CHAPTER FORTY ONE.
ANXIOUS HOURS.
"See, Luisita! Yonder go soldiers!"
"Where?"
"Along the calzada of Nino Perdido--under the trees--by the thickclump--they're galloping!"
"_Santissima_, yes! I see them now. O Ysabel! if they overtake thecarriage! _Ay Dios_!"
"_Ay Dios_, indeed! It's to be hoped they won't, though. And I haveless fear of it now than ever. It must have gone that way, or thesoldiers wouldn't be there; and as it couldn't have stopped at the_garita_, it should now be a good distance on. Keep up your heart,_amiga mia_, as I do mine. They'll soon be safe, if they're not yet."
This exclamatory dialogue was carried on while the alarm bells werestill ringing, and the guns booming. The speakers were on the azotea ofDon Ignacio's house, up to which they had hastened soon as home--havingdismissed their escort below, and left orders for no visitors to beadmitted.
In the _mirador_, with opera-glasses to their eyes, they had beenscanning the roads which led south and south-west from the city. Onlyfor a few minutes, as they had but just got back, and as the carriagehaving already rounded the turning to Coyoacan, they saw but thepursuing soldiers. Those were the Hussars, with Santander at theirhead, though the ladies knew not that.
Fortified by the hopeful speech of the Condesa, the other responded toit with an added word of hope, and a prayer for the safe escape of thosethey were concerned about.
Then for a while both remained silent, with the lorgnettes to theireyes, following the movements of the soldiers along the road. Soonthese were out of sight, but their whereabouts could be told by thecloud of white dust which rose over the trees, gradually driftingfarther and farther off.
At length it too disappeared, settling down; and as the bells ceased toring, and the cannon to be fired, the city, with all around it, seemedrestored to its wonted tranquillity.
But not so the breasts of Luisa Valverde and Ysabel Almonte. Far fromtranquil they; instead, filled with anxiety, keen as ever. And now, asmuch on their own account as for those they had been aiding to escape.In their haste to effect this, they had taken no thought of what was tocome after. But it was now forced upon them. As they looked back onwhat they had themselves done--the part they had been playing, with allits details of action--apprehensions hitherto unfelt began to steal overthem, growing stronger the longer they dwelt upon them.
But what would be the upshot of all?
What if the carriage got overtaken with the fugitives in it, and besidethem those knives and pistols, to say nothing of the file? Agentleman's cloak too, with _mango_ and _serape_! Odd assortment ofarticles for ladies to take out on an airing! They had no fear of the_cochero_ betraying them; but this paraphernalia surely would, if itfell into the hands of the pursuers. They might expect investigation,anyhow; but these things, if produced, would bring about an exposureunavoidable.
No wonder at their soon becoming seriously alarmed, henceforth nervouslyagitated. And they had no one to take council with. Soon after theircoming home, Don Ignacio, seeing and hearing of what happened, hadsallied forth to make inquiries, and direct pursuit. Furious about hisfine carriage and horses carried off, he little dreamt that along withthem were his duelling pistols and blue broadcloth cloak.
Nor would it do to tell him of those matters, unless they made up theirminds to confess all, and fling themselves on his affection more thanhis mercy. Of course he was still in the dark about their doings--unsuspicious man--had not even been told who the _forzados_ were thathad taken away his equipage.
Closeted alone, for some time the alarmed ladies could not think of whatthey ought to do. They did not yield to despair, however; instead, kepton scheming and considering how they might meet the worst--if the worstcame.
But one way seemed plausible--even possible--that depending on DonIgnacio. If they could prevail on him to tell a falsehood, all might bewell. Only to say the carriage had been made ready for a journey to his_casa de campo_, whither he had intended to proceed that same evening,taking his daughter and the Condesa along with him. That would explainthe presence of the weapons; no uncommon thing--rather the rule--forcarriage travellers to take such with them, even going but outside thesuburbs of the city. For good reason, there being footpads and robberseverywhere. And the cloaks for protection against the night air!
In this way they groped about, as drowning people clutch at sticks andstraws, still without being able to get rid of their apprehensions.Even should Don Ignacio agree to the deception they thought of--hewould, no doubt, when made aware of their danger--it was questionablewhether it would serve them. For there was a file too--a small matter,but a most conspicuous link in the chain of circumstantial evidenceagainst them. They in the carriage would have been using it, beforebeing taken--if they should be taken. Finally, the worst of all, therelations known to exist between themselves and two of the menattempting escape.
