CHAPTER XIV.
THE QUINTA VERDE.
Not far from Rio Claro, a charming little city, built in a delicioussituation between Santiago and Talca, there was then, and probably isstill, upon a hill commanding an extensive view, a pretty _quinta_, withwhite walls and green shutters, coquettishly concealed from indiscreeteyes by a thicket of trees of various sorts--oaks, acajous, maples,palms, aloes, cactus, &c, which sprang up and intertwined within eachother in such a fashion around it as to form an almost impregnablerampart. It is difficult to explain how, in such a period of convulsionsand overthrows, this delicious habitation had hitherto escaped, as if bya miracle, from the devastation and pillage which incessantly menacedit, and which fell without intermission around it, enveloping it, asit were, in a network of ruins, without, however, having ever troubledthat tranquil dwelling, although the human tempest had frequently howledbeneath its walls, and, in the shade of night, it had often seen the redtorches of incendiaries gleam; all at once, though no one knew why, andas if by enchantment, the cries of murder ceased, and the torches becameextinguished and harmless in the hands of the men who, a minute before,had waved them about madly. This habitation was named the "Quinta Verde."
By what prodigy had this house, so simple in appearance, and so likethe rest, avoided the common fate and remained alone, perhaps, of allthe houses of the Chilian plains, calm and tranquil in the midst ofgeneral confusion, equally respected by the two parties contending forpower, and surveying carelessly from the top of its pretty _mirador_ therevolution raging at its feet, which carried away, as in an infernalwhirlwind, cities, villages, houses, fortunes, and families? This iswhat many people, at various periods, had been anxious to know, thoughthey had never been able to find out. Nobody ostensibly inhabited thisquinta, in which, on certain days, noises were heard which filled with asuperstitious terror the worthy _guasos_ living in the neighbourhood.
The day after that on which the events occurred which open this history,the heat had been oppressive, the atmosphere heavy, and the sun hadgone down amidst a flood of purple vapour, the precursors of a stormwhich burst with fury as soon as night had completely closed in. Thewind bent down the trees as it whistled through them, the collision ofthe branches producing a melancholy sound; the heavens were black, nota star was to be seen; and large grey clouds coursed rapidly acrossthe zenith, covering all nature with a leaden pall. In the distanceresounded the howlings of wild beasts, among which was occasionallymingled the hoarse, sharp barking of stray dogs.
Nine o'clock struck slowly from a distant steeple; the sound of themetal, repeated by the echoes from the hills, vibrated with a plaintivetone over the deserted landscape. The moon, fitfully emerging frombehind the clouds which veiled her, spread for a few seconds a paleand trembling light over the scene, giving it a fantastic aspect. Thisfugitive ray of doubtful light, nevertheless, enabled a small troop ofhorsemen, who were painfully ascending a winding path on the side of amountain, to distinguish, at a few paces before them, the black outlineof a house, from the top window of which beamed like a pharos a red,uncertain light. This house was the "Quinta Verde."
At about four or five paces in advance of the troop rode two horsemen,muffled carefully in their cloaks, the flaps of their hats pulled downover their eyes, appeared, in the darkness, to be a needless precaution;but it, nevertheless, showed that these personages were very anxious notto be recognized.
"Heaven be praised!" said one of these horsemen to his companion, ashe pulled up his horse, to look searchingly around him, as far as thedarkness would permit; "I hope we shall soon be there."
"In a quarter of an hour, at latest, General, we shall be at the end ofour journey."
"Do not let us stop, then," the one addressed as General said; "I amimpatient to penetrate into this abominable den."
"One moment, General!" the first speaker continued. "It is my duty towarn your Excellency that there is still time to retreat; and thatwould, perhaps, be the more prudent step."
"Please to observe this, Diego," said the General, fixing upon hiscompanion a look which gleamed in the semi-obscurity like that of atiger-cat--"in the circumstances in which I am placed, prudence, as youunderstand the word, would be cowardice. I am quite aware what I amcalled upon to do by the confidence placed in me by my fellow citizens;our position is most critical: the liberal reaction is raising its headin all quarters, and we must put an end to this ever-reviving hydra.The news of Don Tadeo's escape from death has spread with the rapidityof a train of gunpowder; all the malcontents of whom he is the leader,are in almost open action; if I were to hesitate to strike a great blowand crush the head of the serpent which hisses in my ears, it wouldtomorrow, perhaps, be too late; hesitation has always been the ruin ofstatesmen in affairs of importance."
