Peste un ceas, pe-nserate, o birje trece \u00een goana mare prin strada Emancip\u0103rii din Farfurigii: pe capr\u0103, al\u0103turi cu birjarul, un sergent; \u00een fund, d. Lefter \u0219i d. c\u0103pitan Pandele: iar, dinainte, \u00eenc\u0103 un sergent \u0219i d. comisar al sec\u021biei respective, Turtureanu, deja cointeresat cu cinci la sut\u0103 asupra c\u00e2\u0219tigului – se-n\u021belege, c\u00e2\u0219tig, dac\u0103 se vor g\u0103si cele dou\u0103 bilete. Comisarul \u0219tie unde st\u0103 chivu\u021ba \u021a\u00e2ca.<\/p>\n
Birja, trec\u00e2nd din greu prin noroi, se opre\u0219te \u00een sf\u00e2r\u0219it \u00een apropierea unei cocioabe de p\u0103m\u00e2nt, care \u0219ade singuratic\u0103 pe un pe\u0219, pe un maidan. Comisarul posteaz\u0103 pe sergen\u021bi, pitula\u021bi, \u00een dosul cocioabei, dup\u0103 regula strategic\u0103 consacrat\u0103 la c\u0103lc\u0103ri de vizuini; le face semnul clasic al lui Harpocrates, \u0219-apoi trece, urmat de d. c\u0103pitan \u0219i de d. Popescu, s\u0103 bat\u0103 la u\u0219e… O fetic\u0103 zdren\u021buit\u0103 vine s\u0103 deschiz\u0103. \u00cen s\u0103li\u021ba luminat\u0103 de p\u0103lp\u0103iala a c\u00e2\u021biva t\u0103ciuni de pe vatr\u0103, miroase stra\u0219nic a carne cu prune: o \u021biganc\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 preg\u0103te\u0219te de cin\u0103. \u021ao\u021bi trei vizitatorii se dau \u00eenapoi pe prisp\u0103 pun\u00e2ndu-\u0219i m\u00e2na la nas.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Unde-i m\u0103-ta, fa? \u00eentreab\u0103 d. comisar.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Trebuie s\u0103 vie acuma, zice copila uit\u00e2ndu-se sperios la cei trei domni.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Aprinde-un muc de lum\u00e2nare \u0219i hai de ne du \u00een odaie, s-o a\u0219tept\u0103m. Fata st\u0103 la-ndoial\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Haide! se r\u0103ste\u0219te d. Turtureanu… \u0219i to\u021bi trei intr\u0103, \u00eemping\u00e2nd pe fat\u0103-nainte.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Da ce e? \u00eentreab\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2na, ridic\u00e2ndu-se de la vatr\u0103, unde sta st\u00e2rcit\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Avem treab\u0103 cu fie-ta, cu \u021a\u00e2ca…<\/p>\n
\u2013 Lipse\u0219te ceva dintr-o cas\u0103… \u0219tie ea ce lipse\u0219te, adaog\u0103 d. Lefter.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Vai de mine! boiarule, zice b\u0103tr\u00e2na… N-are \u021a\u00e2ca obiceiul… La toate casele boiere\u0219ti o cunoa\u0219te pe \u021a\u00e2ca… la toate cocoanele mari o \u0219tie pe \u021a\u00e2ca…<\/p>\n
\u2013 Haide! nu mai lungi vorba, comand\u0103 d. c\u0103pitan Pandele, \u0219-aprinde! c\u00e2t vrei s\u0103 m\u0103 \u021bii \u00een picioare?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Iac-aprinz… Da nu se poate, \u021a\u00e2ca, boiarule! s\u0103 fereasc\u0103 Dumnezeu! eu, p\u00e2ntru \u021a\u00e2ca, poci s\u0103-mi pui m\u00e2na-n foc p\u00e2ntru \u021a\u00e2ca… Poate, alt\u0103 chivu\u021b\u0103…<\/p>\n
\u0218i zic\u00e2nd aceasta, baba a aprins o lum\u00e2nare de seu \u0219-a trecut \u00een odaie, urmat\u0103 de boieri. Odaia are dou\u0103 paturi, o mas\u0103, o lavi\u021b\u0103, un scaun \u0219i o sobi\u021b\u0103 de tuci. Pe am\u00e2ndou\u0103 paturile, stau gr\u0103mezi de haine, \u00eenc\u0103l\u021b\u0103minte, p\u0103l\u0103rii, \u0219aluri purtate, pe sub paturi \u0219i pe lavi\u021b\u0103 fel-de-fel de m\u0103rfuri de farfur\u0103rie \u0219i sticl\u0103rie…<\/p>\n
