, andinadditiontheinspectorsuggestedthatheshouldremain."Igrewthesepumpkinsonmyfarm," hesaid, "andnoonecanprovethecontrary."
"Nowyouwillsee," saidBuscabeatas, , , sittingonhisfeetandhalfdeadwithlaughter, hesaid,"Gentlemen, haveyoueverpaidtaxes? Ifso, haveyouseenthatgreenbookwhichthetax-collectorcarries? Receiptsarecutfromit, andtheyleaveastubbywhichitcanbeprovedwhetherareceiptisfalseornot."
"Whatyouaretalkingaboutisthestub-book," saidtheinspectorgravely.
"ThatiswhatIamcarryingwithme; , , asyoucaneasilysee, , whichiswider, ! Andthisone...andthatone!"
Ashesaidthesewords, hefittedastalktothehollowremaininginthepumpkinwhenitwasplucked, , includingthepolicemenandtheinspectorhimself, bentdownlowandbegantoassistBuscabeatasinthisstrangeproof, allsayingwithchildishpleasure, "Yes, yes! Itiscertainlyso! Thisonebelongshere! Doyousee?"
Theoldfarmer'seyesfilledwithtearsofhappiness, andthepolicemenshowedthemselvesreadytotaketherobberofftoprison.
Itisunnecessarytosaythatthispleasurewasgrantedthem, andthatFulanowasobligedtoreturntothemerchantthefifteenduroshehadreceived.
BuscabeatasreturnedtoRotawithdeepsatisfaction, buthekeptsayingontheway, "Howbeautifultheylookedinthemarket-place! IshouldhavebroughtbackManuela, sothatImighteathertonightandkeeptheseeds."
我要说的这个老布斯卡伯阿塔斯，已经年届六旬，后背已经有些驼了，他整整四十年都在自家的科斯蒂拉河畔的土地上辛苦劳作。那年，他在地里种了很多大南瓜，这些瓜从瓤到皮儿里里外外都泛着金灿灿的光，似乎在告诉人们，现在已是六月份了。布斯卡伯阿塔斯对于每只南瓜的形状、长势，甚至芳名都了如指掌，他尤其喜爱那四十只长得最饱满、颜色最润泽的南瓜。每天，他都用慈爱的目光凝视着这些南瓜，并为它们惋惜：“要不了多久，我们就得分开了！”
