DIEGO LÓPEZ.
The count did not give the hunter time to make many observations.
"Excuse me," he said, "if my behaviour does not appear exactly in
accordance with the claims of courtesy; but war may break out at any
moment between the Spanish government and the Mexican patriots, and an
ambassador, if he understands his profession, is always more or less a
spy."
"That is true," the hunter said with a smile.
"You understand, I suppose, that I am not desirous to let you examine
in detail fortifications which you may be ordered to attack within a
few days."
"Quite true, señor. I did not think of that; your prudence is
legitimate."
"However," the count continued, "be assured, señor, that, with the
exception of the care I am compelled to take in hiding from you our
resources and defensive measures, you will have no cause to complain of
the manner in which you will be treated here."
"I am convinced of that beforehand, señor."
"Be kind enough, then, to follow me. I wish to introduce you to the
countess."
"Do you consider that absolutely necessary?" the hunter asked, as he
looked at his shabby clothes which displayed marks of long and hard
wear.
The count looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"As you are aware, señor," the Canadian answered, good humouredly,
"I am only an ignorant hunter; of use perhaps to give a companion a
helping hand in a difficult situation, but quite out of my place in
a drawing room, especially in the presence of a great lady like the
countess."
"Nonsense, you are jesting, my friend. A man like you is nowhere out of
place. The countess, I am convinced, will be delighted to know you; and
I assure you that you will cause me great vexation by refusing to be
introduced to her."
"Very good; as you insist, I have no more to say."
He followed the count who, after crossing two spacious courtyards,
led him through a labyrinth of sumptuous apartments, at the end of
which he showed him into a large drawing room furnished with all the
luxurious comfort of old Europe. In this room, seated on a sofa near a
window whence a magnificent view was enjoyed, was a lady of a certain
age, with a gentle and pleasing face, which must have been very lovely
in youth. This lady, who was dressed in mourning, was the Countess de
Melgosa.
"My dear Doña Carmencita," the count said, "permit me to present to you
a friend of one day's standing who has saved my life."
"He is welcome to our sad abode," the lady said, as she rose with a
peaceful and calm smile. "We will try, since he deigns to accept our
hospitality, to render his stay in this isolated hacienda as little
wearisome as we can."
"Madam," the Canadian answered, as he bowed with that natural courtesy
which men in whom a false education has not destroyed nature possess to
so eminent a degree, "I am only a poor man, unworthy of the gracious
reception you deign to offer me. If accident furnished me with the
opportunity to do your husband a slight service, I am more than
rewarded by the kind remarks you have addressed to me. Unfortunately, I
shall not be able to enjoy your exquisite hospitality for long."
"You will surely remain a few days, señor; it would disoblige me if you
answered by a refusal."
"Alas! Madam, I am in despair. I should be delighted to forget here,
for some time, the fatigue and dangers of a desert life; unfortunately,
serious reasons independent of my will compel my presence at Leona
Vicario as early as possible. The Señor Conde knows that we must start
tomorrow at sunrise."
The countess displayed signs of great astonishment.
"Can it be true, Don Fadrique?" she said to the count, while looking
inquiringly at him.
"Indeed," he answered, "Señor Clary is in such haste to get to Leona,
that if we had not been found by your messenger a few leagues from
here, we should have continued our journey without calling at the
hacienda."
"It is impossible!" the countess exclaimed, her face suffused with a
hectic flush.
"Why so?" he continued.
The countess heaved a heavy sigh.
"Have you forgotten, then, Don Fadrique," she at length said, in a low
and trembling voice, "that tomorrow is the anniversary of the fatal
day?"
"Ah!" the count exclaimed, as he sorrowfully smote his brow, "Forgive
me, Doña Carmencita. In truth I cannot leave the hacienda tomorrow--oh
no! Not even if it were a question of life and death."
The hunter, who was greatly embarrassed, listened, without
understanding a word, to this conversation in which he did not dare
to take part, as he feared, if he spoke, he might make some mistake;
but the count freed him from his embarrassment by turning and saying to
him--
"I am sure you will excuse me, Señor Clary. Reasons of the deepest
gravity demand my presence tomorrow at the hacienda; hence it will be
impossible for me to accompany you to the governor and introduce you to
him. But, though I cannot go myself, I give you in my place a person in
whom you can place entire confidence, and I will join you at the ciudad
the day after tomorrow. It is in reality, therefore, only a trifling
delay of four and twenty hours, which will in no way injure you."
