forgive her； for she was not bound to perform miracles； nor ought I to
have required her to perform them； and since I have been the author of
my own dishonour； there is no reason why…〃
So far Anselmo had written； and thus it was plain that at this
point； before he could finish what he had to say； his life came to
an end。 The next day his friend sent intelligence of his death to
his relatives； who had already ascertained his misfortune； as well
as the convent where Camilla lay almost on the point of accompanying
her husband on that inevitable journey； not on account of the
tidings of his death； but because of those she received of her lover's
departure。 Although she saw herself a widow； it is said she refused
either to quit the convent or take the veil； until； not long
afterwards； intelligence reached her that Lothario had been killed
in a battle in which M。 de Lautrec had been recently engaged with
the Great Captain Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordova in the kingdom of
Naples； whither her too late repentant lover had repaired。 On learning
this Camilla took the veil； and shortly afterwards died； worn out by
grief and melancholy。 This was the end of all three； an end that
came of a thoughtless beginning。
〃I like this novel；〃 said the curate； 〃but I cannot persuade
myself of its truth； and if it has been invented； the author's
invention is faulty； for it is impossible to imagine any husband so
foolish as to try such a costly experiment as Anselmo's。 If it had
been represented as occurring between a gallant and his mistress it
might pass； but between husband and wife there is something of an
impossibility about it。 As to the way in which the story is told；
however； I have no fault to find。〃
CHAPTER XXXVI
WHICH TREATS OF MORE CURIOUS INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THE INN
JUST at that instant the landlord； who was standing at the gate of
the inn； exclaimed； 〃Here comes a fine troop of guests； if they stop
here we may say gaudeamus。〃
〃What are they？〃 said Cardenio。
〃Four men；〃 said the landlord； 〃riding a la jineta； with lances
and bucklers； and all with black veils； and with them there is a woman
in white on a side…saddle； whose face is also veiled； and two
attendants on foot。〃
〃Are they very near？〃 said the curate。
〃So near；〃 answered the landlord； 〃that here they come。〃
Hearing this Dorothea covered her face； and Cardenio retreated
into Don Quixote's room； and they hardly had time to do so before
the whole party the host had described entered the inn； and the four
that were on horseback； who were of highbred appearance and bearing；
dismounted； and came forward to take down the woman who rode on the
side…saddle； and one of them taking her in his arms placed her in a
chair that stood at the entrance of the room where Cardenio had hidden
himself。 All this time neither she nor they had removed their veils or
spoken a word； only on sitting down on the chair the woman gave a deep
sigh and let her arms fall like one that was ill and weak。 The
attendants on foot then led the horses away to the stable。 Observing
this the curate； curious to know who these people in such a dress
and preserving such silence were； went to where the servants were
standing and put the question to one of them； who answered him。
〃Faith； sir； I cannot tell you who they are； I only know they seem
to be people of distinction； particularly he who advanced to take
the lady you saw in his arms； and I say so because all the rest show
him respect； and nothing is done except what he directs and orders。〃
〃And the lady； who is she？〃 asked the curate。
〃That I cannot tell you either；〃 said the servant； 〃for I have not
seen her face all the way： I have indeed heard her sigh many times and
utter such groans that she seems to be giving up the ghost every time；
but it is no wonder if we do not know more than we have told you； as
my comrade and I have only been in their company two days； for
having met us on the road they begged and persuaded us to accompany
them to Andalusia； promising to pay us well。〃
〃And have you heard any of them called by his name？〃 asked the
curate。
〃No； indeed；〃 replied the servant； 〃they all preserve a marvellous
silence on the road； for not a sound is to be heard among them
except the poor lady's sighs and sobs； which make us pity her； and
we feel sure that wherever it is she is going； it is against her will；
and as far as one can judge from her dress she is a nun or； what is
more likely； about to become one； and perhaps it is because taking the
vows is not of her own free will； that she is so unhappy as she
seems to be。〃
〃That may well be；〃 said the curate； and leaving them he returned to
where Dorothea was； who； hearing the veiled lady sigh； moved by
natural compassion drew near to her and said； 〃What are you
suffering from； senora？ If it be anything that women are accustomed
and know how to relieve； I offer you my services with all my heart。〃
To this the unhappy lady made no reply； and though Dorothea repeated
her offers more earnestly she still kept silence； until the
