New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15
A TRUE STORY.
"I WAS AN INTERPRETER ONCE"

Frank Harris In the Saturday Review.
1t was in the entrance hall of the Hotel de Roma
AZ Madrid I had come downstairs to see IL could
get an Interpreter competent guide to accompany
my wife to the Museum Of the Prado, while went
off with toreador TO a rustic wedding. ihere
was a men In the hall who rather puzzled me- ne
was not we'll dressed enough for visitor 10 the
hotel yet his eye did not seek mine with the serVie
solicitation which IL the mark or the guoe tr'pe II"
all civilized capitals. did he show that digninei
Indifference TO my obvious wants which Is. 80 10
say. the livery of the Spanard I'm quest OF employ
ment He was about the middle height, or common
place appearance. AS there was nothing Tor IL put
to speak to him, | made up my Iaind TO speak IN
English Good morning.
Good morning, sir" he answered quietly HIS
tone encouraged me.
do you happen TO be an interpreter" asked
NO am not interpreter" There was some
thing subdued half melancholy. In his tone but he
a Spaniard; the RS betrayed him unmistakaoy.
What bore" said dsconsolatey. turning half
aside; 'Mazzantini will be waiting for me. and |
wanted some one 20 go with my wife TO the Mu-
scum"
II shall be happy to accompany madame" said
the Spanlard land If madame cares for paintings
she will have emotions in the Prado
Thanks as you are a guide | must not
trouble YOU"
II often go with people to the Prado. ne an
swered little eagerly.
But then" went on with British love OF a fact.
"you must be either an interpreter guide"
Il not an Interpreter he replied abruptly. his
manner almost rude as he turned away.
We'll" | said. feeling my mistake lat any rate
you speak English better than any Spanard have
met and daresay you know more about the pic
lures than the ordinary guide"
He turned to me- lifting his eyebrows in depreca :
ing pity and as my wife appeared at the moment
confded her 10 his charge. When we met before
dinner my wife spoke Of him. Such strange man.
SO terribly enthusiastic. lie bored me to extinction
about Velasquez, and seemed quite hurt because l
could not appreciate-'las Menihas,' yes. that was
the name-a quite absurd picture Polite?-Oh. yes
for foreigner and a man In his POSITION"
After this met the frequently. and often
talked with him. found that he knew a good deal
about the Spanish school OF painting. and especially
about velasquez. Zurbaran. and Goya; but his
knowledge was curiousy fragmentary He had evil
IDENTIFY OWNED more than he had read. and his ideas
about and things had grown to have all the
weight of facts for his mind There was too. a
curious mixture Of self-asserton and humility about
him which I could not account for | ventured 10
ask him, one evening. how he had come TO learn so
much about painting. and especially about Veas-
quez He went on twrling a cigarette between his
yeow-staIned fingers, while his little brown eyes
contracted with the effort OF thin king. After a
pause, he said:
Il was in the Prado every day. and somehow or
other the little pictures grew hideous and the
masterpieces more and more interesting"
Then you were always guide and interpreter"
interrupted.
He turned upon me abruptly in revolt Of con-
ceit.
"Oh. yes. Senior. was interpreter once. did
not only interpret our language but the works of
greatest men in the Prado common people.
Oh. yes" he repeated noddng his head while sort
OF flush over his salow cheeks Il In
terpreter-oncc."
vi m
you not interpreter? And why don't you
the band your cap?'
He shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. But
pressed him. and at length he spoke:
when the visitors found out that was real
interpreter. they began to recommend their
friends, and got constant employment, more than
| could do and l got money. l became proud.
The proprietor let me have a the hotel.
and
"One day, out OF the season. English gentle
man. called Mr. Ponsonby. came here. and after
spending day in his room, he asked me what there
do in this dull place. and took him the
Prado. He was very affabe and quick and liked all
l told him. He said ought TO have great reputa-
ton, and when said thought l had. he said he
did not that sort Of reputation. | ought
to write down what l knew about the painters.
and the book would sell. and make me a rep
utation everywhere. We passed the evening to-
gether In this cafe: see. at that table. All the next
day. too. spent together: he did seem want
to he alone, 1t damned duh. he said. without
any talk to. He always read the English
newspapers as soon as they came. Except for tha,
time with him every minute for three days
ION the fourth morning. about o'clock in
the hall waiting for him. when suddenly there came
up to my sisters husbands brothers son. the
youngest OF the family. He was in the police, and
had got on. ] had known him as baby ana played
with him often; mis- third name Jose after
We began to talk asked him about the family:
they all live In Toledo. And passed about ten
ne
" Are you doing anything now: why do you not
But I replied: AL no: stick to my work Be
sides. | have English gentleman here now. who
takes me everywhere with him. such a nice gentle
An he said is he in the hotel now?
Il answered proudly: He is in the hotel. and am
"'Ah' he said take me to his room. won't you !?
think have something to tell him.,or something
for him forget now exactly what he said. but
replied All 1ig IT. come PnNso Sn ou,, ro no
with me. he was SO pleasant and l. ike vain fool
nsS to at Ink d | % p to ns
sharply: Who's there? and said
Then hm Unlocking S8ns hS
AS he opened it ! began NJ PSnsonby | have
tohsr Pf SON he 's beore ms and
put his hand on Mr.; Ponsonbys shoulder. saying
Mr. Ponsonby Pigott. you must come with me
81 still did not understand. and ! was little
angry at being pushed aside. so l stepped forward
What do you mean? He looked a, me with a
prisoner.
Then knew and l say to my sisters husbands
brothers son:
'Ha so you have made me spy like yourself
You have made me help to give my friend up, and
go on. I mad with rage because felt the
guilt in myself but Mr. Ponsonby Pgott. he did not
reproach me He was a little pale. that was all.
'Motionng toward the alcove where the bed
stood he asked the detective: May go TO get my
brushes and things?
Il stepped in front OF the young man. and said:
Certainly. Mr. Ponsonby pigo' d,.yyS you shall get
oh | was determined to be a fine fool to the end.
When he went to the alcove, turned to my sister :
and sad-what did not say? have not forgiven
him yet.
"Ail the while | was thinking OF VIII 4 brute I
had been and fool, 10 he outwitted by boy. Sud
denly there cane a click. and-as the detective
rushed past me-the bang Of revolver. When We
got to the alcove there he lay. who had been so
kind to me-dead
Then | knew what had done. and turned and
went out OF the room. and In the hall they all met
me and asked: