The Joy of Captain Ribot

as desirable for content or peace of mind. I went back again that afternoon and again the next day. Her interes

r fine hands, like alabaster; a little after that the soft veil of hair that adorned her temples; immediately thereupon, thre

ived me cordially, but not with her former frankness of manner. I observed, not without pain, that in spite of the gayety and animation of her conversation she revealed a bit of disqui

changes were effected in it without either the public or the authorities becoming aware of the fact, and after various trials equally secret the good lady emerged as fresh and juv

endencies of my tongue, curbed it with tact and firmness, asking me some indifferent question whenever there seemed to be any danger of my uttering something indiscreet, leaving me with her mamma while she went on ahead, or taking pains to make her mother talk. This did not dishearten me. I was so stupid, or so indiscreet, that in spite of these clear signals I still persisted in seeking pretexts for directing various whiffs of incense towards her. I declare, however, that I did not think I

k to the city, seeing the numerous and handsome cou

ut not sumptuous. My husband is not satis

thout stopping to think. "But if I were

ned her face towards the window to look

let us hav

ace the impression of two red-hot bricks. I did not know what to say, and seeking escape from my embarrassment I turned to the other window an

n, very industrious, alth

y houses nor others still better, nor any of the comforts that we enjoy to-day would exist. The idlers, the spendthrifts, and the poor in spirit ridicule such ideas so long as they are not realized; but when the hour comes that the ends aimed at can be seen and touched, they shut themselves up in their houses and refuse to congratulate those who made i

rangely affected. I was astonished to see her stammer, rub her

possible?

eyes there burst forth a flood of tears that flowed down her cheeks and poured into her lap like a copious rain, some of which moistened my coat. At these symptoms Do?a Cristina again opened the little satchel that she carried, that I could see contained numerous little

racture my head; but imagining that the results of such a procedure might be too melancholy, I hit upon a decorous substitute by biting at the head of my cane and staring into vacancy. Do?a

Ribot!

world of the unconscious, I hastened to take

talking with all formality about various things, principally of those most to the taste of Do?a Cristina. At length I was rewarded by seeing her bright face ag

th the family, or among persons in whom she confides? The greatest proof of

claimed Do?a Amparo, hal

as not won your confidence, how is it you

rted at the hotel door they invited me to breakfast with them the nex

h it coincided with the ideal type of beauty that I had always adored. If I had fallen in love with all the white and slender women with dark eyes that I had met in the course of my life, there would not have remained any time to do anyth

w that we were to breakfast alone, for her mother had not slept well the night before and was still in bed. This filled me with

languishing, I have ordered something bitter for you, to se

n with t

eign an absolute lack of appetite, naturally accompanied by languor and poetic melancholy. At table I refused the greater part of the dishes. My nourishment consisted of tapioca, vanilla cream, some fruit, and much coffee. Then I complained of weakness, and ordered glasses of sherry with biscuit. Of course I suffered terribly from hunger; but I overcame it finely in solit

with a laugh. "Hypocrisy is something

stand that now that she so abhorred hypocrisy I

ank!" And she served me an

neglect to serve me with fabulous quantities of food, greater, in truth, t

You have promised to

s frankness. Anybody m

ll it so. Go

back in her chair a bit, and a

nly saved my mother's life, but mine as well. At one and

rds. Do?a Cristina rose from her chair and, going to the door, opened it w

" I exc

mona," proclaimed Do

the duration of that intoxicating delight! When we re

t going to-morrow. My husband i

xpression of a man who is forc

in at once, he says that as mamma has probably not yet completely

look it over. "He also tells me to give you a million thanks and i

elancholy began to take possession of me, and as Do?a Cristina was not slow in perceiving the fact, I found no better means of combating it than to take more cognac after my coffee than was prudent. This produced an exaltation that resembled, without being, joyousness. I ch

gly frank, Captain. I wil

resolved to obey you in this, as in everything you may command. But nevertheless," I continued, looking

r fair face frowned. But instant

cate yourself in any fas

ting lady. I continued chatting like a dentist, and in the midst of my prattle I came near giving utterance to more th

arf. With her permission, I was smoking a Havana cigar. As her beautiful head occupied my thought

ld be very content with my place.

t I did, I raised my hand to her h

ined silent for several seconds; at last, looking me in th

iberties with me. The service you have rendered us entitles

before been in my life and never expect to be again, and I scarcely had power to murmur a few wor

I was superfluous in that place. And without waiting to examine it with sufficient attention in the light of reasonable and serious

bly mortified. My friends laughed and murmured such words as "Martel tres estrellas," "Jamaica," "Anís del Mono," and others which sounded like marks of liquors, but I knew what ailed m

at night her image would not leave my couch for a moment; it twitched my feet, it pulled my hair, and later, to make it

is asking for me, and thereby causing his wife any agitation; third, because my absence would surprise Do?a Amparo; fourth, because it was necessary not to reveal what had occurred; fi

change my purpose. But after considering it in all its aspects and then considering it again and making infinite efforts

odigious diplomatic aptitude with which heaven had been so good as to favor me, I passed alo

t! Ri

t to the northeast, and so on successively towards all the points of the compass until, after

se?

d to do likewise with Cristina and-did I not say before that this lady was distinguished by a

ring to extend my hand, and she resp

d Do?a Amparo. "All day yesterday

le towards me. While we were talking, Do?a Cristina did not open her lips. I felt hurt and confused. I did not venture to look her in the face, but observed her from the corner o

weighing me down fearfully, and I had an impulse to leave under some pretext, without awaiting the arrival of Martí. But before I could

r of heads that suddenly showed themselves at the car windo

she crie

he replied i

mbraced and kissed her effusively. But she, blushing like a schoolgirl, and

laughing heartily, as he extend

the head like a child and kissed him repeatedly, asking with h

na turned her eyes towards me with a friendly smile, at the same time beckoning me to approach. That unexpe

with a little emphasis, pr

t or thirty years, tall, slender, pale-faced and black-eyed, his beard also black, silky, an

re not mourning a misfortune

was of no merit whatever. Any passi

on to relate what happened with a

e shame than pleasure. I felt the pangs of remorse, and what at first

ce. In these first moments the presence of a stranger might be unwelcome. But I agreed to take coffee with hi

indisposed. I thought this a pretext, and it made me sad. Perhaps that first moment h

tic. I let him talk, observing him with intense curiosity. The impression from that first conversation that best remains with me was his fashion of rumpling his wavy hair, running his fingers back through it after the manner of a comb, and giving a little cough when about to express some idea that he deemed important. This mannerism, which in anot

s. Martí and his mother-in-law warmly expressed their regret at my departure. Cristina did not make her appearance. She was shut in her chamber at her t

is impossible at this moment. May you have a most happy voyage; and again you have

well as Do?a Amparo, offered me a thousand inducements to run down to Valencia on my return to Barcelona, where the steamer always stayed for eight or ten days. He,

e ship; and the coldness of Do?a Cristina g

ally not to fail to make them a visit. Again I made the promise, with the mental reservation already mention