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been friends of her school…days。 She said also that the Countess of M。 （famous for her parties） was a friend of hers and that in '60 she had paid her a visit； when the countess had invited her to her box at the Teatro Real； where she saw Muley…Abbas in Moorish dress and accompanied by his retinue of Moors。 The alcalde's wife talked incessantly and was not wanting in humor。
The dean was a very old man； corpulent and red…faced； plethoric and apoplectic looking； a man so obese that he seemed bursting out of his skin。 He had belonged to one of the suppressed religious orders； he talked only of religious matters； and from the very first manifested the most profound contempt for Pepe Rey。 The latter appeared every moment more unable to accommodate himself to a society so little to his taste。 His dispositionnot at all malleable； hard； and very little flexiblerejected the duplicities and the compromises of language to simulate concord when it did not exist。 He remained； then； very grave during the whole of the tiresome evening； obliged as he was to endure the oratorical vehemence of the alcalde's wife； who； without being Fame； had the privilege of fatiguing with a hundred tongues the ears of men。 If； in some brief respite which this lady gave her hearers； Pepe Rey made an attempt to approach his cousin； the Penitentiary attached himself to him instantly； like the mollusk to the rock； taking him apart with a mysterious air to propose to him an excursion with Senor Don Cayetano to Mundogrande； or a fishing party on the clear waters of the Nahara。
At last the evening came to an end； as every thing does in this world。 The dean retired； leaving the house； as it seemed； empty； and very soon there remained of the alcalde's wife only an echo； like the buzz which remains in the air after a storm has passed away。 The judge also deprived the company of his presence； and at last Don Inocencio gave his nephew the signal for departure。
〃Come； boy； come； for it is late；〃 he said； smiling。 〃How you have tormented poor Rosarito； has he not； child？ Home； you rogue； home； without delay。〃
〃It is time to go to bed；〃 said Dona Perfecta。
〃Time to go to work；〃 responded the little lawyer。
〃I am always telling him that he ought to get through with his business in the day…time； but he will not mind me。〃
〃There is so much； so very much business to be got through。〃
〃No； say rather； that confounded work which you have undertaken。 He does not wish to say it； Senor Don Jose； but the truth is that he is writing a book on 'The Influence of Woman in Christian Society；' and； in addition to that； 'A Glance at the Catholic Movement in'somewhere or other。 What do you know about glances or influences？ But these youths of the present day have audacity enough for any thing。 Oh； what boys！ Well； let us go home。 Good…night； Senora Dona Perfectagood… night； Senor Don JoseRosarito。〃
〃I will wait for Senor Don Cayetano；〃 said Jacinto； 〃to ask him to give me the Augusto Nicolas。〃
〃Always carrying books。 Why； sometimes you come into the house laden like a donkey。 Very well； then； let us wait。〃
〃Senor Don Jacinto does not write hastily；〃 said Pepe Rey； 〃he prepares himself well for his work； so that his books may be treasures of learning。〃
〃But that boy will injure his brain；〃 objected Dona Perfecta。 〃For Heaven's sake be careful！ I would set a limit to his reading。〃
〃Since we are going to wait；〃 said the little doctor； in a tone of insufferable conceit； 〃I will take with me also the third volume of Concilios。 What do you think； uncle？〃
〃Take that； of course。 It would never do to leave that behind you。〃
Fortunately Senor Don Cayetano （who generally spent his evenings at the house of Don Lorenzo Ruiz） soon arrived； and the books being received； uncle and nephew left the house。
Rey read in his cousin's sad countenance a keen desire to speak to him。 He approached her while Dona Perfecta and Don Cayetano were discussing some domestic matter apart。
〃You have offended mamma；〃 said Rosarito。
Her features expressed something like terror。
〃It is true；〃 responded the young man； 〃I have offended your mammaI have offended you。〃
〃No； not me。 I already imagined that the Infant Jesus ought not to wear trousers。〃
〃But I hope that you will both forgive me。 Your mamma was so kind to me a little while ago。〃
Dona Perfecta's voice suddenly vibrated through the dining…room； with so discordant a tone that her nephew started as if he had heard a cry of alarm。 The voice said imperiously：
〃Rosario； go to bed！〃
Startled； her mind filled with anxious fears； the girl lingered in the room； going here and there as if she was looking for something。 As she passed her cousin she whispered softly and cautiously these words：
〃Mamma is angry。〃
〃But〃
〃She is angrybe on your guard； be on your guard。〃
Then she left the room。 Her mother； for whom Uncle Licurgo was waiting； followed her； and for some time the voices of Dona Perfecta and the countryman were heard mingled together in familiar conference。 Pepe was left with Don Cayetano； who； taking a light； said；
〃Good…night； Pepe。 But don't suppose that I am going to sleep； I am going to work。 But why are you so thoughtful？ What is the matter with you？Just as I say； to work。 I am making notes for a 'Memorial Discourse on the Genealogies of Orbajosa。' I have already found data and information of the utmost value。 There can be no dispute about it。 In every period of our history the Orbajosans have been distinguished for their delicate sense of honor； their chivalry； their valor； their intellectuality。 The conquest of Mexico； the wars of the Emperor； the wars of Philip against the heretics； testify to this。 But are you ill？ What is the matter with you？ As I say； eminent theologians； valiant warriors； conquerors； saints； bishops； statesmenall sorts of illustrious menhave flourished in this humble land of the garlic。 No； there is not in Christendom a more illustrious city than ours。 Its virtues and its glories are in themselves enough and more than enough to fill all the pages of our country's history。 Well； I see that it is sleepy you aregood…night。 As I say； I would not exchange the glory of being a son of this noble city for all the gold in the world。 Augusta； the ancients called it； Augustissima； I call it now； for now； as then； high…mindedness； generosity； valor； magnanimity； are the patrimony of all。 Well； good…night； dear Pepe。 But I fancy you are not well。 Has the supper disagreed with you？Alonzo Gonzalez de Bustamante was right when he said in his 'Floresta Amena' that the people of Orbajosa suffice in themselves to confer greatness and honor on a kingdom。 Don't you think so？〃
〃Oh； yes； senor； undoubtedly；〃 responded Pepe Rey； going abruptly toward his room。
CHAPTER XI
THE DISCORD GROWS
During the following days Pepe Rey made the acquaintance of several of the people of the place； he visited the Casino； and formed friendships with some of the individuals who spend their lives in the rooms of that corporation。
But the youth of Orbajosa did not spend all their time in the Casino； as evil…minded people might imagine。 In the afternoons there were to be seen at the corner of the cathedral； and in the little plaza formed by the intersection of the Calle del Condestable and the Calle de la Triperia； several gentlemen who； gracefully enveloped in their cloaks； stood there like sentinels； watching the people as they passed by。 If the weather was fine； those shining lights of the Urbs Augustan culture bent their steps； still enveloped in the indispensable cloak； toward the promenade called the Paseo de las Descalzas； which was formed by a double row of consumptive…looking elms and some withered bushes of broom。 There the brilliant Pleiad watched the daughters of this fellow… townsman or that； who had also come there for a walk； and the afternoon passed tolerably。 In the evening； the Casino filled up again； and while some of the members gave their lofty minds to the delights of monte； others read the newspapers； while the majority discussed in the coffee… room subjects of the various kinds； such as the politics； horses； bulls； or the gossip of the place。 The result of every discussion