CHAPTER XVI.
FATHER SERAPHIN.
Dona Angela had just awakened: a sportive sunbeam, passing indiscreetlyover her charming face, had made her open her eyes. She was lying halfextended in her hammock, with her head supported on her right arm, andwas pensively looking at the swan's-down slipper which she was idlybalancing on her dainty little foot. Violanta, seated at her foot ona stool, was busily arranging the various articles of her mistress'stoilette. At length Dona Angela shook off her careless languor, and asmile played on her coral lips.
"Today," she said, as she raised her head coquettishly.
This one word contained the maiden's thoughts, her joy, love,happiness--her whole life, in fact. She fell back in a reverie, yieldingherself up unconsciously to the delicate and busy services of herwaiting-maid. The sound of a footstep was heard outside, and Dona Angelaraised her head quickly.
"Someone is coming," she said.
Violanta went out, but returned almost immediately.
"Well?"
"Don Cornelio requests permission to say two words to the senorita," thecamarista answered.
The maiden frowned with an air of vexation.
"What can he want again?" she said.
"I do not know."
"That man displeases me singularly."
"I will tell him that you cannot receive him."
"No," she said quickly, "let him enter."
"Why, if he displeases you?"
"I prefer seeing him. I do not know why, but that man almost terrifiesme."
The waiting maid blushed and turned her head away, but recovered almostimmediately.
"Still he is entirely devoted to Don Louis and yourself, senorita."
"Do you think so?" she said, fixing a piercing glance on her.
"Well, I suppose so; his conduct up to the present has been mosthonourable."
"Yes," she murmured dreamily. "Still there is something at the bottomof my heart which tells me that this man hates me. I experience, onseeing him, an insurmountable feeling of repulsion. This is somethinginexplicable to me; but, though everything seems to prove to me that Iam wrong, still, whether right or wrong, there is at times an expressionin his glance which makes me shudder. The only thing a man cannotdisguise is his look, for it is the reflex of his soul, and God hasdecreed it so, in order that we may put ourselves on our guard, andrecognise our enemies. But he is doubtlessly tired of waiting. Let himcome in."
Violanta hastened to execute her mistress's orders. Don Cornelio enteredwith a smile on his lips.
"Senorita," he said, after a graceful bow, which the maiden returnedwithout leaving her hammock, "pardon me for daring to trouble yoursolitude; but a worthy priest, a French missionary, desires that youwill grant him the favour of a few minutes' interview."
"What is the missionary's name, Senor Don Cornelio?"
"Father Seraphin, I believe, senorita."
"Why does he not address himself to Don Louis?"
"He intended to do so in the first instance."
"Well?"
"But," Don Cornelio continued, "at sunrise Don Louis left the camp,accompanied by Don Valentine; and though it is now near midday, he hasnot yet returned."
"Ah! Where did Don Louis go to at so early an hour?"
"I cannot tell you, senorita. All that I know for certain is, that heproceeded in the direction of La Magdalena."
"Has anything new occurred?"
"Nothing I am aware of, senorita."
There were a few moments of silence, during which Dona Angela wasreflecting. At length she continued:
"And do you not suspect what this missionary wishes to say to me, DonCornelio?"
"In no way, senorita."
"Beg him to come in. I shall be happy to see and converse with him."
Violanta, without giving Don Cornelio time to reply, raised the curtainthat closed the entrance of the jacal.
"Come in, my father," she said.
The missionary appeared. Dona Angela greeted him respectfully, andpointed to a chair.
"You wish to speak with me, my father?" she said.
"Yes, madam," he replied with a bow.
"I am ready to listen to you."
The missionary looked round in a way that Don Cornelio and the waitingmaid understood, for they went out at once.
"Cannot what you have to say to me be heard by that girl, who is devotedto me?"
"Heaven forbid, madam, that I should try to lessen the confidence youplace in that person, but allow me to give you a little piece of advice."
"Pray do so."
"It is often dangerous to confide your secret thoughts to persons in alower station than yourself."
"Yes, that may be true in theory, my father, but I will not discuss it.Be kind enough to explain to me the reason of your visit."
"I am grieved, madam, at having hurt your feelings without wishing it.Pardon an observation which you considered indiscreet, and may Heavengrant that I am deceived!"
"No, my father, no; I did not consider your remark indiscreet. But I ama spoiled child, and it is my place to ask your forgiveness."
At this moment the sound of horses was heard in the camp. Violantaraised the curtain.
"Don Louis has arrived," she said.
"Let him come hither at once," Dona Angela exclaimed.
The missionary gazed on her with an expression of gentle pity. A fewminutes later Don Louis and Valentine entered the jacal. The hunterwalked up to the missionary, and pressed his hand affectionately.
"Have you come from the general, my father?" the count asked him quickly.
"Alas, no!" he answered. "The general is unaware of my coming; for hadhe known of it, he would probably have tried to oppose it."
"What do you mean? Speak, in Heaven's name!"
"Alas! I am about to redouble your agony and your sorrow. GeneralGuerrero never intended to bestow on you this lady's hand. I cannot tellyou what I have seen or heard, for my office forbids it; but I am aFrenchman, sir--that is to say, your fellow countryman--and I believemy duty orders me to warn you that treachery surrounds you on all sides,and that the general is trying to lull your vigilance by fallaciouspromises, in order to surprise you and finish with you."
Don Louis let his head sink on his chest.
"In that case, sir," he said presently, "with what object have you comehere?"
"I will tell you. The general wishes to get back his daughter, and, toeffect that, all means will be good. Permit me to draw your attention tothe fact that, under present circumstances, the lady's presence here isnot only a danger for you, but also an ineffaceable stain on her honour."
"Sir!" the count exclaimed.
