part07-第7章

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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

children　might　have　the　benefit　of　the　mountain　air；　for　there　was

no　living　in　the　city　in　this　sultry　season。

　　The　neighbors　stared　at　each　other；　and　thought　the　poor　woman　had

lost　her　wits；　and　her　airs　and　graces　and　elegant　pretensions　were

the　theme　of　universal　scoffing　and　merriment　among　her　friends；　the

moment　her　back　was　turned。

　　If　she　restrained　herself　abroad；　however；　she　indemnified　herself

at　home；　and　putting　a　string　of　rich　oriental　pearls　round　her

neck；　Moorish　bracelets　on　her　arms；　and　an　aigrette　of　diamonds　on

her　head；　sailed　backwards　and　forwards　in　her　slattern　rags　about　the

room；　now　and　then　stopping　to　admire　herself　in　a　broken　mirror。　Nay；

in　the　impulse　of　her　simple　vanity；　she　could　not　resist；　on　one

occasion；　showing　herself　at　the　window　to　enjoy　the　effect　of　her

finery　on　the　passers　by。

　　As　the　fates　would　have　it；　Pedrillo　Pedrugo；　the　meddlesome　barber；

was　at　this　moment　sitting　idly　in　his　shop　on　the　opposite　side　of

the　street；　when　his　ever…watchful　eye　caught　the　sparkle　of　a

diamond。　In　an　instant　he　was　at　his　loophole　reconnoitering　the

slattern　spouse　of　the　water…carrier；　decorated　with　the　splendor　of

an　eastern　bride。　No　sooner　had　he　taken　an　accurate　inventory　of

her　ornaments；　than　he　posted　off　with　all　speed　to　the　alcalde。　In

a　little　while　the　hungry　alguazil　was　again　on　the　scent；　and

before　the　day　was　over　the　unfortunate　Peregil　was　once　more

dragged　into　the　presence　of　the　judge。

　　〃How　is　this；　villain！〃　cried　the　alcalde；　in　a　furious　voice。

〃You　told　me　that　the　infidel　who　died　in　your　house　left　nothing

behind　but　an　empty　coffer；　and　now　I　hear　of　your　wife　flaunting　in

her　rags　decked　out　with　pearls　and　diamonds。　Wretch　that　thou　art！

prepare　to　render　up　the　spoils　of　thy　miserable　victim；　and　to

swing　on　the　gallows　that　is　already　tired　of　waiting　for　thee。〃

　　The　terrified　water…carrier　fell　on　his　knees；　and　made　a　full

relation　of　the　marvellous　manner　in　which　he　had　gained　his　wealth。

The　alcalde；　the　alguazil；　and　the　inquisitive　barber；　listened　with

greedy　ears　to　this　Arabian　tale　of　enchanted　treasure。　The　alguazil

was　dispatched　to　bring　the　Moor　who　had　assisted　in　the

incantation。　The　Moslem　entered　half　frightened　out　of　his　wits　at

finding　himself　in　the　hands　of　the　harpies　of　the　law。　When　he　beheld

the　water…carrier　standing　with　sheepish　looks　and　downcast

countenance；　he　comprehended　the　whole　matter。　〃Miserable　animal；〃

said　he；　as　he　passed　near　him；　〃did　I　not　warn　thee　against

babbling　to　thy　wife？〃

　　The　story　of　the　Moor　coincided　exactly　with　that　of　his

colleague；　but　the　alcalde　affected　to　be　slow　of　belief；　and　threw

out　menaces　of　imprisonment　and　rigorous　investigation。

　　〃Softly；　good　Senor　Alcalde；〃　said　the　Mussulman；　who　by　this　time

had　recovered　his　usual　shrewdness　and　self…possession。　〃Let　us　not

mar　fortune's　favors　in　the　scramble　for　them。　Nobody　knows　any

thing　of　this　matter　but　ourselves；　let　us　keep　the　secret。　There　is

wealth　enough　in　the　cave　to　enrich　us　all。　Promise　a　fair　division；

and　all　shall　be　produced；　refuse；　and　the　cave　shall　remain　for

ever　closed。〃

　　The　alcalde　consulted　apart　with　the　alguazil。　The　latter　was　an　old

fox　in　his　profession。　〃Promise　any　thing；〃　said　he；　〃until　you　get

possession　of　the　treasure。　You　may　then　seize　upon　the　whole；　and

if　he　and　his　accomplice　dare　to　murmur；　threaten　them　with　the

fagot　and　the　stake　as　infidels　and　sorcerers。〃

　　The　alcalde　relished　the　advice。　Smoothing　his　brow　and　turning　to

the　Moor；　〃This　is　a　strange　story；〃　said　he；　〃and　may　be　true；　but

I　must　have　ocular　proof　of　it。　This　very　night　you　must　repeat　the

incantation　in　my　presence；　If　there　be　really　such　treasure；　we

will　share　it　amicably　between　us；　and　say　nothing　further　of　the

