CHAPTER I.
Nul ne sut mieux que lui le grand art de seduire; Nul sur ses passions n'eut jamais plus d'empire, Et ne sut mieux cacher, sous des dehors trompeurs, Des plus vastes desseins les sombres profondeurs.
_Voltaire._
The pathetic and heart-rending lamentations of Theodora rung ominous inthe ears of Gomez Arias long after he had ceased to hear them; but as hedrew near Granada, and beheld its stately edifices, ambition againdazzled his imagination, and he welcomed the bright images which rosebefore his view to dispel the gloomy tendency of his present thoughts.The stately turrets of the Alhambra enlarging upon his sight, awakenedthe most flattering ideas in his ardent mind. Proud of the regard withwhich he was honored by his gracious sovereign, and truly estimating thehigh connexion he was about to form, he naturally anticipated the mostbrilliant and honorable career. The last lingering suggestion ofremorse, which told him of the cruelty and ingratitude by which he hadpaved the way to his advancement, now grew less powerful, andconscience, that terrible monitor of the human heart, hushed herenfeebled voice, bribed by the rich prize offered for future silence.
Don Lope secretly applauded the dexterity with which he had extricatedhimself from all his dilemmas, and rejoiced at having parted with Roque,who now could only be considered as a witness of his crime. By handinghim over to the custody of the Moors, he was safely rid of a troublesomeservant, whose frowardness in future he must have tolerated as thereward of secrecy. Besides, there was a further probability that theloquacious disposition and impertinent sallies of the valet, wouldultimately draw upon him the ill-humour of some sullen Moor, who, notinclined to relish his jests, might pay with a few inches of a poniardthe freedom of his tongue. With regard to Theodora, Don Lope couldentertain no fear of her escape, being under the guardianship of one whoappeared to be a captive to her charms. Meantime his wedding with Leonorwould be celebrated, all his views accomplished, and then if a decree ofwayward fate interfered with his flourishing honors, he would alreadyhave power to set aside the past, and to make his way clear for thefuture.
In this pleasing anticipation, Gomez Arias arrived at Granada, andawaited impatiently for the auspicious morning that was to terminate hisfears, and crown his fondest desires. Early in the morning, therefore,he flew to the mansion of the Aguilars without changing his dress, andbearing in his appearance all the hurry and derangement of a hastyjourney. He found Don Alonso in the apartment of Leonor; but the welcomehe received from the object of his attachment was certainly not givenwith the warmth of an affianced bride; nor did the countenance ofAguilar betoken any very friendly reception. Don Lope felt thiscoldness, but he perceived the urgency of sustaining his equality ofcharacter, whatever might be the nature of the peril with which he wasthreatened. Affecting, therefore, not to notice the unsocial cast oftheir meeting, in a gay and lively tone addressed himself to Leonor--
"My dear Leonor," he said, "in my impatience to greet you, I may appearguilty of a little indecorum," looking upon his dress; "but you will,perhaps, on that plea pardon my presenting myself before you in a mannerso irregular."
"Oh, Don Lope," answered Leonor with a sarcastic smile, "I can forgiveyou any thing, for my nature has become of late so indulgent, that Ifind I could pardon offences much graver than a mere breach of manners."
"Your goodness I never doubted," replied Gomez Arias; "but methinks youlook rather uneasy; surely you are not indisposed?--the noble DonAlonso too! Nay, has any thing occurred during my short absence to causeyour disquietude?"
"Certainly," returned Leonor coldly, "nothing has happened that _ought_to cause disquietude. But, surely, Don Lope," she added sarcastically,"your sudden departure, and the summons of our mutual friend Count deUrena, might have held us in some little anxiety. Moreover, other smallcircumstances have contributed to cause a transient uneasiness."
"But you must not," interposed Don Lope, "suffer yourselves to bediscomposed on account of our friend Urena, for I am happy to say he wasconsiderably better when I left him."
"Then," cried Aguilar, "it is as I suspected."
And rising from his seat with an expression of dark displeasure, withoutfurther ceremony he quitted the apartment. Gomez Arias was struck atsuch strange behaviour; but soon recovering his surprise,--
"What means this, Leonor?" he said in an angry tone: "Why am I treatedthus?"
"Don Lope," returned Leonor, "surely the malady of your friend hassomewhat affected your understanding. We can have no right to interferewith the actions of my father, particularly as I have already told yousome accidents have occurred lately to ruffle his temper."
"And what accidents are those, in the name of heaven?"
"Are you really, then, so ignorant of the events which have taken placesince you were imperiously summoned to attend your friend?"
"Perfectly ignorant," replied Don Lope.
Leonor looked steadily in his face, and making a sign of impatiencewhich she was unable to restrain, proceeded--
"It is surprising that the Count has not informed you."
"Of what?" interrupted Gomez Arias, astonished. "In the name of heaven,explain yourself, Leonor."
