an d j udgm e n t th at h e see m s like a n Ol d m a n
wh o h a s retire d fro m th e w o rld l ade n with W i s
d o m a n d experie n ce
But wh en h e se ats h i m self a t th e pia n o th e n
o n e ca n on ly yiel d o n e s se lf u nresi stingly to th e
caprice s of h i s will The keys touch e d by h i s
fi ngers produce m elo d ie s s o sparkli ng s o j oy
o u s th at t h e sou l is fi lle d with gayety ; b ut s u d
d e n l y h e ch anges t o an oth e r key a n d th e pi an o
m oan s a n d s igh s like a h u m an voice an d th e
h e art i s m ove d an d th e eyes fi l l wi th tears But
th is i s n ot al l ; for whe n o n e le ast expects i t
th u n der l ow an d deep s eem s to rol l through th e
i n stru m e n t ; a n d strai n s are h eard n o w n e ar
n o w di s t an t th at thri ll th e h e a r t a n d ton es th at
fil l th e soul with terro r ; th rough th e vibrating
ch o r ds all th e spiri ts Of th e other w o rl d see m to
b e speaki ng i n a n unkn o wn tongu e
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I t i s al l very wel l fo r th e h ousekeepe r t o regard
A dri a n Baker a s th e devil i n person or a s a m a n
possesse d by t h e d evil o r at least as a n e xt ra or
d i n a ry bei ng wh o posse sse s th e d iabol ical secre t
,
,
,
HE W H I T E
60
B U T TE R FL Y
T
.
h orses sh owed th e h aste or th e i mp ortan ce Of th e
t ravel lers i t ca r ri ed
Th i s ca r riage en tered th e city an d stoppe d b e
fo r e th e door of th e best h otel Of t h e pl ace ;
th e r e th e s oli t ary travelle r i t carrie d al igh te d
f r o m i t an d th i s trave ll er wa s Adri a n Bake r
H e wa s e n velope d i n a t r avelli n g gr e at coat
l i n e d with c o stly fu r Th e eagern e ss with w h ic h
th e waiters o f th e h otel h astene d to m ee t h i m
sh owe d th at t hey h ad d is covere d i n th e n e w
gue st a m i n e of tips Th e coach m a n took h i s
l eave of h i m h at i n h an d a n d a s h e turn e d
away looke d a r ou n d at th e bystande r s displ ay
ing to th em a gol d coi n i n h is left eye
N oth in g m ore w a s n eeded t o cause th e luggage
Of th e guest to b e whi ske d Off to th e m os t s um pt
n ou s r o om i n th e h otel
S eve n ci t i es Of G r eece
di sputed wi t h o n e a n oth e r th e h on or of h aving
bee n th e birth pl ace Of Hom e r ; m ore th an seve n
wai te rs d ispu t e d with o n e a no t her th e h on o r o f
carryi ng Adrian Baker s v alise H e wa s l ike a
king e n tering hi s pal ace
F or s e veral d ays h e wa s t o b e see n alon e a n d
o n foot traversi ng th e streets an d vi si ting th e
m os t no tewor t h y bu il dings ; the n alon e also b u t
i n a car r iage h e wa s to b e s ee n vie wi ng th e
wil de st an d m ost pict uresqu e S pots i n th e n eigh
b orh oo d with th e atte n tion Of a n a r tis t a ph i
l OS Op h e r or a poe t
H e wa s a ff able an d easy i n h i s m an n e r s ; a n d
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T H E W H I T E B U TT ERFLY
61
.
he
s o o n had m any frie nds wh o talked adm iri ngly
o f h i s ecce n tri ci t ies of h i s rich es an d o f h i s
l earn i ng ; s o th at h e was for som e t ime th e lio n
o f th e day an d th e r efore th e fa vori te subj ect of
every con versation To wi n h i s fri en dshi p wou ld
h ave been fo r th e m e n a tri um ph ; an d t o wi n h i s
h eart woul d h ave bee n for th e h a u gh tie st wom an
m ore th an a tri um ph ; bu t Adria n Baker kept h i s
i n m ost h eart cl ose d al ike t o fri end sh i p an d to
l ove ; s o th at o n ly th ree th i ngs were kn own
about h i m — th at h e was you ng th a t h e w a s rich
a n d that h e h a d trave lle d over h alf th e worl d
H e was suppose d to b e a n E nglish m an a Ger
i n th e firs t p lace becau se
m a n o r an Am erican
h e wa s fai r an d i n th e se con d pl ace beca use
alth ough h e spok e S pan ish a s i f it were h is
n ative to n gu e a certai n fo r eign fl avo r w a s to b e
n oticed i n h i s accen t wh i ch each one i nterpre ted
according to h i s fan cy
F o r th e rest h e see med ple ase d wi t h th e
b eauty of th e s k y a n d th e gayety o f th e l an d
s c ape an d although h e h ad tol d n o o n e wh ether
h e i n ten ded to rem ai n th ere lon g o r n ot th e fact
Dou b t less h e grew
wa s th at h e di d n ot go away
tired o f th e life at th e h otel for on e d ay h e su d
d e n l y bough t a fi n e h ouse a nd establi sh ed h i m self
i n i t like a pri n ce Thi s edifice ve n era b le from
i ts an ti qui ty h ad th e grandios e aspect of a pal ace
and on e of i t s angl e s fron ted Ber t a s h ouse
Th is i s al l th at wa s k n o wn about A dria n B a k e r
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T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
62
.
We n ow kn ow t herefore t h at th e m ys t eriou s
Adri a n Bake r wa s n ei th er m ore n or less th a n
Berta s n eighbor h i m self
O n e n igh t return ing fro m h is d aily visi t to
Berta h e e n te r e d t h e h ou se cr osse d th e h all an d
sh ut h i mself u p in h is o wn apartm e n ts S h ortly
afterward s th e great doo r of th e palace creaking
h arshly o n its h i nge s wa s cl ose d ; th e l igh ts
we r e exti ngu ish e d o n e by o n e a n d everyth i ng
re m ai ne d i n profo un d sil e nce Adria n Bake r
h owever wa s n ot asleep
A t th e fur t h er e n d o f th e r oom wh ich w a s
ligh ted by th e soft l igh t of a l am p h e s a t w i t h
h is elbows r esti ng o n a m ah oga ny table an d h i s
face bu r ied i n h i s h ands seemi ngly lost i n
th ough t An d h i s th ough ts coul d n ot b e of a
ple asan t n atu re fo r the stern frown u pon h i s
b r o w sh owed th a t s o m e st o r m wa s ragi ng b eh in d
th at foreh ea d sm ooth as a ch ild s a n d pal e a s
de ath
Th e l igh t of th e l am p reflecte d from
h i s gol de n h ai r s eem e d t o e n ve l op h is h ead i n
fan ta sti c l igh ts an d sh ad o ws
Afte r m an y m om en ts of im m o bil ity an d si len ce
h e stru c k th e tabl e v iole ntly with th e pa lm o f h i s
h and exclai m i ng :
“
Accu r se d r ich e s ' O di o us le a rn ing ' Cru e l
experi en ce
The n h e ros e t o h i s feet an d stridi ng u p an d
down th e roo m like a m ad m an h e crie d i n
s m o th ered acce n ts
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T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
F ai t h
63
.
F aith
Doub t is ki lling m e '
A m om e n t l a t er h e sh ook hi s b ea utifu l h e ad
a n d burst i n to a terrible l augh
”
“
Very well h e s aid
Th e pr o o f i s a terribl e
I m ust de sce nd
o n e bu t I re qui re th i s pro of
in to th e tom b to obtai n i t : well then I will de
sc en d in to th e t o mb I m ust con sul t t he s ombre
oracl e of de ath con cern ing th e m yste r ie s o f l ife
”
wel l th en I will con s ul t i t
At th i s m om e n t th e gl ass ch i m ney of th e l am p
b u r st fall ing to th e fl oo r i n a th o us an d frag m e nts ;
th e l uri d fl am e sen t forth a bl ack s m o k e th a t
fi lle d th e r oom with sh adows wh ich c r ept al ong
th e wal l s m i ngled toge th e r o n the ceil i ng a nd
c rossed o ne a n oth e r o n th e floor ; th e furn i tu r e
s ee me d t o b e m oving th e c ei l i ng si n kin g down
a n d th e wall s reced i ng
I n th e m idst of th is de m o n d an ce of ligh ts
and sh adows th e fl am e of th e lam p wen t o u t as
if i n ob edie n c e t o a n i nvisibl e b r e ath a n d i n th e
da r kne ss th at f ol l owed al l wa s sile n ce
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S o m eth ing
e x t r ao r di n a r y m u s t h ave o cc u rr ed
i n Berta s h o u se f or th e n urs e se em ed t o h ave
b ee n sei z e d by a su dde n fi t of r estl es sn ess th at
w oul d n ot l et h er s i t still fo r a m om en t
She
wen t to a n d fro u pstai r s a nd d o wn o u t an d i n
with th e m ech a n i cal m ove m e n t of a n a ut o m aton
I t was a sort o f n ervou s attack th at h a d i n a
m o m e n t i n c r ease d twofold th e h o u sekeepe r s d o
’
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’
64
T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
rn e s t i c
.
activi ty S udde nly s h e would stan d sti ll
a n d placi ng her forefinge r on h er u pper l ip sh e
would re m ai n m otionle ss a s if sh e were seeki ng
i n h e r m in d th e expla n atio n o f som e mystery o r
the key to so me r i ddle ge sticulati ng wi th ex
pressive e l o que n ce an d s o to s a y th i nking i n
gesture s
Bu t the cause o f th e agitati o n wh ich w e observe
i n h e r coul d n ot b e a very ala r m ing o n e for i n
th e m idst of i t al l the r e was appare nt someth i ng
l ike j oy a secre t j oy wh ich i n spite of h erself
w a s perceptible through her restless n e ss a n d h e r
gesticul ati on s I n o u r poo r h u m an n atu r e j oy
an d sorrow Ofte n m an ifes t th em s elve s b y th e
s am e sym ptom s ; an d a pi e ce of goo d n e ws wil l
agitate u s i n th e s am e way a s a pi ece of b a d n ews
Be th is a s i t m ay wh at i s certai n i s th at th e
h ou sekee pe r see m ed to be excited by s o me secre t
th ough t wh ich s h e turn e d ove r a n d over i n h e r
m i n d an d t h at S h e was wai t i ng for som ething
with i m pati en ce fo r fr o m ti m e to ti m e s h e stood
sti ll s t retch ed out h e r n eck an d li ste ned
S uddenly th e door b ell rang twice ; sl owly
del ibera t ely produci ng o n th e n u rse th e e ffect
of
an ele ct r i c sh o ck
S h e th re w down som e
h o u se l i n e n wh ich sh e h ad i n h er h an ds o ve r
t u r ne d a ch ai r or two t h at stood i n h e r way an d
t ore a c ur t ai n th at opposed h e r p r ogress l e avi ng
devasta t i o n a nd destr u c tio n i n h e r w ake like a
s to r m
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T H E W H I TE B U TT E R F L Y
65
.
pulled th e co r d wh i c h ope ne d the do o r
a n d s h e pulled i t so v i ol e n tly that th e do o r
sp r ang wide o p e n givi n g ad m itta n c e t o Be r ta s
father wh o e n t ered slo wly l e a n ing o n h i s c a n e
l ike a m a n wh ose vi tality i s begin n i ng t o fail
A s h e e n te r ed h e r aised h is eyes with a loo k of
m elan ch ol y disc o urage m e n t a n d a t th e h ead of
the stai r s h e saw th e h o u se k eepe r wh o seem e d
to b e tryi ng to tell h i m s o m eth ing gesti culati n g
viole nt l y a n d waving h e r a r ms l ike th e appa r a t us
o f a se m aph o r e
Th e go o d m a n did n o t un de r
s ta n d a wo r d of th is te leg r aph ic language ,an d
h e s toppe d at th e f o ot o f th e s tairs e n d ea vo r i ng
to co mp r eh e n d the m ea ni ng of the sign s wh ich
th e h ousekeepe r wa s e xc ited l y m aki ng above
h i s h e ad
But n aturally h e was not ve ry skil
ful i n t h is ki n d Of i nve stigati on an d h i s n ot ve r y
v ivid i m agi n ation wa s at t hi s m o m en t p a r
aly z e d
F i nally h e sh r ugged h i s sho ulde r s with a s o r t of
res i gned a nd patie n t desperati on as if to s ay,
J
Wh at are you tryi ng to te ll m e ?
Th e h o u s e ;
k eepe r folded h e r arm s a n d s h ook h e f h e ad
t h r e e ti m es ; thi s m ean t :
S tupid ' stupid '
”
stupi d ' T he good m a n be nt h is h ead u n de r
the trip l e ac c u s atio n an d p ro c e eded to asce n d
t he S tai r s A t t h e h ead N u r s e J u a n a wa s wai t
i ng fo r h i m a n d wi th out f iI rth e r ce r em ony s h e
t oo k h i m by th e h an d a nd drew h i m i n to h i s
roo m ; a nd th e r e after assuri ng h erself t h at no
o n e was with i n h earing s h e pu t h e rmo u t h cl ose
She
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5
66
T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFLY
.
to t h e e a r of Be r ta s fath e r an d i n a myste r i o u s
voice an d with a n ai r o f p ro fo un d myste r y sh e
said to h i m :
He i s g o ing away l
H e is g o ing away
r epeate d Berta s fat h e r
exh a l ing a p ro fou n d sigh
”
“
Ye s
sh e
added
we a r e going t o b e
”
f r ee
Fr e e
r epe ate d th e go o d m a n sh a k ing
h i s he ad with a n ai r of incredulity
The n h e
aske d :
”
A n d wh e r e i s h e goi ng ?
”
“
He i s g o ing very fa r away an swe r e d th e
n u r se
T h at i s certai n H e i s goi ng ve r y fa r
a way t o som e place I don t kn ow wh e r e at th e
”
oth e r e n d o f th e earth I t i s a s udde n j o u r n ey
Th e good m a n sigh e d agai n d esp o n d e n tly
N ur se J u a n a l ooked at h i m with a m azem en t s a y
i ng :
“
A n y o n e w o u l d s upp o s e t h at I h ad j u st gi v e n
yo u a p ie c e o f b ad n ews C an th a t m a n h ave
bewi tch ed you to th e exten t
”
“
b e i n terrupted
f or if h e g o es h e wil l
Yes
an d
n ot go a l o n e ; h e wil l take Berta with h im
”
t h e n wh at i s t o bec o m e of u s ?
”
“
“
N oth ing of th e k i n d
r ep l ied Jua n a
He
”
w i ll go a l o ne —e n ti r ely a l on e
”
W o r se an d wo r se s ai d the fath e r f or th e n
”
wh at i s t o be co m e of Berta ?
”
N o t h i n g s ai d th e n ur se
O u t o f sigh t o u t
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68
T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
.
Th at i s th e wa y of th e world eh ? Wel l we
”
s h al l see
Th e n h e l eft th e r oom a n d th e fath er a n d th e
n n rs e fo l lowed h i m m ech an ical ly
Be r ta cam e o u t to m ee t th em an d h e r h an d
sough t A dri a n B aker s a n d b oth h a n d s r e mained
clasped f or a long ti m e
“
You wi ll co m e back so o n
aske d Be r ta i n
soft a n d tre mbli ng a cce n ts
”
S oon
h e an s wered
”
?
Wh e n
sh e aske d
”
“
S o on
r epe ate d Bake r
If you w ait fo r m e
”
you r h eart will an n ou n ce my re tu rn to yo u
”
I will wai t fo r eve r for you
sai d Berta i n a
c h oki ng v oice b ut wi th out a tea r i n h er eyes
Th ei r h a n ds u n cl asped Adri an Bake r h u r r ied
t o th e stairs r a n down p r ecipitately a n d sh ortly
afterwa r d th ey h e ard the rolli ng of th e ca r riage
wh i ch b ore h i m away
Berth a gave h e r fath e r a gen tl e sm ile a n d th e n
ra n t o sh u t h erself u p i n h er room
As th e n oise of th e carri age wh eels died away
i n th e distan ce like a dying pea l of thu n de r th e
h ouseke eper crossed h erself an d s aid
”
H e i s g o n e n ow we ca n b r eath e freely
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Appa r e n tly N urs e J ua n a kn ew th e h u m a n h eart
wel l or at leas t Berta s h eart fo r th ree m on th s
h ad passe d si nce A dri a n Baker h ad s ai le d for
N e w Yo r k a n d n O
t on c e h a d s h e bee n able t o
’
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WH I T E B U TT E RFL Y
THE
69
.
su rpri se a tear i n th e eyes o f t h e girl to wh om sh e
h ad take n t h e place o f a m o t he r Ber t a appa r
e ntly fel t n o grief at h is ab se n ce
I t is true th at d uring th ese th re e m o n th s of
ab se n c e a lette r h a d bee n r e c eive d from N e w
Y or k i n wh ich Adria n Bake r s ai d to Be r ta al l
th at i s sai d i n su c h cases ; i t w a s a si m p l e ten de r
a n d ea r nest letter th a t di d n ot see m to h ave b ee n
w r i tte n th re e t hou s an d m i les away ; on th e oth e r
side of t h e great o c ean i n wh ich th e m ost arden t
an d th e m ost profoun d passion s a r e w recked I t
i s t r u e that thi s lette r wa s a n swe r ed by retu r n o f
m ail a nd t h at i t t ra v e rs e d th e stormy s olitude s of
th e s e a fu l l o f p r omi se s an d h op es
I t is also tru e th at Be r ta p ut away Adria n
Bak e r s le t te r care fully tre as u ri ng i t as on e treas
u re s a rel ic I t i s tru e th a t sh e pa ssed wh ol e
h ou r s seated a t h e r pian o ru n ni ng h e r fi ngers up
an d down th e keys pl ayi ng Adria n Baker s favor
i te ai r s whi ch h e h im self h a d taugh t h er Bu t
except th i s Berta live d like o t h er girl s ; sh e h a d
an excellen t appeti te a n d she sl ept th e tra n qu i l
sl eep o f a h appy h eart S h e spen t th e u sua l
ti m e at h e r toi le t table an d sh e took pleasure i n
m aki ng h erself beau t iful S om e of th e asperiti es
o f h e r ch aracte r h ad becom e sof t en e d
s h e spok e
with al l he r n atural v ivaci t y an d fi n al ly sh e
n ever m en ti on e d Ad r ia n Bak e r s n am e
H e r fath er an d h e r n u r se Observed al l th i s an d
dedu ce d as a con se q u e n c e that th e t r a v ell e r h ad
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H WH IT E
70
B U T TE R F L Y
T E
.
’
n o t r ace i n Ber ta s h ea r t O n l y o n e fe a r
t r o ubled t h em —th e fea r th at h e w o u ld r et u r n
I n th i s wa y a n oth er m onth p asse d a n d th e
m e m o ry of Adria n Bake r began to we a r away ; if
h i s n am e wa s someti m e s m e n tio n e d i t w a s a s o n e
ev o ke s th e m e m ory of a dream
Th e d r e a m h owever at ti m es a ssu m e d th e as
o
f
a
n
i
m
pen
ding
r
eali
t
y
H
e
m
igh
t
ret
urn
e
c
t
p
a n d beyon d a doubt h e h ad n ot i n te n de d to
r em ai n away fo r ever ; h i s l ast fare wel l h ad n o t
be e n a n etern al o n e I f h e h i mself wa s o n th e
other si de of th e o c ean th r e e th ou sa n d m ile s
a w ay th at i s i n N ew Yo r k at th e o ther en d of
th e e a r th m ore i n th e o t h er world h i s h ou se wa s
there Opposi te th e m open kept by h i s serva n ts
with th e sa me l uxu ry an d th e sam e pom p as b e
fo r e h e h ad gon e a w ay h i s h ouse t h at se em e d
l ike a n ench a n ted pal ace waiti ng for i ts own e r
a n d th e order a n d care with wh ich eve ryth ing
w a s con d ucte d i n it i ndicated th at th e s ervan ts
di d n ot wi sh to b e s urpri se d by th e s ud de n
appe aran ce of t hei r m aster ; th at i s to s a y t h a t
A dri a n Bake r m igh t return a t any m om en t Th e
plan t s on th e terrace spread t h ei r b ranch e s as ful l
of life as if th ey we r e t e n de d by th e h a nds of
Adrian Baker hi m self
Berta s fathe r a n d th e h ou seke epe r s aw i n thi s
h ouse a c on sta n t me n ace i t cam e to be for th e m
th e sh adow s o t o s a y of Adrian Baker b u t for al l
th at ti m e p asse d an d th e travel le r did n ot retu r n
l eft
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WH I T E B UTTE R FLY
THE
7
.
1
S p r ing c a m e ,
a n d n at u r e bl o om ed agai n with
al l th e r ich n ess of v egetation wh i c h s h e disp l ays
i n so uth e r n cli m es ; an d i t i s i n th e h e a r t of th e
S o uth that th e sce n e of ou r sto r y i s l ai d
E v e ry
th i ng put o n its fai r est a n d m o st s m iling aspe c t
an d th e s o u l fe lt th e vague h appi n es s o f a h o pe
th at i s ab o ut t o b e r eali z e d
Be r ta sh a r e d i n thi s beautifu l a wa k en ing of
n atu r e an d i t m igh t b e sai d th at h e r e v e r y b eauty
h ad acqui r ed a n ew c h a r m h e r eyes s ee med
l a r ge r h e r g l a n ce gen tler c al m e r m o r e p r ofou nd ;
h e r ch eeks f r esh e r softe r a n d ro si e r ; an d h e r
s m ile m ore ten de r i n n ocen t an d e nch a nting
He r figu r e h a d acqu i r ed a m aj esti c e ase wh i c h
ga v e t o her m ove m e n ts v ol upt u o usn es s a n d firm
n ess I t seem ed a s if you th h a d m ade a s up r e m e
e ff o rt a n d i n gi v ing th e last tou c h to h e r b ea u ty
had Ob taine d a m aste r piece S h e wa s i n th e ful l
sple ndor of h e r l ovel i ne ss
I n exch ange Adri an Bake r s pal ace on e m or n
i ng appeared a s glo o my a s a sepu lch r e ; th e
d r awn bli n ds an d th e close d h all doo r gave i t
th e aspe c t of a de serte d h ou se profo u n d s ile n ce
r eign e d wi th i n i t a n d yet th e p a l a c e o f Ad r i a n
Bake r wa s sti ll i nh abi ted
I n th e h all th e figu r e of th e p o rte r appea r ed
l ike a sh ade ; h e wa s dresse d e n ti r e ly i n b l ack
a nd al l th e oth e r se r van ts of th e h o use were a lso
clad i n m o ur n ing an d i n th ei r fa c es we r e to
be observed sign s of sad n ess
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TH E
72
WH I T E B U TT E R FLY
.
Wh at h ad h appen ed
Wh at h ad h appe n e d wa s s impl y th at A d r ia n
Baker h ad di ed i n N ew York of a n acute atta ck
Th e n e ws h ad spre a d th r ough
of p n eu mon i a
t he ci t y wi th th e r apidi ty wi t h wh i ch bad n ews
sp r eads an d i t h ad a lso pe net r ated i nto Berta s
At first i t s ee m ed i n credibl e th at Ad r ia n
hO
u se
Bake r S h o ul d h ave died as if th e l ife o f th i s m a n
we r e n ot s ubj ect to th e con ti ngen ci es to wh ich
th e l ives of oth e r m ortal s are subj ec t But th e
tidings h ad b ee n c o nfi r me d an d they m ust b e
be l ieved Besides th e aspect of th e palace bo r e
testi m ony to th e a uth en ticity of th e n e ws I n
th at h o u se h u ng with b l ack th e very st o n e s
s ee m ed to m ourn Th e n ews h a d com e i n a
b l ack b ordere d l ette r date d i n N e w Yo r k an d
sign ed by th e h ea d of th e h ou se of Wil so n a n d
Com pany wi th wh ich Ad r i a n B ake r h ad large
s u m s d eposited
Berta s fath e r a n d th e h ou sekeeper l ooked at
ea c h o th e r with a maze me n t an d repe ated o n e
a f te r th e other :
”
“
H e i s de ad '
“
H e i s dead
Berta p al e a s death i tself su r pri se d the m a s
they u ttere d th ese wo r ds a n d i n a sepulchral
v o ice sh e said
“
Yes h e h as died i n N ew York b u t h e l i v e s
”
i n m y h eart
And t u r ni ng fr o m th e m s h e fl ed t o h e r ro o m
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H W H IT E
T E
U TT E R F LY
B
73
.
and
s eated h erself a t th e win dow fr o m wh ich sh e
could s e e the te r race of th e pal ace The fl owers
agi tated gen tly by th e bre eze s of spri ng lea ne d
t o ward Bert a a s if se n ding h e r a melancholy
g r eeting S h e ga z ed at t he m with o ut a tea r i n
h e r eyes Th e extrem e p allo r of h e r face a n d
the sl igh t t r e mbli n g of h e r l ips al o ne r e v eale d
th e grief th at a ffl icte d h e r sou l
S udden ly th e fligh t o f a wh ite b utterfly circ l i ng
i n th e a i r att r acte d h e r ga z e S h e fol lowe d i t
absen tly with h er eyes an d th e bu tter fly as i f
drawn by Berta s ga z e t r aci n g caprici ou s cir
cles left th e te r race fle w swiftly t o Be r ta s w i n
dow an d e n tered th e r oom
With a n i n v o l u nta r y m ov e m e n t B e r ta ex;
ten de d h e r h an ds to catch i t b ut th e b utte r fly
darte d betwee n th e m an d ci r cle d swift l y a n d
silently abou t h e r h ead form ing a r ou n d h e r b r o w
a sort Of aureole
wh ich appe a r ed an d d i s a p
a re d
e
like
a
s
uccessio
n
f
ligh
tn
i
ng
flash
e
s
o
p
Th e wings of th e b utterfly gl o we d ab ove Be r th a s
h ea d wi th a l igh t l ike th e firs t splen d ors of th e
dawn The n it p assed b efore h e r eyes sh e s a w
i t h o v e r ing o v e r th e flowe r s o n th e terrace an d
t he n i t disappea r e d from h e r gaze a s i f i t h a d
v an i sh ed i n to ai r
He r eyes sough t it wi th i n
describ abl e e age r n ess b ut i n vai n ; s h e s a w i t
n o m ore
S h e cl asped h er h an ds a n d tw o l arge tears ro se
t o h e r eye s an d rol le d down h e r cheeks
,
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THE
74
W H I T E B UTT E R F LY
.
