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there is so much disturbance in this part of the country； as two of the neighboring provinces are already infested； and as this municipal district of Orbajosa has； besides； so brilliant a record in all the civil wars； there are fears that the bravos of the place may take to the roads and rob all they can lay hands on。〃
〃A good precaution！ But I am firmly convinced that not until these people die and are born over again； not until the very stones have changed their form； will there be peace in Orbajosa。〃
〃That is my opinion too；〃 said the officer； lighting a cigarette。 〃Don't you see that the guerilla chiefs are the pets of this place？ Those who desolated the district in 1848 and at other epochs； or； if not they； their sons； are employed in the market inspector's office； at the town gates； in the town…hall； in the post…office； among them are constables； sacristans； bailiffs。 Some have become powerful party leaders and they are the ones who manage the elections； have influence in Madrid； bestow placesin short； this is terrible。〃
〃And tell me； is there no hope of the guerilla chiefs performing some exploit in these days？ If that should happen； you could destroy the town； and I would help you。〃
〃If it depended upon me They will play their usual pranks no doubt；〃 said Pinzon； 〃for the insurrection in the two neighboring provinces is spreading like wildfire。 And between ourselves； friend Rey； I think this is going to last for a long time。 Some people smile and say that it would be impossible that there should be another insurrection like the last one。 They don't know the country； they don't know Orbajosa and its inhabitants。 I believe that the war that is now beginning will have serious consequences； and that we shall have another cruel and bloody struggle； that will last Heaven knows how long。 What is your opinion？〃
〃Well； in Madrid I laughed at any one who spoke of the possibility of a civil war as long and as terrible as the Seven Years' War； but since I have been here〃
〃One must come to the heart of this enchanting country； see the people at home； and hear them talk； to know what the real state of affairs is。〃
〃Just so。 Without knowing precisely on what I base my opinion； the fact is that here I see things in a different light； and I now believe that it is possible that there may be a long and bloody war。〃
〃Exactly so。〃
〃But at present my thoughts are occupied less by the public war than by a private war in which I am engaged and which I declared a short time ago。〃
〃You said this was your aunt's house。 What is her name？〃
〃Dona Perfecta Rey de Polentinos。〃
〃Ah！ I know her by reputation。 She is an excellent person； and the only one of whom I have not heard the garlic…venders speak ill。 When I was here before I heard her goodness； her charity； her innumerable virtues； everywhere extolled。〃
〃Yes； my aunt is very kind； very amiable；〃 said Rey。
Then he fell into a thoughtful silence。
〃But now I remember！〃 exclaimed Pinzon suddenly。 〃How one thing fits in with another！ Yes； I heard in Madrid that you were going to be married to a cousin of yours。 All is clear now。 Is it that beautiful and heavenly Rosario？〃
〃Pinzon； we must have a long talk together。〃
〃I imagine that there are difficulties。〃
〃There is something more； there is violent opposition。 I have need of a determined frienda friend who is prompt to act； fruitful in resource； of great experience in emergencies； astute and courageous。〃
〃Why； this is even more serious than a challenge。〃
〃A great deal more serious。 It would be easy to fight with another man。 With women； with unseen enemies who work in the dark； it is impossible。〃
〃Come； I am all ears。〃
Lieutenant…colonel Pinzon lay stretched at full length upon the bed。 Pepe Rey drew a chair up to the bedside and； leaning his elbow on the bed and his head on his hand； began his conference； consultation； exposition of plan； or whatever else it might be called； and continued talking for a long time。 Pinzon listened to him with profound attention and without interrupting him； except to ask an occasional question for the purpose of obtaining further details or additional light upon some obscure point。 When Pepe Rey ended； Pinzon looked grave。 He stretched himself； yawning with the satisfaction of one who has not slept for three nights； and then said：
〃You plan is dangerous and difficult。〃
〃But not impossible。〃
〃Oh； no！ for nothing is impossible。 Reflect well about it。〃
〃I have reflected。〃
〃And you are resolved to carry it through？ Consider that these things are not now in fashion。 They generally turn out badly and throw discredit on those who undertake them。〃
〃I am resolved。〃
〃For my part； then； although the business is dangerous and serious very seriousI am ready to aid you in all things and for all things。〃
〃Can I rely upon you？〃
〃To the death。〃
CHAPTER XIX
A TERRIBLE BATTLE…STRATEGY
The opening of hostilities could not long be delayed。 When the hour of dinner arrived； after coming to an agreement with Pinzon regarding the plan to be pursued； the first condition of which was that the friends should pretend not to know each other； Pepe Rey went to the dining… room。 There he found his aunt； who had just returned from the cathedral where she had spent the morning as was her habit。 She was alone； and appeared to be greatly preoccupied。 The engineer observed that on that pale and marble…like countenance； not without a certain beauty； there rested a mysterious shadow。 When she looked up it recovered its sinister calmness； but she looked up seldom； and after a rapid examination of her nephew's countenance； that of the amiable lady would again take on its studied gloom。
They awaited dinner in silence。 They did not wait for Don Cayetano； for he had gone to Mundogrande。 When they sat down to table Dona Perfecta said：
〃And that fine soldier whom the Government has sent us； is he not coming to dinner？〃
〃He seems to be more sleepy than hungry；〃 answered the engineer； without looking at his aunt。
〃Do you know him？〃
〃I have never seen him in all my life before。〃
〃We are nicely off with the guests whom the Government sends us。 We have beds and provisions in order to keep them ready for those vagabonds of Madrid； whenever they may choose to dispose of them。〃
〃There are fears of an insurrection；〃 said Pepe Rey； with sudden heat； 〃and the Government is determined to crush the Orbajosansto crush them； to grind them to powder。〃
〃Stop； man； stop； for Heaven's sake； don't crush us！〃 cried Dona Perfecta sarcastically。 〃Poor we！ Be merciful； man； and allow us unhappy creatures to live。 And would you； then； be one of those who would aid the army in the grand work of crushing us？〃
〃I am not a soldier。 I will do nothing but applaud when I see the germs of civil war； of insubordination； of discord； of disorder； of robbery； and of barbarism that exist here； to the shame of our times and of our country； forever extirpated。〃
〃All will be as God wills。〃
〃Orbajosa； my dear aunt； has little else than garlic and bandits； for those who in the name of some political or religious idea set out in search of adventures every four or five years are nothing but bandits。〃
〃Thanks； thanks； my dear nephew！〃 said Dona Perfecta； turning pale。 〃So Orbajosa has nothing more than that？ Yet there must be something else heresomething that you do not possess； since you have come to look for it among us。〃
Rey felt the cut。 His soul was on fire。 He found it very difficult to show his aunt the consideration to which her sex； her rank； and her relation to himself entitled her。 He was on the verge of a violent outbreak； and a force that he could not resist was impelling him against his interlocutor。
〃I came to Orbajosa；〃 he said； 〃because you sent for me； you arranged with my father〃
〃Yes； yes； it is true；〃 she answered； interrupting him quickly and making an effort to recover her habitual serenity。 〃I do not deny it。 I am the one who is really to blame。 I am to blame for your ill…humor； for the slights you put upon us； for every thing disagreeable that has been happening in my house since you entered it。〃
〃I am glad that you are conscious of it。〃