The marquee occupied by Adela Miranda and her maid is not visible from the spot where her brother lies bound. The other tent is between, with some shrubbery further concealing2 it.
But from the tenour of his last speech, Don Valerian knows that Uraga has gone thither3, as also his object.
Chagrined4 by the denial he has received from the brother, roused to recklessness, he resolves on having an answer from the sister, point-blank, upon the instant.
With slight ceremony he enters her tent. Once inside, he mutters a request, more like a command, for Conchita to withdraw. He does this with as much grace as the excited state of his feelings permits, excusing himself on the plea that he wishes a word with the senorita—one he is sure she would not wish to be heard by other ears than her own.
Aroused from a despondent5 attitude, the young lady looks up, her large round eyes expressing surprise, anger, apprehension6, awe7. The mestiza glances towards her mistress for instructions. The latter hesitates to give them. Only for an instant. It can serve no purpose to gainsay8 the wishes of one who has full power to enforce them, and whose demeanour shows him determined9 on doing so.
“You can go, Conchita,” says her mistress; “I will call you when you are wanted.”
The girl moves off with evident reluctance10, but stops not far from the tent.
“Now, Don Gil Uraga,” demands the lady, on being left alone with the intruder, “what have you to say to me that should not be overheard?”
“Come, senorita! I pray you will not commence so brusquely. I approach you as a friend, though for some time I may have appeared in the character of an enemy. I hope, however, you’ll give me credit for good intentions. I’m sure you will when you know how much I’m distressed11 by the position I’m placed in. It grieves me that my instructions compel such harsh measures towards my two prisoners: but, in truth, I can say no discretion12 has been left me. I act under an order from headquarters.”
“Señor,” she rejoins, casting upon him a look of scornful incredulity, “you have said all this before. I suppose you had something else to speak of.”
“And so I have, senorita. Something of a nature so unpleasant I hesitate to tell it, fearing it may sadly shock you.”
“You need not. After what has passed I am not likely to be nervous.”
Despite her natural courage, and an effort to appear calm, she trembles, as also her voice. There is an expression on the face of the man that bodes13 sinister14 risings—some terrible disclosure.
The suspense15 is too painful to be borne; and in a tone more firm and defiant16 she demands the promised communication.
“Dona Adela Miranda,” he rejoins, speaking in a grave, measured voice, like a doctor delivering a prognosis of death, “it has been my duty to make your brother a prisoner—a painful one, as I have said. But, alas17! the part I’ve already performed is nothing compared with that now required of me. You say you are prepared for a shock. What I’m going to say will cause you one.”
She no longer attempts to conceal1 alarm. It is now discernible in her large, wondering eyes.
“Say it!”
The words drop mechanically from her lips, drawn18 forth19 by the intensity20 of her apprehension.
“You are soon to be without a brother!”
“What mean you, señor?”
“Don Valerian dies within the hour.”
“You are jesting, sir. My brother has not been sick? He is not wounded? Why should he die?”
She speaks hurriedly, and with an incredulous stare at Uraga; while at the same time her heaving, palpitating bosom21 shows she too truly believes what he said.
“Don Valerian is not sick,” continues the unfeeling wretch22, “nor yet has he received any wound. For all this, in less than an hour he must die. It is decreed.”
“Madre de Dios! You are mocking me. His death decreed! By whom?”
“Not by me, I assure you. The military authorities of the country have been his judges, and condemned23 him long ago, as also Don Prospero. It only needed their capture to have the sentence carried out. This disagreeable duty has been entrusted24 to me. My orders at starting were to have both shot on the instant of making them captives. For your sake, senorita, I’ve so far disobeyed the rigorous command—an act which may cost me my commission. Yes, Dona Adela, for your sake.”
The tale is preposterous25, and might seem to her who hears it a lie, but for her knowledge of many similar occurrences in the history of her native land, “Cosas de Mexico.” Besides, her own and her brother’s experience render it but too probable.
“Dios de mi alma!” she cries out in the anguish26 of conviction, “can this be true?”
“It is true.”
“Colonel Uraga, you will not carry out this cruel sentence! It is not an execution—it is an assassination27! You will not stain your soul with murder?”
“I must obey orders.”
“My poor brother! Have mercy! You can save him?”
“I can.”
“You will? You will?”
“I will!”
The emphasis with which these two words are pronounced brings a flush of gratefulness over her face, and she makes a forward movement as if to thank him by a pressure of the hand. She might have given it but for the cast upon his features, telling his consent not yet obtained, nor his speech finished. There is more to come—two other words. They are—
“Upon conditions!”
They check her bursting gratitude28. Conditions! She knows not what they may be. But she knows the character of Gil Uraga, and can predict they will be hard.
“Name them!” she demands. “If it be money, I’m ready to give it. Though my brother’s property is taken from him, as we’ve heard, not so mine. I have wealth—houses, lands. Take all, but save Valerian’s life.”
“You can save it without expending29 a single claco; only by giving a grace.”
“What mean you, señor?”
“To explain my meaning I’ll repeat what I’ve said. Your brother’s head is forfeit30. It can be saved by a hand.”
“Still I do not understand you. A hand?”
“Yes, your hand.”
“How?”
“Grasped in mine—united with it in holy wedlock32. That is all I ask.”
She starts as if a serpent had stung her, for she now comprehends all.
“All I ask,” he continues in a strain of fervid33 passion, “I who love you with my whole soul; who have loved you for long hopeless years—aye, senorita, ever since you were a schoolgirl; myself a rough, wild youth, the son of a ranchero, who dared only gaze at you from a distance. I am a peasant no longer, but one who has wealth; upon whom the State has bestowed34 power to command; made me worthy35 to choose a wife from among the proudest in our land—even to wed31 with the Dona Adela Miranda, who beholds36 him at her feet!”
While speaking he has knelt before her, and remains37 upon his knees awaiting her response.
She makes none. She stands as if petrified38, deprived of the power of speech.
Her silence gives him hope.
“Dona Adela,” he continues in an appealing tone, as if to strengthen the chances of an affirmative answer, “I will do everything to make you happy—everything a husband can. And remember your brother’s life! I am risking my own to save it. I have just spoken to him on the subject. He does not object; on the contrary, has given consent to you being mine.”
“You say so?” she inquires, with a look of incredulity. “I do not believe it—will not, without hearing it from his own lips.”
While speaking, she springs past the kneeling suppliant39, and, before he can get upon his legs or stretch forth a hand to detain her, she has glided40 out of the tent, and makes for the place where she supposes the prisoners to be kept.
Starting to his feet, Uraga rushes after. His intent is to overtake and bring her back, even if he have to carry her.
He is too late. Before he can come up with her she has reached the spot where her brother lies bound, and kneels beside him with arms embracing, her lips pressing his brow, his cheeks moistened by her tears.
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1
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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3
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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13
bodes
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的第三人称单数 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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17
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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18
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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19
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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21
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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24
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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28
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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29
expending
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| v.花费( expend的现在分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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30
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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31
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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32
wedlock
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| n.婚姻，已婚状态 | |
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fervid
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| adj.热情的；炽热的 | |
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34
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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36
beholds
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| v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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37
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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38
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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39
suppliant
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| adj.哀恳的；n.恳求者，哀求者 | |
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40
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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