On
th e fo l lo wi ng day th e hou se k eepe r e nte r
i ng B e r ta s ro o m s a w a sh adow ou tli ned agai n s t
th e wall ab o ve th e h ead of h e r bed Th i s
sh adow a s t h e n u r s e l o ok ed t o o k th e f o r m of a
h u m a n h ea d
I t w as th e h e a d o f Ad r i a n Bake r th e s am e
h e ad w ith i ts p a l e f or eh ead i t s c om pe l ling
g l an c e a n d i ts s m i l e at o n c e sweet s a d a n d
m o c king
Th e h o usekeepe r o u t of h e r W its with te rr o r
cro ss ed h e r se l f a s if s h e h ad see n a d iabol ica l
v isi o n a n d h u rr ied o u t o f th e ro o m
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b
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A d ri a n
’
B a k e r s d e ath h a s w r o u g h t te rr ib l e
r a v ages i n Be r t a
S h e doe s not dist r e s s th o se
a ro u n d h e r by ce aseless sigh s an d tea r s ; s h e
d o es n ot con ti nu al l y p r o cl ai m i n word s th e depth
s h e h ides h e r
o f h e r s orr ow ; o n th e c on t r a r y
g r ief i n h er own breas t de vo u r s h e r te a r s i n
sec r et ch oke s back h er sigh s a n d utte r s n o u n
availing com pl ai nts ; Ad r ia n Bake r s n a m e i s
n ever h eard f ro m h e r lips
I t m igh t be t ho ugh t th at s h e h ad c o n soled h e r
self e asily i f i n h e r eye s th e r e did n ot lie th e
sh adow of a deep grief if th e pallo r of h e r
ch eeks d id n ot co v e r h er youthfu l be auty like a
fu n era l pal l if h e r h ol low v oi c e di d n ot r eveal
t he p r of o un d l on eli nes s of h er h eart At ti m e s
s h e sm il e s at h er fath er b ut i n h e r s m i l e s t h ere
i s an i nexpressibl e bi tter ness S h e ca n b e see n
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HE
6
7
W H I T E B U T T E R FLY
T
.
blood a di abolical ph ilt r e S trong love wil l s u r
v ive abse nce b ut n o love wil l survive dea t h
Berta con sequ e n tly w a s bewitche d
H e r fa t h er h as on ly o n e th o ugh t expre ssed i n
th ese word s :
H e h as gon e away a n d h e i s tak
i n g h e r with h i m afte r al l h e i s taking h e r wi th
”
h im
Bu t t h ere i s stil l o n e oth e r resource to b e a p
peal e d to — s o li tud e th e fi eld s n at ure Wh o ca n
tel l th e s k y th e s u n th e ai r of th e c ou n try m ay
rev ive h e r ; th e poetry of n ature m ay awake n i n
h er h eart n e w feeli ngs an d ne w h ope s t h e m ur
m ur o f t h e wa ters th e song o f t h e bird s th e sh ad e
—
why n ot
Th ere i s n o h u m an s or
o f th e trees
ro w h owe v e r grea t it m ay b e th at doe s n ot sin k
i n to i n s i g n i fica n ce bef or e th e g r a n de u r of th e
h eave n s
At a l i t tle di stan ce fr o m th e city Berta s fath er
h a s a s m all villa wh ose wh ite wall s an d r ed roof
ca n b e s ee n through th e tre e s wh ich surr o u n d i t
Th e r e c oul d n ot b e a m ore picturesqu e si tua t i on
T o th e righ t th e m oun tai n t o the left th e plain ;
i n fro nt th e s e a s t r etch ing fa r i n th e dista n ce
u ntil i t blen d s with th e h orizon a n d th a t n oth ing
m ay b e wa n ti ng to com pl ete th e picture th e rui n s
of a n an cien t m on as t ery seated o n th e sl ope o f
th e m oun tai n can be see n from th e villa
Berta o f fere d n o re si stance for i t wa s a m atte r
Of i n di ff ere n ce to h er wh e t h e r s h e l ived i n th e
ci t y o r i n th e cou n t ry th e o n l y th i ng s h e sh owe d
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T H E W H I T E B UTT E RFLY
77
.
w
a s th at th e pi an o sh ould b e
des
i
r
e
abou
t
y
take n wi th th em as if s h e r egarded i t a s a dea r
frie n d an d h er o nly co nfida n t ; a n d th e fam ily
r em ove d to th e vill a a n d establ i she d T
hems elves
in it
Be r ta h e r self arranged t h e r o o m wh ich sh e wa s
t o o ccupy i n th e villa Th i s ope ne d on th e ga r
de n an d se r ve d h e r both a s be droom a nd dressi ng
r oom
Above h er bed s h e h ung a be autifu l life
s ize ph otograph o f a h ead I t was th at of Ad r i a n
B ake r with h i s pale sm ooth brow h i s l arge bl u e
e ye s a n d h i s beautiful golden c ur l s — th e h ead of
A dri a n Baker a dm ira b ly ph o tograph ed a n d wh i c h
s h e h e r self h ad sh aded
F or th e p ian o n o place c o ul d b e fou n d t o pl ease
B e r ta T h e re wa s o n ly o n e com m o n room i n th e
v il la th e parl or wh ich at ti m e s al so served as a
di n ing r oom S h e wa s h esitati ng betwee n th e
pa r lor an d h e r be droom wh e n th e ide a o c curred
t o h e r to put it i n a s m al l pavil ion covered with
v ine s a n d h on eys u ckles which stood i n a corn er
of th e ga r de n a n d wh ich was u se d a s a h ot h ouse
Th e i de a seem ed to b e a h appy o n e an d s h e
sm iled a s it occurre d to h er a nd th e pi a n o wa s
placed i n th e p avilion l ike a b ird i n i t s cage
Th e j ourn ey m ust h ave fatigued Berta fo r s h e
r etire d e arly to h er room where th e n urse l eft
h e r i n b ed D i d s h e sleep ? We can n ot s a y ;
b u t at daw n th e songs of the bird s th at m ad e
thei r nests i n th e ga r de n cau se d h e r t o ri s e S h e
an
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78
W H I T E B U TT E RFLY
TH E
.
Ope n e d th e wi ndow shu tte rs a n d a flock of bird s
fle w away f r igh ten ed to h ide the m sel v e s i n th e
I Op s o f th e tree s gi lde d by th e first r ays O f th e
Be for e l o ng h oweve r th e b oldest o f th e m
su n
r e tu rn e d to h op bef o re h e r wi n dow looking at
Berta wi th a ce rtai n a u daci ou s fa m i li arity a s if
th ey r ecogn ize d i n h e r a n ol d fri e n d A fe w
g r ai n s of w h e at an d a fe w c r u mb s of bre ad scat
t e re d o n th e wi n dow si l l g r ad u a l ly att r acte d t h e
m o r e ti m id wh o g r e w at l ast t o b e fam iliar Th e
s ligh test m o v e m e n t i n dee d c a u se d the m t o take
fl igh t p r ecipitately bu t t h ey soon r ec o ve r e d the i r
l o st confid en c e a n d th ey r etu r n e d agai n t o h 0 p
gay l y o n th e i ro n r ai l i ng of th e wi n dow
Be r t a wat c h e d th em a n d a s s h e wat ch e d th e m
s h e s m il e d ; a n d at th e e n d o f a fe w d ays s h e h ad
i nduced th e m t o co m e i n a n d o ut with perfect
co nfi d e nce
I n h e r s ol i ta r y wa l ks th r o ug h th e
ga r de n a n d th ro ugh th e aven u e of l i m e tree s
wh i c h l e d t o th e v i lla th ey fol lo wed h e r flyi ng
f r o m t r ee to tre e S he spe n t a f e w h o u r s o f th e
m o r n i ng e v ery day i n th e pavi l i o n an d th e r e
t h e b irds c am e also m i ngl i ng the i r j oy o us carol s
with th e m e la n ch oly strai ns of t he pi an o ; b u t th e
m ad gayety of th e bi r ds w a s power l ess to m i tigate
th e prof o u n d s adn es s of Berta ; h e r o n e th ough t
was sti ll Adrian —A d r ian Ba k e r
Th i s n a m e wh ich n eve r e scape d h e r lip s wa s
t o be seen writte n eve ryw h e r e by B e r ta s h and
o n th e ga r den w a ll s o n th e t ru n k s of t h e t r ees ;
-
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T H E W H I T E B U TT E RF LY
79
.
an d e v e n th e vi n e s th at covered th e pavi l ion h a d
i n te r lace d thei r bran che s i n s uch a m an ne r th a t
”
“
A dria n Bake r
could be deciph e r e d i n th em
T h is nam e wa s to b e m e t eve r ywh e re l i k e th e
m u te e ch o o f a n u n dyi n g m e m ory
D urin g th e m o rn i ng h ours Berta s c o u n ten a nce
s eem e d t o b e mo r e a n i m ate d an d h e r ch ee k s h ad
e ve n at ti m e s a r osy h u e b u t a s th e day decli n e d
h e r t r a n sie n t a n i mation faded away as if th e s u n
of h er l ife t o o approach ed i ts setting
S e ate d at he r wi nd o w s h e con te m p l ate d i n
si l en c e th e cl o uds il lu m i n e d by th e las t rays o f
th e setting s u n Jua n a wh o h ad exh a usted i n
v ain al l h e r subj ects of co n ve r s ati on wa s wi t h
her A sudde n brigh tn es s h ove r ed over Be r ta s
h ead fo r a n i n stan t circle d swift l y a ro u n d i t an d
the n van i sh ed f r o m sigh t
”
Did yo u s e e i t ? cri ed Be r ta
”
“
“
a n swe r ed th e n u r se i t wa s a w h i te
Yes
”
b utte r fly th at wan ted to sett l e o n y o ur h ead
”
“
Wel l ? aske d Be r ta
”
Wh ite b utterflies said th e n u r se a r e a sig n
”
o f go o d l uck ; they al ways b r i ng goo d n ews
”
“
Yes an swere d Berta p r es sing h e r n urse s
h an d convulsively
Th at i s my wh ite b utte r fly ,
an d th i s ti me i t wi l l n ot deceiv e m e Ad r i a n I s
com ing—ye s h e is co m ing fo r m e ; th at i s wh at
”
—
i t has c om e t o tell m e I wa s waiting fo r i t
Th e n urse gaze d a t he r f o r a m om e n t with
di l ate d eye s ; th e s etting s u n i llu m i n ed Be r ta s
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’
80
TH E W H I T E B UTT E RFL Y
.
c ou n ten a n c e with a stra n ge ligh t a n d th e p oo r
wom an u n ab l e to suppo r t th e l ook wh ich b u rn ed
i n th e eye s o f th e s ick girl ben t h e r h ead a n d
c l asped h e r h an d s sayi ng t o h ers elf
My God ' S h e h a s l o s t h e r m i n d
,
,
,
,
Th e ide a th at Be r ta h ad l os t h e r r e as o n th r e w
th e h o usekeepe r i n to a state of distract i on S h e
wo uld h ide h erself i n th e r e m ote st co r n er s o f th e
h ouse to c r y by h e r se lf
S h e c o u l d n ot bear
a l on e th e bu r de n of s o terribl e a se c r et b u t to
HOW s tab the
w h o m coul d s h e confide i t ?
Totel l h i m t hat Berta
fath er s h e a r t s o c rue l ly
h ad l o st h e r r eas o n wou ld b e t okil l h i m
Th e
go o d m a n watch e d o v er h is daugh te r wi th th e
eye s of l o v e b ut l o ve i tself m ade h i m b l i n d a n d
h e di d n ot perce ive h e r m adn ess
A n d th e h o usekeepe r be cam e e v e r y d ay m or e
an d m o re co nv i nced of the r eal ity of th i s dread
ful m isfort u n e D uring th e nigh t s h e stole m a n y
t i mes to th e sleeping girl s bedsi de a n d listen ed
t o h e r cal m b r eath ing N o e x tra o rdi n a ry ch ange '
e ith e r i n h e r h abits o r h e r a c ts or h er wo r ds
gave evid en ce of th e wa n deri ng of her m i n d I
Tru e b ut s h e wa s waiti ng fo r Adria n Bake r an d
I t wa s i n va i n
s h e decla r ed th at h e woul d com e
S he t r ied to pe r su ade h e r th a t th i s wa s fol ly f o r
Be r ta e ith e r g r e w an g r y a n d co m m an de d h e r to
b e S i l en t or s m i l ed wi th scornful p i ty at h e r
a r u m e n ts
a s n ot t h i s m ad ne ss ?
W
g
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T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
8I
.
Th e h ou s ekeeper su dde n ly los t he r appetite
a nd h er sleep ; a n d s h e sh u n n e d Berta s fa th er
for sh e w a s n ot s ure of be i ng abl e t o keep th e
secre t whi ch s h e car r ie d i n h e r b o s om Th e
s ame th ought kept re v o lvin g i n h e r m i n d l i k e a
m i ll I t se eme d as if Be r t a s mad ne ss wa s goi n g
t o cost th e n urse al so h e r r eason
O n e nigh t s h e l ay tossing ab ou t u n abl e t o
sle ep h e r im agi n ati on filled with d r eadfu l spec
tre s I n th e m idst of th e d a r kn ess s h e s a w face s
approach ing an d r ecedi ng fro m h er th at l aughe d
an d wept th at van i sh e d to appe a r agai n an d al l
th ese faces t h at da nced befo r e h e r eyes h ad n ot
with standing th ei r g r otesque featu r es a diabol i
cal l iken e ss to th e h ea d of Adrian Bake r T h e
n u r se te r rified sh u t h e r eyes th at s h e m igh t n ot
see th em b u t n o twi th sta n ding s h e still c o nti n u ed
seeing th em
S h e though t th at s h e was u n de r th e i nfl uen c e
o f a n igh tm a r e
an d m aki ng a n e ff ort s h e s a t up
i n th e bed S udde nly sh e h ea r d a distan t s o u n d
of swee t m us ic a mys teri o u s m el o dy wh o se n o te s
d ied away on th e b r ee z e
S h e li sten e d atte n tively an d sh e s oo n c o m
p r e h en ded th at th e m usi c s h e h eard cam e fro m
t h e pian o an d s h e sp r a n g o u t of bed cr yi ng
”
Berta Berta l
S h e began to d r ess h e r self qu i ck l v g r opi ng fo r
h e r th ings i n th e d arkn ess saying a s sh e d id s o
i n a voi c e full of anguish :
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6
,
82
T H E W H I T E B U TT E RF LY
.
“
Alon e i n th e p avilion an d at thi s h o u r '
C h i l d of m y h e art you are m ad
A ll th e vision s sh e h a d see n di s appea r e d ; s h e
s a w n oth ing s h e o n ly h eard the di stan t n ote s o f
th e pia n o b r e aking th e sile n ce of th e n ight
Going i n t o th e h al l s h e g r oped h e r way to
Be r ta s r o o m
S h e gen t l y push ed i n th e doo r
wh i c h ope ne d n oise l essly an d a n i ndisti n c t gl i m
m e r like th e l as t glea m of twiligh t m e t h e r
eyes I t was th e l igh t o f th e n igh t l a m p b urn i ng
s o f t l y i n its po r celai n vas e
H e r fi r st glan ce w a s a t t h e bed wh i c h i n t h e
i n disti n ct ligh t p r ese nted t o h e r eye s o n l y a
sh ape l e s s o bj ect but i n a m o m e n t m o r e s h e s a w
th at th e bed was em pty
S h e th ough t of taking th e l a m p th at b u r ne d i n
th e co r ne r of th e ro om to l igh t h e r way a n d g o
i ng t o th e pavi lion b u t at th i s m om e nt s h e fe l t a
breath of col d d am p a i r b l owing softly o n he r
f ace
S h e t u r n e d h e r eye s i n th e di r ectio n f ro m
w h ich th e b r ee z e h a d com e an d obse r ved th at
th e win d o w wa s wide ope n an d th at o utsid e al l
w a s p ro f o u n d d a r kn ess
An d fil l e d with i n d escribab l e a m azem en t u n
wi l ling to believe th e evi den ce of h er eyes s h e s a w
wh at appea r ed t o be a hu m an figure stan din g m o
t i o n l e ss i n fron t of th e wi ndow i ts h an d s clasped
a n d i ts f o r eh ead r e sti ng agai n st th e w i n dow
f r am e
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T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
84
.
n ow far th a t thri ll th e h ea r t a n d ton e s th at fil l
t h e s oul with ter r or through th e v ibrating
ch o r ds al l t h e S pi r its of t h e oth e r worl d see m to
b e sp eaki ng i n a n u nkn own tongue
I do n ot kn ow h o w long th e h ou sekeeper m igh t
h ave stood si len t an d m oti on less u n der th e i n flu
e nce of th e terro r wh ich m aste r e d h e r if Be r ta
h ad n o t observe d h e r
I t cau se d h e r n ei th e r s u rpri s e n or al a r m to s e e
h er n urs e th ere App ro ach i ng h er s h e took h e r
by th e h an d a n d sh aki ng h e r ge n tly s aid :
D o you see — Do yo u h ear — I t i s Ad ria n
A d r i an wh o h as c o m e fo r m e th e wh i te b utte r
”
fly did n ot dece ive m e
Th e h ou seke eper h ad by th i s ti m e r ec o ve r e d
h e r self s u fficie ntly t o pas s h e r h a n d o ve r h e r
f or eh ead a n d t o r ub h e r eye s
”
I k n ew th at h e w o ul d co me
c o n ti n u ed
”
Be r t a ; I h av e b ee n waiti ng fo r h i m e v e r y d ay
Th e n u rse a s if by a sup r e m e e ff or t d r ew a
deep b r eat h
Do y o u h e a r th o se sigh s th a t c o m e fr o m th e
”
“
?
p ian o
s a i d Be r ta
I t i s h e ; h e i s c alli ng
m e ; a n d sin c e you a r e h e r e l et u s g o to m ee t
”
him
An d taking th e l am p i n he r h a n d a s s h e sp o k e
s h e added :
”
“
F o l low m e
N urse J u an a fol l owe d h e r like a gh os t
Th e y e n tere d th e ga r de n an d walke d towa r d
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TH E
WH I T E B U TT E RFL Y
8;
.
O
th e pa v i l i o n Th e pal e ligh t of th e la mp ill u
m i ned Berta s cou nte n a nce sh e ddi ng aroun d it
a fa ntasti c l igh t th at m ad e th e s ur ro u n ding da r k
n ess seem m o r e i nte nse
Th e n u r s e felt herself d r a wn al o ng by Be r ta ;
s h e walke d m e cha n i cally ; a po wer s t ro n g e r t h a n
h e r te r ro r i m pel l e d h e r
I n th is way th ey c ro sse d th e garde n a n d
reache d th e door o f th e p a v ilion Th e r e Be r ta
s t opped a n d cal led sof t ly :
Adri an
But th ere was n o respon se to h er c all
Th e n th ey e n te red th e pavilion
J ua n a caugh t h old o f Be r t a to ke ep fr o m fa l l
i ng an d closed her eye s
Th e l igh t of t h e l am p i ll um i n e d th e pavilion
whose sol i t ude seem ed s tartled by th i s u n expecte d
v isit ; th e pi an o was ope n a n d m u t e
N o on e ' exclai m e d Berta sigh i ng
”
N o on e
r epeated Jua n a open i ng h e r eye s
And so i t wa s t h e pavilion wa s e mpty
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I t i s b eyon d a doubt th at Berta s pian o h a s
th e m a rv ellous qu al ity of m aki ng its stri ngs sou n d
W ith o u t th e i nte r ve n t i o n of th e h um a n h an d A n d
th is b e i ng th e case i t m u st b e adm i t ted th at
this m a rv ello us in s t ru me nt is i n a d di ti on a con
su mm ate m u sici a n for i t plays with th e skill a t
t a i n e d on ly by grea t ar ti s t s
B u t since N u r se J uan a ca n n ot c o n ce ive h ow a
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86
THE
WH I T E B U TT E R F L Y
.
pian o c a n pl ay of i tself w ith o u t a h a n d m o ving
th e keys s h e h as decide d th at i n th i s di abol i c al
a ff ai r a n i n vis ible h a n d th e gh ostly h an d of s o m e
S pirit f r o m th e o t h er world h a s i n terve n e d
Th is s uppositio n i s n ot altogeth er adm i ssible
fo r i t see m s t o h ave bee n su ffic ie n t ly pro v ed t h at
spi r i ts d o n ot posse ss h a n ds But th e n urs e d o es
n o t s t op fo r s uch fi n e di sti ncti on s a n d S h e fi rm ly
b el i e v e s th at th e S pi r i t of Adria n Ba k e r i s wa n
dering abou t th e vil la C on de m n ed perh ap s t o
etern al t or men t h e takes pl ea s u r e i n t o r turi n g
th e living e v e n after h is d eath
A nd i t i s i n de e d a diab olica l a m use men t fo r
the se r e n ade i s r epeated n igh tly ; t h e fam il y are
a r o used f r o m s leep th ey h aste n t o th e pavil ion
a n d th e pi a n o bec o me s si le n t th ey en ter i t a n d
th ey fin d n o o n e Th ey h ave observed th at th e
airs p l ayed by Be r ta i n the m or n i ng a r e r epe ated
by th e pian o at n igh t
J u an a is assaile d by c on ti n u al ter r ors ; there
i s n o peace i n t h e h ouse Be r ta s fath e r i s u n
a b le to explai n the m ystery a n d h i s m i n d i s filled
with c o nfusi o n a n d h i s h ea r t i s a prey t o s u dden
alarms Th e l igh t of d ay dissipates th e agi t a t io n
o f th ei r m in ds th ey fancy t h e m se l ve s th e victi m s
h all ucination s an d armi ng th em selves
of v ai n
with h eroic valor t h ey m ake pl a n s for un rave lli ng
th e awesom e mys t ery
Th e m ost co urageous am ong t h em woul d h i de
i n th e pavi lio n a n d t h ere a wai t i n con cea lm e n t
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T H E W H I T E B UTT E RFLY
87
.
the h o ur of th e strange occurren ce ; i n thi s way
th ey wo ul d discove r wh at finge r s d r e w those
so un ds from t h e pi an o
S t rong i n t h is purpose th ey awa ited th e fi r st
sh ades o f n igh t ; b u t the n th e courage of th e
st ro nge st fa iled Th e ai r b ecam e fi ll e d with fe a r
ful sh adows th e s ilen ce wi th mysteriou s n oises
an d n o o n e v en ture d t o leave th e h o use T hey
spen t th e n igh ts i n vigil an d th e ter r o r by w h ic h
all we r e p o ssessed m ade the m see m i n te rm i n
abl e
An d fo r Berta o n th e oth e r h and th e days
we r e i nterm in able an d s h e awai ted th e n igh ts
with eage r i m patie n c e
O ne afte r noo n s h e exp r es sed a d esi r e t o V isi t
th e r u i n s of th e m o n astery an d s h e sh owed s o
m uch eagern ess I n th e m atte r th at t h e r e w a s n o
resou r ce b ut to accede t o h e r wish H er fath e r
a n d h e r n urse res o lved to a c com pany h e r an d th e
th r e e se t o u t
Th e dista n c e betwee n th e v ill a a n d th e m on
a s te r
o t great bu t th e party walked slowly
was
n
y
I n th e wi n di ng path th e rui n s disappeare d s u d
d e n l y beh i n d a h ill as if th e ea r th h a d swall o wed
th e m ; a few steps fur t her on they s u dden ly re
appe ared ; an d th e t r avelle r s s t oo d b ef or e th e
r uin ed p o rtico
F rom t h i s poin t th e eye c o ul d co n te mpl ate th e
r u i n e d wall s th e b roke n parti t i on s t h e cei li ngs
fa l le n in a n d betwee n th e l oos e st o n es the s o li
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88
WH I TE B U T TE RFLY
TH E
.
ta r y fl o we r s of th e r ui n O nly th e a r ch es w hi c h
s upporte d t h e v aul te d ro o f O f th e chapel h ad re
s is t ed t h e co r rodin g i nfl ue nce Of t i m e
Th e n urse woul d h ave n o w wil li ngly re t urne d
t o th e vil la a n d Berta s fath e r h a d no de si re to
go an y furth er ; but Berta p asse d th r ough th e
r ui n ed po r tico an d they were o blige d to foll o w
h er
S h e m ade h e r way i n to th e ch apel passing
u n der th e c r umbl i ng a r ch es wh ich threate ne d a t
e v ery m om e n t t o fal l down an d c r ush h er an d
s h e em erge d at wh a t m us t h ave been the cent r e
of th e m on astery ; for th e re m ai n s of t he wall an d
s o m e broke n an d unstea dy pilasters sh owed fou r
p ath s wh ich u n iti ng at the ir extre m i t ie s forme d a
s q uare Th i s m ust h ave bee n t h e C loi s te r ; i n
the m iddle we r e v es t iges o f a c hoked u p ciste r n
He r e Be r ta s a t down o n a piece of cornic e
wh ich wa s i m b edde d i n th e rubbi sh
Sh e
se e m e d pl ea se d i n t he m idst o f th i s desol ation
H e r fath e r an d t h e n u rse j oi ne d h e r with terro r
depicte d o n th ei r cou n te n a n ces ; th ey h ad h e ard
th e n o is e of footsteps i n th e ch ape l ; m o r e Juan a
h a d see n a sh adow glide away ; h o w o r wh ere
s h e did n o t kn o w b ut s h e wa s s u r e th at s h e h ad
s ee n i t
Berta sm i le d a n d s aid
Th e n ois e of f o otsteps an d a sh adow ? Ve r y
wel l ; wh at h ar m ca n th ose footsteps or th at
Th ey a r e pe r h aps th e fo o tstep s
s h adow d o u s
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HE W H I T E B UTT E R FLY
T
89
.
of
Adria n Bake r foll o wi ng u s ; i t i s h is sh ad e
th at accompan i e s us Wh at is th ere st r ange i n
th a t ? Do y o u n ot kn o w th at I c arry h i m i n my
hea r t ? Do yo u not kn o w th at I a m waiting f or
h i m th at I am al ways waiti ng fo r h i m
At t h e n am e of Ad r i an Bake r Be r ta s fath e r
an d th e n urse sh uddere d
”
“
Y e s my ch ild
said th e form e r b u t we are
fa r f r o m th e vi l l a th e s u n i s s e tti ng—i t i s g r ow
”
i ng late
”
”
“
Yes ye s said Ju an a l et u s g o back
Berta dre w h er fath er a ff ecti o n ately t o ward h e r
a n d said
Dear fath e r I a m n ot m ad Juan a I a m n o t
m ad Adrian promised m e th at h e wou ld return
a n d h e will retu r n I am waiti ng f or h i m Why
sh ould th a t be m adn ess ? I k n ow th at I gri eve
y o u a nd I d o n ot wish t o gri eve y o u I h ave
b egge d God a th ousan d ti me s o n m y kn ees to
tear h i s i m age f r o m m y h ea r t an d h i s m em o ry
f r om m y m in d ; b ut God wh o sees a ll th i ngs
fro m wh o m n o t hi ng i s h idden t o wh o m all thi ngs
?
are possibl e h a s n ot wi sh e d to d o i t
Why
”
He a lo n e knows
Th e father s eyes fi ll ed with te ars a n d th e
n urse h i d h er face in h er h a n ds t o keep back th e
S o b s th at r ose i n h e r th ro at
Berta con tin u ed
“
Y e s it i s growi ng l ate
But I a m ve r y ti r ed
”
L et u s wait a m o m en t
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0
9
T
HE
W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
.
