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第5章

part07-第5章

小说: part07 字数: 每页4000字

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thy guilt; every thing is known to me。 A gallows is the proper

reward for the crime thou hast committed; but I am merciful; and

readily listen to reason。 The man that has been murdered in thy

house was a Moor; an infidel; the enemy of our faith。 It was doubtless

in a fit of religious zeal that thou hast slain him。 I will be

indulgent; therefore; render up the property of which thou hast robbed

him; and we will hush the matter up。〃

  The poor water…carrier called upon all the saints to witness his

innocence; alas! not one of them appeared; and if they had; the

alcalde would have disbelieved the whole calendar。 The water…carrier

related the whole story of the dying Moor with the straightforward

simplicity of truth; but it was all in vain。 〃Wilt thou persist in

saying;〃 demanded the judge; 〃that this Moslem had neither gold nor

jewels; which were the object of thy cupidity?〃

  〃As I hope to be saved; your worship;〃 replied the water…carrier;

〃he had nothing but a small box of sandalwood which he bequeathed to

me in reward for my services。〃

  〃A box of sandalwood! a box of sandalwood!〃 exclaimed the alcalde;

his eyes sparkling at the idea of precious jewels。 〃And where is

this box? where have you concealed it?〃

  〃An' it please your grace;〃 replied the water…carrier; 〃it is in one

of the panniers of my mule; and heartily at the service of your

worship。〃

  He had hardly spoken the words; when the keen alguazil darted off;

and reappeared in an instant with the mysterious box of sandalwood。

The alcalde opened it with an eager and trembling hand; all pressed

forward to gaze upon the treasure it was expected to contain; when; to

their disappointment; nothing appeared within; but a parchment scroll;

covered with Arabic characters; and an end of a waxen taper。

  When there is nothing to be gained by the conviction of a

prisoner; justice; even in Spain; is apt to be impartial。 The alcalde;

having recovered from his disappointment; and found that there was

really no booty in the case; now listened dispassionately to the

explanation of the water…carrier; which was corroborated by the

testimony of his wife。 Being convinced; therefore; of his innocence;

he discharged him from arrest; nay more; he permitted him to carry off

the Moor's legacy; the box of sandalwood and its contents; as the

well…merited reward of his humanity; but he retained his donkey in

payment of costs and charges。

  Behold the unfortunate little Gallego reduced once more to the

necessity of being his own water…carrier; and trudging up to the

well of the Alhambra with a great earthen jar upon his shoulder。

  As he toiled up the hill in the heat of a summer noon; his usual

good humor forsook him。 〃Dog of an alcalde!〃 would he cry; 〃to rob a

poor man of the means of his subsistence; of the best friend he had in

the world!〃 And then at the remembrance of the beloved companion of

his labors; all the kindness of his nature would break forth。 〃Ah;

donkey of my heart!〃 would he exclaim; resting his burden on a

stone; and wiping the sweat from his brow… 〃Ah; donkey of my heart!

I warrant me thou thinkest of thy old master! I warrant me thou

missest the water…jars… poor beast。〃

  To add to his afflictions; his wife received him; on his return

home; with whimperings and repinings; she had clearly the

vantage…ground of him; having warned him not to commit the egregious

act of hospitality which had brought on him all these misfortunes;

and; like a knowing woman; she took every occasion to throw her

superior sagacity in his teeth。 If her children lacked food; or needed

a new garment; she could answer with a sneer… 〃Go to your father… he

is heir to King Chico of the Alhambra: ask him to help you out of

the Moor's strongbox。〃

  Was ever poor mortal so soundly punished for having done a good

action? The unlucky Peregil was grieved in flesh and spirit; but still

he bore meekly with the railings of his spouse。 At length; one

evening; when; after a hot day's toil; she taunted him in the usual

manner; he lost all patience。 He did not venture to retort upon her;

but his eye rested upon the box of sandalwood; which lay on a shelf

with lid half open; as if laughing in mockery at his vexation。 Seizing

it up; he dashed it with indignation to the floor: 〃Unlucky was the

day that I ever set eyes on thee;〃 he cried; 〃or sheltered thy

master beneath my roof!〃

  As the box struck the floor; the lid flew wide open; and the

parchment scroll rolled forth。

  Peregil sat regarding the scroll for some time in moody silence。

At length rallying his ideas: 〃Who knows;〃 thought he; 〃but this

writing may be of some importance; as the Moor seems to have guarded

it with such care?〃 Picking it up therefore; he put it in his bosom;

and the next morning; as he was crying water through the streets; he

stopped at the shop of a Moor; a native of Tangiers; who sold trinkets

and perfumery in the Zacatin; and asked him to explain the contents。

  The Moor read the scroll attentively; then stroked his beard and

smiled。 〃This manuscript;〃 said he; 〃is a form of incantation for

the recovery of hidden treasure; that is under the power of

enchantment。 It is said to have such virtue; that the strongest

bolts and bars; nay the adamantine rock itself; will yield before it!〃

  〃Bah!〃 cried the little Gallego; 〃what is all that to me? I am no

enchanter; and know nothing of buried treasure。〃 So saying; he

shouldered his water…jar; left the scroll in the hands of the Moor;

and trudged forward on his daily rounds。

  That evening; however; as he rested himself about twilight at the

well of the Alhambra; he found a number of gossips assembled at the

place; and their conversation; as is not unusual at that shadowy hour;

turned upon old tales and traditions of a supernatural nature。 Being

all poor as rats; they dwelt with peculiar fondness upon the popular

theme of enchanted riches left by the Moors in various parts of the

Alhambra。 Above all; they concurred in the belief that there were

great treasures buried deep in the earth under the Tower of the

Seven Floors。

  These stories made an unusual impression on the mind of the honest

Peregil; and they sank deeper and deeper into his thoughts as he

returned alone down the darkling avenues。 〃If; after all; there should

be treasure hid beneath that tower: and if the scroll I left with

the Moor should enable me to get at it!〃 In the sudden ecstasy of

the thought he had well nigh let fall his water…jar。

  That night he tumbled and tossed; and could scarcely get a wink of

sleep for the thoughts that were bewildering his brain。 Bright and

early; he repaired to the shop of the Moor; and told him all that

was passing in his mind。 〃You can read Arabic;〃 said he; 〃suppose we

go together to the tower; and try the effect of the charm; if it fails

we are no worse off than before; but if it succeeds; we will share

equally all the treasure we may discover。〃

  〃Hold;〃 replied the Moslem; 〃this writing is not sufficient of

itself; it must be read at midnight; by the light of a taper

singularly compounded and prepared; the ingredients of which are not

within my reach。 Without such a taper the scroll is of no avail。〃

  〃Say no more!〃 cried the little Gallego; 〃I have such a taper at

hand; and will bring it here in a moment。〃 So saying he hastened home;

and soon returned with the end of yellow wax taper that he had found

in the box of sandalwood。

  The Moor felt it and smelt of it。 〃Here are rare and costly

perfumes;〃 said he; 〃Combined with this yellow wax。 This is the kind

of taper specified in the scroll。 While this burns; the strongest

walls and most secret caverns will remain open。 Woe to him; however;

who lingers within until it be extinguished。 He will remain

enchanted with the treasure。〃

  It was now agreed between them to try the charm that very night。

At a late hour; therefore; when nothing was stirring but bats and

owls; they ascended the w

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