"You know better than I do, señor, what it is best to do, hence do
not put yourself out of the way for me; it will be all right if I am
permitted to continue my journey tomorrow."
"You can be sure of it."
"But," the countess said, ringing a bell, "after the fatigues to which
you have been exposed for two days, you must require a few hours' rest,
señor; forgive me for not having thought of it sooner. Be kind enough
to follow this peon, who will conduct you to the room prepared for you,
and we shall meet again at dinner."
The hunter comprehended that the countess desired to remain alone with
her husband. Although he did not feel the slightest need of rest, he
bowed respectfully to the lady, and followed the servant. The latter
led him in silence to a vast room, in which he invited him to enter,
saying that he had three hours before him, which he could pass either
in sleeping or smoking. In fact, a hammock of cocoa fibre was suspended
in the room, and a mountain of cigars and cigarettes placed on a
table. The servant merely told the hunter that he had better not leave
his room, as he might lose his way. This was clearly saying to the
Canadian that he was regarded as a prisoner, or something very like it;
at least he understood it so. He shrugged his shoulders disdainfully,
and made the peon a sign to leave him alone, which the other at once
obeyed.
"By Jove!" the hunter said, as he lay down in the hammock, and lit a
cigar, "It must be confessed that this Don Fadrique, this Count de
Melgosa, is a somewhat mysterious being, and guards himself with as
much care as if he had a kingdom to defend; but what do I care? Thank
heaven! I have not to stay here long, and have no intention of carrying
his wigwam by storm."
He looked round and saw that not only had cigars been brought for him,
but that refreshments had been added in the shape of several _botas_,
containing pulque, mezcal, and Catalonian refino.
"Come," he said, "I was prejudiced against my host. He is decidedly a
famous fellow."
After this consoling reflection the hunter rose and went to the table,
doubtless with the intention of tasting the liquors upon it, and
spending in the most agreeable way possible the hours at his disposal.
The dinner was rather gloomy. The countess was not present, but sent
her apologies to the hunter, who was not broken hearted at her absence;
for, in spite of the old lady's gracious manners, he felt constrained
in her presence. When the dinner was ended the count repeated that it
was impossible for him to accompany him on the morrow, but would give
him a sure guide. He handed him a letter of recommendation for the
governor, and, after renewing to the Canadian his promise of joining
him on the following day, he took leave of him for the night, and
retired.
The adventurer was not sorry to be alone. In spite of the count's
attention he retained in his manner toward him a certain aristocratic
hauteur, which hurt him, although it was impossible for him to display
the dissatisfaction he felt. The same silent domestic who had already
served him led Oliver to his room, and took leave of him after bidding
him good night. The hunter, wearied more by the inactivity to which he
was condemned for some hours than by his morning's ride, threw himself
on the leather-covered frame which serves as a bed in all Mexican
houses, shut his eyes, and speedily fell asleep.
At sunrise he woke. At the same moment the peon who seemed appointed to
wait on him entered his room and announced that if he were ready all
the preparations were made. Oliver asked to take leave of the master
and mistress of the house; but, on being told that they could not
receive anybody, he followed his guide without asking him any further
questions. The latter led him through several yards, took passages
different from those by which the hunter had entered the hacienda, and
took him out on the opposite side to the one by which he had come in.
After crossing the drawbridge the hunter turned as if to say good-bye
to the guide, but the latter told him that he had orders to accompany
him to the spot where the horses were, and they descended the hill by a
track quite as rough as the one by which the Canadian had ascended on
the previous day. On the opposite bank of the river, three horsemen,
armed with long lances, one of whom held the hunter's horse by the
bridle, were waiting motionless, ready to start at the first signal.
In the leader of this little party the Canadian recognized with some
degree of pleasure Diego López, who was relatively an old acquaintance.
When they had crossed the moat, López came to meet them.
"Here is the man," said the peon.
"Very good," Diego López answered laconically.
"You know what you have to do?"
"I do."
"In that case, good-bye."
