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and if you hear thieves and murderers spoken of； you may be sure that they are not the children of this noble soil； or； that if they are； they belong to the number of unhappy creatures perverted by the teachings of demagogues。 Here you will see the national character in all its purityupright； noble； incorruptible； pure； simple； patriarchal； hospitable； generous。 Therefore it is that I live so happy in this solitude far from the turmoil of cities where； alas！ falsehood and vice reign。 Therefore it is that the many friends whom I have in Madrid have not been able to tempt me from this place； therefore it is that I spend my life in the sweet companionship of my faithful townspeople and my books； breathing the wholesome atmosphere of integrity； which is gradually becoming circumscribed in our Spain to the humble and Christian towns that have preserved it with the emanations of their virtues。 And believe me； my dear Pepe； this peaceful isolation has greatly contributed to preserve me from the terrible malady connatural in my family。 In my youth I suffered； like my brothers and my father； from a lamentable propensity to the most absurd manias； but here you have me so miraculously cured that all I know of the malady is what I see of it in others。 And it is for that reason that I am so uneasy about my little niece。〃
〃I am rejoiced that the air of Orbajosa has proved so beneficial to you；〃 said Rey； unable to resist the jesting mood that； by a strange contradiction； came over him in the midst of his sadness。 〃With me it has agreed so badly that I think I shall soon become mad if I remain in it。 Well； good…night； and success to your labors。〃
〃Good…night。〃
Pepe went to his room； but feeling neither a desire for sleep or the need of physical repose；on the contrary； a violent excitation of mind which impelled him to move； to act；he walked up and down the room； torturing himself with useless cavilling。 After a time he opened the window which overlooked the garden and； leaning his elbows on the parapet； he gazed out on 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