"THE REGENTA" "CHAPTER THREE" "Petra, wake up!" " What's wrong?" " Hurry, get up." " What are you doing here?" " Not what you think." "Can't you hear madam screaming?" "She's having another fit!" "Go away!" "Don't touch me!" "Go away!" "My lady, my lady, calm down!" "Hold her." "I'll make some herb tea." "Don't touch me!" "Come on!" "Don't just stand there." "She's fainted." "The herb tea won't be necessary." "What are you doing?" "Here?" "Calm down, Quintanar." "Calm down." "It's better this way." " Sir!" " Leave that for now." "Finish dressing and go fetch Don Robustiano." " Is the lady worse?" " No, but she's still ill." "Turn around." "You're so clever... you'll convince the doctor to come quickly." "I'll tell him what you want... but if you don't go I can't finish dressing." "Nothing." "I can't find anything in particular." "I know." "There's nothing wrong, it's all in here." "Why don't you sit down?" "I'll be honest with you." "It's just my nerves." "That's an illness I can't cure." "I can only tell you to forget your apprehensions... and think only of your health." "You must change your diet, but most importantly... due to the nature of your illness... you need to relax, get some fresh air... and look for happiness." "Yes, you are right, and I'm willing to obey you." "Why don't you go to the country?" "To the country?" "Yes, we'll go to the country." "The doctor wants us to go to a village with certain conditions... that are quite difficult to meet." "Anita suggested going to my homeland... but I'm to old to drag my bones that far... and be separated from all of you." " What are the conditions?" " It has to be near Vetusta... so that Somoza may visit us... and Anita may travel to the city in an emergency." "It has to be comfortable, pleasant... with nice views, running water... fresh herbs, cow milk." "I don't know!" "The Vivero." "Father, I only know one place that meets these conditions." "The Vivero!" "What a good idea!" "Well done, well done, Paquito is right." "The Vivero!" "You're going to the Vivero." "When I went out, I thought people were laughing and talking about me." " But you didn't do anything." " Yes, a foolish thing." "A foolish thing I did for noble, but mistaken reasons." "My compassion towards the Canon has disappeared." "Without him knowing it, I have been his instrument." "My faith crumbles." "I can tell you, because you understand me." "I'd like to break with my confessor... but I fear my regrets will lead to yet more Good Friday foolishness." "I'm afraid of going mad." "God breaks my brain into pieces... and my will weakens." "Believe me, Anita, mysticism is just over-excitement." "Yes, it's true." "I confess that even now, remembering those apprehensions scares me." "I was wrong about the Canon." "May I talk plainly, as you open your heart to me?" "The Canon is no mystic." "He tries to win over ladies of high social standing... in order to increase his influence." "This is not slander, it is the truth." "No, Alvaro, you are unfair." "But for health reasons I must be normal... so that I don't end up mad." "My decision is made." "Enough of deep thoughts and excessive objectives." "I want peace and quiet..." "I will be like the others." "Spring has come my soul, Fermin." "This is the life, I enjoy lying in the sun." "Sometimes I imagine the Vivero as the scene for a play or novel." "Everything is quiet, remembering the noise of past joy... or getting ready for the festivities to come." "I feel the joy of the past or that of the future." "Who is that for?" "For Don Alvaro." "He asked for them before he left." "I'll take them to him." "God bless you, Petrica." "How is your lady?" "She's like new." "So happy, so rebellious." "No more hiding in the chapel for hours, or praying for days." "No more St. Teresa." "She's another person." "As for her health, she's like an oak!" "Master Paco came, didn't he?" "Yes, a quarter of an hour ago with Mr. Alvaro." "They had a drink, like you." "They went to meet the master and my lady from mass." "They come very often." "I see." "The church is near, isn't it, if I cut through the forest?" "Yes, but there are three paths that cross and you might get lost." "If you want to go, I'll go with you." "I've nothing more to do here." "Good." "That's very kind of you." "It's so stifling, Don Fermin!" "Yes, my child." "Although tiredness won't get the better of you... from what I hear, in Matarelejo you run as fast as a deer." "Who told you that?" "Teresina." " You're friends?" " Good friends." "Believe me, I'm a villager at heart." "I'm an expert at bowling." "There's no need to state the obvious..." " You're clearly very strong." " Come on." "Come