CHAPTER XV
We deceived the old man and went. The night was now far advanced, asthe interment which I have just described had lasted more than threehours. The light of the fire could no longer be seen. The mass of thetower was lost in the darkness of night, and its great bell did notsound except now and then to announce the coming of a bomb. We arrivedsoon at the Plazuela of San Felipe. Seeing the roof of a house near thechurch still smoking, we knew that it was this, and not the house ofCandiola, which three hours before the flames had attacked.
"God has preserved it!" cried Augustine, joyously. "If the meanness ofher father should bring divine anger upon that roof, the virtues andinnocence of Mariquilla would preserve it! Let us go there."
In the Plazuela of San Felipe there were a few people, but the Calle deAnton Trillo was deserted. We stopped close to the wall of the gardenand listened attentively. All was in such deep silence that the houseseemed abandoned. Could it really be abandoned? Although this quarterwas one of those least damaged by the bombardment, many families hadleft it, or were living as refugees in their own cellars.
"If I go in," said Augustine to me, "you must come in with me. Afterthe scene of to-day, I am afraid that Don Jeronimo, suspicious andcowardly, like a good miser, will be up all night and about his garden,lest they return and carry off his whole place."
"In that case it is better not to go in," I answered, "because besidesthe danger of falling into the hands of that old scoundrel, there wouldbe a great scandal, and all Saragossa will know that the son of DonJos? Montoria, the young man destined for a bishop's mitre, goes bynight to see the daughter of the goodman Candiola."
But this and all that I could say to him was like preaching in thedesert. Without listening to reason, and insisting that I shouldfollow him, he made the signal of love, waiting and watching withgreat anxiety for the reply. Some time passed, and at last, after longlooking and looking again from the pavement in front, we saw a light ina high window. We heard the fastening of the gate drawn back softly,and it was opened without creaking. Love had taken precautions, and theancient hinges had been oiled. We two entered meeting, unexpectedly,not a perfumed and fascinating damsel, but a vinegary countenance whichI recognized at once as that of Do?a Guedita.
"He lets hours pass before he comes, and then he comes with another,"she grumbled. "Young men, be so kind as to make no noise. Walk ontip-toe, and be careful not to stumble over even a dried leaf, becauseSe?or Candiola seems to me to be very wide awake."
This she said to us in a voice so low that we heard with difficulty;then she went on before, making signs that we should follow her,putting her finger to her lips to enjoin absolute silence. The gardenwas small. We soon crossed it, and came to the stone staircase whichled up to the doorway of the house. Here there came to meet us ashapely figure wrapped in a mantle, or cloak. It was Mariquilla! Herfirst gesture was to impose silence, indicating with anxiety, as I saw,a window which opened upon the garden. She then showed surprise thatAugustine had not come unaccompanied. But he knew how to soothe her,saying, "It is Gabriel, my best, my only friend, of whom I have spokenso many times."
"Speak lower," whispered Mariquilla; "my father went out of his room alittle while ago with a lantern, and made the rounds of the house andthe garden. I doubt if he is asleep yet. The night is dark. Let us hidein the shadow of the cypress, and talk in a very low voice."
The stone stairway led up to a kind of balcony with a wooden railing.The great cypress in the garden cast a deep shadow at the end of thebalcony, forming there a refuge against the clear light of the moon.The bare boughs of an elm spread above the other end of the balcony,casting a thousand fantastic shadows upon the floor, upon the wallsof the house, and upon ourselves. In the protection of the cypress,Mariquilla seated herself upon the only seat that was there, andMontoria threw himself upon the floor beside her, resting his handsupon her knees. I seated myself also upon the floor not far from thepair. It was a January night, still, dry, and cold. Perhaps the twolovers with hearts aflame did not feel the low temperature; but I,a creature stranger to their fires, wrapped myself in my cloak tokeep myself from the chill of the tiles. Guedita had disappeared.Mariquilla led the conversation, plunging at once into the difficulty.
"I saw you in the street this morning. When Guedita and I heard thenoise of the people crowding about our gate, I went to the window, andI saw you on the sidewalk in front."
"It is true, I was there," replied Montoria, with emotion, "but I wasobliged to go at once. I couldn't stand it."
"Didn't you see how those barbarians were trampling my fatherunderfoot? When that cruel man struck him, I looked everywhere, hopingthat you would come forward in his defence. But I did not see youanywhere."
"I tell you, Mariquilla of my heart," said Augustine, "that I wasobliged to go. After they told me that your father had been soill-treated, I came as soon as I could get a chance."
"A pretty time to come! Among so many, so many people," saidMariquilla, weeping, "not one lifted a hand to help him. I nearly diedof fright, seeing him in such danger. I looked anxiously into thestreet, and there was no one but enemies, no one; not one kind hand orvoice among all those men! One of them, more cruel than all, knockedmy father down. Oh, oh, remembering this, I scarcely know what happenednext! When I saw it, my fright paralyzed me for a few moments. Untilthen I never knew what violent anger was, how a sudden impulse, aninward fire, could drive me on. I came to him. My poor father was lyingon the ground, and the wretch was trampling upon him as if he were avenomous reptile. When I saw that, I felt my blood boil in my veins. AsI have told you, I ran about the house, looking for a weapon, a knife,an axe, anything. When I heard the cries of my father, I flew down.Finding myself among so many men, I felt a strange, uncontrollabletimidity, and could not stir a step. The same man who had kicked himhanded me a fistful of gold. I did not want to take it, but I did; thenI threw all the coins into his face, with all my strength. My hand wasas if filled with thunderbolts, and I felt as if I were avenging myfather, hurling them at that villain. I went out afterwards, lookingeverywhere for you; but I could not see you. I found my father alone inthat inhuman crowd, down in the mud, begging for mercy."
"Oh, Mariquilla, Mariquilla of my heart!" cried Augustine in anguish,kissing the hands of the unhappy daughter of the miser. "Don't talkany more about all that. You tear my soul in two! I could not defendhim. I--I had to go. I believed the crowd was after something--else.You are right. But let us talk no more of this which grieves me so, andgives me such bitter pain."
"If you had come to the defence of my father, he would have feltgratitude towards you. From gratitude one passes readily to affection.You would have been received openly in the house."
"Your father is incapable of affection for any one," replied Montoria."Do not hope that we can accomplish anything in that way. Let ustrust that we may arrive at the fulfilment of our desires by hiddenways, perhaps by the help of God when it least seems likely. Let usnot depend upon aught else, or think of what is before us. We aresurrounded by dangers and obstacles that seem unsurmountable. Let ushope for help from the unseen, and filled by faith in God and the powerof our love, let us wait for the miracle which will unite us. For itwill be a miracle, Mariquilla, a wonder like those they tell of inolden times, that we refuse to believe."
"A miracle!" exclaimed Mariquilla, sadly. "It is true. You are a younggentleman of position, the son of parents who would never consentto see you married to the daughter of Se?or Candiola. My father isabhorred all over the city. Everybody flees from us. No one visits us.If I go out they point at me, and look at me with insolent contempt.Girls of my own age will not associate with me, and the young men ofthe city who go about singing serenades under the windows of theirsweethearts, come to mine to utter insults against my father, callingme also dreadful names to my face. Oh, my God, I understand that itwould be indeed a miracle for me to be happy! Augustine, we have knowneach other now for nearly four months, and you have not yet told me thename of you
r parents. It certainly cannot be as odious as mine. Why doyou hide it? If it were necessary that our love should be made public,you would not dare meet the looks of your friends, you would flee withhorror from the daughter of Candiola."
"Oh, no, don't say that!" cried Augustine, pressing against Mariquilla,and hiding his face in her lap. "Don't say that I am ashamed of lovingyou. In saying that you insult God. It is not true. To-day our loveremains a secret, because it is necessary that it should be so. Butwhen it is necessary to make it known, I will make it known, and defythe anger of my father face to face. Yes, Mariquilla, my parents willcurse me, and turn me out of doors. A few nights ago you said tome, looking at that monument which we can see from here, 'When thattower becomes straight, I will leave off loving you.' I swear to youthat the strength of my love is more immovable than the equilibriumof yonder tower; for that could fall to the ground, but could neverstand upright. The works of man are variable, those of Nature areunchangeable and rest evermore upon an everlasting base. You have seenthe Moncayo, that great rock which is near Poniente in the suburb?Well, when Moncayo gets tired of being in that place, and moves andcomes walking towards Saragossa, putting one of its feet upon our cityand reducing it to powder, then and then only will I cease to love you."
By this sort of hyperbole and poetic naturalism my friend expressedhis great love, flattering the imagination of the beautiful girl, whoresponded, leaning forward, moved by an impulse like his own. They wereboth silent for a moment, then the two, or rather the three of us,exclaimed all together, looking at the tower whose belfry had flungto the winds two signals of alarm. At the same moment a globe of fireploughed the black space, describing rapid circles.
"A bomb! It is a bomb," exclaimed Mariquilla, trembling, and throwingherself into the arms of her lover. The dreadful light passed swiftlyover our heads, over the garden and the house, illuminating on its waythe tower, the neighboring houses, and the nook where we were hidden.Then the report was heard. The bell began to ring violently, and wasjoined by others near and far, loud, heavy, sharp, jangled; and weheard the noise of feet and voices of people in the nearest streets.
"That bomb will not kill us," said Augustine, soothing his sweetheart."Are you afraid?"
"Yes, very, very much afraid," she answered. "I spend the nightspraying, asking God to keep the fire away from our house. Until nowno misfortune has come near us, either now or in the other siege. Buthow many unhappy ones have perished, how many houses of good peoplewho never harmed any one have been destroyed by the flames! I longearnestly to go like other women and take care of the suffering; but myfather forbids me, and is angry with me whenever I propose it."
As she said this, we heard within the house a distant sound of talking,in which the harsh tones of Candiola were mingled with the voice ofGuedita. We three, obeying one impulse, drew into the shadow and heldour breaths, fearing to be surprised. Then we heard the voice of themiser coming nearer, and saying,--
"What are you doing up at this hour, Se?ora Guedita?"
"Se?or," answered the old woman, showing herself at a window whichopened upon the balcony, "who can sleep during this dreadfulbombardment? Perhaps a bomb may come and meddle with us here. What ifthe house should take fire, and the neighbors should come to drag outthe furniture and put out the fire, and find us in our night-clothes?Oh, what a lack of modesty! I do not intend to undress myself whilethis devilish bombardment lasts."
"Is my daughter asleep?" asked Candiola, appearing at another gardenwindow.
"She is upstairs sleeping like a kitten," replied the duenna. "Theyspeak truly when they say that there are no dangers for innocence. Abomb does not frighten the child any more than a sky-rocket."
"I wonder if I can see from here where the projectile has fallen," saidCandiola, stretching his body out of the window, in order to be ableto extend his range of vision. "I can see the light of a fire, but Icannot say whether it is near or far."
"Oh, I don't know anything about bombs," said Guedita, who had come outon the balcony. "This one has fallen over there by the market."
"So it seems. If only all would fall upon the houses of those whopersist in keeping up the defence and causing the destruction! If Iam not deceived, Se?ora Guedita, the fire is near the Calle de laTriperia. Are not the storehouses of the junta of supplies over there?Oh, blessed bomb, why not fall into the Calle de la Hilarza, upon thehouse of that cursed, most miserable thief! Se?ora Guedita, I am goingto the Calle de la Hilarza, to see if it has fallen on the house ofthat proud, meddlesome, cowardly thief, Don Jos? de Montoria. I haveprayed for it to-night to the Virgin del Pilar with so much fervor, andalso at the Santas Masas and at Santo Dominguito del Val, that at lastI believe I have been heard."