Th ey h ad n o th i ng t o s a y i n an swe r t o h e r
w o r d s n o r c o ul d they h ave said anythi ng fo r
th ei r vo i c es fai led th e m
All th r ee re m ain ed silen t
S udde nly th ey looke d a t o n e a n oth e r wi th i n
desc r ibable a nxiety fo r a ll th ree h a d h ea r d a
sigh a h u m a n sigh th at seem ed exh aled by t h e
r ui n s a r ou n d th em
C o uld i t h a v e be e n th e win d m oan ing a s i t
s wept th ro ugh th e s h a r p p o i n ts of th e broke n
walls
Be r ta ro se t o h e r fe et a n d c r i ed twi c e i n a l o u d
vo ice :
”
“
Adria n ' Adri an '
H e r v oice wa s b orn e away o n th e breeze l os
i ng its elf i n th e distance B ut b efore th e l ast
n o t e s die d away a n o th e r vo i c e r e s o u n d e d am o n g
th e r uins sayi ng :
”
Be r t a ' Be r t a '
Th e s u n h ad j us t s e t a n d th e twiligh t sh ad ows
gath ere d swif t ly a s if they h ad sprung u p fro m
am ong th e r u i n s h i ding th e br o ke n pill a r s an d
th e crumbling walls
I n o n e o f th e angles o f th e cloiste r appea r e d a
m ovi ng sh adow Th i s sh adow advan ced sl owly
f th e cou r t wh ere
u n ti l i t re ach e d th e m id dl e O
th e re m ain s o f t h e dis used cistern we r e seen
Th e r e it stopped and i n a s o ft c le a r v oi c e u tte r e d
t h e w o rd s
”
I t i s I Be r ta ; i t i s I
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WH I T E B UTT E R FL Y
TH E
2
9
.
th e m idst of th ose ruin s wh ich bega n to assu m e
fan t astic form s a n d wh ich se e m e d t o m ove i n
t h e gath eri ng sh ades of twi light Berta h e r fath e r
a n d th e n urse m igh t wel l b elieve th em selve s i n
t he presen ce of a spectre ev oked t here by th ei r
prese nce
But th e fact wa s th at th e sh adow i n stea d of
v a n ish i ng i n stead of ch anging i ts sh ap e a s h ap
pe n s wi th ch i m eras of th e brain a ssum e d before
th ei r eye s a m ore di sti n ct form m ore defin ite
outli n e s accordi ng a s h e app r oach ed t h e group
R e ach i n g t h e m h e took gen tly i n h i s th e h a nds
Be rt a h eld o u t t o h im H is eye s sh on e with th e
ligh t o f a s u prem e tri u m ph
”
“
It is I
h e said i n a m oved v oi ce
I
Adri an Ba k e r I a m n ot a spe ctre r ise n from th e
”
tom b
Berta f e lt h erself growing fai n t an d was oblige d
to s i t d own ; an d Adri a n Baker con t i n ued th us :
“
F orgive m e
I h ave pu t you r h e ar t to a te r
r ib l e proof bu t th e doub t s of my soul were s t il l
m o re terrible Th e worl d h ad fi l le d my spiri t
wi t h h orrible dis trust a n d I d esire d to sou nd th e
utterm o s t depth s of your love I t h as r esisted
abs en ce a n d i t h a s re si sted de a t h Your love
for m e was n ot a passi ng fa ncy ; you d i d n ot de
ce i v e you r self wh en
you v owed m e a n etern al
love I l eft yo u i n o rder to watch yo u an d I died
to comp r e h e n d you I h ave foll owe d you every
wh e r e ; I h ave n ot sep a r ate d from you a si ngle
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W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
TH E
.
m ome n t M y sweet Be r ta ' Yo u wai ted for m e
living an d yo u h ave w aited fo r m e dead
I f yo u
wai t f o r m e I s aid you r o wn h ea r t will an n ou n ce
a n d yo u see I h ave re turn ed
m y retu r n to you
I fel t fo r you a n i m m e n s e te n de r ness b u t a te r
ribl e dou b t co n sum e d m y h eart H ad my ri ch es
d azzl e d you
F orgive m e Berta
A fatal
learni ng h ad froze n fai th i n my so ul ; I doubted
everythi ng an d I doubte d your h ea r t also — I
”
doubted you
Berta clasped he r h an ds a n d rai sin g h e r eyes
to heave n exc l ai m e d m ournful ly
”
My God ' wh at crue l i nj us t ice '
”
“
“
Ye s ' b urs t o ut Adrian Bake r ; crue l i n
j u stice ' bu t yo u h ave r esuscitate d m y h e a r t ;
”
yo u h ave brough t m y soul back to life
”
Ah
s ai d Berta l ay i ng h er h a nds o n h is
“
b r east wh at if i t we r e too l ate
Th e n t u r n ing t o h e r fath e r an d th e n ur s e s h e
said
I feel very col d l e t u s retur n to th e v i l l a
an d l e an ing o n Ad r ia n Bake r s a r m s h e l e d th e
way
He r fa t h er an d th e n urs e foll o wed h e r i n
si l e n ce Th e g o o d m a n h ad co m preh e n de d eve r y
thi ng bu t th e poo r wom a n co mpreh en ded
n oth ing
Wh at passe d th at n igh t i n th e vil l a i t i s n ot
n ece ssary to relate ; i t was a n igh t of pai n of
agitati on an d of a ngu i sh I t was necessary t o g o
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T H E W H I T E B U TT E RFL Y
94
.
to th e ci ty fo r a physici an wh y ? Beca use Be r t a
was dy i ng
Adria n Bake r was t h e i m age of de
spai r ; the u n h appy fath e r wept a s if h is h eart
woul d b r eak an d the n u rse stole away f ro m tim e t o
ti m e t o c r y u n abl e to r estrai n he r tea r s
At d aw n i t was n e c essary t o go agai n to th e
c i ty for th e physicia n of th e b ody h a d exh auste d
t he resour c es of s cie n ce an d th ey we r e o b lige d
to h ave r e co u r se t o th e physici a n of th e soul
Dawn was j us t b r eaki ng wh e n a pri est aligh te d
at th e doo r of th e v il l a Th e sick gir l rece ive d
h im if w e m ay b e allowe d t h e expression with
m el a n c h oly gl adn e s s a n d a l itt l e late r a l l wa s
ove r
I n th e m i dd l e of th e r o o m o n a fu n eral bie r
l igh te d by s i x large wa x t ape r s whi ch cast a
m el an ch oly ligh t a r ou n d l ay the body of th e
d ead gi r l
Th e wi n dow adm itted th e m orn ing
ligh t ; a n d th e a utu m n wi n d tearing th e dea d
l e a v e s f r o m th e t r ee s i n th e ga r den scatte r ed
the m o ve r th e i n an im ate fo rm of Be r ta as if
death th u s r e n de r e d h o m age t o death
Att r a c ted by th e l igh t of th e t o r ch es a W h i te
b utte r fly fle w si le n t l y i n a n d c i r c le d a r ou n d an d
a ro un d th e h ead of th e dead gi rl
Wat c h i ng th e b o dy were th e fath e r l ea n i ng ov e r
th e bie r b owe d down u n de r th e w eigh t o f an i m
m easu r able gr ief ; th e n u r s e diss ol ve d i n tea r s ;
A d r i an wi th dry a n d g l i tte r in g e ye s pale m o
t i on l e ss m ute te rr ib l e i n h i s a ng u ish ; a nd the
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THE
W H I T E B UTT E RFL Y
9S
.
p r ies t with fol ded a r m s a n d h ead be n t o ver h i s
b r east m urm uring pi ous praye r s
S uch was th e sce n e wh i c h th e m orn i ng s u n
ligh ted i n Berta s ro om Th e b irds 6f th e garde n
aligh ted o n th e r ail of th e wi n do w b u t did n o t
ve ntu r e to e n te r ; th ey l ooke d i n app r ehen s ively
an d fle w away te rrified ; th ey twittered o n th e
bra nch es of th e tre es an d th ei r m e l a n c h o ly ch irp
ings seem ed l ike sigh s
Breath ing a S igh torn f ro m th e i n m ost depth s
o f h i s s o ul A d r ian B a k e r ex cl ai m e d i n a h ol lo w
voice
“
Mi se r ab l e m a n th at I a m ' I h a v e ki ll e d
h er
”
“
Ah ye s
s ai d th e p r i est s l owly sh aking
”
h i s h ead
D i v i n e Justi c e —Dou bt kil l s
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E O RGA NIS T
MA E S E PE REZ TH
,
BY
GUS TAV O A DO LFO BECQL
JER
From
Moder n Gh o sts
”
.
Pu b lished b y
Copyrigh t, 1 890,
Translate d b y Roll o O g den
Ha rp er Brothers
.
by
Hp
a r er
5 B roth ers
'
.
.
M A ESE
I oo
P ERE Z
T H E O R GA N I S T
,
.
th anks t o h i s i nfl ue nce wi th th e g r e at on es at
M adri d A l l h e co m es t o ch u r ch f or i s t o h e a r
th e m usi c
A las ' n e ighb o r th at l o oks b ad
I fea r
the r e 5 goi ng to b e a scu ffle I sh all t ake r efuge
i n th e ch urch f or accordi ng t o m y guess th ere
w ill b e m ore blows th an P a tern os ters
L ook
l oo k ' th e D uke of A l ca l a s people are comi ng
ro un d th e co r n er of S ai n t P eter s S q uare an d I
th i n k I s e e th e D uke of M e d i n a s i d on i a s me n i n
?
D u e fia s Al ley
n
t
D id
I tel l yo u
Th ere
th e r e ' Th e blows are b egi n n i ng N eighbo r
n eighbo r thi s wa y before th e y close th e doors
But wh at 5 t hat ? T h ey v e left o ff Wh at 8
th a t ligh t ? Torches ' a l itte r ' I t s th e bis h op
h i m self ' God prese rve h i m i n h is o ffi ce a s m any
ce n turi e s a s I desi re to live m ys elf ' I f i t we r e
n o t fo r h i m h alf S evill e wou l d h ave be e n b u r n e d
u p by th is ti m e wi th th e se quar r el s of th e d ukes
Lo o k a t th em look at th em th e h ypocri te s h o w
th ey both pre s s forward to kiss th e bish op s ri ng
But com e n eighbo r—com e i n to th e ch u r ch
befo r e it i s p acked full S o m e nights l i ke th i s i t
i s s o c r owde d tha t you co uld n ot ge t i n if you
we r e n o l arge r th a n a g r ai n of wh e a t Th e n un s
h ave a pri z e i n th ei r organ i st O t h er si sterh o o ds
h ave m ade M aese P é rez m agnifice n t o ff ers n oth
i ng strange about th at though fo r th e ve ry arch
b ish op h a s o ff ere d h i m m oun tai n s of gold if h e
w o u l d g o t o t h e c at h e d r al B u t h e w o u l d n o t
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MA E S E
l isten
P ERE z,
T H E O R GA N I S T
I OI
.
to the m He would soon er di e t h a n giv e
You don t kn o w M ae se
U p h is bel oved orga n
O h I forgot yo u h a d j ust com e to th e
P ere z ?
n eighb o r hood Well h e i s a h oly m an ; poor t o
be su r e b u t as ch ari table a s a ny m a n t h at eve r
l ived With n o rel ative b ut a daugh ter an d n o
frie n d b ut h is organ h e spe nds al l h is ti m e i n
caring f or th e o n e a n d repairing th e oth e r Th e
organ i s a n O l d a ff ai r yo u m ust kn ow ; bu t th at
m ake s n o di fferen ce to h i m H e h an dles i t s o
th at i t s ton e i s a won der H o w h e doe s kn ow i t '
a n d all by touch to o fo r did I tel l y o u th a t th e
p oo r m an was bor n b li n d ?
H u m b l e too as th e ve ry sto n es
H e a lways
s ays th at h e i s on ly a poo r co nve n t organ is t wh e n
th e fact i s h e coul d give lesson s i n s o'f a to th e
ve ry c h apel m aster of t h e pri m a t e You Se e h e
His fath er h ad t h e
b Eg a n before h e h ad t ee th
s am e p o sition before h im a n d as th e boy sh owe d
s uch talen t i t was very n a t ural th at h e sh ou l d
su cceed h is fa t h er wh en th e lat t e r died An d
wh at a touch h e h as God bless h im
H e al ways
plays w ell al ways ; b ut o n a n igh t l ike th is h e i s
wonderful H e h as th e greatest devoti on to thi s
Christm as E ve m ass a n d wh e n th e h ost i s ele
preci sely at twelve o clock wh ich is th e
v a te d
time t h at O ur L ord cam e i nto the world h i s orga n
sou n ds l ik e th e voices o f angel s
Bu t w h y n eed I try to tel l you about wh at you
a r e goi ng to h e a r to n igh t ? I t i s e nough f or you
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MA
ESE
’
PEREE, T H E O R GA N I S T
.
t o s e e th at al l th e e l ega nce of S evi l le th e v e r y
archbish op i n c l uded co me s to a h umb le con v e n t
to l i ste n to h i m A n d i t i s n ot on ly th e l e a r n e d
pe ople wh o ca n u nderstan d h i s skil l th at com e ;
th e com m o n p eople too swarm to th e ch urch
an d are s t ill as t he dea d wh e n M aese P e re z puts
h i s h a n d to th e o r gan
A n d wh e n th e h ost i s
e levated — wh e n th e h ost i s el evated th e n you c an t
h ea r a fly G r eat te a r s fal l f rom every eye a n d
w h en th e m usic i s over a long d r aw n S igh i s
h e ard sh owing h ow t h e people h a v e been h ol di ng
th eir brea t h al l th rough
But com e c o m e the bell s h ave stopped
ringing a n d th e m as s is going to b egi n
H urry
i n Th i s i s Christm as E ve for everybody bu t
”
f o r n o on e i s i t a greate r occa si o n t h an for u s
S o sayi ng th e g o od wom a n wh o h ad bee n
acting as Ci ceron e for h er n eigh b or presse d t h rough
th e portico of th e Con v e n t of S an ta I n es an d
elbowi ng t h is o n e a n d push ing th e oth er s u c
ce e d e d i n getting i n side th e ch u r ch fo r ci ng h e r
w a y thr o ugh th e m ultitude th at wa s cr o wdi ng
ab o u t t h e d o o r
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II
.
T HE
ch urch was p r ofu sely ligh ted Th e fl o od
o f l igh t wh i ch fell f ro m th e altars gl an ce d from
th e ri ch j ewel s o f th e gre at l adies wh o k n eel ing
up o n v elve t cushi on s pl aced before th e m by
.
,
,
M A E S E P ER E Z , T H E O RGA N I S T
I O4
.
i t wil l be i m p o ssib l e f or h im t o com e t o th e m i d
”
n igh t m ass
T h i s wa s th e wo r d b ro ugh t ba ck by th e a t
te n dan t
Th e news r a n i nstantly th ro ugh th e crowd
Th e distu r ban ce cause d by i t was s o gr eat th a t
th e ch ief j udge r os e to h i s feet a n d th e O ffice r s
c am e i n to th e c h u r ch to e nfo r ce si lence
J u st the n a m a n of un pl easan t face t h i n b o n y
a n d c r oss eye d to o push ed u p t o the p l a c e wh e r e
th e a r ch bish o p was si tting
”
“
Maes e P ér e z i s sick h e s aid ; t he ce r e m on y
c an n ot begi n
If you s e e fi t I wi ll pl ay th e
orga n i n h i s abse nce M ae se Pere z i s n ot th e
bes t o rgani s t i n th e worl d n o r n ee d th i s i n s tru
m e n t b e left u n u sed afte r h i s d e at h fo r l ack of
”
any on e able to play i t
Th e a r chbish op n odd e d h i s h e ad i n assen t
alth ough some of th e faithfu l wh o h ad a l r eady
r ecogn i z ed i n th at s trange pe r s o n a n e nvio us
r i v al of th e organ i st of S a n t a I n és we r e breaki ng
o u t i n c r ie s of displ easu r e
S udde nly a surp r i s
i ng n oi se wa s h e ard i n th e portico
Maese P ére z i s h ere
Mae se P e r ez is h e r e
A t th i s sh ou t com i ng f r om th ose j am me d i n
by th e d oo r every on e looke d a r ou n d
M aese P ere z pa l e a n d feeb l e was i n fa c t e n
te r i ng th e ch urch b r ough t i n a ch ai r wh ich al l
we r e qu ar r elling f or the h on o r o f c a rr yi ng up o n
th ei r sh o u l de r s
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MA E SE
P ERE Z
T h e c o m m an ds
T
,
HE
O RG AN I S T
of
10
.
5
th e physicia n s th e tea r s of
h is daugh ter — n oth i ng h ad bee n able to keep h i m
i n bed
”
“
“
No
h e h ad said ; th i s i s th e fast o n e I
know i t I kn ow it a n d I do n ot wan t t o di e
with ou t v isi ti ng m y orga n again th is n igh t ab ov e
al l thi s C h r is t m as Eve
Co m e I desi re i t I
”
o rde r i t ; com e to th e ch urch '
H i s desire h ad bee n g r a t ified
Th e people
carried h i m i n thei r a r m s to th e orga n loft Th e
m ass b egan
Twelve stru ck o n th e cathe d r al clock
Th e i nt r oit cam e th e n th e Gospel th e n th e
O ff ertory an d th e m ome nt ar r ived wh e n t h e priest
af t e r consecrati ng th e sacred wafer took i t i n
h i s h an ds an d bega n t o el evate i t A cloud of
i n ce n se fill ed th e ch u r ch i n bluish un d ulati on s
Th e little b ell s rang o u t i n vibratin g peal s an d
M aese Pere z placed h is aged finge r s upon th e
o rgan keys
Th e m ulti tudi n o us voice s o f t h e m etal t ube s
gave for t h a prolonged a n d m aj estic ch ord wh ic h
d ied away lit t le by l ittle as if a gen tl e breeze
h ad born e away i ts l as t ech o es
To th i s openi ng bu rst wh ich s eeme d l ike a
voice l if t ed up to h eave n f r o m e ar t h responded
a swee t an d distan t n ote wh i ch wen t o n swe llin g
an d swe l ling i n vol u m e u n til i t b e c am e a tor r en t of
overpowering h arm on y I t wa s th e voice Of th e
angels t r ave r sing space a n d r each ing th e w o rld
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MAESE
I O6
T H E O RGA N I S T;
PER E z,
Th e n di sta n t hym n s b ega n t o b e h ea r d i n
toned by th e h iera r ch ies of se r aph i m a th o usan d
hym n s at o n ce m i ngl ing to form a si ngle on e
t houg h t h is o n e wa s on ly a n a ccom pan i m en t to a
s t r ange m elody wh ich see med to fl o at abo v e that
o c ea n of mysterio us e c h oes as a st r ip of fog
abo v e th e wave s of th e s e a
O n e s o ng afte r a noth e r di ed away Th e m o ve
N o w o nly two v oices were
m e n t g r ew si mpl e r
h e ard wh ose e ch oes blen de d Th e n b ut on e
re m ai n ed a n d al one s ustaine d a n ote as b r i llia nt
as a threa d o f ligh t The pri est b owe d h i s face
an d abo v e h is g r ay h e ad appe a r ed th e h ost At
th a t m ome n t th e n o te wh i c h M ae se P é rez was
h old i ng bega n to swell a n d s well a n d a n e x p l o
si o n of u n speaka b l e j oy fi lled t h e ch urch
F rom e ach of th e n ote s form i ng th at m a g n i fi
ce n t ch or d a th e m e was deve loped ; an d s o m e
n e ar oth e r s far away th e se bril li ant t h ose
m uffled o n e woul d h a v e s ai d th at th e wate r s an d
t h e b irds th e breezes a nd th e fore sts m e n a n d
a ngels ea r th a n d h eaven we r e s i ngi ng e ac h i n
i ts own language a hym n i n p r ais e of th e S a v i o u r s
birth
Th e people l iste n e d am aze d an d bre ath l ess
Th e o ffi ciati ng priest fel t h is h a n ds trembl ing ;
fo r i t se em ed as if h e h ad s ee n th e h eaven s
ope n ed an d th e h ost tra n s fig u re d
The o r ga n kept on b ut i ts voice san k away
gradually like a t o n e going f r o m e c h o to ech o
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MA E S E
I o8
P EREZ
HE
III
“
O RG AN I ST
T
,
.
.
G O O D -E V E N I N G ,
my dea r D o ri a Baltasara
A re yo u a lso goi ng t o n igh t to th e Ch ri s t ma s
E ve m ass ? F o r my part I wa s i n ten di ng t o go
to th e pa r ish ch u rc h t o h e ar i t b ut wh at h as h ap
pe n e d —wh ere i s Vi cen te goi ng d o you a sk ?
Why wh ere th e c r ow d goe s An d I m ust s a y
to t el l th e truth th at e ver si n ce M aese P é rez
d ied i t se em s a s if a m arbl e sl ab wa s o n my h ea r t
wh en eve r I go to S an ta In és P oor cl ea r m a n
H e wa s a sai n t ' I k no w on e th ing— I keep a
pie ce o f h is cl oak a s a r el i c an d h e deserve s i t
I s olem n ly b eli eve t h at if th e arch bi sh op woul d
stir i n t he m atter o u r gra n dch i ldre n woul d s e e
hi s i m age a m ong th e s ain t s o n th e altars B u t
o f c o urse h e won t d o th at
Th e d ea d a n d a b
sen t h ave n o frien ds a s th ey s a y I t s all th e
l a t est th i ng n owad ays ; you u n dersta n d m e
Wh at ? You do no t know wh at h as h ap pen ed ?
Wel l i t 3 t r ue yo u are n ot exactly i n o u r si t u a
ti on F ro m o u r h ouse to th e ch urch a n d from
th e c h urch to our h ouse — a word h ere a n d a n
oth er o n e th ere — oh th e wi n g— with out a ny
curiosity wh ateve r— I easi ly fi n d o u t al l th e
n ews
Well th en i t s a settl ed th i ng th at th e o rga n
i st of S a n R om a n — th at s qui n t eye wh o i s a l
ways slan deri ng othe r organ i s t s — th a t grea t bl u n
de r e r wh o see m s m o r e l ike a bu t ch e r tha n a
‘'
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M A E SE
m aste r
PER E z,
T H E O R GA N I S T
1 09
.
i
s
goi
ng
to
pl
ay
t
hi
s
Ch
rist
ma
s
f
E ve i n M ae se P erez s o l d place
O f course yo u
k now for everybody kn ows i t a n d i t i s a publi c
m atte r i n al l S eville th at n o o n e d zi re d to try
H is daugh ter wo ul d n ot t h ough s h e i s a
it
p ro fesso r of m u sic h erself Afte r h er fath er s
death s h e wen t i n to t h e co n ve n t as a n o vice
H e r u n willingn ess t o p l ay w a s th e m os t n at ura l
thi ng i n th e world ; accu sto med a s s h e wa s t o
th o se m arvel lous perform an ce s any oth er pl ay
i ng m ust h ave appe ared b ad to h er n ot to spe ak
But wh e n
o f he r desire to avo rd compari son s
t h e s isterh ood h ad already de ci ded th a t i n h ono r
o f t h e dead orga n i st a n d as a toke n o f respe ct to
h i s m em ory th e orga n sh oul d n o t b e playe d to
n igh t h e r e com es th is fe llow a long a n d says th a t
h e i s ready to play i t
Ignoran ce i s th e bolde st of al l th ings I t i s
tru e th e fa ul t i s n ot h is s o m uch a s th eirs wh o
h ave con se n te d to th is profa n ation b u t tha t is
th e w a y Of th e world But I s a y th ere 5 n o
sm all bi t Of peopl e com i ng Any o n e wo ul d s a y
th a t n o th ing h ad ch anged S in c e las t yea r Th e
th e sa me el egan t
s am e d isti ngui she d person s
c o stum e s th e c ro wdin g at th e door th e s am e ex
c i t e m e n t i n th e p ortico th e sa m e th rong i n th e
ch u r ch Alas if th e dead m a n were to rise h e
wou l d feel l ike dying agai n t o h ear h is organ
playe d by i nferi or han ds Th e fact i s if wh a t
th e people Of th e n eighborh ood te l l m e i s true
o f s ol
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M AE S E
I Io
PER E z,
T H E O R GA N I S T
.
th ey a r e getti n g a fi n e r e cepti o n re ady f o r th e i n
Wh en th e ti m e co mes fo r h i m t o to uch
t ru d e r
th e keys th e r e is goi ng to bre ak o u t a racke t
m ade by ti mb r el s dru m s an d h orse fid d l e s s o
th at yo u ca n t h e ar an ything el se B u t h ush '
th ere 3 th e h e ro of th e occasio n goi ng i n to th e
ch urch Goodn es s ' w h at ga udy cloth es wh a t a
n eckcl oth wh a t a h igh an d migh ty air ' C om e
h urry u p th e a r chbish op cam e o n ly a m om e n t
ago an d th e m as s i s going to begin Com e o n
I gue ss th i s n igh t wil l give u s s om eth i ng t o t alk
ab out fo r m any a day
S ayi ng th is th e wo r th y wom an wh o m th e
r eade r r ecogni zes by he r abrupt t alkative n e ss
we n t i n to th e Ch ur c h of S a n ta I n é s Ope n ing fo r
h erself a path i n h e r u sual wa y by sh o vi ng a n d
e lb o wing th ro ugh th e c r owd
Th e cerem ony h ad al r eady b egu n Th e ch u rc h
wa s as brill i an t a s th e ye a r b ef o re
Th e n e w organ i st after p assin g b e twe e n th e
r ows of th e faithfu l i n th e n ave an d goi ng t o kiss
th e archb i sh op s ri ng h ad go n e up t o th e o rga n
loft wh ere h e wa s trying o n e st o p of th e o rga n
after a noth e r with a n a ff ecte d a n d ridi c ul o u s
g r avity
A low c o nfus e d n o i se was h ea r d c o m in g f r o m
th e com m o n pe o p l e cl u ste r ed at th e r e ar of th e
ch urch a s ure augury of th e c omi ng st o r m w hich
w o u ld n ot be l ong i n breaking
”
“
He i s a m e r e cl o wn , s ai d s o m e wh o d o es
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M A E S E P ERE Z , T H E O R G A N I S T
1 12
.
s ustai n ed itse l f pou ri ng f ro m th e organ s m eta l
t ubes like a c as c a de of i n e x h au stible an d s o n o
ro u s h a r m o ny
Ce l esti a l s o ngs l ike th o se th at ca r ess th e e a r
i n m om e nts of e c stasy ; songs whi c h th e s o u l
perceive s b ut wh ich the lip ca nn o t r epeat ; s i ng l e
n o te s o f a dista n t m elody wh i c h s ou n d at i n te r
v a l s b o r n e on th e b r e e z e ; th e rustle of leave s
k i ss i ng each oth e r o n th e tree s wi th a m urm ur
l ike r ai n ; t r ill s of l a r ks wh ich r ise with qui ve r
i ng songs f ro m a m o ng th e flowe r s l i k e a fl igh t o f
a rro ws to th e s k y n ame l es s sou nds o ve r wh el m
i ng a s th e ro a r of a te mpest ; fl utteri ng hymn s
w h i c h s ee m e d tob e m o u ntin g t o th e th ro ne of
—
f
th e L ord l i ke a m ixture o ligh t a n d s o u n d a l l
we r e expresse d by th e o rga n s h u n d r e d v o ic es
w ith m o r e vigo r m o r e s ubt l e p o etry m o r e wei rd
c ol o r ing th a n h a d eve r bee n kn o w n b ef o r e
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Wh e n th e o rgan ist c am e do wn f ro m th e l o ft
th e c ro wd wh ich p r e ss ed up to th e stai r way was
t o s e e a n d greet
s o g r e at a n d th ei r eage r ne ss
h i m s o i n ten se th at th e ch i ef j udge fea r i ng an d
n ot with ou t r e as o n that h e wou ld b e su ff o c ated
a m o ng th e m all orde r e d s om e of th e o ffi ce r s t o
ope n a path fo r th e o rga n ist with th e i r s ta ve s o f
o ffice s o th a t h e could r each th e high a l ta r w h e r e
t h e p r el ate wa s wai ti ng for hi m
”
Y o u pe r ceive said th e archbi sh o p
th at I
h a v e co m e a l l th e w ay f ro m m y pa l a c e t o h e a r
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,
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M A ESE
you
P EREZ
,
T H E O R GA N I S T
1 13
.
are yo u goi ng to be a s crue l as M aese
H e woul d n e v e r sa v e m e th e j o u r n ey
Pere z ?
by goi ng to pl ay the Ch r i st m a s E v e mass i n th e
”
cath ed r al
“
“
N ext yea r
r ep l ie d the or ga nis t
I p ro m
i s e to give y o u th e pleasu r e ; si nce f o r al l th e
go l d i n th e w o rld I w ou l d n e v e r p l ay th is or ga n
”
agai n
”
“
But wh y n ot ? i n te rr upte d th e pre l a te
”
“
Becau se r e t u r n e d th e o rga nist e ndea vo r
ing t o r ep r e ss th e agitati o n wh ich r eve ale d itsel f
i n the pa l l o r of h i s fa c e
becau se it i s s o o l d
a n d poo r ; o n e c an n o t e x p r e ss o n e s se l f o n i t
”
s atisfact or ily
Th e archbish o p w ith d r ew f o l l o we d by h i s a t
te n d a n ts
O n e afte r a n othe r th e l itte r s of th e
g r eat f ol k di sappeared i n th e wi n dings of th e
neighboring stre ets Th e g ro up i n the p or tic o
scattered The se x ton wa s l o cking up th e d oo r s
when tw o wom e n were pe r ceived wh o h a d
s toppe d to c r os s th e m se l ve s a n d m utte r a prayer
a n d wh o were n ow g o i ng o n th ei r way i n t o
D u e fia s Al ley
“
What woul d y o u h ave m y dea r D o na B a l
”
“
t asa r a ? o n e wa s saying
Th at s th e w ay I
a m E very c r azy pe r s o n with h i s wh i m Th e
ba r efoote d Capuch in s m igh t assure m e tha t i t
was s o a nd I w o ul d n ot b el ieve i t Th at m a n
n eve r p l aye d wh at we h ave h e a r d
Why I h a v e
h ea r d h i m a th o usan d ti mes i n S a n B a r t ol o m é,
N o w,
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8
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M A ESE
1 14
P EREZ
,
T H E O R GA N I S T
.
h is
parish ch u rc h ; th e prie st h a d to se n d h i m
away h e wa s s o poo r a pl aye r Y ou fe l t like
pluggi ng y o u r e a r s wi th c o tton Why al l y ou
n eed i s to l o o k a t h i s face a n d th at i s th e m i r
ror o f th e
s o u l th ey s a y I r em embe r as if
I wa s s eei ng h i m n ow p o o r m a n — I rem embe r
M aese P er e z s fa c e n igh ts l ike th i s wh en h e
c am e d o wn f ro m th e o rgan loft afte r h avi ng e n
t r a n ced th e au die n c e wi th h i s sple n d o r s Wh a t
a g r a c io u s sm i le ' Wh a t a h appy glow on h i s
face ' O l d a s h e was h e see med l i ke a n angel
B ut thi s cr eat ur e c a m e p l unging d o w n a s if a d og
were ba rk i ng a t h i m o n th e l an di ng a n d al l
th e co lo r o f a d ea d m an wh ile h i s — co m e
de a r DorI a B a l tasara b e l ieve m e a n d bel ie v e
W h at I s a y : th e r e i s s o m e g r e at m yste r y ab o ut
”
th i s
T h us co n v e r si ng th e tw o w o m en turn ed th e
c o r n e r o f th e a l l ey an d di sappeared The r e i s
n o n ee d of s aying w h o on e o f th e m wa s
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IV
A N OT HE R
.
yea r h ad g o n e by T h e abbess o f t h e
C o n v en t of S a n ta I n é s a n d Maes e P er ez s d a u g h
te r we r e talki ng i n a l ow voi c e h alf h idd e n i n th e
sh ad o ws of th e ch u r ch ch oir Th e pen etrating
v oi c e o f th e b ell wa s su m m on ing th e fai thful
A
v ery few people were passi ng th r ough th e p ortico
sile n t an d dese r ted th i s yea r a n d afte r taki ng
.