A miserable time it was for them during the remainder of that afternoonand evening; a struggle amid doubts, fears, and conjectures. Nor didDon Ignacio's return home in any way relieve them. They were not yetprepared to surrender up their secret even to him. The time had notcome for that. As the hours passed, things began to look better, andthe suspense easier to bear. No report from the pursuers, which therewould or should have been, were the pursued taken.
Something better still, at length. Jose back home with the carriage andhorses, and nothing besides--no weapons nor spare wraps! All gone off,the tell-tale file along with them.
Pepita brought this intelligence in to the ladies, who longed to have aprivate interview with the _cochero_. But he had first to deliver histo Don Ignacio, who had sallied out into the stables to receive it.
A strange tale it was, imparted to an angry listener, who, whilelistening, looked upon his costly harness, patched and mended withropes, where it had been cut. His fine _frisones_ too, abused, possiblyinjured for good, the ear of one of them well-nigh severed from thehead! Slow to wrath though he was, this was enough to make himwrathful, without the further knowledge of his other losses, about whichJose took care _not_ to enlighten him.
At a later hour the circumspect _cochero_ told his tale to other ears interms somewhat different, and with incidents. His master, summoned tothe Palace, gave the opportunity so much desired by his young mistressand the Condesa for speaking with him; and he was soon in theirpresence, getting interrogated with a volubility which made sober replyalmost impossible.
His questioners, however, after a time calming down, listened to hisnarration in a detailed form, though not without repeated interruptions.He told them about the slow driving of the carriage along the gardenwall of San Francisco, the putting on the disguises, and how cleverlythey had outwitted the guard at the _garita_.
"Like Ruperto!" at this juncture exclaimed the Countess.
Then, of their onward course along the _calzada_, horses in a gallop,till stopped on the Coyoacan road, with the action taken there--quick asit was varied and strange.
Donna Luisa, in her turn, here interrupted in triumphant exclamation--
"Like Florencio!"
In fine, when made known to them how the fugitives had mounted andridden off, both cried out together, in terms almost the same--
"Thanks to the Virgin, blessed Mother of God! We now know they aresafe."
Their confidence was strengthened by further questioning, for thetrusted _cochero_ was able to tell them more. How his horses had beencaught, and brought back to him by two Hussars, one of whom he chancedto have a speaking acquaintance with. From the soldier he had learntall about the pursuit, after it had passed beyond him; how they hadsearched the _chapparal_, but fruitlessly; the latest reports being thatthe _escapados_ had got into the Pedregal.
That was enough for the Countess, who, springing to her feet andclapping her hands, cried out--
"Joy, Luisita! They're safe, I'm sure. Ruperto knows the Pedregal,every path through it, as well as we the walks
of the Alameda. I shallsleep this night better than the last, and you may do the same."
So assured, Luisa Valverde, devout as was her wont, responded with aphrase of thanksgiving, arms crossed over her bosom, eyes turned to thepicture of Santa Guadalupe on the wall.
Jose stood waiting, not for any reward. Recompense for the service hehad done them--so modestly declaring it--was not in his thoughts at thatmoment, though it might be after. But the Condesa was thinking of itthen. Sure to promise and contract, she said to him--
"Faithful fellow--courageous as faithful--take this; you've fairlyearned it."
Whilst speaking, she drew the jewelled watch from her waist, and,passing the chain over her head, held it out to him.
"And this too!" added the Donna Luisa, plucking a diamond ring from oneof her fingers, and presenting it at the same time.
"No!" protested the faithful servitor. "Neither the one nor the other.Enough reward to me to know I've done your ladyship a service--if Ihave."
"But, good Jose," urged the Countess, "you must either take my watch orthe worth of it in gold _doblones_! That was the understanding, and Ishall insist on your adhering to it."
"_Muy bein, Condesa_; I consent to that. But only on the condition thatthe gentlemen get safe off. Till we're sure of that, I beg yourladyship won't look upon me as a creditor."
"If her ladyship should," here put in a third personage of the sexfeminine, who had just entered upon the scene, "if she should, I'll paythe debt myself. I pay it now--there!"
It was Pepita who thus delivered herself, as she did so boundingforward, flinging her arms around his neck, and giving him a sonorouskiss upon the cheek! Then, as she released her lips after the smack,adding--
"I've given you that, _hombre_, for what? Why nothing more than doingyour duty. Ha, ha, ha!"
The laughter neither disconcerted nor vexed him. It was not scornful,while the kiss had been very sweet. Long-coveted, but hithertowithheld, he looked upon it as an earnest of many others to follow, witha reward he would more value than all the watches and rings in Mexico--the possession of Pepita herself.