Oliver had profoundly studied the extraordinary character of his protégé, hence he knew better than himself, perhaps, of what he was capable; and he had frequently shuddered17 on probing the hidden depths of this strange organization which did not know itself; and while imposing18 his will on the indomitable nature and making it bow as he pleased, still, like the imprudent beast tamer who plays with a tiger, he foresaw the moment when the lava19 boiling dully at the bottom of this young man's heart would suddenly burst forth20 under the impetuous blast of the passions; hence, in spite of the implicit10 confidence he seemed to have in his friend, it was with extreme care that he set certain chords vibrating in him, and he sedulously21 avoided giving him a consciousness of his strength, or revealing to him the extent of his moral power.
After a ride of some hours the travellers arrived about three leagues from the hacienda del Arenal, on the skirt of a rather thick wood that bordered the last plantations22 of the hacienda.
"Let us stop here and eat," Oliver said, as he dismounted; "this is our destination for the present."
"I am quite willing," Dominique answered; "this confounded sun falling virtually on my head since the morning, is beginning, I confess, to tire me, and I should not be sorry to lie down for a little while on the grass."
"In that case stand on no ceremony, comrade; the spot is glorious for a rest."
The two men hobbled their horses, which they unbridled, to let them browze at their ease; and after sitting down opposite each other under the protection of the dense23 foliage24 of the trees, they felt in their alforjas, which were well stocked with provisions, and began eating with good appetite. Neither of the men was a great speaker, hence they disposed of their meal in silence, and it was not till Oliver had lit a puro and Dominique his Indian calumet, that the former resolved to speak.
"Well, Dominique," he said to him, "what do you think of the life I have made you lead for the last five months in this province?"
"To tell you the truth," the vaquero replied, puffing25 out a dense cloud of smoke, "I consider it absurd and wearisome to the highest degree. I should long ago have requested you to send me back to the western prairies, had I not been convinced that you wanted me here."
Oliver burst into a laugh.
"You are true, friend," he said, as he offered him his hand, "ever ready to act without observation or comment."
"I flatter myself I am; for is not friendship composed of self-denial and devotedness27?"
"Yes; and that is why it is so rarely met with in this world."
"I pity those who are incapable28 of experiencing the feeling, for they deprive themselves of a great enjoyment29. Friendship is the only real link that attaches men to each other."
"Many believe that it is egotism."
"Egotism is only a variety of the species; it is friendship badly understood, and reduced to low proportions."
"Hang it! I did not fancy you were so strong in paradoxes30. Did you learn these tricks of the tongue among the Indians?"
"The Indians are wise men, my master," the vaquero answered with a shake of the head; "with them the true is true, and the false false, while in your cities you have so well succeeded in embroiling31 everything, that the cleverest man could not find his way, while the simple man soon loses the feeling of justice and injustice32. Let me return to the prairies, my friend, my place is not among the paltry33 contests that disgrace this country, and make my heart ache with disgust and pity."
"I would willingly restore you your liberty, my boy, but I repeat that I have need of you, perhaps for three months longer."
"Three months? That is very long."
"Perhaps you will find the period very short," he said, with a peculiar34 expression.
"I do not believe it."
"We shall see; but I have not told you yet what I want of you."
"That is true, and I had better know, so that I may fulfil your intentions properly."
"Listen to me then: I shall be the more brief, because when the persons I am expecting arrive, I shall give you more detailed35 instructions."
"Very good, go on."
"Two persons are going to join us here, a young man, and a young lady; the latter is do?a Dolores de la Cruz, daughter of the owner of the hacienda del Arenal: she is sixteen years of age, and very beautiful; she is a gentle, pure, and simple girl."
"Very good, but that does not concern me, for you know I trouble myself but slightly about squaws."
"That is true, so I will not dwell on the point: do?a Dolores is betrothed36 to don Ludovic, who will marry her immediately."
"Much good may it do him; and who is don Ludovic? Some Mexican, I suppose, stupid and proud, who prances37 like a canon's mule38."
"In that you are mistaken; don Ludovic is her cousin, Count Ludovic de la Saulay, belonging to the highest nobility in France."
"Ah, ah! He is the Frenchman in question?"
"Yes: he has come expressly from France to contract with his cousin this union which has long been arranged between the two families. Count Ludovic is a most agreeable gentleman, rich, kind, amiable39, well educated, and obliging: in short, an excellent fellow, in whom I take the most sincere interest, and I wish you to attach yourself to him."
"If he is as you say, all right; before two days we shall be the best friends in the world."
"Thanks, Dominique, I expected no less from you."
"Eh," said the vaquero, "look there, Oliver, someone is coming, I fancy: hang it, they are riding fast, they will be on us in ten minutes."
"They are do?a Dolores and Count Ludovic."
They rose to go and receive the young people, who, in truth, were coming up at full speed.
"Here we are at last," the young lady said, as she stopped her horse, with the skill of a practised rider.
With one bound the newcomers reached the ground; after bowing to Dominique, the count held out both hands to the adventurer.
"I see you again then, my friend," he said to him; "thanks for remembering me."
"Did you suppose I had forgotten you?"
"On my word," the young man said gaily40, "I almost had the right to do so."
"My Lord Count," the adventurer then said, "permit me first of all to introduce to you M. Dominique, he is more than a brother, he is another self: I shall be pleased if you will transfer to him a small portion of the friendship you deign41 to testify to me."
