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was billeted upon them；probably because they wished to avoid all
quarrelling。
Montefiore gave himself out as a former Spanish subject； persecuted by
Napoleon； whom he was serving against his will； and these semi…lies
had the success he expected。 He was invited to share the meals of the
family； and was treated with the respect due to his name； his birth；
and his title。 He had his reasons for capturing the good…will of the
merchant and his wife； he scented his madonna as the ogre scented the
youthful flesh of Tom Thumb and his brothers。 But in spite of the
confidence he managed to inspire in the worthy pair the latter
maintained the most profound silence as to the said madonna； and not
only did the captain see no trace of the young girl during the first
day he spent under the roof of the honest Spaniard； but he heard no
sound and came upon no indication which revealed her presence in that
ancient building。 Supposing that she was the only daughter of the old
couple； Montefiore concluded they had consigned her to the garret；
where； for the time being； they made their home。
But no revelation came to betray the hiding…place of that precious
treasure。 The marquis glued his face to the lozenge…shaped leaded
panes which looked upon the black…walled enclosure of the inner
courtyard； but in vain； he saw no gleam of light except from the
windows of the old couple； whom he could see and hear as they went and
came and talked and coughed。 Of the young girl； not a shadow！
Montefiore was far too wary to risk the future of his passion by
exploring the house nocturnally； or by tapping softly on the doors。
Discovery by that hot patriot； the mercer； suspicious as a Spaniard
must be； meant ruin infallibly。 The captain therefore resolved to wait
patiently； resting his faith on time and the imperfection of men；
which always resultseven with scoundrels； and how much more with
honest men！in the neglect of precautions。
The next day he discovered a hammock in the kitchen； showing plainly
where the servant…woman slept。 As for the apprentice； his bed was
evidently made on the shop counter。 During supper on the second day
Montefiore succeeded； by cursing Napoleon； in smoothing the anxious
forehead of the merchant； a grave； black…visaged Spaniard； much like
the faces formerly carved on the handles of Moorish lutes； even the
wife let a gay smile of hatred appear in the folds of her elderly
face。 The lamp and the reflections of the brazier illumined
fantastically the shadows of the noble room。 The mistress of the house
offered a 〃cigarrito〃 to their semi…compatriot。 At this moment the
rustle of a dress and the fall of a chair behind the tapestry were
plainly heard。
〃Ah！〃 cried the wife； turning pale； 〃may the saints assist us！ God
grant no harm has happened！〃
〃You have some one in the next room； have you not？〃 said Montefiore；
giving no sign of emotion。
The draper dropped a word of imprecation against the girls。 Evidently
alarmed； the wife opened a secret door； and led in； half fainting； the
Italian's madonna； to whom he was careful to pay no attention； only；
to avoid a too…studied indifference； he glanced at the girl before he
turned to his host and said in his own language：
〃Is that your daughter； signore？〃
Perez de Lagounia （such was the merchant's name） had large commercial
relations with Genoa； Florence； and Livorno； he knew Italian； and
replied in the same language：
〃No； if she were my daughter I should take less precautions。 The child
is confided to our care； and I would rather die than see any evil
happen to her。 But how is it possible to put sense into a girl of
eighteen？〃
〃She is very handsome；〃 said Montefiore； coldly； not looking at her
face again。
〃Her mother's beauty is celebrated；〃 replied the merchant； briefly。
They continued to smoke； watching each other。 Though Montefiore
compelled himself not to give the slightest look which might
contradict his apparent coldness； he could not refrain； at a moment
when Perez turned his head to expectorate； from casting a rapid glance
at the young girl； whose sparkling eyes met his。 Then； with that
science of vision which gives to a libertine； as it does to a
sculptor； the fatal power of disrobing； if we may so express it； a
woman； and divining her shape by inductions both rapid and sagacious；
he beheld one of those masterpieces of Nature whose creation appears
to demand as its right all the happiness of love。 Here was a fair
young face； on which the sun of Spain had cast faint tones of bistre
which added to its expression of seraphic calmness a passionate pride；
like a flash of light infused beneath that diaphanous complexion；
due； perhaps； to the Moorish blood which vivified and colored it。 Her
hair； raised to the top of her head； fell thence with black
reflections round the delicate transparent ears and defined the
outlines of a blue…veined throat。 These luxuriant locks brought into
strong relief the dazzling eyes and the scarlet lips of a well…arched
mouth。 The bodice of the country set off the lines of a figure that
swayed as easily as a branch of willow。 She was not the Virgin of
Italy； but the Virgin of Spain； of Murillo； the only artist daring
enough to have painted the Mother of God intoxicated with the joy of
conceiving the Christ；the glowing imagination of the boldest and
also the warmest of painters。
In this young girl three things were united； a single one of which
would have sufficed for the glory of a woman： the purity of the pearl
in the depths of ocean； the sublime exaltation of the Spanish Saint
Teresa； and a passion of love which was ignorant of itself。 The
presence of such a woman has the virtue of a talisman。 Montefiore no
longer felt worn and jaded。 That young girl brought back his youthful
freshness。
But； though the apparition was delightful； it did not last。 The girl
was taken back to the secret chamber； where the servant…woman carried
to her openly both light and food。
〃You do right to hide her；〃 said Montefiore in Italian。 〃I will keep
your secret。 The devil！ we have generals in our army who are capable
of abducting her。〃
Montefiore's infatuation went so far as to suggest to him the idea of
marrying her。 He accordingly asked her history； and Perez very
willingly told him the circumstances under which she had become his
ward。 The prudent Spaniard was led to make this confidence because he
had heard of Montefiore in Italy； and knowing his reputation was
desirous to let him see how strong were the barriers which protected
the young girl from the possibility of seduction。 Though the good…man
was gifted with a certain patriarchal eloquence； in keeping with his
simple life and customs； his tale will be improved by abridgment。
At the period when the French Revolution changed the manners and
morals of every country which served as the scene of its wars； a
street prostitute came to Tarragona； driven fr