CHAPTER XIV.
VALENTINE'S RETURN.
As we have already said, the count sprang up on hearing a rap at thedoor of his house.
"Who can come at this hour," he muttered. "I expect nobody."
And he went to the door and opened it. Three men entered, wrappedclosely in their cloaks. The darkness in the room prevented Don Louisrecognising their features, which were, besides, half hidden by thebrims of their sombreros.
"Good evening, gentlemen," he said to them. "Who are you, and what wouldyou with me?"
"Oh, oh!" one of the newcomers said with a laugh. "By Jupiter! That is avery dry reception."
Don Louis started at the sound of this voice, which he recognised atonce.
"Valentine!" he exclaimed with emotion.
"By Jove!" the other said gaily, as he threw off his cloak, "I supposeyou thought I was dead?"
"And do you not recognise me, Senor Don Louis?" the second person said,also throwing off his cloak.
"Don Cornelio, my friend, you are welcome."
"That's right," Valentine went on; "we are beginning to understand oneanother at last--that is fortunate. Were you going out?"
"Yes, but for no urgent matter."
"I do not disturb you, then?"
"On the contrary, sit down and let us talk."
"All right."
"Have you supped?"
"Not yet; and you?"
"Nor I either. That is capital--we will sup here together. In that waywe can say what we like, and not fear listeners, unless you prefer goingto the hotel."
"St! Deuce take me if I care about it. Let us sup here, my boy; it willbe better in every way."
"That is what I thought. Let me give some orders, and I shall be at yourservice."
Louis went out.
"Ouf!" Valentine said, stretching himself in an easy chair, "I ambeginning to get tired. How do you feel, Don Cornelio?"
"I!" the latter replied with a sigh. "I can move neither arm nor leg; Iwalk about like a somnambulist."
"Nonsense! Such a stout fellow as you."
"Stout as you please--do you know we have not been to bed or to sleepfor seven nights?"
"Do you think so?" the Frenchman said carelessly.
"_Capa de Dios!_ Do I think so? I am sure of it. The proof of it is,that in those seven days we rode three hundred leagues, and killed tenhorses."
"On my word, that is true."
"So you see----"
"Well, what do you conclude from that?"
"Why, that you were in a hurry."
"And yet, in spite of all our diligence, my friend thinks that we havebeen too slow."
"Then I must say he is not reasonable. But are we going to leave thechief kicking his heels at the door?"
"Good gracious! I never thought of him," Valentine said as he rose.
And he walked toward the door.
At the same moment Curumilla appeared at one end of the room, while DonLouis came in at the other, at the head of several servants. Louisplaced the candlesticks he held in his hand on the table, and turning tohis friend,--
"Where are you going?" he asked him.
"To look for Curumilla, whom I left in charge of the horses; but therehe is!"
"Do not trouble yourself about the horses; I have given orders as tothem."
"To supper, then, for I am dying of hunger; my comrades and myself haveeaten nothing for sixteen hours."
The four men sat down to the table, which had been copiously coveredwith dishes of every description. The meal began: the guests ate for along time without exchanging a word. The newcomers had an imperiousnecessity to recruit their strength. At length, when the edge wasslightly taken off his appetite, Valentine poured out some drink, andaddressing his foster brother, began the conversation.
"Why, Louis, do you know that you are not difficult to find in thisdeuce of a city? Your reputation appears to be enormous."
"How so?" Louis said with a smile.
"By Jove! Everybody knows your address: they only call you the general.I did not need to ask many questions to find this house--everybodyoffered to guide me. It seems as if affairs are going on well, eh?"
The count smiled softly; but, before replying, he made the servants asign to leave the room, and when the door was closed upon them,--
"All goes on very well," he said; "but now that you have arrived it willgo on better still."
"Ah, ah! You think so?" Valentine said, sipping like an amateur theBordeaux in his glass.
"I hope so."
"Well, you are not mistaken, brother; I hope so too."
Louis gave a start of joy.
"You have been a long time in coming," he said.
"Do you think so?"
"If you knew how impatiently I expected you."
"I suppose so; but believe me, my friend, when you have heard all I havedone, only one thing will astonish you--that I am here already."
"What do you mean?"
"Patience! Tell me first what you have been doing during our separation.But one word first--have you beds for us?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, as supper is over, through pity for Don Cornelio, who isasleep in that easy chair, let him be taken to a bed, where he canrepose at his ease: he needs it, I assure you."
"The fact is," the Spaniard stammered, "that my eyes _will_ close, inspite of all my efforts to keep them open."
