have read in the lives of the martyrs about the visits of the Roman proconsuls to a Christian town。〃
〃The comparison is not wanting in exactness；〃 said the Penitentiary； looking at the soldier over his spectacles。
〃It is not very agreeable； but if it is the truth； why should it not be said？〃 observed Pinzon benevolently。 〃Now you all are at our mercy。〃
〃The authorities of the place；〃 objected Jacinto； 〃still exercise their functions as usual。〃
〃I think you are mistaken；〃 responded the soldier； whose countenance Dona Perfecta and the Penitentiary were studying with profound interest。 〃The alcalde of Orbajosa was removed from office an hour ago。〃
〃By the governor of the province？〃
〃The governor of the province has been replaced by a delegate from the Government； who was to arrive this morning。 The municipal councils will all be removed from office to…day。 The minister has so ordered because he suspected； I don't know on what grounds； that they were not supporting the central authority。〃
〃This is a pretty state of things！〃 murmured the canon； frowning and pushing out his lower lip。
Dona Perfecta looked thoughtful。
〃Some of the judges of the primary court； among them the judge of Orbajosa； have been deprived of office。〃
〃The judge！ PeriquitoPeriquito is no longer judge！〃 exclaimed Dona Perfecta； in a voice and with the manner of a person who has just been stung by a snake。
〃The person who was judge in Orbajosa is judge no longer；〃 said Pinzon。 〃To…morrow the new judge will arrive。〃
〃A stranger！〃
〃A stranger。〃
〃A rascal； perhaps。 The other was so honorable！〃 said Dona Perfecta； with alarm。 〃I never asked any thing from him that he did not grant it to me at once。 Do you know who will be the new alcalde？〃
〃They say a corregidor is coming。〃
〃There； say at once that the Deluge is coming； and let us be done with it；〃 said the canon； rising。
〃So that we are at the brigadier's mercy！〃
〃For a few days only。 Don't be angry with me。 In spite of my uniform I am an enemy of militarism； but we are ordered to strikeand we strike。 There could not be a viler trade than ours。〃
〃That it is； that it is！〃 said Dona Perfecta； with difficulty concealing her fury。 〃Now that you have confessed it So； then； neither alcalde nor judge〃
〃Nor governor of the province。〃
〃Let them take the bishop from us also and send us a choir boy in his stead。〃
〃That is all that is wantingif the people here will allow them to do it；〃 murmured Don Inocencio； lowering his eyes。 〃They won't stop at trifles。〃
〃And it is all because they are afraid of an insurrection in Orbajosa；〃 exclaimed Dona Perfecta； clasping her hands and waving them up and down。 〃Frankly； Pinzon； I don't know why it is that even the very stones don't rise up in rebellion。 I wish you no harm； but it would be a just judgment on you if the water you drink turned into mud。 You say that my nephew is the intimate friend of the brigadier？〃
〃So intimate that they are together all day long； they were school… fellows。 Batalla loves him like a brother； and would do anything to please him。 In your place； senora； I would be uneasy。〃
〃Oh； my God！ I fear there will be an attack on the house！〃
〃Senora；〃 declared the canon； with energy； 〃before I would consent that there should be an attack on this honorable housebefore I would consent that the slightest harm should be done to this noble familyI； my nephew； all the people of Orbajosa〃
Don Inocencio did not finish。 His anger was so great that the words refused to come。 He took a few steps forward with a martial air； then returned to his seat。
〃I think that your fears are not idle；〃 said Pinzon。 〃If it should be necessary； I〃
〃And I〃 said Jacinto。
Dona Perfecta had fixed her eyes on the glass door of the dining…room； through which could be seen a graceful figure。 As she looked at it； it seemed as if the cloud of apprehension which rested on her countenance grew darker。
〃Rosario！ come in here； Rosario！〃 she said； going to meet the young girl。 〃I fancy you look better to…day； and that you are more cheerful。 Don't you think that Rosario looks better？ She seems a different being。〃
They all agreed that the liveliest happiness was depicted on her countenance。
CHAPTER XXI
〃DESPERTA FERRO〃
About this time the following items of news appeared in the Madrid newspapers：
〃There is no truth whatever in the report that there has been an insurrection in the neighborhood of Orbajosa。 Our correspondent in that place informs us that the country is so little disposed for adventures that the further presence of the Batalla brigade in that locality is considered unnecessary。〃
〃It is said that the Batalla brigade will leave Orbajosa； as troops are not required there； to go to Villajuan de Nahara； where guerillas have made their appearance。〃
〃The news has been confirmed that the Aceros； with a number of mounted followers； are ranging the district of Villajuan； adjacent to the judicial district of Orbajosa。 The governor of the province of X。 has telegraphed to the Government that Francisco Acero entered Las Roquetas； where he demanded provisions and money。 Domingo Acero （Faltriquera）； was ranging the Jubileo mountains； actively pursued by the Civil Guards； who killed one of his men and captured another。 Bartolome Acero is the man who burned the registry office of Lugarnoble and carried away with him as hostages the alcalde and two of the principal landowners。〃
