Part of the dialogue between Santander and the hunchback was overheard
by Jose--enough of it to give him the trembles. Among its revelations
was nought relating to himself, or his connivance at the escape of the
prisoners. For all, he could see that he was now in as much danger as
they who were in hiding. The Colonel of Hussars had gone on to the
city, perhaps to complete some duty already engaging him, but as likely
to obtain a stronger force. And as his words told, he would return
again; and no doubt make direct for the old monastery, the dwarf guiding
him.
The first thought of the faithful _cochero_ was not about himself, nor
his horses. These might stay in the meadow all night, as they were now
likely to do. The lives of men were at stake--his own among the
number--and his sole purpose now was to get home, report what he had
heard to his young mistress and the Condesa; then hasten up the mountain
to warn the imperilled ones. As good luck would have it, he knew the
place they were in. Son of a _carbonero_, when a boy he had helped his
father in the charcoal-burning business; was familiar with the mountain
forests, and their paths, and had more than once been at the abandoned
monastery. He could easily find the way to it. But the difficulty was
to get back to his master's house--even stir from the spot on which he
stood. Soon as receiving their orders the two Hussars had dismounted,
and tied up their horses, one on each side of the rocky embayment; they
themselves, with their curious charge, occupying the space between. It
was not possible to pass without being seen by them, and as surely
seized.
So long as he kept his place he might feel comparatively safe. The cove
was of a three-cornered shape, with luckily a deep dark cleft at its
inner angle, into which he had already squeezed himself. While the moon
remained low, and the cliff made shadow, there was little likelihood of
their seeing him, unless they came close up. Still, the situation was
aught but pleasant, and ere long became irksome in the extreme; the
conversation to which he was compelled to listen making it so.
The two _Husares_ did not seem, to be in the best of temper; the
corporal more especially showing signs of dissatisfaction. Groping
about for a stone to seat himself on, he grumbled out--
"_Maddita_! What a bore, having to stay here till they get back.
Heaven knows when that will be. Like enough not before morning. I
thought we were going to pass the night in San Augustin, and had hopes
of a chat with that _muchachita_ at the house where the colonel visits."
"Pepita, you mean--lady's maid to the Dona Luisa Valverde?"
"Of course I mean her, the pretty dear; and have reason to think she is
a bit sweet upon me."
Josh's heart was on fire--his blood boiling. It was with difficulty he
restrained himself from springing out upon the soldier and clutching him
by the throat. He succeeded, however, in keeping his place, if not his
temper; for it would have been sheer madness to show himself there and
then. What came after quite tranquillised him.
"Well, _cabo_" returned he of the rank and file, seemingly without fear
of speaking plain to the non-commissioned officer, "I should be sorry to
dash your hopes; but as a friend I can't help saying I don't think you
have much chance in that quarter. She's a step higher, that same
Pepita; holds her head far above any of us common soldiers--"
"Common soldiers! I'm a corporal; you forget that, _hombre_. But why
do you think my chances are so poor?"
"Because I've heard say there's a man about the establishment to whom
she's already given what heart she may have had to give--that they're
engaged. The fellow's groom or _cochero_, or something of the sort."
Jose breathed easier now, noways provoked at having been spoken of as a
"fellow."
"Bah!" contemptuously exclaimed the corporal. "What care I for that
horse-cleaner and carriage-washer for a rival! I've cut out scores of
such before now, and will do the same with him. Lie down there, you
devil's imp!" he added, turning savagely upon the dwarf, and venting his
spleen by giving the creature a kick. "Down, or I'll break every bone
in your body."
"Mercy, master!" expostulated the hunchback. "Don't be so cruel to a
fellow-creature."
"Fellow-creature! That's good, ha, ha, ha!" And the brute broke out
into a hoarse laugh, till the rocks echoed his fiendish cachinnation.
"Well, your worship," rejoined he thus inhumanly mocked, with an air of
assumed meekness; "whatever I am, it pains me to think I should be the
cause of keeping you here. But why should you stay, may I ask? You
don't suppose I'm going to run away? If I were with you as a prisoner--
but I am not. I sought an interview with your Colonel of my own free
will. Surely you saw that!"
"True enough, he did," interposed the soldier.
"And what if he did?" growled the corporal.
"Only, Senor, to show that I have no intention to part company with you,
nor wish neither. _Por Dios_! don't let me hinder you from having that
chat with the _muchachita_. It's but a step back to the _pueblo_, and
like as not she'll be on the lookout for you, spite of what your comrade
says. Maybe he has an eye to the pretty dear himself, and that's why he
wishes to discourage you."
As this rigmarole was delivered in the most comical manner, it put the
soldiers in a better humour, both breaking out into laughter.
Of course the corporal had no thought of availing himself of the
permission so accorded. Their orders were strict to stay in that spot,
and stay they must. The question was, how were they to spend the time.
A smoke to begin with; and they drew out their cigarritos, with flint,
steel, and tinder.
Soon as the red coal appeared beneath their noses, said the _cabo_ to
his comrade--
"By the way, Perico, have you your cards with you?"
"Did you ever know me to be without them?"
"How lucky! I quite forgot mine."
"That's because your mind was bent upon Pepita. I saw you giving your
moustache an extra twist this evening."
"Oh! bother Pepita. Let's have an _albur_ of monte."
"How about light?"
"The moon's clear enough, if it wasn't we could manage with our cigars.
Many's the game I've played that way."
"All right! But the stakes? I haven't a _cuartilla_--nay, not so much
as a _claco_."
"_Carramba_! Nor I either. I spent the last on a drink just before we
got into the saddle. It's bad; but we can bet upon the credit system,
and use cartridges for counters."
"Ah, stay!"
At which he turned his eyes upon the dwarf with a look of peculiar
significance, cupidity the prevailing expression.
The latter saw it with a heaviness of heart, and a shuddering throughout
his frame. All the time apprehensive about the plunder with which his
pockets were crammed, he instinctively anticipated what was coming.