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M A ES E
1 16
P EREZ
T H E O R GAN I S T
,
.
th e sk y ; it w a s th e l am p b urn i ng on th e h igh
altar By its flickeri ng ligh t wh ich only h elpe d
to m ake th e de ep h o r ror of th e sh adows th e
m ore i n te n se I s a w— I s a w— m oth e r d o not d i s
bel ieve i t—a m an I n perfect si l e n c e an d with
h i s b ack t urn ed toward s m e h e was r u n n ing ove r
th e orga n keys with o n e h an d wh i l e m a n agi ng
th e stops wi t h th e oth e r
A n d th e organ
s o un de d bu t i n a n i n desc r ibab l e m an n e r I t
se e m ed a s if e ach n ote we r e a s ob s m o th ere d i n
th e m etal tub e wh ich vi b r ated u n de r th e pre s
s ure of th e ai r compresse d w ith i n i t an d gave
fo r t h a l ow al m o s t i mpe rc eptibl e ton e yet exac t
a n d true
“
The cath ed r a l cl ock kept on stri ki ng a n d
th at m a n kept o n r un n i ng ove r th e keys I c o u ld
h ea r h i s v e r y b r e ath i ng
“
F righ t h ad f r oze n t h e bl o o d i n my ve i n s
My body wa s a s col d a s i ce except my h ead an d
th at was b urni ng I tri e d to c r y o u t b ut I c oul d
n ot Th a t m a n t urn e d h is face a n d looke d a t
m e — n o h e di d n ot l o o k a t m e fo r h e was bli nd
”
I t wa s my fathe r '
N on se n se sister
B an i sh th ese fa ncie s with
whi ch th e a dversa r y e n de av o r s to overtu r n weak
i m agin a tion s Ad d r e s s a P a tern os ter a nd a n A ve
M a ri a to th e arch ange l S ain t M ich ae l th e cap
ta i n of th e celest ial h osts th at h e m ay ai d yo u
i n opposi ng evil spirits We a r o n you r n e ck a
s c apula r y wh ic h h as b e e n p r essed t o th e r el i c s
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P EREZ T H E
M A ES E
of
,
.
O R GAN I S T
1 1
.
7
S ai n t P ac o m i o ,
the c o u n sell o r agai n s t te m p t a
ti o n s and go go quickly a n d s i t at th e organ
Th e m as s i s going to begi n a n d t he fa ith ful a r e
g ro wi ng i mpatie n t Yo ur fath er i s i n h eav en
an d th ence i n stea d of givi ng you a frigh t w il l
desce n d to i n spi r e h i s daugh te r i n th e s ole m n
”
s e r vice
Th e p r i o r es s we n t t o o cc upy h e r se at i n th e
choi r i n th e m ids t o f th e si sterh o o d
M aese
P é re z s da ugh t e r ope n ed th e do o r of th e organ
loft wi th trem bl ing h an d s a t d o w n a t th e organ
a n d th e m ass began
Th e m ass began an d we n t o n wi th out anyth in g
u nu s ual h appe n i ng u nti l t h e t i m e o f con secrati on
ca m e Th e n the orga n s oun ded A t th e sam e
ti m e came a screa m fro m Maese P ére z s daughter
Th e m othe r su perio r t h e n u n s a n d som e o f
th e faithful ru she d up to th e orga n l o f t
“
L ook at h i m
l ook at h i m
crie d th e gi r l
fixi ng h er eyes s ta r ti ng from th e ir sockets u po n
th e sea t from wh ich s h e h a d rise n i n terror S h e
w a s clinging wi t h conv ul se d h a n ds t o th e raili ng
o f t h e o rga n loft
E verybody l ooked i nte n tly a t th e spot to wh ich
N o o n e wa s at th e organ
s h e di r ected h e r gaz e
yet i t we n t o n sou nding— s o u n di ng l ike th e
songs of th e a rc h angel s i n th e i r b u r sts of mys ti c
e c sta sy
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Di d
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t
I te ll y o u a t ho u san d ti mes if I di d
,
1 1
8
M A E SE
P EREZ
,
T H E O R GA N I S T
Baltasara —
.
dear Do h a
did n t I tel l y o u ?
T h e r e i s s o m e gre a t mystery ab o ut th i s Wh at
did n t you g o l as t nigh t to th e Ch ri stm a s E ve
m as s ? Wel l you m u st k n ow a nyh ow wh at
h appe ne d N oth i ng el se i s t alked abou t i n th e
wh o l e city Th e archb ish op i s furi o u s an d n o
w o n de r N ot to h ave gon e to S an ta I n es n ot to
h ave b ee n pre se n t a t th e m iracle — a n d al l to
h ea r a wre t ch e d clatter ' Th at s a ll th e i n sp ire d
o rgan ist of S a n Bartol om é m ade i n th e cath edral
Ye s I sai d
s o pe r s o n s wh o h e ard h i m tel l m e
s o al l th e tim e
Th e s qui n t eye neve r coul d h av e
p l aye d t h at I t was al l a l ie Th ere i s som e
?
w
a
s
g r eat mystery h ere Wh at do I t h i nk i t
”
Why i t wa s t h e soul of M ae se P ere z
o n ce ,
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Moors
”
Ch ristians
Al a rcon
Transl a ted b y Mary J
b y C a ssell Pu b lishin g C o
From
a nd
,
.
.
b y Péd ro Ant oni o d e
S e rra no
.
Pu b lished
.
Copyri gh t, 1 89 1 , by Ca ssel l P u b l i sh i ng Co
.
MO O RS
AND C
HR IS T IA N S
P ED R O A N TO N I O
BY
I
DE
A L A R CO N
.
H E o n c e fa m o u s b u t n o w litt l e kn own t o wn
of Aldei re i s si tuated i n th e M a r quis ate o f
E l Ce n ét o r le t us s a y on the e aster n slope o f
th e A l puj ar r a an d pa r tly h angs ove r a l e d ge
partly h ide s i tself i n a r av i n e o f th e gi an t ce n t ral
r idge of S ierra N evada five or s i x th ous an d
fee t above th e level of th e s e a a n d seve n or
eigh t th ousa n d bel o w th e e te r n al s n o ws o f th e
,
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,
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,
A u l h a ce m
.
Aldei r e be i t sai d with al l re spect t o i ts r ev ~
e re n d past o r i s a M oori sh town
Th at i t wa s
for m erly M oor i sh i s clearly p r oved by i ts n a m e
i ts si tuati on an d i ts a rch i tecture an d th at i t i s
n ot ye t c o m pletely C hri stian i z e d alth ough it
figu r es am ong th e town s o f r econ qu ered S pain
an d h as i ts little C ath o l i c ch urch an d its con
fraterni ti es of th e Vi rgi n of Je su s an d of severa l
o f th e sai n ts i s pro v e d by th e ch aracte r an d th e
custom s of i ts i n habi t an ts ; b y th e perpet ual
f euds as te r rible a s they a r e cau seless which
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121
M OO RS
1 22
C H R I S T I A NS
AND
.
u n ite o r sepa r ate th e m an d by t h e gl oomy black
eye s pale complexi on s l aconi c speech a n d i n
fre qu e n t la ugh ter Of m e n wome n a n d ch ildren
But i t m ay be we ll to re m in d o u r re aders i n
order th at n e i th e r t h e afores aid pastor n or a ny
on e el se m ay qu e s ti p n th e j u s t ice of th is r eason
i ng th at th e M o o r s of th e Marqu i sate of E l
C e n e t were n ot expelled i n a body l ike th ose of
th e Alpuj ar r a b u t th at m a ny of th e m s ucceede d
i n re m ai n in g i n th e cou n try l iving i n con ceal
m e n t th a n ks to th e p r u de nce — or th e cowa r dice
— wh i c h m ade th em turn a deaf ea r to th e r ash
a n d t h e heroic appeal of th ei r u nfort u n ate P r i n ce
Abe n Hu m cya ; wh en ce I i nfer th at U n cl e J ua n
*
Gom ez n ickn a m ed Horm ig a
i n th e yea r o f
g r ace I 8 2 1 C on stit ution al Alcalde of Aldeire
m ig h t ve r y well b e th e descen dan t of so m e M u s
t aph a M oh am med o r th e l ike
I t i s r el ated th e n t h at th e af o r e sai d J ua n
—
G o mez a m a n at th e ti m e of ou r s tory about
fif t y years of age v e ry sh re wd al th ough h e kn e w
neithe r h ow to r e ad n or write a n d graspi ng a n d
i n dustriou s to som e purpose a s m igh t be i nferre d
n ot o nly fro m h is s obrzqn et b u t also fro m h i s
wealth ac qui red h on es t ly or otherwise an d i n
ve sted i n th e m os t fer t ile l ands of th e d istrict
le ased at a n o m i nal ren t by m ea n s of a p r ese n t
t o th e secretary of th e corp oratio n o f som e h en s
wh i c h h a d l eft off la y i ng a piec e of ar i d t o w n
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Th e A n t
.
M O O RS
1 24
.
C H RI STI A NS
A ND
.
wh e n
y o u a r e th e r ic h e st m an i n th e to w n a n d
”
A lcal de i n to th e bargai n
“
Th at i s why I take n o on e wi th m e H e r e
h a n d m e th a t sal ad '
“
I t woul d be well to h ave som e on e to h elp
you h o weve r Yo u will spe n d a n age i n p ull i ng
d o wn t h e t o we r by yo urself a n d be s ides y o u
”
m ay n ot be able t o m an age it
D o n t t al k n on se n se T orcu a ta Wh e n I
b egi n to b uild th e wal l of t h e cattle yard I sh al l
h i re w o r km e n a n d e ve n e m ploy a m aste r b uilder
But a ny o n e c an pul l d own A n d i t i s suc h fu n
t o destroy
C o m e cl ea r away th e tab l e an d let
”
u s go t o bed
Yo u speak th at way b ecau se y o u a r e a m an
A s f o r m e i t disturbs a n d s add en s m e t o s e e
”
th ings dest r oyed
O ld wo m e n s n otions
If yo u on ly kn e w h o w
m an y thi ngs t h e r e a r e i n th e worl d th at ough t t o
b e dest r oye d '
H ol d y o u r t o ngue you f r e e m ason
I t wa s
a m i sfortu n e th ey ever electe d you Alcalde Yo u
wil l s e e wh e n th e R o yal i sts com e i nto po wer
”
agai n th at th e ki ng wil l h ave yo u h ange d '
Ye s we sh al l s e e ' Bigot
Hypo cri t e
O wl ' Co m e I a m slee py ; s t op blessing y o u r
”
sel f an d put ou t th at light
An d th us th ey wo ul d a r gue u nti l o n e or th e
o th e r of th e co n s o r ts fe ll asleep
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M OO RS
AN D
II
C H R I S T I A NS
1 25
.
.
ON E
even in g U nc l e H o r miga r etu r n ed f r om h is
tas k very though tf u l a n d p r e occupied an d e arli e r
th a n us ual
H is wife wai ted u nti l afte r h e h ad dism issed
th e l aborers t o a s k h i m what was th e m atter
wh e n h e r espon de d by showi ng h e r a leade n tube
wi th a cover so mewh at l i ke th e t ub e i n wh ich a
s oldi e r o n furlough keeps h is le ave from wh ich h e
dre w a yell o w parch me n t covered wi t h c r abbe d
h an dw r iti ng a nd careful ly u n r olli ng i t sai d with
imposi ng gravi ty
“
I d o n t kn ow h ow to re ad e ve n i n S pan i sh
wh ich is th e e asi es t l angu age i n th e w o rl d b u t
th e devi l take m e if th is was n ot wri tte n by a
”
M oor
Th at i s to s a y th at yo u fou n d i t i n th e
”
tower ?
I do n t s a y i t o n th at a cco u n t a l on e b ut b e
c ause th es e spider s l egs don t look l ike anyth i ng
”
I ever s a w w r itte n by a Ch ri stia n
Th e wife of J uan Gomez looke d at th e p a t ch
me n t sm el le d i t a n d exclaim ed with a c on fi
den ce as a m u sing as i t was i ll founded
By a M o o r i t was w r itte n
Afte r a w h ile s h e a dded with a m e l anch ol y
ai r :
“
A l th ough I a m b u t a po o r h an d myse lf at
r eading w r iti ng I wo ul d s w ea r th at we h o l d i n
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1 26
M OO RS
A N D C H R I S T I A NS
.
h an ds th e di sch arge of s o m e s o ldier of M o
”
h a m med wh o i s n ow i n th e b ottoml ess pi t
”
Yo u s a y th a t o n accou n t of th e tube
”
O n accou n t o f th e tube I s a y i t
“
Well th e n yo u a r e a ltogethe r wr o ng m y
de ar To rcu a ta f o r such a th i ng as con sc riptio n
was n o t kn own a m ong th e M oo r s n or i s th is a
disch arge Thi s i s a — a
U n cl e Hormiga gl a nce d a r ou n d h i m cautiou sly
lowered h i s voi ce an d said with air of absol u t e
certai n ty
Th i s pape r con ta in s di r e ctio n s wh ere to fin d
a t r ea s u r e
You a r e r igh t ' c r ied h i s wife su dden l y i n
“
a n d h av e y o u
spired with th e s a m e bel ief ;
?
I s i t ve r y b ig ?
already f o u n d i t
D id you
cover i t up ca r eful l y agai n ? A r e th e c o i n s gol d
D o you th ink th ey wi ll p ass c u rr e n t
o r silve r
Wh at a h appi n es s f or o u r boys ' Ho w
n ow ?
th ey wi l l spe n d m on ey an d e nj oy th em se l ves i n
Grana da a n d M adri d ' I wan t to h a v e a l oo k
at i t L et u s g o th e r e Th e r e i s a m o o n to
”
n igh t '
“
S illy w o m an
Be qui et ' H o w d o you s u p
pos e th at I c oul d fi n d th e t r easu r e by th ese d i re c
ti o n s wh e n I d o n t k n o w h o w t o r ea d e i th e r i n
M o o rish or i n Christi an
“
Th at s true
Wel l the n I 1] te l l y o u wh at
to do As soon as it i s dayligh t sa ddl e a good
m u l e cro ss th e S i e rr a th ro ugh t h e P ue r to de l a
ou r
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1 28
MO O RS
A ND C H R I S T I A NS
.
b oys ' I t i s al l for the m ' F o r my part th e
o nly th ing th at troubles m e i s l es t there be som e
in th i s b usi n es s th at we are wh isperi ng
si n
”
about
“
W h at s i n c a n th e r e b e i n it y o u g r ea t
”
fo ol ?
“
I ca n t expl ai n wh at I m ean bu t t r easure s
h ave a l ways see m e d t o m e t o h ave so m eth i ng to
d o with th e devil o r th e fairies A n d th en yo u
got th at g r oun d fo r s o low a r e n t ' Th e wh ol e
tow n s ays th e r e w a s som e t r i c kery i n th e busi
n es s
“
Th at con ce r n s th e sec r etary a n d c o u n c i l l or s
”
T h ey d r e w u p th e doc um en ts
“
Be sides as I u nderstan d wh e n a t r e as u r e i s
di scove r ed a p a r t of it m ust b e give n t o th e
”
kin g
Th at i s wh e n i t i s fou n d o n gro u n d th at i s
n ot o ne s own l ike m i ne
“
O ne s o wn
O n e s own
Wh o kn o ws t o
wh o m th at tower th e C ou ncil s old yo u belonged
“
Why t o th e M oo r of cou r se
“
An d wh o k nows wh o t h at M oo r m ay h ave
b ee n ? I t see m s to m e J ua n wh ateve r m on ey
th e M o o r m ay h a v e h idde n i n h is h ous e sh ou l d
belong t o hi m o r t o hi s h ei r s n ot t o yo u o r t o
”
me
Y o u a r e talki ng n o n sen se
Ac co rdi ng t o
th at i t i s n ot I wh o o ugh t t o b e th e Alcal de of
A l dei r e , b u t t h e m a n wh o wa s A lc a l de a yea r ago
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M OO R S
A ND
C H R I S T I A NS
1 29
.
a t the ti m e of th e pr o cl am ati o n of R ieg o A o
co r di ng t o th a t w e sh ould h ave to se n d th e r e n ts
o f th e land s o f Gra n ad a a n d Gua dix a n d h un
dreds Of othe r town s eve ry yea r to th e des c e n d
”
a nts of th e M oors i n Af r i ca
“
I t m ay b e th at you are r igh t A t a ny r ate
g o to U g i j a r a n d o u r gossi p wil l te l l y o u w h at i s
”
best t o be d o n e i n the m atte r
.
,
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I II
.
U G IJA R i s dista n t f ro m
A l de i r e s o m e f o u r
leagues a n d t h e road be twee n t h e two town s i s
a ve ry b ad o n e Bef o re n in e o clock o n th e f ol
l owi ng m o r n in g h oweve r U n cl e Ju a n Gome z
w ea r i ng h is bl ue s tockin et kn e e b r e ech e s an d
h i s e mb ro i de r ed wh ite S u nday boots wa s i n th e
office of Don M at i a s de Quesada a vigo r ou s
o l d m an a do c tor i n civil a n d cri m in al j u ri s p ru
de n ce an d th e m ost n ote d crim i n al l awyer i n th at
p art o f th e cou n try H e h a d always bee n a p r o
m ote r of l awsuits an d was ve r y weal t h y a nd h a d
a l arge circle of i nfl u en tia l ac qu ai ntance s i n
G r an ad a a n d M adrid
Wh e n h e h ad h ea r d h is wo r th y gos sip s s tory
an d h a d c areful ly exam i n ed th e pape r h e gave
i t a s h i s O p i n o n th at th e docum e n t h ad n o th i n g
wh ateve r to do with th e t r e asu r e ; tha t th e h ole
i n which th e tub e h ad bee n fou n d was a s or t of
close t a n d th e w r i ti ng o n e of th e p r ayers wh i ch
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9
M O O RS
1 3o
A N D C H R I S T I AN S
.
th e M o o r s r e ad eve ry F rid ay m o rn i ng B ut n o t
wi th stan di ng th is a s h e w a s n ot th o rough ly verse d
i n th e Arabi c l anguage h e adde d th at h e woul d
s e n d th e do c u m e n t to a c ol lege com pa n io n of
h i s wh o was empl oye d i n t h e C o m mi ss io n of th e
H o ly P l a c es i n M ad r i d i n orde r th at h e m igh t
s en d i t t o Jerusale m wh ere i t co ul d be tran sl ate d
i n to S pan i sh f or wh ich p urpose i t w o ul d b e wel l
t o i n cl os e t o h i s fri e n d i n M ad r id a draft fo r a
co upl e of o u n c es i n gold fo r a c up of chocol ate
U n cl e Ju a n Gom ez con si de r e d seriously be f o re
h e m a d r u p hi y rni a d to pay s o h igh a p r i ce fo r
a ggc u p o f ch ocol ate (wh ich would b e payi ng f o r
r eal s a p ou n d )
th e fi rti ol e at th e rate of
b u t h e was s o ce r tai n i n r egard to th e t r eas ure
a s n o t m i staken
an
d
i
truth
h
e
w
a
s
we
sh
al
l
n
(
se e l ate r on ) th at h e took fro m h s belt eigh t gol d
j
I
pi e c es of fou r doll ars e ach an d d e l iiieP
Ed th e m t o
Do n Mat i as wh o weigh e d th e m o n e by o n e before
p utti ng th em i n to h i s
afte r wh i ch H orm i ga
t o o k th e r oad b ack
o wn min d to c on t i n
th e
Moo r s t o we r wh il e t
en t we nt to th e
H oly L an d an d cam e b ack t r an slate d ; pr o cee d
i ng s wh i ch , according to th e l awye r wo uld
f h i n g l i k e a yea r a n d a h a l f
c u py s o m g
.
,
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s
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~
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‘
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1
AND C H R I S T I A NS
M O O RS
2
3
.
H aving w r itte n thi s le tte r t h e d i sti ngu ish e d
j uri scon su l t be nt h i s steps toward t h e ki t ch en
where h i s wife wa s engaged i n kn itting an d m i n d
i ng th e 011a an d th rowing i n to h e r lap th e fou r
gol de n coi n s h e h a d receive d from J u a n Gom ez
h e said to h er i n a h arsh cros s voice
“
Th ere E n carn aci on b uy m o r e wh eat ; it i s
goi ng to ris e i n pri ce d uring th e cl ea r m o n th s ;
a n d see to i t th at you ge t good m eas u r e Ge t
my bre akfast r eady wh il e I g o post th i s l ette r f or
S eville i n qui r i ng th e pri ce of b arley
L et th e
egg b e wel l d o n e an d d o n t l et th e c h oc o l ate be
”
m uddy a s i t us u al ly i s
Th e l awyer s wife a n swered n ot a wo r d b ut
we n t o n with h e r k nitti ng l i k e a n a u t o m a t o n
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V
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weeks l ate r o n a b e auti f u l day i n Ja n
u a r y a day such as i s to b e see n on ly i n th e
n or t h of Africa a n d th e sou th of E urope th e
Ch a pel m as ter of th e cath edra l of Ce u ta wa s
enj oying th e sun sh i ne o n th e roof of h is two
s t o r y h ouse wi t h th e tran quillity of m i n d prope r
to o n e wh o h ad played th e organ a t h igh m as s
an d h ad afte r ward eate n a pou n d of a nch ovi es
an oth e r of m e at an d a n oth e r of b read a n d dra n k
th e c o rr espon di ng qu an tity o f Tarifa wi n e
T h e wo r thy m u si c ia n w h o wa s a s fat as a h o g
Two
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AN D C H R I S T I A NS
MOO RS
I
.
33
a s r ed a s a bee t w a s sl owl y dige sti n g h i s
breakfast whi le h i s leth argic gaz e sl owly w a n
dere d ove r th e m agn ificen t pan oram a o f th e
M edi terra nean — th e S t rai t s of Gi b ra l tar th e a o
c urse d rock fro m wh ich t h ey take th eir n am e
th e n eighbori ng peaks of A n g h e ra a n d Be n d
an d th e d istan t s n ows of th e L esse r Atl as —wh e n
h e h e ard h asty steps o n th e stai r s an d h i s wife s
si l ve r y voice c r yi ng j oyful ly :
“
Bon ifaci o ' Bon ifaci o ' A l ette r f r o m yo u r
”
u ncle ' An d a h e avy l ette r too '
”
“
Wel l a n swere d th e Ch a pel m aste r turn i ng
a r ou n d l ike a geograph ica l sph ere o r globe o n
th e poi n t o n wh ich h is rotun d pe rso n ali ty r ested
“
wh at sai n t can h ave put i t i n to my
o n th e s ea t
u n cl e s h e a d t o re memb er m e ? I h ave b ee n
l iving for fi ftee n ye ars i n t h i s cou n try usurped
fr o m M oh am m ed a n d th i s i s t h e firs t ti m e t h a t
A b e n ce rra ge h as writte n to m e al t h ough I h av e
writte n to h i m a h u n dred ti m e s Doubtle ss h e
”
wa n ts m e to ren der hi m som e service
S o sayi n g h e Ope n ed th e e pi stl e c on triving
s o th a t th e P ep a o f t h e postscript S hould n ot b e
abl e to rea d its con te n ts a n d th e ye ll ow pa r ch
m e nt n oi si ly u nfoldi ng i tself greeted th ei r e ye s
“
Wh at h as h e s en t u s ?
asked h is wife a
n ative of C adiz an d a b lon de attrac t ive an d
fresh l ook i ng n otwith sta n di n g h er forty su m m ers
“
Don t b e i n qui sitive P epi ta I wi ll t el l yo u
wh at i s i n t h e lette r if I th i nk you ough t to kn ow
a nd
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M OORS
I 34
A N D C H R I S T I A NS
.
a s so o n a s I h a v e r ea d i t I h ave wa r n e d y o u a
”
th ousa n d ti m e s to respect m y letters
A proper precaution for a l iberti n e l ike you '
At a ny rate be qui ck an d l e t us s e e if I m ay
kn ow wh at th at l arge paper i s that you r u ncl e
h as se n t yo u I t l o o ks like a b an k n o te f r o m
”
t he o th e r wo r ld
While h is wife wa s m aki ng th ese a n d oth e r
ob servat ion s th e m u sicia n fi n i sh e d re adi n g th e
letter wh ose con te nts s u r p r is ed h i m s o greatly
that h e rose to h is fee t wi th o u t th e sl igh test
e ff o r t
D issim u lati on wa s S O h abitu al with h i m h ow
eve r th at h e wa s able to s a y i n a n atu r al t o n e
o f v oi ce
“
Wh at n on se n s e ' Th e wretch e d m a n i s n o
doubt already i n h i s dotage ' Would yo u b e
l iev e th at h e s e nds m e th is le af from a H eb r e w
Bi b le i n order th at I m ay look for som e Je w wh o
wil l b uy it t h e foolish cre ature su pposi ng t h at
”
h e wil l get a fortu n e fo r i t A t th e sam e tim e
h e added to ch ange th e con versatio n pu t ti ng
th e l e t te r an d th e parch me n t in to h i s pocket
at t h e s a m e tim e h e asks m e with m uch i n terest
”
i f w e h ave any ch ildren
”
H e h a s n on e h im self
cri e d P epita quickly
”
N o do ub t h e i n ten ds to leave u s s omethi ng
I t i s m ore l ikely th e m i serly fell ow th inks of
Bu t h ark i t is s t rik
o u r l e avi ng h i m so meth i ng
i ng e l e v en I t i s t i me f o m e to go t u n e th e orga n
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1 36
MOO R S
A N D C H R I S T I ANS
.
a h u n d re d per ce n t He w o re a wh i te wool l e n
h o o de d Arab cl oak
zzz a l a an d a bl ack w o oll en
e/
a n d wa s cal le d by the S pa n i ards M an os gordas
a n d by th e M oors Ad met Be n C a ri m e e l Abdou n
Whe n th e Mo o r s a w th e C h ap el m aster a p
h
i
n
r
o
a
h
e
rose
an
d
adva
nced
to
m
ee
t
h
i
m
c
p
g
m aki ng dee p s alaa m s at e v ery s tep an d wh e n
th ey we r e close toge th e r h e sai d cautiou s l y
“
Y o u wan t a l ittl e M oorish gi r l ?
I bri ng t o
m o rr ow l ittl e dark gi rl o f t wel ve
”
My wife wan ts n o m o r e M oo r i sh se rv a n ts
a n swe r ed th e m u sicia n s t i ffly
M an os go r das b egan to l augh
”
“
“
Besides
conti n ued Don Bonifa c io
yo u r
”
i nfe r n al l ittl e M oori sh girls a r e very dirty
Wash
r e spon ded th e M oo r exte n di ng h i s
a r m s c ro s swise a n d i n clin i ng h is h ea d to on e side
”
I te l l y o u I wan t n o M oorish girls s ai d D o n
“
Bon ifa c i o
Wh at I wan t t o d ay i s th at yo u
w h o kn o w s o m uch th at you are I n te r prete r of
th e F ort r e ss sh oul d t r a nsl ate th i s d ocu me n t i nt o
”
S pan ish fo r m e
M an o s gorda s t o ok th e d oc u me n t an d at th e
fi r st gl a nce m u r m ured :
I t i s M oo r
“
O f c o urse it i s i n A r abi c
But I wan t t o
k n ow wh at i t s ays an d if y o u do n ot deceive m e
I w ill give you a h an dsom e prese n t — wh e n th e
busi n ess wh ic h I am about t o e n t r us t y o u wi t h
”
i s con cl u de d
.
'
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MO O R S
-
C H R I ST I A N S
A ND
I 37
.
