CHAPTER XV.
THE INTERVIEW.
Owing to their disguise, but, above all, the interest everybody took inthe cockfight, the Frenchmen succeeded in leaving the amphitheatre asthey had entered it; that is to say, without attracting any attention.When they reached a sort of dark passage leading to the interior of thehouse, Valentine stopped.
"Listen, to me, Louis," he said, gluing his mouth, as it were, to hisfriend's ear. "The moment has arrived for you to learn why I brought youhither."
"I am listening."
"Since I left you at the mission, as you may suppose, I have not beeninactive. I have gone about the country, have entered into relationswith all the richest and most respected inhabitants, and have succeededin making them comprehend how important it was for them to join andsupport you. The festival of La Magdalena offered us a favourableopportunity for meeting without attracting the attention of the MexicanGovernment, and arousing its apprehension. The only house in which alarge body of persons can meet without exciting notice is indubitablythat in which there is a cockpit. I therefore made an appointment herefor this moment with the malcontents, who are numerous. They are all menwho, by their fortunes or position, enjoy a high degree of considerationin the State which we wish to revolutionise, and possess greatinfluence. I will introduce you to them: they are awaiting your arrival.You will explain to them your intentions, and they will tell you on whatconditions they will consent to join you. Remember, however, brother,that you are dealing with Mexicans. Set no more confidence in theirwords or promises than they deserve. Be sure that success alone willgain them; that if you fail they will abandon you remorselessly, and beready to deliver you up if they fancy they can derive any advantage fromsuch an act of infamy. Now, if what I tell you does not suit you, youcan retire, and I will undertake to dismiss them without compromisingyou in any way."
"No!" the count answered resolutely, "it is too late now: to hesitate orrecoil would be cowardly. I must go on at all risks. Announce me to ournew friends."
"Come on, then."
They walked to the end of the passage, where a closed door checked theirprogress. Valentine tapped thrice at equal intervals with the hilt ofhis machete.
"Who is there?" a voice asked from inside.
"The man expected a long time, though you did not dare hope that hewould come," Valentine answered.
"He is welcome," the voice added.
At this moment the door opened, the two men entered, and it closedagain on them immediately. They then found themselves in a large roomwith whitewashed walls, and the floor of beaten earth. The furnitureconsisted of benches, on which were seated some fifty men, some of whomwore an ecclesiastical garb. Curtains of red serge placed before thewindows took off the glare, while at the same time preventing anyoneoutside seeing what was going on. On the entrance of the count andValentine, all rose and uncovered themselves respectfully.
"Caballeros," Valentine said, "according to my promise, I have thehonour to present to you the Count de Prebois Crance, who has consentedto accompany me in order to hear the propositions you have to make tohim."
All bowed ceremoniously to the count, and he returned their bows withthat grace and amenity peculiar to him. A man of a certain age, with anelegant and intelligent face, and dressed in the magnificent costume ofthe rich hacenderos, advanced and addressed the hunter.
"Pardon me, sir," he said with a slightly ironical accent, "I believeyou have made a small mistake."
"Be good enough to explain, Senor Don Anastasio," the hunter replied. "Ido not understand the words you have done me the honour to address tome."
"You said, sir, that the count had done us the honour of coming to hearthe propositions we had to make to him."
"Well, sir?"
"That is just where the mistake lies, Don Valentine."
"How so, Senor Anastasio?"
"It appears to me that we have no propositions to make to the count, butthat we, on the contrary, should listen to his."
A murmur of assent ran through the audience. Don Louis saw it was timeto interfere.
"Gentlemen," he said, bowing gracefully to the hacenderos, "will youallow me to have a frank explanation with you? I am convinced thatwhen I have done so any misunderstanding will be removed, and we shallcomprehend each other perfectly."
"Speak, speak, senor!" they said.
"Gentlemen," he went on, "will not here enter into any personal details.I will not tell you how or why I arrived at Guaymas--in what way theGovernment of Mexico, after breaking all the promises it made me, endedby declaring me an enemy of the country, placed me without the pale ofsociety, and carried its impudence so far as to treat me as a pirate,and set a price on my head, as if I were a bandit or wretched assassin;for that would cause the loss of precious moments, and be a gratuitousabuse of your patience, as you all know thoroughly what has occurred."