La vederea mormanelor de vechituri, d. Lefter tresare; se repede \u0219i-ncepe s\u0103 scotoceasc\u0103 lu\u00e2nd \u0219i examin\u00e2nd pe r\u00e2nd buc\u0103\u021bic\u0103 cu buc\u0103\u021bic\u0103, fir cu fir. C\u00e2te reflexiuni ironice, picante, sentimentale, se pot face asupra unei a\u0219a gr\u0103mezi pestri\u021be de vechituri, cu privire la z\u0103d\u0103rnicia lumii trec\u0103toare prin care au trecut \u0219i ele o clip\u0103, nou\u0103, neve\u0219tejite! Dar d. Lefter n-are vreme s\u0103 filosofeze… el caut\u0103… caut\u0103 mereu… Fatalitate! jacheta cenu\u0219ie nu se afl\u0103. C\u00e2nd g\u00e2nduri peste g\u00e2nduri \u00eei clocotesc \u00een cap, iac\u0103t\u0103 \u0219i \u021a\u00e2ca, d-abia duc\u00e2ndu-\u0219i co\u0219ul plin de vechituri nou\u0103, foarte obosit\u0103 de alerg\u0103tura zilii-ntregi \u0219i fl\u0103m\u00e2nd\u0103: de departe i s-au umflat n\u0103rile ca r\u0103spuns la chemarea generosului miros de pe vatr\u0103.<\/p>\n
Cum intr\u0103, o \u00eenconjur\u0103 to\u021bi trei musafirii; d. Lefter o ia de pept:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Unde mi-e jacheta?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Care jachet\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Jacheta a cenu\u0219ie…<\/p>\n
\u2013 Care jachet\u0103 cenu\u0219ie?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Jacheta cu biletele…<\/p>\n
\u2013 Care belete, boiarule?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Te faci c\u0103 nu \u0219tii, ga\u0219peri\u021b\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u2013 S\u0103 m\u0103 tr\u0103sneasc\u0103 Dumnezeu! s\u0103 hie al dracului!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mai bine, spune drept, zice d. Turtureanu.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Dac\u0103 spui ai bac\u0219i\u0219 bun, adaog\u0103 d. c\u0103pitan Pandele.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce sa spuie boiarule! zice b\u0103tr\u00e2na apilpisit\u0103: ce s\u0103 spuie? vai de p\u0103catele noastre, dac\u0103 nu \u0219tie… auzi colo! ce sa spuie?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Taci tu! zbiar\u0103 d. Turtureanu \u0219i-i d\u0103 br\u00e2nci babei c\u00e2t colo \u00een s\u0103li\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n
Baba \u00ee\u0219i face cruci, iar copila tremur\u0103 ca varga l\u00e2ng\u0103 vatr\u0103, unde prunele sf\u00e2r\u00e2ie tare-n crati\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 S\u0103 n-aib\u0103 parte!… d\u0103 s\u0103 zic\u0103 \u021a\u00e2ca.<\/p>\n
\u2013 N-ai fost tu, o-ntrerupe d. Lefter, \u00een strada Pacien\u021bii num\u0103rul 13, la madam Popescu, madam Lefter Popescu, o dam\u0103 – nalt\u0103, sub\u021biric\u0103, frumoas\u0103, oache\u0219\u0103, casele ale verzi cu geaml\u00e2c, care are o aluni\u021b\u0103 cu p\u0103r d-asupra spr\u00e2ncenii din st\u00e2nga \u0219i se poart\u0103 legat\u0103 la cap cu ro\u0219u?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ba, am fost.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Atunci, de ce min\u021bi?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ba, nu min\u021b, boiarule; am fost. Ei?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu \u021bi-a dat pe zece farfurii, c\u0103 n-ai vrut s\u0103 dai o duzin\u0103-ntreag\u0103, cu chenar conabiu lat pe muche \u0219i altul pembe \u00eengust pe buz\u0103, o jachet\u0103 cenu\u0219ie?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ba, mi-a dat.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Atunci, de ce min\u021bi?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu minte, boiarule! zice b\u0103tr\u00e2na din s\u0103li\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Taci tu!… Unde e jacheta?<\/p>\n
