CHAPTER XVI.
DIEGO LOPEZ.
The count did not give the hunter time to make many observations.
"Excuse me," he said, "if my behaviour does not appear exactly inaccordance with the claims of courtesy; but war may break out at anymoment between the Spanish government and the Mexican patriots, and anambassador, if he understands his profession, is always more or less aspy."
"That is true," the hunter said with a smile.
"You understand, I suppose, that I am not desirous to let you examinein detail fortifications which you may be ordered to attack within afew days."
"Quite true, senor. I did not think of that; your prudence islegitimate."
"However," the count continued, "be assured, senor, that, with theexception of the care I am compelled to take in hiding from you ourresources and defensive measures, you will have no cause to complain ofthe manner in which you will be treated here."
"I am convinced of that beforehand, senor."
"Be kind enough, then, to follow me. I wish to introduce you to thecountess."
"Do you consider that absolutely necessary?" the hunter asked, as helooked at his shabby clothes which displayed marks of long and hardwear.
The count looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"As you are aware, senor," the Canadian answered, good humouredly,"I am only an ignorant hunter; of use perhaps to give a companion ahelping hand in a difficult situation, but quite out of my place ina drawing room, especially in the presence of a great lady like thecountess."
"Nonsense, you are jesting, my friend. A man like you is nowhere out ofplace. The countess, I am convinced, will be delighted to know you; andI assure you that you will cause me great vexation by refusing to beintroduced to her."
"Very good; as you insist, I have no more to say."
He followed the count who, after crossing two spacious courtyards,led him through a labyrinth of sumptuous apartments, at the end ofwhich he showed him into a large drawing room furnished with all theluxurious comfort of old Europe. In this room, seated on a sofa near awindow whence a magnificent view was enjoyed, was a lady of a certainage, with a gentle and pleasing face, which must have been very lovelyin youth. This lady, who was dressed in mourning, was the Countess deMelgosa.
"My dear Dona Carmencita," the count said, "permit me to present to youa friend of one day's standing who has saved my life."
"He is welcome to our sad abode," the lady said, as she rose with apeaceful and calm smile. "We will try, since he deigns to accept ourhospitality, to render his stay in this isolated hacienda as littlewearisome as we can."
"Madam," the Canadian answered, as he bowed with that natural courtesywhich men in whom a false education has not destroyed nature possess toso eminent a degree, "I am only a poor man, unworthy of the graciousreception you deign to offer me. If accident furnished me with theopportunity to do your husband a slight service, I am more thanrewarded by the kind remarks you have addressed to me. Unfortunately, Ishall not be able to enjoy your exquisite hospitality for long."
"You will surely remain a few days, senor; it would disoblige me if youanswered by a refusal."
"Alas! Madam, I am in despair. I should be delighted to forget here,for some time, the fatigue and dangers of a desert life; unfortunately,serious reasons independent of my will compel my presence at LeonaVicario as early as possible. The Senor Conde knows that we must starttomorrow at sunrise."
The countess displayed signs of great astonishment.
"Can it be true, Don Fadrique?" she said to the count, while lookinginquiringly at him.
"Indeed," he answered, "Senor Clary is in such haste to get to Leona,that if we had not been found by your messenger a few leagues fromhere, we should have continued our journey without calling at thehacienda."
"It is impossible!" the countess exclaimed, her face suffused with ahectic flush.
"Why so?" he continued.
The countess heaved a heavy sigh.
"Have you forgotten, then, Don Fadrique," she at length said, in a lowand trembling voice, "that tomorrow is the anniversary of the fatalday?"
"Ah!" the count exclaimed, as he sorrowfully smote his brow, "Forgiveme, Dona Carmencita. In truth I cannot leave the hacienda tomorrow--ohno! Not even if it were a question of life and death."
The hunter, who was greatly embarrassed, listened, withoutunderstanding a word, to this conversation in which he did not dareto take part, as he feared, if he spoke, he might make some mistake;but the count freed him from his embarrassment by turning and saying tohim--
"I am sure you will excuse me, Senor Clary. Reasons of the deepestgravity demand my presence tomorrow at the hacienda; hence it will beimpossible for me to accompany you to the governor and introduce you tohim. But, though I cannot go myself, I give you in my place a person inwhom you can place entire confidence, and I will join you at the ciudadthe day after tomorrow. It is in reality, therefore, only a triflingdelay of four and twenty hours, which will in no way injure you."
