While the Blue Mass Company, with more zeal1 than discretion2, were actively3 pursuing Pedro and Wiles4 over the road to Tres Pinos, Senors Miguel and Manuel were comfortably seated in a fonda at Monterey, smoking cigarritos and discussing their late discovery. But they were in no better mood than their late companions, and it appeared from their conversation that in an evil moment they had sold out their interest in the alleged5 silver mine to Wiles and Pedro for a few hundred dollars,—succumbing to what they were assured would be an active opposition6 on the part of the Americanos. The astute7 reader will easily understand that the accomplished8 Mr. Wiles did not inform them of its value as a quicksilver mine, although he was obliged to impart his secret to Pedro as a necessary accomplice9 and reckless coadjutor. That Pedro felt no qualms10 of conscience in thus betraying his two comrades may be inferred from his recent direct and sincere treatment of Concho, and that he would, if occasion offered or policy made it expedient11, as calmly obliterate12 Mr. Wiles, that gentleman himself never for a moment doubted.
“If we had waited but a little he would have given more,—this cock-eye!” regretted Manuel querulously.
“Not a peso,” said Miguel, firmly.
“And why, my Miguel? Thou knowest we could have worked the mine ourselves.”
“Good, and lost even that labor13. Look you, little brother. Show to me now the Mexican that has ever made a real of a mine in California. How many, eh? None! Not a one. Who owns the Mexican's mine, eh? Americanos! Who takes the money from the Mexican's mine? Americanos! Thou rememberest Briones, who spent a gold mine to make a silver one? Who has the lands and house of Briones? Americanos! Who has the cattle of Briones? Americanos! Who has the mine of Briones? Americanos! Who has the silver Briones never found? Americanos! Always the same! Forever! Ah! carramba!”
Then the Evil One evidently took it into his head and horns to worry and toss these men—comparatively innocent as they were—still further, for a purpose. For presently to them appeared one Victor Garcia, whilom a clerk of the Ayuntamiento, who rallied them over aguardiente, and told them the story of the quicksilver discovery, and the two mining claims taken out that night by Concho and Wiles. Whereat Manuel exploded with profanity and burnt blue with sulphurous malediction15; but Miguel, the recent ecclesiastic16, sat livid and thoughtful.
Finally came a pause in Manuel's bombardment, and something like this conversation took place between the cooler actors:
Miguel (thoughtfully). “When was it thou didst petition for lands in the valley, friend Victor?”
Miguel (softly). “Thou didst. Of thy Governor, Micheltorena. I have seen the application.”
Victor (beginning to appreciate a rodential18 odor). “Si! I had forgotten. Art thou sure it was in the valley?”
Miguel (persuasively). “In the valley and up the falda.” *
* Falda, or valda, i. e., that part of the skirt of a
woman's robe that breaks upon the ground, and is also
applied to the final slope of a hill, from the angle that it
makes upon the level plain.
Victor (with decision). “Certainly. Of a verity,—the falda likewise.”
Miguel (eying Victor). “And yet thou hadst not the grant. Painful is it that it should have been burned with the destruction of the other archives, by the Americanos at Monterey.”
Victor (cautiously feeling his way). “Possiblemente.”
Miguel. “It might be wise to look into it.”
Victor (bluntly). “As why?”
Miguel. “For our good and thine, friend Victor. We bring thee a discovery; thou bringest us thy skill, thy experience, thy government knowledge,—thy Custom House paper.” *
* Grants, applications, and official notifications, under
as custom House paper.
Manuel (breaking in drunkenly). “But for what? We are Mexicans. Are we not fated? We shall lose. Who shall keep the Americanos off?”
Miguel. “We shall take ONE American in! Ha! seest thou? This American comrade shall bribe20 his courts, his corregidores. After a little he shall supply the men who invent the machine of steam, the mill, the furnace, eh?”
Victor. “But who is he,—not to steal?”
Miguel. “He is that man of Ireland, a good Catholic, at Tres Pinos.”
Victor and Manuel (omnes). “Roscommon?”
