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might become perhaps more widely known； but before I do so； in my
death I mean to inflict death； and take with me one that will fully
satisfy my longing for the revenge I hope for and have； for I shall
see； wheresoever it may be that I go； the penalty awarded by
inflexible； unswerving justice on him who has placed me in a
position so desperate。〃
As she uttered these words； with incredible energy and swiftness she
flew upon Lothario with the naked dagger； so manifestly bent on
burying it in his breast that he was almost uncertain whether these
demonstrations were real or feigned； for he was obliged to have
recourse to all his skill and strength to prevent her from striking
him； and with such reality did she act this strange farce and
mystification that； to give it a colour of truth； she determined to
stain it with her own blood； for perceiving； or pretending； that she
could not wound Lothario； she said； 〃Fate； it seems； will not grant my
just desire complete satisfaction； but it will not be able to keep
me from satisfying it partially at least；〃 and making an effort to
free the hand with the dagger which Lothario held in his grasp； she
released it； and directing the point to a place where it could not
inflict a deep wound； she plunged it into her left side high up
close to the shoulder； and then allowed herself to fall to the
ground as if in a faint。
Leonela and Lothario stood amazed and astounded at the
catastrophe； and seeing Camilla stretched on the ground and bathed
in her blood they were still uncertain as to the true nature of the
act。 Lothario； terrified and breathless； ran in haste to pluck out the
dagger； but when he saw how slight the wound was he was relieved of
his fears and once more admired the subtlety； coolness； and ready
wit of the fair Camilla； and the better to support the part he had
to play he began to utter profuse and doleful lamentations over her
body as if she were dead； invoking maledictions not only on himself
but also on him who had been the means of placing him in such a
position： and knowing that his friend Anselmo heard him he spoke in
such a way as to make a listener feel much more pity for him than
for Camilla； even though he supposed her dead。 Leonela took her up
in her arms and laid her on the bed； entreating Lothario to go in
quest of some one to attend to her wound in secret； and at the same
time asking his advice and opinion as to what they should say to
Anselmo about his lady's wound if he should chance to return before it
was healed。 He replied they might say what they liked； for he was
not in a state to give advice that would be of any use； all he could
tell her was to try and stanch the blood； as he was going where he
should never more be seen； and with every appearance of deep grief and
sorrow he left the house； but when he found himself alone； and where
there was nobody to see him； he crossed himself unceasingly； lost in
wonder at the adroitness of Camilla and the consistent acting of
Leonela。 He reflected how convinced Anselmo would be that he had a
second Portia for a wife； and he looked forward anxiously to meeting
him in order to rejoice together over falsehood and truth the most
craftily veiled that could be imagined。
Leonela； as he told her； stanched her lady's blood； which was no
more than sufficed to support her deception； and washing the wound
with a little wine she bound it up to the best of her skill； talking
all the time she was tending her in a strain that； even if nothing
else had been said before； would have been enough to assure Anselmo
that he had in Camilla a model of purity。 To Leonela's words Camilla
added her own； calling herself cowardly and wanting in spirit； since
she had not enough at the time she had most need of it to rid
herself of the life she so much loathed。 She asked her attendant's
advice as to whether or not she ought to inform her beloved husband of
all that had happened； but the other bade her say nothing about it； as
she would lay upon him the obligation of taking vengeance on Lothario；
which he could not do but at great risk to himself； and it was the
duty of a true wife not to give her husband provocation to quarrel；
but； on the contrary； to remove it as far as possible from him。
Camilla replied that she believed she was right and that she would
follow her advice； but at any rate it would be well to consider how
she was to explain the wound to Anselmo； for he could not help
seeing it； to which Leonela answered that she did not know how to tell
a lie even in jest。