on." "We're too late." "By the time we reach church, they'll be back home." "We better go back." "I'm sorry if this walk has been an inconvenience." "No, child, on the contrary." "It's nice here." "I'm a little tired." "I'm going to rest a while." "Tired?" "A young man like you?" "Do you want to take root?" "You've grown enough." " Are you in a hurry?" " No." "Sit down." "I'd like to ask you something." "As you like, Don Fermin." "Nobody will pass by here, but if you want to talk more freely... there's a woodcutter's cabin over there." " We'll be more comfortable." " Much better." "We can talk better there." "Let's go." "You're all mad!" "I'll set the dogs on you!" "You're ruining Pepe's hay!" "What will the cattle eat?" "Here already, Fermin?" "We thought you'd got lost." " I was missing you so much!" " Now." "You'll see!" "Who do you think you are!" "A men only meeting?" "They've abandoned us." "Don't think that I like it." "Doña Rufina and another lady... said they were going for a walk in the garden." "The others have disappeared without trace." "They must be running around the forest." "Petra, bring me a brandy." "Whatever you want, Don Fermin." "Don Robustiano, I owe you my happiness." "Anita is another person." "Such joy, such health, such an appetite!" "No more profound thoughts, exaggerated devotion... or madness, like the day of the Procession." "Every time I think about it, it sets my nerves on edge." "She's ashamed of her past too." "She realised this is not a century for saintliness." "This is the century of light, not the century of saints." "Anita was not ill." "I've told you a hundred times." "The cure was merely a change in life." "Besides, her optimism is just the other side of the same coin." "You're scaring me." "She was a mystic, she was in love with heaven... now she eats well, walks in the open air... and is in love with happiness and health." "It's true." "She talks of nothing else but health." "She is like that." "Lively, nervous." "She needs activity." "She needs..." " What does she need?" " Just... strong stimulation." "She has an extreme temperament." "Do you think she was pious before... because somebody was influencing her?" "And this new change is due to another influence?" "Yes, sir." "There's a doctor's saying..." ""Ubi irritatio ibi fluxus"." "Perfect!" ""Ubi irritatio"." "Exactly." ""Ibi fluxus"." "Very good, I agree." "But what is this new influence?" "The other was the clergy, the Jesuits... but who represents this new influence, this new..." ""irritatio"?" "Her new diet, hygiene, the Vivero, you, me... healthy food, air, hay, the morning breeze..." " I don't know!" " But, Anita is saved?" "Yes, sir." "These new extremes won't lead to anything bad?" "Not at all." " Good Gracious!" " Storms really irritate me." "You're telling me!" "The ladies are safe, they have sheltered under the Belvedere." " And the others?" " They went into the forest." "They'll get lost." "Come on Victor, we both hunt." "Let's go to the forest!" "Bravo, Fermin!" "Because I hunt, I know the danger." "Trees attract lightning and there are laurels... which attract electricity." "If they were pines..." "But laurel!" "Do you want them to be struck by a lightning?" "Doña Ana is with them!" "Don't worry, there's a woodcutter's cabin you don't know about." "To the forest, Don Victor!" "There's nothing more than spiders and thorns!" "Wait, Don Fermin." "For Heaven's sake!" "I'm going to fall and get lost." "In the name of humanity!" "I can't believe you're a hunter." "I hunt on dry land, this is a flood!" "I prefer heroic feats that have some use." " Where are we going?" "Tell me." " To look for Doña Ana..." " she'll be getting lost." " Lost?" "Do you think they're fools?" "They'll be sheltering... or do you think they'll be swimming with the spiders like us?" "You said to bring umbrellas." "What use are umbrellas here?" "Do as you like, I'm carrying on!" " You are teaching me a lesson!" " No!" "Yes!" "This is taking things to extremes!" "I think my wife means more to me than anyone else, doesn't she?" "Excuse my language... but frankly, this is Quixotic." "Don Victor... we have to split up." "You go right, that way." "Splitting up now would be even more foolish." "If you don't dare go alone, let's go together." "This is madness!" "Good gracious!" "You frightened me." "They're not here?" "Why would they be here?" " Look what I found here." " What is it?" "My wife's garter!" "Your wife's garter?" "That is, a garter which belonged to my wife... but I'm sure is not hers anymore." "She gave them to her maid, to Petra." "This is Petra's garter." "Therefore, she's been here." "Why would Petra come here to lose her garters?" "After all, Petra works for me... she is at my service... and I care about her honor... don't I?" "Thank God you're back." " Has something happened?" " Happened?" "No, sir." "The ladies and gentlemen... were home safe when you were still in the middle of the forest." "They hardly got wet." "But you two are in a real state." " Where are they now?" " Inside, laughing." "Except the lady, who is worried for you and the priest." " Where is he going now?" " That's his business." "Listen." "Were you in the woodcutter's cabin today?" "Me?" "With this rain?" "Why?" "We'll talk about it some other time." "Faster!" "Can't you see I'm soaked through?" "Where's Don Fermin?" "Don Fermin is an idiot." "I'm sorry... but trying to give me lessons in gallantry!" " He was like a mad man." " Yes, they told me." "Too much gallantry is ridiculous, especially in a priest." "Who cares more about my wife him or me?" "What did I tell you, Anita?" "You shouldn't trust the Canon, his intentions are not good." "It's a matter of jealousy." "Jealousy?" "Yes, Ana." "He's in love with you." "Madly, madly." "I've known for a long time." "How awful!" "It's disgusting!" "A priest in love!" "You have been very good to the Canon." "You opened your soul to him, gave him your affection... and he misunderstood your kindness." " Now, he can't control himself." " That's repulsive." "I think I drank too much." "I feel dizzy." "It's raining again." "You know who the Canon was jealous of, Anita." "Don't deny it." "Don't be afraid." "I ask nothing of you, not even an answer." "It's enough that you look at me." "My God, I've been silent for so long!" "I know there are millions of obstacles." "I only ask you to let me talk." "They are all against me." "Of course, it's natural." "A man who talks of loving another's wife." "I can't ask you to ignore tradition... or the rules and customs that condemn me." "I only ask you to listen." "Of course... there are women in the world, the most virtuous of women... who know what to think of rules that condemn such love." "But how can I ask you... who was educated by fanatics... and who has lived all her life in a town like Vetusta... to even give me hope?" "It's enough that you listen to me." "For so many years you didn't listen." " You said nothing." " Yes." "Of course I spoke." "I spoke with my eyes... in the theater, in the park, at the Marchioness's house... and in your house, in Quintanar's presence." "Shut up, for Heaven's sake!" "It's all so low, mother, disgusting and vulgar!" "Listen... without being a Don Juan..." "I've always been lucky in my love affairs." "However, I don't know why, if it's due to shyness... coldness, or who knows what... my love affairs have always fallen short." " I have no firmness." " An essential trait." "I don't have it." "My passions are... fleeting." "I've had more than ten women almost conquered and very few... very few, almost none have been mine." "For quite some time... my wife's maid, Petra, you know... has been harassing me... with knowing looks, lascivious provocation..." "You can imagine." "That Petra's a handful." " Have you noticed too?" " The looks she gives you..." "You saw?" "Anyway, as I was saying..." "After holding out for so long like a saint... one night I had a moment of weakness." "I was blind and risked everything." "You kept it pretty quiet!" "Quiet indeed!" "Nothing happened, nothing." "She put up such resistance with false decency... that I, once so sure of success... cooled off and abandoned my crazy objective... making do with small favors... and a detailed knowledge of the beauty I would not possess." "At times, prudence makes us..." "Be quiet." "It's not the end of the story." "The other day... when that fool Don Fermin took me to the woodcutter's cabin..." "I found one of Petra's garters." "I recognized it at once." " So, Petra was there." " It seems so." "Should I fire her?" " Are you jealous?" " No." "I'm not like a dog in the manger... although I must admit it bothered me." "I'm going to call those bores." "I've had enough of this." "That's enough secrets... we're waiting you to play the handkerchief game." "Very well." "Number... three!" "Three." "Ana, I want to die." "Alvaro, tomorrow is our last day." " Ana." " Alvaro, for God's sake!" "I love you, Alvaro." "I love you so much." "I love you." "I love you too." "I've known for over five years... although I doubted, because you never said anything." "It's just you didn't hear me." "Yes, I heard you." "I pretended not to guess." " Will you love me forever?" " Of course." " Swear it!" " Forever." "Swear it!" "If it isn't forever, this is a dishonor." " It is a terrible crime." " Don't