Miguel. “Of the same. We shall give him a share for the provisions, for the tools, for the aguardiente. It is of the Irish that the Americanos have great fear. It is of them that the votes are made,—that the President is chosen. It is of him that they make the Alcalde in San Francisco. And we are of the Church like him.”
They said “Bueno” altogether, and for the moment appeared to be upheld by a religious enthusiasm,—a joint21 confession22 of faith that meant death, destruction, and possibly forgery23, as against the men who thought otherwise.
This spiritual harmony did away with all practical consideration and doubt. “I have a little niece,” said Victor, “whose work with the pen is marvellous. If one says to her, 'Carmen, copy me this, or the other one,'—even if it be copper-plate,—look you it is done, and you cannot know of which is the original. Madre de Dios! the other day she makes me a rubric* of the Governor, Pio Pico, the same, identical. Thou knowest her, Miguel. She asked concerning thee yesterday.”
* The Spanish “rubric” is the complicated flourish attached
to a signature, and is as individual and characteristic as
the handwriting.
With the embarrassment25 of an underbred man, Miguel tried to appear unconcerned, but failed dismally26. Indeed, I fear that the black eyes of Carmen had already done their perfect and accepted work, and had partly induced the application for Victor's aid. He, however, dissembled so far as to ask:
“But will she not know?”
“She is a child.”
“But will she not talk?”
This bit of flattery (which, by the way, was a lie, for Victor's niece did not incline favorably to Miguel), had its effect. They shook hands over the table. “But,” said Miguel, “what is to be done must be done now.” “At the moment,” said Victor, “and thou shalt see it done. Eh? Does it content thee? then come!”
Miguel nodded to Manuel. “We will return in an hour; wait thou here.”
They filed out into the dark, irregular street. Fate led them to pass the office of Dr. Guild28 at the moment that Concho mounted his horse. The shadows concealed29 them from their rival, but they overheard the last injunctions of the President to the unlucky Concho.
“Thou hearest?” said Miguel, clutching his companion's arm.
“Yes,” said Victor. “But let him ride, my friend; in one hour we shall have that that shall arrive YEARS before him,” and with a complacent30 chuckle31 they passed unseen and unheard until, abruptly32 turning a corner, they stopped before a low adobe33 house.
It had once been a somewhat pretentious34 dwelling35, but had evidently followed the fortunes of its late owner, Don Juan Briones, who had offered it as a last sop36 to the three-headed Cerberus that guarded the El Refugio Plutonean treasures, and who had swallowed it in a single gulp37. It was in very bad case. The furrows38 of its red-tiled roof looked as if they were the results of age and decrepitude39. Its best room had a musty smell; there was the dampness of deliquescence in its slow decay, but the Spanish Californians were sensible architects, and its massive walls and partitions defied the earthquake thrill, and all the year round kept an even temperature within.
Victor led Miguel through a low anteroom into a plainly-furnished chamber40, where Carmen sat painting.
Now Mistress Carmen was a bit of a painter, in a pretty little way, with all the vague longings41 of an artist, but without, I fear, the artist's steadfast42 soul. She recognized beauty and form as a child might, without understanding their meaning, and somehow failed to make them even interpret her woman's moods, which surely were nature's too. So she painted everything with this innocent lust43 of the eye,—flowers, birds, insects, landscapes, and figures,—with a joyous44 fidelity45, but no particular poetry. The bird never sang to her but one song, the flowers or trees spake but one language, and her skies never brightened except in color. She came out strong on the Catholic saints, and would toss you up a cleanly-shaven Aloysius, sweetly destitute46 of expression, or a dropsical, lethargic47 Madonna that you couldn't have told from an old master, so bad it was. Her faculty48 of faithful reproduction even showed itself in fanciful lettering,—and latterly in the imitation of fabrics49 and signatures. Indeed, with her eye for beauty of form, she had always excelled in penmanship at the Convent,—an accomplishment50 which the good sisters held in great repute.