"Now, do you not think," continued she, in an affected banter, "it washighly ridiculous in a man of so grave a deportment as the Count to playsuch boyish tricks? Can you really believe that, shortly after yourdeparture, a message came from him, to announce his intention ofsurprising you by his attendance at your wedding."
"Certainly," replied Gomez Arias with visible marks of emotion, "theCount's conduct is strange; what his intention has been I really cannotconceive: but at all events, it ought in no manner to entail on me yournoble father's displeasure."
"Why, Don Lope," said Leonor significantly, "you are not such a novicein knowledge of the world, as to expect that a man's displeasure shouldbe strictly confined to the object by which it has been caused. Besides,Don Alonzo has other reasons: our fair guest, who was so sacredlybeholden to him, is gone."
"What fair guest?" demanded Gomez Arias, with feigned curiosity.
"Did you never hear me speak of her?"
"If I did, I really do not remember."
"And what is become of Roque?" abruptly demanded Leonor: "he did notattend you upon your departure yesterday, and search has been made afterhim without effect. Is he ill?"
"Why, to say the truth, his health is rather precarious," answered DonLope, "and he has so repeatedly been entreating me to allow him toretire to Toledo, where I believe he has a brother or sister, that I wasat length obliged to consent to his wishes; which, in sooth, I did themore willingly, as he was growing of late so careless and impertinent,that his attendance became more troublesome than serviceable to me."
"Why, Don Lope," returned Leonor, "you must have been strangelysurprised that he should wish to quit your service precisely on the eveof your wedding day. Moreover, you will be still more amazed when Iinform you that it was this identical Roque that eloped with our guestTheodora de Monteblanco."
"Impossible!" exclaimed Don Lope, affecting to be thunderstruck.
"Repollo, our old gardener," continued Leonor, "saw them leave thepalace, and instigated by a feeling of curiosity, followed them at adistance, as well as the speed of their pace would permit. He saw themat length halt at the public walks, where another person awaited withhorses. But this is the most extraordinary part of the tale, for thegardener said that the person who was so complaisantly attending uponthe fugitives, appeared so exactly to resemble you, Don Lope, that hewould swear to the identity, were he not certain that you set out in themorning for the seat of Count de Urena."
Great as was at all times Don Lope's presence of mind, and prepared ashe seemed for all contingencies, this last intelligence somewhatderanged his composure; a circumstance which did not escape the keen andscrutinizing eyes of Leonor.
"The insolent rascal," cried Gomez Arias after a pause: "It was for thisthen that he appeared so anxious to quit my service; but I t
old you thathis behaviour had become of late most impertinent, and even arrogant.The reason is now plainly discovered. But after all, your fair guest, asyou are pleased to call the lady-love of this unseemly knight, is mostto blame. What, in the name of Lucifer, could possess a woman of noblefamily to elope with a base menial? Was she devoid of all shame?
"I suppose so," replied Leonor: then, in an expressive tone, she added,"But shame has been completely set aside in all the turnings of thisiniquitous affair."
She fixed a significant look on Gomez Arias, whilst the astoundedcavalier, aware of the perilous nature of his situation, merely assentedto the truth of her observation. Leonor, eager to pursue her clue inascertaining how far Don Lope was implicated in the transaction,continued,--
"But is it not surprising, Don Lope, that this groom of Roque should inevery respect so much resemble you?"
"My dear Leonor," replied Gomez Arias, laughing loudly, and affectinggood humour, "it is certainly a sad misfortune to have sounprepossessing a likeness, but we must submit with a good grace to thatwhich is out of our power to remedy. But I dare say the rascally groomis not after all so perfect a resemblance of your devoted admirer as thebesotted gardener would make us believe; how could the old dotarddistinguish objects so well, at the distance he confesses, and at night?It would seem more probable, by his prowling abroad at such an hour,that a free potation of wine had so far acted upon his senses, that hesaw the marvellous story he has related, in a reverie whilst sleepingunder the friendly shelter of a ditch."
"Nay, Sir," replied Leonor, "we have no reason to doubt the testimony ofan honest and faithful servant, who has no interest in the invention ofa tale to deceive his benefactor."
"Well," returned Gomez Arias, "I will prolong the discussion no furtherthan to express my concern that you should bestow your affections on onewho has the ill-fortune to resemble a vulgar groom. But I hope thiscircumstance will not abate the tender regard with which you havecondescended to honour one who lives but in your smiles."
Here Gomez Arias attempted to pour forth the most ardent protestationsof unalterable attachment; but he was shortly interrupted by Leonor,--
"Nay, Don Lope," she cried, "spare yourself the trouble of uttering asingle word more, either to convince me of the sincerity of your love,or in extenuation of your conduct, for I can very well imaginebefore-hand what you would say."