"And yet, General, if the man who has furnished you with thisinformation should--"
"Be a traitor? Well, that is possible--ay, even probable; therefore,I have neglected nothing that may neutralize the consequences of atreachery which I foresee."
"By the Virgin! General, in your place, however--"
"Thank you, old comrade, thank you for your solicitude; but enough ofthis subject, you ought to know me well enough to be sure that I shallnever flinch from my duty."
"I have nothing more to do, then, but to wish your Excellency wellthrough your undertaking; for you know you must arrive alone at theQuinta Verde, and I can escort you no farther."
"Very well, wait here then; make your men dismount for a time, keep asharp watch, and execute punctually the orders I have given you. I amgoing on."
Diego bowed respectfully, but with an air of anxiety, and withdrew hishand, which had been placed on the bridle of the General's horse. Thelatter more carefully enveloped himself in his cloak, the folds of whichhad become too loose, and gave the usual jockey signal to excite hishorse. At this well-known sound the horse pricked up its ears, and beingthoroughbred, although fatigued, set off at a gallop.
After a few minutes of this rapid travelling, the General stopped; butit appeared as if his journey was completed, for, dismounting, he threwthe bridle on his horse's neck, with as little care what became of it asif it had been a hack post-horse, and walked with a firm step towardsthe house, which he had held in view some time, and from which he wasnow not more than ten paces distant. This was soon cleared. When hereached the gate, he stood for a second and looked around him, as ifendeavouring to penetrate the darkness; but all was calm and silent.In spite of himself, the General was seized with that vague fear whichtakes possession of the most courageous man when in face of the unknown.But General Bustamente, whom the reader has no doubt recognized, was tooold a soldier to suffer himself to be mastered long by an impression,however strong it might be; with him this had lasted but an instant, andhe almost immediately recovered his usual coolness.
"What the devil! am _I_ afraid?" he murmured, with an ironical smile,and going boldly up to the gate, he knocked three times at equalintervals with the pummel of his sword. In an instant his arms wereseized by invisible hands, a bandage was placed over his eyes, and avoice, faint as a breath, murmured in his ear--
"Make no resistance, twenty poniards are at your breast; at the firstcry, at the least opposition, you are a dead man. Reply categorically toour questions."
"All these threats are needless," the General replied, in a calmvoice; "as I came here of my own free will, I can have no intention ofresisting--ask, and I will answer."
"What do you come to seek here?" the voice said.
"The Dark-Hearts."
"Are you ready to appear in their presence?"
"I am," the General replied, still impassive.
"Do you dread nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Let your sword fall."
The General quitted his hold of his sword, and felt at the same momentthat his pistols were taken from him.
"Now, step forward without fear," said the voice.
The prisoner found himself instantly at liberty.
The double gates of the Quinta Verde flew open before him, and twomasked men, each holding a dark lantern in his hand, the focus of whichhe directed on the stranger's face, appeared in the entrance.
"There is still time," said one of the unknown; "if your heart be notfirm, you may retreat."
"My heart is firm."
"Come on, then, as you think yourself worthy to share our glorious task,but tremble if you have the least intention of betraying us," said themasked man, in a deep, sonorous voice.
The General felt, notwithstanding the recklessness of his character,a cold shudder run through his limbs at these words; but he quicklysurmounted this involuntary emotion.
"It is for traitors to tremble," he replied; "for my part, I havenothing to fear."
And he boldly stepped into the Quinta Verde, the doors of which closedafter him with a dull, heavy sound. The bandage which covered his eyes,and which had prevented those who had interrogated him from recognizinghim, notwithstanding their efforts to do so, was then removed. Afterproceeding for more than a quarter of an hour along a circular corridor,lighted only by the red flickering flame of the torch carried by theguide through this labyrinth, the General was suddenly stopped by a doorin front of him. He turned hesitatingly towards the masked men, who hadfollowed him step by step.
"What do you wait for?" said one of them in reply to his muteinterrogation. "Is it not written, _Knock and it shall be opened untoyou?_"
The General bowed in sign of acquiescence, and knocked loudly at thedoor. The folding panels drew back silently into the wall, and theGeneral found himself at the entrance of a vast hall, whose walls werecovered with long red draperies, gloomily enlightened by a bronze lampand several chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, which shone in anuncertain manner upon the countenances of about a hundred men, who,with naked swords in their hands, fixed their eyes upon him through theblack masks which concealed their faces. At the bottom of this hall wasa table covered with a green cloth, at which were seated three men. Notonly were those three men masked, but, as a further precaution, beforeeach of them a lighted torch was planted on the table, the dazzlingflame of which allowed them to be but vaguely seen. Against the wall wasa crucifix, between two hourglasses surmounted by a death's-head with aponiard run through it.
The General manifested no emotion at this imposing _mise en scene_. Asmile of disdain curled his lip, and he stepped boldly forward. At thismoment he felt a light touch on the shoulder, and, on turning round,perceived that one of the guides was holding out a mask to him. In spiteof the precautions he had taken to disguise his features, he eagerlyseized it, placed it on his face, folded his cloak round him, andentered.
"_In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti!_" he said.
"_Amen_!" all present replied, in a sepulchral tone.
"_Exaudiat te Dominus, in die Tribulationis,_" said one of thepersonages behind the table.
"_Impleat Dominus omnes petitiones tuas_," the General replied, withouthesitation.
"_La Patria!_" the first speaker rejoined.
"_O la Muerte!_" replied the General.
"What is your purpose in coming here?" the man who up to this time alonehad spoken, asked.
"I wish to be admitted into the bosom of the elect."
There was a momentary silence.
"Is there anyone among us who can or will answer for you?" the maskedman then asked.
"I cannot say; for I do not know the persons among whom I find myself."
"How know you that?"
"I suppose so, as they, as well as I, are masked."
"The Dark-Hearts," said the interrogator in a deep tone, "consider notthe countenance; they search souls."
The General bowed at this sentence, which appeared to him to border uponthe ridiculous. The interrogator continued:--"Do you know the conditionsof your affiliation?"
"I know them."
"What are they?"
"To sacrifice mother, father, brothers, relations, friends, and myself,without hesitation, to the cause which I swear to defend."
"What next?"
"At the first signal, whether it be by day or night, even at the foot ofthe altar, in whatever circumstance I may be placed, to quit everything,in order to accomplish immediately the orders that shall be given me, inwhatever manner they may be given, and whatever may be the tenor of thatorder."
"Do you subscribe to these conditions?"
"I subscribe to them."
"Are you prepared to swear to submit yourself to them?"
"I am prepared."
"Repeat, then, after me, with your hand upon the Gospels, the words I amabout to dictate to you."
"Dictate!"
The three men behind the table rose; a Bible was brought, and theGeneral resolutely placed his hand upon the book. A faint murmur ranthrough the ranks of the assembly. The president struck the table withthe hilt of his dagger, and silence was re-established. This man thenpronounced in a slow and deep toned voice the following words, which theGeneral repeated after him without hesitation:--
"I swear to sacrifice myself, my family, my property, and all that Ican hope for in this world, for the safety of the cause defended bythe Dark-Hearts. I swear to kill every man, be he my father, be he mybrother, who shall be pointed out to me. If I fail in my faith, if Ibetray those who accept me as their brother, I acknowledge myself tobe worthy of death; and I, beforehand, pardon the Dark-Hearts who mayinflict it upon me."
"So far well!" replied the president, when the General had pronouncedthe oath. "You are now our brother."
He then rose, and stepping across the hall, stood full in front of theGeneral.
"Now," he said in a solemn threatening voice, "answer me, Don PanchoBustamente. As you, of your own free will, take a false oath before ahundred persons, do you think we should commit a crime in condemningyou, since you have had the audacity to place yourself in our power?"
In spite of his assurance, the General could not repress a start ofterror.
"Remove the mask which covers this man's face, so that everyone may knowthat it is he! Ah! General; you have entered the lion's den, and youwill be devoured."
The noise of a distant commotion was heard.
"Your soldiers are coming to your rescue," the president resumed, "butthey will come too late, General; prepare to die!"
These words fell like the blow of a mace upon the brow of him who foundhimself thus outwitted; he, nevertheless, did not yet lose heart; thenoise evidently approached; and there could be no doubt but that histroops, who surrounded the Quinta Verde on all sides, would soon gainpossession of it; all he wanted was time.
"By what right," he said haughtily, "do you constitute yourselves judgesand executioners of your own sentence?"
"You are one of us, and are bound by our sentence," the presidentreplied, with an ironical smile.
"Beware of what you are about to do, gentlemen," the General added in ahaughty tone; "remember I am minister-at-war!"
"And I am King of Darkness," the president cried in a voice that frozethe very blood of the General; "my dagger is more sure than the musketsof your soldiers; it does not let its victims escape. Brethren, whatchastisement does this man deserve?"
"Death!" the conspirators replied.
The General saw that he was lost.
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