CHAPTER XXX
BEATING UP THE GAME
A man and a woman entered the hotel of the widow De Cuzco a little afterten o'clock, and left it at half-past eleven.
"Now, Senora Dona Maria," said the man, "I will take you to your house,for I have something to do."
"Wait, Senor Ramos, for the love of God!" she answered. "Why don't wego to the Casino to see if he comes out? You heard just now thatEstebanillo, the boy that works in the garden, was talking with him thisafternoon."
"But are you looking for Don Jose?" asked the Centaur, with ill-humor."What have we to do with him? The courtship with Dona Rosario ended asit was bound to end, and now there is nothing for it but for my motherto marry them. That is my opinion."
"You are a fool!" said Remedios angrily.
"Senora, I am going."
"Why, you rude man, are you going to leave me alone in the street?"
"Yes, senora, unless you go home at once."
"That's right--leave me alone, exposed to be insulted! Listen to me,Senor Ramos. Don Jose will come out of the Casino in a moment, as usual.I want to see whether he goes into his hotel or goes past it. It is afancy of mine, only a fancy."
"What I know is that I have something to do, and that it is near twelveo'clock."
"Silence!" said Remedios. "Let us hide ourselves around the corner. Aman is coming down the Calle de la Triperia Alta. It is he!"
"Don Jose! I know him by his walk."
"Let us follow him," said Maria Remedios with anxiety. "Let us followhim at a little distance, Ramos."
"Senora--"
"Only a minute, then, Dona Remedios. After that I must go."
They walked on about thirty paces, keeping at a moderate distance behindthe man they were watching. The Penitentiary's niece stopped then andsaid:
"He is not going into his hotel."
"He may be going to the brigadier's."
"The brigadier lives up the street, and Don Pepe is going down in thedirection of the senora's house."
"Of the senora's house!" exclaimed Caballuco, quickening his steps.
But they were mistaken. The man whom they were watching passed the houseof Polentinos and walked on.
"Do you see that you were wrong?"
"Senor Ramos, let us follow him!" said Remedios, pressing the Centaur'shand convulsively. "I have a foreboding."
"We shall soon know, for we are near the end of the town."
"Don't go so fast--he may see us. It is as I thought, Senor Ramos; he isgoing into the garden by the condemned door."
"Senora, you have lost your senses!"
"Come on, and we shall see."
The night was dark, and the watchers could not tell precisely at whatpoint Senor de Rey had entered; but a grating of rusty hinges which theyheard, and the circumstance of not meeting the young man in the wholelength of the garden wall, convinced them that he had entered thegarden. Caballuco looked at his companion with stupefaction. He seemedbewildered.
"What are you thinking about? Do you still doubt?"
"What ought I to do?" asked the bravo, covered with confusion. "Shall wegive him a fright? I don't know what the senora would think about it.I say that because I was at her house this evening, and it seemed to methat the mother and daughter had become reconciled."
"Don't be a fool! Why don't you go in?"
"Now I remember that the armed men are not there; I told them to leavethis evening."
"And this block of marble still doubts what he ought to do! Ramos, gointo the garden and don't be a coward."
"How can I go in if the door is closed?"
"Get over the wall. What a snail! If I were a man----"
"Well, then, up! There are some broken bricks here where the boys climbover the wall to steal the fruit."
"Up quickly! I will go and knock at the front door to waken the senora,if she should be asleep."
The Centaur climbed up, not without difficulty. He sat astride on thewall for an instant, and then disappeared among the dark foliage of thetrees. Maria Remedios ran desperately toward the Calle del Condestable,and, seizing the knocker of the front door, knocked--knocked three timeswith all her heart and soul.