IN WHICH THERE SEEMS SOME CHANCE OF A TRIANGULAR DUEL.
Harry and Ashby, transformed from bosom friends to mortal enemies,
now occupied the same room, but with an armed guard to prevent
further intercourse. Such intercourse was, however, more effectually
prevented by something far more powerful than any armed
guard--namely, by mutual hate, and by the consciousness that their
hostile meeting, though interrupted, had not been terminated. It had
only been deferred; and yet again, at some future time, they must
meet and settle this quarrel. Even this prospect, however, important
though it was, did not by any means form the most important part of
their thoughts as they stood thus apart absorbed in themselves.
Each one turned his thoughts rather to the events which had last
occupied him before they had encountered one another; and so, while
Harry wandered in fancy back to Katie's room, Ashby was taken up with
tender reminiscences of Dolores.
In the midst of such sentimental meditations, they were startled by
the sudden outburst of that loud alarm and wild tumult already
mentioned. In an instant they both were roused out of their
abstraction, and brought back to the stern realities of life. The
guard, too, were roused, and, springing to their feet, they stood
waiting for orders. But after a few minutes the uproar became so
tremendous that the position of the guards grew unendurable, and they
went to the door and tried to open it. This they could not do, for it
was fastened on the outside, so that departure from the room by that
way was not possible; yet the sounds which came to their ears were
sufficient to inform them of the whole truth, and tell them that
the castle had been surprised by an attacking party, which was
evidently victorious.
The longer they listened the plainer did this become, and from this
there arose the inevitable conclusion that they--that is, the Carlist
guard--were prisoners. Upon this, restiveness and uneasiness began to
be visible among them, and a dread of their coming doom from the
hands of merciless enemies quite demoralized them. They exchanged
looks of terror; they looked wildly around to see if there were any
chances of escape; but to their eyes the stone walls, the stone
floor, the narrow windows, and the vaulted roof offered not a chance
of escape, or even of a partial concealment.
As for Harry and Ashby, they passed in one instant from depths of
despair to the highest hope. They recognized the shouts and the
watchword of the Republic, and felt that in the hands of the soldiers
of the government they would be safe.
Suddenly the door was opened. Outside were armed men with blazing
torches, from among whom there advanced into the room an officer.
The Carlists were immediately disarmed, and their arms taken outside.
But the officer took no notice of them. His eyes, searching on every
side, soon perceived Harry and Ashby, who had drawn near.
"Senor captain," said Harry, "I rejoice that you have come to save us
from captivity and death. We have been here as prisoners for two or
three days, and an immense ransom was exacted from us, which we could
not pay. Had you not come, we should undoubtedly have been shot."
Ashby said not a word. He had recognized Lopez at a glance, and
dreaded the worst from this vengeful enemy.
Lopez kept his eyes fixed on Ashby as he spoke, though he addressed
Harry.
"Senors," said he, "I am glad that I have come in time to avert so
horrible a crime. You, senor," he continued, addressing Harry, "may
retire: you are free. You will be respected and protected by my
followers, and may either go, or remain till our return to Vittoria.
As for Senor Ashby, I wish to have a brief conversation with him."
At this Harry bowed, and with some further expression of gratitude
went out of the room a free man, his heart swelling with exultation
and joy and hope.
"Senor Ashby," said Lopez, "we have met again."
Ashby bowed.
"Senor Ashby," continued Lopez, "insults have been given and received
on both sides, and we are already under engagements to have a hostile
meeting. Is it not so?"
Ashby bowed again.
Lopez had spoken these words in a low tone, which was inaudible to
his men. He now turned and ordered them to withdraw, and stand
outside until further orders.
They obeyed.
"Senor Ashby," he continued, "the lady is here for whom we both are
seeking. It was about her that our quarrel arose."
"I am ready now," said Ashby.
"For the quarrel?" said Lopez. "Ay--but I am not;" and he gave a
bitter laugh.
"A man of honor," said Ashby, scornfully, "will always be ready."
Lopez again gave a bitter laugh.
