dona perecta-第31部分

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　the　limitless　darkness　of　the　night。　Nothing　could　be　seen；　but　he　who　is　absorbed　in　his　own　thoughts　sees　with　the　mental　vision；　and　Pepe　Rey；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　darkness；　saw　the　varied　panorama　of　his　misfortunes　unroll　itself　upon　it　before　him。　The　obscurity　did　not　permit　him　to　see　the　flowers　of　the　earth；　nor　those　of　the　heavens；　which　are　the　stars。　The　very　absence　of　light　produced　the　effect　of　an　illusory　movement　in　the　masses　of　foliage；　which　seemed　to　stretch　away；　to　recede　slowly；　and　come　curling　back　like　the　waves　of　a　shadowy　sea。　A　vast　flux　and　reflux；　a　strife　between　forces　vaguely　comprehended；　agitated　the　silent　sky。　The　mathematician；　contemplating　this　strange　projection　of　his　soul　upon　the　night；　said　to　himself：

〃The　battle　will　be　terrible。　Let　us　see　who　will　come　out　of　it　victorious。〃

The　nocturnal　insects　whispered　in　his　ear　mysterious　words。　Here　a　shrill　chirp；　there　a　click；　like　the　click　made　with　the　tongue；　further　on；　plaintive　murmurs；　in　the　distance　a　tinkle　like　that　of　the　bell　on　the　neck　of　the　wandering　ox。　Suddenly　Rey　heard　a　strange　sound；　a　rapid　note；　that　could　be　produced　only　by　the　human　tongue　and　lips。　This　sibilant　breathing　passed　through　the　young　man's　brain　like　a　flash　of　lightning。　He　felt　that　swift　〃s…s…s〃　dart　snake…like　through　him；　repeated　again　and　then　again；　with　augmented　intensity。　He　looked　all　around；　then　he　looked　toward　the　upper　part　of　the　house；　and　he　fancied　that　in　one　of　the　windows　he　could　distinguish　an　object　like　a　white　bird　flapping　its　wings。　Through　Pepe　Rey's　excited　mind　flashed　instantly　the　idea　of　the　phoenix；　of　the　dove；　of　the　regal　heron；　and　yet　the　bird　he　saw　was　noting　more　than　a　handkerchief。

The　engineer　sprang　from　the　balcony　into　the　garden。　Observing　attentively；　he　saw　the　hand　and　the　face　of　his　cousin。　He　thought　he　could　perceive　the　gesture　commonly　employed　of　imposing　silence　by　laying　the　finger　on　the　lips。　Then　the　dear　shade　pointed　downward　and　disappeared。　Pepe　Rey　returned　quickly　to　this　room；　entered　the　hall　noiselessly；　and　walked　slowly　forward。　He　felt　his　heart　beat　with　violence。　He　waited　for　a　few　moments；　and　at　last　he　heard　distinctly　light　taps　on　the　steps　of　the　stairs。　One；　two；　threethe　sounds　were　produced　by　a　pair　of　little　shoes。

He　walked　in　the　direction　whence　they　proceeded；　and　stretched　out　his　hands　in　the　obscurity　to　assist　the　person　who　was　descending　the　stairs。　In　his　soul　there　reigned　an　exalted　and　profound　tenderness；　butwhy　seek　to　deny　itmingling　with　this　tender　feeling；　there　suddenly　arose　within　him；　like　an　infernal　inspiration；　another　sentiment；　a　fierce　desire　for　revenge。　The　steps　continued　to　descend；　coming　nearer　and　nearer。　Pepe　Rey　went　forward；　and　a　pair　of　hands；　groping　in　the　darkness；　came　in　contact　with　his　own。　The　two　pairs　of　hands　were　united　in　a　close　clasp。



CHAPTER　XVII

LIGHT　IN　THE　DARKNESS

The　hall　was　long　and　broad。　At　one　end　of　it　was　the　door　of　the　room　occupied　by　the　engineer；　in　the　centre　that　of　the　dining…room；　and　at　the　other　end　were　the　staircase　and　a　large　closed　door　reached　by　a　step。　This　door　opened　into　a　chapel　in　which　the　Polentinos　performed　their　domestic　devotions。　Occasionally　the　holy　sacrifice　of　the　mass　was　celebrated　in　it。

Rosario　led　her　cousin　to　the　door　of　the　chapel　and　then　sank　down　on　the　doorstep。

〃Here？〃　murmured　Pepe　Rey。

From　the　movements　of　Rosarito's　right　hand　he　comprehended　that　she　was　blessing　herself。

〃Rosario；　dear　cousin；　thanks　for　allowing　me　to　see　you！〃　he　exclaimed；　embracing　her　ardently。