〃Complete tranquillity reigns in Orbajosa； according to a letter which we have before us； and no one there thinks of anything but cultivating the garlic fields； which promise to yield a magnificent crop。 The neighboring districts； however； are infested with guerillas； but the Batalla brigade will make short work of these。〃
Orbajosa was； in fact； tranquil。 The Aceros； that warlike dynasty； worthy； in the opinion of some； of figuring in the 〃Romancero；〃 had taken possession of the neighboring province； but the insurrection was not spreading within the limits of the episcopal city。 It might be supposed that modern culture had at last triumphed in its struggle with the turbulent habits of the great city of disorder； and that the latter was tasting the delights of a lasting peace。 So true is this that Caballuco himself； one of the most important figures of the historic rebellion of Orbajosa； said frankly to every one that he did not wish to quarrel with the Government nor involve himself in a business which might cost him dear。
Whatever may be said to the contrary； the impetuous nature of Ramos had quieted down with years； and the fiery temper which he had received with life from the ancestral Caballucos； the most valiant race of warriors that had ever desolated the earth； had grown cooler。 It is also related that in those days the new governor of the province held a conference with this important personage； and received from his lips the most solemn assurances that he would contribute as far as in him lay to the tranquillity of the country； and would avoid doing any thing that might give rise to disturbances。 Reliable witnesses declare that he was to be seen in friendly companionship with the soldiers； hobnobbing with this sergeant or the other in the tavern； and it was even said that an important position in the town…hall of the capital of the province was to be given him。 How difficult it is for the historian who tries to be impartial to arrive at the exact truth in regard to the sentiments and opinions of the illustrious personages who have filled the world with their fame！ He does not know what to hold by； and the absence of authentic records often gives rise to lamentable mistakes。 Considering events of such transcendent importance as that of the 18th Brumaire； the sack of Rome by Bourbon； or the destruction of Jerusalem where is the psychologist or the historian who would be able to determine what were the thoughts which preceded or followed them in the minds of Bonaparte； of Charles V。； and of Titus？ Ours is an immense responsibility。 To discharge it in part we will report words； phrases； and even discourses of the Orbajosan emperor himself； and in this way every one will be able to form the opinion which may seem to him most correct。
It is beyond a doubt that Cristobal Ramos left his house just after dark； crossed the Calle del Condestable； and； seeing three countrymen mounted on powerful mules coming toward him； asked them where they were going； to which they answered that they were going to Senora Dona Perfecta's house to take her some of the first fruits of their gardens and a part of the rent that had fallen due。 They were Senor Paso Largo； a young man named Frasquito Gonzales； and a third； a man of medium stature and robust make； who was called Vejarruco； although his real name was Jose Esteban Romero。 Caballuco turned back； tempted by the agreeable society of these persons； who were old and intimate friends of his； and accompanied them to Dona Perfecta's house。 This took place； according to the most reliable accounts； at nightfall； and two days after the day on which Dona Perfecta and Pinzon held the conversation which those who have read the preceding chapter will have seen recorded there。 The great Ramos stopped for a moment to give Librada certain messages of trifling importance； which a neighbor had confided to his good memory； and when he entered the dining…room he found the three before…mentioned countrymen and Senor Licurgo； who by a singular coincidence was also there； conversing about domestic matters and the crops。 The Senora was in a detestable humor； she found fault with every thing； and scolded them harshly for the drought of the heavens and the barrenness of the earth； phenomena for which they； poor men！ were in no wise to blame。 The Penitentiary was also present。 When Caballuco entered； the good canon saluted him affectionately and motioned him to a seat beside himself。
〃Here is the individual；〃 said the mistress of the house disdainfully。 〃It seems impossible that a man of such little account should be so much talked about。 Tell me； Caballuco； is it true that one of the soldiers slapped you on the face this morning？〃
〃Me！ me！〃 said the Centaur； rising indignantly； as if he had received the gross