The lady who accompanied the old gentleman was a girl of sixteen or seventeen years at the most; her delicate features, her blue eyes bordered by long lashes5 which, in falling traced a brown semicircle on her velvety6 cheeks, her straight nose with its pink or flexible nostrils7, her small mouth, whose coral lips when parted allowed a glimpse of her pearly teeth, her slightly dimpled chin, her pale complexion8 rendered even paler by the silky tresses of raven9 hair which surrounded her face and fell on her shoulders, produced one of those pale and attractive countenances10, which are only seen in equinoctial countries, and which, while not possessing the piquancy11 of the frail12 beauties of our northern climes, have that irresistible13 attraction which makes one dream of the angel in the woman, and produces not only love but adoration14.
Gracefully15 reclining in a corner of her carriage, half buried in masses of muslin, she allowed her eyes to wander pensively16 over the country, only answering absently and in monosyllables the remarks which her father addressed to her.
The old gentleman, though he affected17 a certain assurance, appeared, however, rather restless.
"I tell you, Dolores," he said, "all this is not clear in spite of the repeated affirmations of the heads of the Veracruz government, and the protection they feign18 to grant me. I have no confidence in them."
"Why not, papa?" the young lady asked carelessly.
"For a thousand reasons: the principal one is that I am a Spaniard, and you know that unfortunately at the present time, that name is a further motive19 for the hatred20 the Mexicans feel against Europeans generally."
"That is only too true, papa, but permit me to ask one question."
"Pray do so, Dolores."
"Well, I should like you to tell me the urgent motive which induced you to leave Veracruz suddenly, and take this journey with me, more especially, when usually you never take anyone with you on your excursions."
"The motive is very simple, my child, serious interests claim my presence at Mexico, where I must be as soon as possible. On the other hand, the political horizon is daily growing darker, and I reflected that a residence at our Hacienda del Arenal might become ere long, dangerous for our family. I therefore have resolved that, after leaving you in Puebla with our relation don Luis de Pezal, whose god-daughter you are, and who loves you dearly, to push on to Arenal, where I shall take up your brother Melchior, and convey you to the capital, where it will be easy for us to find effectual protection, in the event, unhappily too easy to foresee, of the constituted power being suddenly overthrown21 and that of Veracruz substituted for it."
"And you have no other motive but that, papa?" the young lady said, leaning forward, with a slight smile.
"What other motive could I have but what I have just told you, my dear Dolores?"
"You see I do not know, papa, since I ask you."
"You are a curious ni?a," he continued laughingly, shaking his finger at her, "you would like to make me confess my secret."
"Then you have a secret, papa?"
"That is possible; but for the present you must be satisfied with knowing so much, for I shall not tell it to you."
"Really, dear papa?"
"I pledge you my word."
"Oh, in that case I will not press you. I know too well that when you put on your big voice and knit your brows, it is useless to do so."
"You are a madcap, Dolores."
"No matter. I should have liked to know why you assumed a false name for this journey."
"Oh! I have no objection to tell you that: my name is too well known, as that of a rich man, for me to venture to carry it across country when so many bandits are swarming22 on the roads."
"You had no other motive?"
"No other, my dear child: I believe that is sufficient, and that prudence23 urged me to act as I have done."
"Very good, papa," she replied, shaking her head with a pout24: "but," she suddenly exclaimed, "I fancy, papa, that the carriage is slackening its speed."
"It is true," the old gentleman answered, "what is the meaning of this?".
He pulled down the glass and thrust out his head, but could see nothing: the berlin was at this moment entering the defile2 of the Cumbres, and the road made so many winds, that it was impossible to see more than thirty yards before or behind. The old gentleman called up one of the servants who rode close to the carriage.
"What is the matter, Sánchez?" the traveller asked. "I fancy we are not going so fast as before."
"That is true, se?or amo," Sánchez answered, "since we left the plain, we have not been advancing so rapidly, though I do not know the reason: the soldiers of our escort appear alarmed, and are talking together in a low voice, while incessantly26 looking round them: it is evident that they fear some danger."
"Could the salteadores or guerillas who infest27 the roads think of attacking us?" the old gentleman said with ill-disguised anxiety, "Pray inquire, Sánchez—Hem! The spot would be capitally chosen for a surprise, still, our escort is numerous, and unless they have an understanding with the bandits, I doubt whether the latter would venture to bar our way. Come, Sánchez, cross-question the soldiers adroitly28, and report to me what you learn."
The servant bowed, checked his horse to let the carriage pass him, and then prepared to carry out the commission with which his master had intrusted him.
But Sánchez caught up the berlin again almost immediately: his features were distorted, his panting voice hissed29 between his teeth which were clenched30 by terror, and a cadaverous pallor covered his face.
"We are lost, se?or amo," he muttered, as he bent31 down to the carriage window.
"Lost!" the old gentleman exclaimed with a nervous tremor32, and giving his daughter, who was dumb with terror, a glance charged with the most impassioned paternal33 love: "Lost! You must be mad, Sánchez, explain yourself, in Heaven's name."
