"But is it possible that such follies--Heavens! Tell me, Pinzon, does my nephew too belong to that sect of table-tippers?"
"I think it was he who indoctrinated our valiant Brigadier Batalla."
"Good Heavens!"
"Yes; and whenever he chooses," said Don Inocencio, unable to contain his laughter, "he can speak to Socrates, St. Paul, Cervantes, or Descartes, as I speak to Librada to ask her for a match. Poor Senor de Rey! I was not mistaken in saying that there was something wrong in his head."
"Outside that," continued Pinzon, "our brigadier is a good soldier. If he errs at all, it is on the side of severity. He takes the orders of the Government so literally that, if he were to meet with much opposition here, he would be capable of not leaving one stone upon another in Orbajosa. Yes, I advise you all to be on your guard."
"But is that monster going to cut all our heads off, then? Ah, Senor Don Inocencio! these visits of the army remind me of what I have read in the lives of the martyrs about the visits of the Roman proconsuls to a Christian town."
"The comparison is not wanting in exactness," said the Penitentiary, looking at the soldier over his spectacles.
"It is not very agreeable, but if it is the truth, why should it not be said?" observed Pinzon benevolently. "Now you all are at our mercy."
"The authorities of the place," objected Jacinto, "still exercise their functions as usual."
"I think you are mistaken," responded the soldier, whose countenance Dona Perfecta and the Penitentiary were studying with profound interest. "The alcalde of Orbajosa was removed from office an hour ago."
"By the governor of the province?"
"The governor of the province has been replaced by a delegate from the Government, who was to arrive this morning. The municipal councils will all be removed from office to-day. The minister has so ordered because he suspected, I don't know on what grounds, that they were not supporting the central authority."
"This is a pretty state of things!" murmured the canon, frowning and pushing out his lower lip.
Dona Perfecta looked thoughtful.
"Some of the judges of the primary court, among them the judge of Orbajosa, have been deprived of office."
"The judge! Periquito--Periquito is no longer judge!" exclaimed Dona Perfecta, in a voice and with the manner of a person who has just been stung by a snake.
"The person who was judge in Orbajosa is judge no longer," said Pinzon.
"To-morrow the new judge will arrive."
"A stranger!"
"A stranger."
"A rascal, perhaps. The other was so honorable!" said Dona Perfecta, with alarm. "I never asked any thing from him that he did not grant it to me at once. Do you know who will be the new alcalde?"
"They say a corregidor is coming."
"There, say at once that the Deluge is coming, and let us be done with it," said the canon, rising.
"So that we are at the brigadier's mercy!"
"For a few days only. Don't be angry with me. In spite of my uniform I am an enemy of militarism; but we are ordered to strike--and we strike.
There could not be a viler trade than ours."
"That it is, that it is!" said Dona Perfecta, with difficulty concealing her fury. "Now that you have confessed it---- So, then, neither alcalde nor judge----"
"Nor governor of the province."
"Let them take the bishop from us also and send us a choir boy in his stead."
"That is all that is wanting--if the people here will allow them to do it," murmured Don Inocencio, lowering his eyes. "They won't stop at trifles."
"And it is all because they are afraid of an insurrection in Orbajosa," exclaimed Dona Perfecta, clasping her hands and waving them up and down. "Frankly, Pinzon, I don't know why it is that even the very stones don't rise up in rebellion. I wish you no harm; but it would be a just judgment on you if the water you drink turned into mud. You say that my nephew is the intimate friend of the brigadier?"
"So intimate that they are together all day long; they were school-fellows. Batalla loves him like a brother, and would do anything to please him. In your place, senora, I would be uneasy."
"Oh, my God! I fear there will be an attack on the house!"
"Senora," declared the canon, with energy, "before I would consent that there should be an attack on this honorable house--before I would consent that the slightest harm should be done to this noble family--I, my nephew, all the people of Orbajosa----"
Don Inocencio did not finish. His anger was so great that the words refused to come. He took a few steps forward with a martial air, then returned to his seat.
"I think that your fears are not idle," said Pinzon. "If it should be necessary, I----"
"And I----" said Jacinto.
Dona Perfecta had fixed her eyes on the glass door of the dining-room, through which could be seen a graceful figure. As she looked at it, it seemed as if the cloud of apprehension which rested on her countenance grew darker.
"Rosario! come in here, Rosario!" she said, going to meet the young girl. "I fancy you look better to-day, and that you are more cheerful.
Don't you think that Rosario looks better? She seems a different being."
They all agreed that the liveliest happiness was depicted on her countenance.