〃How then can I know； my dear？〃 said Camilla； 〃for I should not dare
to forge or keep up a falsehood if my life depended on it。 If we can
think of no escape from this difficulty； it will be better to tell him
the plain truth than that he should find us out in an untrue story。〃
〃Be not uneasy； senora；〃 said Leonela； 〃between this and to…morrow I
will think of what we must say to him； and perhaps the wound being
where it is it can be hidden from his sight； and Heaven will be
pleased to aid us in a purpose so good and honourable。 Compose
yourself； senora； and endeavour to calm your excitement lest my lord
find you agitated； and leave the rest to my care and God's； who always
supports good intentions。〃
Anselmo had with the deepest attention listened to and seen played
out the tragedy of the death of his honour； which the performers acted
with such wonderfully effective truth that it seemed as if they had
become the realities of the parts they played。 He longed for night and
an opportunity of escaping from the house to go and see his good
friend Lothario； and with him give vent to his joy over the precious
pearl he had gained in having established his wife's purity。 Both
mistress and maid took care to give him time and opportunity to get
away； and taking advantage of it he made his escape； and at once
went in quest of Lothario； and it would be impossible to describe
how he embraced him when he found him； and the things he said to him
in the joy of his heart； and the praises he bestowed upon Camilla； all
which Lothario listened to without being able to show any pleasure；
for he could not forget how deceived his friend was； and how
dishonourably he had wronged him； and though Anselmo could see that
Lothario was not glad； still he imagined it was only because he had
left Camilla wounded and had been himself the cause of it； and so
among other things he told him not to be distressed about Camilla's
accident； for； as they had agreed to hide it from him； the wound was
evidently trifling； and that being so； he had no cause for fear； but
should henceforward be of good cheer and rejoice with him； seeing that
by his means and adroitness he found himself raised to the greatest
height of happiness that he could have ventured to hope for； and
desired no better pastime than making verses in praise of Camilla that
would preserve her name for all time to come。 Lothario commended his
purpose； and promised on his own part to aid him in raising a monument
so glorious。
And so Anselmo was left the most charmingly hoodwinked man there
could be in the world。 He himself； persuaded he was conducting the
instrument of his glory； led home by the hand him who had been the
utter destruction of his good name； whom Camilla received with averted
countenance； though with smiles in her heart。 The deception was
carried on for some time； until at the end of a few months Fortune
turned her wheel and the guilt which had been until then so
skilfully concealed was published abroad； and Anselmo paid with his
life the penalty of his ill…advised curiosity。
CHAPTER XXXV
WHICH TREATS OF THE HEROIC AND PRODIGIOUS BATTLE DON QUIXOTE HAD
WITH CERTAIN SKINS OF RED WINE； AND BRINGS THE NOVEL OF 〃THE
ILL…ADVISED CURIOSITY〃 TO A CLOSE
THERE remained but little more of the novel to be read； when
Sancho Panza burst forth in wild excitement from the garret where
Don Quixote was lying； shouting； 〃Run； sirs！ quick； and help my
master； who is in the thick of the toughest and stiffest battle I ever
laid eyes on。 By the living God he has given the giant； the enemy of
my lady the Princess Micomicona； such a slash that he has sliced his
head clean off as if it were a turnip。〃
〃What are you talking about； brother？〃 said the curate； pausing as
he was about to read the remainder of the novel。 〃Are you in your
senses； Sancho？ How the devil can it be as you say； when the giant
is two thousand leagues away？〃
Here they heard a loud noise in the chamber； and Don Quixote
shouting out； 〃Stand； thief； brigand； villain； now I have got thee；
and thy scimitar shall not avail thee！〃 And then it seemed as though
he were slashing vigorously at the wall。
〃Don't stop to listen；〃 said Sancho； 〃but go in and part them or
help my master： though there is no need of that now； for no doubt
the giant is dead by this time and giving account to God of his past
wicked life； for I saw the blood flowing on the ground； and the head
cut off and fallen on one side； and it is as big as a large
wine…skin。〃
〃May I die；〃 said the landlord at this； 〃if Don Quixote or Don Devil
has not been slashing some of the skins of red wine t