"It is unnecessary, mi amo," the poor fellow stammered34. "Here is se?or don Jesús Domínguez, the chief of the escort, coming up: without doubt he will inform you of what is taking place."
"What is it? Better, on my soul, a certainty however terrible its nature, than such anxiety."
The carriage had halted on a species of platform, about one hundred yards square: the old gentleman looked out: the escort still surrounded, the berlin, but seemed to be doubled: instead of twenty horsemen there were forty.
The traveller understood that he had fallen into a trap: that any resistance would be madness, and that the only chance of safety lay in submission35: still, as in spite of his age, he was endowed with a firm character and energetic mind, he would not thus allow himself vanquished36 at the first collision, and resolved to try and render his troublesome position as agreeable as he could.
After tenderly embracing his daughter, and recommending her to remain quiet and not interfere37, whatever might happen, he opened the carriage door, and actively38 sprang into the road, with a revolver in each hand. The soldiers, though surprised at the action, did not make a move to oppose it, but remained immoveable in their ranks.
The traveller's four servants ranged themselves behind him unhesitatingly, with their rifles in readiness to fire on receiving their master's order.
Sánchez had spoken truly; don Jesús Domínguez was coming up at a gallop39; but he was not alone, another horseman accompanied him.
The latter was a short, thick set man, with stern features and a sidelong glance: the reddish tinge40 of his complexion proved him to be a full blooded Indian: he wore the sumptuous41 uniform of a colonel in a regular army.
The traveller at once recognized this unpleasant personage as don Felipe Neri Irzabal, one of the guerillero chiefs of Juárez' party; he had met him twice or thrice at Veracruz.
It was with a nervous start and a thrill of terror that the old gentleman awaited the arrival of the two men; still, when they were only a few paces from him, instead of allowing them to question him, he was the first to speak.
"Hola, caballeros," he shouted to them in a haughty42 voice, "what is the meaning of this, and why do you thus compel to interrupt my journey?"
"You shall learn, my dear sir," the guerillero replied with a grin; "and in the first place, that you may know at once what you have to expect, I arrest you in the name of the country."
"Arrest me! You?" the old gentleman protested. "By what right, pray?"
"By what right?" the other repeated with his ill-omened grin; "Viva Cristo! I might, if I thought proper, reply that it was by the right of force, and the reason would be peremptory43, I imagine."
"Certainly," the traveller replied sarcastically44, "and I presume it is the only one you can invoke45."
"Well, you are mistaken, my good sir; I do not invoke it, but arrest you as a spy, convicted of high treason."
"Nonsense, you are mad, se?or Coronel. I a traitor46 and a spy!"
"Se?or, for some time past the government of his most gracious Excellency, President Juárez, has had its eye on you; your movements have been watched; we know for what motive you so hurriedly left Veracruz, and with what object you are going to Mexico."
"I am going to Mexico on commercial business, and the President is well aware of the fact, as he himself signed my safe conduct, and the escort that accompanies me was graciously granted me by him, without my having the necessity to ask for it."
"All that is true, se?or; our magnanimous President—who always feels a repugnance47 for rigorous measures—did not wish to have you arrested; he preferred, through consideration for your grey hairs, to leave you means of escape; but your last act of treachery has filled up the measure, and though he has been obliged to force himself to do so, the President recognized the necessity of acting48 vigorously against you without delay. I was sent after you with orders to arrest you, and this order I now execute."
"And may I know of what treason I am accused?"
"You must know better than anyone else, se?or don Andrés de la Cruz, the motives49 which induced you to give up your own name and assume that of don Antonio de Carrera."
Don Andrés—for such in reality was his name—was startled by this revelation; not that he felt himself guilty, for this change of name had been effected with the assent50 of the President; but he was confounded by the duplicity of the people who arrested him, and who, for want of better reasons, even played this one to make him fall into an infamous51 snare52, in order to seize on a fortune which they had long coveted53.
Don Andrés, however, overcame his emotion, and addressed the guerillero once more.
"Take care of what you are doing, se?or Coronel," he said; "I am not a nobody, and will not let myself be thus despoiled54 without complaining; there is at Mexico a Spanish ambassador, who will be able to procure55 me justice."
"I do not know what you mean," don Felipe answered imperturbably56; "If you are alluding57 to se?or Pacheco, I do not think that his protection will be very profitable to you; for this gentleman, who entitles himself ambassador extraordinary of H.M. the Queen of Spain, has thought proper to recognize the government of the traitor Miramón. Hence we of the other party have nothing to do with him, and his influence with the national President is completely null. However, I have no occasion to discuss the point with you; whatever may happen, I arrest you. Will you surrender, or do you intend to offer a useless resistance? Answer."
Don Andrés surveyed the persons who surrounded him; he saw that he had no hope or support to expect from anyone but his own servants, hence he let his revolvers fall at his feet, and folded his arms on his chest.
"I surrender to force," he said in a firm voice; "but I protest before all those who surround me against the violence which is done me."