Louis had risen. On a signal he gave, a servant took charge of DonCornelio, and led him away. Curumilla had lighted his calumet, and wassmoking silently.
"Now for us two," Valentine said.
"But the chief," Louis observed: "does he not wish to rest?"
"Do not trouble yourself about him--he is made of iron; but if by anyaccident sleep comes upon him, you need not be alarmed--he will stretchhimself in a corner of this room."
"Very good. Now, then, listen to me."
"I am all attention."
Louis gave his friend a detailed account of all he had done since hisreturn to San Francisco. The narrative was long, for the count had muchto tell. Valentine listened with the closest attention, not interruptinghim once. The night was far advanced when Louis at length ended hisreport. Curumilla was still smoking.
When the count stopped there was a moment's silence, and then Valentinetook the word.
"You have done miracles. You have accomplished impossibilities."
"Then you are satisfied with me?"
"I admire you. You have displayed in all this business incredible energyand intelligence. Now let us arrive at the financial question."
"Yes, that is the serious point at this moment. Unfortunately it willnot be so easy to settle as the others."
"Who knows? Then you owe a deal of money?"
"An enormous sum."
"Oh, oh!"
"Why, you understand I had everything to buy."
"That is right; and you possessed?"
"As you know, nothing."
"Hum, hum! The account is clear. Then you owe for everything?"
"Nearly so."
"Are your accounts in order?"
"Of course, as I only waited for you to start."
"Let us have a look at them."
Louis opened a drawer, from which he took several papers covered withfigures. He spread them out on the table with a stifled sigh.
"Why do you sigh?" Valentine asked him.
"Because I am anxious."
"Anxious about what?"
"Why, hang it! About paying them."
Valentine smiled.
"Nonsense!" he said, "let us look all the same."
The count bent over the papers.
"What are you doing?" Valentine said.
"I am calculating."
"What is the good? Tell me the totals only--that will be quicker."
"You are right: 17,533 piastres, 6 reals."
"Good!" Valentine commenced writing the amount in pencil on a piece ofwaste paper. "Next."
"Twenty-one thousan
d two hundred and seven piastres, five reals."
"Very good: go on."
"Twelve thousand eight hundred and twenty-three piastres."
"No reals?"
"No."
"Go on."
"Seven thousand six hundred and seventy-five piastres, six reals."
"Six reals. Very good. What next?"
"That is all."
"What! No more?"
"Is not that enough?"
"I do not mean that; but, from the way you spoke, I expected aformidable amount."
"Is not this so?"
"Not so very. Come, let us add it up."
"That is very easy. Here it is: total, 59,239 piastres, 7 reals."
"Seven reals. The total is correct. Have you not a few small debtsbeside?"
"Of course, I have a few personal matters to pay; and then I should notlike to start empty-handed."
"That would be awkward; so that, as far as I can see you will want abouteighty or one hundred thousand piastres to be perfectly clear?"
"Oh! Then I should have more than I require."
"It is better to have too much than not enough."
"That is true; but where to find such a sum?"
"Let me tell you a story."
"Eh?" Louis said in surprise. "Are you jesting, brother?"
"I never jest in serious matters. Listen to my story, I am convincedthat it will interest you."
Louis could not suppress a movement of ill temper. He fell back in hischair, and crossed his arms.
"Speak," he said, "I am listening."
"Patience!" Valentine said, with a smile.
The count tossed his head.
"I am beginning," the hunter went on. "You remember in what way weparted at the _venta_ of San Jose?"
"Perfectly."
"The next day I sold the herd in a lump. Another time, I will explain toyou in what way; and I shall have certain explanations to ask of you.For the present, suffice it for you to know that I made an excellentdeal, and sold it for 14,630 piastres."
"A famous sum! Unfortunately, we are still far from our reckoning."
"Patience! Then the bargain was a good one."
"Excellent: I should not have got such a price here."
"All the better; at Guaymas I took a bill on Wilson and Baker. Do youknow them?"
"Very well; it is a substantial house."
"Good! Then tomorrow we will cash it. After selling the herd, I left SanJose with my two friends, not knowing, I confess, how to procure themoney I had promised you, and of which you had such pressing need."
"A need I still have," Louis observed.
"Agreed," Valentine continued; "after galloping about for a long time,without knowing exactly where we were going, I resolved to ask mycompanions' advice. Of course Don Cornelio could suggest nothing. Hecontented himself with strumming a melancholy air on his guitar: youknow that is his resource in embarrassing circumstances. You have knownCurumilla as long as I have: the worthy chief only speaks when he iscompelled; but when he opens his mouth, he speaks gold, and this time itreally occurred."
While saying this, Valentine could not refrain from smiling. Louisturned to the chief, to whom he offered his hand, which the otherpressed with a grimace of pleasure. The hunter continued,--
"From the descriptions you had given me, I knew pretty nearly theposition of the mine of which you had become proprietor. Curumillaoffered to take us there. 'We shall be very unlucky,' he said, 'we whoknow the desert so well, if we do not succeed in foiling the Indians andreaching the mine. Once there, we will take as much native gold as wewant to satisfy our friend's wants.' As the advice was good, I resolvedto follow it."
"What!" Louis shouted, rising hurriedly, "you did that, brother?"
"Of course I did."
"But you ran a risk of assassination at every step."
"I knew it; but I knew also that you must have a large sum."
"Oh, brother, brother!" Louis exclaimed, in great emotion, "so muchdevotion, while I was accusing you."
"You did not know what I was doing; you were right."
"Oh! I shall never forgive myself."
"Nonsense! Did we not swear once for all, to be entirely devoted to eachother?"
"That is true. Oh! You have nobly kept your oath everywhere and ever,brother."
"And have you not done the same? Besides, this time the idea does notbelong to me; I only followed the chief's advice."
"Oh, he is like you; you dare not say anything to him, or he would bevexed."
Curumilla laid down his calumet for an instant; and, approaching thecount, laid his hand on his shoulder, and looking at him with anexpression impossible to describe, while touching the Frenchman's chestand his own in turn,--
"Koutenepi," he said, in a quivering voice, "Louis, Curumilla--threebrothers, one heart."
And he sat down again.
There was a long pause. The two white men were admiring the devotion andadmiration of this brave Indian, who only lived for and through them,and asked themselves in their hearts, if, in spite of the warmfriendship they bore him, they were really worthy of so profound anattachment.
"In short," Valentine went on at last, "no sooner said than done. I willnot describe to you the incidents of our journey, for that would occupytoo much precious time. Suffice it for you to know that, thanks to ourlengthened prairie experience, after surmounting innumerable obstacles,and almost falling into the clutches of the redskins a hundred times, weat length reached the mine. Oh, brother, I know not the riches of theCalifornian placers, but I doubt whether they can be compared to the oneof which you are now owner."
"Ah!" Louis exclaimed; "it is true then, it is rich?"
"Brother, its riches are incalculable; the native gold is found on thesurface. Even I, whose, I will not say disinterestedness, but whoseindifference for gold you know, was dazzled, so dazzled, that for somemoments I could not imagine what I saw was real. I asked myself was Iawake, or if I was not dreaming."
While Valentine spoke thus, Louis walked up and down the room, wipingaway the perspiration that stood on his forehead.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, much agitated; "now I shall succeed, no matter whatmay happen."
"Do not defy chance, brother," Valentine replied sorrowfully.
"Do not fancy, brother, that these immense riches turn me mad. No, no;what do I care for self? I am thinking of the poor fellows I haveattached to my fortunes; those who have placed confidence in me, and whowill be happy through me. No, I do not defy chance; I thank Providence."
He sat down again, poured out a glass of water, which he swallowed at adraught, and passing his hand over his brow,--
"Go on, now," he said; "I am calm."
"I have not much more to add. I had taken with me three bat horses; Iloaded them. I put gold, too, in my _alforjas_, in Curumilla's, and inDon Cornelio's. That worthy gentleman was perfectly mad: he bounded likea wild colt, and strummed his guitar furiously. He would not leave theplacer, but insisted on awaiting our return there, alone. I was almostobliged to employ force to carry him off, so greatly had the sight ofthat gold fascinated him. In conclusion, you asked me for 80,000piastres. Here are bills for 150,000 on Wilson and Baker. Add the priceof the herd sold at San Jose, and you have a sum of 164,000 piastres,which is a very pretty lump of money in my opinion. What do you say?"
He then drew the bills from his breast, and handed them to his fosterbrother. Louis was confounded. He could not find words to reply.
"Ah!" Valentine added carelessly, "I forgot. As I supposed you would notbe sorry to have a specimen of your placer, to show your partners, Ibrought you this."
He handed him a lump of gold, about as large as a man's fist. Louis tookit mechanically, laid it on the table, and looked at it for an instantwith a fixed and haggard eye; then two tears coursed down his pallidcheeks, and a sob burst from his chest. He stretched out his arms; and,seizing Valentine and Curumilla, drew them to him, and embraced thempassionately, murmuring,--
"Brothers, brothers! Thanks not only for myself, but for our poorcountrymen, whom your sublime devotion has saved from wretchedness,perhaps from crime!"