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〃I asked you；〃 said the curate amiably； filling his friend's plate； 〃because my niece wishes you to accompany her a short distance。 She has some business or other to attend to； and it is a little late to be out alone。〃
〃Is she going to Dona Perfecta's？〃 asked Ramos。 〃I was there a few moments ago； but I did not want to make any delay。〃
〃How is the senora？〃
〃A little frightened。 To…night I took away the six young men I had in the house。〃
〃Why！ don't you think they will be wanted there？〃 said Remedios； with alarm。
〃They are wanted more in Villahorrenda。 Brave men chafe at being kept in the house； is it not so； Senor Canon？〃
〃Senor Ramos； that house ought not to be left unprotected；〃 said the Penitentiary。
〃The servants are enough； and more than enough。 But do you suppose； Senor Don Inocencio； that the brigadier employs himself in attacking the people's houses？〃
〃Yes； but you know very well that that diabolical engineer〃
〃For thatthere are not wanting brooms in the house；〃 said Cristobal jovially。 〃For in the end； there will be no help for it but to marry them。 After what has passed〃
〃Senor Ramos；〃 said Remedios； with sudden anger； 〃I imagine that all you know about marrying people is very little。〃
〃I say that because a little while ago； when I was at the house； the mother and daughter seemed to be having a sort of reconciliation。 Dona Perfecta was kissing Rosarito over and over again； and there was no end to their caresses and endearments。〃
〃Reconciliation！ With all these preparations for the war you have lost your senses。 But； finally； are you coming with me or not？〃
〃It is not to Dona Perfecta's she wants to go；〃 said the priest； 〃but to the hotel of the widow De Cuzco。 She was saying that she does not dare to go alone； because she is afraid of being insulted。〃
〃By whom？〃
〃It is easily understood。 By that infernal engineer。 Last night my niece met him there； and she gave him some plain talk； and for that reason she is not altogether easy in her mind to…night。 The young fellow is revengeful and insolent。〃
〃I don't know whether I can go；〃 said Caballuco。 〃As I am in hiding now I cannot measure my strength against Don Jose Poquita Cosa。 If I were not as I amwith half my face hidden； and the other half uncoveredI would have broken his back for him already twenty times over。 But what happens if I attack him？ He discovers who I am； he falls upon me with the soldiers； and good…bye to Caballuco。 As for giving him a treacherous blow； that is something I couldn't do； nor would Dona Perfecta consent to it； either。 For a stab in the dark Cristobal Ramos is not the man。〃
〃But are you crazy； man？ What are you thinking about？〃 said the Penitentiary； with unmistakable signs of astonishment。 〃Not even in thought would I advise you to do an injury to that gentleman。 I would cut my tongue out before I would advise such a piece of villany。 The wicked will fall； it is true； but it is God who will fix the moment； not I。 And the question is not to give a beating； either。 I would rather receive a hundred blows myself than advise the administration of such a medicine to any Christian。 One thing only will I say to you；〃 he ended； looking at the bravo over his spectacles； 〃and that is； that as my niece is going there； and as it is probable； very probable； is it not； Remedios？ that she may have to say a few plain words to that man； I recommend you not to leave her unprotected； in case she should be insulted。〃
〃I have something to do to…night；〃 answered Caballuco； laconically and dryly。
〃You hear what he says； Remedios。 Leave your business for to…morrow。〃
〃I can't do that。 I will go alone。〃
〃No； you shall not go alone； niece。 Now let us hear no more about the matter。 Senor Ramos has something to do； and he cannot accompany you。 Fancy if you were to be insulted by that rude man！〃
〃Insulted！ A lady insulted by that fellow！〃 exclaimed Caballuco。 〃Come that must not be。〃
〃If you had not something to dobah！ I should be quite easy in my mind； then。〃
〃I have something to do；〃 said the Centaur； rising from the table； 〃but if you wish it〃
There was a pause。 The Penitentiary had closed his eyes and was meditating。
〃I wish it； Senor Ramos；〃 he said at last。
〃There is no more to be said then。 Let us go； Senora Dona Maria。〃
〃Now； my dear niece；〃 said Don Inocencio； half seriously； half jestingly； 〃since we have finished supper bring me the basin。〃
He gave his niece a penetrating glance； and accompanying it with the corresponding action； pronounced these words：
〃I wash my hands of the matter。〃
CHAPTER XXVIII
FROM PEPE REY TO DON JUAN REY
〃ORBAJOSA； April 12。
〃MY DEAR FATHER：
〃Forgive me if for the first time in my life I disobey you in refusing to leave this place or to renounce my project。 Your advice and your entreaty are what were to be expected from a kind； good father。 My obstinacy is natural in an insensate son； but something strange is taking place within me； obstinacy and honor have become so blended and confounded in my mind that the bare idea of desisting from my purpose makes me ashamed。 I have changed greatly。 The fits of rage that agitate me now were formerly unknown to me。 I regarded the violent acts； the exaggerated expressions of hot…tempered and impetuous men with the same scorn as the brutal actions of the wicked。 Nothing of this kind surprises me any longer； for in myself I find at all times a certain terrible capacity for wickedness。 I can speak to you as I would speak to God and to my conscience； I can tell you that I am a wretch； for he is a wretch who is wanting in that powerful moral force which enables him to chastise his passions and submit his life to the stern rule of conscience。 I have been wanting in the Christian fortitude which exalts the spirit of the man who is offended above the offences which he receives and the enemies from whom he receives them。 I have had the weakness to abandon myself to a mad fury； putting myself on a level with my detractors； returning them blow for blow； and endeavoring to confound them by methods learned in their own base school。 How deeply I regret that you were not at my side to turn me from this path！ It is now too late。 The passions will not brook delay。 They are impatient； and demand their prey with cries and with the convulsive eagerness of a fierce moral thirst。 I have succumbed。 I cannot forget what you so often said to me； that anger may be called the worst of the passions； since； suddenly transforming the character； it engenders all the others； and lends to each its own infernal fire。
〃But it is not anger alone that has brought me to the state of mind which I have described。 A more expansive and noble sentimentthe profound and ardent love which I have for my cousin； has also contributed to it； and this is the one thing that absolves me in my own estimation。 But if love had not done so； pity would have impelled me to brave the fury and the intrigues of your terrible sister； for poor Rosario； placed between an irresistible affection and her mother； is at the present moment one of the most unhappy beings on the face of the earth。 The love which she has for me； and which responds to minedoes it not give me the right to open； in whatever way I can； the doors of her house and take her out of it； employing the law； as far as the law reaches； and using force at the point where the law ceases to support me？ I think that your rigid moral scrupulosity will not give an affirmative answer to this question； but I have ceased to be the upright and methodical character whose conscience was in exact conformity with the dictates of the moral law。 I am no longer the man whom an almost perfect education enabled to keep his emotions under strict control。 To…day I am a man like other men； at a single step I have crossed the line which separates the just and the good from the unjust and the wicked。 Prepare yourself to hear of some dreadful act committed by me。 I will take care to notify you of all my misdeeds。
〃But the confession of my faults will not relieve me from the responsibility of the serious occurrences which have taken place and which are taking place； nor will this responsibility； no matter how much I