The following morning being Sunday, I went early to the Parroquia, thinking to visit Father Rocus, should I fail to meet Alisanda again. This last was barely within the bounds of my fondest expectations, and I was accordingly more grieved than surprised when she failed to appear. As I was going out, a few minutes before the close of the service, a rather well-dressed woman in the archway mumbled3 an appeal for alms.
Struck by her lack of dirt and tatters, I stopped. She repeated her appeal, this time in a clear tone, though without opening the veiling folds of her rebozo. It seemed to me I recognized the voice of Chita. At once I held out a coin to her. In reaching for it, she covered my hand with the edge of her rebozo, beneath which I felt a note being slipped into my palm.
She turned away, with a shrill4 blessing5 upon the generous Inglese, while I dropped my half-closed hand to my side, thrust it into my pocket and left the note, to draw out a copper6 for the foremost of the wretched leprosos who came flocking about the rich foreigner. This time I was provided with a quantity of the smallest coins of the realm, and scattered7 two or three handfuls to right and left. While the beggars swarmed8 after the coppers9 like a flock of fowls10 over their grain, I slipped around the nearest corner of the church to read my precious note. It was short but full of promise:—
The Parroquia?—at nine in the evening? It was an appointment to meet her! Yet how could she escape the watchful13 eyes of Doña Marguerite and Don Pedro, even should they, as was most improbable, take her out to the promenade?
However, I concluded that I could safely trust to her wit and courage to bring about the meeting. My problem was how to fill the weary hours and minutes which lay between. I wandered aimlessly about the city, stopping now and then to watch the gambling14 with dice15 and cards, which, though prohibited by His Excellency, is too deeply seated in the natures of these people to be eradicated16.
Intense as were these games, where men and even women staked their little all with passionate17 abandon, the excitement was far greater and the betting higher at the numerous cock-fights. I looked on at one,—which was enough and to spare. Man has a right to kill for food, but none other than the cruel and brutal18 enjoys the torment19 of his fellow creatures.
A gay dinner at the house of Doña Maria Cabrera helped to pass over the day until the siesta20. But throughout the long hours of the afternoon rest I could only lie and swelter and eat up my heart with longing21 and anxiety. So heated and restless did I become that when Walker waked he inquired whether I had a fever.
This gave me my opening, and I stated my condition at some length, in medical language which impressed him much while telling him nothing. Even Pike was deceived by my statement, but I assured him that I should be quite well by morning if I abstained22 from the usual round of calls and the evening in the promenade. After condoling23 with me and explaining my indisposition to the numerous friends who called, they at last heeded24 my request for quiet, and went off to spread the news of my illness.
Between then and the twilight25, the few who called were permitted to peep in and see me dozing26 on my mattress27, with my head swathed about in wet towels. But after la oracion, old Cæsar had his orders to stop all on the threshold of the outer room, and explain that I was not to be disturbed.
A full hour before the time set, I borrowed one of Walker's circular cloaks, and shadowed my face in my wide sombrero. After explaining to Cæsar that I needed a breath of fresh air, but that he should say nothing about my absence unless his master or Lieutenant29 Pike came in before my return, I slipped out, unseen by any one else.
The moon having risen, I had need of care to cross the plaza30 without attracting attention. Fortunately it was too early for an encounter with the soldiers of the night patrols, who would have required me to give my countersign31. Arriving at the Parroquia, I stationed myself in the dense32 shadow around the corner of the farther tower, and waited with such scant33 patience as I could command.
Now and then persons passed by in the plaza, singly or in couples or in groups. None caught sight of me, yet I could see them with perfect distinctness, and as I considered this, I was seized with the fear that Alisanda would inevitably34 be detected before she could reach my side.
From the first I had kept my gaze fixed35 in the direction of the Vallois mansion36, and had watched with eagerness the approach of all the gowned figures that came either alone or in pairs. As the time drew near, I became more restless and could not keep so steady a watch. More than once I had to turn to look about at all quarters of the plaza.
It was during one of these chance glances that I was astonished to see my lady approaching the church from the direction of the promenade. She was accompanied by Father Rocus and Chita.
When they came opposite me, I ventured a slight cough, but they went by without stopping. It was otherwise with a group of young gallants, who paused to stare at the graceful37 figure of my lady until she and the padre and Chita had disappeared into the yawning entrance of the Parroquia. The young beaux had at once guessed the identity of the señorita, notwithstanding her veiling mantilla, and they stood within twenty feet of me, discussing her lovely charms as we would name over the fine points of a pedigreed horse.
Meanwhile I fretted38 and fumed39, in a swelter of impatience40. No doubt my lady was waiting for me and wondering at my delay! At last I was on the point of stepping out boldly to follow her, when Chita came scuffling out of the church, bent41 over like an old crone. She passed the young men, muttering and grumbling42, and tottered43 half sideways around into the shadow. I caught her outstretched hand, and she led me quickly back along the flank of the towering edifice44.
We stopped before the dim outline of a little door. Chita tapped upon the panel, and stepped away a few paces, to stand with her back to me. A moment later the door swung open, without a sound, and a dark figure appeared.
"Alisanda!" I whispered.
"Juan!" she replied, stepping nearer.
Ah, the rapture45 of that moment! Hers was no half love, to shrink with false shame. As I clasped her in my arms, her own arms slipped about my neck in tender embrace, and her lips met mine in a kiss of purest passion. Our hearts throbbed46 together in ecstasy47. She drew back her head to gaze at me through the shadow.
"Tell me you love me!" I demanded.
"Juan! Can you doubt it? Could you have doubted it from the first—the very first? There in the midst of that miry avenue, when I looked out the coach window into the windows of your soul,—then it was, my knight—"
"Then?" I questioned, my astonishment49 as great as my delight—"then, dearest heart? You perceived the love, the adoration50 which filled my whole being at my first view of your lovely face! You knew I would serve you and love you forever after!"
"No, dear. I knew you loved me that moment. But I did not know you. I was very proud—I am still very proud. The blood of kings flows in my veins51. I had vowed53 I should wed28 none other than one of kingly blood. I shall not break that vow52."
"Yet my arms are about you, Alisanda. See, I draw you still closer to my heart; I kiss your adorable lips!"
As I eased my embrace a little, she sighed, and her head sank upon my shoulder.
"Wait, dearest," she murmured. "Such ecstasy goes beyond my strength."
"Alisanda!" I exclaimed, "tell me—you do love me—this is not a dream! I know you are in my arms, yet it is unbelievable—it is not possible that you—!"
"Juan, my king!" she answered.
"That?"
"Yes, that! I believe in nobility of birth, for in that belief I was born and reared. But you have taught me a new belief; you have opened my eyes to see that there are men who are their own ancestors,—men so true and brave and chivalrous54 that they are kings among their fellows, whatever their birth."
"Beloved," I said, "do not mistake. I am as other men. It was only the love you inspired that gave me strength to win you. I am but an average man. Yet with your love—with your dear self to glorify55 life for me, it may be I can rise above the average."
"My king," she repeated, woman-like, unmoved by the plain reason of my statement.
"We have no kings in the Republic," I argued.
"But I have a king in my heart! Ah, Juan, if you but knew the fulness of your conquest! Love was in my heart from the first. Love can creep through keyholes. But pride barred the way against your entrance. Did I not mock you and scorn you and look coldly upon you? Yet Love forced me to give you the fighting chance, to put you to the test."
"That was the mystery—the secret of your eyes!" I exclaimed.
"And you had the courage to guess aright, to persevere56 against all my scorn and hauteur57, to cross the barrier of rock and the barrier of pride and birth, into my heart, Juan!"
"Forever in your heart, as you in mine!"
"Forever!"
"When will you wed me, dearest one?"
At the words she quivered and sought to draw away, but I held her fast. "No, Alisanda! I cannot release you until you have told me. When shall we be married?"
"Ah, Juan!" she sighed. "How can I answer you? I fear that it will be never!"