say that, Ana." "Yes." "If I lost your love... the phantoms would return." "There are no phantoms, Anita." "With me you need not fear." "If you left me I'd go mad." "I'm afraid of my brain when I'm not with you... when I don't think of you." "I adore you, Alvaro." "This is a hunger which is long overdue, Anita." "If you knew how I dreamed of holding you." "Don't speak." "Petra, I'm getting married!" " I'm getting married!" " How did you meet him?" "I met him in Matalerejo, the master's town." "And he's been here once in a while." "Don Fermin has made him the manager of some of his farms." "Look at her!" "You did well there, didn't you?" "I can't complain." "The master has always been very good and generous to me." "Who is there, Teresina?" " Do you know why he wants me?" " A message for your lady." " Petra is here." " Let her in." "Good morning, Don Fermin." "Did you want to see me?" "Yes, come in." "Thank you, Teresina." "Well..." " Teresina is getting married." " Yes." "And you?" "Are you getting married?" "No." "I'm sure you don't lack candidates." "No, sir." "And not one suits you?" "No." "Are you too demanding?" "Maybe." "I haven't seen you lately." "Since St. Peter's day in the woodcutter's cabin." "I'm worried about your lady." " What's that got to do with me?" " You could help me and help her." " Me?" " Yes, you." "Because of my ministry... and my responsibility for her moral health..." "I must know what happens in that house." "You want me to spy on her." "Will you help me?" "You'll be compensated." "Wouldn't you like to come here and take Teresina's place?" "What do you want me to do?" "I want to know if Ana has visitors... what she does when she's alone... if anyone comes when Victor is out or stays when he leaves." "If who stays?" " If who stays?" " I don't know, whoever." "Will you do it?" "Yes." "Good." "When you leave the Ozores's house you will come here." "Then I'll take care of your future." "Do you agree?" "I don't know how I forgot." "I went to bed without preparing your bed." "Do you know where I put "Lost in a mirror"." "Me?" "How should I know?" "You can go to bed." " But, what are you doing?" " What do you think I'm doing?" "I let my guard down a minute!" "As my master you must respect me." " But I respect you, child." " And my honor?" "You're such a villain." "Do you need anything else?" "What else could I need that won't offend your honor?" "If at least I knew where "Lost in a mirror" was..." "We can't go on like this, Ana." " What do you mean?" " Like this." "Seeing each other in secret, always with so little time... with the risk of your husband catching us at any moment." "But I love you." "For that reason precisely." "When I doubted that you felt the same about me... it was enough... to touch your hand, or gaze at you furtively..." "But it's not enough anymore." "But we can't do anything else." "Yes, we can." "I could find a place... where we could meet without fear." "What are you saying?" "That's shameful!" "There is another solution... your house." " Here?" "No way." " It is quiet..." " safe and comfortable." " No, not in my house." "I understand your hesitation... but we have to know how to overcome it." " This danger is worse." " Alvaro, please, don't insist." "Sooner or later this will end." "If we don't find a solution, this will end." "Don't say that, for the love of God." "I'd die if this ended." "Calm down..." "Visita is looking." "You are wrong, sir." "The black tailed deer is more like the white tailed deer." "They are brown and have identical faces." "But its tail is black like the mule deer." "That distinguishes it from the white tailed deer." "The black tailed deer is the lost link between the other two species." "Your conversations would depress anyone." "If we could count on your maid to help us..." " everything would be easier." " Petra?" "No, that's horrible!" "Well... forget about Petra if you want." "I'll make arrangements myself to come in at night." "The best way is for you to jump over the wall." "You have strong legs." "When you're under the balcony... all you need do is climb up." "What if Victor sees me arrive or leave?" "I take care of that." "I'll be watching to co-ordinate everything." "Listen..." "Don Victor told me... that he and Frigilis go hunting... much earlier than she thinks." "Don't worry about that." "I wake him up myself... and I always know when Don Tomas will arrive." "I'll pay you." "I'll pay you for all you are doing for me and for your mistress." " Have you hurt yourself?" " No, it's nothing." "I'll bring you an old barrel... so you can climb back up without falling." "And now be careful." "That's the window." "Thank you." "Let me in." "Please." "It's more risky here." "Have you gone mad?" "Don't you see it's ridiculous not to let me in your room... when you've already given yourself to me." "Darling." "Is that all?" "There's nothing else." " Are you sure?" " Yes, sir, completely." "Don Alvaro stays for hours... but always with the master." "The lady is very happy when he comes, I'm not saying she isn't." "She smiles at him and he looks at her a lot." "But they're never alone together." "You can be sure of that." " May I go now?" " Wait, wait." " I have to absolve you." " Of course, absolution." "Amen." " What a surprise!" " I can't stay long." " What a rush." " When's the wedding?" "Next month, but I'm leaving for Matalerejo this week." " The master asked about you." " Me?" "I think he wants you to take my place." " What does Doña Paula say?" " She knows you are my friend." "I have to go, I've a lot of things to do." " Hello, Petra." " Good morning." "Sit down." " I expect Teresina has told you." " Yes." "Think about it." "Teresina will leave at any moment." "There's nothing to think about." "You can count on me." "When will you come?" "If you don't mind, madam, I'll give you my answer this week." " I have to tell Doña Ana." " Of course." "But you won't change your mind, will you?" "No, madam, don't worry." "Did you hear that?" " What?" " A noise, like footsteps." "Listen." "I can't hear anything." "It's your imagination." "It might be Petra." "She could be spying on us." "Of course not, forget it." "When I arrive, Petra has been asleep for hours." "I'll leave you two alone." "I'm going to lie down." "I've eaten too much." "My God, I thought she'd never go." " Now, we can talk." " Fire away." "At present, fate is smiling on me." "I'm happy at home, I play no part in public life." "I'm no longer afraid of a church invasion." "But Petra is giving me some trouble." "Have you started that again?" "Yes and no, I mean... there's been posturing, deals, promises... to respect what that hussy doesn't really want respecting." "In short, she's hurt because I prefer a pure bed... to the satisfaction of fleeting pleasures." "Do you understand?" "She pretends to defend her honor with a passion... but it's my coolness that irritates her." "But, what does she do?" "She's breaking our peace, she wants power over us... taking advantage of my admittedly false situation." "It would be a terrible blow to Anita if she revealed anything... the hypocritical whore!" "What does Petra do?" "She knows I want to avoid any annoyance to my wife." "Another nervous crisis would ruin everything." "Any disappointment would start her off thinking again... and we'd have the Canon back again." "Anything, rather than that!" "Anita must never know that I, sometimes... in moments of intellectual and sensual blindness..." "I was able to ask that bitch for favors." "I understand very well." "She wants to force you." "I need advice, Alvaro." "What shall I do?" "Calm down, my friend." "You must fire Petra." "Don't worry about that." "I promise to help you with the difficulties." "Petra is leaving." " Good bye to the spy." " Petra?" "Is Petra leaving?" "Yes, he has asked me to fire her... because she's rude and treats you badly." " My God!" "He noticed?" " Don't be afraid." "He takes it mildly." "He told me he had an affair with her." "He had an affair with her?" "My husband?" "My husband... to whom I sacrificed the best years of my life." " It's awful!" " Are you jealous?" "It's not jealousy, how could it be?" "It's disgust and some sort of regret... for sacrificing my life to such a man." " My youth..." " Calm down." "The main thing is, it was not what you thought." "The girl probably doesn't suspect anything... that her daring is only to threaten the master." "Come on." "Are you going to cry?" "Now, when you are about to be happy... after so many years of being a martyr?" "Come on, my love." "My darling." "Come on..." "Petra..." "I've decided I want you nearer." "More than now?" "Besides, you can't be here." "The master is furious... he says you are arrogant and rude to your mistress." "You silly thing..." "I don't need you in this house anymore." "I come in and out without help." "I could come as a maid to the inn." "What do you say?" "Sir, you need not try so hard... to convince me that I must leave this house." "If you take it like that, I won't insist." "You haven't let me explain myself." "I want to leave, but not to work at the inn, no sir." "It's one thing to have your fancies... but another to be passed around your friends." "Petra, it's not like that." "It's for your well-being." "Don't worry." "I'll ask for my wages tonight and I'll go." "But not to the inn, to