The Mexican senator, with his contracted, or rather egoistic views, was
struck dumb by the gigantic and daring design of his companion. He
could only exclaim, as he respectfully pressed the hand which the
Spaniard held out to him:
"Oh, Don Estevan--if you permit me still to give you this modest title--
I regret my suspicions; and for the happiness which you offer me, for
the grand perspective which you open before me, I promise you my life,
my heart, but--"
"But! another suspicion?" asked Don Estevan, with a smile.
"_No_, not a suspicion of you, but a fear of some one else. Have you
noticed the young man whom chance brought into our company? I have a
secret presentiment that there is something between him and Dona
Rosarita. He is young--he is good-looking--and they appear to have
known each other a long while."
"What!" exclaimed Don Estevan, "jealous of this ragged rustic?"
"I avow," replied the Senator, "that I cannot help it. I noticed two or
three times their eyes fixed upon each other with a strange expression."
"Make yourself easy about that. I know, for certain--and from Don
Augustin himself I have had my information--that the heart of his
daughter is free. Besides, her vanity alone would hinder her from any
fancy for this droll fellow, who appears to have all the pride of a
Spanish beggar. He shall be watched; and, should he have the impudence
to carry his pretensions so high, it will be an easy matter to send him
about his business."
In pronouncing the last words the countenance of Don Estevan appeared
for a moment to wear a troubled expression, and he could not hinder
himself from adding:
"I have myself remarked what you say, but let us not dwell upon
chimerical fears. Listen to me, Don Vicente, while I explain more
categorically the object of which I have been speaking, in order that
you may understand fully why I wish to reckon upon your assistance. I
have not yet told you--either what resources I have, or the kingdom it
is my design to conquer."
"True enough," assented Tragaduros, "you have not."
"The province then which I intend to transform into a kingdom is neither
more nor less than this of Sonora."
"What! our republican state to be changed into a monarchy!" exclaimed
the Senator. "Senor Don Estevan, to attempt this will be to play with
your life."
"I know it."
"But what resources do you count upon?"
"Listen: Ten years ago I was in the Spanish army, and fought against the
independence of your country in this very province. I then became
acquainted with its resources--its incalculable richness--and when I
quitted it to go home to Europe, I had a presentiment that some day I
should again return to it--as I have done. Chance at that time made me
acquainted with Don Augustin, then occupied in amassing the vast wealth
which to-day he so freely spends. I had the fortune to render him a
service--to save his life, in fact, and prevent his house from being
pillaged by the insurgents, for he did not conceal his sympathy for the
Spanish cause. I afterwards kept up with him a correspondence, and
learned that Sonora became every day more discontented with the federal
government. I then designed my great plan, which was approved of by the
prince, and at his desire I came over here. Don Augustin was among the
first to whom I opened my purpose. He was flattered by the promises I
was able to make in the name of my royal master, and at once placed his
fortune at my disposal.
"Nothwithstanding the large pecuniary resources I have been able to
dispose of, I am seeking to augment them still farther, and chance has
favoured me. While here in my former campaign I made the acquaintance
of an odd character--a young fellow who in turns betrayed both royalists
and republicans. My relations with him recall a somewhat droll
occurrence. I found that he was guiding the regiment I commanded into
an ambuscade of the insurgents, and I ordered him to be hung to the
first tree we should meet with. Fortunately for him my men translated
the order in its most literal sense; and being at the time in the middle
of vast savannahs entirely destitute of trees, the execution was held
over, as it was an impossibility to perform it. The result was that in
the middle of our marchings and counter-marchings the fellow escaped;
and it appears did not, afterwards, hold any rancour towards me, since
he has again offered his services to me. This fellow to-day goes by the
name of Cuchillo. It was he whom I met at the village of Huerfano,
where you saw us renew our acquaintance; and at that interview he has
made known to me the secret of an immense placer of gold--whither I
intend to conduct my expedition. Besides ourselves, Cuchillo alone
knows the object of this enterprise," (the Spaniard did not mention the
name of Tiburcio), "which is generally supposed to be merely a new
expedition--like many others that have been got up to go gold seeking by
chance.