matter；　if　ye　have　deceived　me；　expect　no　mercy　at　my　hands。　In　the

mean　time　you　must　remain　in　custody。〃

　　The　Moor　and　the　water…carrier　cheerfully　agreed　to　these

conditions；　satisfied　that　the　event　would　prove　the　truth　of　their

words。

　　Towards　midnight　the　alcalde　sallied　forth　secretly；　attended　by　the

alguazil　and　the　meddlesome　barber；　all　strongly　armed。　They　conducted

the　Moor　and　the　water…carrier　as　prisoners；　and　were　provided　with

the　stout　donkey　of　the　latter　to　bear　off　the　expected　treasure。　They

arrived　at　the　tower　without　being　observed；　and　tying　the　donkey　to　a

fig…tree；　descended　into　the　fourth　vault　of　the　tower。

　　The　scroll　was　produced；　the　yellow　taper　lighted；　and　the　Moor　read

the　form　of　incantation。　The　earth　trembled　as　before；　and　the

pavement　opened　with　a　thundering　sound；　disclosing　the　narrow

flight　of　steps。　The　alcalde；　the　alguazil；　and　the　barber　were　struck

aghast；　and　could　not　summon　courage　to　descend。　The　Moor　and　the

water…carrier　entered　the　lower　vault；　and　found　the　two　Moors

seated　as　before；　silent　and　motionless。　They　removed　two　of　the　great

jars；　filled　with　golden　coin　and　precious　stones。　The　water…carrier

bore　them　up　one　by　one　upon　his　shoulders；　but　though　a　strong…backed

little　man；　and　accustomed　to　carry　burdens；　he　staggered　beneath

their　weight；　and　found；　when　slung　on　each　side　of　his　donkey；　they

were　as　much　as　the　animal　could　bear。

　　〃Let　us　be　content　for　the　present；〃　said　the　Moor；　〃here　is　as　much

treasure　as　we　can　carry　off　without　being　perceived；　and　enough　to

make　us　all　wealthy　to　our　heart's　desire。〃

　　〃Is　there　more　treasure　remaining　behind？〃　demanded　the　alcalde。

　　〃The　greatest　prize　of　all；〃　said　the　Moor；　〃a　huge　coffer　bound

with　bands　of　steel；　and　filled　with　pearls　and　precious　stones。〃

　　〃Let　us　have　up　the　coffer　by　all　means；〃　cried　the　grasping

alcalde。

　　〃I　will　descend　for　no　more；〃　said　the　Moor；　doggedly；　〃enough　is

enough　for　a　reasonable　man…　more　is　superfluous。〃

　　〃And　I；〃　said　the　water…carrier；　〃will　bring　up　no　further　burden　to

break　the　back　of　my　poor　donkey。〃

　　Finding　commands；　threats　and　entreaties　equally　vain；　the　alcalde

turned　to　his　two　adherents。　〃Aid　me〃　said　he；　〃to　bring　up　the

coffer；　and　its　contents　shall　be　divided　between　us。〃　So　saying　he

descended　the　steps；　followed　with　trembling　reluctance　by　the

alguazil　and　the　barber。

　　No　sooner　did　the　Moor　behold　them　fairly　earthed　than　he

extinguished　the　yellow　taper；　the　pavement　closed　with　its　usual

crash；　and　the　three　worthies　remained　buried　in　its　womb。

　　He　then　hastened　up　the　different　flights　of　steps；　nor　stopped

until　in　the　open　air。　The　little　water…carrier　followed　him　as　fast

as　his　short　legs　would　permit。

　　〃What　hast　thou　done？〃　cried　Peregil；　as　soon　as　he　could　recover

breath。　〃The　alcalde　and　the　other　two　are　shut　up　in　the　vault。〃

　　〃It　is　the　will　of　Allah！〃　said　the　Moor　devoutly。

　　〃And　will　you　not　release　them？〃　demanded　the　Gallego。

　　〃Allah　forbid！〃　replied　the　Moor；　smoothing　his　beard。　〃It　is

written　in　the　book　of　fate　that　they　shall　remain　enchanted　until

some　future　adventurer　arrive　to　break　the　charm。　The　will　of　God　be

done！〃　so　saying；　he　hurled　the　end　of　the　waxen　taper　far　among　the

gloomy　thickets　of　the　glen。

　　There　was　now　no　remedy；　so　the　Moor　and　the　water…carrier　proceeded

with　the　richly　laden　donkey　toward　the　city；　nor　could　honest　Peregil

refrain　from　hugging　and　kissing　his　long…eared　fellow…laborer；　thus

restored　to　him　from　the　clutches　of　the　law；　and　in　fact；　it　is

doubtful　which　gave　the　simple　hearted　little　man　most　joy　at　the

moment；　the　gaining　of　the　treasure；　or　the　recovery　of　the　donkey。

　　The　two　partners　in　good　luck　divided　their　spoil　amicably　and

fairly；　except　that　the　Moor；　who　had　a　little　taste　for　trinketry；

made　out　to　get　into　his　heap　the　most　of　the　pearls　and　precious

stones　and　other　baubles；　but　then　he　always　gave　the　water…car