"You know better than I do, senor, what it is best to do, hence donot put yourself out of the way for me; it will be all right if I ampermitted to continue my journey tomorrow."
"You can be sure of it."
"But," the countess said, ringing a bell, "after the fatigues to whichyou have been exposed for two days, you must require a few hours' rest,senor; forgive me for not having thought of it sooner. Be kind enoughto follow this peon, who will conduct you to the room prepared for you,and we shall meet again at dinner."
The hunter comprehended that the countess desired to remain alone withher husband. Although he did not feel the slightest need of rest, hebowed respectfully to the lady, and followed the servant. The latterled him in silence to a vast room, in which he invited him to enter,saying that he had three hours before him, which he could pass eitherin sleeping or smoking. In fact, a hammock of cocoa fibre was suspendedin the room, and a mountain of cigars and cigarettes placed on atable. The servant merely told the hunter that he had better not leavehis room, as he might lose his way. This was clearly saying to theCanadian that he was regarded as a prisoner, or something very like it;at least he understood it so. He shrugged his shoulders disdainfully,and made the peon a sign to leave him alone, which the other at onceobeyed.
"By Jove!" the hunter said, as he lay down in the hammock, and lit acigar, "It must be confessed that this Don Fadrique, this Count deMelgosa, is a somewhat mysterious being, and guards himself with asmuch care as if he had a kingdom to defend; but what do I care? Thankheaven! I have not to stay here long, and have no intention of carryinghis wigwam by storm."
He looked round and saw that not only had cigars been brought for him,but that refreshments had been added in the shape of several _botas_,containing pulque, mezcal, and Catalonian refino.
"Come," he said, "I was prejudiced against my host. He is decidedly afamous fellow."
After this consoling reflection the hunter rose and went to the table,doubtless with the intention of tasting the liquors upon it, andspending in the most agreeable way possible the hours at his disposal.
The dinner was rather gloomy. The countess was not present, but senther apologies to the hunter, who was not broken hearted at her absence;for, in spite of the old lady's gracious manners, he felt constrainedin her presence. When the dinner was ended the count repeated that itwas impossible for him to accompany him on the morrow, but would givehim a sure guide. He handed him a letter of recommendation for thegovernor, and, after renewing to the Canadian his promise of joininghim on the following day, he took leave of him for the night, andretired.
The adventurer was not sorry to be alone. In spite of the count'sattention he retained in his manner toward him a certain aristocratichauteur, which hurt him, although it was impossible for him to displaythe dissatisfaction he felt. The same silent domestic who had alreadyserved him led Oliver to his room, and took leave of him after biddinghim good night. The hunter, wearied more by the inactivity to which hewas conde
mned for some hours than by his morning's ride, threw himselfon the leather-covered frame which serves as a bed in all Mexicanhouses, shut his eyes, and speedily fell asleep.
At sunrise he woke. At the same moment the peon who seemed appointed towait on him entered his room and announced that if he were ready allthe preparations were made. Oliver asked to take leave of the masterand mistress of the house; but, on being told that they could notreceive anybody, he followed his guide without asking him any furtherquestions. The latter led him through several yards, took passagesdifferent from those by which the hunter had entered the hacienda, andtook him out on the opposite side to the one by which he had come in.After crossing the drawbridge the hunter turned as if to say good-byeto the guide, but the latter told him that he had orders to accompanyhim to the spot where the horses were, and they descended the hill by atrack quite as rough as the one by which the Canadian had ascended onthe previous day. On the opposite bank of the river, three horsemen,armed with long lances, one of whom held the hunter's horse by thebridle, were waiting motionless, ready to start at the first signal.In the leader of this little party the Canadian recognized with somedegree of pleasure Diego Lopez, who was relatively an old acquaintance.When they had crossed the moat, Lopez came to meet them.
"Here is the man," said the peon.
"Very good," Diego Lopez answered laconically.
"You know what you have to do?"
"I do."
"In that case, good-bye."
And he then turned to the hunter, who had mounted by this time.