"Yes, senor conde," the hacendero who had already spoken interruptedhim, "we know the facts to which you allude: we deplore them, and blushfor the honour of our country."
"I thank you, gentlemen, for these marks, of sympathy: they are verysweet to me, as they prove that you are not mistaken as to my character.I will come to facts without further circumlocution."
"Hear, hear!" the audience murmured.
The count waited a few moments, and when silence was completely restoredhe continued:--
"Gentlemen, Sonora is the most fertile and richest country not only ofMexico, but of the whole universe. By its position at the extremityof the centre of the Confederation, from which it is divided by loftymountains and vast despoblados, Sonora is a country apart, destined,in a speedy future, to separate itself from the Mexican Confederation.Sonora is sufficient for itself. The other provinces supply it withnothing; on the contrary, Sonora supports and enriches them with thesurplus of its produce. But Sonora, owing to the system of oppressionunder which it groans, is, properly speaking, only a vast desert. Thegreater part of its territory is uncultivated, for the Government ofMexico, which knows so well how to squeeze it, and seize the productionsof its soil, and the gold and silver of its mines, is impotent toprotect it against the enemies that surround it--the Indios Bravos,whose incursions, annually becoming more insolent, threaten to groweven more so, unless a speedy remedy is applied, and the evil uprooted.I said, at the outset, that within a short period Sonora would beseparated from the Mexican Confederation. Let me explain myself. Thiswill happen inevitably, but in two different ways, according to theadvantage the inhabitants will derive from it. Sonora is menaced bypowerful enemies other than the Indians. These enemies are the NorthAmericans, those Wandering Jews of civilisation, whose axes you may hearfelling the trees of the last forests that separate you, and who willsoon invade and occupy your country, unless you take care; and it willbe impossible for you to offer the slightest resistance to this unjustconquest, for you have no support to expect from your Government, whichconsumes all its energies in the purposeless and universal contests ofthe cabecillas, who seize on the power in turn."
"Yes, yes," several persons exclaimed, "that is true; the count isright."
"This conquest with which you are menaced is imminent--it is inevitable;and then what will happen, gentlemen? What has happened wherever theYankees have succeeded in planting themselves. You will be absorbed bythem: your language, customs, even your religion, all will be submergedin this flood. See what has occurred in Texas, and shudder at thethought of what awaits you soon!"
A thrill of anger ran through the assembly at these words, of which eachrecognised the justice in his heart. The count went on:--
"You have a means to escape this frightful evil; it is in your hands--itdepends on you alone."
"Speak, speak!" was shouted on every side.
"Declare your independence loudly, frankly, and energetically. Separateyourselves boldly from Mexico, form the Sonorian Confederation, and callto your aid the French emigrants in California. They will not remaindeaf to your appeal: they will come to help you not only
in conquering,but also in maintaining your independence against your enemies withinand without. The Frenchmen whom you adopt will become your brothers:they have the same religion, almost the same habits as yourselves; ina word, you belong to the same race. You will easily understand eachother. They will erect an impassable barrier against North Americaninvasion, make the Indians respect your frontiers, and compel theMexicans to recognise the right you have proclaimed of being free."
"But," one of the company objected, "if we call the French to our aid,what will they ask of us in return?"
"The right of cultivating your lands which lie fallow," the countanswered energetically; "of bringing to you progress, the arts, andindustry; in one word, of peopling your deserts, enriching your towns,and civilising your villages: that is what the French will ask. Is ittoo much?"
"No, certainly, it is not," Don Anastasio said amid a murmur of assent.
"But," another objected, "who guarantees us that, when the momentarrives to settle our accounts with the colonists we have summonedto our aid, they will faithfully fulfil the promises they have madeus, and not insist, in their turn, on dictating laws to us, by takingadvantage of their number and strength?"
"I, caballeros, I, who in their name will treat with you, and assume theresponsibility of everything."
