"See, Luisita! Yonder go soldiers!"
"Where?"
"Along the calzada of Nino Perdido--under the trees--by the thick
clump--they're galloping!"
"_Santissima_, yes! I see them now. O Ysabel! if they overtake the
carriage! _Ay Dios_!"
"_Ay Dios_, indeed! It's to be hoped they won't, though. And I have
less fear of it now than ever. It must have gone that way, or the
soldiers wouldn't be there; and as it couldn't have stopped at the
_garita_, it should now be a good distance on. Keep up your heart,
_amiga mia_, as I do mine. They'll soon be safe, if they're not yet."
This exclamatory dialogue was carried on while the alarm bells were
still ringing, and the guns booming. The speakers were on the azotea of
Don Ignacio's house, up to which they had hastened soon as home--having
dismissed their escort below, and left orders for no visitors to be
admitted.
In the _mirador_, with opera-glasses to their eyes, they had been
scanning the roads which led south and south-west from the city. Only
for a few minutes, as they had but just got back, and as the carriage
having already rounded the turning to Coyoacan, they saw but the
pursuing soldiers. Those were the Hussars, with Santander at their
head, though the ladies knew not that.
Fortified by the hopeful speech of the Condesa, the other responded to
it with an added word of hope, and a prayer for the safe escape of those
they were concerned about.
Then for a while both remained silent, with the lorgnettes to their
eyes, following the movements of the soldiers along the road. Soon
these were out of sight, but their whereabouts could be told by the
cloud of white dust which rose over the trees, gradually drifting
farther and farther off.
At length it too disappeared, settling down; and as the bells ceased to
ring, and the cannon to be fired, the city, with all around it, seemed
restored to its wonted tranquillity.
But not so the breasts of Luisa Valverde and Ysabel Almonte. Far from
tranquil they; instead, filled with anxiety, keen as ever. And now, as
much on their own account as for those they had been aiding to escape.
In their haste to effect this, they had taken no thought of what was to
come after. But it was now forced upon them. As they looked back on
what they had themselves done--the part they had been playing, with all
its details of action--apprehensions hitherto unfelt began to steal over
them, growing stronger the longer they dwelt upon them.
But what would be the upshot of all?
What if the carriage got overtaken with the fugitives in it, and beside
them those knives and pistols, to say nothing of the file? A
gentleman's cloak too, with _mango_ and _serape_! Odd assortment of
articles for ladies to take out on an airing! They had no fear of the
_cochero_ betraying them; but this paraphernalia surely would, if it
fell into the hands of the pursuers. They might expect investigation,
anyhow; but these things, if produced, would bring about an exposure
unavoidable.
No wonder at their soon becoming seriously alarmed, henceforth nervously
agitated. And they had no one to take council with. Soon after their
coming home, Don Ignacio, seeing and hearing of what happened, had
sallied forth to make inquiries, and direct pursuit. Furious about his
fine carriage and horses carried off, he little dreamt that along with
them were his duelling pistols and blue broadcloth cloak.
Nor would it do to tell him of those matters, unless they made up their
minds to confess all, and fling themselves on his affection more than
his mercy. Of course he was still in the dark about their doings--
unsuspicious man--had not even been told who the _forzados_ were that
had taken away his equipage.
Closeted alone, for some time the alarmed ladies could not think of what
they ought to do. They did not yield to despair, however; instead, kept
on scheming and considering how they might meet the worst--if the worst
came.
But one way seemed plausible--even possible--that depending on Don
Ignacio. If they could prevail on him to tell a falsehood, all might be
well. Only to say the carriage had been made ready for a journey to his
_casa de campo_, whither he had intended to proceed that same evening,
taking his daughter and the Condesa along with him. That would explain
the presence of the weapons; no uncommon thing--rather the rule--for
carriage travellers to take such with them, even going but outside the
suburbs of the city. For good reason, there being footpads and robbers
everywhere. And the cloaks for protection against the night air!
In this way they groped about, as drowning people clutch at sticks and
straws, still without being able to get rid of their apprehensions.
Even should Don Ignacio agree to the deception they thought of--he
would, no doubt, when made aware of their danger--it was questionable
whether it would serve them. For there was a file too--a small matter,
but a most conspicuous link in the chain of circumstantial evidence
against them. They in the carriage would have been using it, before
being taken--if they should be taken. Finally, the worst of all, the
relations known to exist between themselves and two of the men
attempting escape.
A miserable time it was for them during the remainder of that afternoon
and evening; a struggle amid doubts, fears, and conjectures. Nor did
Don Ignacio's return home in any way relieve them. They were not yet
prepared to surrender up their secret even to him. The time had not
come for that. As the hours passed, things began to look better, and
the suspense easier to bear. No report from the pursuers, which there
would or should have been, were the pursued taken.
Something better still, at length. Jose back home with the carriage and
horses, and nothing besides--no weapons nor spare wraps! All gone off,
the tell-tale file along with them.
Pepita brought this intelligence in to the ladies, who longed to have a
private interview with the _cochero_. But he had first to deliver his
to Don Ignacio, who had sallied out into the stables to receive it.
A strange tale it was, imparted to an angry listener, who, while
listening, looked upon his costly harness, patched and mended with
ropes, where it had been cut. His fine _frisones_ too, abused, possibly
injured for good, the ear of one of them well-nigh severed from the
head! Slow to wrath though he was, this was enough to make him
wrathful, without the further knowledge of his other losses, about which
Jose took care _not_ to enlighten him.
At a later hour the circumspect _cochero_ told his tale to other ears in
terms somewhat different, and with incidents. His master, summoned to
the Palace, gave the opportunity so much desired by his young mistress
and the Condesa for speaking with him; and he was soon in their
presence, getting interrogated with a volubility which made sober reply
almost impossible.
His questioners, however, after a time calming down, listened to his
narration in a detailed form, though not without repeated interruptions.
He told them about the slow driving of the carriage along the garden
wall of San Francisco, the putting on the disguises, and how cleverly
they had outwitted the guard at the _garita_.
"Like Ruperto!" at this juncture exclaimed the Countess.
Then, of their onward course along the _calzada_, horses in a gallop,
till stopped on the Coyoacan road, with the action taken there--quick as
it was varied and strange.