"That is no miracle," replied Gomez Arias, "your discernment is not toohardly taxed to perceive the emotion which I scarcely wish to conceal,and must of necessity easily imagine the expressions that such feelingsmust dictate. But pardon, if in a day like the present, my passionoversteps the bounds of common love; for the delirium of bliss thatpossesses me cannot be manifested by the usual demonstrations ofcold-hearted mortals. A day that unites me to the most exalted, as wellas the most lovely, of her sex, is surely--"
"Hold, Don Lope," gravely interrupted Leonor; "I will not now dwell uponthe respective merits of your passion--for I have a favor to ask, and itis your time to grant a request which, perchance, may sound strangely toyour ear."
"I need not say that the wishes of my charming Leonor can meet with noopposition from me," politely answered Gomez Arias.
"Yesterday," continued Leonor, "notwithstanding the fervour of yourlove, you requested that the wedding should be deferred one day. Now,you cannot deny me a similar favor, and I have particular reasons fordesiring that it may be further postponed for a month."
"Heavens! what say you? A month! a whole month!"
"Yes, Sir," cried Leonor with emotion, "a month--a year, ifcircumstances require a further delay--'tis alike indifferent to me."
Saying this she abruptly left the apartment, leaving Gomez Arias inindescribable consternation.
"I am ruined!" he cried after a pause: "the forced indifference whichLeonor has imposed upon herself during this interview, and the burst offeeling that marked her departure, leave me no room to doubt that hersuspicions are excited. But shall I tamely submit to this reverse offortune, after the many and cruel measures I have been impelled to adoptfor the success of my designs? No, by heaven! I will not."
He then remained sometime buried in a musing attitude, balancing in hismind the most prudent course to pursue in so difficult a situation.
"Boldness and indifference," he said at length, "alone can insuresafety. From Theodora and Roque, I have nothing to apprehend. I willforthwith send instructions to Count de Urena; nay, I will partiallyopen my heart to him, since his co-operation is now become indispensableto the furtherance of my plans."
After this, Gomez Arias sought another interview with Leonor, and with aproud and offended demeanor, informed her that he was perfectly willingto concede her request. Then, without waiting for an answer, he abruptlyleft her presence. He next repaired to Aguilar, and bitterly complainedof the material change he had observed in him as well as in his daughterLeonor.
"If," he added, "you have reasons to impeach my integrity, speak aloud,Don Alonso, and give me an opportunity of removing the foul slander. Butif it is a caprice, or a late repentance in her choice, that inducesyour daughter to adopt this strange behaviour, let her speakfrankly--Gomez Arias is above the thought of constraining a woman'sinclinations--and she shall be at once released from all engagements."
Don Alonso de Aguilar was struck with the generosity and manliness ofGomez Arias, and gave credit to the apparent sincerity of his words.The noble mind of Don Alonso could not conceive it possible that guiltshould assume so perfect a resemblance of candour. The disappearance ofTheodora, and the events which had attended her departure, werecertainly well calculated to awake a suspicion that Gomez Arias wasimplicated in that affair; but as nothing positive could be adduced toprove his participation, Aguilar did not feel inclined to proceed withinconsiderate hastiness in an affair calculated materially to injureGomez Arias in the estimation of the world. Leonor was naturally moreirritated than her father at the least shadow of duplicity in theconduct of her lover. Thus she had requested the wedding to be deferredfor a month, during which interval a proper investigation might be made.
Gomez Arias did not lose time in calling all his abilities intorequisition, for his case was desperate, and it was necessary that theremedies should partake of the same character. He continued his visitsto the Aguilars, but not with the same confidence as heretofore; and ashe witnessed the high degree of esteem in which Don Antonio de Leyva washeld, both by Don Alonso and his daughter, he affected to look on Leonorwith offended pride, while he bitterly insinuated that it was a growingattachment for young de Leyva that had induced her to consider withsuspicion, and treat with coldness, the conduct of a sincere lover.
Leonor, however, continued in the same frame of mind, insensible aliketo his expostulations and bitter sarcasms. Deeply had her pride beenoffended, and deeply she had determined to resent the affront; nor couldher sagacity and penetration permit her incautiously to trust the softwords and blandishments of a man whose notoriety in gallantry, she beganto suspect, did not originate in idle rumour.
Meanwhile the irritated Don Lope spared no efforts to place his ownconduct in a favorable light, and endeavoured to cast the imputation ofcaprice on that of the Aguilars. He complained constantly in terms ofacrimony of the ungrateful manner in which his affection had beenrequited, and vowed vengeance against de Leyva, whom he accused of mostcriminal and ungentlemanly duplicity.
Contending feelings kept him in a continual turmoil, and he earnestlywished for an opportunity that might divert both the court and himselffrom a subject of which he was so disagreeably the hero.
Fortune again favoured his desires, by bringing about an event asterrible as it was altogether unexpected.