"A pleasant journey, Senor Forastero," he said, with a mocking accentmost offensive to the Canadian.
"Shall we start, senor?" Diego asked the hunter.
"Whenever you please," said the latter, as he drew up by the side ofhis guide.
They started at a gallop, and remained silent for a long time.
"Are we very far from Leona Vicario?" the hunter at length asked,feeling wearied of this silence and disposed to talk with his comrade.
"No!" the latter answered.
"Well, you are no great talker, my friend," the Canadian continued.
"What is the good of talking when you have nothing to say, especiallywhen in the company of a heretic?"
"A heretic!" the adventurer said, "Hang me if that is true."
"Are you not an Englishman?"
"I? Not a bit of it."
"All strangers are Englishmen," Diego Lopez, said, sententiously.
"How famously you fellows are taught. It is curious enough."
"And all Englishmen are heretics," the peon continued, calmly.
"Be kind enough to tell me," the hunter said, with a grin, "who teachesyou all these pretty things?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"For two reasons. In the first place, for my personal satisfaction; andnext, for my instruction."
"It is our priests."
"Ah! Very good. I thank you. Why, my friend, if it cause you anypleasure, learn first that I am not an Englishman but a Canadian, whichis not at all the same thing; next, not only that I am no heretic, butat the least quite as good a Catholic as yourself, I flatter myself."
"Is what you are saying true?" Diego Lopez asked, as he drew close tothe hunter.
"Why should I tell a falsehood?"
"Well! Why did you not tell that to El Senor Conde?"
"Tell him what?"
"That you are a Catholic."
"Hang it, for the very simple reason that he did not ask me."
"That is true; but no matter, it is a misfortune."
"Why so?"
"Because you would have been present at the anniversary service."
"What anniversary?"
"The one held every year at the hacienda in remembrance of theassassination of the brother of the Senor Conde, who was treacherouslykilled by the redskins."
"I am really vexed that I did not know that sooner, for I should havemade a point of attending that service. Stay, in order that you may nothave the slightest doubt about me," he added, as he took out of hisbosom a small silver cross, hanging round his neck by a steel chain,"look at this. Is it a heretic plaything?"
"Good," the peon said, with evident satisfaction. "I see that you are aworthy man, and not a dog of an Englishman. Do you love the English?"
"I cannot bear them."
"Our priests say that they will all be condemned."
"I hope so," the Canadian said, with a laugh.
"They deserve it, for they are _gringos_."
"So we are friends?"
"Yes; and to prove it, I will give you a piece of advice, if you like."
"Out with it; it is always worth having."
"Must you absolutely see the governor directly you arrive?"
"Yes."
"That is vexatious."
"Why so?"
"Well!" Diego Lopez said, looking at him with some hesitation, "Do youknow the name the people give the governor?"
"No, I do not; but tell it to me; I shall be glad to learn it."
"Well! They call him the Shark."
"Ah! An ugly name, especially if deserved."
"Oh, yes, it is deserved," the peon said, with an involuntary shudder.
The hunter reflected for a moment.
"Hang it," he muttered, "what a wasps' nest I have got into!"
Then he said aloud--
"And, now, what is the advice you wish to give me?"
"You will be dumb?"
"As a fish; go on."
"Well, if you will believe me, in spite of the letter my master gaveyou for the governor, you will wait to present it to him till the counthas rejoined you."
"Confusion! Then you suspect that I am incurring some danger?"
"A terrible one."
"Hang it, hang it, that is not reassuring."
"I will lead you to a cousin of mine who is an arriero. You will remainconcealed at his house till tomorrow, and so soon as my master arrivesI will warn you."
"My friend," the adventurer replied seriously, "I thank you for youradvice. I see that the interest you feel in me induces you to give itme, but, unluckily, it is impossible for me to profit by it. I mustpresent myself without delay to the governor, in spite of all the perilto which I may be exposed. But as a warned man is worth two, I shalltake my precautions accordingly. But I fancy that is the town we cansee."
"Yes," said the peon,
"I shall feel obliged by your leading me straight to the governor'spalace."
Diego Lopez looked at him for a moment with an air of amazement, andthen shook his head several times.
"As you insist on it, I will lead you there," he said.
The Queen of the Savannah: A Story of the Mexican War Page 21
