Governor Arrillaga, Commandante Arguello, and Chamberlain Rezanov sat
in the familiar sala at the Presidio content in body after a culinary
achievement worthy of Padre Landaeta, but perturbed and alert of mind.
Upon the arrival of the two California dignitaries in the morning,
Rezanov had sent Davidov and Langsdorff on shore to assure them of his
gratitude and deep appreciation of the hospitality shown himself, his
officers and men. The Governor had replied with a fulsome apology for
not repairing at once to the Juno to welcome his distinguished guest in
person, and, pleading his age and the one hundred and seventy-five
English miles he had ridden from Monterey, begged him as a younger man
to waive informality, and dine at the house of the Commandante that
very day. Rezanov had complied as a matter of course, and now he was
alone with the men who held his fate in their hands. The dark worn
rugged face of Don Jose, who had been skilfully prepared by his oldest
daughter to think well of the Russian, beamed with good-will and
interest, in spite of lingering doubts; but the lank, wiry figure of
the Governor, who was as dignified as only a blond Spaniard can be, was
fairly rigid with the severe formality he reserved for occasions of
ceremony--being a gentleman who loved good company and cheer--and his
sharp gray eyes were almost shut in the effort to penetrate the designs
of this deputy, this symbol, this index in cipher, of a dreaded race.
Rezanov smoked calmly, made himself comfortable on the slippery
horse-hair chair, though with no loss of dignity, and beat about the
bush with the others until the Governor betrayed himself at last by a
chance remark:
"What you say of the neighborly instincts of the Russian colonists for
the Spanish on this coast interests me deeply, Excellency, but if
Russia is at war with Spain--"
"Russia is not at war with Spain," said Rezanov, with a flash of
amusement in his half-closed eyes. "Napoleon Bonaparte is encamped
about half way between the two countries. They could not get at each
other if they wished. While that man is at large, Europe will be at
war with him, no two nations with each other."
"Ah!" exclaimed Arrillaga. "That is a manner of reasoning that had not
occurred to me."
The Commandante had spat at the mention of the usurper's name and
muttered "Chinchosa!" and Rezanov, recalling his first conversation
with Concha, looked into the honest eyes of the monarchist with a
direct and hearty sympathy.
"No better epithet for him," he said. "And the sooner Europe combines
to get rid of him the better. But until it does, count upon a common
grievance to unite your country and mine."
"Good!" muttered the Governor. "Good! I am glad that nightmare has
lifted its bat's wings from our poor California. Captain O'Cain's raid
two years ago made me apprehensive, for he took away some eleven
hundred of our otter skins and his hunters were Aleutians--subjects of
the Tsar. A negro that deserted gave the information that they were
furnished the Bostonian by the chief manager of your
Company--Baranhov--whose reputation we know well enough!--for the
deliberate purpose of raiding our coast."
Rezanov shrugged his shoulders and replied indifferently: "I will ask
Baranhov when I return to Sitka, and write you the particulars. It is
more likely that the Aleutians were deserters. This O'Cain would not
be the first shrewd Bostonian to tempt them, for they are admirable
hunters and ready for any change. They make a greater demand upon the
Company for variety of diet than we are always prepared to meet, so
many are the difficulties of transportation across Siberia. When,
therefore, the time arrived that I could continue my voyage, I
determined to come here and see if some arrangement could not be made
for a bi-yearly exchange of commodities. We need farinaceous stuffs of
every sort. I will not pay so poor a compliment to your knowledge of
the northern settlements as to enlarge upon the advantages California
would reap from such a treaty."
The Governor, who had permitted himself to touch the back of his chair
after the dispersal of the war cloud, stiffened again. "Ah!" he said.
"Ah!" He looked significantly at the Commandante, who nodded. "You
come on a semi-official mission, after all, then?"
"It is entirely my own idea," said Rezanov carelessly. "The young Tsar
is too much occupied with Bonaparte to give more than a passing thought
to his colonies. But I have a free hand. Can I arrange the
preliminaries of a treaty, I have only to return to St. Petersburg to
receive his signature and highest approval. It would be a great
feather in my cap I can assure your excellencies," he added, with a
quick human glance and a sudden curve of his somewhat cynical mouth.
"Um!" said the Governor. "Um!"
