CHAPTER XII.
Cielos en que ha se parar Tan dificultosa empresa?
_Lope de Vega._
Quoi! tant de perfidie avec tant de courage? De crimes, de vertus, quel horrible assemblage!
_Voltaire._
After the defeat of his companions at Alhacen, and the totalannihilation of their hopes and resources in that quarter, Bermudo therenegade had prudently fled to Granada. He knew he should be in greatersecurity in that city, from the mixed intercourse of Moors andChristians, than by continuing in the wandering habits of a mountainlife, now circumvented with numberless dangers from the active searcheswhich the Christians were making to destroy every rebel that might besurprised lurking in suspicious places. The same course had been pursuedby a considerable number of the dispersed Moors, whilst others, lessenterprising or more cautious, had concealed themselves in obscurecaverns and hiding places.
The renegade was one of the first that had arrived at Granada; andprudently mingling with the crowd of joyous Christians, feigned to beexceedingly interested in the solemnity of the day, when his attentionwas forcibly attracted by the appearance of a cavalcade in which herecognized an object already familiar to his sight. Great as hissurprise was, he could not entertain a doubt that it was Theodoraherself, Caneri's fair captive, who now unexpectedly struck his view. Animpulse of curiosity induced him to follow her, until he perceived thatshe was safely lodged in the mansion of Aguilar. From that instant,Bermudo had unremittingly devoted his time to investigating thisoccurrence. He learnt with pleasure that his hated foe was still alive.Nay, he had actually seen him; and, fervently bent on prosecuting everyscheme that might hold out a probability of forwarding his views ofvengeance, he had succeeded in his first inquiries to the full extent ofhis wishes. He had learnt the approaching wedding of Gomez Arias, and,remembering the circumstance of Theodora's lamentations and despair onthe supposed death of that individual, he naturally concluded that therewas some mystery, which, if discovered, might be easily converted to hisown advantage.
He had therefore artfully sought an acquaintance with Roque, theacknowledged servant of Gomez Arias, and partly by insidious questions,and partly by his own penetration, he had drawn the conclusion thatTheodora was the forsaken mistress of Gomez Arias, brought by chance tothe very scene of his expectations, and who, if apprised of her lover'streachery, would afford a powerful obstacle to his views. The renegadetherefore seized the favorable opportunity which presented itself, toaccomplish the ruin of his hated foe, and determined to neglect nomeans of accomplishing the revenge which had been his solitary pursuitfor many years. But his plan of operations was as deep and intricate asthe motive that directed him was dark and diabolical. Finding that Roqueabsolutely refused to open his proposal to his master, he resolved tobreak the matter to him in person, and with this intention had proceededto the public walks, as already mentioned. His artful and wily behavour,assisted by the distracting position of Don Lope's affairs, had betrayedthe latter into that snare which the renegade had so cunningly devised,and which, if followed up with success, would lead the unwary GomezArias towards a labyrinth, in the mazes of which his destruction mightbe easily completed.
Thus Bermudo could not conceal his inward satisfaction when he foundhimself possessed of the ring of Gomez Arias--a ring which he wellrecollected had been the gift of Queen Isabella,--a precious gage,which, in the process of his fiendish machinations, might contributematerially to their successful termination. While on the one hand therenegade was thus awaiting with anxiety the result of every move in hisdiabolical game, and Don Lope on the other was congratulating himselfupon the speedy close of his heartless compact, the lovely butunfortunate subject of both speculations was happy in comparativetranquillity at the palace of her preserver.
In perfect obedience to the urgent and repeated injunctions of herlover, Theodora kept herself in seclusion in her apartment. Implicitlyconfiding in the promises and vows of Don Lope, and fondly indulging indreams of future bliss, she nevertheless felt a degree of disquietude,natural to the high excitement into which her feelings had been thrown.The morning came--the morning of that eventful day, and the commotionwhich prevailed throughout the palace, failed not to interest Theodora,although the cause admitted of various interpretations. Now she fondlyimagined that Gomez Arias had already sought an interview with Aguilar,and made the necessary disclosures; and then again she shuddered at theidea that the fond wishes in which she had indulged might never berealized.
