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them for posterity。 His military comrades would have been puzzled
indeed to form a correct judgment of him。 Many of them； accustomed to
draw upon his funds when occasion obliged them； thought him rich； but
in truth； he was a gambler； and gamblers may be said to have nothing
of their own。 Montefiore was also a gambler； and all the officers of
the regiment played with the pair； for； to the shame of men be it
said； it is not a rare thing to see persons gambling together around a
green table who； when the game is finished； will not bow to their
companions； feeling no respect for them。 Montefiore was the man with
whom Bianchi made his bet about the heart of the Spanish sentinel。
Montefiore and Diard were among the last to mount the breach at
Tarragona； but the first in the heart of the town as soon as it was
taken。 Accidents of this sort happen in all attacks； but with this
pair of friends they were customary。 Supporting each other； they made
their way bravely through a labyrinth of narrow and gloomy little
streets in quest of their personal objects； one seeking for painted
madonnas； the other for madonnas of flesh and blood。
In what part of Tarragona it happened I cannot say； but Diard
presently recognized by its architecture the portal of a convent； the
gate of which was already battered in。 Springing into the cloister to
put a stop to the fury of the soldiers； he arrived just in time to
prevent two Parisians from shooting a Virgin by Albano。 In spite of
the moustache with which in their military fanaticism they had
decorated her face； he bought the picture。 Montefiore； left alone
during this episode； noticed； nearly opposite the convent； the house
and shop of a draper； from which a shot was fired at him at the moment
when his eyes caught a flaming glance from those of an inquisitive
young girl； whose head was advanced under the shelter of a blind。
Tarragona taken by assault； Tarragona furious； firing from every
window； Tarragona violated； with dishevelled hair； and half…naked； was
indeed an object of curiosity；the curiosity of a daring Spanish
woman。 It was a magnified bull…fight。
Montefiore forgot the pillage； and heard； for the moment； neither the
cries； nor the musketry； nor the growling of the artillery。 The
profile of that Spanish girl was the most divinely delicious thing
which he； an Italian libertine； weary of Italian beauty； and dreaming
of an impossible woman because he was tired of all women； had ever
seen。 He could still quiver； he； who had wasted his fortune on a
thousand follies； the thousand passions of a young and blase manthe
most abominable monster that society generates。 An idea came into his
head； suggested perhaps by the shot of the draper…patriot； namely；to
set fire to the house。 But he was now alone； and without any means of
action； the fighting was centred in the market…place； where a few
obstinate beings were still defending the town。 A better idea then
occurred to him。 Diard came out of the convent； but Montefiore said
not a word of his discovery； on the contrary； he accompanied him on a
series of rambles about the streets。 But the next day； the Italian had
obtained his military billet in the house of the draper；an
appropriate lodging for an equipment captain！
The house of the worthy Spaniard consisted； on the ground…floor； of a
vast and gloomy shop； externally fortified with stout iron bars； such
as we see in the old storehouses of the rue des Lombards。 This shop
communicated with a parlor lighted from an interior courtyard； a large
room breathing the very spirit of the middle…ages； with smoky old
pictures； old tapestries； antique 〃brazero；〃 a plumed hat hanging to a
nail； the musket of the guerrillas； and the cloak of Bartholo。 The
kitchen adjoined this unique living…room； where the inmates took their
meals and warmed themselves over the dull glow of the brazier； smoking
cigars and discoursing bitterly to animate all hearts with hatred
against the French。 Silver pitchers and precious dishes of plate and
porcelain adorned a buttery shelf of the old fashion。 But the light；
sparsely admitted； allowed these dazzling objects to show but
slightly； all things； as in pictures of the Dutch school； looked
brown； even the faces。 Between the shop and this living…room； so fine
in color and in its tone of patriarchal life； was a dark staircase
leading to a ware…room where the light； carefully distributed；
permitted the examination of goods。 Above this were the apartments of
the merchant and his wife。 Rooms for an apprentice and a servant…woman
were in a garret under the roof； which projected over the street and
was supported by buttresses； giving a somewhat fantastic appearance to
the exterior of the building。 These chambers were now taken by the
merchant and his wife who gave up their own rooms to the officer who
was billeted upon them；probably because they wished to avoid all
quarrelling。
Montefiore gave himself out as a former Spanish subject； persecuted by
Napoleon； whom he was serving against his will； and these semi…lies
had the success he expected。 He was invited to share the meals of the
family； and was treated with the respect due to his name； his birth；
and his title。 He had his reasons for capturing the good…will of the
merchant and his wife； he scented his madonna as the ogre scented the
youthful flesh of Tom Thumb and his brothers。 But in spite of the
confidence he managed to inspire in the worthy pair the latter
maintained the most profound silence as to the said madonna； and not
only did the captain see no trace of the young girl during the first
day he spent under the roof of the honest Spaniard； but he heard no
sound and came upon no indication which revealed her presence in that
ancient building。 Supposing that she was the only daughter of the old
couple； Montefiore concluded they had consigned her to the garret；
where； for the time being； they made their home。
But no revelation came to betray the hiding…place of that precious
treasure。 The marquis glued his face to the lozenge…shaped leaded
panes which looked upon the black…walled enclosure of the inner
courtyard； but in vain； he saw no gleam of light except from the
windows of the old couple； whom he could see and hear as they went and
came and talked and coughed。 Of the young girl； not a shadow！
Montefiore was far too wary to risk the future of his passion by
exploring the house nocturnally； or by tapping softly on the doors。
Discovery by that hot patriot； the mercer； suspicious as a Spaniard
must be； meant ruin infallibly。 The captain therefore resolved to wait
patiently； resting his faith on time and the imperfection of men；
which always resultseven with scoundrels； and how much more with
honest men！in the neglect of precautions。
The next day he discovered a hammock in the kitchen； showing plainly
where the servant…woman slept。 As for the apprentice； his bed was
evidently made on the shop counter。 During supper on the second day
Montefiore succeeded； by cursing Napoleon； in smoothing the anxious
forehead of the merchant； a grave； black…visaged Spaniard； much like
the faces formerly carved on the handles of Moorish lutes； even the
wife let a gay smile of hatred appear in the folds of her elderly
face。 The lamp and the reflections of the brazier illumined
fantastically the shadows of the noble room。 The mistress of the house
offered a 〃cigarrito〃 to their semi…compatriot。 At this moment the
rustle of a dress and the fall of a chair behind the tapestry were
plainly heard。
〃Ah！〃 cried the wife； turning pale； 〃may the saints assist us！ God
grant no harm has happened！〃
〃You have some one in the next room； have you not？〃 said Montefiore；
giving no sign of emotion。
The draper dropped a word of imprecation against the girls。 Evidently
alarmed； the wife opened a secret door； and led in； half fainting； the
Italian's madonna； to whom he was careful to pay no attention； only；
to avoid a too…studied indifference； he glanced at the girl before he
turned to his host and said in his own language：
〃Is that your daughter； signore？〃
Perez de Lagounia （such was the merchant's name） had large commercial
relations with Genoa； Florence； and Livorno； he knew Italian； and
replied in the same language：
〃No； if she were my daughter I should take less precautions。 The child
is confided to our care； and I would rather die than see any evil
happen to her。 But how is it possible to put sense into a girl of
eighteen？〃
〃She is very handsome；〃 said Montefiore； coldly； not looking at her
face again。
〃Her mother's beauty is celebrated；〃 replied the merchant； briefly。
They continued to smoke； watching each other。 Though Montefiore
compelled himself not to give the slightest look which might
contradict his apparent coldness； he could not refrain； at a moment
when Perez turned his head to expectorate； from casting a rapid