"Sir," the count replied, bowing gracefully42 to the vaquero, "I sincerely regret that I express myself so badly in Spanish, for it prevents me from proving to you the lively desire I feel to let you see the sympathy with which you have already inspired me."
"That is of no consequence, sir," the vaquero replied in French "I speak your language fluently enough to thank you for your cordial words, for which I am most grateful."
"Ah, by Jove! Sir, you delight me; this is a charming surprise; pray, accept my hand, and consider me as entirely43 at your service."
"Most willingly, sir, and thank you; we shall soon know each other better, and then, you will reckon me, I hope, in the number of your friends."
After these words, the two young men warmly shook hands.
"Are you satisfied, my friend?" do?a Dolores asked.
"You are a fairy, dear child," Oliver replied with emotion; "you cannot imagine how happy you render me."
And he respectfully kissed the forehead which the young lady offered him. "Now," he continued, changing his tone, "let us turn to business, for time presses; but we are still one short."
"Who is it?" the young lady asked.
"Leo Carral: let me summon him;" and raising to his lips a silver whistle, he produced a shrill44 and long sustained note.
Almost immediately the galloping46 of a horse was heard in the distance, which rapidly drew nearer, and the majordomo soon appeared.
"Come on, come on, Leo," the adventurer shouted to him.
"Here I am, se?or," the majordomo replied, "entirely at your orders."
"Listen to me attentively," Oliver resumed, addressing do?a Dolores; "the affair is serious, I am compelled to go away this very day: my absence may last for a long time; and hence it is impossible for me to watch over you: unfortunately I have a foreboding that an imminent47 danger threatens you, of what nature it is, or when it will burst on you, I am unable to say, but it is certain. Now, my dear Dolores, what I cannot do, others will do: these others are the count, Dominique, and our friend Leo Carral, all three are devoted26 to you, and will watch over you like brothers."
"But, my friend," the young lady interrupted, "you forget, I think, my father and my brother."
"No, my child, I do not forget them, on the contrary, I bear them in mind: your father is an aged48 man, who not only cannot protect anyone, but needs protection himself, which in the case of need you will not fail to grant him. As for your brother, don Melchior, you know, my dear girl, my opinion about him, and hence it is unnecessary to dwell on that point: he cannot, or will not defend you. You know that I am usually well informed, and am rarely mistaken; now, all of you carefully remember this; be most careful not to let don Melchior or any other inhabitant of the hacienda suppose, either from your words or actions, that you foresee a misfortune; but watch carefully, so as not to let yourselves be surprised, and take your precautions accordingly."
"We will watch, trust to me," the vaquero replied; "but I have an objection to offer, my friend, which is not without justice."
"What is it?"
"How shall I manage to get into the hacienda and remain there without arousing suspicions? This appears to me rather difficult."
"No, you are mistaken; no one at the hacienda knows you but Leo Carral, I think?"
"That is true."
"Well, you will go there as a Frenchman, a friend of the Count de la Saulay; and for greater security you will pretend, not to understand a word of Spanish."
"Permit me," Ludovic observed, "I have spoken several times to don Andrés about an intimate friend attached to the French Legation in Mexico, and whom I expect to visit me at the hacienda at any moment."
"Perfect, Dominique will pass for him, and if he likes, he can talk broken Spanish; what is the name of the friend you expect?"
"Charles de Meriadec."
"Very good, Dominique will christen himself so; while he is at the hacienda, I will arrange that the man whose name he temporarily assumes, does not come to disturb him."
"Hum, that is important."
"Fear nothing, I will arrange it; so that is settled; and tomorrow Monsieur Charles de Meriadec will arrive at the hacienda."
"He will be well received then," Ludovic replied with a smile.
"As for you, Leo Carral, I have no recommendations to give you."
"No, no, my measures have been taken for a long time past," the majordomo replied; "I have only now to arrange with these gentlemen."
"All is going well, so now let us separate: I should have been a long way off by this time."
"Are you leaving us already, my friend?" do?a Dolores asked with emotion.
"I must, my child; be of good cheer, and have confidence in God; during my absence, He will watch over you; farewell."
The adventurer pressed the count's hand for the last time, kissed the young lady's forehead, and leapt into the saddle.
"Let me see you again soon," do?a Dolores said to him.
"Tomorrow you will see your friend Meriadec," Dominique said with a laugh, and he started at a gallop45 after the adventurer.
"Are you going back with us to the hacienda?" the count asked the majordomo.
"Why not?" he replied; "I shall be supposed to have met you during your ride."
"That is true."
They remounted, and cantered toward the hacienda, which they reached a little before sunset.
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1
nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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rangers
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| 护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员 | |
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scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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hatreds
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| n.仇恨，憎恶( hatred的名词复数 )；厌恶的事 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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17
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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18
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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26
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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devotedness
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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paradoxes
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| n.似非而是的隽语，看似矛盾而实际却可能正确的说法( paradox的名词复数 )；用于语言文学中的上述隽语；有矛盾特点的人[事物，情况] | |
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embroiling
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| v.使（自己或他人）卷入纠纷( embroil的现在分词 ) | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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prances
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的第三人称单数 ) | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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45
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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46
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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47
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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48
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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