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The alferez appeared pale and gloomy, and when he saw what was going on he threw a terrible glance at his wife, who did not move from her place but stood smiling at him cynically. The alferez put his hand as gently as he could on the shoulder of the strange dancer and made her stop. The crazy woman sighed and sank slowly to the floor covered with her own blood. The silence continued.
It was gloomy and the silence was almost death-like. The Civil Guards and the cuaderilleros who were occupying the room scarcely spoke and the few words that they did pronounce were in a low tone. Around the table sat the directorcillo, two writers and some soldiers scribbling papers. The alferez walked from one side to the other, looking from time to time ferociously toward the door.
He turned his eyes insolently on the alferez's woman. "This is the one who defended himself with the most courage and told his companions to run," said the alferez to Padre Salvi. Behind him came another of miserable aspect, moaning and weeping like a child. He limped along exposing pantaloons spotted with blood. "Mercy, sir, mercy! I'll not go back into the yard," he whimpered.
The alferez revenged his conjugal misfortunes on his own person by getting so drunk that he made a tank of himself, or by ordering his soldiers to drill in the sun while he remained in the shade, or, more frequently, by beating up his consort, who, if she was not a lamb of God to take away one's sins, at least served to lay up for her spouse many torments in Purgatory if perchance he should get there, a matter of doubt to the devout women.
A blow from the rattan cut his speech short. "To the jail," ordered the alferez. "This afternoon, to the capital!" The Accursed Soon the news spread through the town that the prisoners were about to set out. At first it was heard with terror; afterward came the weeping and wailing.
Had you yourself come, you would have found a place at our table, just as did your alferez, who was with us a couple of hours ago." With this he turned his back. The sergeant gnawed at the ends of his mustache but, considering himself the weaker party, ordered the soldiers to institute a search, especially among the trees, for the pilot, a description of whom he carried on a piece of paper.
"He is a crafty fellow," said the alferez, speaking to the curate. "He wanted to flee, but had received a flesh wound." "What is your name?" asked the alferez, speaking to Tarsilo. "Tarsilo Alasigan." "What did Don Crisostomo promise you for attacking the cuartel?" "Don Crisostomo has never communicated with us." "Don't deny it! You wanted to surprise us for him!" "You are mistaken.
The civil-guards and cuadrilleros who occupied it scarcely spoke and then with few words in low tones. At the table the directorcillo, two clerks, and several soldiers were rustling papers, while the alferez strode from one side to the other, at times gazing fiercely toward the door: prouder Themistocles could not have appeared in the Olympic games after the battle of Salamis.
Captain Tiago, the alferez, the gobernadorcillo, the friars, the employees, and the few señoritas who were present were seated, not according to rank but according to their own fancy. The banquet was very animated, but, before it was half over, a messenger with a telegram came in search of Captain Tiago. The Captain asked permission to read the message, and naturally all begged of him to do so.
He had just received a letter from Doña Victorina which, translated from the most illiterate Spanish, and omitting its many errors in spelling and punctuation, was as follows: "Esteemed Cousin: Within three days I want to know from you if you have killed the alferez or he you. I don't want another day to pass without this animal being punished.
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