This state of anxiety and suspense was fortunately interrupted byLisarda, who burst abruptly into the room with looks of visible alarm.She turned about without ceremony, and before Theodora could collect herthoughts to inquire into the reason of this perturbation--
"_Santos Cielos!_" she exclaimed, "here are fine doings! that it shouldcome to this! fye--shame! precisely at the very moment that---- well,before I would consent to be treated in this manner, I'd suffer my eyesto be plucked out, and my tongue torn from the very root. After so muchpreparation! Lord! Lord! to disappoint a whole family and throw so manyhonorable people into confusion!"
Here the good Lisarda was compelled to take breath, of which Theodoramost opportunely availed herself to inquire into the cause of thedisturbance.
"Now, gentle Lisarda," she said "tell me what has happened? No disasterto the family; I hope?"
"Alas!" screamed out Lisarda, perfectly recovered from her exhaustion,"your hopes, lady, unhappily, cannot prevent the disaster, for truly amost terrible disaster it is,--fraud and insolence, and most abominableperjury is in the case, I am sure. Yes, the family has been treated thismorning with the most untimely and vexatious incivility. Such a breachof delicacy and decorum never did I witness before. _Virgen Santa!_ howwill this end? The Lord knows that I, for my part, never felt tranquilon the score of the gallant.--No, no; I always said Don Rodrigo for mymoney--but that is neither here nor there; the evil is done, and we muststand the results. Really it is provoking--such a beautiful dress I hadprepared, and now to defer the ceremony!"
"Defer what ceremony?" eagerly inquired Theodora.
"The wedding to be sure," responded Lisarda. "What, did I not tell youbefore?"
"In sooth you did not."
"Really? God defend us! I am a most thoughtless silly girl, that iscertain. Why, my good lady, what should be deferred but the wedding?"
"And that is the misfortune, then, which has occasioned such uncommonsigns of regret?" demanded Theodora, scarcely able to conceal her inwardsatisfaction.
"To be sure, lady; and by my troth, it strikes me that the subject iswell worthy the mortification it has caused us all. Good heavens! hadthe accident happened to you, my sweet lady, perchance you might not beinclined to endure it so philosophically. But the Lord save me! if youdo not appear to rejoice in this calamity!"
"Rejoice! heavens! what do you mean?" cried Theodora, blushing deeply,and striving to conceal her emotion. "What can induce you to suppose Icould have so perverse a disposition, as to rejoice at an event that isevidently annoying and distressing to my kind and generous benefactor?"
"Dear lady, take not amiss my observation, but as sure as I am aChristian, and hope for salvation, you are much altered for the bettersince yesterday."
Having communicated the news of the palace to her fair charge, the goodLisarda bustled away to learn further particulars. Theodora soon afterreceived a visit from the noble Don Alonso, on whose countenance werestrongly depicted the signs of displeasure. Theodora easily divined thecause, and though she rejoiced in the termination of an event, in whichher happiness was so deeply interested, she could not suppress asensation of generous pity, at the idea that she was the immediate,though innocent, cause of her benefactor's disappointment.
With the simplicity congenial to her nature, she more than once duringthis interview felt a strong desire to throw herself at the feet ofAguilar, and frankly to avow the whole of her melancholy tale; yet shewas r
estrained from following the genuine impulse of her heart, whenshe recollected her lover's absolute command. Thus, although herdelicacy and frankness were hurt at the duplicity she was compelled touse towards one by whom she had been rescued from the most appallingfate, she stifled the suggestions of sincerity, to observe implicitlythe wishes of a man who was even then planning her future misery andmisfortune. Nor was this the only trial that Theodora had to sustain.She had been obliged to resist the invitation of Aguilar, who repeatedlypressed her to make her appearance in the grand saloon, and she had themortification of suspecting, that an unfavorable construction was putupon her denial. They might attribute to female caprice, or a want ofproper feelings for a generous benefactor, that which in reality was themere effect of a sensitive mind and a devoted heart.
Theodora underwent all these trials with patient resignation, in thefond expectation of a speedy deliverance from her present irksomesituation. In this uninterrupted succession of doubt and fear she spentthe long and tedious day, and hailed with transport the arrival ofnight, which was now enveloping in her sable mantle the proud turretsand lofty buildings of Granada.