CHAPTER XX.
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
The room to which the general led the count was a study. Don Sebastianpointed to a chair, and took another himself. There was a moment'ssilence, during which the two men examined each other carefully. Onpassing the study threshold, both doffed that gaiety they had imprintedon their faces, to assume a severe and thoughtful look, harmonisingbetter with the grave questions they were probably about to discuss.
"I am waiting, senor conde," the general at length said, "till it pleaseyou to explain yourself."
"I hesitate to do so, general," Don Louis answered.
"You hesitate, count!"
"Yes, because, in what I have to say to you, there are some matters sodelicate that I almost fear to approach them."
The general was mistaken as to the meaning of the count's words. Howcould he understand the exquisite delicacy that dictated them?
"You can speak without fear," he said; "no one can hear you. Precautionshave been taken, so that nothing said in this room can transpireoutside. Banish then, I implore you, all reserve, and explain yourselffrankly."
"I will do so, as you demand it; indeed, it is, perhaps, better that itshould be so. In this way, I shall know at once what I have to hope orfear."
"You are bound to hope everything from me," the general said in aninsinuating voice. "I wish you no harm; on the contrary, I desire toserve you; and to give you an example of frankness, I will begin bydeclaring to you, that your fate depends on yourself alone, and that thesuccess or ruin of your enterprise is in your own hands."
"If it be really so, general, the discussion between us will not belong. But, allow me in the first place to set forth my grievances, inorder to throw full light on the state of the case."
"Do so."
"In the first place, permit me one question. Do you know the conditionsof my treaty with the Mexican government?"
"Of course I do, count, as I have in my possession a copy of it."
Don Louis made a sign of surprise.
"That must not astonish you," the general continued; "remember whatoccurred at Mexico. Do you not owe to an influential person, whose nameyou are ignorant of, the removal of those insurmountable obstacles whichprevented the acceptance of your treaty by the President of theRepublic?"
"I allow it."
"That person, I can now tell you, was myself."
"You, general?"
"Myself. Then, do you remember that when all was concluded, I became thefirst shareholder who gave his signature, and supplied funds?"
"That is perfectly correct; but this only renders more incomprehensiblethe strange position in which I have been placed."
"How so?"
"Pardon me, general, the frankness with which I express myself."
"Go on, count. We are here to tell each other the truth."
"In reality, since my arrival at Guaymas, your conduct toward me hasbeen inexplicable."
"You are jesting. I consider it most natural."
"Still, it appears to me----"
"Come, what do you find so extraordinary in my conduct?"
"Well, everything."
"Mention details."
"I will do so."
"Let us see."
"Shall I start from the commencement?"
"Certainly."
"Very good. You know, as you have a copy of my agreement, that it isstated in it that I shall only stay at Guaymas just the time necessaryfor the company to settle the halting places, and prepare provision andfodder."
"Perfectly correct."
"I have been kept at the port nearly a fortnight under excuses, eachmore frivolous than the other. Comprehending how injurious inaction mayprove to my company, I made repeated applications to the captain-generaland yourself. All my letters were answered by want of instructions."
"Go on."
"Wearied with this abnormal position, I at length succeed in obtainingmy passports to start for the mine. At that moment I receive from you,general, a note giving me orders not to leave Guaymas."
"Very good. Proceed."
Don Louis, confounded by the impassiveness of the speaker, whose faceremained calm and voice tranquil, began to feel himself growing angry.
"Now, general," he said, raising his voice, "I have a right to ask youclearly what game we are playing.
"A very simple one, my dear count, I repeat to you; and you can, if youreally desire it, hold all the trumps in your hand."
"I confess that I do not at all understand you."
"That is impossible!"
"On my honour! I should feel most sincerely obliged by your explainingto me clearly what is happening; for I assure you that I am in a fogfrom which I despair ever to escape."
"That depends on yourself alone."
"By Heavens, general, you will allow that you are jesting with me?"
"Not the least in the world."
"What? At the request of your government, I come to Sonora withpermission to work the mines. Owing to your influence, as you yourselfallow, my treaty is signed. Confiding in Mexican honesty, I organise anexpedition--I arrive; and my partners, yourself first of all, turnagainst me and treat me, not as their friend, their representative, notwith even the respect due to a gentleman, but affect to consider me asalmost a filibuster."
"O count! You are going too far."
"On my soul, general, such things can only be witnessed in Mexico."
