Part 52 (2/2)
”After having given me these data, Don Calixto told me that by counting on Senor Peribanez, the election was almost sure; and since the quicker things go the better, he proposed that we should go to see him, and I immediately agreed.
”Don Platon Peribanez has a silver-shop fitted up in the old style; a small show-window, full of rattles, Moorish anklets, necklaces, little crosses, et cetera; a narrow, dark shop, then a long pa.s.sage, and at the rear, a workroom with a window on a court.
”As his a.s.sistant in the silver-shop, Don Platon has a boy who is a nonsuch. I believe that if you took him to London and exhibited him, saying beforehand: 'Bear in mind, gentlemen, that this is not a monkey or an anthropoid, but a man,' you would rake in a mad amount of pounds sterling.
”We went into Don Platon's little shop, we asked the young macaco for him, and we pa.s.sed on into the workshop.
”Senor Peribanez is a man of medium stature, dressed in black, with a trimmed white beard, grey eyes, and modest manners. He speaks coldly, thinks closely of what he is saying; he has a monotonous, slow voice, and nothing escapes him.
”Don Calixto presented me to him; the silversmith gave me his hand as if with a certain repugnance, and the boss explained who I was and what I was after.
”Don Platon said that he could not reply categorically without consulting with his friends and with Father Martin. The Father has other candidates; one the Duke of Castro himself; and the other a rich farmer of the town.
”The Duke of Castro presents no other drawback than that he has been arrested in Paris for an insignificant swindle he has committed; but it seems that a rich Cuban wants to get him out of his difficulties on condition that he will marry his daughter.
”If he comes out of jail and gets married, then they will nominate him as Deputy from here.
”I said to Don Platon, in case the worthy Duke does not come out of jail, would he have difficulties over my being his candidate. He replied that I am very young, and after many circ.u.mlocutions he said flatly that he doesn't know if I would be accepted or not as a candidate by his followers; but in case I were, the conditions precedent would be: first, that I would not interfere in any way in the affairs of the district, which would be ventilated in the town, as previously; secondly, that I should bear the costs of the election, which would amount approximately to some ten thousand pesetas.
”Don Calixto looked at me questioningly, and I smiled in a way to make it understood that I agreed, and after extracting a promise from Don Platon that he will give us a definite answer this week, we took leave of him and went to the Casino.
”There I was introduced to the judge, an Andalusian who has a spotless reputation for veniality, and to the mayor, who is a rich farmer; and the most important persons of the town being thus gathered at one table, we chatted about politics, women, and gambling.
”I told them a number of tales; I told them that I once lost ten thousand dollars at Monte Carlo, playing with two Russian princes and a Yankee millionairess; I talked to them about the mysteries and crimes of gambling houses and of those great centres of pleasure, and I left them speechless. At half-past nine, with a terrible headache, I came back here. I think I have not lost a day, eh?”
”No! The devil! What speed!” exclaimed Alzugaray.
”But you are not eating any supper. Don't you intend to take anything?”
”No. I am going to see if I can sleep. Listen, day after tomorrow we are both invited to dine at Don Calixto's.”
”Me, too?”
”Yes; I told them that you are a rich tourist, and they want to know you.”
”And what am I to do there?”
”You can study these people, as an entomologist studies insects. Listen, it wouldn't do any harm if you took a walk to that town near here, named Cidones, to see if you can find out what sort of bird this Father Martin is.”
”All right.”
”And if you don't mind, go into that Republican bookseller's shop, under any pretext, and talk to him.”
”I will do so.”
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