CHAPTER XI.
Tu puoi pensar, se'l padre addolorato Riman quand'accusar sente la figlia, Si perche ode di lei quel, che pensato Mai non avrebbe, e n'ha gran maraviglia.
_Ariosto._
Ben se'crudel, se tu gia non ti duoli Pensando cio ch'al mio cor s'annunziava: E se non piangi di che pianger suoli?
_Dante._
Whilst the unhappy father was absorbed in his recent misfortune, andendeavouring to beguile the tedious hours, by directing researches inall quarters of the town, where there was any possibility of hisdaughter having taken refuge, he was surprised with a visit from GomezArias.
"Pardon my intrusion, Senor," he said with much courtesy; "my anxietyfor the fate of an honorable gentleman, though a rival, will perhapshold me excused in the eyes of Don Manuel de Monteblanco."
"Sir," returned Don Manuel, "your visits do much honor to my humbledwelling, and stand in no need of an apology."
After the long vocabulary of compliments had been exhausted, Gomez Ariasreverted to the adventure in the _Zaguan_, and with apparent anxietydemanded news of Don Rodrigo.
"I have none, Senor," said Monteblanco; "and alas! I am not likely tofeel much concerned for the inconvenience of another, at a time when Iam myself plunged in deep affliction."
"Perhaps," resumed Gomez Arias, "it may not be altogether right in astranger to pry into the secret motives of your sorrows; but if I can byany means in my power alleviate them, I should esteem myselfparticularly honored in meriting your confidence. I but now perceivedsigns of alarm in the countenances of your servants, apparently notwithout foundation, and it grieves my very soul to see so honorable apersonage in distress. What has happened, noble Senor?"
"Alas! My child--my child!" cried the afflicted father.
"She is not ill?" inquired Don Lope.
"Oh! worse!--worse," replied Don Manuel with emotion.
"Ah!" exclaimed Gomez Arias, feigning surprise. "What?--no--it is notpossible--and yet it may be so."
"Eh?" cried Monteblanco, in an inquiring tone of voice, and opening widehis eyes in the eagerness of anticipation.
"My valet," continued Don Lope, "brought me information that there was arumour circulating about the town, relating to the elopement of a noblelady. As I am a perfect stranger in the place, I felt no curiosity toinquire further into the affair, but I could not then imagine that you,Sir, were the victim of this misfortune."
"Alas! Don Lope! it is but too true!"
Gomez Arias had learnt so well the part he had to perform, that he foundnot the slightest difficulty in going through it with the most perfectease, and by this means he insensibly won the confidence of the deludedDon Manuel, who, like many others under similar circumstances, felt arelief in confiding his sorrows to one, who appeared to sympathise withhim so sincerely.
"For surely," continued Don Lope, "some one must have been acquaintedwith this flight. Have you well examined your servants? Depend upon it,Senor, they are generally the instruments and abettors in the rebellionof children against their parents."
"You are right, my honored Sir," replied Don Manuel. "Servants are thesworn enemies of those who give them bread; but though I am disposed tosuspect every one of my dependants of being accessary to this treason, Iam yet at a loss on whom to fix my suspicions with justice. I amassured, however, that the duenna must have had an active part inconducting this abominable transaction."
"The duenna!" exclaimed Gomez Arias, darting a look full of wonder andwell feigned surprise--"The duenna! By my sword, that must be ourclue--I had almost forgotten that you had a duenna in your house,otherwise my astonishment would not have been so lively. Duennas are thesoul of every intrigue, and you may indeed affirm, with a safeconscience, that yours has not only connived at, but even facilitatedyour daughter's escape."
"Of that, alas! I am but too confident," replied the father,"notwithstanding her solemn asseverations and canting hypocrisy."
"Ah! the cunning beldame," quoth Don Lope sarcastically. "She has allthe arts of her kind, I perceive; but I hope, Senor Don Manuel, that youare not to be imposed upon by such shallow artifices. We must secure theduenna, and examine her well; perchance a few threats will not bealtogether unavailing."
"That is precisely the method I have adopted," said Don Manuel.
"And where is the old hag, now?" inquired Don Lope.
"Packing up her trumpery, to depart for the convent."
"Pedro"--then called Don Manuel.
"Your pleasure?" demanded the valet, as he entered.
"Send Martha to me."
Pedro obeyed, but shortly after returned with a most dismal andelongated visage.
"Well, what is the old dotard staring at?" impatiently cried his master.
"Senor, Martha is flown," replied the dependant.
"Flown!" re-echoed Monteblanco, in consternation; "Flown! And how cameyou not to prevent her departure?"
"Save your honor," returned the terrified Pedro, "we all thought she wasquietly shut up in her chamber. She has contrived to escape, the Lordonly knows how--she must have vanished through the chimney, or a keyhole, like a witch that she is, _Jesus me valga_!"