In person she was petite, with a still unformed girlish figure, perhaps a little too flat across the back, and with possibly a too great tendency to a boyish stride in walking. Her brow, covered by blue-black hair, was low and frank and honest; her eyes, a very dark hazel, were not particularly large, but rather heavily freighted in their melancholy51 lids with sleeping passion; her nose was of that unimportant character which no man remembers; her mouth was small and straight; her teeth, white and regular. The whole expression of her face was piquancy52 that might be subdued53 by tenderness or made malevolent54 by anger. At present it was a salad in which the oil and vinegar were deftly55 combined. The astute feminine reader will of course understand that this is the ordinary superficial masculine criticism, and at once make up her mind both as to the character of the young lady and the competency of the critic. I only know that I rather liked her. And her functions are somewhat important in this veracious56 history.
She looked up, started to her feet, leveled her black brows at the intruder, but, at a sign from her uncle, showed her white teeth and spake.
It was only a sentence, and a rather common-place one at that; but if she could have put her voice upon her canvas, she might have retrieved57 the Garcia fortunes. For it was so musical, so tender, so sympathizing, so melodious58, so replete59 with the graciousness of womanhood, that she seemed to have invented the language. And yet that sentence was only an exaggerated form of the 'How d'ye do,' whined60 out, doled61 out, lisped out, or shot out from the pretty mouths of my fair countrywomen.
Miguel admired the paintings. He was struck particularly with a crayon drawing of a mule62. “Mother of God, it is the mule itself! observe how it will not go.” Then the crafty63 Victor broke in with, “But it is nothing to her writing; look, you shall tell to me which is the handwriting of Pio Pico;” and, from a drawer in the secretary, he drew forth64 two signatures. One was affixed65 to a yellowish paper, the other drawn on plain white foolscap. Of course Miguel took the more modern one with lover-like gallantry. “It is this is genuine!” Victor laughed triumphantly66; Carmen echoed the laugh melodiously67 in child-like glee, and added, with a slight toss of her piquant68 head, “It is mine!” The best of the sex will not refuse a just and overdue69 compliment from even the man they dislike. It's the principle they're after, not the sentiment.
But Victor was not satisfied with this proof of his niece's skill. “Say to her,” he demanded of Miguel, “what name thou likest, and it shall be done before thee here.” Miguel was not so much in love but he perceived the drift of Victor's suggestion, and remarked that the rubric of Governor Micheltorena was exceedingly complicated and difficult. “She shall do it!” responded Victor, with decision.
From a file of old departmental papers the Governor's signature and that involved rubric, which must have cost his late Excellency many youthful days of anxiety, was produced and laid before Carmen.
Carmen took her pen in her hand, looked at the brownish-looking document, and then at the virgin70 whiteness of the foolscap before her. “But,” she said, pouting71 prettily72, “I should have to first paint this white paper brown. And it will absorb the ink more quickly than that. When I painted the San Antonio of the Mission San Gabriel for Father Acolti, I had to put the decay in with my oils and brushes before the good Padre would accept it.”
The two scamps looked at each other. It was their supreme73 moment. “I think I have,” said Victor, with assumed carelessness, “I think I have some of the old Custom-House paper.” He produced from the secretary a sheet of brown paper with a stamp. “Try it on that.”
Carmen smiled with childish delight, tried it, and produced a marvel24! “It is as magic,” said Miguel, feigning74 to cross himself.
Victor's role was more serious. He affected75 to be deeply touched, took the paper, folded it, and placed it in his breast. “I shall make a good fool of Don Jose Castro,” he said; “he will declare it is the Governor's own signature, for he was his friend; but have a care, Carmen! that you spoil it not by the opening of your red lips. When he is fooled, I will tell him of this marvel,—this niece of mine, and he shall buy her pictures. Eh, little one?” and he gave her the avuncular76 caress77, i. e., a pat of the hand on either cheek, and a kiss. Miguel envied him, but cupidity78 outgeneraled Cupid, and presently the conversation flagged, until a convenient recollection of Victor's—that himself and comrade were due at the Posada del Toros at 10 o'clock—gave them the opportunity to retire. But not without a chance shot from Carmen. “Tell to me,” she said, half to Victor and half to Miguel, “what has chanced with Concho? He was ever ready to bring to me flowers from the mountain, and insects and birds. Thou knowest how he would sit, oh, my uncle, and talk to me of the rare rocks he had seen, and the bears and the evil spirits, and now he comes no longer, my Concho! How is this? Nothing evil has befallen him, surely?” and her drooping79 lids closed half-pathetically.
