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〃A better man was never born；〃 said Uncle Licurgo； wiping； or pretending to wipe away a tear。
〃Long life to the Senor Penitentiary！〃 cried Frasquito Gonzalez； rising to his feet and throwing his cap up to the ceiling。
〃Silence！〃 said Dona Perfecta。 〃Sit down； Frasquito！ You are one of those with whom it is always much cry and little wool。〃
〃Blessed be God who gave you that eloquent tongue！〃 exclaimed Cristobal； inflamed with admiration。 〃What a pair I have before me！ While these two live what need is there of any one else？ All the people in Spain ought to be like them。 But how could that be； when there is nothing in it but roguery！ In Madrid； which is the capital where the law and the mandarins come from； every thing is robbery and cheating。 Poor religion； what a state they have brought it to！ There is nothing to be seen but crimes。 Senor Don Inocencio； Senora Dona Perfecta； by my father's soul； by the soul of my grandfather； by the salvation of my own soul； I swear that I wish to die！〃
〃To die！〃
〃That I wish those rascally dogs may kill me； and I say that I wish they may kill me； because I cannot cut them in quarters。 I am very little。〃
〃Ramos； you are great；〃 said Dona Perfecta solemnly。
〃Great？ Great？ Very great； as far as my courage is concerned； but have I fortresses； have I cavalry； have I artillery？〃
〃That is a thing； Ramos；〃 said Dona Perfecta； smiling； 〃about which I would not concern myself。 Has not the enemy what you lack？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Take it from him； then。〃
〃We will take it from him； yes； senora。 When I say that we will take it from him〃
〃My dear Ramos；〃 exclaimed Don Inocencio； 〃yours is an enviable position。 To distinguish yourself； to raise yourself above the base multitude； to put yourself on an equality with the greatest heroes of the earth； to be able to say that the hand of God guides your handoh； what grandeur and honor！ My friend； this is not flattery。 What dignity； what nobleness； what magnanimity！ No； men of such a temper cannot die。 The Lord goes with them； and the bullet and the steel of the enemy are arrested in their course； they do not darehow should they dareto touch them； coming from the musket and the hand of heretics？ Dear Caballuco； seeing you； seeing your bravery and your nobility； there come to my mind involuntarily the verses of that ballad on the conquest of the Empire of Trebizond：
〃 'Came the valiant Roland Armed at every point； On his war…horse mounted； The gallant Briador； His good sword Durlindana Girded to his side； Couched for the attack his lance； On his arm his buckler stout； Through his helmet's visor Flashing fire he came； Quivering like a slender reed Shaken by the wind his lance； And all the host united Defying haughtily。' 〃
〃Very good；〃 exclaimed Licurgo； clapping his hands。 〃And I say like Don Renialdos：
〃 'Let none the wrath of Don Renialdos Dare brave and hope to escape unscathed； For he who seeks with him a quarrel； Shall pay so dearly for his rashness That he； and all his cause who champion； Shall at my hand or meet destruction Or chastisement severe shall suffer。' 〃
〃Ramos； you will take some supper； you will eat something； won't you？〃 said the mistress of the house。
〃Nothing； nothing；〃 answered the Centaur。 〃Or if you give me any thing； let it be a plate of gunpowder。〃
And bursting into a boisterous laugh； he walked up and down the room several times； attentively observed by every one； then； stopping beside the group； he looked fixedly at Dona Perfecta and thundered forth these words：
〃I say that there is nothing more to be said。 Long live Orbajosa！ death to Madrid！〃
And he brought his hand down on the table with such violence that the floor shook。
〃What a valiant spirit！〃 said Don Inocencio。
〃What a fist you have！〃
Every one was looking at the table； which had been split in two by the blow。
Then they looked at the never…enough…to…be…admired Renialdos or Caballuco。 Undoubtedly there was in his handsome countenance； in his green eyes animated by a strange； feline glow； in his black hair； in his herculean frame； a certain expression and air of grandeura trace； or rather a memory； of the grand races that dominated the world。 But his general aspect was one of pitiable degeneration； and it was difficult to discover the noble and heroic filiation in the brutality of the present。 He resembled Don Cayetano's great men as the mule resembles the horse。
CHAPTER XXIII
MYSTERY
The conference lasted for some time longer； but we omit what followed as not being necessary to a clear understanding of our story。 At last they separated； Senor Don Inocencio remaining to the last； as usual。 Before the canon and Dona Perfecta had had time to exchange a word； an elderly woman； Dona Perfecta's confidential servant and her right hand； entered the dining…room； and her mistress； seeing that she looked disturbed and anxious； was at once filled with disquietude； suspecting that something wrong was going on in the house。
〃I can't find the senorita anywhere；〃 said the servant； in answer to her mistress' questions。
〃Good HeavensRosario！ Where is my daughter？〃
〃Virgin of Succor protect us！〃 cried the Penitentiary； taking up his hat and preparing to hurry out with Dona Perfecta。
〃Search for her well。 But was she not with you in her room？〃
〃Yes； senora；〃 answered the old woman； trembling； 〃but the devil tempted me； and I fell asleep。〃
〃A curse upon your sleep！ What is this？ Rosario； Rosario！ Librada！〃
They went upstairs and came down again； they went up a second time and came down again； carrying a light and looking carefully in all the rooms。 At last the voice of the Penitentiary was heard saying joyfully from the stairs：
〃Here she is； here she is！ She has been found。〃
A moment later mother and daughter were standing face to face in the hall。
〃Where were you？〃 asked Dona Perfecta； in a severe voice； scrutinizing her daughter's face closely。
〃In the garden；〃 answered the girl； more dead than alive。
〃In the garden at this hour？ Rosario！〃
〃I was warm； I went to the window； my handkerchief dropped out； and I came down stairs for it！〃
〃Why didn't you ask Librada to get it for you？ Librada！ Where is that girl？ Has she fallen asleep too？〃
Librada at last made her appearance。 Her pale face revealed the consternation and the apprehension of the delinquent。
〃What is this？ Where were you？〃 asked her mistress； with terrible anger。
〃Why； senora； I came down stairs to get the clothes out of the front roomand I fell asleep。〃
〃Every one here seems to have fallen asleep to…night。 Some of you； I fancy； will not sleep in my house to…morrow night。 Rosario； you may go。〃
Comprehending that it was necessary to act with promptness and energy； Dona Perfecta and the canon began their investigations without delay。 Questions； threats； entreaties； promises； were skilfully employed to discover the truth regarding what had happened。 Not even the shadow of guilt was found to attach to the old servant； but Librada confessed frankly between tears and sighs all her delinquencies； which we will sum up as follows：
Shortly after his arrival in the house Senor Pinzon had begun to cast loving glances at Senorita Rosario。 He had given money to Librada； according to what the latter said； to carry messages and love…letters to her。 The young lady had not seemed angry； but； on the contrary； pleased； and several days had passed in this manner。 Finally； the servant declared that Rosario and Senor Pinzon had agreed to meet and talk with each other on this night at the window of the room of the latter； which opened on the garden。 They had confided their design to the maid； who promised to favor it； in consideration of a sum which was at once given her。 It had been agreed that Senor Pinzon was to leave the house at his usual hour and return to it secretly at nine o'clock； go to his room； and leave it and the house again； clandestinely also； a little later； to return； without concealment； at his usual late hour。 In this way no suspicion would fall upon him。 Librada had waited for Pinzon； who had entered the house closely enveloped in his cloak； without speaking a