"My dear count, you are mistaken. No one is seeking to injure you, onthe contrary."
"Still, up to the present, you, one of the largest shareholders in thecompany, whose interests are at stake, you in a word, who, owing to theinfluence you possess, should have helped us in the most effectivemanner, have only employed that power to impede our movements and injureus in every way."
"O count! What terms you are employing."
"Good Heavens, general, excuse me! But it is time for all these absurdannoyances to cease, and for me to be allowed to proceed to the mines.All this has lasted too long."
The general appeared to reflect for a moment.
"Come, frankly," he said at last; "did you not understand why I actedtoward you in that way?"
"I swear it."
"That is strange. Pardon me in your turn, count; but I had a verydifferent opinion of you."
"What do you mean?"
"Then you did not guess why I, general, military governor of Sonora,supported so warmly your petition to the President?"
"But----"
"You did not guess," he went on sharply, "why I demanded that yourcompanions should be well armed, and organised as soldiers?"
"It appears to me----"
"You did not understand why I had you invested with a military power asextensive as if you were chief of an army? Come, count, you are notspeaking seriously at this moment; or else you wish to play a cunninggame with me."
While pronouncing these words with a certain degree of vehemence, thistime real, the general had left his chair, and was walking about theroom in agitation. The count listened to him with the greatestattention, while watching him closely. When he was silent, he replied:--
"I will tell you, general, what I did understand."
"Speak."
"I understood, that the Mexican government, too weak to recover foritself the rich placers of the Plancha de la Plata, which by itscarelessness, had fallen once more into the hands of the Indians, wouldgladly see strangers carry out an expedition from which it would reapthe greatest profit. I understood, besides, that the government, unableeffectively to protect the inhabitants of Sonora against the incursionsof the Apaches and Comanches, would be delighted if the same strangerstook on themselves at their risk and peril to restrain these ferociousplunderers within their frontiers. I understood lastly, that General DonGuerrero, (whose life and his daughter's I had been so fortunate as tosave, and who felt such deep gratitude toward me), had gladly seized onthe opportunity to do me a service in his turn, by placing at mydisposal that great influence h
e possesses, to obtain for me that whichI had so long solicited in vain. That is all I understood, general."
"Ah! That is all?"
"Yes; but am I mistaken?"
"Perhaps."
"Then, be kind enough to explain yourself categorically, general."
"What use would it be now? It is too late," the general answered,darting at him a glance of strange meaning.
"Why, then, too late?"
Don Sebastian walked quickly up to the count, and stopped in front ofhim.
"Because now," he said, "we can never understand each other."
"You believe so, general?"
"I am sure of it."
"But, for what reason?"
"You wish me to tell it you?"
"I beg you."
"Well, then, senor conde, the reason is this: you are a man of too muchsense and vast intelligence--in a word, you are a man in a thousand----"
"General, I implore you----"
"I do not flatter you, count; I tell you the truth. Unfortunately,though you speak Spanish with rare perfection, you are not sufficientlyacquainted with _Mexican_ for us ever to understand each other."
"Ah!" the count said, without adding another word.
"I am right, I think; this time you caught the meaning of my words?"
"Perhaps, general, I will reply in the remark you employed an instantago."
"Very good. Now, I think, we have nothing more to say to each other."
"Permit me a few words."
"Speak."
"Whatever may happen, general, on passing the door of the room, I shallnot remember one word of our conversation."
"As you please, count; we have said nothing the whole town might nothear."
"That is true; but others might possibly put a different interpretationon them than mine. There are so many ways of understanding words."
"Oh! But ours were remarkably innocent."
"They were. I trust, general, we shall not part as foes."
"Why should we be so, my dear count? I desire, on the contrary, that theagreeable acquaintance we have renewed this evening may be changed erelong--on your side at least, for on mine it has long been so--into adurable friendship."
"You overwhelm me, general."
"Do I not owe you my life?"
"So I may always count on you?"
"As on yourself, my dear friend."
These words were uttered by the two speakers with such delicatelysharpened irony, that no one could have guessed, beneath the charmingsmile that played on their lips, the rage and hatred which swelled theirhearts.
"Now," the general continued, "I believe we can return to the ballroom?"
"I am at your orders, general."
Don Sebastian opened the door of the room, and stood against the wall.The count passed him.
"Do you play, Don Louis?" the general asked him.
"Rarely; still, if you wish it, I shall be happy to cover your stake."