Miguel's jealousy80 took fire. “He is drunk, Senorita, doubtless, and has forgotten not only thee but, mayhap, his mule and pack! It is his custom, ha! ha!”
The red died out of Carmen's ripe lips, and she shut them together with a snap like a steel purse. The dove had suddenly changed to a hawk81; the child-girl into an antique virago82; the spirit hitherto dimly outlined in her face, of some shrewish Garcia ancestress, came to the fore14. She darted83 a quick look at her uncle, and then, with her little hands on her rigid84 lips, strode with two steps up to Miguel.
“Possibly, O Senor Miguel Dominguez Perez (a profound courtesy here), it is as thou sayest. Drunkard Concho may be; but, drunk or sober, he never turned his back on his friend—or—(the words grated a little here)—his enemy.”
Miguel would have replied, but Victor was ready. “Fool,” he said, pinching his arm, “'tis an old friend. And—and—the application is still to be filled up. Are you crazy?”
But on this point Miguel was not, and with the revenge of a rival added to his other instincts, he permitted Victor to lead him away.
On their return to the fonda, they found Master Manuel too far gone with aguardiente, and a general animosity to the average Americano, to be of any service. So they worked alone, with pen, ink, and paper, in the stuffy85, cigarrito-clouded back room of the fonda. It was midnight, two hours after Concho had started, that Miguel clapped spurs to his horse for the village of Tres Pinos, with an application to Governor Micheltorena for a grant to the “Rancho of the Red Rocks” comfortably bestowed86 in his pocket.
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1
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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2
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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3
actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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4
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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5
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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6
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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7
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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8
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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9
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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10
qualms
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| n.不安；内疚 | |
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11
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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12
obliterate
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| v.擦去，涂抹，去掉...痕迹，消失，除去 | |
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13
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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14
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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15
malediction
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| n.诅咒 | |
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16
ecclesiastic
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| n.教士，基督教会；adj.神职者的，牧师的，教会的 | |
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17
sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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18
rodential
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| adj.啮齿目的 | |
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19
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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20
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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21
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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22
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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23
forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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24
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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25
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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26
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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27
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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28
guild
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| n.行会，同业公会，协会 | |
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29
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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30
complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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31
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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32
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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33
adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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34
pretentious
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| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
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35
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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36
sop
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| n.湿透的东西，懦夫；v.浸，泡，浸湿 | |
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37
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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38
furrows
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| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39
decrepitude
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| n.衰老；破旧 | |
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40
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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41
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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42
steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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43
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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44
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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45
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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46
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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47
lethargic
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| adj.昏睡的，懒洋洋的 | |
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48
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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49
fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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50
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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51
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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52
piquancy
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| n.辛辣，辣味，痛快 | |
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53
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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54
malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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55
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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56
veracious
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| adj.诚实可靠的 | |
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57
retrieved
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| v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息） | |
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58
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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59
replete
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| adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁 | |
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60
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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61
doled
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| 救济物( dole的过去式和过去分词 )； 失业救济金 | |
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62
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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63
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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64
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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65
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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66
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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67
melodiously
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68
piquant
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| adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的 | |
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69
overdue
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| adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的 | |
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70
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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71
pouting
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的现在分词 ) | |
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72
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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73
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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74
feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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75
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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76
avuncular
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| adj.叔伯般的，慈祥的 | |
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77
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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78
cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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79
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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80
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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81
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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82
virago
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| n.悍妇 | |
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83
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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84
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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85
stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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86
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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