"And now, Senor Senator," continued Don Estevan, "you need not proceed
farther with us. You may remain here, where you will have an easy part
to play, in making yourself agreeable to the fair Rosarita, while I am
braving the perils of this unknown frontier. As for Cuchillo, if he
attempt to play the traitor with me a second time, I shall take care to
be a little more prompt in punishing him.
"The product of this expedition," pursued the Spaniard,--"of which, as
leader, I shall be entitled to a fifth part--will be added to the
resources I have already. The men who compose it will be easily
converted into devoted partisans of our design; and should it happen
that the forces I expect from Europe should fail to come to hand in due
time, these adventurers will serve a good purpose. But I have no fear
for the want of followers. Europe is at the present moment overcrowded
with people who lack employment: any enterprise will be welcome to them;
and a leader in any part of the world needs only to speak the word for
crowds to enrol themselves under his banner."
As he said this, Don Estevan paced the room, agitated by the grandeur of
his thoughts. His dark eyes flashed with excitement, and his soul
seemed inspired with a warlike ardour that caused him for a while to
forget the presence of the Senator. It was only after some minutes
spent in this wild enthusiasm that he remembered an important fact--that
in all projects such as he was engaged in, _intrigue_ should be the
precursor of open action; and as this was to be the peculiar _role_
which the Senator was expected to play, he again turned to address
himself to this individual.
"Meanwhile," said he, "your tactics will be of a more pacific character.
I take charge of the open fighting--while you manage the secret
diplomacy of the affair. Your fortune, restored to you by this opulent
alliance, will enable you to get back the influence you have lost. You
will receive with the daughter of Don Augustin, at least two hundred
thousand dollars of dowry. Half of this you are to employ in making
partisans in the Senate, and in what you are pleased to call _your
army_. This sum you will not lose: it will be repaid to you, and with
usurious interest; or if it never should, you still make a good thing of
it. The end you will keep in view, is to detach the Senate of Sonora
from the Federal alliance. You will find no lack of reasons for this
policy. For instance, your State has now scarcely the privileges of a
simple territory; your interests differ entirely from those of the
central States of the Republic. Every day your laws are becoming more
centralised. The President, who deals with your finances, resides at a
distance of seven hundred leagues from your capital--it is ridiculous!
Besides, the funds of the treasury are misappropriated--the army badly
paid, although you have to do your duty in raising the tax that is to
pay it--a thousand grievances can be cited. Well, this will enable you
to get up a _pronunciamento_, and before the news of your _grito_ can
reach the city of Mexico, and the Executive power there can send a force
against you--ay, before the government troops could get half-way to
Sonora, more than two-thirds of them would desert. The others would
come upon the ground, only to find the insurrectionary party too strong
for them, and they themselves would be certain to join us.
"Laws emanating from your own Senate--of which you yourself would have
the control and guidance--laws suited to the manners and usages of your
State, would soon become firmly established and respected, and Sonora
would then be an independent government. This would be the first step
and the most difficult. After that the rest would be easy enough; and
the gold which I should furnish will bring it about. The Senate and the
army would call for a European prince to place himself at their head--
one who speaks the same language and professes the same religion as
themselves. This prince I have already provided. Now hear me, Don
Vicente! as to your own share in this business. The Senator Despilfarro
is already a rich man, with a lady for his wife of whom a prince might
be proud. He will be made noble--a count--a Grandee of Spain. A
lucrative post will attach him to the person of the new king, and
nothing is to hinder him from rising to the very summit of his ambition.
All this I promise on the part of your future sovereign, _King Charles
the First_."
With these words the Spaniard finished his harangue. The Mexican
Senator, fascinated by the riches and honours thus promised him, grasped
the hand of the bold conspirator, at the same time crying out with
enthusiasm, "_Viva! Viva Carlos el Primero_!"
"Good!" rejoined Don Estevan, with a smile. "Don Carlos can count upon
one powerful partisan already in Sonora, and there will soon be many.
But it is getting late, Don Vicente, and I have yet much business to do
before I can go to sleep. You will excuse me, then, if I bid good-night
to you."
After exchanging the usual _buenas noches_, the Senator returned to his
own chamber and couch, to dream of his future riches and grandeur.