For some time the Dictator remained in his seat lighting cigarrito after
cigarrito, and puffing away at them furiously. The look of light
frivolity had forsaken his face, which was now overcast with gloom.
At this time, as said, he wielded supreme unlimited power over the
Mexican people--even to life and death. For although he might not
recklessly or openly decree this, he could bring it about secretly--by
means which, if rumour spoke true, he had more than once made use of.
Indeed, there stood against his name more than one well-confirmed record
of assassination.
Thought of this may have had something to do with the cloud that had
come over his features; though not for any qualms of conscience for the
murders he may have committed or hired others to commit. More likely a
fear that he himself might some day meet a similar fate; like all
despots he dreaded the steel of the assassin. By his corrupt
administration, he had encouraged bravoism till it had become a
dangerous element in the social life of his country--almost an
institution--and it was but natural he should fear the bravo's blade
turned against himself.
Another apprehension may at this time have been troubling him. Although
to all appearance secure in the dictatorial chair, with a likelihood of
his soon converting it into a real throne, he had his misgivings about
this security. By imprisonments, executions, banishments, and
confiscations, he had done all in his power to annihilate the Liberal
party. But though crushed and feeble now, its strength was but in
abeyance, its spirit still lived, and might again successfully assert
itself. No man knew this better than he himself; and no better teacher
could he have had than his own life's history, with its alternating
chapters of triumph and defeat. Even then there was report of a
_pronunciamento_ in one of the northern cities of the Republic--the
State, by a polite euphemism, being still so designated. Only a faint
"gritto" it was, but with a tone that resembled the rumbling of distant
thunder, which might yet be heard louder and nearer.
Little, however, of matters either revolutionary or political was he
thinking now. The subject uppermost in his mind was that latent on his
lips--woman. Not in a general way, but with thoughts specially bent
upon one of them, or both, with whose names he had just been making
free. As his soliloquy told, a certain "Condesa" had first place in his
reflections, she being no other than the Condesa Almonte. In his wicked
way he had made love to this young lady, as to many others; but, unlike
as with many others, he had met repulse. Firm, though without
indignation, his advances not yet having gone so far, nor been so bold,
as to call for this. He had only commenced skirmishing with her; a
preliminary stroke of his tactics being that invitation to ride in the
State carriage extended to Dona Luisita Valverde, while withheld from
the Countess--an astute manoeuvre on his part, and, as he supposed,
likely to serve him. In short, the old sinner was playing the old game
of "piques." Nor did he think himself so ancient as to despair of
winning at it. In such contests he had too often come off victorious,
and success might attend upon him still. Vain was he of his personal
appearance, and in his earlier days not without some show of reason. In
his youth Santa Anna would claim to be called, if not handsome, a fairly
good-looking man. Though a native Mexican, a _Vera-cruzano_, he was of
pure Spanish race and good blood--the boasted _sangre-azul_. His
features were well formed, oval, and slightly aquiline, his complexion
dark, yet clear, his hair and moustaches black, lustrous, and profuse.
But for a sinister cast in his eyes, not always observable, his
countenance would have been pleasing enough. As it was he prided
himself upon it even now that he was well up in years, and his hair
becoming silvered. As for the moustaches, black pomatum kept them to
their original colour.
One thing soured him, even more than advancing age--his wooden leg.
'Tis said he could never contemplate that without an expression of pain
coming over his features, as though there was gout in the leg itself
giving him a twinge. And many the time--nay, hundreds of times--did he
curse Prince de Joinville. For it was in defending Vera Cruz against
the French, commanded by the latter, he had received the wound, which
rendered amputation of the limb necessary. In a way he ought to have
blessed the Prince, and been grateful for the losing of it rather than
otherwise. Afterwards the mishap stood him in good stead; at election
times when he was candidate for the Chief Magistracy of the State. Then
he was proud to parade the artificial limb; and did so to some purpose.
It was, indeed, an important element in his popularity, and more than
once proved an effective aid to his reinstatement. With a grim look,
however, he regarded it now. For though it had helped him politically,
he was not thinking of politics, and in what he was thinking about he
knew it an obstruction. A woman to love a man with a wooden leg! And
such a woman as Ysabel Almonte! Not that he put it to himself in that
way; far from it. He had still too good an opinion, if not of his
personal appearance, at least of his powers otherwise, and he even then
felt confident of success. For he had just succeeded in removing
another obstacle which seemed likely to be more in his way than the
wooden leg. He had but late come to know of it; but as soon as knowing,
had taken measures to avert the danger dreaded--by causing the
imprisonment of a man. For it was a man he feared, or suspected, as his
competitor for the affections of the Condesa. It had cost him no small
trouble to effect this individual's arrest, or rather capture. He was
one of the proscribed, and in hiding; though heard of now and then as
being at the head of a band of _salteadore_--believed to have turned
highwayman.
But he had been taken at length, and was at that moment in the gaol of
the Acordada; which Santa Anna well knew, having himself ordered his
incarceration there, and given other instructions regarding him to the
gaol-governor, who was one of his creatures.
After sitting for some time, as he stretched out his hand, and held the
end of his paper cigar to the red coals burning in a _brazero_ on the
table before him, the frown upon his features changed to a demoniac
smile. Possibly from the knowledge that this man was now in his power.
Sure was he of this; but what would he not have given to be as sure of
her being so too!
Whether his reflections were sweet or bitter, or which predominated, he
was not permitted longer to indulge in them. The door again opening--
after a tap asking permission to enter--showed the same aide-de-camp.
And on a similar errand as before, differing only in that now he placed
two cards on the table instead of one; the cards themselves being
somewhat dissimilar to that he had already brought in.
And with altogether a different air did Santa Anna take them up for
examination. He was enough interested at seeing by their size and shape
that those now desiring an audience of him were ladies. But on reading
the names, his interest rose to agitation, such as the aide-de-camp
never before had seen him exhibit, and which so much astonished the
young officer that he stood staring wonderingly, if not rudely, at the
grand dignitary, his chief. His behaviour, however, was not noticed,
the Dictator's eyes being all upon the cards. Only for an instant
though. If he gave ready reception to his late visitor, still readier
did he seem desirous of according it to those now seeking speech with
him.
"Conduct the ladies in," was his almost instantaneous command, as
quickly retracted. For soon as spoken he countermanded it; seemingly
from some afterthought which, as a codicil, had suddenly occurred to
him. Then followed a chapter of instructions to the aide-de-camp,
confidential, and to the effect that the ladies were not to be
immediately introduced. He was to keep them in conversation in the
ante-chamber outside, till he should hear the bell.
Judging by his looks as he went out the young subaltern was more than
satisfied with the delay thus enjoined upon him. It was aught but a
disagreeable duty; for, whether acquainted with the ladies who were in
waiting, or not, he must have seen that both were bewitchingly
beautiful--one being Luisa Valverde, the other Ysabel Almonte.