gentleman with the veil； who； the servant said； was obeyed by the
rest； approached and said to Dorothea； 〃Do not give yourself the
trouble； senora； of making any offers to that woman； for it is her way
to give no thanks for anything that is done for her； and do not try to
make her answer unless you want to hear some lie from her lips。〃
〃I have never told a lie；〃 was the immediate reply of her who had
been silent until now； 〃on the contrary； it is because I am so
truthful and so ignorant of lying devices that I am now in this
miserable condition； and this I call you yourself to witness； for it
is my unstained truth that has made you false and a liar。〃
Cardenio heard these words clearly and distinctly； being quite close
to the speaker； for there was only the door of Don Quixote's room
between them； and the instant he did so； uttering a loud exclamation
he cried； 〃Good God！ what is this I hear？ What voice is this that
has reached my ears？〃 Startled at the voice the lady turned her
head； and not seeing the speaker she stood up and attempted to enter
the room； observing which the gentleman held her back； preventing
her from moving a step。 In her agitation and sudden movement the
silk with which she had covered her face fell off and disclosed a
countenance of incomparable and marvellous beauty； but pale and
terrified； for she kept turning her eyes； everywhere she could
direct her gaze； with an eagerness that made her look as if she had
lost her senses； and so marked that it excited the pity of Dorothea
and all who beheld her； though they knew not what caused it。 The
gentleman grasped her firmly by the shoulders； and being so fully
occupied with holding her back； he was unable to put a hand to his
veil which was falling off； as it did at length entirely； and
Dorothea； who was holding the lady in her arms； raising her eyes saw
that he who likewise held her was her husband； Don Fernando。 The
instant she recognised him； with a prolonged plaintive cry drawn
from the depths of her heart； she fell backwards fainting； and but for
the barber being close by to catch her in his arms； she would have
fallen completely to the ground。 The curate at once hastened to
uncover her face and throw water on it； and as he did so Don Fernando；
for he it was who held the other in his arms； recognised her and stood
as if death…stricken by the sight； not； however； relaxing his grasp of
Luscinda； for it was she that was struggling to release herself from
his hold； having recognised Cardenio by his voice； as he had
recognised her。 Cardenio also heard Dorothea's cry as she fell
fainting； and imagining that it came from his Luscinda burst forth
in terror from the room； and the first thing he saw was Don Fernando
with Luscinda in his arms。 Don Fernando； too； knew Cardenio at once；
and all three； Luscinda； Cardenio； and Dorothea； stood in silent
amazement scarcely knowing what had happened to them。
They gazed at one another without speaking； Dorothea at Don
Fernando； Don Fernando at Cardenio； Cardenio at Luscinda； and Luscinda
at Cardenio。 The first to break silence was Luscinda； who thus
addressed Don Fernando： 〃Leave me； Senor Don Fernando； for the sake of
what you owe to yourself； if no other reason will induce you； leave me
to cling to the wall of which I am the ivy； to the support from
which neither your importunities； nor your threats； nor your promises；
nor your gifts have been able to detach me。 See how Heaven； by ways
strange and hidden from our sight； has brought me face to face with my
true husband； and well you know by dear…bought experience that death
alone will be able to efface him from my memory。 May this plain
declaration； then； lead you； as you can do nothing else； to turn
your love into rage； your affection into resentment； and so to take my
life； for if I yield it up in the presence of my beloved husband I
count it well bestowed； it may be by my death he will be convinced
that I kept my faith to him to the last moment of life。〃
Meanwhile Dorothea had come to herself； and had heard Luscinda's
words； by means of which she divined who she was； but seeing that
Don Fernando did not yet release her or reply to her； summoning up her
resolution as well as she could she rose and knelt at his feet； and
with a flood of bright and touching tears addressed him thus：
〃If； my lord； the beams of that sun that thou holdest eclipsed in
thine arms did not dazzle and rob thine eyes of sight thou wouldst
have seen by this time that she who kneels at thy feet is； so long
as thou wilt have it so； the unhappy and unfortunate Dorothea。 I am
that lowly peasant girl whom thou in thy goodness or for thy
pleasure wouldst raise high enough to call herself thine； I am she who
in the seclusion of innocence led a contented life until at the
voice of thy importunity； and thy true and tender passion； as it
seemed； she opened the gates of her modesty and surrendered to thee
the keys of her liberty； a gift received by thee but thanklessly； as
is clearly shown by my forced retreat to the place where thou dost
find me； and by thy appearance under the circumstances