CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
A MYSTERIOUS MISSIVE.
"O! Ysabel! To think of it! In the chain-gang--in the sewers! _Madrede Dios_!"
Thus passionately exclaimed Luisa Valverde, half addressing herself tothe Condesa Almonte in her father's house again, to which they had justreturned from the ceremony of the procession. They were in the _sala_,seated upon the chair, into which they flung themselves, as if overcomewith fatigue.
And weariness it was, but not of the body. Their souls were a-weariedthrough being unable to give utterance to the thoughts and passions thatfor hours had been convulsing them. Ever since passing the chain-gangthey had been forced to keep up faces, seem as they felt not, smile whenthey could have wept. This the Condesa had counselled for reasonsalready hinted at; and now back home, with no one to see or hear, theywere giving way to the wild tumult of emotion so long pent up.
For a time the Condesa made no rejoinder, herself as much affected asher friend. Both sat in despairing attitudes, heads drooped, and handsclasping them as though they ached; bosoms rising and falling inlaboured undulation, the hearts within them painfully pulsing. All sounlike themselves, in such discordance with their great beauty, and therich robes they wore. Looking at two such women, one could ill believeit possible for them to be otherwise than happy; yet, at that moment,both were miserable as misery itself.
"Ah, yes!" sighed the Countess, at length, and like as if awakening fromsome weird dream, its impress still upon her face. "To think of it; andfearful it is to think of. I understand things better now. My Rupertois indeed in danger--more than I this morning believed. And yourFlorencio too. I could read his death in the eyes of Don CarlosSantander; and one told me the Tejanos are all to be shot!"
"O Ysabel, say not that! If they kill him, they may kill me! The man Ilove! Santa Guadalupe--Blessed Virgin! Save, oh, save him from such afate!"
Against the wall was a picture of this, the patroness Saint of Mexico--for there is one in every Mexican house--and, while speaking, the younggirl had risen from her chair, glided across the room, and fallen uponher knees before it. In this attitude she remained for some moments,her hands crossed over her breast, her lips moving as though shemuttered a prayer.
Altogether differently acted the Condesa. She was not of the devotionalsort, where it seemed unlikely to be of practical service. GoodCatholic enough, and observant of all the ceremonies, but no believer inmiracles; and therefore distrustful of what Santa Guadalupe, or anyother saint, could do for them. She had more belief in the Cromwelliandoctrine of keeping the powder dry; and that she meant to practise it,not with powder, but with her purse, was soon made evident by herspeech.
"It's no use kneeling there," she said, starting to her feet, and againshowing spirit. "Let us pray in our hearts. I've been doing thatalready, and I'm sure so have you. Something else should be done now--another effort made--this time with money; no matter how much it takes.Yes, Luisa, we must act."
"I want to act," rejoined the other, as she forsook the kneelingposture, with an abruptness not common to devotees; "only tell me how.Can you?"
For some seconds the Condesa let the question remain unanswered. Oncemore her hand had gone up to her head, the jewelled fingers met andclasped upon her brow--this time to quicken reflection; some scheme,already half conceived, needing further elaboration.
Whatever the plan, it was soon worked out complete, as evinced by herwords following.
"_Amiga mia_; is there in your service one we can implicitly trust?"
"Jose. You know we can trust him."
"True. But he won't do for the first step to be taken: which is,indeed, only to deliver a letter. But it needs being adroitly done, anda woman will be the better for that. Besides, Jose will be wanted forsomething else, at the same time. There are two or three of my ownfemale following could be relied on, so far as fidelity is concerned;but, unluckily, they're all known on the Calle de Plateros, as well asthe street itself; and there isn't any of them particularly intelligentor dexterous. What we stand in need of now is one possessed of boththese qualities--either woman or girl."
"Would Pepita do?"
"You mean the little _mestizo_, who was with you at New Orleans?"
"The same. She's all that; and, besides, devoted to me."
Don Ignacio's daughter had reason to know this, from experience in theCasa de Calvo, in which Pepita had played a part.
"She'll do," said the Countess; "the very individual, from what I'veseen of her. Get me pen, ink, and paper--quick! At the same timesummon Pepita!"
The Countess was now all action; and, responding to her roused energies,the other rushed towards the bell-pull, and gave it two or threevigorous jerks.
As it chanced, there were writing materials in the room; and, whilewaiting for the bell to be answered, the Countess made use of them,hastily scribbling some words on a sheet of paper, which she foldedwithout putting into an envelope; instead, twisted it between herfinger, as if dissatisfied with what she had written, and designedcancelling it. Far from this her intention, as was soon made manifest.
"_Muchacha_!" she said to Pepita, who, being lady's maid, had answeredthe bell herself. "Your mistress tells me you can be trusted on amatter which calls not only for confidence, but cleverness. Is thatso?"
"I can't promise the cleverness, your ladyship; but for the other, Ithink the Dona Luisa knows she can rely on me."
"You'd be good at delivering a letter, without letting all the worldinto the secret, I suppose?"
"I'll do my best, your ladyship, if Duena command it."
"Yes, I wish it, Pepita," interposed Dona Luisa, herself the "Duena."
"_Muy bien Senorita_. Into whose hands is it to be put?"
Though speaking direct to her own mistress, the interrogatory was moremeant for the Condesa, between whose fingers and thumb she saw the thingshe was to take charge of.
The answer to her query called for some consideration. The note was forRuperto Rivas; but the girl knew him not; so how could she give it him?
Here was a difficulty not before thought of, for a time perplexing boththe ladies. In this case Dona Luisa was the first to see a way out ofit, saying in a whisper:--
"Let her give it to Florencio; she knows him, and he can--"
"_Carramba_!" exclaimed the Countess interrupting. "How wonderfullywise you are, _amiga_! The very thing! And it never occurred to me!No, _you_ tell her what to do."
"This, Pepita," said her mistress, taking the crumpled sheet from theCondesa, and passing it to her maid, "this is to be delivered to agentleman you've seen, and should know."
"Where have I seen him, senorita?"
"In New Orleans."
"Do you mean Don Carlos, my lady?"
"No;" the abrupt negative accompanied with a dissatisfied look.
"Who then, senorita?"
"Don Florencio."
"_Ay Dios_! Is he here? I did not know it. But where am I to findhim?"
No need to repeat the dialogue as continued. Suffice it that, beforeleaving the room, Pepita received full instructions where to find DonFlorencio, and when found what she was to do and say to him.
So far all this was easy enough. More difficult the commission to beentrusted to Jose--more dangerous too. But it was made known to him inless than twenty minutes after; receiving his ready assent to itsexecution--though it should cost him his life, as he said. One motivefor his agreeing to undergo the danger was devotion to his youngmistress; another to stand well with Pepita, who had a power over him,and as he knew had entered upon her part with an ardent alacrity. Butthere was a third stimulus to keep up his courage, should it feel likefailing--this having to do with the Condesa. Drawing out her grand goldwatch--good value for a hundred _dollores_, and holding it up before hiseyes, she said:
"That's your reward, Jose; that or its worth in money."
No need saying more. For the commission he was to execute muchpreparation was to be made,
in all haste too. And in all haste he setto making it--determined to win the watch.