M ea n time Ad m e t Be n C a ri m e gl an ced hi s eye
ove r the doc u m en t turn i ng very pal e as h e
d i d so
Yo u s e e th at i t concern s a g r e at tre asu r e
t he Ch apel m aster h alf a ffi rm e d h alf asked
”
M e th i n k so stam m ere d t h e Moh am m e dan
“
Wh at do yo u m e a n b y s ayin g yo u t hi n k s o ?
”
Yo u r ve ry c onfusi o n tell s plai nly th a t it i s s o
”
P ardon repl ie d M a nos gord as a cold sweat
b reaking ou t over h i s body
H ere word s m od
e rn Arabic —I u nderstan d Here words ancie n t
”
o r cl assic Arab ic — I n o u n dersta n d
Wh at do th e words th at you u nderstan d s i g
-
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nif
y
They sign ify g ol d th ey sign ify p ea r/
th ey
s
signify cu rse of A l d Bu t I n o u n de r sta n d m ea n
i ng expl an ations o r S ign s M us t s e e th e D e r
vi s h of A n g h e ra — wise m a n a n d t ran sl ate all I
take p arch me n t to day a n d bri ng parc h m en t to
m orrow an d dece ive n ot n or rob S e fi or T udel a
”
M oo r swe ar
S ayi ng which h e clasped hi s h an ds togeth e r
and r aisi ng th e m to h i s l ips ki sse d the m fer
“
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-
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V e n tl y
.
Don Bon ifaci o r efle c ted h e kn ew th at in o r de r
to deciph e r th e m ean ing Of th i s doc um ent h e
sh ould b e ob lige d to take s om e Moo r i n to h i s
confiden ce a n d th e re was n on e with wh o m h e
was so wel l acq uai n te d a n d wh o wa s s o wel l dis
posed t o h i m as M anos gorda s ; h e c o n s e n ted
,
-
,
MOO R S
I 38
A N D C H R I S T I ANS
.
th e r efo r e to confide th e m an uscript t o h i m m a k
i ng h i m s wear repeatedly th at h e would r et ur n
on the follo wi n g day fro m
A n g h e ra wit h th e
tran slati on a n d sweari ng to th e M oor o n h is si d e
th at h e woul d give h i m at l east a h u n dred dolla r s
w h e n th e tre asu r e sh o ul d be di scovere d
Th e M uss ul m a n a n d th e C hri stia n th e n sepa
r ated an d th e l a t t er dire cte d h i s steps n ot t o h i s
o w n h ouse n o r t o the cath e dral b ut to th e o ffice
of a f r ie n d o f h is wh e r e h e w ro te th e foll owing
l ette r
,
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,
“
S en or D on M a ti a s
j a rra
’
ae
Q
’
u es a a a
/
u
S
n
e
t
l
a
e
a
A
,
y
p
,
M Y D E A R E S T U N CL E
—Th an ks b e to G od th a t
’
,
h a v e a t las t r e ce ive d n ews of yo u a n d of Au n t
E n carn aci on a n d a s good news as Josefa an d
I could d esire We m y d ea r u n cle although
younger th a n yo u a n d m y a u nt are ful l of ai l
m en t s a n d burde n ed wi t h chi ldren wh o wi l l s oo n
b e lef t o r ph an s an d compell ed t o beg for th ei r
brea d
Wh oever told you th at th e docu m en t you se n t
m e bore any refe ren ce to a treas ure dece ive d
I
h
ave
h
a
d
i
t
t
ra
n
sl
ate
d
by
a
compete
n
t
ou
y
pe r son an d it t urn s o u t to b e a strin g of bl as
ph e m i e s agai n st o u r L ord Jes us Ch ri st th e Holy
Virgin an d t h e S ai nts wri tte n i n Ara b ic verse s
by a M oorish dog of th e M arqu isate of E l C e n é t
during th e rebelli o n of Ab en Hu m e ya I n v i ew
we
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-
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MO O RS
I 4O
AND
C H R I S T IA N S
.
a v ete r i n ary ; an d as from th at day — n o w m o r e
th a n sixty years ago — to th i s n o on e i n C eu t a
or i t s n eigh borh ood h as ever agai n see n M a n os
go r d as it i s obvi o us th at D o n Bon ifaci o Tudel a
y Gon z al e z h a d n ot th e satisfacti on of rece i ving
f r o m hi s h ands th e t r an s l ation of th e d o c u m en t
eith e r on th e fol l owi ng o r o n a ny oth e r d ay du r
ing th e re m ai n de r o f h is exi ste n ce ; wh i ch i n
deed can n ot h ave b ee n very l ong si n ce accord
i ng to reli abl e i n form a t i on i t appe a r s th at h i s
adore d P epit a took to h erself afte r h i s death
an oth er h u sban d an A s t uri an dr um m aj o r r e sid
i n g i n Marbel la wh o m s h e pre sen te d wi th fou r
ch il d r en b ea u t iful a s th e su n a n d th at S h e w a s
agai n a wi dow a t th e ti m e of th e death o f th e
ki ng at which epoch s h e gai ne d b y com peti ti on
i n M alaga t h e ti t l e of gossi p a n d t h e position o f
m atro n i n th e cu stom h ou s e
An d n ow let u s foll ow M an os gorda s a n d l e a r n
w h at becam e of hi m an d of th e myste r i o u s
d o cu m e n t
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VI I I
.
A D M ET B E N CA R I M E E L A B D O U N bre ath ed f r eely
an d eve n dan ced a few ste ps for j oy wi th o ut
d an cing off h i s i ll fasten e d s li ppers h owever a s
so o n a s h e fou n d h i m sel f ou tsid e t h e m assi ve
wall s of th e S pa n ish fortres s and wi th al l Af r ica
bef o re h im
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,
AND C H R I S T I A N S
M OO R S
14 1
.
Afric a for a t r u e Africa n l ike M an os
gord as is th e lan d o f absolute li b erty ; of a
l iberty a n teri o r an d s uperi or t o al l h u m an con
s t i t u ti o n s an d in sti tu t i o n s ; of a l i he rty rese m
bling th at e nj oye d by th e wi l d rabb its an d oth er
wild an i m als of th e m o un tai n th e valley o r th e
dese rt
By thi s I m e an t o s ay th at Afric a i s th e para
dise of evil doers th e s a fe asyl um th e n eu tra l
grou n d o f both m e n an d be asts protecte d h ere by
the i nte n se h eat an d th e vast exte n t o f th e de s
e r ts As fo r th e s u l t an s ki ngs an d beys wh o
fa ncy th ey ru le h ere an d th e a uth orities an d s ol
die r s wh o r ep r e sen t them i t m ay b e sai d th at th ey
a r e fo r s uch s ubj ects wh at th e h u n ter i s for th e
h are or fo r th e stag— a m isadve n t ure which o n e
i n a h undre d m ay ch a n ce to m ee t wi th an d wh ich
m ay o r m ay n ot r esul t fatal ly if h e wh o m ee ts i t
dies h e i s re m e mbere d o n th e an n iversary o f h is
death ; an d if h e d oe s n ot d ie h e t akes h im self
o ff t o a su fficien t di sta n ce from th e scen e of h i s
m i sh ap — a n d n o m ore i s th ough t abo u t th e m at
te r Wi th th i s digressio n we will n ow res um e th e
th read o f o u r story
“
Th i s wa y Z am a
crie d th e Moor t o h i s
we ary con sort a s if h e were calling to a beas t of
b u rden
An d i n stea d o f turn ing e astwa r d t h at i s to s a y
towa r d th e gap of A n g h e ra i n quest o f th e h o l y
i n acco r dan ce with h i s prom ise t o D o n
s age
Fo r
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M O O RS
I42
AN D
C H R I S T I A NS
.
Bonifa c i o h e proceeded south ward along a r avi ne
overgrow n wi th wild b ra mbl es a n d forest trees
wh ich soon brough t h i m to th e Tetu an ro ad ; th at
i s to s a y to th e i n di sti n ct footp ath w h ich fol lo w
i ng th e i n de n tation s of th e c oast lea ds to C ape
N egro by th e val ley of th e T a ra j a r th e val ley of
th e C astil l ej os Mou n t N egr o a n d th e lake s of
Azm ir R ive r n am es wh ich are n ow h eard by
every true S pan i ard wi t h l ove an d ve neration
b u t wh ich at th e tim e of o u r story h a d n ot yet
be en pr o n ou n ce d ei th e r i n S pai n o r i n a ny o th e r
part of th e civili ze d world
Wh en Be n Ca ri m e a n d Z am a h ad r e ach ed th e
l ittl e valley of th e T a ra j a r th ey s a t down to r est
f or a wh i le at th e e dge of th e r ivule t wh ich r i sing
i n th e h eigh ts of S i erra Bul lones r u n s th r ough i t
an d i n th i s wi ld an d se c l uded sp o t th at se em e d
a s if i t h ad com e fresh f ro m th e Creator s h an d
an d h ad n ever yet b ee n tro d by th e foot of m an
l ooking ou t o n th e soli ta r y ocean wh ose wate r s
were u n tracked save on a n occasion al m oon ligh t
n igh t by s o m e pirate caravel or gove r n m en t ves
s e l se n t fr o m E urop e i n p ursui t of i t th e Moori sh
wom an p r oceede d to m ake h e r t oile t perform i ng
h er ab l uti on s i n th e st r ea m an d th e M oo r u n
folde d th e m an u s c ript a n d re a d it agai n m an i
festi ng n o less e m o ti o n th an h e h ad sh o w n o n th e
p r eviou s occasi o n
Th e c o n te nts of t h e A r abi a n m a n u s cr ipt w e r e
a s f o l lo ws
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M O O RS
I 44
C H R I S T I AN S
AN D
.
th e fie l d of h on o r i n defe nce o f th ei r righ ts a n d
if we are th e c o n que r ors we wi ll c ut Off th ei r
h e ads a nd th r ow th em to th e swin e
I a m i n co n cl usi on th e l ord of th is towe r a n d
of al l t h e lan d s urrou n di ng i t westward to th e
ravin e of th e F ox an d eastwa r d to th e ravin e of th e
Asparagus s o calle d from th e luxu riant grow t h
a nd exqui site fl avo r of th e a sparagus cul t ivated
the r e by m y gra n dfath e r S idi Ju s s e f be n Ju ss uf
Th i n gs are goi ng b ad l y with u s S i n c e t h e
c oming Of th e b ase b orn Don J u a n o f Au stri a
wh
om
m
ay
All
ah
co
nf
o
u
n
d
to
figh
t
agai
n
st
th
e
(
fai th f ul we h ave foresee n th at f o r th e pre se n t
we sh all b e d efe ated alth ough i n th e cou rse o f
ye ars or of ce n t u r ie s an oth er P r i n ce of th e bl o od
of
th e P roph et m ay recove r th e th r o n e of
G r a n ad a wh i c h for seve n h u n dre d years wa s i n
th e posse ssion of th e M oors a n d whi ch wil l b e
th eirs agai n wh e n Al lah wills i t by th e sam e
r igh t by wh ich it was f o rm erly possessed by th e
Goth s a n d Van da l s an d befo r e th at by th e
R o m an s a n d before th at by th os e o th er Afri can s
th e C arth agi n i a n s — b y th e righ t of c on ques t
B u t I kn ow as I h ave sa id th at fo r th e presen t
t h i ngs are goin g badly with u s an d th at I m us t
very s o on d epa r t fo r M or o cco taki ng with m e
m y forty th re e s on s ; th at is to s a y u nles s t he
A ustri an s capture m e i n th e com i ng battle an d
h ang m e o n a t r ee a s I wou ld h ang al l o f th em
i f it w e re i n my p owe r to d o s o
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M OO RS
A ND
C H R I S T I A NS
145
.
We ll th e n whe n I depart from thi s t o wer to
e ngage i n th e last an d th e d eci s ive campaign I
l eave h idde n h ere i n a pl ace wh ich n o o n e ca n
d iscove r with ou t co ming a c ross th i s m an us c rip t
a ll my g o l d al l m y silver al l m y pearls my
fami ly treasures th e posse ssi on s of my fath e r s
o f myself a n d of my h eirs ; th e fortun e of wh i ch
I am lord an d m aster by h u m a n a nd d ivi ne right
a s th e bird i s o f i ts feath ers or th e ch ild of th e
teeth h e c uts with su ff e r i ng o r a s eve r y m o r tal i s
o f th e b ad h um ors ca n ce rou s o r lepr o u s which
h e m ay i nh eri t f r om h i s an cestors
S tay thy h an d the n Oh th ou Moo r Chri s
tia n o r Je w wh o i n tearing down th is my dwe ll
ing m ayes t discove r a n d re ad t h e se l i nes wh ich
I a m n ow wri ti ng ' S tay thy h an d an d r espect
th e tre asu r e h o u se o f thy fell o w m ortal
Touch
n ot h i s estate ' Take n o t possession of th at
wh ich bel ongs t o a n oth er ' H e r e th e r e i s n o n e
o f th e p ubli c weal t h n oth i ng belonging t o the
exch equer noth i ng bel o ngi ng to th e state
Th e gol d i n th e m i n e m ay bel o ng of righ t
to h i m wh o d iscovers i t an d a par t of it t o th e
king o f th e cou ntry ; b ut gol d m el ted d own a n d
stam ped—m on ey c o i n — belongs to its own er a nd
to n o on e bu t i ts owner R ob m e n ot th erefo r e
evil m an ' R ob n o t m y descen dan ts wh o wil l
com e on th e day app o in ted to take p o sse ssion
of
th ei r i nh e r itan ce An d if th o u sh o ul dst
with out evi l i n ten t an d by ch a n ce disc o v e r m y
“
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1 46
M OO RS
AND C H R I S T I A NS
.
t r e as u re I co un sel th ee to m ake publi c p r o c
l a m a t i o n ca lli ng o n an d n otifyi ng th e ci r c um
sta nce to th e h ei rs of H assa n be n Ju s s e f ; f or i t
i s n o t j ust to keep th at wh i ch h a s be e n fo u nd
w h e n it h a s a l awful ow n e r
“
I f th ou d o est n ot thi s b e acc ur sed with t h e
c u r se of All ah a n d with my cu r se
A n d m ayes t
t h ou b e str uck dea d by ligh tning
A n d m ay eac h
coin of my m oney a n d e ach pea rl of my tre asu re
b ecom e a sc o rpion i n thy h an ds
An d m ay thy
ch i ldre n d i e of l eprosy m ay th ei r fi nge r s r ot an d
d I Op off s o tha t th ey m ay n ot h ave e ve n th e
pleasu r e o f sc r atch ing th e m sel v es
An d m ay
th e wom a n th ou lovest love thy sla v e an d be tray
the e for h im An d m ay th y eldest d augh te r leave
thy h o use secretly with a J e w
And m ayest th o u
b e i m pal ed upo n a stake a n d s u spe nded o n h igh
exp o se d t o th e publ ic gaze un ti l by th e weigh t of
thy b ody th e s take pie r ce th y c r own an d th ou fall
p a r te d asu n der o n th e gr o u n d l ike a loath s o m e
toad cu t i n twai n by th e h oe
N o w th o u k n owest wh at I woul d h ave th ee
kn o w an d let all m e n kn o w i t an d blessed b e
A l lah wh o i s A llah
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Towe r
of
Z
o ra ya ,
in
A l d e i re
On t h e fif t e e n t h d a y o f
Of t h e ye a r o f t h e
'
,
i n E l Ce n e t,
m on t h of
He gi ra 9 68
S a p h a r,
th e
HA S S E N
.
J
BE N -
-
USSEF
”
.
I48
AND C H R I S T I A NS
M OO RS
.
m a n th a n th is s am e re n egade i t wil l n ot be a m i ss
”
to take som e pre c au ti o ns
An d as a re sul t of h i s reflecti o n s h e too k
from hi s pocke t writi ng m aterials wrote a lette r
a n d i n c l osed i t i n an e nvelope wh ich b e se ale d
w ith a b it of m oiste n ed bre ad a n d th i s do ne h e
b urs t i n t o a s ardo ni c l augh
H e th e n l ooke d at h i s wife wh o was sti l l e n
gage d i n re m o vi ng the fi l t h o f a n e n ti re year from
h e r perso n at th e expe n se o f th e m aterial an d
m o r al cleanl in ess of t h e poor rivule t a n d h aving
att r acte d h er atten ti o n by a wh istl e h e deign e d
to address h er i n th es e term s :
“
S i t down h ere besi de m e fig face an d liste n
I a m goin g to s a y Yo u ca n afterward
to t
—
fin ish wash ing you r self an d we l l yo u n eed i t
a n d perh aps I m ay the n th i n k you worthy of
som e th i ng b etter th a n th e daily d r ubb ing by
wh ich I S h o w my a ff ection f or you B ut fo r th e
prese nt b r aze nface leave off you r gri m ace s an d
”
l iste n well to wh at I a m g o i ng to tel l you
The M o o r i sh w o m an wh o afte r h e r toi let
l ooke d y o unge r an d m o r e arti sti c th o ugh n o le ss
u gly th a n befo r e licked h e r l ips like a cat fixe d
th e t wo ca r bun cl es th at se r ved h e r fo r eyes o n
M an o s go r das an d sai d s h owing h e r br o ad wh ite
teeth th at b or e n o r ese m bl a n c e t o th o s e of a
h u m an b ei ng
“
S peak my l o r d y o ur S la v e desi r es o n l y t o
”
se r ve y o u
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M O O RS
AN D C H R I S T I A NS
I
.
49
M an o s gordas con ti n u ed
If i n th e fu t u re a ny m isfortun e S h oul d h ap
n to m e
or
if
I
sh
oul
d
s
ud
denl
i
sappea
r
e
d
p
y
wi t h out taki ng l eave of you or if after taking
leave of you you sho ul d h ear n oth i ng from m e
w ithi n s i x weeks ti m e m ake you r way b ack to
Ce uta an d pu t th i s lette r i n th e post Do yo u
u n de rstan d fully wh at I h ave s aid m o nkey
”
face ?
Z am a b urst i n t o tears an d excl ai m ed
Adm et do yo u i n ten d to aba n do n m e
”
“
Don t b e a n ass wom an ' a n swered th e
“
M oor
Wh o i s tal king of s uch a t h ing n ow ?
Y o u kn ow very wel l t h a t you please m e a n d th a t
you are u seful to m e Th e que s t i on n ow i s
wh eth er yo u h ave u n derstood m y ch arge pe r
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f e c tl y
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”
Gi ve i t h ere ' s ai d th e Moori sh wom an
t aki ng th e let t er an d placing i t i n h er dark
“
ski n ne d bosom n ext h e r h e ar t
I f a n y evi l
sh o ul d h appen to you t h is l etter S hall b e place d
i n th e post at C eu ta th ough I sh ould drop de ad
”
th e m om e n t after
Abe n C a ri m e s miled wi t h a h u m an sm ile wh e n
h e h eard th ese words and deign e d t o l e t h i s
eyes r est up o n h i s wife a s if s h e were a h u m a n
bei ng
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1
M O O RS
0
5
AND C H R I S T I A NS
X
.
.
T HE
M o orish cou pl e m ust h a v e S l ep t s o un dly
a n d swee t ly am ong t h e t h i cke t s o n th e roa dside
th a t n ight for i t was fully n i n e O clock on th e
followi ng m orning wh e n th ey reach e d t h e foot of
C ape N egro
At th a t pl ace th ere i s a vil lage of Arab sh ep
h erds an d h u sb a n dm e n called M e dick consisti ng
of a f e w h u t s a m ora b zto or M oh a m m ed an h er
m i tage an d a wel l of fres h water with its curb
ston e an d its copper bu cket l ike th e we lls we s e e
represen ted i n cer t ai n biblical scen es
At th i s h our th e vil lage wa s completely de
s e rte d i ts i n h a b i t an ts h aving be t ake n the m se lve s
with their cattle an d th ei r i m ple m en ts of l abor t o
t he n eighb ori ng h i lls a nd gle n s
”
Wai t for m e h ere sai d M a n os gord a s to h i s
“
wife
I a m going i n quest of Ben M u n u z a wh o
at t h is h o ur i s pro b a b ly plough ing h i s fie l d s o n th e
”
oth er si de Of yo n der h ill
Be n M u n u za
excl a im e d Z am a wi th a l ook
“
th e re negade of wh om yo u spoke to
o f ter r or ;
”
me ?
”
M ake you r m in d e asy returne d Ma n os go r
“
das
I h ave th e U pper h an d n o w I n a fe w
h ours I sh all be b ack a n d you will see hi m follow
i ng m e l ike a dog Th i s is h i s ca b in Wai t fo r
u s i n side a nd m ake u s a good m es s of a l ca z u s
with th e m ai z e an d th e b utter yo u will fin d at
’
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M OO R S
2
5
A N D C H R I S T I A NS
.
of cou n ten an ce alth o ugh h is eye s were bl ue as
the sky an d h i s b eard yel low as th e Africa n sun
ligh t wh ich h ad bron z ed h i s o rigi n al ly fai r com ~
plexio n
cri ed th e
Go od m o rn ing M a n os go r das
r en egade a s soo n a s h e perce ive d t he M o or
An d h i s voice expre ssed th e m elan ch oly pl eas
u re t h e exile feel s i n a f o reign l an d wh e n h e
m eets som e o n e wi th wh o m h e ca n c on ve r s e i n
h i s n ati ve tongue
Go o d m orn ing J ua n F a l g u e i ra
respon de d
Be n C a ri m e i n iron ical acce nts
A S h e h eard thi s n am e th e re negade tre mbl ed
fr o m h ead to foot an d sei zi ng t h e i ro n b a r of
th e pl o ugh prepa r e d t o defe n d h im self
“
Wh at n am e i s th at yo u h ave j us t p r o
n ou n ce d
h e said advan ci ng thre ate ni ngly to
wa r d Ma n o s g o rdas
Th e l atte r awai te d h i s appr o ach l augh ing an d
a n s we r e d i n Arabic with a cou r age wh ich n o
o n e wo uld h ave suppose d h i m to poss ess
I h a v e pron ou n ced you r rea l n am e th e
n am e yo u b ore i n S pai n wh e n y o u we r e a C h r i s
tian a n d wh ich I lea r n ed whe n I wa s i n O r an
”
th r e e ye a r s ago
I n O r an
Yes i n O r an Wh at i s th e r e e x t r a o rdi n ary
i n th at ? You h ad c o m e from O r an to Morocco ;
I wen t t o O r an to b uy h en s I i n quire d th ere
c on ce r ni ng y o ur h ist o r y describi ng you r appear
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MOO R S
A ND CH RI S T I
ANS
1
.
53
ance a n d som e S pan iards living th ere r el ate d i t
to m e I lea r n ed th at yo u we re a Gal ician th at
your n am e w a s J ua n F a l g u e i ra an d th at y o u h a d
escape d fro m th e pr ison of Gra n ad a o n t h e e ve
o f th e day appoi nted fo r you r exec ution for h av
i ng r obbe d an d m u r de r ed fifteen years ag o a
pa r ty of ge ntlem en wh om you w e r e serving i n
th e capaci ty of m ulete e r D o y o u still d o ub t
th at I k n ow wh o you are
”
Tel l m e m y soul r espon ded th e r e n egade
i n a h ollo w voi ce looking cautiously arou nd
“
h ave yo u rel ate d th i s story to any Of th e Moors
D oes a n y o n e b ut you rself i n th is accursed l a n d
kn ow i t ? Beca us e th e fact i s I wan t to l ive i n
p eace with out h aving a ny o ne or anyth i ng t o
rem i nd m e of that fa t al deed wh ich I h ave wel l
expiated I a m a poo r m a n I h ave n ei t h er
fam i ly n o r cou n try n or l a ngu age n or eve n t h e
God wh o m ade m e l eft to m e I l ive am ong
e n e m ies wi th n o oth er wealth t h a n th ese oxe n
a n d the se fields b ough t by th e frui t of te n ye ars
swe at an d toil Con seque ntly you d o ve ry wrong
t o come an d tel l m e
H old
cried M an os g o r das g r eatly a l a r m ed
“
Don t cast those wol fis h glance s at m e f o r I
com e to do you a great se r vi ce an d n ot to ve x
yo u n eedlessly
I h ave told you r u nfortun ate
story to n o o n e
Wh at for ? An y secret m ay be
a treasure wh ich h e wh o tel ls give s away There
are h oweve r occasi o n s i n wh ich a n ex efia ng e of
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M O O RS
54
A ND
C H R I S T I ANS
.
m ay be m ade with pr ofi t F or i nstan ce I
a m goi ng to tel l yo u a n i mporta n t sec r et of m in e
w hic h will s erve as s e cu rity for yours a n d wh ich
wi ll oblige u s to be frie n d s f or t h e r es t of o ur
”
l ive s
”
I a m li ste n i ng ; go on resp o n ded th e r en e
gade quietly
Abe n C a ri m e th e n r e ad alo ud th e A r abic d oc u
m e n t wh ich J u an F a l g u e i ra liste ne d to withou t
m ovi ng a m uscle of h i s stil l angry co u n te n a n ce
Th e M oor seei ng th i s i n o rd e r to dispel hi s dis ~
t r ust disclose d to h i m t he fact th at h e h ad stole n
th e pape r h e h ad j ust r ead f r o m a C hri stia n i n
C e uta
Th e S pa n iard s m iled sligh t l y to th i n k h o w
g r eat m ust be the h uckster s fea r of h i m to c a us e
h i m v ol u n t a r ily t o reve al to h i m h i s th eft an d
poo r M a n os —
gordas e ncourage d by Be n M u n u z a s
s m il e p r ocee de d to d i sclose h i s pl a n s i n th e fol
lowing term s
I take i t for gran te d th at yo u u nde r stan d per
f e ctl y w e ll th e i mportan ce o f th i s doc u me n t an d
th e re aso n o f my re ading i t to you I kn ow n ot
wh ere th e To wer of Z ora ya n o r Aldei r e n o r E l
C e n é t i s n or do I kn ow h ow to go t o S pain n o r
sh o ul d I b e able to fi n d m y way th rough th at
c o u n t r y if I were there beside s wh ich the pe o pl e
woul d kil l m e fo r n o t being a C hri sti an o r at
lea st th ey would despoi l m e of th e tre as ure afte r
F o r all th ese r e a
I h ad f o u nd i t i f n o t before
s eerets
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1
M OO R S
6
5
AND C H R I S T I A N S
.
Alde i r e a n d yo u t h ought yourself fre e f ro m
da nger to ri d you r self o f m y company a nd avoi d
giving m e my h alf of th e treas ure afte r i t wa s
fou n d I n tr uth yo u are n ot th e cl e v er m an yo u
i magi n e yourself to be b ut on ly a simpl et o n de
servi ng of pi t y wh o h ave del iberately walke d i nto
a trap fro m whi c h th e re i s n o escape i n tel li ng
m e where thi s g r eat treas ure i s t o b e foun d an d
telli ng me at th e sam e t i m e th at yo u kn ow my
h i story a n d th at if I we r e to accom pan y yo u t o
S pai n you wou ld t he re b e ab s ol ute m aste r of m y
?
f
life An d wh at need th e n h ave I o you
What n ee d h ave I o f you r h elp to go a nd t ake
possession of th e e n t ire tre as ure myself ? Wh at
n e ed h ave I of you i n the worl d at al l ? Wh o are
y o u n o w th at you h a v e r ead m e th at d o cu me n t
n o w th a t I c an take i t fro m
u
o
y
”
Wh at are yo u saying ? cried M an o s go r das
wh o al l at on ce fel t a c h i ll like th a t Of death
strike to th e m a r ro w of h i s b on es
I a m sayi ng — n oth ing
Take th at ' re
pl ied J uan F a l g u e i ra d eal ing Be n C a ri m e a tre
m e n d ou s bl ow o n th e h ea d with th e iron bar
Th e M o o r r olled ove r o n th e gro u nd t he b l o od
gu sh ing f r o m h is eye s n o se an d m o uth with o u t
uttering a single soun d
Th e u n f o r t un ate m a n wa s dead
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A ND C H R I S T I A NS
MO O R S
XI I
TH REE
1
.
