The return of the expeditionary force was not nearly so rapid as its preceding march. The tired horses only advanced with difficulty. The infantry13 had dismounted to escort the prisoners, and thus the cannons14 and numerous baggage waggons15, which had been captured and now followed the army, could only pass along a wide and beaten road, which compelled Miramón to follow the high road and occasioned him a delay of several hours. It was about ten at night when the vanguard of the expeditionary force reached the garitas of Mexico. It was quite dark, and yet the city appeared in the darkness, flashing with an innumerable quantity of lights.
Good news, like bad, is propagated with extraordinary rapidity. Let anyone who can solve the almost insoluble problem, but it is certain that the battle was scarce terminated at Toluca, ere its issue was known in Mexico. The rumour16 of the brilliant success gained by the President immediately ran from mouth to mouth, though no one could tell whence he obtained it. At the news of this unhoped-for victory, the joy was universal, enthusiasm raised to its utmost pitch, and at nightfall the citizens spontaneously illuminated17. The ayuntamiento awaited the President at the entrance of the city to offer him their congratulations. The troops marched between two compact lines of people, uttering frenzied18 shouts, waving handkerchiefs and hats, and letting off any quantity of squibs, in sign of rejoicing. The bells, in spite of the late hour, rang a full peal19, and the numerous shovel20 hats of the clergy21 mingled22 with the crowd, proved that the priests and monks23, so cold on the previous day for the man who had ever supported them, had suddenly felt their slumbering24 enthusiasm aroused at the news of his victory.
Miramón passed through the crowds, cold and impassive, returning with an imperceptible expression of irony25 the salutations incessantly26 made to him on both sides of the road. He dismounted at the palace; a little in front of the gate a man was standing27 motionless and smiling. This man was the adventurer. On seeing him, Miramón could not restrain a movement of joy.
"Ah, come, come, my friend," he exclaimed walking toward him.
And, to the general stupefaction, he passed his arm through his and led him into the interior of the palace. When the President reached the private cabinet, in which he usually worked, he threw himself into an easy chair, and wiping with a handkerchief his damp face, he exclaimed with an ill-tempered tone: "Ouf! I am half dead! This stupid recantation, at which I was forced to be present against my will has, on my honour, wearied me more than all the other events of this day, futile28 though it was in extraordinary incidents."
"Good," the adventurer replied affectionately. "I am glad to hear you speak thus, General. I was afraid lest you might be intoxicated29 by your success."
The general shrugged30 his shoulders disdainfully.
"What do you take me for, my friend?" he answered. "What a wretched opinion you must have of me, if you suppose that I am a man to let myself be thus blinded by a success which, brilliant though it may appear, is in reality only one victory more to register, while its results will be null for the welfare of the cause I support?"
"What you say is only too true, General."
"Do you fancy I am ignorant of it? My downfall is inevitable31: this battle will only retard32 it for a few days. I must fall, because, in spite of the enthusiastic shouts of the mob—ever fickle33 and easy to deceive—what has hitherto constituted my strength, and has sustained me in the struggle I undertook, has abandoned me for ever. I feel that the temper of the nation is no longer with me."
"Perhaps you go too far, General! Two battles more like this one, and who knows if you will not have regained34 all you have lost?"
"My friend, the success of today's battle belongs to you. It was owing to your brilliant charge in the enemy's rear, that they were demoralized and consequently conquered."
"You insist on seeing everything in gloomy colours. I repeat again: two battles like this one, and you are saved."
"These battles I shall fight, my friend, if they grant me the time, be assured. Ah! If instead of being alone, blockaded in Mexico, I still had faithful lieutenants36 holding the country, after today's victory, all might be repaired."
At this moment the door of the cabinet was opened, and General Cobos appeared.
"Ah! It is you, my dear General," the President said to him, holding out his hand and suddenly reassuming a laughing air. "You are welcome. What motive37 procures38 me the pleasure of seeing you?"
"I implore39 your Excellency to excuse me for venturing to appear thus, without being announced; but I have to talk with you on serious matters, which admit of no delay."
The adventurer made a movement to withdraw.
"Stay, I beg of you," the President said, checking him by a sign. "Speak, my dear General."
"Excellency, the greatest disorder40 is prevailing41 on the Plaza42 among the people and the troops; the majority are noisily demanding that the officers taken prisoners today, may be immediately shot as traitors43 to the country."
"What?" the President asked, drawing himself up and turning slightly pale. "What is that you are saying, my dear General?"
"If your Excellency will deign9 to open the windows of this cabinet, you will hear the cries of death which the army and the people are raising in concert."
"Ah!" Miramón muttered. "Political assassinations45 committed in cold blood after the victory: I will never consent to authorize46 such odious47 crimes. No, a thousand times no! I at least will never have that said of me. Where are the captured officers?"