\u2013 E pa mine… o port pa dedesubt.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ca s\u0103 nu te prinz!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ba, sa hie al dracului care n-o poart\u0103 de frig… Sunt bor\u021boas\u0103, boiarule… alerg toat\u0103 z\u00e2ulica p\u00e2n zloat\u0103 – bogdaproste, \u00eemi \u021b\u00e2ne cald la p\u00e2ntece \u0219i la \u0219ale.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Dezbrac\u0103-te, porunce\u0219te d. Lefter.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Iaca…<\/p>\n
\u0218i \u021a\u00e2ca \u00eencepe a-\u0219i lep\u0103da \u021boalele de pe ea. Tocmai dedesubt de tot, peste c\u0103ma\u0219e, se vede jacheta cenu\u0219ie. D. Lefter repede o caut\u0103-n buzunarul de la piept; chivu\u021ba se str\u00e2mb\u0103, c\u0103 se g\u00e2dil\u0103 la s\u00e2n. \u00cen buzunar, nimic; dar \u00een fund are o descus\u0103tur\u0103… desigur o fi c\u0103zut \u00een c\u0103ptu\u0219eal\u0103. \u021a\u00e2ca scoate \u0219i o d\u0103 d-lui Lefter, care o descoase cu briceagul din toate tighelurile… \u00cen c\u0103ptu\u0219al\u0103, nimic \u0219i iar nimic.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce mi-ai f\u0103cut biletele? r\u0103cne\u0219te \u00eengrozitor cu pumnii-n-cle\u0219ta\u021bi d. Lefter, pe c\u00e2nd ceilal\u021bi doi o str\u00e2ng de aproape \u00eentr-un col\u021b.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Care belete? zbiar\u0103 \u0219i chivu\u021ba ca o nebun\u0103 \u0219-apoi, schimb\u00e2nd tonul, strig\u0103 tare c\u0103tre baba din s\u0103li\u021b\u0103 \u00een \u021big\u0103ne\u0219te: “S\u0103i, c\u0103 se sfarojesc prunele de tot!”<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce ai spus pe \u021big\u0103ne\u0219te? url\u0103 d. Lefter.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Hauleu! \u00eencepu s\u0103 se boceasc\u0103 baba \u0219i copila, ce n\u0103paste a fost s\u0103 caz\u0103 pe noi!<\/p>\n
\u2013 S\u0103-mi sco\u021bi biletele! scr\u00e2\u0219ne\u0219te d. Lefter; s\u0103-mi sco\u021bi biletele, hoa\u021bo! c\u0103 te omor, m\u0103-n\u021belegi? te omor!<\/p>\n
\u0218i-i trage \u021a\u00e2chii o palm\u0103, s-o n\u0103uceasc\u0103. Atunci, toate trei femeile se pornesc pe r\u0103gete, s\u0103 crezi c\u0103 s-a aprins o cu\u0219c\u0103 cu pantere. D. Turtureanu d\u0103 \u00eentr-o parte pe d. Lefter \u0219i cu gravitate:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Las-o m\u0103 rog… Las’ c\u0103 spun dumnealor la sec\u021bie. Apoi iese-n u\u0219\u0103, d\u0103 un \u021bignal; sergen\u021bii r\u0103sar ca din p\u0103m\u00e2nt, \u0219i haide! le-au pornit pe nem\u00e2ncate…<\/p>\n
Toat\u0103 arta d-lui Turtureanu a r\u0103mas infructuoas\u0103… Femeile nu \u0219tiau nimic despre bilete… Cu tot zelul s\u0103u, nu putuse dep\u0103\u0219i limitele pruden\u021bii; de aceea, el spunea seara la ber\u0103rie d-lui Lefter \u0219i c\u0103pitanului:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Cu baba \u0219i cu fata, de! merge s\u0103 le mursici mai zdrav\u0103n; dar cu \u021a\u00e2ca, nu prea, fiindc\u0103, e pardon, \u00een pozi\u021bie; dac\u0103 se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 la secret vreun avort… Nu \u0219tii dumneata? Ast\u0103zi nu mai po\u021bi conta pe inferiori… \u0219i nici pe superiori! S-aude… Gazetele at\u00e2t a\u0219teapt\u0103 ca s\u0103 ne persecute…<\/p>\n
(Ion Luca Caragiale)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Peste un ceas, pe-nserate, o birje trece \u00een goana mare prin strada Emancip\u0103rii din Farfurigii: pe capr\u0103, al\u0103turi cu birjarul, un sergent; \u00een fund,...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[178],"class_list":["post-4800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spicy","tag-ion-luca-caragiale"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4800\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lorenalupu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}