PART III

BASED ON ALARCÓN'S "EL CAPITÁN VENENO"

1

(Part I, chap. II. From the beginning to No era, no.)

We live in the lower story of a house belonging to an elderly widow. The daughter has, to some extent, taken after her mother. The bachelor will not fail to acknowledge that the young girl is very pretty. Passing along a rather narrow street, we reached1 a theater of a type different from that which you have described. Those women are natives of Madrid, but they differ greatly from one another in age, grace and beauty. I fixed my attention upon a man of humble appearance. It is impossible for the human race to fall in love with common sense. At that time, no one showed too much favor to simplicity and modesty. That priest has baptized all the pious young girls of Mondoñedo. There was an affray upon2 the public road.

(Part I, chap. III. From the beginning to Y vió asimismo.)

In the Puerta del Sol the struggle is a perilous one. The soldiers fire upon the Galicians. They continue to advance

43

from the square towards the corner of the calle de Peregrinos. The bullets strike the gratings of the windows. looking out upon the square. From time to time, the troops fall back as far as the door of the widow's house, so that her daughter can form an opinion of the precise state of the contest. This noble young lady pays no heed to her mother's cries, and with a spirit of bravery which no terror could neutralize, opens the door of her maid's room. She sees that the apartment is empty and that the maid has hidden herelf.

3

(Part I, chap. III. From Y vió asimismo to the end.)

An officer of some forty years of age, dressed rather as an ordinary citizen than as a soldier, but wearing a black foraging-cap, addresses the soldiers who are starting to flee. This general, or whatever he is, tells the unfortunate men that the insurgents will discharge a volley upon them, if they do not assume1 a more courageous attitude. A few minutes later, he falls to the ground, struck by a shot from a musket. Stretched out in the middle of the street, with his body bathed in blood, he has not yet expired, when the energetic young girl sees him and runs to where he is. Supposing the poor gentleman to be a native of Madrid, she is eager to save him from death. She does not hesitate a moment, places a coat upon the head of the insensible officer, who is bleeding away, and with the aid of her mother carries him into the house.

1 tomar. 2 ayuda (f.).

4

(Part I, chap. IV. From the beginning to No iré.)

Rose had just called the doctor who lived in a little garret of the house in front. Without grumbling, the gallant doctor crossed the street, and at once bandaged the wound in the captain's forehead. The luckless man's right leg was broken also, and consequently he ran some danger of dying. The physician, observing this fact, did the only really efficacious thing he could do. Then he passed over the street again. At this moment, the young girl looked out of the grated window. It did not take her long to see that the troops were firing from the Puerta del Sol. Six shots sounded very close at hand and then a deep silence followed. The brave Captain was unconscious and heard nothing.

5

(Part I, chap. IV. From No iré to the end.)

The valiant men who died in that engagement were Aragonese. Nevertheless, we believe that this bandage would be of little use, if it did not staunch the blood from your wound. "I cannot go and save them, nor can you either," cries the poor girl. The mother has not the heart to see her daughter suffer pain.1 The servant is more courageous, and will ask it of us in her own way. They have already entered the wood and are going along rapidly. Moreover, these words produced as much astonishment as shame. He was born in the midst of the Aragonese wars,

but he is good and merciful. "I have recovered from my astonishment," the father replies, as he finishes examining the Captain's hand.

(Part I, chap. IX.

6

From the beginning to Vaya Capitán.)

"Let us have a clear understanding," the Countess quickly replied. "I still have five hundred dollars left, but I have not enough means to look after this man." "You are right," said the General's wife, "but with my thousand reals we have more than enough to care for him, and it is clear that before a month hence he will be well." "How these eyes of mine ache!" murmured the officer, suddenly sitting up. "I cannot rest in the way that I should do, if I could open my eyes." "He is shaking off his lethargy," the Countess said, in a low tone. "I must learn who he is." The Countess then sat down at the side of the bed.

7

(Part I, chap. X. From the beginning to No se sonría V.)

"I am beginning to grow old," said the Captain, "but I have always been a terrible man. In the first place, I

do not understand favors or honeyed

speeches. Therefore,

I regret very much that you should treat me kindly. In the second place, neither as a child nor as a young man, have I been able to endure hypocrites or any other insipid people. I am called Captain Poison, but I am as God made me. Would that all men were like me! That's all." "How rudely he talks!" said the boy horror-stricken. "I never try to deceive anybody," he replied. "So then, I warn you again not to speak to me gently, for you would make me boil with rage. I am going to bed. When daylight comes, I will make arrangements to be taken to Madrid."

(Part I, chap. X.

8

From No se sonria to Entre tanto.)

Theresa knew well enough that her daughter would believe the story. She was sorry that the Captain had kept her in error, but she was not vexed. On the contrary, she kept on making fun of the poor man, for whom she felt some pity. "It's a shame," she said, "that a gentleman should be so ill-bred. You accuse us of having fled from the house in order to annoy you. I cannot help smiling when I see that you believe this. I tell you again that you are mistaken.1 What need have we of your presence? You are less worthy of esteem than we thought.

And to show you that we did that good deed only to make your acquaintance, we will remain upon the scene."

2

1 engañarse.

2 quedar.

3 Subjunctive.