He　felt　the　girl's　cold　fingers　on　his　lips；　imposing　silence。　He　kissed　them　rapturously。

〃You　are　frozen。　Rosario；　why　do　you　tremble　so？〃

Her　teeth　were　chattering；　and　her　whole　frame　trembled　convulsively。　Rey　felt　the　burning　heat　of　his　cousin's　face　against　his　own；　and　he　cried　in　alarm：

〃Your　forehead　is　burning！　You　are　feverish。〃

〃Very。〃

〃Are　you　really　ill？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　you　have　left　your　room〃

〃To　see　you。〃

The　engineer　wrapped　his　arms　around　her　to　protect　her　from　the　cold；　but　it　was　not　enough。

〃Wait；〃　he　said　quickly；　rising。　〃I　am　going　to　my　room　to　bring　my　travelling　rug。〃

〃Put　out　the　light；　Pepe。〃

Rey　had　left　the　lamp　burning　in　his　room；　through　the　door　of　which　issued　a　faint　streak　of　light；　illuminating　the　hall。　He　returned　in　an　instant。　The　darkness　was　now　profound。　Groping　his　way　along　the　wall　he　reached　the　spot　where　his　cousin　was　sitting；　and　wrapped　the　rug　carefully　around　her。

〃You　are　comfortable　now；　my　child。〃

〃Yes；　so　comfortable！　With　you！〃

〃With　meand　forever！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man；　with　exaltation。

But　he　observed　that　she　was　releasing　herself　from　his　arms　and　was　rising。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃

A　metallic　sound　was　heard。　Rosario　had　put　the　key　into　the　invisible　lock　and　was　cautiously　opening　the　door　on　the　threshold　of　which　they　had　been　sitting。　The　faint　odor　of　dampness；　peculiar　to　rooms　that　have　been　long　shut　up；　issued　from　the　place；　which　was　as　dark　as　a　tomb。　Pepe　Rey　felt　himself　being　guided　by　the　hand；　and　his　cousin's　voice　said　faintly：

〃Enter！〃

They　took　a　few　steps　forward。　He　imagined　himself　being　led　to　an　unknown　Elysium　by　the　angel　of　night。　Rosario　groped　her　way。　At　last　her　sweet　voice　sounded　again；　murmuring：

〃Sit　down。〃

They　were　beside　a　wooden　bench。　Both　sat　down。　Pepe　Rey　embraced　Rosario　again。　As　he　did　so；　his　head　struck　against　a　hard　body。

〃What　is　this？〃　he　asked。

〃The　feet。〃

〃Rosariowhat　are　you　saying？〃

〃The　feet　of　the　Divine　Jesus；　of　the　image　of　Christ　crucified；　that　we　adore　in　my　house。〃

Pepe　Rey　felt　a　cold　chill　strike　through　him。

〃Kiss　them；〃　said　the　young　girl　imperiously。

The　mathematician　kissed　the　cold　feet　of　the　holy　image。

〃Pepe；〃　then　cried　the　young　girl；　pressing　her　cousin's　hand　ardently　between　her　own；　〃do　you　believe　in　God？〃

〃Rosario！　What　are　you　saying？　What　absurdities　are　you　imagining？〃　responded　her　cousin；　perplexed。

〃Answer　me。〃

Pepe　Rey　felt　drops　of　moisture　on　his　hands。

〃Why　are　you　crying？〃　he　said；　greatly　disturbed。　〃Rosario；　you　are　killing　me　with　your　absurd　doubts。　Do　I　believe　in　God？　Do　you　doubt　it？〃

〃I　do　not　doubt　it；　but　they　all　say　that　you　are　an　atheist。〃

〃You　would　suffer　in　my　estimation；　you　would　lose　your　aureole　of　purityyour　charmif　you　gave　credit　to　such　nonsense。〃

〃When　I　heard　them　accuse　you　of　being　an　atheist；　although　I　could　bring　no　proof　to　the　contrary；　I　protested　from　the　depths　of　my　soul　against　such　a　calumny。　You　cannot　be　an　atheist。　I　have　within　me　as　strong　and　deep　a　conviction　of　your　faith　as　of　my　own。〃

〃How　wisely　you　speak！　Why；　then；　do　you　ask　me　if　I　believe　in　God？〃

〃Because　I　wanted　to　hear　it　from　your　own　lips；　and　rejoice　in　hearing　you　say　it。　It　is　so　long　since　I　have　heard　the　sound　of　your　voice！　What　greater　happiness　than　to　hear　it　again；　saying：　'I　believe　in　God？'　〃

〃Rosario；　even　the　wicked　believe　in　him。　If　there　be　atheists；　which　I　doubt；　they　are　the　calumniators；　the　intriguers　with　wh