Isaura, the SlavePart 20
Página 1 de 9
Part 20
--But by a sad fatality the angel fell from heaven into the mire of slavery, and no one in the eyes of the world will be able to purify her of that stain, which defiles her wings. Alvaro, social life is all strewn with Caudine Forks, beneath which we are forced to bow, under penalty of dashing our forehead against some obstacle that makes us fall. Whoever does not respect social conveniences and even social prejudices risks falling into discredit or ridicule.
--Slavery in itself is already an indignity, a hideous ulcer on the face of the nation that tolerates and protects it. For my part, I see no reason to carry respect for an absurd prejudice, resulting from an abuse that dishonors us in the eyes of the civilized world, to that point. Let me be the first to set that noble example, which perhaps will be imitated. Let it at least serve as an energetic and solemn protest against a barbarous and shameful institution.
--You are rich, Alvaro, and wealth gives you enough independence to be able to satisfy your philanthropic dreams and the whims of your romantic imagination. But your wealth, however great it may be, could never reform the prejudices of the world, nor make that slave, to whom by all appearances you would want to bind your destiny, be considered, or even admitted into the circles of high society...
--And what do the circles of high society matter to me, as long as we are well received among people of good sense and well-formed hearts? Besides, you are completely mistaken, my Geraldo. The world always courts money, wherever it may be. Gold has a brilliance that dazzles and completely erases those supposed stains of birth. We will never lack, I assure you, respect or social consideration, as long as we do not lack money.
--But, Alvaro, you forget a very essential thing; and if it is not possible for you to obtain the freedom of your protégée?...
At this question Alvaro turned pale, and oppressed by the idea of so cruel a possible alternative, without answering a word he looked sadly at the horizon, when Alvaro's coachman, who was stationed with his carriage by the garden gate, came to announce to him that some people were looking for him and wished to speak with him, or with the owner of the house.
--Me!--muttered Alvaro; by chance am I in my house?... but since they are also looking for the owner of this one ... have them come in.
--Alvaro, said Geraldo peering through a window,--if I am not mistaken, they are police people; it seems to me I see a court officer there. Will we have another scene like the one at the ball?...
--Impossible!... by what right would they come to touch the sacred deposit that the police themselves entrusted to me?...
--Do not trust in that. Justice is a very fickle goddess and fertile in tricks. Today she will undo what she did yesterday...
Chapter XVI.
Martinho's first care as soon as he left the ball, where he saw his attempt to apprehend Isaura fail, was to write to her master a long and detailed letter, informing him that he had had the fortune to discover the slave he was so much seeking.
He recounted in detail the efforts he had made to that end, until discovering her at a public ball, and he emphasized his own merit and perspicacity as a bailiff, saying that if it were not for him, no one would be capable of sniffing out a slave in the person of such a pretty and accomplished young woman. Distorting the facts and circumstances in the most atrocious and slanderous way, he told him in tavern-keeper's phrases that Miguel had established himself in Recife with Isaura in order to speculate with his daughter's beauty, who, by dint of setting snares for the idle and opulent youth, had finally managed to catch a nice fat little duck easy to pluck. This was a Pernambucan by the name of Alvaro, a young man twice a millionaire and a thousand times scatterbrained, who had a mad passion for her. This young man, whom she kept deluded and enticed to the point that he wanted to marry her, fell into the folly of taking her to a ball, where he, Martinho, had the fortune to discover her, and would have apprehended her, and she would already be on her way to her master's power, if it were not for the opposition of that certain Senhor Alvaro, who despite learning what rabble his heroine was, had the shamelessness to protect her scandalously. Availing himself of his valuable connections and the influence he enjoyed in the country by reason of his wealth, he managed to prevent her apprehension, and becoming her guarantor kept her in his power against all reason and justice, protesting that he would not deliver her except to her own master. He judges that Alvaro's intention is to try means to free her, in order to make her his wife or his mistress. He judged it his duty to communicate all this to him for his guidance.
This was in short the content of Martinho's letter, which went to Rio de Janeiro on the same packet that carried Alvaro's letter, making proposals for Isaura's freedom. Leoncio, content with the discovery but full of jealousy and uneasiness in view of Martinho's information, hastened to reply to both, and the same packet that brought the insolent and insulting reply he addressed to Alvaro was the bearer of the one destined for Martinho, in which he authorized him to apprehend the slave wherever he might find her, and for greater security he also sent him a special power of attorney for that end, and some more letters of recommendation from important persons to the chief of police, so that he would assist him in that effort.
Martinho, as fast as he could, went to the police house, and presenting all these papers to the chief, requested that he order the slave to be delivered to him. The chief, in view of the documents with which Martinho was furnished, understood that it was not possible for him to deny him what he asked, and issued a written order for the slave in question to be delivered to him, and gave him a court officer and two guards to carry out the effort.