"Se?or Don Jeronimo," said the old woman, "do not go out! The cold ofthe night is bad for you, and it is not worth risking your lungs to seewhere the bomb has fallen. It is enough that it has not meddled withthis house. If that one which passed did not fall into the house ofthat barbarian of an official, another will fall to-morrow. The Frenchhave a good handful. Now, your honor, go to rest. I will stay up andlook after the house."
Candiola changed his mind about going out, it seemed, in accordancewith the good counsels of his servant, and, shutting the window, hewas heard no more during all the rest of the night. But although hedisappeared, the lovers did not break the silence, fearful of beingoverheard. And not until the old woman came to tell us that the se?orwas snoring like a peasant was the interrupted dialogue continued.
"My father wished that the bombs would fall upon the house of hisenemy," said Mariquilla. "I should not like to see them fall anywhere;but if at any time one could wish ill-fortune to a neighbor, it wouldbe now, do you not think so?"
Augustine made no answer.
"You went away. You did not see how that man, the most cruel, themost cowardly of all who came, knocked him down in his blind fury, andtrampled upon him. The fiends will kick his soul in hell like that,won't they?"
"Yes," replied the young man, laconically.
"To-day, after it all, Guedita and I dressed the wounds of my father.He was stretched upon his bed, crazy, desperate. He was twisting about,gnawing his fists and lamenting that he was not stronger than hisenemy. We tried to console him, but he told us to be silent. He struckme in the face, he was so angry when he heard that I had thrown awaythe money for the flour. He was furious with me. He told me that sincehe could not get any more, the three thousand reales on account shouldnot be despised. He said that I am a spendthrift, and am ruining him.We could not calm him in any way. Towards nightfall we heard anothernoise in the street, and were afraid that the same ones who were herein the middle of the day were returning. My father was raging, anddetermined to get up. I was greatly frightened; but I took courage,realizing that courage was necessary. Thinking of you, I said, 'If hewere in the house, no one would dare insult us.' As the noise in thestreet increased, I plucked up all my courage. I shut and fastened thedoors and gates, and, begging my father to keep quiet in his bed, Iwaited, resolved. While Guedita was on her knees, praying to all thesaints in heaven, I searched the house for a weapon. At last I founda big knife. The sight of it has always frightened me, but to-day Iclutched it fearlessly. Oh, I was beside myself! Now the very thoughtof it makes me frightened. I am usually unable to look upon a woundedman, and tremble at the sight of a drop of blood. I almost cry if Isee any one beat a dog before me. I have never had the force to kill amosquito. But this evening, Augustine, this evening, when I heard thenoise in the street, when I thought those blows upon the gate had comeagain, when I expected every moment to see those men before me, I swearto you that if that had happened which I feared, if when I was in myfather's room, by his bedside, if that same man had come who abusedhim a few hours before, I swear to you that there I myself would havestruck him through the heart."
"Hush, for God's sake!" cried Montoria, horrified. "You frighten me.Hearing you, you almost make me feel as if your own hands, thesedivine hands, struck cold steel thro
ugh my breast. Nobody will maltreatyour father again. You see already that your alarm of to-night wasnothing but fright. No, you would not have been capable of what yousay. You are a woman, and a weak one, sensitive, timid, incapable ofkilling a man, unless you kill him of love. The knife would have fallenfrom your hands, and you would not have stained their purity with theblood of a fellow being. These horrible things are only for us men,born for conflict; sometimes we find ourselves in the sad strait ofwrenching the life from other men. Mariquilla, do not talk any morenonsense. Do not think of those who offended you! Forgive them, and donot kill any one, even in thought."
Zaragoza. English Page 16
