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of a hundred thousand scudi a year； some journal would speak of him as
〃the brave Montefiore；〃 he would marry a girl of rank； and no one
would dare to dispute his courage or verify his wounds。
Captain Montefiore had one friend in the person of the quartermaster；
a Provencal； born in the neighborhood of Nice； whose name was Diard。
A friend； whether at the galleys or in the garret of an artist；
consoles for many troubles。 Now Montefiore and Diard were two
philosophers； who consoled each other for their present lives by the
study of vice； as artists soothe the immediate disappointment of their
hopes by the expectation of future fame。 Both regarded the war in its
results； not its action； they simply considered those who died for
glory fools。 Chance had made soldiers of them； whereas their natural
proclivities would have seated them at the green table of a congress。
Nature had poured Montefiore into the mould of a Rizzio； and Diard
into that of a diplomatist。 Both were endowed with that nervous；
feverish； half…feminine organization； which is equally strong for good
or evil； and from which may emanate； according to the impulse of these
singular temperaments； a crime or a generous action； a noble deed or a
base one。 The fate of such natures depends at any moment on the
pressure； more or less powerful； produced on their nervous systems by
violent and transitory passions。
Diard was considered a good accountant； but no soldier would have
trusted him with his purse or his will； possibly because of the
antipathy felt by all real soldiers against the bureaucrats。 The
quartermaster was not without courage and a certain juvenile
generosity； sentiments which many men give up as they grow older； by
dint of reasoning or calculating。 Variable as the beauty of a fair
woman； Diard was a great boaster and a great talker； talking of
everything。 He said he was artistic； and he made prizes （like two
celebrated generals） of works of art； solely； he declared； to preserve
them for posterity。 His military comrades would have been puzzled
indeed to form a correct judgment of him。 Many of them； accustomed to
draw upon his funds when occasion obliged them； thought him rich； but
in truth； he was a gambler； and gamblers may be said to have nothing
of their own。 Montefiore was also a gambler； and all the officers of
the regiment played with the pair； for； to the shame of men be it
said； it is not a rare thing to see persons gambling together around a
green table who； when the game is finished； will not bow to their
companions； feeling no respect for them。 Montefiore was the man with
whom Bianchi made his bet about the heart of the Spanish sentinel。
Montefiore and Diard were among the last to mount the breach at
Tarragona； but the first in the heart of the town as soon as it was
taken。 Accidents of this sort happen in all attacks； but with this
pair of friends they were customary。 Supporting each other； they made
their way bravely through a labyrinth of narrow and gloomy little
streets in quest of their personal objects； one seeking for painted
madonnas； the other for madonnas of flesh and blood。
In what part of Tarragona it happened I cannot say； but Diard
presently recognized by its architecture the portal of a convent； the
gate of which was already battered in。 Springing into the cloister to
put a stop to the fury of the soldiers； he arrived just in time to
prevent two Parisians from shooting a Virgin by Albano。 In spite of
the moustache with which in their military fanaticism they had
decorated her face； he bought the picture。 Montefiore； left alone
during this episode； noticed； nearly opposite the convent； the house
and shop of a draper； from which a shot was fired at him at the moment
when his eyes caught a flaming glance from those of an inquisitive
young girl； whose head was advanced under the shelter of a blind。
Tarragona taken by assault； Tarragona furious； firing from every
window； Tarragona violated； with dishevelled hair； and half…naked； was
indeed an object of curiosity；the curiosity of a daring Spanish
woman。 It was a magnified bull…fight。
Montefiore forgot the pillage； and heard； for the moment； neither the
cries； nor the musketry； nor the growling of the artillery。 The
profile of that Spanish girl was the most divinely delicious thing
which he； an Italian libertine； weary of Italian beauty； and dreaming
of an impossible woman because he was tired of all women； had ever
seen。 He could still quiver； he； who had wasted his fortune on a
thousand follies； the thousand passions of a young and blase manthe
most abominable monster that society generates。 An idea came into his
head； suggested perhaps by the shot of the draper…patriot； namely；to
set fire to the house。 But he was now alone； and without any means of
action； the fighting was centred in the market…place； where a few
obstinate beings were still defending the town。 A better idea then
occurred to him。 Diard came out of the convent； but Montefiore said
not a word of his discovery； on the contrary； he accompanied him on a
series of rambles about the streets。 But the next day； the Italian had
obtained his military billet in the house of the draper；an
appropriate lodging for an equipment captain！
The house of the worthy Spaniard consisted； on the ground…floor； of a
vast and gloomy shop； externally fortified with stout iron bars； such
as we see in the old storehouses of the rue des Lombards。 This shop
communicated with a parlor lighted from an interior courtyard； a large
room breathing the very spirit of the middle…ages； with smoky old
pictures； old tapestries； antique 〃brazero；〃 a plumed hat hanging to a
nail； the musket of the guerrillas； and the cloak of Bartholo。 The
kitchen adjoined this unique living…room； where the inmates took their
meals and warmed themselves over the dull glow of the brazier； smoking
cigars and discoursing bitterly to animate all hearts with hatred
against the French。 Silver pitchers and precious dishes of plate and
porcelain adorned a buttery shelf of the old fashion。 But the light；
sparsely admitted； allowed these dazzling objects to show but
slightly； all things； as in pictures of the Dutch school； looked
brown； even the faces。 Between the shop and this living…room； so fine
in color and in its tone of patriarchal life； was a dark staircase
leading to a ware…room where the light； carefully distributed；
permitted the examination of goods。 Above this were the apartments of
the merchant and his wife。 Rooms for an apprentice and a servant…woman
were in a garret under the roof； which projected over the street and
was supported by buttresses； giving a somewhat fantastic appearance to
the exterior of the building。 These chambers were now taken by the
merchant and his wife who gave up their own rooms to the officer who
was billeted upon them；probably because they wished to avoid all
quarrelling。
Montefiore gave himself out as a former Spanish subje