part07-第6章

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

owls；　they　ascended　the　woody　hill　of　the　Alhambra；　and　approached

that　awful　tower；　shrouded　by　trees　and　rendered　formidable　by　so　many

traditionary　tales。　By　the　light　of　a　lantern；　they　groped　their　way

through　bushes；　and　over　fallen　stones；　to　the　door　of　a　vault　beneath

the　tower。　With　fear　and　trembling　they　descended　a　flight　of　steps

cut　into　the　rock。　It　led　to　an　empty　chamber　damp　and　drear；　from

which　another　flight　of　steps　led　to　a　deeper　vault。　In　this　way

they　descended　four　several　flights；　leading　into　as　many　vaults　one

below　the　other；　but　the　floor　of　the　fourth　was　solid；　and　though；

according　to　tradition；　there　remained　three　vaults　still　below；　it

was　said　to　be　impossible　to　penetrate　further；　the　residue　being　shut

up　by　strong　enchantment。　The　air　of　this　vault　was　damp　and　chilly；

and　had　an　earthy　smell；　and　the　light　scarce　cast　forth　any　rays。

They　paused　here　for　a　time　in　breathless　suspense　until　they

faintly　heard　the　clock　of　the　watchtower　strike　midnight；　upon　this

they　lit　the　waxen　taper；　which　diffused　an　odor　of　myrrh　and

frankincense　and　storax。

　　The　Moor　began　to　read　in　a　hurried　voice。　He　had　scarce　finished

when　there　was　a　noise　as　of　subterraneous　thunder。　The　earth　shook；

and　the　floor；　yawning　open；　disclosed　a　flight　of　steps。　Trembling

with　awe　they　descended；　and　by　the　light　of　the　lantern　found

themselves　in　another　vault；　covered　with　Arabic　inscriptions。　In

the　centre　stood　a　great　chest；　secured　with　seven　bands　of　steel；

at　each　end　of　which　sat　an　enchanted　Moor　in　armor；　but　motionless　as

a　statue；　being　controlled　by　the　power　of　the　incantation。　Before　the

chest　were　several　jars　filled　with　gold　and　silver　and　precious

stones。　In　the　largest　of　these　they　thrust　their　arms　up　to　the

elbow；　and　at　every　dip　hauled　forth　handfuls　of　broad　yellow　pieces

of　Moorish　gold；　or　bracelets　and　ornaments　of　the　same　precious

metal；　while　occasionally　a　necklace　of　oriental　pearl　would　stick

to　their　fingers。　Still　they　trembled　and　breathed　short　while

cramming　their　pockets　with　the　spoils；　and　cast　many　a　fearful　glance

at　the　two　enchanted　Moors；　who　sat　grim　and　motionless；　glaring

upon　them　with　unwinking　eyes。　At　length；　struck　with　a　sudden　panic

at　some　fancied　noise；　they　both　rushed　up　the　staircase；　tumbled　over

one　another　into　the　upper　apartment；　overturned　and　extinguished

the　waxen　taper；　and　the　pavement　again　closed　with　a　thundering

sound。

　　Filled　with　dismay；　they　did　not　pause　until　they　had　groped　their

way　out　of　the　tower；　and　beheld　the　stars　shining　through　the

trees。　Then　seating　themselves　upon　the　grass；　they　divided　the　spoil；

determining　to　content　themselves　for　the　present　with　this　mere

skimming　of　the　jars；　but　to　return　on　some　future　night　and　drain

them　to　the　bottom。　To　make　sure　of　each　other's　good　faith；　also；

they　divided　the　talismans　between　them；　one　retaining　the　scroll

and　the　other　the　taper；　this　done；　they　set　off　with　light　hearts　and

well…lined　pockets　for　Granada。

　　As　they　wended　their　way　down　the　hill；　the　shrewd　Moor　whispered

a　word　of　counsel　in　the　ear　of　the　simple　little　water…carrier。

　　〃Friend　Peregil；〃　said　he；　〃all　this　affair　must　be　kept　a

profound　secret　until　we　have　secured　the　treasure；　and　conveyed　it

out　of　harm's　way。　If　a　whisper　of　it　gets　to　the　ear　of　the

alcalde；　we　are　undone！〃

　　〃Certainly；〃　replied　the　Gallego；　〃nothing　can　be　more　true。〃

　　〃Friend　Peregil；〃　said　the　Moor；　〃you　are　a　discreet　man；　and　I　make

no　doubt　can　keep　a　secret：　but　you　have　a　wife。〃

　　〃She　shall　not　know　a　word　of　it；〃　replied　the　little　water…carrier；

sturdily。

　　〃Enough；〃　said　the　Moor；　〃I　depend　upon　thy　discretion　and　thy

promise。〃

　　Never　was　promise　more　positive　and　sincere；　but；　alas！　what　man　can

keep　a　secret　from　his　wife？　Certainly　not　such　a　one　as　Peregil　the