"This way then."
They entered a room in which several monte tables were established. Thegamblers were collected before a table, at which a man, who had anenormous pile of gold before him, was enjoying extraordinary good luck.The man was Don Cornelio. After conversing for some time with DonaAngela, the Spaniard, attracted by the irresistible charm of gold,approached the monte tables, and, fascinated in spite of himself, he hadrisked the few ounces he possessed.
Luck had been favourable to him; so constantly favourable, that in lessthan an hour he had gained nearly all the gold of all the players whohad ventured to hold their ground against him; so that he eventually wonan enormous sum. At the moment the count and the general arrived nearhim, Don Cornelio's last adversary retired, completely cleaned out, andthe fight ceased for want of combatants; so that the Spaniard, afterlooking around him, and seeing that no one cared longer to contend withhim, began with unchangeable coolness thrusting into the vast pockets ofhis _calzoneras_ the ounces piled up before him.
"Oh, oh!" the general said, gaily, "it seems that the Atravida companyis in luck to-night, Senor Don Louis; it gains on all sides at once."
The count smiled at this double-edged compliment.
"Let us see if I shall change the vein?" Don Sebastian continued, "Willyou play against me, Don Louis?"
"On one condition."
"What? I accept it beforehand."
"This: I have a peculiar custom of never playing more than threestakes."
"Good."
"Wait a minute. I play them, doubling each time."
"The deuce! And if you lose one of the three?"
"That is of no consequence; still, I do not think I shall lose," he saidwith perfect calmness.
"What! You do not think you will lose?"
"No; I confess to you that I have great luck in play. The reason is,probably, because I care very little about winning."
"That is possible; still, what you tell me is so curious, that I shouldlike to convince myself of the fact."
"It only depends on you."
By degrees, the guests had drawn nearer the two gentlemen, and formed agroup around them. Dona Angela had also advanced, and was now close toDon Louis' side.
"Come," the general said, "let us play three stakes."
"At your orders."
"How much shall we set?"
"What you please."
"Suppose we say 2000 piastres?"
"Agreed."
The general took up a pack of new cards.
"If you have no objection," he remarked, "we will neither of us cut."
"As you please."
"But who shall be dealer?"
"I," Dona Angela suddenly exclaimed, as she seized the pack of cards.
"Oh, oh!" the general said with a smile, "take care, Don Louis; mydaughter is enlisted against you."
"I cannot believe that the senorita is my enemy," the count replied, ashe bowed to the young lady.
Dona Angela blushed, but said nothing; she unfastened the pack, andshuffled the cards.
"Two thousand piastres," the general said. "Deal, my child."
She began turning up the cards.
"Lost!" she said in a moment.
"That is true," said the general; "I have lost; now for the second._Caramba!_ Take care, nina, we are playing this time for 4000 piastres."
"Lost!" she cried.
"Again! That is singular. Come, Don Louis, the last one."
"Perhaps it would be better to stop here; neither you nor I, general,care for this money."
"That is the reason I wish for the third stake; besides, luck may havefavoured you hitherto."
"Did I not warn you?"
"Come, come; I wish to be certain."
"Lost!" the young lady said for the third time, in her harmonious voice.
"_Caramba!_ This is really singular. I owe you 14,000 piastres, DonLouis. I allow that you have really extraordinary fortune."
"I know it," the count answered, still perfectly cool; "and now permitme to leave you. Senorita, accept my grateful thanks for the kindassistance you granted me in this matter."
The young lady bowed, ashamed and blushing,
"Tomorrow, at daybreak, the 14,000 piastres will be at your house, DonLouis."
"Do not hurry yourself, general; I shall have the honour of seeing youagain."
The count thereupon took leave, and withdrew with Don Cornelio,obsequiously accompanied to the door of the last room by the general.
"Double traitor!" the count muttered, as he mounted. "Take care ofyourself, for now I see your game. In spite of your cunning, you havelet me read your thoughts."
The count, followed by his escort, thoughtfully returned to the house heinhabited. He was reflecting on the means to be employed in foiling themachinations of his enemies, and carrying out his expeditionsuccessfully. As for Don Cornelio, he only thought of one thing--theluck he had had during the evening; and, while galloping by Don Louis'side, he mentally calculated the number of ounces he had gained, ofwhich fact he had not yet
been able to assure himself satisfactorily.
La fièvre d'or. English Page 24
