PART FOUR: Uncle Pio and Don Jamie

Notes

This fourth part of the book unfolds the character of Uncle Pio and his relationship with Camila Perichole. Pio is developed as a shrewd man of the world, who has always been a master at survival. At the age of ten he ran away to Madrid from his father's hacienda. From ten to fifteen he distributed handbills for merchants, held horses, and ran confidential errands. From fifteen to twenty he trained bears and snakes for travelling circuses; he cooked, and mixed punches; he hung about the entries of the most expensive taverns and whispered information into the traveler's ears. He was attached to all the theatres and could applaud like ten. . . .He sold rumors about crops and about the value of land.

From twenty to thirty his services came to be recognized in very high circles -- he was sent out by the Government to inspirit some half-hearted rebellions on the mountains. Uncle Pio had always enjoyed the theater and finally decided to work in it for a career. When he heard Camila, an uncouth teenager, singing in a café, he recognized her underlying talent and beauty. He took her into his care and taught her how to act, polishing her diction, refining her expression, and guiding her performances to perfection. Both of them were proud of her success.

Camila was very appreciative of what Uncle Pio had done for her and did her best to please him. When he would criticize her performance or dialogue, she would feel dejected and apologize to him for her mistakes. In the early stages of their relationship, she was truly a puppet in his hands. However, as she matured into a lovely and talented actress, Pio realized that he had fallen in love with her, even though he hid her feelings from Camila. She, on the other hand, had many suitors, including the handsome and chivalrous Viceroy, who made the actress his mistress. In the beginning, he showered her..........

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