XIV
Governor Arrillaga, Commandante Arguello, and Chamberlain Rezanov satin the familiar sala at the Presidio content in body after a culinaryachievement worthy of Padre Landaeta, but perturbed and alert of mind.Upon the arrival of the two California dignitaries in the morning,Rezanov had sent Davidov and Langsdorff on shore to assure them of hisgratitude and deep appreciation of the hospitality shown himself, hisofficers and men. The Governor had replied with a fulsome apology fornot repairing at once to the Juno to welcome his distinguished guest inperson, and, pleading his age and the one hundred and seventy-fiveEnglish miles he had ridden from Monterey, begged him as a younger manto waive informality, and dine at the house of the Commandante thatvery day. Rezanov had complied as a matter of course, and now he wasalone with the men who held his fate in their hands. The dark wornrugged face of Don Jose, who had been skilfully prepared by his oldestdaughter to think well of the Russian, beamed with good-will andinterest, in spite of lingering doubts; but the lank, wiry figure ofthe Governor, who was as dignified as only a blond Spaniard can be, wasfairly rigid with the severe formality he reserved for occasions ofceremony--being a gentleman who loved good company and cheer--and hissharp gray eyes were almost shut in the effort to penetrate the designsof this deputy, this symbol, this index in cipher, of a dreaded race.Rezanov smoked calmly, made himself comfortable on the slipperyhorse-hair chair, though with no loss of dignity, and beat about thebush with the others until the Governor betrayed himself at last by achance remark:
"What you say of the neighborly instincts of the Russian colonists forthe Spanish on this coast interests me deeply, Excellency, but ifRussia is at war with Spain--"
"Russia is not at war with Spain," said Rezanov, with a flash ofamusement in his half-closed eyes. "Napoleon Bonaparte is encampedabout half way between the two countries. They could not get at eachother if they wished. While that man is at large, Europe will be atwar with him, no two nations with each other."
"Ah!" exclaimed Arrillaga. "That is a manner of reasoning that had notoccurred to me."
The Commandante had spat at the mention of the usurper's name andmuttered "Chinchosa!" and Rezanov, recalling his first conversationwith Concha, looked into the honest eyes of the monarchist with adirect and hearty sympathy.
"No better epithet for him," he said. "And the sooner Europe combinesto get rid of him the better. But until it does, count upon a commongrievance to unite your country and mine."
"Good!" muttered the Governor. "Good! I am glad that nightmare haslifted its bat's wings from our poor California. Captain O'Cain's raidtwo years ago made me apprehensive, for he took away some elevenhundred of our otter skins and his hunters were Aleutians--subjects ofthe Tsar. A negro that deserted gave the information that they werefurnished the Bostonian by the chief manager of yourCompany--Baranhov--whose reputation we know well enough!--for thedeliberate purpose of raiding our coast."
Rezanov shrugged his shoulders and replied indifferently: "I will askBaranhov when I return to Sitka, and write you the particulars. It ismore likely that the Aleutians were deserters. This O'Cain would notbe the first shrewd Bostonian to tempt them, for they are admirablehunters and ready for any change. They make a greater demand upon theCompany for variety of diet than we are always prepared to meet, somany are the difficulties of transportation across Siberia. When,therefore, the time arrived that I could continue my voyage, Idetermined to come here and see if some arrangement could not be madefor a bi-yearly exchange of commodities. We need farinaceous stuffs ofevery sort. I will not pay so poor a compliment to your knowledge ofthe northern settlements as to enlarge upon the advantages Californiawould reap from such a treaty."
The Governor, who had permitted himself to touch the back of his chairafter the dispersal of the war cloud, stiffened again. "Ah!" he said."Ah!" He looked significantly at the Commandante, who nodded. "Youcome on a semi-official mission, after all, then?"
"It is entirely my own idea," said Rezanov carelessly. "The young Tsaris too much occupied with Bonaparte to give more than a passing thoughtto his colonies. But I have a free hand. Can I arrange thepreliminaries of a treaty, I have only to return to St. Petersburg toreceive his signature and highest approval. It would be a greatfeather in my cap I can assure your excellencies," he added, with aquick human glance and a sudden curve of his somewhat cynical mouth.
"Um!" said the Governor. "Um!"