water…carrier；　who　was　one　of　the　most　loving　and　tractable　of

husbands。　On　his　return　home；　he　found　his　wife　moping　in　a　corner。

〃Mighty　well；〃　cried　she　as　he　entered；　〃you've　come　at　last；　after

rambling　about　until　this　hour　of　the　night。　I　wonder　you　have　not

brought　home　another　Moor　as　a　housemate。〃　Then　bursting　into　tears；

she　began　to　wring　her　hands　and　smite　her　breast：　〃Unhappy　woman　that

I　am！〃　exclaimed　she；　〃what　will　become　of　me？　My　house　stripped　and

plundered　by　lawyers　and　alguazils；　my　husband　a　do…no…good；　that　no

longer　brings　home　bread　to　his　family；　but　goes　rambling　about　day

and　night；　with　infidel　Moors！　O　my　children！　my　children！　what　will

become　of　us？　we　shall　all　have　to　beg　in　the　streets！〃

　　Honest　Peregil　was　so　moved　by　the　distress　of　his　spouse；　that　he

could　not　help　whimpering　also。　His　heart　was　as　full　as　his　pocket；

and　not　to　be　restrained。　Thrusting　his　hand　into　the　latter　he　hauled

forth　three　or　four　broad　gold　pieces；　and　slipped　them　into　her

bosom。　The　poor　woman　stared　with　astonishment；　and　could　not

understand　the　meaning　of　this　golden　shower。　Before　she　could　recover

her　surprise；　the　little　Gallego　drew　forth　a　chain　of　gold　and

dangled　it　before　her；　capering　with　exultation；　his　mouth　distended

from　ear　to　ear。

　　〃Holy　Virgin　protect　us！〃　exclaimed　the　wife。　〃What　hast　thou　been

doing；　Peregil？　surely　thou　hast　not　been　committing　murder　and

robbery！〃

　　The　idea　scarce　entered　the　brain　of　the　poor　woman；　than　it

became　a　certainty　with　her。　She　saw　a　prison　and　a　gallows　in　the

distance；　and　a　little　bandy…legged　Gallego　hanging　pendant　from　it；

and；　overcome　by　the　horrors　conjured　up　by　her　imagination；　fell　into

violent　hysterics。

　　What　could　the　poor　man　do？　He　had　no　other　means　of　pacifying　his

wife；　and　dispelling　the　phantoms　of　her　fancy；　than　by　relating　the

whole　story　of　his　good　fortune。　This；　however；　he　did　not　do　until　he

had　exacted　from　her　the　most　solemn　promise　to　keep　it　a　profound

secret　from　every　living　being。

　　To　describe　her　joy　would　be　impossible。　She　flung　her　arms　round

the　neck　of　her　husband；　and　almost　strangled　him　with　her　caresses。

〃Now；　wife；〃　exclaimed　the　little　man　with　honest　exultation；　〃what

say　you　now　to　the　Moor's　legacy？　Henceforth　never　abuse　me　for

helping　a　fellow…creature　in　distress。〃

　　The　honest　Gallego　retired　to　his　sheepskin　mat；　and　slept　as

soundly　as　if　on　a　bed　of　down。　Not　so　his　wife；　she　emptied　the　whole

contents　of　his　pockets　upon　the　mat；　and　sat　counting　gold　pieces

of　Arabic　coin；　trying　on　necklaces　and　earrings；　and　fancying　the

figure　she　should　one　day　make　when　permitted　to　enjoy　her　riches。

　　On　the　following　morning　the　honest　Gallego　took　a　broad　golden

coin；　and　repaired　with　it　to　a　jeweller's　shop　in　the　Zacatin　to

offer　it　for　sale；　pretending　to　have　found　it　among　the　ruins　of

the　Alhambra。　The　jeweller　saw　that　it　had　an　Arabic　inscription；

and　was　of　the　purest　gold；　he　offered；　however；　but　a　third　of　its

value；　with　which　the　water…carrier　was　perfectly　content。　Peregil　now

bought　new　clothes　for　his　little　flock；　and　all　kinds　of　toys；

together　with　ample　provisions　for　a　hearty　meal；　and　returning　to　his

dwelling；　sat　all　his　children　dancing　around　him；　while　he　capered　in

the　midst；　the　happiest　of　fathers。

　　The　wife　of　the　water…carrier　kept　her　promise　of　secrecy　with

surprising　strictness。　For　a　whole　day　and　a　half　she　went　about

with　a　look　of　mystery　and　a　heart　swelling　almost　to　bursting；　yet

she　held　her　peace；　though　surrounded　by　her　gossips。　It　is　true；

she　could　not　help　giving　herself　a　few　airs；　apologized　for　her

ragged　dress；　and　talked　of　ordering　a　new　basquina　all　trimmed　with

gold　lace　and　bugles；　and　a　new　lace　mantilla。　She　threw　out　hints

of　her　husband's　intention　of　leaving　off　his　trade　of　water…carrying；

as　it　did　not　altogether　agree　with　his　health。　In　fact　she　thought

they　should　all　retire　to　the　country　for　the　summer；　that　the