CHAPTER XII.
THE SPY.
When the young lady was delivered, the four men set off as fast as theycould go, with regard to her ease. In ten minutes they were out of thecity, and with the change of the road their speed was increased. Theroute they took was that which leads to Talca.
"Eh, eh!" Valentine said, laughing, to his foster brother; "we seem tobe playing at prisoners' bars. We enter the city by one gate, to leaveit immediately by another. We shall not have an opportunity of seeingthe capital of Chili this time."
With the exception of these few words, to which Louis only replied by acareless shrug of the shoulders, no other conversation took place duringthe hour which their rapid journey lasted. By the pale light of the moonthe trees on each side of the road seemed to defile like a legion ofmelancholy phantoms. Ere long the white walls of a _chacra_ (large farm)stood out upon the horizon.
"Here we are," said Don Gregorio, pointing with his finger.
They reached the house in a few minutes. The gate was open, but aman was standing evidently on the watch. The fugitives dashed like ahurricane into the _patio_, and the gates were immediately closed behindthem.
"What has happened, Tio Pepito?" Don Gregorio asked, before he was quiteoff his horse, of the man who appeared to have expected him.
"Nothing, _mi amo_" (my master), "nothing of consequence," replied TioPepito, a little thick-set man, with a round face, lit up by two greyeyes, sparkling with cunning.
"Have not the persons I expected arrived?"
"Pardon me, _mi amo_. They have been at the _chacra_ more than anhour. They say they must begone immediately; they are waiting for youimpatiently."
"That's well. Announce my arrival to them, and tell them I shall be attheir service in two or three minutes."
The mayoral, for this man was the major-domo of the _chacra_, enteredthe house without reply. Don Tadeo also, who seemed to know perfectlywell where he was, disappeared, bearing the young girl in his arms. Thetwo Frenchmen were left alone with the chacrero, who advanced towardsthem.
"Now that you are, as we suppose, for the present at least, in safety,sir," said Valentine, "we have only to take our leave of you."
"Not so!" Don Gregorio exclaimed; "it must not be so. _Diable_! as youFrenchmen say," he added, smiling; "chance does not so often procureus such friends as you, to allow us to part with you thus when we havemet you. You will remain here, if you please. Our acquaintance must notterminate so."
"If our continuing here can be of any service to you," Louis replied,courteously, "we are at your command."
"Thank you," he said, in a slightly agitated voice, and pressing theirhands warmly; "I shall never forget that I owe to you the lives ofmyself and my friend. In what way can I be of service to you?"
"Well," Valentine said, laughing, "in every way, and no way, as it mayhappen, caballero."
"Explain yourself," Don Gregorio replied.
"_Dame!_ it is clear enough; we are strangers in this country."
"When did you arrive?" the Chilian said, examining them attentively.
"Faith! very recently. You are the first persons we have spoken to."
"That is well," Gregorio said, slowly. "I told you that I was at yourservice, did I not?"
"Yes, and we sincerely thank you; although we hope never to haveoccasion to remind you of this obliging offer."
"I perfectly appreciate your delicacy; but a service like the one youhave rendered me and my friend is an eternal bond. Take no heed of yourfuture fortune, it is made."
"Pardon me, pardon me!" said Valentine, earnestly; "we do not understandone another at all; you mistake us. We are not men who expect to be paidfor having acted as our hearts dictated. You owe us nothing."
"I do not propose or pretend to pay you, gentlemen. I only wish, inorder to attach you to me, to propose to you to share my good or evilfortune; in a word, I offer myself to you as a brother."
"In that case we at once accede," said Louis, "and will endeavour toprove ourselves worthy of such an offer."
"I have no doubt you will. Only I beg you not to be misled by my words;the life I am leading at present is full of perils."
"I can suppose that," said Valentine, with a laugh. "The scene at whichwe have been present, and the _denoument_ of which we perhaps hastened,makes it pretty evident that your existence is not of the most peacefulnature."
"What you have as yet seen is nothing. Do you know nobody in thiscountry?"
"Nobody."
"Your political opinions, then, are unformed?"
"As regards Chili, completely."
"Bravo!" Don Gregorio exclaimed, with delight; "if we agree on thatpoint our compact will be for life and death."
"We do agree," said Valentine, laughing; "and if you conspire--"
"Well?" the Chilian asked, fixing an inquiring look upon him.
"Why, we will conspire, too, pardieu! That is agreed."
The three men exchanged a cordial pressure of the hand, and then DonGregorio called the major-domo to conduct them to the chamber which wasprepared for them.
"Good night! or rather good morning!" he said, on quitting them.
"Come!" said Valentine, rubbing his hands, "matters are going on well.We shall not want for amusement here."
"Hum!" Louis replied, with a tone of something like uneasiness;"conspire!"
"Well, and what better?" said Valentine. "Does that frighten you?Remember, my friend, that the best fishing is in troubled waters."
"In that case," Louis remarked, taking up the gay humour of hiscompanion, "if my presentiments are just, ours will be miraculous."
"I expect so, firmly," said Valentine, bidding good night to themajor-domo, who retired, after bowing respectfully.
The _cuarto_ (chamber) in which the young men found themselves, waswhitewashed, and entirely destitute of furniture, with the exception oftwo oak frames furnished with dressed hides, which served as beds, amassive table with twisted feet, and four seats covered with leather.In a corner of the room burned a little green wax light before abadly-engraved print supposed to represent the Virgin.
"Eh!" said Louis, casting a glance around him, "our friends, theChilians, do not seem to consult comfort much."
"Bah!" Valentine replied, "we have all that we require. A man can sleepsoundly anywhere when he is fatigued. This chamber is better than thebivouac we were threatened with."