But Arguello's stern face had further relaxed. After all, he was buteleven years older than the Russian, and, although early struggles andheavy responsibilities and many disappointments had deprived life ofmuch of its early savor, what was left of youth in him responded to theambition he divined in this interesting stranger. Moreover, the ideaof a friendly bond with another race on the lonely coast of the Pacificappealed to him irresistibly. He turned eagerly to the Governor.
"It is a fine idea, Excellency. We need much that they have, and itpleases me to think we should be able to supply the wants of others.Fancy any one wanting aught of California, except hides, to be sure. Idid not think our existence was known save to an occasional British orBoston skipper. It is true we are here only to Christianize savages,but even they have need of much that cannot be manufactured in thisGod-forsaken land. And we ourselves could be more comfortable--God inheaven, yes! It is well to think it over, Excellency. Who knows?--wemight have a trip to the north once in a while. Life is more excellentwith something to look forward to."
"You should have a royal welcome. Baranhov is the most hospitable manin Russia, and I might have the happiness to be there myself. I see,by the way, that you have not engaged in shipbuilding. I need not saythat we should supply the ships of commerce, with no diminution of yourprofits. We build at Okhotsk, Petropaulovski, Kadiak, and Sitka.Moreover, as the Bostonians visit us frequently, and as your lawsprohibit you from trading with them, we would see that you always gotsuch of their commodities as you needed. They come to us for furs, andgenerally bring much for which we have no use. Captain D'Wolf, fromwhom I bought the Juno, had a cargo I was forced to take over. Iunloaded what was needed at Sitka, but as there was no boat going forsome months to the other islands, I brought the rest with me, and youare welcome to it, if in exchange you will ballast the Juno withsamples of your agricultural products; while the treaty is pending, Ican experiment in our colonies and make sure which are the mostadaptable to the market.
"Um!" said the Governor. "Um!"
Rezanov did not remove his cool direct gaze from the snapping eyesopposite.
"I have not the least objection to making a trade that would fill mypromuschleniki with joy; but that was by no means the first object ofmy voyage; which was partly inspired by a desire to see as much of thisglobe as a man may in one short life, partly to arrange a treaty thatwould be of incalculable benefit to both colonies and greatly redoundto my own glory. I make no pretence of being disinterested. I lookforward to a career of ever increasing influence and power in St.Petersburg, and I wish to take back as many credits as possible."
"I understand, I understand!" The Governor rested his lame back oncemore. "Your ambition is the more laudable, Excellency, since you haveachieved so much already. I am not one to balk the honest ambition ofany man, particularly when he does me the honor to take me into hisconfidence. I like this suggested measure. I like it much. I believeit would redound to our mutual benefit and reputation. Is it not so,Jose?"
The Commandante nodded vigorously. "I am sure of it! I am sure of it!I like it--much, much."
"I will write at once to the Viceroy of Mexico and ask that he lay thematter before the Cabinet and King. Without that high authority we cando nothing. But I see no reason to doubt the issue when we, who knowthe wants and needs of California, approve and desire. We are doomedto failure in this unwieldy land of worthless savages, but it is thebusiness of the wretched servants of a glorious monarch to do the bestthey can."
Rezanov had an inspiration. "You might remind the
viceroy that Spainand the United States of America have been on the verge of war foryears, and suggest the benefit of an alliance with Russia in the caseof the new country taking advantage of the situation in Europe toextend its western boundaries--"
Arrillaga had bounced to his feet, his small eyes injected and blazing."Those damned Bostonians!" he shouted. "I distrusted them years ago.They have too much calculation in their bluntness. They cheated us,sold us short, traded under my very nose, stole our otters, until Iordered them never to drop an anchor in California waters again. Iftheir ridiculous upstart government dares to cast its eyes onCalifornia we shall know how to meet them--the sooner they march onMexico and lose their conceit the better. How they do brag! Faugh!It is sickening. I shall remember all you say, Excellency; and thankyou for the hint."
Rezanov rose, and the Commandante solemnly kissed him on either cheek."Governor Arrillaga is my guest, Excellency," he said. "I beg that youwill dine with us daily--unofficially--that you will regard Californiaas your own kingdom, and come and go at your pleasure. And my daughterbegs me to remind you and your young officers that there will beinformal dancing every night."
"So far so good," thought Rezanov, as he mounted his horse to return tothe Juno. "But what of my cargo? I fancy there will be moredifficulty in that quarter."