57
.
fou r weeks afte r t he de ath o f M an o s
gord as som ewh e r e a b out th e 2 0 t h of F eb r uary
1 82 1
i t wa s sn owing if it ever were to s now i n
th e town of Al deire an d th rough o u t th e beautiful
A n dal usia n s ierra to wh ich th e s n o w gives exist
e n ce as it were an d a n am e
I t was Car niva l S u n day an d th e ch urch bel l
w a s f o r th e fou r th tim e su m m on i ng t o m ass wi th
i ts th in clear tones l ike th ose of a ch i l d th e
sh ivering Ch ristian s of thi s paris h (too n ear to
h e aven for th eir comfort ) wh o fou n d i t di ffi cult
o n s o ra w an d i nclem e n t a day to bring t h em
sel ves to leave th e ir b eds or to m ove away fro m
th e fire sayi ng pe rh aps i n excuse for th eir n ot
doi ng s o that o n th e t hre e days befo r e As h
Wedn esday wo r sh ip sh o u l d b e r e n de r e d n o t to
God b ut to th e devil
S om e Such excus e a s th is at least w a s give n
by U ncle J ua n G om ez i n a n swer to th e argu me nts
with wh ich h i s piou s wife o u r frie nd D am e Tor
c u ata t r ie d to persu ade h i m to gi ve up drinki ng
bran dy an d e ati ng biscu its a n d accompa ny h er
i nstead to m ass like a good Christi a n r egard
l es s of th e critici sm s of th e sch o o l m aste r or th e
o th er electors of th e libe r al party
An d th e dis
p ute wa s b egi n n i ng to grow warm wh e n su dden ly
Ge n a ro h i s h o no r s h ead s h e p h e rd e n te re d the
or
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58
A ND C H R I S T I A NS
M OO RS
.
ki t c hen an d taki ng o ff h is h at an d scra t ch i ng hi s
h ea d wi t h t he sam e m ove me nt sai d :
God give u s good d ay S e fi o r Ju an an d
S e fio ra To rc u a t a
Yo u m ust h ave gue sse d
already th at som e t h ing h as h appen ed u p above
to bri ng m e down h e r e o n a day like th i s i t n ot
bei ng m y S un day for g o i ng to h ea r ma ss I h ope
”
you a re both wel l '
Th ere ' th ere ' I l l wait n o lo nge r ' c r i ed
th e Alcalde s wife i m patie ntly f o ldi ng h e r
“
m an till a ove r h e r b reast
I t wa s decree d th a t
you were n ot to h ea r m a s s to day Y ou h ave
dri n k en ough th ere a nd con ve r satio n e n ough for
th e whol e d ay dis cussi ng th e que stio n a s t o
wh eth e r th e g o at s are with ki d o r wh eth er th e
young r am s are begin n i ng to ge t th ei r hor n s
You wi l l go to perdition J u an you wil l go t o pe r
di t ion if yo u don t soon m ake you r peace w i th
th e ch u rch a n d give up th e a c curse d al c alde
sh ip
Wh en Dam e Torcu a ta h ad depa r ted th e A l
cald e h an ded a bi scui t a n d a gl ass of bran dy t o
th e h ea d sh eph erd s aying :
“
Wom e n s n on se n s e U ncle Gen ar o ' D raw
y o ur ch air up to t h e fi r e an d te ll m e wh at yo u
h ave to s a y Wh a t i s going o n u p ab ove t h ere
O h a m ere n oth ing ' Ye sterday F ra n cisco
th e goa t ke epe r s a w a m a n dressed like a n ative
Of M alaga with long tro us ers a n d a lin en j acket
a nd w r appe d i n a bl anket g o i n t o th e c attle ya r d
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6O
M OO RS
AN D
C H R I S T I A NS
.
a n swered th a t th e b uildin g wa s n ot a h o u se b u t
a h e ap o f r ui n s where a poor wayfare r migh t very
wel l tak e sh elte r o n a s nowy n igh t a n d t h at h e
wa s rea dy t o presen t h i m se lf before yo u an d te l l
you wh o h e wa s a n d wh at h i s busi n e ss an d h is
pl an s we r e I h ave b r ough t h i m wi th m e th e r e
fore an d h e i s n ow o u t i n th e yard with th e goat
”
h erd waiting fo r you r perm i s si o n to e n ter
”
L e t h i m com e i n
a n s we r e d U n cl e H orm iga
ri si ng to h i s fee t g r ea tly di sturbed fo r th e
t h ough t h ad p r ese n te d i tself to h i s m i n d a t th e
h ea d sh eph e rd s fi rs t wo r ds th a t al l th is wa s
c losely co n n ected with th e c e leb r ate d treas ure
th e h ope of disc o vering wh i ch b y h i s o w n u n
aide d e x erti on s h e h ad aba n don ed a week befo r e
afte r h e h ad re m ove d wi th out r esu l t seve r a l o f
t h e h ea v ies t o f th e f o un dati o n st o n es
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X III
HE R E
.
th e n we h a v e fa c e to face a n d a l o n e
U n cle Ju a n Gom e z an d th e strange r
“
Wh at i s yo u r n a m e
th e form e r a sked th e
l atte r with all th e imperiou sn ess war r a nted by
h i s e x alte d o ffi c e a n d with ou t i n v i ti ng h i m t o be
seated
”
“
My n am e i s Jaim e O lo t
respon de d th e
mys t erio us st r ange r
Y o u do n ot speak like a n ati v e of thi s co u n t r y
A r e y o u E nglish ?
,
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A ND
m ooxs
C H R I S T I ANS
161
.
”
“
I am a C atalan
“
Ah a C atala n ' T h at m ay be A n d w h a t
bri ngs you t o these p arts ? An d ab ov e all , wh at
the devil were yo u doing yeste r day m eas u r i ng
”
m y towe r ?
I wi l l tel l y o u I a m a m i n e r by p r ofe ssi o n
a n d I h a v e c o m e t o th is c o un t r y wh ich i s fam o us
f or i ts c opper an d si lve r m i n e s i n se a r ch of wor k
Yesterday aftern oo n p as si ng by th e M o o r s
T o we r I s a w th at a w al l was being b u il t with th e
ston es th at h ad bee n take n f r om it an d tha t i t
wo uld b e n ece ssary t o tea r down a great dea l
m ore of th e b uilding i n orde r to fi nish th e wall
T here i s n o o n e wh o can e qu a l m e i n p ul ling
down b u il dings whe t h e r by th e u s e of t o o l s or
with h an ds only for I h ave th e s t re ngth of a n ox
a n d th e i de a o ccurred t o m e th at I m igh t be able
to m ake a c o n t ra c t wi th the o wn e r of th e t o we r
”
t o p u ll i t d o w n a n d dig u p th e f o un datio n st o n es
U n cl e Horm iga wi th a win k of h i s li ttl e g r ay
eyes r espo n de d dwelli ng upo n every word :
”
Well th at ar r a nge m e nt d o es n ot sui t m e
“
—
I w o u l d d o th e w or k f o r v e r y l itt l e al mo st
”
n o th i ng
”
N o w i t woul d s u i t m e l ess th an b ef o r e
Th e s o calle d Jai m e O lot was puz z led n o t a
l ittl e by th e mysteriou s an swers of U n cle J ua n
Gome z an d h e trie d to ge t som e cl ue t o thei r
bu t a s
m e an ing from th e expressio n of h i s face
h e wa s u n suc c e ssful i n h i s e ff o rt s to r ead th e fox
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1 I
1
M OO RS
62
A ND C H R I S T I A NS
l ike co un te n an c e o f h i s
.
h o n o r h e added wi th
,
,
feigne d n atu r al n ess
I t wou l d n ot di splease m e ei th e r t o r epai r
a pa r t o f th e ol d b ui lding a n d to l i v e th e r e
c ultivati ng th e g r ou n d th at yo u h ad i nten ded f o r
a cattle yard I w il l b uy f ro m you th e n th e
”
M o o r s Towe r w ith th e gr o u n d a r ou n d i t
”
“
I d o n o t wis h t o sel l i t r e sp o n de d U n cl e
H o r miga
B ut I wi ll pay y o u doub l e w h at i t is w or t h
s aid th e s elf style d C atal an e m ph atically
“
I t w o ul d s ui t m e n ow l ess th a n e v e r t o sell
”
i t repl ie d th e An dal usian wi th s o c r afty a n d
i n s u l ti ng a look th at h i s i nterlocu tor too k a step
b a ck wa r d sud de n ly b ecom ing c o n sciou s th at h e
w a s tr e a di n g o n fa l se groun d
H e r eflecte d for a m om en t th e r efo r e a n d th e n
r ai si ng h i s h ea d with a deter m i n ed ai r a n d cl asp
i ng h is h a n ds beh i n d h i s back h e s ai d wi th a
cynical l augh
“
S o th e n you kn o w th at th e r e i s a trea s u re
o n th at g r ou n d
U n cl e J ua n Gom ez l ean e d o v e r i n h i s s eat
a n d scan n i ng th e C atal an f r o m h ead t o foot
exc l ai m ed wi th a com ical ai r
“
Wh at v exe s m e i s th at you t o o sh o u l d
know it '
A n d i t wou l d v e x y o u m uch m o re if I sh o u l d
te ll y o u th at I a m th e o n l y pe r s o n wh o kn o ws i t
”
w ith c e r tai n ty
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1
64
Il OORS
AND C H R I S T I A NS
.
te l l m e with ou t l yi ng s o th at I m ay l e a r n t o p u t
fai t h i n you
“
A sk wh at y o u w ish ; wh e n i t d o es n ot s uit
”
m e t o spe ak I sh al l b e s i le n t
”
D o y o u co m e from M adri d ?
“
No
I t i s t wenty fiv e yea r s si n ce I wa s i n
”
t h e capital f or th e first an d l ast ti me
”
D o y o u co m e from th e Holy L an d ?
”
N o ; th a t i s n ot i n my l i n e
“
A r e y o u acqu ai n ted wi th a l awye r of U g i j a r
c al le d D on M a t i a s de Quesad a
N o ; I h ate la wyers a n d al l people w h o live
”
by th e pen
“
Well th e n h ow di d th i s do c u m e n t fal l i n to
your possessio n
J aim e O lcot wa s silent
”
“
I l ike th at ' I s e e you d o n t wan t t o l i e '
excl ai m e d th e Al cal d e
But th ere ca n n ot be a
d o ubt th at D on M at i as d e Quesada ch ea te d m e
a s if I were a C hin ese steali ng fro m m e two
ou n ce s i n gold a n d the n sel li ng th at docu me n t
to som e o n e i n M eli ll a or C euta An d the fac t
i s al th ough yo u are n ot a M oor y o u lo o k a s if
”
you h ad l ive d i n th ose cou n tri es
Do n t fatig u e yourself or l o se you r ti m e
guessi ng furth e r I wi ll s e t you r doubts at r est
Th is l awye r you speak of m ust h ave sen t th e
m a n u s cr ipt t o a S pani ard i n Ceuta from wh o m
it wa s st o l en th r ee weeks ago by the M oo r f ro m
”
wh o se p o ssession it pas sed i n t o m i ne
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M OO RS
AND C H R I S T I AN S
1 65
.
Ah ' n o w I s e e H e m ust h ave sen t it t o a
n eph e w o f h is wh o i s a m us icia n i n th e cath e
”
—
d ral of th at c ity o n e Bon a f a ci o d e T udel a
”
I t is v e r y l ike l y
Wh a t a w r etch th at Do n M at i as i s ' To
ch eat h i s g o ss ip i n th is w a y ' But s e e h ow
ch a n ce h a s brough t th e doc um e n t back t o m y
h an ds agai n
”
“
To m i n e y o u w o ul d s a y obse r ve d th e
s tra nger
”
T o ou r s ' return e d t h e Al calde agai n fi ll in g
“
th e gl asse s
Wh y th e n we are m i lli o n aires
We wil l divide th e tre asure e qu ally b etwe e n u s
since you can n ot dig i n th at grou n d with ou t my
p ermi ssion n o r can I fin d th e t reasure with ou t
th e help Of t h e d ocum e n t wh i ch h a s falle n i n to
your posse ssion Th at i s to s a y th at ch an ce h a s
m ade u s brothers F rom t h is d ay for t h you
sh al l live i n m y h o u s e — a n oth er glass — a n d th e
i nstan t we h ave finish ed breakfast we wi ll begi n
”
to dig
Th e confe r en ce h ad reach e d th i s poi n t wh e n
D a m e To rcu a t a return e d from m ass H e r h u s
ba n d told h e r al l th at h ad passed an d
presen ted to h er Don Jai m e O l ot Th e good
wom an h eard wi th as m u ch fear as j oy th e n ews
th a t t h e treasure was o n th e eve of discovery
crossing h erself repeatedly o n le arn ing o f th e
t reach ery an d b asen ess of h e r gossi p Do n M a
t i as de Que sada an d sh e looked wi t h te rr o r a t
“
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1 66
MOO RS
AN D
C H RI S T I A NS
.
th e st r anger wh os e cou n te n a n ce fil le d h e r wi t h
a presen ti m e n t o f com ing m isfortu n e
K nowing h owever th at s h e m ust give th i s
m a n hi s breakfast sh e we n t i n to th e pa ntry to
take fro m i t th e ch oi ce st arti cles i t con tai ned
th at i s t o s a y a ten derl oi n with pickle sauce a n d
a saus age of th e last killi ng s aying to h e r self
h o we v e r as s h e u n cove re d th e j ars
Tim e i t i s th at th e treasure sh oul d b e d i s cov
ered for wh ether it i s to b e fou nd o r n ot i t h as
alre ady cost u s th e th irty two dol lars for th e f a
m ous c up of ch ocolate th e l o ng sta n di ng frie n d
sh ip of ou r goss ip Don M at i as th ese fi n e slice s
o f m eat th at would h ave m ade s o ri ch a dish
d res se d wi th pepper s an d tom atoes i n th e m o nth
a nd t h e h aving s o for b iddi ng looki ng
o f Augu s t
a strange r a s a gue st Accurse d b e tre asu r e s
an d m i n es an d th e devils an d every t hing th at
i s u n dergrou nd excepti ng o nly wate r a n d th e
f aithfu l dep a r t e d
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XIV
.
W H I L E D am e To rcu a t a wa s m a k ing th es e re
fle c ti on s to h erself a s sh e we n t wi t h a pa n i n
ei the r h a n d t oward th e fire cri e s an d h isse s of
W o m e n an d ch il dr en re sou n ded i n th e s t reet
m i n gle d wit h oth e r voices i n a lowe r key saying :
“
S e fi or Alcalde ' O pe n th e door ' Th e ci ty
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1 68
MOO R S
AND
C H R I S T I ANS
.
th ey an d the sol di e rs wh o h ad n ow also e ntere d
th e r oo m sei z e d a n d bou n d h i m sec u rely a l
th ough th e re negade di spl ayed i n th e struggle
th e s t re ng t h a n d agil ity of a t ige r
Th e co n stable o f th e c o urt wh o h ad u n der h i s
co m m an d a clerk an d twen ty foot s oldiers m e a n
ti m e tol d th e Alcalde th e cause s of an d reason s
for th i s n o i sy arre st
”
“
This m a n h e s ai d with wh om y o u h ave
bee n sh u t u p I do n t k n o w wh y—talk i ng of I
d o n t k n o w wh at — i s th e fam o u s Gal ici an J ua n
F a l g u e i ra wh o fiftee n years ago rob b ed a n d
m u r de r ed a party o f ge n t le me n wh ose m ulet ee r
h e wa s i n a certai n ha ml et o f Gra n ada an d wh o
e scaped f r o m t h e ch apel o n th e e ve of th e day
appoin ted f o r hi s exe c ution dress ed i n th e h abi t
th e
o f the f r i a r wh o was a dm i n isteri ng to h i m
con sol ati on s of r eligion a n d wh o m h e lef t th ere
h alf st r a ngled Th e kin g h i m self—wh om H eave n
prese rv e —r ecei ve d a fortnigh t ago a lette r fro m
C e uta sign e d by a Moor n am ed M an os gordas
sayi ng th at J ua n F a l g u e i ra afte r long r e side n ce
i n Dr ai n a n d oth e r poi nts i n Afri ca wa s abo ut t o
e mbar k fo r S pain a n d th at i t would b e a n e asy
m atte r to sei ze h i m i n Al deire i n E l C e n é t wh ere
i t was his i n t e n t io n to pur c hase a M oorish towe r
an d t o de v ote h i m self to m i ni ng A t th e s a m e
tim e a com m un ica t i o n was received by th e gov
th e S pani sh C on s ul i n Te t uan
e rn m e n t fro m
sta t i n g th at a M o ori sh woma n called Z am a h ad
,
,
,
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,
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MOO R S
A ND
C H R I S T I ANS
I
.
69
p r e se n ted h e r self before h i m t o m ake compl ai n t
agai ns t th e S pa ni sh r e n egade Be n Ma u n z a f or
m erly c alled J ua n F a l g u e i ra wh o h a d j ust s ailed
for S pai n af t e r h aving assassi n ated th e M oor
M an os gordas th e compl ai n an t s h usb and an d
rob b e d h i m of a ce r tai n preci o us docum en t F o r
al l wh ich reas o ns a n d c h iefly o n accou n t o f t h e
attem pt aga i n st th e life of th e friar i n th e ch apel
H i s M aj esty th e King strongly urge d U pon th e
auth orities o f G r a n ada th e arres t of th e crim i n al
”
a n d h is i m me dia t e execution i n th at city
L et th e r eade r pictur e t o h i m s elf th e terror an d
aston i shm e n t with wh ich th i s n arrati on wa s lis
te n ed to b y all prese n t a s wel l as th e despair of
U ncle Hor m iga wh o cou l d n o t n o w dou b t th a t
th e doc u me nt was i n t he p o ssessio n o f th is m a n
c on de m ned t o death
Th e a v arici o u s A l cal d e th e n a t th e r isk of
com p r om ising h im self stil l furth er ca ll ed asi de
J ua n F a l g u e i ra a n d h el d a wh ispere d con versation
wi t h h i m h aving pre viously i n form e d th e assem
b lage th a t h e was goi ng to try to prevai l upon th e
re n egade to c on fess h i s cri m e before God a n d
m en
Wh at passe d betwee n th e t wo p a rtn ers
h owever wa s real ly wh at follows
“
Gossi p
s ai d U n cle Ho r m iga n ot He aven
itself coul d n o w s ave you ' But yo u m us t feel
th at i t woul d b e a pi ty th at th at docu m e n t S h oul d
”
b e l ost Tell m e wh ere yo u h ave h idde n i t
”
“
“
G o ssip ' r esponde d th e Galician
with
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MOO R S
1 7O
A ND
C H R I S T I A NS
.
th at docu m e n t o r i n oth er words wi th t h e t r eas
ure it r e presen ts I i nte n d t o p urchas e m y par
P ro cure fo r m e th e r oyal favo r a n d I w il l
d on
del i v e r th e docu m e n t to yo u ; but fo r th e p r ese n t
I sh all o ff e r i t to th e j udge s to bribe th em to de
”
cl are my se n ten ce n ul l a n d voi d b y presc r ip tion
“
“
Gossip
r eplie d U n cle H orm iga
u are
o
y
a w ise m an a n d I sh all be glad if yo u succeed i n
y o u r purp o se Bu t if you fail for God s s ake d o
n o t ca rr y t o th e t o m b a secret wh ich will profi t
n o on e '
Be certai n I sh all take i t wi th m e ' a n
I m ust h ave my re
s we re d J ua n F a l g u e i ra
”
v enge upon th e worl d i n som e w ay
”
“
L et us procee d ' here cri ed th e con stabl e
p utti ng a n e n d to t h is strange co nfere nce
A n d t h e con dem ne d m an bei ng ch ai ne d an d
h andcu ff e d t h e o fficers of j ustice a n d th e soldi e r s
proceeded with h im i n th e directi o n of th e city of
G u adix wh e nce th ey were to co n duct h i m to
Gran ada
”
“
Th e devil ' th e de vi l ' th e wife of U ncl e
H o rmiga J u an Go m ez kept repeati ng to he r self
for an ho ur afterward as s h e r eturne d th e te n de r
l oi n a n d th e sausage to th e ir respective j ars
“
—
My c ur s e upo n a ll t r e asures past p r ese n t a n d
”
t o co m e '
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1
M OO RS
2
7
A N D C H R I ST I AN S
.
Gom e z b oth which eve nts co m ing toget h e r a i
f e cte d th e o l d l awyer to s uc h a deg r e e th at h e
an d h e die d
n e v e r r ec ov e r e d h is spi r its again
sh ortly afte rw a r d h avi ng wri tte n i n h is las t h our
a terri b le lette r full of r eproach es an d m a l e d i c
tion s to h i s n eph e w th e C h apel m aste r of Ce u t a
accusi ng h i m o f h avi ng decei ve d a n d robbed
h i m a n d of b eing th e ca us e of h i s d eath
To th e reading of th is j ust an d t r em en dou s
accu sati o n was due i t i s said th e stroke of
a popl exy th at se n t Do n Bon ifacio t o th e tomb
S O th at t h e s uspi cion m erely of th e existen ce
a h idde n t reas ure was th e cau s e of five
of
d e a t h s an d o f m an y o t h e r m i sfort un es m atters
rem ai ni ng i n th e e n d a s h idde n an d m ysteri ou s
a s t h ey we r e i n th e begi n n i ng si n ce Dam e Tor
cu ata wh o was t h e only perso n i n th e wo r l d wh o
k n ew th e h i story of t h e fatal docu m en t too k
good care n ever to m entio n i t th ereafte r i n th e
whole cours e of h er li fe th i nking a s s h e did
th at i t h ad al l be en th e work of th e devil an d
th e n e c essa r y con se qu en ce of h e r h u sb an d s
dealings with t h e e n e m ie s o f the C h urc h a n d th e
T h r o ne
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H WA T E RS
BRE A D CA S T UPON T E
BY
FE R N A N C A BA LLE R O
Tran sl a ted b y Ma ry J S e rr an o:
.
I
6
7
BR E A D CAS T
U PON TH E W A T E R S
.
I n a m o re pi o us age a s m all h ospi ta l f o r p oo r
s t r ange r s was establi sh ed i n Born os wh i ch i s o n e
o f th e vi llages th at like a fri nge b orde r th e sl ope
o f th e S ie rr a ; an hospi t al wh ich re m ain ed close d
i n wi n ter b u t wh ich i n su m m er receiv ed m a ny
of th e poo r r e ape r s wh o were prost r ated by th e
i nte n se he at an d wh o h ad n o h o me o r fam ily i n
th e v il l age
O n a h ot sum m er d ay ea r ly i n th e th i r tie s a
w om a n wi th a kin d a n d gen tle c o u n te n an ce wa s
se ated at th e door of h er cottage i n th e vi llage
ab o ve m e n tion ed en gage d i n ch opping th e tom a
t o e s a n d peppers a n d crumbli ng th e bread fo r
th e wh o l esom e n utri t i o us an d sav ory gazp ach o
wh ich was to serve fo r th e fam i ly s uppe r ; h er
two ch i ldren a b oy of seve n an d a girl of five
were pl aying n ot fa r fr o m h e r i n th e stree t
As Born os i s alm ost en tirely s urr o u nded by
orch a r ds an d o r a n ge groves pl an ted on th e slope s
o f th e tab lela n d o n wh i ch th e village is seat ed
an d wh ich at th i s h our are i r rigated by th e cle ar
an d ab u n dan t wate r s o f its springs every bree z e
bro ugh t with it th e pe r fu m e of th e le ave s an d
th e m el odi ous s t rain s of th e b irds singing th eir
even ing hym n to th e su n fi lli ng th e ai r wi th cool
n ess a s if ki n d Moth e r N atu re m ade of h e r trees
a fa n to co o l th e br o w of h e r favori te ch i ld m an
Th e fron t of th e h ou se was al re ady steeped i n
S h adow wh i le th e s u n stil l gilde d th e i rr egul ar
c r ests of th e m ou n tai n s o n th e opposite S i de o f
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UPON
B RE A D C A S T
T H E WA T ERS
1
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77
the valley th a t like p atien t cam els suppo r te d
th e loa d of vi n e s olive groves a n d co rn fie l d s
confide d to th e m by m an
Th e m othe r occu pie d wi t h h er task h a d
n ot observed th at a poo r ly c l a d littl e b o y h ad
j oi n e d h e r chi ld re n a n d tha t th ey were talking
toge th er
“
Wh o are you
said th e Bo r n os b o y to th e
stranger ; I h ave n ever see n yo u bef o r e Wh a t
”
?
i s your n am e
M ichael an d yours
”
Gaspar
”
“
A n d m y n am e i s C ath e r i n e sai d th e litt l e
girl wh o des i r ed al s o to m ake th e s t r a nge boy s
acquai n tance
”
“
I k n ow th e sto r y of S t C athe r i n e sai d th e
l atte r
”
“
O h do you ? Tel l i t t o u s
Th e b oy reci te d th e foll owi n g v e r ses
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m o rro w w i ll b e S t C a th e ri n e s d a y
W h e n t o h e a v e n s h e w ill a s c e n d a n d S t P e t e r w i ll s a y
W h a t w o m a n i s t h a t wh o a s k s t o b e l e t i n
I a m C a t h e ri n e s h e w i ll a n s w e r a n d I w a n t t o c o m e
To
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E n t e r, l i tt l e d o v e , i n yo u r d o v e
-
c o te th e n
,
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Wh at a lovely sto r y
ex c l ai m ed th e gi rl
”
“
Don t you kn ow an oth er ?
”
“
L o o k Cath eri n e
cri ed h er broth er wh o wa s
“
e ati ng r oaste d b e a n s ; there i s a l ittl e dea d
”
s n ail i n th i s b ean a r oasted sn ai l
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12
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1
8
7
B RE AD C A S T
U P O N T H E WA T E RS
.
“
Will yo u give m e s om e bean s
begge d th e
st r ange ch ild
“
Yes h e r e are som e A r e you v ery v ery fon d
of r oaste d bean s
“
Yes very b u t I as k e d yo u f o r t he m b ecause
”
I a m ve ry h u ng r y
”
“
Why h ave yo u h ad n o din n e r ?
”
No
”
N o r any b r eakfast eith e r ?
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NO
”
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”
M o th er m o th e r cr ie d b o th th e ch i l d r e n
“
t o geth e r r un n i ng to th e ir m oth e r ; thi s po or
l ittle b o y h as n t h a d a ny din n e r or any breakfa st
a n d h e i s v e r y h u ngry ; gi v e u s som e b r ead f o r
”
him
”
He h a s h ad n o di n n e r you s a y ? s aid th e
good wom an givi n g th e ch i l d a pi ece of brea d
with th a t compassi on ate ten de r n ess wh ich seem s
i n n ate i n wome n toward ch i ld r e n ; h ave you n o
pa r ents th en my ch ild
”
“
Yes b ut th ey h a v e n o b r ead t o give m e
“
P o o r little b o y ' An d wh ere are y o u r
p a r e n ts
”
“
O ver th e r e an swe r ed th e b o y p o i n ting i n
th e di r ecti on of a lan e th at r a n between gar de n
wall s at righ t angl es wi th th e s treet
Th e good wom an fo l lowe d by th e c h i ldren
we n t t o th e l an e
O n th e dry g r as s with h i s fa c e tu r n e d t o th e
w a l l l ay a m a n m i serably c l ad a n d app a r en t l y
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I
8O
B RE A D C A S T
UP O N
T H E WA T ERS
.
m a n i s dying an d th i s l ittl e boy wh o i s h i s s on
”
s ays h e h a s n o brea d to gi ve h i m
”
“
Joh n Joseph added th e m oth er of th e ch i l
“
dren
th i s p o or m a n i s lying s he l t erless h ere ;
thi s i s pitiful If yo u are willing le t u s carry
”
h i m in to th e h ouse an d se n d for th e doctor
”
Will i ng
O f co urs e I am will i ng an swe red
h e r h u sban d
I h ave n ever yet refuse d m y
h el p to an y on e i n n e ed of i t Go d b e praised '
Th ere h as al ways bee n a corn er i n my kitch e n
fo r th e poo r a n d e specially fo r th ose wh o are
l ooking fo r a S helter fo r th e n igh t wh o are on a
j ou rn ey o r wh o are sick ; an d such food as I
h ad I h ave al ways sh a r e d with th em ' D o n t
”
?
yo u k n o w th a t wife
”
“
C om e th e n said th e l atter ; let u s l ift h i m
I 11 take h ol d of h i m by o n e
u p Joh n Joseph
”
arm a n d h i s wife can take h i m by th e othe r
Th ey did a s s h e sai d O n e of th e childre n
took th e sickl e an oth er th e h at th e th ird a
s m al l sh abby b undl e of cloth es an d al l we n t
toward th e h o u se
A sh eepski n a n d a pai r o f sh eets were sprea d
ove r on e of th e th ick re ed m atti ngs wh ich serve
th e l aborers i n th e fa r m s a n d vin eyards as beds
an d th e si ck m an w h o rem ai n e d su n k i n a pr o
fou n d stupor w a s pl aced O u i t wh il e Ga spari to
Whe n
w h o wa s tol d to fly ran fo r th e doc tor
th e l atter cam e h e pron ou n ce d th e pati en t to b e
danger o u sly i ll an d pres c ribed vari ou s m ed icin e s
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B RE AD CA S T
T H E WA T E RS
UP O N
1
.
81
which were ad min istere d to h i m with t h at z eal
a n d i n tell igen ce i n cari ng for t h e S i ck th at is o n e
o f th e m any prerogatives o f th e sex calle d t he
f ai r b u t wh ich m igh t with m uch m ore pr o pri ety
b e calle d th e pio us s e x
Af t e r t h e m edici n e s h ad bee n adm i n i stere d
an d h e h ad bee n bled free ly th e patie nt s eem ed
so mewh at better an d s an k i n t o wh a t see med a
n atural a n d b e n e fice n t sl eep a n d t h en an d n o t
u nti l t h e n di d t he fam ily th ink of thei r supper
th e refresh in g a n d n u t ri t ious gaspach o an d th e
fruits s o ab u n dan t i n t h e cou n t r y an d o f wh ich
t he peopl e frugal r efin ed a n d el egan t eve n i n
the i r m ateri a l appeti tes are s o f o n d
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C HA P T E R I I
I T i s nee dless to
.
th a t th os e fi r s t call ed t o
partake of th e m es s as t h e m as t er o f th e h ou se
w h o h ad been a soldier called i t we r e th e strange
wo m an a n d h e r s o n
An d wh at part of t he c ou n t ry are you from
s aid Joh n J oseph to h i s gue s t a s h e o ff ered h e r
a sl ice of a m agn ificen t waterm el on wh ich
sparkle d like a garne t i n th e ligh t
”
“
F rom T re v e l e s i n th e Al puj ar r a s
sh e a n
say
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s we re d
.
”
I was th ere wh e n I se rve d th e ki ng re
“
Th ose are poor villages
sp on d e d Joh n Joseph
,
.
.
I
82
B RE AD C A S T
Tre v e l e s
P oqu e i ra
TH E WA T ERS
UP O N
i s a village o verh angi ng th e
”
.
r a v i ne o f
.
”
Th at i s true repl ie d th e poor wom an wh ose
so r rowful face brigh ten ed a l ittle at th e re co l l e c~
tion so dear t o th e h eart o f th e pl ace wh ere s h e
w a s born an d wh ere h e r h om e wa s
”
“
An d by th e sam e toke n
con ti nue d Joh n
“
Joseph yo u ca n se e from th ere th e pe aks of
M u l h a Hase m a n d Vel eta t ha t don t reach th e
S ky becaus e th e Alm igh t y wo ul d n t let t h e m an d
”
n ot becau se th ey di d n t try
*
And wh y d o th ey cal l th at p eak th e Veleta
Joh n Joseph ? I s it b e ca use i t h as on e o n i t
”
I f it h a s I ne v er s a w i t
”
“
It ha s n o ne n ow s ai d th e stranger bu t i t
h ad on e i n for m er ti m es wh e n Moors an d C hris
tian s wen t fighti ng o n e an oth er th rough th e
m o un tai n s I t was gu arde d by a n a nge l wh o
kept i t p oi n te d to ward S pai n an d th e n th e
C h risti an s con quere d ; but if h e n egl ecte d h i s
t ask th e devil cam e an d m ad e i t poi n t towa r d
”
Barb ary a n d th e n th e M oors con quere d
“
Bu t i n spite o f all th e devi l could do we
d rove th e m ou t ; yes an d we would h ave don e
i t if th ere h ad bee n te n tim e s a s m any of the m
sai d th e ex soldie r
An d were yo u e v e r o n thos e peaks ? s ai d th e
m ist r ess of th e h ou se t o her gues t
”
I w a s n e v e r there myself an swere d th e
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9*
A w e a th e r va n e
-
.
1
84
U PON T H E W A T E R S
B R EA D C AST
.
pers and th at are s o s agacio us th at t h ey al ways
s t atio n o n e o f th ei r n u mber o n a h eigh t t o keep
wa t ch a n d whe n danger is ap proach ing h e
s tri kes th e r ock wi th h i s foo t an d th en th e oth ers
scampe r Off a n d disapp e a r l ike a fligh t of pa r
,
,
,
t ri d g e s
”
.
”
Th at i s all t ru e re s p on d e d th e gu es t ;
an d
t h ere are owl s th ere t oo a ki n d of birds wi t h
”
wings a n d a h u m an face
“
Wh at i s th at you are saying S e fiora
c r ie d
“
wh o eve r sa w such bird s a s
Joh n Joseph
th os e
“
M y M an u e l h as see n th e m an d e v ery o n e
wh o h as ever cli mb ed up t hos e h eigh ts ; a n d you
m u st know th a t th e o wls a n d the m ou n t ai n goats
h a v e bee n th ere eve r si nce t h e ti m e wh e n Jes us
H e cam e to th o se sol i t u des
w a s i n th e w orl d
th at were th e n s h ady m e ad ows i n wh ich tam e
an d h an dsom e goats browsed watch e d by th ei r
sh epherds Th e L ord wh o wa s t ired e n tered a
goat h erd s h u t an d aske d th e goat h e rds to pre
pare a ki d for suppe r fo r H i m self a n d S t Joh n
a n d S t P e ter wh o were with H i m Th e goat
h e r ds wh o were wicked M oo r s s ai d th at th ey
h ad n o n e ; b u t th e L ord i n si s t ed a n d th e n wh at
d id t h o se h e artl es s w r etch es do ? Th ey killed a
cat c o o ke d i t an d s e t i t on th e table But th e
L ord as you m ay su ppose wh o see s i n to al l hearts
a n d kn ows eve r y t hing th a t i s goi ng on h owever
se cr et it m ay be th ought k n ew perfectly wel l
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BR
H W AT E R S
E A D C A S T U PO N
w h at
T E
1
.
85
th e goat h erds h ad don e an d s itting d o wn
at th e table H e s ai d :
-
,
If yo u a re a k i d ,
R e m a i n f ri e d
.
if yo u a re a ca t
Jum p f ro m t h e p l a t e
Bu t
,
’
.
“
I n stan t ly th e a ni m al straigh ten e d i ts elf u p
an d ra n off Th e L ord t o pun ish th e goat herds
tu r n ed th e m i n to o wl s a n d th ei r flo c ks i n to wi ld
”
goats
At t h is m om e n t a m oa n w a s h e ard ; t hey al l
h urri ed to th e S ick m a n s bedside H i s im prove
m e n t h ad b een on ly m om en tary ; th e fever
cause d b y a cere b ra l a t t ack h a d re ach ed i ts
h eigh t a n d i n a few h ours term in ate d h is l ife
wi t h out h is h avi ng return e d to con scious n es s fo r
a s ingle i ns t an t
I t is a n ea sy m atter to describe a vi ole n t a n d
n o isy gri ef wh ich rebel s agai n st m i sfortu n e ; b u t
it i s n o t e asy to d escri b e a profou n d sile n t
h umble an d r esign ed grief Th e poor wi do w
w h o h a d los t ev ery t h i ng eve n the stre ng t h to
work r aise d h er eyes to heaven cl asped h er
h a n ds an d bowe d h e r h ead wh il e h er life wh i ch
h er ch ille d h eart wa s u n abl e to m ai n tai n slowly
eb b e d away
S h e was n ot se n t away by th e ki n d an d ch ari
tab le people w h o h a d she lte re d h e r ; b ut sh e
kn ew th at sh e would b e a h eavy bu rde n u pon
the m ; a n d alth ough s h e wa s s ub m issive to th e
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1
86
B RE A D CA S T
T H E WA T E RS
UP O N
.
will of th e L ord sh e prayed to H im to gran t h er
a speedy a n d co n tri t e e n d a s a release fro m a l l
h er s u ff eri ngs ; a n d t h e L ord gran ted her prayer
O n e n igh t s h e s a w with i ne ff a b le j oy th e b ed
o n wh ich she l ay s urroun de d b y ki n d devou t a n d
c ompassi on a t e s oul s ; th e h ouse was ligh ted u p
a n al t ar s tood i n fron t of h er h umb le cot o n
wh ich s h e s aw th e i m age of o u r L ord to wh o m
s h e h a d prayed wi t h arm s ope n ed to th ose wh o
cal l upon Hi m
E very o n e b rough t flowers t hose
u niversal i n t erpreters of h u m an fee l ing wh ich
e n h an ce th e S ple n dor of th e m ost augu st s ole m
n i t i e s a n d le n d poetry a n d beau ty to t h e gayes t
festival ; a n d wh ich a s if th ey were angel s gifts
a r e fou n d l ike t h ese i n th e h ut a n d i n th e p alace
i n royal garden s an d i n t h e fi elds
A bel l so un de d i n th e di sta n ce th at wi th its
S ilvery v oice seem e d t o say :
H ere com e t h th e
”
L ord wh o give t h a peaceful de a t h
An d th us i t was ; for wh e n th e s ol e m n act o f
receivi ng th e L as t S acra m en t was e n ded th e
s ick wom an rai se d h er eye s i n wh ich a gle am o f
h er l ost happi n es s sh on e
”
I a m le aving th i s vall ey Of tears s h e s aid
“
i n a fai n t voice
a n d th rough th e m ercy Of God
I am goi ng to H is prese n ce to ask H i m to watch
over t h i s poor boy th i s poor orph an
”
“
?
O rph a n di d yo u s a y
crie d Joh n J oseph
“
D o n t yo u kn ow the n th at h e i s our s o n
Th e dyi ng w o m an lea n e d h e r pal e face agai nst
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1
B RE A D CA S T
88
UP O N
THE
W A T E RS
.
l ife a n d t h e n ext h a s n eed o f tears a ti m e c am e
i n wh ich m any were s hed i n th i s h ou se t o pro v e
to its i n m a t es th at God b es t ows thi s blessi ng
a l m os t preferably o n th e poor a n d th e righ teous
Th e draft wa s procl ai m ed an d b oth son s were
e nrol le d f o r th e drawi ng
Th ose wh o kn ow h ow passi on ate i s th e a ff e c
tion wh ich th e m oth ers of th e people h ave fo r
their ch ildren ca n unders t an d M ari a s i n co n s o l
a b l e grief S h e believe d th at s h e love d b oth s on s
e qu ally ; sh e feare d fo r bo t h with th e s am e a n
gui sh ; wi th th e s a m e fe r vo r s h e prayed to God
a n d to th e Virgi n th at b oth m igh t es cape t h e
draft b u t whe n th ey return e d fro m th e drawi ng
an d s h e l e ar ne d th at th e soldie r s lot h a d fall e n
o n h e r o wn s o n th e cry wh ich th is i n telligen c e
dre w from h e r m oth er s h eart
C h ild of m y
soul I kn e w th at i t m u st fall upon you — sh owed
th at a m oth er s l ove ca n b e e qualle d by n o oth er
M ich ael s a w M ari a s gri ef wi th a brea k i ng
h e a r t a grief wh ich n ot al l h i s o wn e ff o r t s nor
th ose of her h usban d could di m i n i sh or soo t h e
O n th e following day J oh n Joseph took h i s s o n
t o th e bar r ack b u t wh a t was th e aston i sh me n t
o f bo t h wh e n th e co m m an da nt t old Gaspar t h a t
h e w a s fre e a n d th at h e m igh t ret ur n h o m e
“
F re e ' c r ie d Gasp a r i n am azem e n t
An d
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wh y ?
”
”
“
Becau se you h ave a s ub stitute
th e o ffi cer
.
,
a ns we r e d
B RE A D CA S T
“
I
T H E WA T E RS
UP O N
1
.
89
s ai d Gasp a r wi t h ever i ncreasi ng asto n
i sh m e n t
w h y th at can t b e s o
“
Wh y do yo u s a y it can t b e so ? I f th e s u b s t i
”
t u te i s already accepted a n d e n rolled i t i s so
But w h o i s h e ? aske d G aspar a i n a ze d
”
Th at you ng m an th ere a n swered th e Offi ce r
poi n ti ng to th e m a n wh o m h i s pare n ts i n thei r
b e n e fice n ce h a d brough t up a s a s o n
M ich ael wh a t h ave yo u d o n e
excl ai med
Gaspa r strongly m oved
Wh a t m y m oth e r ch arge d m e o n he r de ath
”
bed t o do
a n swere d M ich ael ; 1 h ave pai d a
deb t
”
Yo u owe d m e n oth ing an s were d Gaspar ;
“
b u t I n ow o we yo u a d eb t ; an d God gran t m e
th e opportu nity t o p ay i t b ro t h er if th e occasi o n
pre se nts i t self yo u m ay b e s u r e I w ill n ot le t i t
”
pass th at I wi l l n ot
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C H APTER I V
.
TW O
yea r s after th e eve nts j ust r e cor ded a
s till greate r s o rro w b efell th i s wor t h y fam ily s o
u n ite d a n d s o a ff ectio n ate as th e fam ilies of th e
peas an try u su ally a r e Mich ael drew t h e lot i n a
sec o n d c o n sc r ipti on a s Gaspar h ad done b efore
an d as he wa s th u s obliged to serve o n h i s ow n
a ccoun t th e s o n of h is adop t ed paren ts wh om
h e coul d n ot no w serve a s a s ub sti tute wa s on ce
m ore calle d t o th e r a n k s
Fo ur yea r s m o r e
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1
B RE AD CA S T
0
9
UP O N
T
HE W A TE RS
.
passed
an d j ust wh e n th ey were expec t ing
M ich ae l h om e h is tim e of s ervi c e h avi ng expi red
a n d wh i le C ath eri n e wa s prepari ng h er weddi ng
garments a cry uttered by th e Quee n of S pai n
resou nde d through th e cou n try electrifyi ng th e
people an d producing a u n iversal out b urst o f
patri otic e nth usi asm — L ong li v e S pai n ' Death
t o th e M oo r w h o h as i n sulte d h e r
T h is cry wa s
re ech oe d t h rough ou t th e le ngth a n d bre ad t h o f
th e P en in su la accom pan ied by th e clash of th e
warrior s s word a n d t h e ch i nk of th e rich m an s
gol d o ff ere d o n th e al ta r of th e cou ntry s h o n or ;
i t was repeate d by t h e peopl e wh o gave th e ir
blood by th e s acred episcopate wh o blessed th e
cau se of th e cou n t r y an d of C h r i sti an ity an d
wh ose wo r ds powerfully i n flu en ced n ot o n ly ti m i d
a n d piou s con scie n ces b ut al l by their wi sdom
prude n ce a n d j udgm en t Th e S i sters of C h arity
O ff ere d th e i r de v ote d se r vices ; th e n u n s m ad e
l i n t an d s ac r e d scapu la r s of th e Virgi n ; th e
ladie s al so m ade li n t a n d b a ndage s wh ich th ey
m oiste n e d with th ei r te ars a n d eve n sch o o lb o ys
fired with e n th usi asm asked to b e allowe d t o go
*
t o th e popu la r wa r agai n s t th e M o o rs
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m i gh t b e p ro v e d b y m a n y e x a m p l e s b u t
i ce t o t ra n s c ri b e h e re a l e tt e r w rit t e n b y a n e p h e w
i t wi ll s u fl
o f m i n e t h e s o n o f M a rqu i s C
*5
Th i s
i
a s s e rt o n
,
N O R A l t h o ugh I a m
l y a b oy of e i gh t
I a m m o v e d t o s a y t o yo u t h a t I w o ul d l i k e t o d i e f o r
th e c o u n t ry a n d t h a t b e i n g f o n d of m i l i ta ry t h i n g s I w i s h
S E N O R GOV
,
ER
,
on
,
1
B RE A D
92
CAS T UP O N TH E WA T E RS
.
th i s war J oh n Jose ph an d t h at i s h ear t b reaki ng
to th i nk o f ; yes h e artbreaking al t h ough you wi t h
”
your warl ike n otio n s say i t i s n ot
O h yes yo u woul d like t h i s war to b e like a
w a r betwee n wom e n ; a w a r t o th e kn ife b u t
wi th ou t a ny o n e kill ed ; well war wi t h th ose
wh o u se a be ard an d especi al ly if th ey we ar th e
King s u n ifor m an d h av e th e flag of S pai n u n der
w hich th ey are fighti ng to defe nd i s an oth er
m atte r ; w i th th e m th e questi o n i s t o con que r or
”
die
”
F or th at very re as o n
repl ie d M ari a d is
“
c o n s ol a te l
co
ul
d
n t h e h ave com e b ack a n d
y
stayed quietly a t h om e after h e h ad fulfilled h is
duty
Yes l ike you a t th e S pi n n i ng wh e el bu t you
m ust kn o w th at n o n ew sailin g vessel ever yet
”
wante d to b e a p on toon Don t you kn ow th at ?
M ari a an d C ath eri ne kept on crying
If you h ad even tol d m e th at yo u were goi ng
”
“
to s e e th em sai d th e form er
I woul d h ave
”
give n you som e scapulars to take th em
“
Th ey h ave th e m already th ey h ave th e m
already an d blessed by th e bish op of Malaga I
tol d yo u before wife th at th is wa r i s a h oly
w a r wh ich wil l rej oi ce S t F erdin an d i n h eaven
”
But you are i n a cr yi ng h u m or it seem s h e
adde d i mpati en tly seei ng th at h i s wife an d
“
daugh te r were stil l sh edding tears
Why wh at
wo u l d you h ave ? Th at they sh ould re mai n h ere
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RE A D CAST U P O N TH E
B
l ike
WA T E RS
1
.
93
wom e n in ste a d o f going to th ro t t l e th os e
accu r se d M o ors wh o d o n t believe i n Ch ri s t wh o
d e ny Hi s H oly M o t h e r a n d wh o ca ll th e S pa n
i a rd s
h e n s an d C h r is t i a n dogs ? Bu t let
the m wait a b i t an d I l l warran t th ey won t
wan t a s econ d taste of th e broth th ose h en s will
m ake th em ' Th ey n ever catch a S pa n ia r d
eve n i n ti m e of pe ace th at t hey do n t quarter o r
i mpal e h i m you s e e th at m ake s eve r y S pan iard s
bl o od b o il ' I d on t kn ow h ow I ca n con tai n
m yself th at I d o n t g o t o o ; f or I te ll y o u th at
th e s o les of m y feet are itch i ng t o go ; a n d th e
day y o u l east expect i t I 11 ta k e m y gu n a n d my
”
b lanke t an d j oi n th e ca mp
Joh n Joseph
I n th e Vi rgi n s n am e I s n t
i t e n ough t o h av e y o u r s on s th e r e
Wo ul d yo u
”
l e ave u s e n tirely al o ne ?
”
I t wou ld n t be f or l o ng
H u sh h ush
God o n ly k n o ws h o w l o n g i t
migh t b e ; f or th os e pe o pl e are i n t h ei r o wn
coun t r y defe n di n g th ei r h o me s ; a n d you kn ow
th at th ey a r e fe r o c ious s a v age fearless a n d
”
valian t
Th a t th ey are bu t a s fa r as bei ng fearle ss
an d v al ian t i s co n cerned we S pa n i a r ds a re m ore
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so
9,
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“
An d G od kn o ws wh at h unge r a n d privati o n
they a r e goin g to su ff e r
Do n t i m agin e i t ; b u t eve n if i t sh oul d b e s o
give the S pani sh s o ldie r pl e n ty of wate r to drin k
’
,
I
3
1
B RE A D
94
CA ST U PO N
T
HE W A T E R S
.
an d h e h a s al l h e n eeds Why th e j oy of th at
r egi m e n t as they wen t on b oa r d was plai n t o b e
see n ' An d t o th in k th at I cou ld n t h a v e g o n e
w ith th em
“
J o h n Joseph i n th e Virgin s n am e do n t i n
d u l g e i n th ose boyish e x plosion s ; r e m embe r yo u
”
a r e sixty fiv e yea r s ol d
“
T o d ay I a m twe n ty wife I am twe nty ; do
y o u h e ar
You r fi e r y S pi r i t d e c ei v e s you a n d I w o n t
h e a r you talk abou t goi ng to th e wa r wh en y o u
”
h a v e t w o son s i n i t a l r e ady
A n d if I h a d m ore son s th ey sh ould be i n i t
t o o DO yo u th i nk th at I S h oul d be beh i n d th e
fath e r of th e first sol die r killed at th e t aking of
th e S e rra l l o wh o wh e n h e h e ard of h i s son s
death called an oth er s o n to o k h i m to th e alcal de
My s on h a s bee n kille d
o f h i s vi l lage an d sai d :
i n th e wa r i n Africa ; h e r e i s an oth e r to take h i s
p l ace
F r o m wh a t y o u s a y I sh o ul d n t w o n de r if yo u
h ad urged M i ch ael t o go t o th e wa r ?
M ich a el did n t n ee d a ny u rging M ich ael h a s
don e well an d s o I tol d h i m
Go wi th ou t fear
I crie d to h i m as I cam e a way th e weath e r van e
i n you r vill age poi n t s for S pai n a n d d on t l ose
h ea r t if th e r e shoul d b e s o m e revers e for
r everses th ere m u st b e i n war u n les s i t be by a
m iracl e of G o d ; b ut m any the r e won t b e ; an d
th e de v i l will h a v e l ittl e c h a n c e t o get at th e
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1 96
B RE AD CA S T
UP O N
T H E WA T E RS
.
H ave
yo u h a d a le t ter fro m th em ?
”
N O I a m th e l etter myself
Y o u ' Why wh a t do yo u m ea n by th a t
Th at I wen t to Morocco an d h ave com e back
agai n wi th o u t l osi ng m y way with my m ul e O re
j ero wh o sh owe d l ittl e s urprise wh e n on a r riv
i ng i n th at strange co u ntry we foun d ourselves
i n th e m idst o f n o i se a n d con fusion — M oors
”
everyw h e re ban ds pl aying gu ns firi ng
H oly M ary ' An d W h at di d you go th ere
fo r r ash m an
“
To se l l s o m e pea r s th at I g o t an exce l l en t
price fo r ; to see th e b oys wh o m I fou n d i n good
h e al th an d a s gay as larks ; an d to ki ll th ree
Moors wh o wi l l n eve r agai n cal l a ny S p an i a r d
C h r i sti an dog
S o y o u s e e wife t hat I h a v e
”
n o t l o st my j ou r n ey
“
A n d you di d th at ? G o d h e l p u s ' G o d h e l p
”
u s ' cri e d th e go o d w om an c r ossi ng h ers elf
“
Yo u kill ed th re e M oors d id yo u s a y ? You
w oul d n ot h ave bee n ab l e to d o th a t u n les s
th ey h ad been u n armed or h ad been take n pri s
o ne rs or h ad surren dere d ; a n d you did th at ?
?
M aria wh a t are you s aying
r espon ded h e r
h usban d
Don t yo u k now th at to k il l a n u n
arm ed m an wo ul d b e co nt r a r y t o th e l aws of
h on o r a n d t h e work Of a n exec uti on e r ? D on t
you k n ow th at to kill a m an wh o h ad sur r en de r ed
woul d b e a vile dee d a n d woul d be to m ake on e s
s e lf a b u t ch e r o f m e n ? D o n t y o u know th at t o
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B RE AD
CAS T UP O N
T
HE W A TE RS
1 97
.
kill a m a n w h o as k s quarte r would b e th e de ed
of a m iscrean t a n d a coward an d wo ul d disgrace
the na me of C h ri s t ian an d d i sh on o r th e n am e of
?
S pan i ard
I n h on o rable co mbat I kill ed th em
M ari a wh en with arm s i n t h eir h a n d s t h ey tried
to kil l m e an d my compan io n s
I kn ow well th at
th e glory i s n ot i n kil li ng b u t i n con quering th e
e nem y an d I wo ul d n t wan t a t th e h ou r of my
d eath to h av e to rem ember kil ling an y m an by
tre ach ery I tel l you s o h elp m e God th at I
kille d t h em h o n orably like a brave m an an d m ay
th ey al l di e th u s for t hey won t surre n der n o t
”
e v e n with t h e bayon et at th eir bre asts
”
“
“
Mercy ' cri ed Mari a an d wh y n ot ?
“
Becau se thei r h oly m en h ave m ade th e m
b elieve th at th e S pan iard s are a s fe r ociou s a s
them selves an d th at we burn alive t h e wou n de d
a n d th e prison ers we take You th o ugh t th at
only you ng ch aps were good for th e war a n d tha t
I with my sixty fiv e years wou ld b e of n o u se i n
i t ; well you were m i stake n yo u s e e yo u were
mi stake n fo r I a m of good qual ity an d al t hough
t h e steel i s wor n O ff th e i ron rem ain s
D O yo u
un ders t an d ? An d I a m a b rave soldier bu t n ot
”
a n ass assin do yo u u n derstan d ?
“
F orgive m e Joh n Joseph I did n t stop to
t hin k
I t i s plai n you di d n t s top to th ink ; an d you
did n t rem e mber ei t h er th a t your h us b an d i s
a C h ri stia n of th e Ol d stock an d a wel l bor n
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1 98
B RE AD C A S T
U PO N
T H E WA T E RS
.
a n d th at h e k n ows h o w to figh t th e
e n e m ie s o f h i s fa ith o f h is cou nt r y a n d o f h i s
quee n b u t th at h e wil l n ever dis h o n or h i m self by
kill i ng a defe ncele ss m a n n or deb ase h im self by
putti ng t o de ath a m an wh o h as s urre n dere d n o r
m ake a tige r of h i m self by r efusing h is life to
a m an wh o a sks i t n o t e ve n if h e we r e Ba r abba s
”
h i m self
”
We r e o u r s wi n n i ng Joh n Jos e ph ?
T o b e s ure th ey were Wi n n i ng al l th e tim e
”
past presen t a n d future
But I h ave h eard t h e m say th at a grea t m any
m ore Moors are com ing w i t h a broth er of thei r
”
king wh o m th ey call M uley Abb as
L et th e m com e
Th at i s j us t wh at we wan t ;
b u t d o n t i magin e th at th ose M oors th at are wi t h
t h e k ing a r e l ike th e R i f f M oors wh o are the
m os t savage a n d th e fierce st of al l th e Moors
But al l of the m t oge t h er coul d do n o t h i ng against
th e d ivisi on o f E c h a g i i e wh ic h h as covered itself
wi t h glory i n th e war Quee n I sa b el m ay wel l
b e prou d of h e r sol diers But as I wa s t ell ing
wh
e
n
I
arrived
a
t
Algecira
s
I
e
mb
arke
d
ou
y
with m y m u le a n d m y pears an d yo u k now th a t
I h ave n o fa ncy for travel li ng by s e a ; for th e
m ul e th at falls o n th at roa d doe s n t ge t up a gai n
I l an de d a t Ceu t a a n d from t h ere I wen t wi t h
m y m ul e an d m y pears to th e camp an d whe n
I s aw t h e flag o f S pai n floa t i ng over t h e S e rra l l o
m y h ear t swelled so th at m y bre as t could h ardly
S pan ia r d ,
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B R E A D CA S T
Z OO
U PO N
T
HE W A TE R S
.
th e h ead o f th e c o m m an de r i n ch i ef a s th ick a s
C arn ival
I s a w th e r egi m en t o f
c o m fits i n
G r an ada wi th i ts val i an t com m a nder Colon e l
Trillo a t i ts h e a d m a k e a b ayon et ch arge cryi ng
L ong l ive th e Quee n
th at made th e M o ors fl y
i n te r ro r fro m th e fie ld ; a n d I h eard th e com
m an de r i n ch ief s a y t o th e colon el t h at th at ex
i
deserve
d
a
de
c
oration
to
wh
ich
th
e
gen
e
r
l
o
t
p
N oth i ng fo r m e Gen e r al
o u s col on el repl i ed :
th e credit b el ongs t o m y b attalion
I h ea r d th e
co mm a n der i n chi ef s a y t o a g ro u p of so l diers
How goes i t boys ?
o f th e G r an ada r egi me n t
H ave you rece ive d you r b apti s m ye t ?
Ye s
General a n s we r ed th e sol diers an d th e Moo r s
h ave pai d de a r f o r th e ch ri sten ing
I n sh o rt
Ma r ia i f I was to tel l y o u of all I s a w th ere I
sh ould keep on talking till th e D ay o f J udgm e n t
B ut th e on e s I n eve r l o st sigh t of M ari a were
o u r two boys ; a n d yo u m ay i m agi n e h ow wel l
th ey m ust h ave fough t wh e n th e com m an de r i n
c h ief wh o wa s n ear by ob served the m an d goi ng
You h ave fo u gh t well
U p to M i ch ael h e s aid
N o w tell m e wh a t d o yo u wi sh
To keep o n
figh ti ng Gen e ral a nswere d M i ch ael an d on th e
i n sta nt th e ge n e r al ga v e h i m th e c r os s of S t
F erdi n an d
I c an n ot tel l you h o w I fel t ; b u t I
though t I sh oul d go o u t of m y wits with j oy ; I
c o ul d n ot con tai n myse l f an d I wa s ru n n ing to
e mbrace h im wh e n I saw o n e of those crazy
h o wl e r s s tab o n e of o u r s ol die r s wh o fel l d o wn
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B R E AD
A
C ST
U PON T H E W A TE R S
20 1
.
beside m e
S O ? 1 I s aid sei z ing th e wou n ded
m an s gu n ; yo u won t h ave a c h ance t o k ill
an oth e r brave Christia n ; a n d wi t h th at I de
an d a s I h a d j oi ne d th e da n ce I
s p a tch e d hi m
desp atch e d two oth ers a n d I m ad e a bayone t
ch arge with th e boys th at pu t wings to th e fee t
o f th e M oors for if they h ave a h eavy h an d fo r
t h e figh t th ey have a ligh t foot fo r fligh t
Then
n igh t com ing on
I gave u p th e gun an d wen t t o
look f o r my m ul e wh o evide n tly h ad n ot fou n d
t h at dan c e of Moors an d C h ri sti an s to hi s liki ng
an d wh o I learn ed o n i n qu iry h ad gon e l ike a
m ul e of peace t o th e sh el te r of th e wal ls of
Ceuta
Th at n igh t a sto r m a r ose th at I d o n t be l ieve
h ad its equ al si n c e th e world began I th ough t
th e s e a th e wi n d an d th e r ai n togeth e r would
bring th e w o rld t o an e nd But th e n ext m or n
ing we were all a s if n oth ing h ad h appen ed a n d
if th e d evil h a d sen t th at a n d oth ers l ike i t at
th e i n stance of h i s friend Mah o m a to te r rify h i s
en em ies th ey m igh t bo t h h ave bee n con vi nce d
th at S pan i ards are n ot to b e terrified eith er by
the roaring of th e e lem e nts or th e h owl i ng of
th e i r feroci o us M oo r s
“
Well as I wa s saying ne x t m orn ing I g ot U p
a n d walked t o th e cam p t o h ave a ch at with t h e
b oys fo r as I h ave told you th e Moors h ad pre
ve n ted m e from doing s o th e d ay before Wh e n
I a r ri v e d I f o un d th e Ki ng s r egi m en t d r awn up
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B RE A D CA S T
20 2
U PO N
T
HE
WA T E R S
.
i n li ne wi th i ts b an d an d al l ' Wh at m ay th is b e
f or
I said to myself Th e s e ntry o n guard was
as m u te an d as m otion les s as a s tatue s o th at i t
i s n t b ecause th ere are Moo r s i n sigh t
An d
why is th i s r egi me n t drawn up an d n ot th e others
Th i s w a s begi n n ing to e x cite m y curi osi ty I
d r ew ne a r Th e b an d wa s pl aying away wh e n
th e c ol o nel taki ng h i s pl ace i n fron t Of the r egi
c om m an ded sile n ce an d S ai d i n a l ou d
m en t
v oice s o th at all m igh t h ea r h i m :
T h e c om m an der i n ch ief h as l ea r ne d wi th
g r e at s ati sfacti on th at on th e aftern oo n of th e
2 4 t h of N o v e mbe r a sol die r o f th e King s r egi
m e n t wh i ch I h ave th e h on or to com m an d s e e
i ng h i s com pan ion a n d frie n d wou n de d a n d i n
th e h a nds of th e Moors an d a n i m ated by th e
n obl e st s ent i me n ts fixed h i s b ayon et an d th r o w
i ng h i m self h e r oically upon th e M oors a n d stri k
i ng d own th ose wh o attem p ted t o s t op h im s ei z e d
h is wou n ded frie n d thre w h im ove r h is sh ou lder,
m ore regardful of h i s friend s l ife th an of h i s own
an d s n atch i ng h i m f r om ce r tai n d eath carrie d
h i m b ack to th e r a nks ; an d d esi ri ng t o re co m
e
n
se
i
n
vi
ew
of
th
e
wh
ole
regim
en
t
th
e
so
l
dier
p
w h o i n so adm irable a m an n er u ni tes i n h im self
t h e ga l l an t r y o f t h e soldi er a n d th e pie ty o f th e
C hri sti an tran sm its t o h i m th i s gol d m edal wh ich
t h e C adi z Athe n ae u m h as provided an d ca u sed to
b e e n graved wi t h th e obj ect of m aki ng i t a n
h on o r abl e r e wa r d f o r a n act of surpassi ng m eri t
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B R E AD C A S T
20 4
U PO N T H E WAT E R S
.
search of m y boys
I can n ot d escrib e M a r ia
wh at I fel t wh e n I s a w th em th e o n e wi th h i s gold
m edal a n d th e oth e r with h i s cros s of S t F er
But wh at I ca n s a y is th at th e quee n
dina n d
h ersel f ca n t feel prouder with h er crown an d
sceptre th a n I fel t with my Gaspar an d m y
M i ch ael ' I f Gaspa r was h appy M i ch ae l was
h appier stil l ; h is eye s dan ced wi th j oy ; th e
oth er see m ed dazed
Good my s o n good I
sai d to h im th at s th e w a y S pani ard s beh ave
wh e n th ey a re fighti n g for th eir coun t ry th ei r
qu een an d their fai t h rem embering th at th e
soldi er wh o i s brave and n o t h u m an e i s brave
only as th e b ru t es are Yo u h ave deserve d th e
m ed al s o n an d your fath er s blessi ng wi t h
“
Why wh a t di d I do ? sai d Gaspar wh o
l ike all really brave m en i s n ei t her prou d n o r
b oastful a nd h ol ds h i m self for l ess n ot m o r e
th an h e i s really worth
Yo u s ave d your broth er s l ife I r epl i ed
“
A n d b y s o h eroi c a n act th at i t wil l b e
writte n i n letters of gold adde d M i ch ael
“
Why n on se n se an swere d Gaspar p utting
h i s ar m aroun d h i s bro t h er s n eck
I h ave don e
n othing b ut pay a de b t I owed
“
An d S pa i n h as p a id t h e debt s h e owed to
th e Moors an d with i n teres t I sai d ; an d I fancy
t h e y won t b e likely to try th ei r tricks again
So
yo u se e wife al l t h e advan tage s th e w a r h a s
brough t U S H u rr ah fo r th e wa r
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CAS T UP O N
B RE A D
T
HE
WA T E RS
205
.
”
J oh n Joseph rCtu rn e d h i s w ife
we m u st n t
forget because i t h as bee n favorable to u s — a n d
th a t perh aps owi ng to t h at poor m o t h er s dying
blessi ng— t h e m any e vil s t o wh ich w a r give s
r is e
th e u n h app y peopl e wh o s u ff er th os e wh o
are left di sabled t h ose wh o di e a n d al l t h e
fam i lie s wh o a r e at thi s m om e n t we epi ng a n d i n
m ourn i ng ; f or w a r i s a cal a m ity an d t h erefore
we oug h t to pray to God wi t h all o u r h e arts a n d
s o uls fo r pe ace fo r th e so ng of th e a ngel s i s :
Gl o r y to God i n th e high es t ; an d peace o n earth
t o me n o f goodwil l '
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C HA P T E R
Two
V I
m o n t h s l ate r th at i s t o s a y towa r d th e
m iddle of J a nu ary J oh n Joseph h i s wife an d h i s
d augh ter we r e se ate d on e eve n ing aro un d th e
Th e s ky h a d bee n cove r ed fo r several
b raz i e r
days with h e avy clo ud s th at sen t d o wn th e ir rai n
with a steadine ss n ot us u al i n storm s Th e win d
th at cam e from th e L evan t roare d a s if it brough t
with it to terrify S pain th e m e nacing h owls of th e
savage ch i ldre n of Afri c a an d th e g r owli ng of its
l ion s
Wh o kn o ws wh a t th ey m ay b e g o ing th r o ugh
”
s ai d C ath eri ne i n a v o ice ch o ke d with
n ow '
e motion
”
Ah me r c iful God
an swere d h e r m oth e r
wi th s wamps f or a floo r te n t s th at let th e wate r
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20 6
B RE A D CA S T
T H E WA T E RS
UP O N
.
thro ugh fo r sh e l ter a n d th e ch ol era killi ng th e m
by h un dreds a n d th e M oors lyi n g i n a mbush for
t h e m or tre ach er o usly followi ng them an d th ose
etern al nigh ts th at swall o w up th e days ' There
i s n o stre ng th n or courage th at coul d bea r u p
”
again st s o m any i ll s
”
An d th at i s n ot th e w o r st said Joh n Joseph
with th e thoughtl es s fra nkn es s o f th e pe asan t
bri nging h i s foot h e avily d o wn o n t h e flo o r an d
rai sing h i s eyes to h e ave n
”
“
Wh a t ' Th ere are wors e thi ngs yet ? s ai d
“
M ari a a n xio u s a n d su r prise d
Why wh a t e l s e
i s th ere J oh n Joseph
Wh at els e ? S pea k
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ou t
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“
H unge r ' a n swe r e d h e r h usb a n d i n a f u n
e re a l voi ce
H o ly M ary
crie d th e poo r m oth e r i n te r ror
Wh a t i s th at yo u s a y m a n ? An d th e p rov i s
i on s th e n
P rovisi on s th ey can n ot get th ere ; th ey m u st
b e se nt by s e a fro m S pai n ; a n d alth o ugh th ey
to o k ple n ty with t hem wh e n th ey get use d up
m ore m us t b e sen t an d wi th thes e storm s to
wh ich th ere i s n eith er stop n or stay n ot eve n th e
bird s coul d cross th e S trait Th os e are th e
ch a n ce s of w a r M a r i a ; an d if i t h a s p le ased God
to sen d H is s torm s precisely i n these d ays i t m ust
b e to p ut o u r c o urage a n d o u r con st an cy to th e
p r oof M a r ia s o th at we m ay go to Hi m a n d a s k
H i s h e l p a n d s o th at th e v i ctory b e ing m o r e
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20 8
B RE A D C A S T
UP O N
T H E WA TE RS
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Th e fami ly bega n to reci te th e r os ary with th at
f e r v o r wh ich ch anges a ngui sh to h ope an d so r row
to resign a t ion an d sca r cely h ad th ey e nded wh e n
a l ittl e boy cal le d ou t fro m th e do o r
“
U n cle Joh n J oseph my fath e r s ay s th ere i s a
l e tte r i n t h e post o ffice fo r you an d th at i t i s
”
f r o m th e C hri stia n s ca m p over y o n der
Joh n Jos eph wi th th e activi ty of t we n t y yea r s
h urri e d o ut of the h ou se wh i le Mari a an d h e r
daugh ter falling o n th e i r k n ees b ef o re an i mage
of th e Vi rgin r aise d th ei r claspe d h an ds i n
p r aye r
Joh n Joseph soo n r eturne d b r i nging wi th h i m
one o f h i s c ro n ie s wh o k n ew h ow to r e ad a nd
wh o proceede d to r ea d al o ud th e le tte r wh ich th e
f orme r h a d ca rr i ed i n h i s t r e m bli ng h an d
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M Y D E A R PA R E N T S
I h ope th a t w h e n y o u
re
th i s yo u will b e enj oying as good h e al th a s
I desire fo r myse lf M ich ael a n d I a r e well a n d
at your servi ce Th e ch ole r a i s ragi n g again b ut
we l augh at i t
E ve r y day of a c tio n i s a day
for i t i s h ap
of p l eas u r e an d e nj oym e n t fo r u s
i
n e ss e n ough for u s to wi n gl ory for o u r co un t r y
p
an d to s e e th e e nth u si as m of everyb ody ; for th is
i n cre ases every day a s well am ong u s of th e r anks
a s am ong th e o ffi ce r s an d gen e r al s a n d which
Th e m ess
s h ows m ost i t woul d be h a r d to s a y
h a s b ee n a l i ttl e scan ty i n th ese l ast days b e
c ause th e s e a wa s fie rce r th an th e M o o r s th em
ce i v e
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UP O N T H E
B RE A D C A S T
WA T ERS
209
.
selves an d th e b oats were un a b le to re ach u s
wi t h th e s uppl ies ; b u t what m atter ? Th e wors t
th at we h a d n o tobacco An d s o i t
o f i t wa s
h appe n e d th at th e com m an der i n ch ie f wh o ca m e
am ong u s e ncouraging u s l ike a g r ea tly r especte d
b u t ve r y ca r efu l fath e r cam e up to m e a n d sai d :
Well m y b oy a r e you very h ung r y ?
An d I
a n swe r e d h i m
Th e h u nge r i s n o t h i ng Ge n e r al ;
if I o n l y h ad — i i I o n ly h ad a ci ga r e tte —An d
wh at do y o u th i nk h e di d ? H e we n t to h i s ten t
a n d brough t f r o m i t a n e n orm o us box of cigars
th at th e Que e n h ad p r esen ted to h i m f o r th e c a m
a i n ; an d s ayi ng th a t He r M aj esty wou ld b e
p g
gl ad th at th ey sh ould se r v e to l igh te n th e l abors
of
h e r fa ith ful sol die r s h e di stribu te d th e m
among u s We h ave r ece ive d provision s t h a n ks
to th e n avy th at o n th i s o ccasi o n did n o t see m
th e S i ste r b u t th e m oth e r of th e a r my ; a n d a s
fo r th at bra v e Gen eral Bustillo a h un dred lives
i f we h ad th em woul d n t be e n ough t o pay
h i m for al l h e h as don e f or u s H u r rah fo r t h e
n avy fath e r n otwith sta n di ng th at yo u r worshi p
doe s n t like th e s e a
You m ust k n ow fath e r that a pri nce of th e
ro yal h o use o f Fr an ce h as arrived h ere
Al
th o ugh tall a n d of h an ds o m e p r ese nce h e i s b u t
a b o y — o n ly seve n teen I f you r wo r sh i p h a d
s ee n h i m yo u woul d h ave said th at h e was o nly
a stripling a n d n ot fit f or s uch h ard s ervi c e b ut
o u wo uld h ave c h a n ge d y o u r m i n d i f y o u h a d
y
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14
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C AST UP O N
B RE A D
2 10
T
HE WA T E RS
.
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seen h o w h e attacked th e M oors O n my faith I
h a d always b e l ieved th at fro m S an t i ag o d o wn
on ly th e S pa ni ards attacke d th e M oo r s i n th at
We b e li eve h ere th at wh at h e wa nte d to do
wa y
wa s t o perfo r m a noth e r expl oit like th e o n e
r el ate d by M ich ael s m oth er of He rn a n do de l
P ulga r i n h e r n ative G r an ada an d t o fas te n th e
A ve M ari a o n th e ten t of Don M an uel H ab as
a n d th at h e wou ld h ave d o n e i t t oo if h e h ad n t
bee n h el d back A n d m i n d you fath e r i t i s a
ve r y n obl e th i ng a n d o n e wo r thy of ad mi r ation t o
com e with ou t anythin g obliging h im to i t t o th is
wa r wh ich is n o chil d s play j ust f o r th e sake of
provi ng h i mself brave True it i s that t o h av e
th at n am e i s wo r th m o r e th an all th e g ol d i n th e
w o r l d an d l ifts on e a foot ab ove th e grou nd
We h a v e m ad e m o r e th an h alf a doze n ch arge s
with th e b ay o n e t fath e r like th e o n e i n wh i ch
y o u r worsh i p took p art Th e s e ch arge s a r e n ot
a s on e m igh t s a y gre at l y t o th e taste of th e
M o o r s wh o wh e n th ey h ea r th e call to th e ch arge
to wh i c h we h ave gi v e n th e n am e of Gen e r al
P rim s Po lka t r e mb l e a n d t u r n pal e a n d fal l
*
b ack
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l d h e re t h a t t h i s sa m e di v i s i o n
w i th i t s l e a d e r G e n e ra l Pri m re c on n o i t ri n g a t a f e w
l e a gu e s di s t a n c e fro m Te t u a n c a m e u p o n a p o o r ol d M o or
i s h w o m a n s i c k a n d a b a n d o n e d b y h e r p e op l e ; a n d t h a t
u
i
n g h e r o n a s t re t ch e r t h e y c a rri e d h e r o n t h e i r s h o ul
t
t
p
d e rs t o T e t u a n w i t h a l l t h e g e n t l e n e s s of s i s t e rs of c h a ri ty
It
l
m a y p rop e r
b
e re a t e
y
,
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—'N
.
f
ote o
tne A u tnor ]
.
B RE A D
2 12
CAS T UP O N TH E WA T ERS
.
”
“
H ol d your tongue you fool is h wom an a n
“
wh e r eve r th e s u n e nters
s we re d h er h u s b a n d ;
th e S pan iard s ca n en te r An d do n t yo u kn o w
th at Z am ora wa s n t take n i n a n h our an d th a t
th e arti l l ery ca n t cross over s wam ps a n d th at a
cau seway h as to be b uil t ? Wom en w h o kn o w
n oth i ng about war th ink th at to take a f o rtres s
i n a n e n em y s c o u ntry i s a s e asy a s t o toss a
”
pa n cake
B ut on th e 5 t h of F ebru ary a m u l ete er wh o
ca m e fro m Xerez brough t th e n ews to Born os
wh ich h a d b e e n tran sm itte d to Xe rez by tele
graph th a t a h ard fough t b attl e h a d t a ke n pl ace
th e prece di ng d ay b efore Tetuan i n wh i ch a s i n
al l t h e previous on es th e S pan i ard s h ad c o m e Off
victoriou s h avi ng m ade th em s el ves m aste r s of
five e n cam pm en ts of th e e nem y alth o ugh a t th e
cost of m an y l ives
H is patriotic ardo r added to a fee ling of deep
anxiety m ade i t i m possibl e fo r Joh n Joseph to
rem ai n in th e village a n d h e s e t o u t fo r Xerez
Th ere h e l ea r n ed th at th e wou n de d of th a t m e m
o ra b l e day were to b e take n to S eville an d a s a
trai n o f m aterial s fo r th e ra i lroad wa s j ust l eav
i ng fo r th at ci ty h e b egged to b e take n o n b oa r d
Th e 7 th of F ebruary dawn e d — a d ay m e m or
abl e fo r eve r i n th e an n al s Of S pain Day h a d
s ca r cely broke n wh e n th e s o n orous an d sou l sti r
r ing b ell s o f th e C athedra l of S evill e di f fusing
a uth o r i z i ng a n d s o le m n i z i ng j oy a n n o u n c ed t o
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AS T U P O N TH E WA T E RS
B R E AD
C
2 13
.
th e sleeping peop l e t h e gre at a n d a uspiciou s e v en t
of th e t aki ng Of Te tua n I t woul d be i m possibl e
to give a n idea of th e i m pressi o n ca used by those
sou nds for wh o ca n describ e th e a pogee of th e
m os t u nan im ou s arde n t a n d n ation al e n th u s i
a sm ?
B u t le t a fe w facts speak for th e m selves
The priests wh o repaire d to th e ch urch es to
m
as
s
recite
d
i
t
sole
m
n
ly
i
n
ch
orus
a
n
d
after
sa
y
ward ch an ted th e Te Deu m t hat a ugust hym n
o f th a nks to th e L ord
The v e n erable Gen erals Guaj ardo a n d Her
n an de l m ilita r y au th ori t ies of th e distri ct an d
b oth v ete r an s i n wh ose l aurel s th ere is n ot a l e af
th at tim e c a n wi t h er wh e n th ey m e t fel l i n to e ach
oth er s arm s u n ab l e to u t t er a wo r d ; th e S igh t
o f th i s n oble spec t acl e drawi ng tears fro m the
eye s of th e o fficers wh o we r e pre sen t Wh e n th e
alcal de pre se n t ed h i m self before th e archbi sh op
to ask hi s con sen t to take i n processi on t h e i m
age of th e I m m acul ate Virgin t h e pat r on es s o f
S pai n a n d th e stan dard an d sword of S t F erdi
n an d th e ven erable P ri n ce of th e C h u rch burst
i n to tea r s c au sing th e alcalde to sh e d tears al so
seeing wh ich a m an o f th e pe ople r u sh ed to th e
“
l atter saying : S en or Alcalde let m e e mbrace
your worsh ip
Th e peopl e cal le d for th ei r
ven er ab le pasto r an d t h e l a t ter sh owin g h im self
o n th e b alcony b le ssed h i s flock w h o ch e e re d
h i m e n th usi as t ically Th e variou s sod al i t ies of
w o m e n e ntered t h eir m agnifice nt ch apel i n pro
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B RE A D C A S T
2 14
U PO N
T
HE W A TE R S
.
ce ssion givi n g th anks al o u d t o th e Vi rgi n
M usicia n s parade d th e s treets fo ll o wed b y a
m ul t itude i n toxi c ate d with j oy wh o ch eered th e
Qu een S pai n th e army an d th e ge n eral s wh o
h a d led i t t o vi ctory an d wh o stopped befo r e
the h ou ses wh ere th e com m an ders a n d Offi cers
wou n ded i n t hi s glo ri o u s wa r were l o dged t o
cheer th e m al so
I n th e p ubl ic squ are a v en de r of orange s
ab an don ed h i s stal l an d h i s m erch an di se le av
“
i ng beh in d h i m a n o t ice wh i ch s aid : Th e o wn e r
o f thi s stall h as turn e d crazy with j oy a n d h e r e
”
h e leave s th is trash
O th ers brok e the j ars of a
water sel le r (th e val ue of wh ich the y gave h i m
“
promptly ) sayi ng Wh at i s th is ? W ater ? To
”
d ay n oth i ng b ut wi n e i s to b e drun k i n S evi ll e
“
F urthe r on an oth er group sh outed
N O on e
sl eeps t o n igh t ; wh oeve r sleeps to n igh t i s a n
E nglish m an
F lags o n th e towers h an gi ngs
o n th e h ouse s th e pleasi ng n oi se of j oy every
wh ere
”
“
A tel egr a ph i c despatch sh ou ted th e bl in d
“
m en be side th e m selves wi th j oy
a n n ou n cing
th e e n tran ce of o u r valian t troops i n to th e great
ci t y o f Tet uan a n d th e utter an n ih i lati o n of th e
M oor s L ong l ive S pain
L ong live th e Queen
”
L o ng l ive th e a r my ' L ong live th e M oors '
“
Wh at is th at you are saying m a n ? L ong l i ve
”
“
th e M oors ?
Y e s s o th at we m ay ki ll th em
”
agai n '
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21
B RE A D CA S T
6
U P O N T H E W A TE R S
.
p r essi o n to three m o n th s of adm iration of i n
Th i s wa s owe d t o th e
f e r est an d o f sympathy
ar my f o r i ts co n stan cy fo r it s u n e qu alled v al o r
fo r i ts boun dl es s h u man i ty Th i s debt th e c o u n
try owe d a n d i t pai d i t i n l ov e i n ad m irati o n
a n d e nth usias m
O n th e 8 th th e s am e rej oici ngs we r e conti n ued
p ro cession s salv o s a n d s o m uch fi r ing of gun s
e v e r ywh ere th at i t wa s s aid as m uch powde r wa s
e x pen ded i n i t as i n th e taki ng of T etu an On
t h e 9 th o n e of th e p r i ncipal st r eets o f th e ci ty
wa s n ame d th e s t r e et of Tetua n ; th e cere m on y
taki n g place at eigh t o clock i n th e eve n ing wh e n
th e m u ni cipa l cou nci l wen t i n p ro cessi o n t o th e
st r eet c a rr yi ng th e Qu ee n s liken es s
But m ea n ti m e M ari a h ad h ad n o n e ws of Joh n
Joseph Exagge r ated repo r ts of th e losse s b y
wh ich th e victory h a d bee n gai ned were spread
Ma r i a was u nab le to co nt r ol h e r anxi e ty an d sh e
s e t ou t as m any oth e r m oth ers o f th e pea san try
did f o r th e capi tal wh ere th e w o u n ded wh o
m i g h t pe r h a ps b e a b l e to give h e r s o m e n ews of
h e r s o n s we r e to b e b r ough t
M other a n d daughte r reach ed S eville o n th e
e v e n ing of th e 9 th an d afte r resti ng f o r a few
m ome nts a t an i n n we nt ou t to i n quire wh ere t h e
w oun ded wh o h ad b ee n rece ntly brough t t o th e
ci ty h ad b e e n take n
A vast crowd of people a n d e n th u si astic ch ee r
i ng a n n o u n ced t o th e m th e app r o a c h of th e
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B RE A D C A S T
UP O N T H E
WA T E RS
2 1
.
7
procession Th ey stood o n a b en ch i n a porch
to wa t ch i t as i t passed
F ive m oun ted pion ee r s
a nd a n um erous b an d h e ade d t h e proce ssion ;
the m un icipal guard foll o we d o n foot ; th e n cam e
four m en carr yi ng flags fol lowed by a n umber o f
m e n beari ng torch es ; a n d t h e n th e soldiers wh o
h ad bee n wou nde d i n Afri ca weari ng l au re l
wreath s a n d carryi ng e n sign s wi t h th e n am es i n
s i lve r letters of th e pri ncipal victories gai ne d by
th e arm y Afte r th es e ca me th e m u n icipal cou n
c il h eade d by th e civil govern or a n d two coun cil
lors carr yi ng th e l iken es s of th e Queen an d
th e procession wa s clos e d by a detach m e n t
a n o th e r b an d of m u si c at i ts
o f i nfan try wi th
h ead
Here com e th e w o un de d soldie rs
cried th e
crowd an d t h e ch eering becam e m ore e n th u s i a s
t ic an d tears r a n d o wn th e ch eeks of th e wom en
as th ey stoppe d to l oo k adm iri ngly a t th e wou n de d
h eroes a n d th e n j oi ned th e procession
L ook
at t h a t one ' L ook at th at poor fell ow ; h e i s n t
”
ab le to wal k al one ; th ey are su pporti n g h im
som e o n e said cl o se besi de M ari a poi n tin g t o a
young m an wh o with h i s arm in a slin g h i s pale
foreh ead crown e d wi th l au rel an d carrying i n h i s
”
h an d a n e nsign b eari ng on i t th e wo r d Tetu an
walked with a m o de st expressi on on hi s th i n
b u t pleasing fa c e l e an ing o n th e arm of a robu st
Old m a n wh os e p r ou d an d e n rapt ured expression
“
see m e d to s a y t o e v e r y on e T h is b r a v e m a n i s
.
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'
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r
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2 1
8
B RE AD CA S T
UP O N
T H E WA T E RS
.
”
my son '
Maria wh ose h e a rt h ad for m an y
days p a s t b ee n agi t ate d altern a t ely b y fear h Op e
e n t h u si asm a n d anguis h u t tere d a cry draw n
fro m h er by al l th es e m i ngled feeli ngs a s s h e
recogni ze d i n th e e maci a t ed an d glory covere d
wou n de d sol dier h er s on an d fe l l i n t o C ath e r i n e s
arms
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C H A P T E R VI I I
.
m on th s l ater a h appy we ddi ng th e
weddi ng of Cath eri ne an d M i ch ael wa s celebrate d
i n B o rn os Gaspar whose h eal t h w a s e n tirely
re establi sh ed b u t wh o h ad lost h i s righ t a r m
wa s pre se n t B u t if h e h ad los t a n ar m h e h ad
i n retu r n receive d a gold m e dal a cros s wit h a
pens io n at tach ed to i t a n d a n an n uity ; th e last
a s h avi ng bee n disable d i n th e w a r i n Africa ;
th e cros s fo r bravery ; a n d th e m edal fo r h u
m a n e a n d gallan t con duct
E ve r y day is a day of th anksgivi ng
Th ere
i s n o t a happie r fath e r i n th e wo r l d th a n I
“
excl ai me d Joh n Joseph gayly
M y on l y gri ef i s
to s e e yo u crippled my b o y B ut th at ca n t b e
h elped Yo u h ave p aid you r deb t t o th e cou n try
”
like a n h on est m a n Gas par
”
An d th e cou n try father a n swe r e d G a S p a r
“
p ointi ng proudly to h i s cr o ss a n d m edal
h as
”
acquitte d h e rse lf fully of h ers to m e
Y o u are r igh t my s o n : a n d s o sirs a toast
A
FEW
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Directions from Founders Hall to NYU MAGNET (for workshops)

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