It was therefore Martinho, who furnished with all powers and competently authorized by the police, presented himself with his escort at the door of Isaura's house, to snatch from Alvaro the coveted prey.
--That scoundrel again!--murmured Alvaro between his teeth upon seeing Martinho enter.--It was a roar of impotent wrath that the anguished youth tore from the depths of his soul.
--What does the sir want of me?--asked Alvaro in a dry and haughty tone.
--Your Lordship, who knows me well,--replied Martinho,--can already presume more or less the motive that brings me here.
--I cannot even remotely guess it; rather, this police apparatus with which you come accompanied causes me astonishment.
--Your astonishment will cease, knowing that I come to reclaim a runaway slave named Isaura, who not long ago was apprehended by me in the middle of a ball, at which Your Lordship was present, and since I had to send her to her master in Rio de Janeiro, Your Lordship opposed this without any justifiable motive, keeping her to this day in your power against all right.
--Hold on there, Senhor Martinho! I think you are not a competent person to give or take rights from whomever you please. You well know that I am the depositary of that slave, and that with all right and consent of the authority I have her under my protection.
--That right, if one can call an arbitrariness a right, ceased as soon as Your Lordship alleged nothing in favor of the same slave. And besides,--he continued, presenting a paper,--here is the express and definitive order from the chief of police, ordering that the said slave be delivered to me. Nothing can legally be opposed to this.
--From what I see, Senhor Martinho,--said Alvaro after quickly examining the paper Martinho had handed him,--you still have not desisted from your unworthy procedure, becoming for a little money the vile instrument of the executioner of an unhappy woman? Reflect, and you will see that this infamous action can only inspire disgust and horror in everyone.
Martinho, finding himself backed by the police, judged himself entitled to show himself harsh and arrogant, and therefore with imperturbable cold blood:
--Senhor Alvaro,--he replied,--I came to this house only with the aim of demanding in the name of the authority the delivery of a runaway slave who is sheltered here, and not to hear reprimands that you have no right to give me. See to doing what the law orders and prudence advises, if you do not want me to use my right...
--What right?!...
--To search this house and take the slave by force.
--Get out, you miserable bailiff!--shouted Alvaro loudly, no longer able to master his wrath.--Disappear from my presence, if you do not want to pay dearly for your insolence!...
--Senhor Alvaro!... see what you are doing!
Dr. Geraldo, finding not much reason in his friend, had out of prudence until then kept silent, but seeing that Alvaro's wrath and imprudence were exceeding the limits, he judged it his duty to intervene in the question, and approaching Alvaro and pulling his arm:
--What are you doing, Alvaro?--he said to him in a low voice,--Do you not see that with these outbursts you only succeed in compromising yourself and aggravating Isaura's fate? more prudence, my friend.
--But... what should I do?... will you not tell me?
--Deliver her.
--That never!...--replied Alvaro definitively.
They all remained silent for a few moments. Alvaro seemed to reflect.
--An expedient occurs to me,--he said into Geraldo's ear,--I am going to try it.
And without waiting for an answer he approached Martinho.
--Senhor Martinho,--he said to him,--I wish to say two words to you in private, with the doctor's permission here.
--I am at your orders,--replied Martinho.
--I am persuaded, Senhor Martinho,--Alvaro said to him in a low voice, taking him aside,--that the five contos bonus is the principal motive that leads you to proceed in this manner against an unhappy woman who never offended you. You are within your right, I recognize, and the sum is not to be despised. But if you wish to desist completely from this business and leave that slave in peace, I will give you double that amount.
--Double!... ten contos de réis! exclaimed Martinho, opening his eyes wide.
--Exactly; ten contos de réis and today itself.
--But, Senhor Alvaro, I have already given my word to the owner of the slave, I took steps to that end, and...
--What does it matter!... say that she ran away again, or give any other excuse...
--How, if it is so public that she is in Your Lordship's possession?...
--Bah!... that is your wish, Senhor Martinho; for a man as sharp and lively as you are to get tangled up over such a small thing!...
--So be it,--said Martinho after reflecting for a moment.--Since Your Lordship takes such an interest in that slave, I do not wish to trouble you further with such business, for telling you the truth is quite repugnant to me. I accept the proposal.
--Thank you; it is an important service you are going to render me.
--But what turn shall I give the business to come out of it well.
--See there; your imagination is fertile in resources, and it will inspire you with some means of extricating yourself from difficulties with the greatest cleanliness.
Martinho remained for a few moments biting his nails, pensive and with his eyes fixed on the ground. At last, raising his head and bringing his index finger to his forehead:
--I have it!--he exclaimed.--To say that the slave disappeared again is not convenient, and it would compromise Your Lordship, who made yourself responsible for her. I will say only that, having investigated the case well, I recognized that the young woman whom Your Lordship has in your possession is not the slave in question, and it is all over.
--That is not badly thought up ... but it was such a public business...
Comentários (0)