And he then turned to the hunter, who had mounted by this time.
"A pleasant journey, Señor Forastero," he said, with a mocking accent
most offensive to the Canadian.
"Shall we start, señor?" Diego asked the hunter.
"Whenever you please," said the latter, as he drew up by the side of
his guide.
They started at a gallop, and remained silent for a long time.
"Are we very far from Leona Vicario?" the hunter at length asked,
feeling wearied of this silence and disposed to talk with his comrade.
"No!" the latter answered.
"Well, you are no great talker, my friend," the Canadian continued.
"What is the good of talking when you have nothing to say, especially
when in the company of a heretic?"
"A heretic!" the adventurer said, "Hang me if that is true."
"Are you not an Englishman?"
"I? Not a bit of it."
"All strangers are Englishmen," Diego López, said, sententiously.
"How famously you fellows are taught. It is curious enough."
"And all Englishmen are heretics," the peon continued, calmly.
"Be kind enough to tell me," the hunter said, with a grin, "who teaches
you all these pretty things?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"For two reasons. In the first place, for my personal satisfaction; and
next, for my instruction."
"It is our priests."
"Ah! Very good. I thank you. Why, my friend, if it cause you any
pleasure, learn first that I am not an Englishman but a Canadian, which
is not at all the same thing; next, not only that I am no heretic, but
at the least quite as good a Catholic as yourself, I flatter myself."
"Is what you are saying true?" Diego López asked, as he drew close to
the hunter.
"Why should I tell a falsehood?"
"Well! Why did you not tell that to El Señor Conde?"
"Tell him what?"
"That you are a Catholic."
"Hang it, for the very simple reason that he did not ask me."
"That is true; but no matter, it is a misfortune."
"Why so?"
"Because you would have been present at the anniversary service."
"What anniversary?"
"The one held every year at the hacienda in remembrance of the
assassination of the brother of the Señor Conde, who was treacherously
killed by the redskins."
"I am really vexed that I did not know that sooner, for I should have
made a point of attending that service. Stay, in order that you may not
have the slightest doubt about me," he added, as he took out of his
bosom a small silver cross, hanging round his neck by a steel chain,
"look at this. Is it a heretic plaything?"
"Good," the peon said, with evident satisfaction. "I see that you are a
worthy man, and not a dog of an Englishman. Do you love the English?"
"I cannot bear them."
"Our priests say that they will all be condemned."
"I hope so," the Canadian said, with a laugh.
"They deserve it, for they are _gringos_."
"So we are friends?"
"Yes; and to prove it, I will give you a piece of advice, if you like."
"Out with it; it is always worth having."
"Must you absolutely see the governor directly you arrive?"
"Yes."
"That is vexatious."
"Why so?"
"Well!" Diego López said, looking at him with some hesitation, "Do you
know the name the people give the governor?"
"No, I do not; but tell it to me; I shall be glad to learn it."
"Well! They call him the Shark."
"Ah! An ugly name, especially if deserved."
"Oh, yes, it is deserved," the peon said, with an involuntary shudder.
The hunter reflected for a moment.
"Hang it," he muttered, "what a wasps' nest I have got into!"
Then he said aloud--
"And, now, what is the advice you wish to give me?"
"You will be dumb?"
"As a fish; go on."
"Well, if you will believe me, in spite of the letter my master gave
you for the governor, you will wait to present it to him till the count
has rejoined you."
"Confusion! Then you suspect that I am incurring some danger?"
"A terrible one."
"Hang it, hang it, that is not reassuring."
"I will lead you to a cousin of mine who is an arriero. You will remain
concealed at his house till tomorrow, and so soon as my master arrives
I will warn you."
"My friend," the adventurer replied seriously, "I thank you for your
advice. I see that the interest you feel in me induces you to give it
me, but, unluckily, it is impossible for me to profit by it. I must
present myself without delay to the governor, in spite of all the peril
to which I may be exposed. But as a warned man is worth two, I shall
take my precautions accordingly. But I fancy that is the town we can
see."
"Yes," said the peon,
"I shall feel obliged by your leading me straight to the governor's
palace."
Diego López looked at him for a moment with an air of amazement, and
then shook his head several times.
"As you insist on it, I will lead you there," he said.