"Yes, the prospective of which you allow us a glimpse is seductive,caballero," Don Anastasio answered in the name of all. "We recognise thetruth of the facts you tell us. We know only too well how precariousour position is, and what great dangers menace us; but a scruple causesus to refrain at this moment. Have we the right to plunge our unhappycountry, already half ruined, in the horrors of a civil war, when inthis unfortunate land nothing is prepared for an energetic resistance?The Government of Mexico, so weak for good, is powerful for evil,and it will manage to find troops to reduce us if we revolt. GeneralGuerrero is an experienced officer--a cold and cruel man, who willrecoil before no extremity, however terrible its nature, to stifle inblood any attempt at insurrection. In a few days he has succeeded incollecting a powerful army to conquer us: each of your soldiers, in thecoming contest, will have to fight against ten. However brave the Frenchmay be, it is impossible for them to resist such an imposing force. Abattle lost, and all is over with you. Any armed opposition will becomeimpossible, and you will drag us down in your fall if we help you; andwe have the more to fear, because our position is not like yours. We aresons of the country: we have in it our families and fortunes. We have,therefore, everything to lose; while you, on the other hand, supposingyou are beaten, and your enterprise completely fails, have a means ofsafety we cannot employ, in flight. These considerations are serious.They oblige us to act with the greatest prudence, and reflect deeply,before determining to shake off the detested yoke of Mexico. Do notbelieve, caballero, that we speak thus through cowardice or weakness.No, it is solely through the fear of failure, and the loss, in theshipwreck, of the few shreds of liberty which, through policy, theyhave not yet dared to tear from us, and which they possibly only need apretext to assail."
"Gentlemen," the count answered, "I appreciate at their full value themotives you have been good enough to lay before me. Still, permit me toobserve that, however serious the objections may be you do me the honourof laying before me, we are not here to discuss them. The object of ourmeeting is an offensive and defensive alliance between yourselves andme, is it not?"
"Certainly," most of the audience exclaimed, surprised by the count'ssudden change of position, and led to speak, perhaps involuntarily, morehurriedly than they had intended.
"Well," the count continued, "let us not waste our time, like thosetradesmen who boast to each other about the quality of their wares. Letus go straight to our object, frankly, clearly, and like men of honour.Tell me, without any concealment, on what conditions you consent to forman alliance with me and give me your support, and the number of men Ican count on when the right moment arrives."
"That is the right way to speak, senor conde," Don Anastasio replied."Well, to a question so clearly asked, we will answer no less clearly.We do not doubt (Heaven forbid we should!) either the courage orstrategic skill of your soldiers: we know that the French are brave.Still your band is not large: up to the present it has no support, andonly possesses the patch of ground on which it is encamped. Establish asolid base of operations--seize, for instance, one of the three chiefcities of Sonora--then you will no longer be adventurers, but reallysoldiers; and we shall no longer fear to treat with you, because yourexpedition will have gained consistency--in one word, have becomeearnest."
"Very good, gentlemen; I understand you," the count answered coldly."And, in case I succeed in carrying one of the cities you mention, I cancount on you?"
"Body and soul."
"And how many men will you place at my disposal?"
"Six thousand in four days--the whole of Sonora in a week."
"You promise it?"
"We all swear it!" they exclaimed enthusiastically.
But this enthusiasm could not produce a flash or smile on the count'sface.
"Gentlemen," he said, "within a fortnight I give you the meeting inone of the three chief cities of Sonora; and then, as I shall haveaccomplished my obligations, I shall call on you to keep yours."
The Mexicans could not restrain a gesture of astonishment and admirationat these noble words. The count, though no longer young, was stillhandsome, and gifted with that fascination which improvises kingdoms.Each of his phrases left a memory. All present came in turn to presshis hand, and renew individually their protestations of devotion, afterwhich they left the room. The count and Valentine remained alone.
"Are you satisfied, brother?" the hunter asked him.
"Who could be strong enough to galvanise this people?" the countmuttered with a mournful shrug of his shoulders, and rather answeringhis own thoughts than the question his friend had addressed to him. Thetwo men went to fetch their zarapes. They found their escort where theyhad left it, and retired slowly through the crowd, who saluted them asthey passed with shouts of "_Vivan los Franceses!_"
"If I come to be shot some day," the count said bitterly, "they willonly have to alter one word."
Valentine sighed, but made no reply.