But Arguello's stern face had further relaxed. After all, he was but
eleven years older than the Russian, and, although early struggles and
heavy responsibilities and many disappointments had deprived life of
much of its early savor, what was left of youth in him responded to the
ambition he divined in this interesting stranger. Moreover, the idea
of a friendly bond with another race on the lonely coast of the Pacific
appealed to him irresistibly. He turned eagerly to the Governor.
"It is a fine idea, Excellency. We need much that they have, and it
pleases me to think we should be able to supply the wants of others.
Fancy any one wanting aught of California, except hides, to be sure. I
did not think our existence was known save to an occasional British or
Boston skipper. It is true we are here only to Christianize savages,
but even they have need of much that cannot be manufactured in this
God-forsaken land. And we ourselves could be more comfortable--God in
heaven, yes! It is well to think it over, Excellency. Who knows?--we
might have a trip to the north once in a while. Life is more excellent
with something to look forward to."
"You should have a royal welcome. Baranhov is the most hospitable man
in Russia, and I might have the happiness to be there myself. I see,
by the way, that you have not engaged in shipbuilding. I need not say
that we should supply the ships of commerce, with no diminution of your
profits. We build at Okhotsk, Petropaulovski, Kadiak, and Sitka.
Moreover, as the Bostonians visit us frequently, and as your laws
prohibit you from trading with them, we would see that you always got
such of their commodities as you needed. They come to us for furs, and
generally bring much for which we have no use. Captain D'Wolf, from
whom I bought the Juno, had a cargo I was forced to take over. I
unloaded what was needed at Sitka, but as there was no boat going for
some months to the other islands, I brought the rest with me, and you
are welcome to it, if in exchange you will ballast the Juno with
samples of your agricultural products; while the treaty is pending, I
can experiment in our colonies and make sure which are the most
adaptable to the market.
"Um!" said the Governor. "Um!"
Rezanov did not remove his cool direct gaze from the snapping eyes
opposite.
"I have not the least objection to making a trade that would fill my
promuschleniki with joy; but that was by no means the first object of
my voyage; which was partly inspired by a desire to see as much of this
globe as a man may in one short life, partly to arrange a treaty that
would be of incalculable benefit to both colonies and greatly redound
to my own glory. I make no pretence of being disinterested. I look
forward to a career of ever increasing influence and power in St.
Petersburg, and I wish to take back as many credits as possible."
"I understand, I understand!" The Governor rested his lame back once
more. "Your ambition is the more laudable, Excellency, since you have
achieved so much already. I am not one to balk the honest ambition of
any man, particularly when he does me the honor to take me into his
confidence. I like this suggested measure. I like it much. I believe
it would redound to our mutual benefit and reputation. Is it not so,
Jose?"
The Commandante nodded vigorously. "I am sure of it! I am sure of it!
I like it--much, much."
"I will write at once to the Viceroy of Mexico and ask that he lay the
matter before the Cabinet and King. Without that high authority we can
do nothing. But I see no reason to doubt the issue when we, who know
the wants and needs of California, approve and desire. We are doomed
to failure in this unwieldy land of worthless savages, but it is the
business of the wretched servants of a glorious monarch to do the best
they can."
Rezanov had an inspiration. "You might remind the viceroy that Spain
and the United States of America have been on the verge of war for
years, and suggest the benefit of an alliance with Russia in the case
of the new country taking advantage of the situation in Europe to
extend its western boundaries--"
Arrillaga had bounced to his feet, his small eyes injected and blazing.
"Those damned Bostonians!" he shouted. "I distrusted them years ago.
They have too much calculation in their bluntness. They cheated us,
sold us short, traded under my very nose, stole our otters, until I
ordered them never to drop an anchor in California waters again. If
their ridiculous upstart government dares to cast its eyes on
California we shall know how to meet them--the sooner they march on
Mexico and lose their conceit the better. How they do brag! Faugh!
It is sickening. I shall remember all you say, Excellency; and thank
you for the hint."
Rezanov rose, and the Commandante solemnly kissed him on either cheek.
"Governor Arrillaga is my guest, Excellency," he said. "I beg that you
will dine with us daily--unofficially--that you will regard California
as your own kingdom, and come and go at your pleasure. And my daughter
begs me to remind you and your young officers that there will be
informal dancing every night."
"So far so good," thought Rezanov, as he mounted his horse to return to
the Juno. "But what of my cargo? I fancy there will be more
difficulty in that quarter."