"Never!"
"My uncle has asked me to sacrifice myself for the sake of the revolution."
"By marrying the Viceroy?"
"No!"
"No?—Then whom?"
"The Governor-General."
"It is my uncle's wish. He says it would free millions of people, my countrymen."
"Your countrymen? You come from Old Spain! No! And what if that man should sell himself for your beauty? Could such a man be trusted? Yet suppose he held true to his pledge to lead the revolution, and suppose the revolution should triumph, would it not be the triumph of Salcedo? Would this wretched land be less oppressed under Salcedo the King than under Salcedo the Governor-General? Answer me, Alisanda Vallois. You know the man!"
"Madre de los Dolores!—And I would have made the sacrifice for that! Juan, you have given me an answer to my uncle's plea. He may break my heart, but he shall not force me to marry against my wish. Rather than that, I will take the veil."
"If I may not marry you, Juan."
"But you will marry me, Alisanda—you must!"
"Father Rocus—" I began.
"He has spoken for you on that, yet admits a doubt. Can I wed you while I still think of it as a sin—a marriage against God's will?"
A sudden great fear embittered61 my rapture and dashed me to the earth.
"Alisanda," I pleaded, "is not our love true love? Can such love be wrong in the sight of God?"
"I have prayed the Virgin62 for hours without answer to that," she sighed. "And when the holy priest admits a doubt—If I do not come to you with a clear conscience, Juan, I shall be unworthy of your love."
"Leave that to me to judge!"
"No. We must wait, my knight. Rest assured I will not wed another than yourself. Be patient. A few days may see the cutting of the knot. That dangerous man Medina has wormed himself into the council of the revolutionists. It would be like him to turn traitor63, and demand me as his price for not betraying the plot."
"Your uncle will give you to him to save his own life!"
"You do my uncle an injustice64. He would sooner die. No; I was to be given to Salcedo for the sake of this oppressed land. My uncle would die rather than force misery65 upon me for other than the sacred cause of liberty."
"Should Medina threaten, my uncle must flee from New Spain."
"Taking you with him! The world is large, dearest one, but wherever he may take you, I will follow."
"If you escape Salcedo!" she whispered, and I felt her tremble.
Before I could answer, the voice of Father Rocus murmured from the little doorway67: "My children, you must part now. I brought you away on the plea of faintness, my daughter. I must take you in for a glass of wine, that my servant may bear witness with a clear conscience, and then we must hasten home with you before the return of your kinsfolk."
"But when shall I see her again, padre?" I begged, clinging to my love as she clung to me.
"Sabe Dios!—Quien sabe?" he returned. "We will each and all do what we can. Now we must hasten, for if my share in this be discovered, I shall lose all power to help you."
Reason compelled me to bend to this argument. I strained Alisanda to me, and we exchanged a parting kiss. Chita came up beside us, and the moment I released her mistress, hurried her to the envious68 doorway.
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1
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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2
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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3
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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6
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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7
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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8
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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coppers
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| 铜( copper的名词复数 )； 铜币 | |
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10
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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11
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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12
feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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13
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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14
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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15
dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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16
eradicated
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| 画着根的 | |
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17
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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18
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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19
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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20
siesta
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| n.午睡 | |
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21
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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22
abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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23
condoling
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| v.表示同情，吊唁( condole的现在分词 ) | |
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24
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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26
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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27
mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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28
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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29
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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30
plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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31
countersign
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| v.副署，会签 | |
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32
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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33
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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34
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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35
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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36
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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37
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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38
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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39
fumed
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| 愤怒( fume的过去式和过去分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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40
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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41
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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42
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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43
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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44
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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45
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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46
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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47
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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48
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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49
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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50
adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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51
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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52
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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53
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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54
chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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55
glorify
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| vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化 | |
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56
persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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57
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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58
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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59
nun
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| n.修女，尼姑 | |
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60
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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61
embittered
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| v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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63
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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64
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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65
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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66
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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67
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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68
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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