another house." "A proposition that I can't talk about right now." "As for the rest, we are still friends, and if you need me..." "I'll tell you where to find me, because a law is a law... and as for silence, I'm a tomb." "I did what I did for one person I like... why should I hide it?" "And for another I pity, married to a crazy old man... it was compassion." "And now go." "You know where to find me." " What is it, mother?" " She's here..." "Petra, Quintanar's girl." "She wants to talk to you." "Talk to me?" " So early?" "What time is it?" " 9 o'clock." "She says it's urgent." "She seems frightened, her voice is shaky." "Let her in." "Tell her to come in." "Come in." "Come in, child." "What is it?" "What is it?" "Quick." "Is that..." "I need you to hear my confession, Don Fermin." "I'm very confused." "I don't know if this is a good deed or a sin." "I want to serve you, and to serve my master and God too..." " but I don't know if I should." " Speak up!" "What is it Petra?" "What is it?" " Speak for God's sake!" " In confession?" "You'll speak now." "Sir, I promised to tell you everything." "Stop pretending!" "Speak or I'll force the words out of you!" "Sir..." "I myself have seen what I never would have believed." "The master's best friend, Don Alvaro... who is by Don Victor's side all day long... enters... the lady's room at night by the balcony... and he doesn't leave until dawn." "The first night I saw him..." "I thought I was dreaming, but it was true." "That bastard has corrupted the lady." "She was a saint." "Your fears were right." " What are you going to do now?" " Me?" "Leave that house, sir." "What can I do?" "I don't want to help in my master's shame." "I can't fix it, but I can leave." "Don't you care about Don Victor's honor?" "Is this how you thank him?" "Sir, what can I do for him?" " Nothing by leaving." " They're firing me." " Who, them?" " Yes, them." "Mr. Alvaro, who's the boss... the master sees through his eyes..." "Mr. Alvaro threw me out." "I had no choice but to pack." "I've said goodbye." "Mr. Mesia offered me a job at the inn... but I'd rather live on the streets." "You must come to this house." "Sir!" "How can I... repay you and your mother for your kindness?" "I'm not doing it for you." "Sacred interests guide me." "I'll give you all you want if you show the master... how he has been dishonored." "We'll see if that gentleman... if he's a man at all... punishes the traitors as they deserve." "I'll do what you tell me to." "But how can I get the master to see what they are doing to him?" "Do I tell him?" "I won't dare, Don Fermin." "It's better if he sees what they're up to." " Really?" "Is that best?" " Yes." "Do you know how to do it?" "Don Victor and Frigilis are going hunting tomorrow at 8 am." "Don Alvaro and the lady know this... and before the master wakes Mesia will have already gone." "But if I put his clock forward an hour..." "It must have been put forward!" "But by whom?" "It's Alvaro." "Bastard!" "I should have killed him!" "I'll kill her!" "I'll kill her!" "Seven o'clock!" "I'm here." "Hello!" "You must have got up early." "Let's go." "I'll never be able to repay you your kindness, madam." "Knowing what those two were doing to the master..." "I could not stay there another minute." "A mask, that's what you are." "Has the Regenta ever seen you like this?" "What is the matter with you?" "You've been worried and sad all day." "What is it?" "I'm an old man, Tomas... an old man." "You're telling me?" "Come on, don't talk nonsense." "It's not nonsense... but such a thing had never occurred to me." "My temperament made me think I was eternally young... but disgrace washes out the dye... revealing the spirit's white hair." "What disgrace?" "What white hair?" "I don't understand." "Can I speak to you as a friend?" "Ana is cheating on me." "I've seen it with my own eyes." "Don't say anything." "Nothing can comfort me." "Alvaro Mesia goes into her room at night." "Did you know?" "What am I going to do, Tomas?" "What am I going to do now?" "If I could stop time..." "But time won't stop." "I have to do something." "Do my duty, kill, show the world my revenge." "But I feel so weak, so old!" "First, you must calm down, Victor." "Don't think of duty and revenge for now." "I'm here for you." "This is not a job for Perales it's mine." "It's a story of honor invented by Calderon, it's real life... my own cloak and dagger drama." "How could I like those sad tales when they were not mine... if they hurt me so much now they are my own?" "Where do I start, Tomas?" "Do I kill her?" "Do I go after him?" "You're not going to kill anyone." "Calm down." "We'll see if you should forgive or not." "I have no right to advise you about tragedy." "When I had you marry her, for I did, if you remember..." " I thought I'd make you both happy." " You did, me." "And for over ten years she seemed so too." "It seemed so... but... still waters run deep." "She was good for ten years." "life is short, it's not so bad." "You're determined to kill Mesia?" "So be it." "But we must decide when and how." "You must calm down." "But, how do you know she won't try to escape with him?" "Victor, don't be silly." "He's frivolous." "He waited for the fruit to ripen." "She's not in love with Mesia." "When she sees he's a coward who won't fight for her... she'll despise him... she'll curse him." "Whatever you say, she's betraying me." "She's betraying you." "After a scene of betrayed honor, the next will be a funeral." "Tomas, you've such a way of putting things." "The truth." "But if you won't listen to reason or to your conscience.." "go up, make a fuss, burn the house down." "Think about it, Victor." "Watch what you do." "See you tomorrow, early." "Don Victor!" "Where did you come from?" "You frightened me." "What do you want?" "My friend, I'm afraid..." "I don't know how to explain the reason for my visit... it's a spiky subject, and difficult to explain." "What is it, Don Fermin?" "For Christ's sake!" "I also want to talk of Christ... and of nails, thorns and of the cross." " For pity's sake..." " In your office." "Mr. Quintanar... you are a good Christian." "I'm a priest." "You have something to tell me." "I came to talk to you of what I know as a priest... but the person who told me... asked me to, to clear their conscience." "Someone..." " who tells you to visit at this time?" " Don Victor... confess if you know of a matter of great interest to you." "Yes, sir." "Yes, sir." "I know something I didn't know yesterday... which concerns me very much... more than my life... but if you don't speak clearly..." "A person who has hidden a crime that harms you... came to the penitence tribunal to confess her shameful involvement." "And to tell me she had arranged for you to find out." "But, afraid of being the cause of yet more harm... she wanted to tell me... in order to avoid a bloody revenge." "Petra?" "It was Petra?" "That woman has made public my dishonor." " This was revenge." " I didn't say everyone knew." "Do you think Petra has already told everybody?" "My God." "Unfortunately, the slanderers got hold of the rumor." "All Vetusta is talking about it." "Unfortunately, for many months already, since the Summer." "Even before, people talked about how often..." "Don Alvaro came to this house." "I know about your extreme idea of honor..." "I feared you would obey your impulse to take a terrible revenge... above all on Don Alvaro, whose crime... for a crime it is... could not be more worthy of punishment." "My God." "I put all my trust in him... my friendship." "But, my friend... although I understand and forgive the anger which you must feel... as a priest of a forgiving religion I have to advise gentleness." "In the eyes of the world... the tradition asks for blood." "You should challenge Mesia, and kill him." "But what about charity and love for our fellow man?" "Our religion orders us to forget grievances... and to carry the cross." "You must leave Vetusta." "Crespo, don't you understand I can't do that?" "Quintanar and Vetusta will think I'm afraid, a coward." "I told you, Victor could've killed you today and didn't." "Don't push your luck, you've already caused enough trouble." "Don't forget, Quintanar is the offended one, not you." "Leave Vetusta and forget cowardliness." "It's not cowardliness... it's doing oneself justice." "You deserve to die for your betrayal... and I commute your sentence to exile." "All right." "I'll take the train for Madrid tomorrow." "You have my word." "It's all right, Canon..." "I won't do anything stupid." "I'll think about what you said... and I'll try to harmonize what my honor demands... with what my religion requires." "Now go, please, go." "I know how the world scorns a husband who forgives." "Society is unfair on the tolerant." "Bastard..." "He took advantage of my friendship... and of the weakness of a sick woman." " It's unforgivable." " Calm down." "I have to go now, it's late." "I ask you, as your spiritual father... as I believe I still am... if tonight, you are surprised by a new assault... that is, if that vile person returns tonight..." "I know it's a lot to ask... but murder has no excuse before God even if it has before the world." "No blood!" "In the name of he who shed his on the cross!" "It's true... that man will come back tonight." "This is not what we agreed last night." "You could have asked me before calling this man." " Mr. Ronzal will be a good second." " I don't doubt his aptitude." "I'm not referring to that, as well you know." "This decision is a mistake." " Mesia has promised to leave." " What about my honor?" "Forget your honor and think with your head." "Mesia is afraid, he's always been afraid." "If he's afraid, that's much better." "This shouldn't be postponed even for a day!" "Since my dishonor is public, my revenge should be so too... and it must be terrible and quick." " You have a fever, you're ill." " It doesn't matter." "Much better." "If you won't challenge him..." "I'll go and find others to be my seconds." "We'll see if the thunder and lightning can beat me." "Let's go." "Gentlemen..." "Fifteen steps, then you may move forward three steps." "The offended shoots first, then the offender will have his chance." "I'll clap three times, in the intervals you can aim." "At the order to fire, you must shoot." "I swear on my honor that I'll not stand for any sham challenge." "Do you have anything to add?" "Shake hands." "Stand back to back." "Count fifteen steps." "Now." "Fire!" "He's hit in the bladder." "Come on, my friend." "It's Don Victor, he's badly hurt." "Here, Pepe." "Hot water, prepare hot water." "Don Tomas, how is the master?" "A full bladder." "Peritonitis, or something." " That's what they say." " What, sir?" "Nothing, nothing... he'll die for sure." "You mustn't worry, Ana." "He's just wounded." "We didn't want to move him." "Wounded?" "Is it serious?" "No, he shot himself with the shotgun." " I must see him." "Take me." " Impossible." " There's no train until tomorrow." " Then in a carriage." "It's a lie, if it were true, you'd be at his side." "I thought you'd be worried that's why I'm here." " I don't believe you." "I'm going." " Listen, Ana!" "Listen..." "Listen... you don't have to go anywhere." "Victor died this afternoon." "It was a hunting accident." "Dead?" "I want to see him dead." "Calm down, Ana." "Calm down." "It's only a nightmare." "Poor girl." "She was such a romantic... even a thing like this, had to have a noisy end..." " so everybody knew about it." " Remember that Good Friday?" "You'll remember I didn't like her brazenness... walking barefoot." " Especially the scandal." " Impudent and clumsy!" " Poor Don Victor." " Yes, poor thing... may God forgive him, but he deserved it." " Well deserved." " That close friendship with Mesia." "What will Alvaro do now?" "For now, he has gone away." "Don Victor is gone forever and God knows when Mesia will return." "Mesia's shot, for which the Regenta is definitely to blame... breaks the pacific tradition of silent, moderate, cautious crime." "We know that some important ladies in Vetusta... are unfaithful to their husbands." "But not with shooting!" "What's Mesia doing in Madrid?" "Paquito Vegallana told me he fled out of regret... but he's willing to meet the Regenta..." " where and whenever she says." " I heard... he'd taken up again... with that minister's wife who summered in Palomares." "You've probably heard it many times." "It was all hypocrisy." "Those confessions of hours and hours." "Those never-ending conversations... staying in the cathedral all the time..." " It was all hypocrisy." " Hypocrisy and perversion." " Babylonian deviations." " What does the Canon say?" "The Canon?" "You know already." "Nothing." "He doesn't say anything." "Fermo, 35 years." "Thank you, mother." "Tomas..." "I want to leave this house." "That is a good idea." "I was thinking we could go for a walk tomorrow." "That's not what I meant." "I want to find another place to live." "This house is not really mine." "It belongs to Victor's heirs... to his sister, who has children." "How can you say that?" "Besides, I've taken care of that." "You?" " Taken care of what?" " The house belongs to you." "Legally and morally." "I'll bring the documents I've prepared..." " for your widow's pension." " I'd rather starve." "If you don't apply for your rights you really will starve." "I prefer to claim the rights of a military orphan." "Not a chance." "Besides, they're worthless." " I won't sign." " Then I will." "And you can forget about leaving this house." "It's enormous." "I feel very lonely here." " At nights, I'm afraid." " You needn't be afraid." "I sleep downstairs." "I have done for months." "When you fell ill..." " I took the liberty." " You are so good." "Nobody has come today either." "We don't need anybody, Ana." "Ana returned to life... through a delirious mist that made her dizzy." "She thought she had felt on her mouth... the sticky, cold belly of a toad." "the sticky, cold belly of a toad."