"That she is a witch I am fully aware, and you are all her familiars,"cried Don Manuel with violence. "But you shall rue the moment the hagfoiled your vigilance."
Gomez Arias, who had observed a perfect silence, now ventured toremark--
"We need go no further for a positive proof of the duenna's culpability,since her guilt is rendered sufficiently evident by her flight."
"Yes," observed Don Manuel, "but that circumstance affords me littleconsolation. The means of ascertaining the truth are now lost, by thedisappearance of the principal accomplice."
The afflicted old man again gave way to his exasperated feelings; thislast stroke quite overpowered him. His pride was sorely wounded, for hewas one of those old Spanish cavaliers, who, when deprived of everyother satisfaction, took a melancholy pleasure in inflicting hisvengeance on the object of his wrath. But even this solitary consolationwas now denied him, and the idea that he had been so grossly imposedupon by an old beldame, added to the galling reflections which hismisfortune had inflicted.
Gomez Arias exerted his utmost endeavours to sooth his emotion,employing for this purpose all the established maxims resorted to undersimilar circumstances--maxims profoundly wise no doubt, but whichunluckily are often lost upon their object.
"In order then," said Gomez Arias, "to unravel this mystery, it is ofthe first importance to set about the inquiry from the commencement, inorder to discover the authors. We have now the agent of this nefariousenterprise, but we must seek for the actual culprit. There can be nodoubt that when a young girl is induced to elope from her home, there isgenerally a lover who prompts her to so objectionable a measure. Now,Don Manuel, is there no person on whom suspicion may attach with anyprobability?"
Monteblanco pondered for a while, and then replied--"Really, Don Lope,if there exists such a man, I am totally unacquainted with his person."
"What, are you unable to hazard even a conjecture?"
"I am, Don Lope," sorrowfully answered the father.
"Indeed! this is surprising;--look, Senor, around the circle of youracquaintance, and perchance you may find a clue to guide yourinvestigation."
Don Manuel mechanically looked around, and then shook his headdespondingly.
"I would not willingly," continued Gomez Arias, "throw an aspersion onthe reputation of any one, but what are we to surmise from the visit ofDon Rodrigo de Cespedes? Certainly, there was something unaccountable inhis chivalric expedition against me. Besides, why require the assistanceof an aged cavalier, when he might have commanded that of more suitableagents for that description of undertaking?"
Gomez Arias met with no great difficulty in deceiving the man he hadinjured; for one under Don Manuel's distressing situation, is of allothers the most easy to be imposed upon. His ow
n wounded feelings, insome measure, paved the way to the deception;--as a man who has lost hispurse, is apt to throw the charge on the very first individual whounfortunately happens to attract his notice.
"In addition to this," proceeded Gomez Arias, "we may remark the visiblealarm which was stamped on the countenance of the young lady, when ourquarrel took place--her anxiety to bring the light--the shriek sheuttered on imagining that my antagonist had fallen;--these, Don Manuel,are strong indications, which may have escaped your observation inmoments of anger and grief, but which to a cooler judgment amount almostto certainty. However, it is not my intention to prejudice your mindagainst Don Rodrigo; my only desire is to warn you."
By such subtle means, Gomez Arias confirmed Monteblanco's suspicions;for when once started, nothing tends more powerfully to strengthen themthan a sort of recantation in their author. Accordingly, Don Manuelfelt almost convinced of the treachery of his friend. Certainly therewas ample room to doubt the justice of such an imputation, if he hadchosen to reflect coolly on the subject; but in cases like the present,the best reasons are unfortunately most unceremoniously set aside.
Thus Don Manuel was at once deceiving himself, and casting a reflectionon the character of a man who had not the remotest connection with theevent, and whose integrity in this instance could still less beimpeached than in the case of his having feloniously taken the old muleof the friar, instead of his own beautiful horse, for the purpose ofgaining by the exchange.
Monteblanco, after a moment's thought, suddenly grasping the hand ofGomez Arias--"I owe you much, Don Lope," he said, "and I pray you to beconvinced of the sincerity of my gratitude."
"Nay, honored Sir," replied Gomez Arias, "you labour under adelusion--you owe me nothing--at least you owe me no favor, and Isolemnly disclaim any title to your acknowledgments."
Many and reciprocal were the compliments that passed from this timebetween the two cavaliers; they mutually offered their services to eachother, and Don Lope very prudently afforded to his new friend all theinstructions which might tend to render abortive the pursuit andrecovery of the fugitive. Shortly after he took leave of the unfortunatecavalier, who was even troublesome in the expression of his gratitude,and whose hopes now began to assume a brighter hue.