"In the interior of the palace, under a guard in the courtyard."
"Give orders for them to be at once brought into my presence: go, General."
"Ah, my friend," the President exclaimed with discouragement, as soon as he found himself alone with the adventurer, "what can be hoped from a nation so devoid48 of moral feeling as ours? Alas49! What will the European governments think of this apparent barbarity? What a contempt they must feel for our unfortunate nation! And yet," he added, "this people is not bad-hearted, it is its long slavery which has rendered it cruel, and the interminable revolutions to which it has been constantly a victim for forty years. Come, follow me; we must put an end to this."
He then left the cabinet accompanied by the adventurer, and entered an immense saloon, in which his most devoted50 partizans were assembled. The President seated himself in a chair raised on two steps, prepared for him at the end of the room, and the officers who remained faithful to his cause, grouped themselves on either side of him. At an affectionate nod from Miramón the adventurer remained by his side, apparently51 indifferent.
A noise of footsteps and the rattling52 of arms were heard outside, and the captured officers, preceded by General Cobos, entered the hall. Although they affected53 calmness, the prisoners were rather anxious as to the fate reserved for them. They had heard the cries of death raised against them, and were aware of the ill feeling of Miramón's partizans towards them.
The one who walked first was General Berriozábal, a young man of thirty at the most, with an expressive54 head, firm and delicate features, and a noble and easy demeanour. After him came General Degollado between his two sons; then two colonels and the officers composing General Berriozábal's staff.
The prisoners advanced with a firm step toward the President, who on their approach, hastened from his chair and walked a few steps toward them, with a smile on his lips.
"Caballeros," he said to them with a graceful55 bow, "I regret that the circumstances in which we are now unfortunately placed do not permit me at once to restore you to liberty, but at any rate I will try, by all the means in my power, to render you comfortable during a captivity56 which, I hope, will not last long. Be good enough first to receive back the swords which you wield57 so bravely, and of which I regret having deprived you."
He made a sign to General Cobos, who hastened to restore to the prisoners the arms which he had taken from them, and which they received with a movement of joy.
"Now, caballeros," the President continued, "deign to accept the hospitality which I offer you in this palace, where you will be treated with all the respect that your misfortune deserves. I only ask your word as soldiers and caballeros not to leave it without my permission. Not that I doubt your honour, but in order to protect you from the attacks of people ill disposed toward you, and rendered savage58 by the sufferings of a long war: you are, therefore, prisoners on parole, caballeros, and at liberty to act as you please."
"General," Berriozábal answered in the name of all, "we thank you sincerely for your courtesy, we could not expect less from your well-known generosity59. We give you our word, and will only employ the liberty you grant us within the limits you may think proper, promising60 you to make no attempt to regain35 our liberty, until you have freed us from our parole."
After a few more compliments had been exchanged between the President and the two generals, the prisoners withdrew to the apartments assigned to them. At the moment when Miramón was preparing to return to his cabinet, the adventurer quickly checked him, and pointed61 to a general officer, who was apparently trying to escape notice.
"Do you know that man?" he said to him in a low and trembling voice.
"Of course I know him," the President answered, "he only joined me a few days ago, and he has already rendered me eminent62 services: he is a Spaniard, and his name is don Antonio Cacerbar."
"Ah! I know his name," said the adventurer, "for I have known him a long time unfortunately: General, that man is a traitor44!"
"Nonsense, you are jesting."
"I repeat, General, that man is a traitor: I am sure of it," he said forcibly.
"I beg you not to press the point, my friend," the general quickly interrupted him; "it would be painful to me; good night, come tomorrow: I wish to talk with you about important matters."
And after nodding kindly63 to him, the President returned to his cabinet, the door of which was closed upon him. The adventurer stood for a moment motionless, painfully affected by the President's incredulity.
"Oh!" he muttered sadly, "Those whom God wishes to destroy, he blinds! Alas! All is now over, this man is hopelessly condemned64, his cause is lost."
He left the palace full of the most sinister65 anticipations66.
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1
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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definitively
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| adv.决定性地，最后地 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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7
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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8
delusive
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| adj.欺骗的，妄想的 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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12
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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cannons
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| n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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19
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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20
shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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22
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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24
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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26
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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27
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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28
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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30
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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32
retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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33
fickle
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| adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的 | |
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34
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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36
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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37
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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procures
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的第三人称单数 )；拉皮条 | |
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39
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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40
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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41
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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42
plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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43
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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44
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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45
assassinations
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| n.暗杀( assassination的名词复数 ) | |
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46
authorize
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| v.授权，委任；批准，认可 | |
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47
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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49
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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50
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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51
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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52
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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53
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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54
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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55
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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56
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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57
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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58
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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59
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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60
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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61
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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62
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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63
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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64
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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65
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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