"Take a few of your people, go by night, and carry her off. What can be
more simple? It would have been the proper way at first, with such a
prude as she! Don't fear the result. It's not so terrible to them.
I've known it tried before. Long ere the cibolero can return, she'll be
perfectly reconciled, I warrant you."
"And if not?"
"If not, what have you to fear?"
"The talk, Roblado--the talk."
"Bah! my dear colonel, you are timid in the matter. You have mismanaged
it so far, but that's no reason you should not use tact for the future.
It can be done by night. You have chambers here where no one is allowed
to enter--some _without windows_, if you need them. Who's to be the
wiser? Pick your men--those you can trust. You don't require a whole
troop, and half-a-dozen onzas will tie as many tongues. It's as easy as
stealing a shirt. It is only stealing a chemisette. Ha! ha! ha!" and
the ruffian laughed at his coarse simile and coarser joke, in which
laugh he was joined by the Comandante.
The latter still hesitated to adopt this extreme measure. Not from any
fineness of feeling. Though scarce so rough a villain as his companion,
it was not delicacy of sentiment that restrained him now. He had been
accustomed all his life to regard with heartless indifference the
feelings of those he had wronged; and it was not out of any
consideration for the future happiness or misery of the girl that he
hesitated now. No, his motive was of a far different character.
Roblado said true when he accused him of being timid. He was. It was
sheer cowardice that stayed him.
Not that he feared any bodily punishment would ever reach him for the
act. He was too powerful, and the relatives of his intended victim too
weak, to give him any apprehensions on that score. With a little policy
he could administer death,--death to the most innocent of the people,--
and give it a show of justice. Nothing was more easy than to cause
suspicion of treason, incarcerate, and slay--and particularly at that
time, when both Pueblo revolt and Creole revolution threatened the
Spanish rule in America.
What Vizcarra feared was "talk." Such an open rape could not well be
kept secret for long. It would leak out, and once out it was too
piquant a piece of scandal not to have broad fame: all the town would
soon enjoy it. But there was a still more unpleasant probability. It
might travel beyond the confines of the settlement, perhaps to high
quarters, even to the Vice-regal ear! There find we the secret of the
Comandante's fears.
Not indeed that the Vice-regal court at the time was a model of
morality. It would have been lenient enough to any act of despotism or
debauchery done in a quiet way; but such an open act of rapine as that
contemplated, on the score of policy, could hardly be overlooked. In
truth, Vizcarra's prudence had reason. He could not believe that it
would be possible to keep the thing a secret. Some of the rascals
employed might in the end prove traitors. True, they would be his own
soldiers, and he might punish them for it at his will, but what
satisfaction would that give him? It would be locking the stable after
the steed had been stolen!
Even without their playing him false, how could he hope to keep the
affair concealed? First, there was an angry brother. True, he was out
of the way; but there was a jealous lover on the ground, and the brother
would return in time. The very act of the rape would point to him,
Vizcarra. His visit, the attempt of the "alcahuete," and the carrying
off of the girl, would all be pieced together, and put down to his
credit; and the brother--such a one--and such a lover too--would not be
silent with their suspicious. He might take measures to get rid of
both, but these measures must needs be violent and dangerous.
Thus reasoned Vizcarra with himself, and thus he argued with Roblado.
Not that he wished the latter to dissuade him--for the end he desired
with all his heart--but in order that by their united wisdom some safer
means of reaching it might be devised.
And a safer plan _was_ devised. Roblado, deeper in head, as well as
bolder in heart, conceived it. Bringing his glass to the table with a
sudden stroke, he exclaimed--
"_Vamos_, Vizcarra! By the Virgin, I have it!"
"_Bueno_--_bravo_!"
"You may enjoy your sweetheart within twenty four hours, if you wish,
and the sharpest scandalmonger in the settlement will be foiled; at
least, you will have nothing to fear. What a devil of a lucky
thought!--the very thing itself, amigo!"
"Don't keep me in suspense, camarado! your plan! your plan!"
"Stop till I've had a gulp of wine. The very thought of such a glorious
trick makes me thirsty."
"Drink then, drink!" cried Vizcarra, filling out the wine, with a look
of pleasant anticipation.
Roblado emptied the goblet at a draught, and then, leaning nearer to the
Comandante, he detailed what he had conceived in a low and confidential
tone. It seemed to satisfy his listener, who, when the other had
finished, uttered the word "Bravo!" and sprang to his feet like one who
had received some joyful news. He walked back and forth for some
minutes in an excited manner, and then, bursting into a loud laugh, he
cried out, "_Carrambo_, comrade! you _are_ a tactician! The great Conde
himself would not have shown such strategy. _Santisima Virgen_! it is
the very master-stroke of design; and I promise you, camarado, it shall
have speedy execution."
"Why delay? Why not set about it at once?"
"True,--at once let us prepare for this _pleasant masquerade_!"