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juana-第2章

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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
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