"Dear senor," said he, "I have had too many affairs to be afraid of
risking my reputation as a man of honor by postponing our little
meeting. I have other things to attend to first. And first I must
have a little leisure to get rid of that bitterness and gall which
you, senor, with your English superciliousness, have poured into my
heart. For a time you had your hour of triumph, and I was made to
feel by you all the insolent superiority of a man of wealth over a
man of the people. But now, senor, our positions have changed. I have
the power, and you are nothing. Even your wealth will not save you;
for while you are my prisoner all the gold of Mexico will be
unavailing to deliver you until I choose."
Ashby had now a sudden thought that his position was very peculiar
and very unenviable. He had just quarrelled with his best friend, and
had just been saved from murdering him, for the sake of a girl whom
he had ceased to love (or whom he believed he had ceased to love,
which was the same thing just then); and now here was another of
Katie's numerous lovers, full of love and jealousy--the one as
strong as death, the other as cruel as the grave; which lover was
evidently now regarding him as a tiger regards his helpless victim,
and was playing with him for a time, so as to enjoy his torments
before devouring him. These thoughts passed through his mind, and he
had nothing to say.
"Senor," said Lopez, "our quarrel was about that young lady, and our
meeting may take place at any time. For the present, I have to say
that if you will consent to give up all claim to her hand and leave
the castle, I will send you at once with a sufficient guard to any
place you name, or to the nearest station. But if not, then I shall
be under the painful necessity of detaining you."
"May I ask," said Ashby, "upon what ground you propose to detain me?"
"Certainly," said Lopez. "I arrest you as a spy."
"A spy!"
"Certainly. What are you doing here? You were seized by the Carlists,
it is true, but what of that? You may have betrayed your party to
them. I find you coming North on no good or reasonable errand. You
certainly were following that party--as a spy, or something like
it--in your private interests. I am therefore at liberty to arrest
you as a spy, perhaps in league with the enemies of Spain. It is a
charge of which I can prove you guilty, and for which you will be
shot."
"And that is a gentleman's satisfaction!" said Ashby, with a sneer.
"Gentlemen," said Lopez, "obtain satisfaction in many ways. It will
give me no small satisfaction, for instance, to know that you are
here while I urge my suit for the young lady's hand, for which I have
the good wishes and co-operation of her guardian. It will give me no
small satisfaction to inform you when, as she surely will, she grants
me her consent; and, finally, the highest satisfaction of all will be
afforded when I request your presence at our wedding--a compliment
which, I am sure, senor, you will appreciate. For, senor, we shall be
married here, and immediately, since I have brought a priest with me,
so as to put the whole matter beyond the reach of accident."
Having fired off this heavy shot, Lopez watched to see the effect
upon his victim.
Ashby showed not the slightest emotion. Neither in face nor in
gesture did he evince any agitation whatever; nor in his voice, for
he said, in a perfectly cool and indifferent way,
"Very well, senor. I can do nothing against all that."
Lopez felt disappointed. He had expected to see agonies depicted on
his helpless victim, and to exult in the sight. But he concluded that
this was owing to Ashby's "English phlegm," and that he was thus
preserving, like the Indian at the stake, a proudly calm exterior,
while really suffering torments of hidden pain.
"Since you are so calm," said Lopez again, "perhaps you will consent
to purchase your freedom by formally relinquishing all claim to that
young lady's hand. That is the shortest way of regaining your
liberty, and it will be quite satisfactory to me."
Lopez spoke this in an ironical tone, taunting Ashby thus on his cool
demeanor.
Now, the giving up of all claims to Katie was in itself so far from
being repugnant to Ashby, that, as the reader knows, he had already
virtually renounced her, and formally, too, by word of mouth to
Dolores. But to do this to Lopez was a far different thing. It would,
he felt, be base; it would be cowardly; it would be a vile piece of
truckling to an enemy, who would exult over it to the end of his
days. The idea could not be entertained for a moment.
"Senor." said Ashby, with his usual coolness, "you are well aware
that, apart from all other considerations, your proposition could not
be entertained for a moment by a man of honor."
"Perhaps not," said Lopez; "but I had to make mention of it, merely
as a form, and not supposing that you would entertain it."
"I am in the hands of fortune," said Ashby: "I'll take my chances as
they come."
Upon this Lopez said nothing more, but, with a formal adieu, took his
departure.
Ashby was left with the six unarmed Carlist prisoners.