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Gomez once more apologized. The senor Cliffe had not yet arrived from
Villa Paz, he explained, but was expected in the morning. In the
meantime the good senora Garcia would look after the senorita's comfort.
Evelyn had to be content with that. Indeed, she was too tired to feel
much disturbed. On getting up the next morning, however, she was
troubled by unpleasant suspicions. It had been a shock to find Cliffe
absent, and she began to review the misadventures which had marked her
journey. To begin with, it now seemed curious that her father had not
written instead of sending a message; then, the senora Herrero had not
kept her promise to overtake them, and Luisa Romanez had unexpectedly
gone back. While she wondered whether all this had any sinister meaning,
Evelyn felt for a packet of paper currency which she had, at her
father's advice, sewn into her dress. She found that it was gone. A
hurried search showed that the stitches had been neatly cut.
For a few moments she felt unnerved, and then resolutely pulled herself
together. This was no time for hysteria. It was obvious that she had
been duped. The lost sum was not large, but with the exception of a few
coins it was all she had, and it had not been stolen by a common thief.
Somebody had searched her clothes while she slept and taken the money
with the object of embarrassing her.
Going to the window, she looked out at the town. It had a mean,
dilapidated air; the few inhabitants she saw slowly moving about looked
poverty-stricken and furtive. Their harsh voices jarred; one could
expect no sympathy or help from these foreigners. Hitherto she had been
indulged and carefully protected, but she was now alone and in danger,
and the novel experience was daunting. Still, she saw that it was unwise
to give her imagination rein. She must keep her head and try to grapple
with the situation.
She finished dressing and without waiting for the morning chocolate
found her way to the room in which she had been received on the previous
evening. It stretched across one end of the house on the second floor
and was furnished in rather barbarous taste. Although there was a
profusion of colored silk and a hint of sensual luxury, it was obviously
a man's room, and Evelyn studied the woman who joined her when the
majordomo brought in breakfast.
Senora Garcia was coarsely handsome, but she had not the easy manners of
a lady of rank and her dark color hinted at Indian blood. Her expression
was arrogant, and Evelyn felt that she was hostile. Besides, she spoke
an uncouth Spanish that the girl could not understand at all. Breakfast
was a trial of nerve, but Evelyn knew that she must eat and hide her
fears. When breakfast was over she would have a talk with Gomez.
He soon came in, and dismissed the senora Garcia with a commanding
glance. Her servile obedience was significant.
"_Buenos dias, senorita_," he greeted Evelyn smilingly.
"When do you expect my father?" she asked bluntly.
"I regret that I cannot answer positively. It may be a week before he
comes--perhaps longer."
"But you brought me here to meet him!"
Gomez smiled, and spread out his hands in a way that always irritated
Evelyn.
"It now appears that the senor Cliffe's business with the President is
not finished," he said.
"It would not prevent his coming to meet me if he had promised."
"You should know best," Gomez answered with a shrug. "Still, it looks as
if the senor Cliffe put his business first and is not very anxious about
you."
"That is not true!" Evelyn said vehemently. "If he had any cause to be
anxious, he would let no business stand in the way!"
"Ah! I admit I find this interesting."
Gomez looked so satisfied that Evelyn feared she had blundered, though
she could not see how. Her heart beat fast and her nerves were tensely
strung, but she knew that she must be calm. The man was her antagonist
and she was fighting in the dark.
"Well," she said, "since my father has not arrived, I will go to him."
"I am afraid that is impossible. It is a long way to Villa Paz and the
country is disturbed."
"Do you mean to prevent my going?"
"Far from it, senorita. You are at liberty to do what you wish; but
unfortunately, I cannot provide mules and an escort. There are some
dangerous revolutionaries among the hills. Then, I must remind you that
our people dislike foreigners, and a lady cannot travel alone and
without money."
Evelyn felt trapped.
"How do you _know_ I haven't money? Because it was stolen in this house!
You must lend me some--my father will repay it."
"Your pardon, senorita, but you are mistaken; I can answer for the
honesty of my servants. I would lend you money, only that I cannot
permit you to make a journey I know is dangerous."
The girl sat still and there was silence for a few moments while she
tried to brace herself. She felt that she was at the man's mercy, for
there was something threatening behind his suave politeness, and his
smile indicated that he was amused by her futile struggles. For all
that, she must keep up the fight.
"Then what is to be done?" she asked.
"I suggest that you write to the senor Cliffe and tell him where you
are. If you add that you do not feel safe, he will, no doubt, join you
as soon as possible. Although it may reflect upon our care of you, we
will see that he gets the letter."
It seemed a simple course, but Evelyn was on her guard. She must match
her wits against the man's, and he had shown a hint of eagerness that
she thought suspicious. Having brought her to Rio Frio by trickery, why
did he wish her father to know that she felt alarmed?
"I should be glad to write to him, but I do not see why I should make
him uneasy on my account," she said.
There was something in Gomez's expression which indicated that he felt
baffled, and she knew it might be dangerous to provoke him; but he
exercised self-control.
"That is for you to judge, but are you not inconsistent, senorita? You
show some anger and alarm when you do not find your father here, and now
when I suggest an easy way of bringing him, you will not take it."
"Do you want him to come here?" Evelyn asked bluntly.
Gomez gave her a steady, thoughtful look.
"On the whole, that would suit us." He paused and added in a meaning
tone: "It would facilitate your return to the coast."
Evelyn knew she had been given a hint that was half a threat and it cost
her something to refuse it, although she felt that to do what the man
wished might not be the safest plan.
"After all, it might interfere with his business if I made him leave
Villa Paz before he is ready."
Watching Gomez closely she thought his calm was forced, but he bowed.
"As you wish, senorita, but you will think over it. And now I must leave
you."
For some minutes after he had gone Evelyn sat with relaxed muscles and
vacant mind, for the strain had told; then by degrees her courage came
back. She was an American and must show no weakness to an antagonist of
alien and, she felt, baser blood. Besides, it looked as if she had won
the first encounter and she had resources which should prove useful. She
had inherited her father's intelligence, and her social training had
given her restraint and the power to conceal her thoughts, while a
woman's quick, instinctive perception was an advantage.
All this, however, was not directly to the point. She had been decoyed
to Rio Frio for some purpose. She shrank as she remembered Luisa
Romanez's hints; still, she did not think Gomez was in love with her.
The fellow was a sensualist, but he had some advantage in view, and she
had already suspected what it was. Now she began to understand the
matter more clearly. Gomez and the President meant to use her as a means
of getting her father into their power. She did not think his personal
safety was threatened, but they would insist on his agreeing to their
terms as the price of restoring her to him, and it was plain that she
would play into their hands by writing a letter that would cause him
anxiety. Evelyn determined that they should not have her help, but
although she sat for some time with brows knitted and hands clenched,
she could make no better plan than to remain quietly obstinate.
It was impossible to reach Villa Paz without money, and although she
shrank from being left in the power of a man like Gomez, she thought his
self-interest would secure her safety. She might, perhaps, get some one
to carry a message to Grahame if he were on the coast, but she was
reluctant to do so unless the need were urgent.
After a while she got up and went out into the plaza. People gazed at
her curiously; some smiled at one another as she passed, and a number of
the women looked suspicious and hostile. For all that, she was neither
molested nor followed, and when the sun got hot she returned to the
house, where she spent the day drearily improving her knowledge of
Castilian. It promised to become useful, but the fine language jarred
her long afterward.
The week that followed tried her courage. She was, in reality, a
prisoner, though subject to no open restraint and treated well, except
that the senora Garcia regarded her with badly disguised hatred. Now and
then she saw Gomez, but he was suavely courteous and said nothing of
importance. She got nervous and lost her color and her appetite, but
there was nothing to do but wait until Gomez, who apparently meant to
wear her out, made some fresh demand.
One evening he came into the room where she sat and after a ceremonious
greeting stood with his head slightly bent in an attitude of respect. He
was dressed in a white uniform which emphasized his stoutness and the
dark color of his greasy skin.
"You look tired, senorita," he remarked.
"I am very tired of Rio Frio. Have you come to tell me that I can go
away?"
"That you should be eager to do so grieves me, but I can, perhaps, make
it possible. There is a proposal I wish to make."
"Yes?" Evelyn answered as carelessly as she could.
"You may find what I propose surprising; but I must beg you to think
over it and you will see that it is not so strange as it seems. I have
the honor to ask you to be my wife."
Evelyn shrank back in horror, as if he had struck her, and then with an
effort recovered her self-control.
"This is impossible, senor; indeed, it is absurd."
"Your pardon," he said with ominous grimness; "I cannot agree. It is, I
think, the best way out of an embarrassing situation, but this is an
argument I do not wish to use. I would rather speak of the charm you
exercise and my respectful admiration."
"We can leave that out. I do not value nor desire it."
The man's dark eyes flashed, and Evelyn knew the danger of rousing him.
His Spanish polish was only skin-deep, and the savage lurked beneath.
For all that, she was desperate and meant to force the conflict.
"Very well," he said; "I must take another course. To begin with, it
looks as if your father did not care what became of you. It is now some
time since he left you at Valverde and he has not troubled to inquire if
you are safe."
"I do not believe that!"
"Well, we will let it go. The rest is more important. It is known in
Valverde that you did me the honor to run away with me."
Evelyn jumped up, with the color rushing to her face and her hands
clenched. The prudence she tried to exercise had given place to
imperious anger.
"You scoundrel!" she cried. "Do you think it matters to me what your
black-blooded countrymen and women think! Your Moorish customs may be
necessary for them, but I am an American!"
Gomez chuckled.
"There were two American _comisionistas_ at Valverde and they must have
heard the story in the cafes. It is, you understand, a romantic episode:
the daughter of a well-known financier elopes with a foreign soldier.
The _comisionistas_ talk about it when they return and your newspapers
make the most of the tale. Some of them are not reserved or fastidious.
It is possible they print your portrait. One can imagine the
astonishment of your friends, but the story would be incomplete if it
did not end with a romantic wedding."
The girl drew back in horror. If the tale reached home, the shock would
break her mother down; but it was possible that Gomez was lying. She had
heard of no American drummers in the town.
He gave her no time to recover.
"Then I must show you how what followed our flight from Valverde fits
in. We arrive together at Rio Frio after dark; you find shelter in my
house."
Evelyn started, for this was worse.
"Your house!" she exclaimed. "Then who is Senora Garcia?"
Gomez smirked in an ugly manner.
"A woman of the town who comes at my bidding."
The jealous hatred of the coarse but handsome woman was now explained
and Evelyn grew hot with humiliation as she saw that the senora Garcia
regarded her as a favored rival. It was unendurable; but in spite of her
anger she was getting calm. Besides, there was some hope in the thought
that Gomez could not be moved by passion. He was a sensual brute, and
her beauty had perhaps caught his roving eye, but it was some material
advantage he sought.
"It was a clever plot; one that only a mind like yours could conceive,"
she said with quiet scorn.
"The important thing is that it succeeded. But may I ask why you object
to me? I am a man of influence--in reality, the second in power. The
country is disturbed and discontented; before long I may be first."
"Your hopes would probably come to a sudden end, if your master guessed
them," Evelyn answered with a mocking smile.
She saw that she had touched him, for he cast a quick glance at the
door, as if to make sure that nobody had heard his boast. As he did so,
Evelyn thought she heard a faint movement outside, but she knew she
might be mistaken, and Gomez did not seem to notice anything. To
distract his attention, she flung another jibe at him.
"Senor," she said, "though you think I am in your power, I will never
marry you. It is an insult to suggest it. Even if you were not repulsive
in person and character, you are not a white man."
The blood rushed to his face and his eyes flashed.
"You are rash, senorita, in trying to provoke me, but you may take a
wiser course before I have finished with you. It pains me deeply to be
compelled to remind you that you are in my house, in my power. I repeat
to you my offer, senorita; I give you one more chance to marry me _of
your own free will_. And now I leave you to think it over."
Before Evelyn could more than gasp he was gone. She fell limply into a
chair and dropped her head into her hands. She must think, _think_; but
the strain had been unbearable and the reaction threatened to overwhelm
her.