"Pray protest, my dear sir, you are quite at liberty to do so, and it is not of the slightest consequence to me. Don Jesús Domínguez," he added, addressing the officer who had calmly and carelessly witnessed this scene, "we will at once proceed to a minute inspection58 of the baggage, and, above all, the papers of the prisoner."
The old gentleman shrugged59 his shoulders contemptuously.
"Well played," he said; "unluckily you are a little too late, caballero."
"What do you mean?"
"Only this, that the money and securities you expect to find in my baggage are no longer there. I know you too well, se?or, not to have taken my precautions in the provision of what is happening at this moment."
"Maldición!" exclaimed the guerillero, as he smote60 the pommel of his saddle with his fist; "Devil of a gachupine; do not fancy you will escape in this way. I will know where you have hidden your treasures, even if I am obliged to flay61 you alive."
"Try it," don Andrés said ironically, and he turned his back on him.
The bandit had revealed himself. The guerillero, after the outbreak into which his avarice62 had led him; had no reason to affect moderation toward a man whom he intended to plunder63 in such an audaciously cynical64 manner.
"Very good," he said, "we shall see," and bending down to don Jesús' ear, he whispered to him for a few minutes.
The two bandits were doubtless concerting together the most effectual means by which to force the Spaniard to reveal his secret, and place himself at their mercy.
"Don Andrés," the guerillero said a moment after with a nervous grin; "since that is the case, I will venture to interrupt your journey; before returning to Veracruz, we will proceed together to your hacienda of Arenal, where we shall be able to discuss our business far more comfortably than on this high road; be good enough to get into your carriage again, and we will start; besides, your daughter, the charming Dolores, doubtless requires to be re-assured."
The old gentleman turned pale, for he comprehended all the horrible extent of the threat which the bandit made him; he raised his eyes to Heaven, and prepared to return to the carriage.
But at the same instant a furious galloping65 was heard. The soldiers moved out of the way in terror, and a horseman, coming up at full speed, dashed like a tornado66 into the centre of the circle formed round the berlin.
This horseman was masked, a black veil entirely67 covered his face. He suddenly pulled up his horse on its hind25 legs, and fixing on the guerillero eyes that flashed like live coals through the holes in the veil, he asked in a sharp, menacing voice—
"What is going on here?"
By an instinctive68 gesture, the guerillero gave a pull at his bridle69, and made his horse recoil70 without replying.
The soldiers and the officer himself crossed themselves in terror, and muttered in a low voice—
"El Rayo! El Rayo!"
"I asked you a question," the unknown said, after a few moments of expectation.
The forty odd men who surrounded him piteously hung their heads, and, gradually falling back, considerably71 enlarged the circle, as they cordially felt no desire to enter into a discussion with this mysterious personage.
Don Andrés felt hope return to his heart; a secret foreboding warned him that the sudden arrival of this stranger, though it might not entirely change his position, would at least produce a more advantageous72 phase for himself; moreover, he fancied that he could confusedly recall the stranger's voice, though it was impossible for him to remember where he had heard it. Hence, while everybody else fell back in terror, he, on the contrary, approached the stranger with an instinctive eagerness, for which he could not account.
Don Jesús Domínguez, the commander of the escort, had disappeared; he had fled disgracefully.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
shortcut
|
|
| n.近路，捷径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
defile
|
|
| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
defiles
|
|
| v.玷污( defile的第三人称单数 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
caroused
|
|
| v.痛饮，闹饮欢宴( carouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
lashes
|
|
| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
velvety
|
|
| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
nostrils
|
|
| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
raven
|
|
| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
countenances
|
|
| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
piquancy
|
|
| n.辛辣，辣味，痛快 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
adoration
|
|
| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
gracefully
|
|
| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
pensively
|
|
| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
feign
|
|
| vt.假装，佯作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
overthrown
|
|
| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
swarming
|
|
| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
pout
|
|
| v.撅嘴；绷脸；n.撅嘴；生气，不高兴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
hind
|
|
| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
incessantly
|
|
| ad.不停地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
infest
|
|
| v.大批出没于；侵扰；寄生于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
adroitly
|
|
| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
paternal
|
|
| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
submission
|
|
| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
vanquished
|
|
| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
actively
|
|
| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
gallop
|
|
| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
tinge
|
|
| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
sumptuous
|
|
| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
haughty
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
peremptory
|
|
| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
sarcastically
|
|
| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
invoke
|
|
| v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
repugnance
|
|
| n.嫌恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
infamous
|
|
| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
snare
|
|
| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
coveted
|
|
| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
despoiled
|
|
| v.掠夺，抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
imperturbably
|
|
| adv.泰然地，镇静地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
alluding
|
|
| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
smote
|
|
| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
flay
|
|
| vt.剥皮；痛骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
avarice
|
|
| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
plunder
|
|
| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
cynical
|
|
| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
galloping
|
|
| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
tornado
|
|
| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
instinctive
|
|
| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
bridle
|
|
| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
recoil
|
|
| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
advantageous
|
|
| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |