THE ENVOY.
After the count's somewhat precipitate retreat, and the mission
intrusted to Don Aníbal to detain him at the hacienda, if only for a
few hours, the Mexican insurgents continued discussing in the hall
the most fitting measures to obtain a speedy and good result for the
new uprising which was preparing. Father Pelagio then informed the
conspirators that this time the leaders of the revolutionary party
wished to deal a heavy blow, and finish, at all risks, with the Spanish
government. The secret societies spread over the country, and the
recently created Masonic lodges, had, in a general meeting, elected
as commander-in-chief of the national army Colonel Iturbide, whose
well-known military talents were a guarantee of success.
Colonel Iturbide, who was destined hereafter to proclaim himself
emperor, under the name of Agustín I., and fall beneath the bullets
of his own subjects, who condemned him and mercilessly shot him, when
he tried to regain the power he had allowed to slip from his grasp;
Iturbide, we say, is the sole truly skilful statesman Mexico has
produced since the revolution. He had served with distinction in the
Spanish army, and had on several occasions displayed a devotion to the
government which bordered on cruelty. Now that he was gained over to
the revolution, nothing would arrest him in attaining the object of his
secret ambition.
This time the Mexicans wished to avoid a serious fault into which they
had previously fallen, and which had not only fairly compromised their
cause but almost ruined it. This was the circumstance: When, in 1814,
the Spanish armies, beaten in every encounter, seemed on the point of
giving up the game, and yielding to the revolutionary turmoil, whose
triumphant principles seemed solidly established on the territory of
new Spain, General Morelos, at that time the most influential chief
of the liberal party, whose ideas secretly inclined to a republic,
established on the same basis as that of the United States, thought
that the hour had arrived to convene a national congress.
This congress, at first composed of only a dozen members, began its
session at Chilpancingo, where it promulgated decree upon decree; but
the discussing power had scarce been established by side of the armed
and acting power, ere, instead of combining their efforts for the
triumph of the cause they had sworn to defend, they began contending
together, each impeding the measures they should have taken in common,
and by deplorable conflict destroyed their means of action. The
congress tried to restrict the power of the general-in-chief, and
prevented on every occasion his operations, so that the latter found it
almost impossible to act.
These internal dissensions gave the Spaniards time to regain their
courage. The Mexican republic was dead ere it lived, and the insurgents
were obliged a second time to undergo the yoke from which they fancied
themselves forever free.
As Colonel Iturbide and the chief of the liberal party were not yet
quite ready to commence the insurrectionary movement, the great
point was to wait and, before all, gain time; for this Fray Pelagio
only saw one plan: to send to the general commanding the province
a messenger-order to make him certain proposals, and bearing a
respectful petition addressed to the Viceroy. During the absence of
this ambassador, resistance would be quietly organized, and they would
be ready to act when the signal for revolt was given by the chiefs.
The conspirators enthusiastically applauded this proposal, which
seemed to them fully to carry out the object proposed, namely cheating
the Spaniards. Still, when it came to select the ambassador, serious
difficulties arose.
Most of the persons present were rich hacenderos, long known to belong
to the liberal party, and whom the government carefully watched; many
of them had had to undergo numerous annoyances either in their estates
or their persons from the Spaniards, and they were not at all anxious
to surrender themselves to the mercy of enemies whose summary treatment
they were acquainted with. In fact, the Spanish generals made no
scruple about hanging or shooting the insurgents who fell into their
hands, and there was no plausible reason for supposing that they would
respect the person of an ambassador, sent by men whom they regarded
as rebels, and with whom the law of nations and of war need not be
followed. Consequently each found an excuse to escape the dangerous
honour of being sent to the general.
The question became difficult of solution. Father Pelagio only saw
around him long drawn faces, which foreboded no good for the execution
of his plan; he was, therefore, considerably embarrassed and did not
see how to escape the difficulty, when Don Aurelio suddenly came to his
help at the moment when he least expected it.
"¡Canarios!" the Mexican exclaimed, "It must be allowed, caballeros,
that we are pulling singular faces, and bear a strong likeness to the
rats in Yriarte's fable, that wished to bell the sleeping cat."
In spite of the gravity of the situation, this sally was so true that
it unwrinkled all the foreheads, and caused a general laugh.
"In truth," Don Pelagio observed, "_Dios me perdone_, we look as if we
did not know exactly what to resolve."
"Yet I fancy that nothing is easier than the choice we propose making."
"How so?" the priest asked.
"Whom do we want as ambassador? A true man; we are all so, I believe.
Still this man must be through his position sufficiently free and
independent to be able honourably to fulfil the important mission
intrusted to him. Is it not so?"
"Yes, you are right," Fray Pelagio answered, not knowing what the
hacendero wished to arrive at.
All the company, puzzled in the highest degree, looked anxiously at
Don Aurelio, unable to detect what the result would be. The latter
continued quietly, as he laid his hands on the Sumach's shoulder, who,
very indifferent to what was said, was carelessly listening to the
discussion as he leant on his rifle.
"Well, the man you seek is here," he said: "our excellent colonel--he
alone can worthily fulfil this great and glorious mission."
"What?" the adventurer exclaimed, starting as if a snake had stung him,
"No jokes, if you please. If it be a joke, I warn you that I consider
it a poor one."
"I am not joking at all, Colonel," the hacendero continued with a
gracious smile, "on the contrary, I am speaking very seriously."
"Nonsense, my dear sir. Your idea may seem to you a good one, but, for
my part, I consider it absurd and in every way impracticable. Hang it,"
he added, as he passed his hand round his neck, "I know the Spanish
gentry, and am not at all anxious to go and thrust my head down the
wolfs throat out of bravado."
Father Pelagio at once perceived what advantage this plan possessed
for everybody, hence he resolved to carry it out, and convince the
adventurer, who, in fact, was the only man who could risk, owing to his
very insignificance, going to the Spanish authorities.
"You are mistaken, Colonel," he said to the Canadian. "Don Aurelio's
idea is an excellent one, and I give you credit for such good sense
that you will agree with me in a moment."
"I doubt it hugely, caballero. I confess that I am curious to know how
you will set about proving to me that I must go and be hanged or shot
for the greater benefit of your cause," he answered with an ironical
smile.
"Oh, that is very easy, Colonel. Understand me thoroughly."
"Oh, I am all ears."
"You alone can carry out this difficult duty, for the following
reasons: in the first place you are a foreigner, citizen of a country
with which the Spanish government would think twice before seeking a
quarrel; and then you are a colonel in our army. You may be sure that
any insult offered to you will not be left unpunished, and that I, your
general, will take an exemplary vengeance."
"All that is very fine," the adventurer answered with a grin. "I allow
that the Spaniards will be unable to confiscate my property, for even
if I possess any, it is, thank heaven, out of their reach. But they can
imprison and even shoot me. That is of some importance, I suppose; and,
once I am dead, will you restore me the life taken from me? What shall
I care then for the more or less exemplary manner in which you avenge
my death? I shall not be the less securely buried."
"I repeat to you that the Spaniards will not dare touch a hair of your
head; moreover, you will not go alone; the noble count whom you saw
here just now will pledge himself to protect and defend you, for he
will introduce you to the person to whom I am about to send you."
"Hum!" the adventurer continued, "All this is not very clear; but how
do you know that the count will assume this responsibility? You have
not yet asked him the question."
"No; but while your colonel's commission is being made out, and two
months' advance are paid you for your outfit, I will go and speak to
the count, and obtain his word that you shall incur no danger from the
Spanish authorities, and that when your mission is completed, every
security will be granted for your safe return."
The adventurer scratched his head as if very far from convinced. It
was plain that, in spite of his general's explanations and the fine
promises, he did not particularly care for the mission confided to
him. Still, at the expiration of a moment, he drew himself up with a
determined air, shook his head several times as if to drive away a
troublesome idea, and said--
"Well, well, I see that madmen must always be madmen; so deuce take
fear. The Spaniards, I suppose, are not more formidable than tigers; I
shall not be sorry to have a nearer look at them, and so I accept your
offer. When am I to start?"
"Tomorrow, with the count; he will escort you to the general."
"That is settled."
"Now, give your name to Don Aurelio Gutiérrez, in order that your
commission may be filled up, and your letters of credit written."
"Good; my name is Oliver Clary, called the Sumach; this time I will not
deny my name, for I believe that I shall see death pretty closely. I
was born at Québec, and I am thirty-two years of age. Is that enough,
or do you want any further information?"
"No, Señor Don Oliver, that is more than sufficient; now I will leave
you for a few moments, and settle matters with the count."
"Do so, General, I trust to your promise."
"Depend on me."
And Father Pelagio left the room. The adventurer was at once surrounded
by the conspirators, who warmly thanked him for his devotion to their
cause, and the courage with which he was going to trace an imminent
and terrible danger in order to serve it. The Canadian shrugged
his shoulders, and quietly turned his back on them. So soon as his
commission and letters of credit were ready, and he had received his
money, he carefully placed all in his waist belt, and, making a sign to
Moonshine, left the room with him.
We have already described in what way Father Pelagio obtained the
count's assent; we will, therefore, not return to that subject, but
merely state that the priest hastened to inform the Canadian, whom he
met, of the success of his application, while warning him that he must
be ready to start at sunrise of the next day.
"You know," he added, in a low voice, and with a smile, "that an
ambassador must have eyes and ears; I trust to you to see and hear all
that it may be useful for us to know."
"Good, good, leave me alone, I will prove to the Gachupinos that the
Godos are not the only clever people, and that the Canadians are
descended from the Normans; they will not catch a weasel asleep in me."
Father Pelagio exchanged a few more remarks with him, and then left,
after wishing him success once again. The two Canadians then left the
house and proceeded to the garden, where they sought the most secluded
spot. On reaching one, where they did not fear being overheard, they
stopped and sat down side by side on the ground.
"Friend Moonshine," the adventurer said, "I have brought you here
because I wish to ask a service of you."
"I suspected it; speak, Oliver, you know that I am ready to do
everything you wish."
"I do not know how I let myself be humbugged into accepting this
confounded embassy, in which there are ninety chances in a hundred that
I shall lose my hide; but what is done cannot be undone. Listen to me:
during my absence you will take the command of my men, and I will give
them orders to obey you as myself."
Moonshine gave a nod of assent.
"Now," the adventurer continued, "take this belt; it contains not only
the gold I have just received, but also some savings of my own."
"What am I to do with it?"
"If I am killed by the Godos, I do not wish them to profit by my money.
You will keep as much as you like, and send the rest to my old mother,
you know where."
"I will send it all; I shall not need money, for if those brigands of
Spaniards assassinate you I must revenge your death, and money will be
useless to me."
"That is true; in that case you will send all. That is settled, thank
you."
"There is nothing to thank me for; what you ask of me is simple."
"Yes, yes," the other said, with a shake of his head; "but who knows
what turn matters will take?"
"Well, up to the present we have no cause to grumble, I fancy."
"It is true that we have succeeded in everything; my measures were so
well taken that, without exciting the slightest suspicion, we managed
to gain the very thing we aimed at; but we must wait for the end."
"Nonsense; we shall succeed; set your mind at rest about that, Sumach.
Besides, our project is most honourable, as we wish to render a service
to people to whom we do not owe the slightest obligation, and whom we
do not even know."
"That is true. Well, let us trust to heaven. One last word."
"Out with it."
"Distrust that cunning-looking majordomo. I know not why, but he
inspires me with an invincible repulsion."
"All right; I will watch him."
"Very good; now let us go to dinner."
The two men rose and went back to the house as quiet and careless as if
they had been conversing about indifferent matters. Immediately after
dinner, the adventurer assembled his comrades, made them recognize
Moonshine as their chief during his absence, and then all his affairs
being thus settled, he wrapped himself in his zarapé, lay down on the
ground, and almost immediately fell asleep.