"You are right. Let us take a little rest then, for we don't know whattomorrow has in reserve for us."
In a quarter of an hour they were both fast asleep. At the moment theFrenchmen went into the house with the major-domo, Don Tadeo came out byanother door.
"Well?" Don Gregorio asked, anxiously.
"She is asleep. Her terror is abated," Don Tadeo replied. "The joy sheexperienced at seeing me, whom she believed dead, brought about a verysalutary crisis."
"I am glad to hear it! In that quarter, then, we may be at ease?"
"Completely."
"Do you feel yourself strong enough to be present at an importantinterview?"
"Is it necessary that I should be present?"
"I think it quite right that you should hear the communications that oneof my emissaries is about to make me."
"It is very imprudent of you," said Don Tadeo, "to receive such a man inyour own house!"
"Oh! do not alarm yourself! I have known him for a long time. Besides,he is not aware whose house he is in; he was brought hither blinded, bytwo of our brethren. In addition to which, we shall be masked."
"Well! since you desire it, I am at your commands."
The two friends, after having covered their faces with black velvetmasks, entered the apartment in which were the persons who waited forthem. This apartment, which served as a dining room, was very large, andfurnished with a long table; it was faintly illumined by two sconces,in which burned small candles of yellow tallow, yielding so doubtful alight that objects could be seen but indistinctly. Three men, wrappedin variegated ponchos, and wit
h broad-brimmed hats pulled down overtheir eyes, were carelessly smoking their slender papelitos, whilstwarming themselves round a copper _brasero,_ placed in the middle of theapartment, and in which some olive-stones were slowly burning. At theentrance of the leaders of the Dark-Hearts, these men rose.
"Why," asked Don Tadeo, who at the first glance recognized the emissary,"why did you not wait, Don Pedro, for the meeting tomorrow, at the_Quinta Verde,_ to communicate to the council the revelations you haveto make?"
The man thus named as Don Pedro bowed respectfully. He was an individualof about thirty-five years of age. He was tall, and his countenance, assharp as the blade of a knife, wore a cunning, roguish expression.
"What I have to state only indirectly concerns the Dark-Hearts," he said.
"Then, of what importance is it to us?" Don Gregorio interrupted him.
"But it greatly concerns the leaders, particularly the King of Darkness."
"Explain yourself then, for he is before you," Don Tadeo remarked,taking a step forward.
Pedro darted a look at him which seemed to endeavour to penetratethrough the tissue of his mask.
"What I have to say will be brief," he replied,--"I leave to you thecare of judging of its importance. General Don Bustamente will bepresent at the meeting tomorrow."
"Are you sure of that?" the two conspirators exclaimed with a degree ofastonishment that denoted incredulity.
"It was I who persuaded him to do so."
"You?"
"Yes, I."
"Are you ignorant, then," Don Tadeo exclaimed with great warmth, "inwhat manner we punish traitors?"
"I am no traitor; on the contrary, I deliver into your hands your mostimplacable enemy."
Don Tadeo replied only by a suspicious glance.
"The General then is ignorant?"
"Of everything," said Don Pedro.
"With what purpose, then, does he wish to introduce himself among us?"
"Can you not guess? For that of obtaining your secret."
"But he risks his life."
"Do you forget that every adept must be introduced by a sponsor, whoalone knows him? No one sees his face. Well, _I_ introduce him," headded, with a smile of strange significance.
"That is true. But if he should suspect you of treachery?"
"I must undergo the consequences; but he will not suspect me."
"Why not?" Don Gregorio asked.
"Because," the spy replied, with a cynical smile, "for ten years theGeneral has employed me, and during those ten years he has had onlycause to praise me for the services I have rendered him."
A momentary silence followed.
"Here!" said Don Gregorio, after a long pause, "this time it is not tenounces, but twenty, that you have earned. Continue to be faithful to us."
And he placed a heavy purse in his hands. The spy seized it with agesture of avidity, and concealed it quickly under his poncho.
"You shall have no reproach to make me," he replied, with a bow.
"I hope we shall not," said Don Tadeo, with difficulty repressing anexpression of disgust. "Only remember, we should be merciless."
"I know it."
"In that case, farewell."
"Farewell till tomorrow."
The men who had brought him, and who during the conversation hadremained motionless, at a sign from Don Gregorio approached the spy,bandaged his eyes again, and led him away.
"Is that fellow a traitor?" asked Don Gregorio, as he listened to theretreating steps of the horses.
"It is our duty to suppose him one," the King of Darkness replied,gravely.
The two friends, instead of seeking the repose which must have beenso necessary to them, talked together for a long time, in order toarrange all the measures of safety which were required by the importanceof the scene about to take place on the morrow at the meeting of theconspirators. In the meantime Don Pedro had been quickly led backto Santiago. On arriving at one of the gates, his guides left him,disappearing in opposite directions. As soon as he was alone, he removedthe handkerchief from his eyes.
"Hum!" he said, with a sinister smile, as he tossed up in his right handthe purse Don Gregorio had given him. "Twenty ounces make a purse ofgold. Now let us see if General Bustamente is as liberal as his enemies.By the Virgin! the news I carry him are worth something to him! Let ustry to get the best price for them."
After having cast his eyes around to see if the coast was clear, he setoff at a sharp trot towards the government palace, muttering to himself--
"Bah! times are hard. If a man did not manoeuvre a little, he would findno means of bringing up his family honestly."
This reflection, of a rather dubious morality, was accompanied by agrimace, the expression of which would have given Don Tadeo cause forsuspicion if he had seen it.