"Deign to listen to me," the missionary continued coldly. "I do notdoubt either your honour or the lady's; but you have no power, to myknowledge, to impose silence on your enemies, and stop the immense floodof calumny they pour out on you and her. Unhappily your conduct seems tojustify them."
"But what is to be done? What means shall I employ?"
"There is one."
"Speak, my father."
"This is what I propose. You intend to marry this lady?"
"Certainly; you know that is my dearest wish."
"Let me finish. The marriage must not be celebrated here; for such aceremony, performed in the midst of a camp of adventurers, withoutwitnesses, would seem a mockery."
"But----"
"It must take place in a city, in the presence of the entire population,in the broad sunshine, to the sound of the bells and cannon, which,traversing the air, will tell all that the marriage has really takenplace."
"Yes," Valentine remarked, "Father Seraphin is right; for then DonaAngela will no longer marry a pirate, but a conqueror, with whom termsmust be made. She will not be the wife of an adventurer, but of theliberator of Sonora, and those who blame her today will be the first tosing her praises."
"Yes, yes, that is true!" the maiden cried with fire. "I thank you, myfather, for coming. My duty is laid down:
I will accomplish it. Who willdare to attack the reputation of her who has married the saviour of hercountry?"
"Still," the count remarked, "this is only a palliative, after all.The marriage cannot take place yet. A fortnight, perhaps a month, willelapse ere I have rendered myself master of a city. Till then DonaAngela must remain in the camp where she has hitherto been."
All eyes were anxiously turned to the missionary.
"No," he said, "if the young lady will allow me to offer her a shelter."
"A shelter!" she said with an inquiring glance.
"Very simple and most unworthy to receive her, doubtlessly," hecontinued, "but where at least she will be in safety, in the midst of afamily of honourable and good persons, to whom it will be a delight toreceive her."
"Is the shelter you offer me, my father, very far from here?" the maidenasked quickly.
"Twenty-five leagues at the most, in the direction in which the Frenchexpedition must proceed on its march into Sonora."
Dona Angela gave a cunning smile at having been so well understood bythe good priest.
"Listen, my father," she said with that resolution which was one of theprincipal features of her character. "Your reputation reached me longago, and I know that you are a holy man. Even if I did not know you,the friendship and respect Don Valentine professes for you would be tome a sufficient guarantee. I trust myself in your hands. I understandhow unsuitable my presence in the camp now, at any rate, is. Take mewherever you please. I am ready to follow you."
"My child," the missionary said with charming unction, "it is God whoinspires this determination. The grief you will feel at a separation ofa few days at the most will double the happiness of a reunion which noone will dare any longer to oppose--which will not only raise you againin the public opinion, which it is always precious to preserve, butalso give your reputation a lustre which it will be hopeless to try andtarnish."
"Go, then, as it must be so, Dona Angela," the count said. "I intrustyou to this good padre; but I swear that a fortnight shall not elapseere we are again together."
"I hold your promise, Don Louis; it will help me to endure with greatercourage the agony of absence."
"When do you expect to start?" Valentine asked.
"Now," the maiden exclaimed. "As the separation is inevitable, let usget over it at once."
"Well spoken," Valentine said. "By Jove! I return to what I said before,Dona Angela--you are a strong and nobly courageous woman; and, byheavens, I love you as a sister!"
Dona Angela could not refrain from smiling at the hunter's enthusiasm.The latter continued:--
"Hang it! But we did not think of that; you will need an escort----"
"For what?" the priest asked simply.
"By Jove! you are really delightful. Why, to protect you against theenemy's marauders."
"My friend, the respect of everybody we meet will be worth more to usthan an escort, which is often compromising."
"For you, I grants but, my father, you do not remember that you willtravel with two females who must be immediately recognised."
"That is true," he said simply; "I did not think of it."
"What is to be done, then?"
Dona Angela began laughing.
"Gentlemen, you are really troubled by a very trifling matter. The goodfather said an instant back, that the gown is the best safeguard, forfriend and foe will respect it under all circumstances."
"That is true," the missionary said in confirmation.
"Well, it is extremely simple. If Father Seraphin has no objection,my waiting maid and myself will put on novices' robes, under which itwill be easy for us to disguise ourselves so cleverly that no one canrecognise us."
Father Seraphin seemed to be reflecting profoundly for a few moments.
"I see no serious obstacles to this disguisement," he at lengthobserved: "under the circumstances it is permissible, as it will serve agood object."
"But where shall we find monks' robes?" the count objected, halfseriously, half laughing. "I must confess that my camp is completely outof them."
"I will take that on myself," Valentine said. "I will send to LaMagdalena a safe man, who can bring them back within an hour: duringthat time Dona Angela will complete her preparations for departure."
No one made any objection, and the maiden was left alone. Less than anhour after, Dona Angela and Violanta, dressed in monks' robes which DonCornelio had purchased in the village, and with their faces concealedunder broad-brimmed hats, mounted their horses, and, after bidding awarm farewell to their companions, they left the camp, accompanied byFather Seraphin. On separating, Violanta and Don Cornelio exchanged asecret glance, which would have given the count and Valentine matter forserious thought, could they have seen it.
"I am not easy in my mind," Don Louis muttered, shaking his head sadly."A priest is a very weak escort in the present times."
"Reassure yourself," Valentine answered; "I have provided for that."
"Oh! you always think of everything, brother."
"Is it not my duty? Now let us attend to ourselves. The night willsoon fall, and we must take our precautions not to let ourselves besurprised."
"You know that, with the exception of the few words you told me throughCurumilla, I am completely ignorant of the details of this affair."
"They would be too long to give you at the present moment, brother, forwe have hardly the requisite time for action."
"Have you any plan?"
"Certainly. If it succeed, the people who hope to surprise us will beawfully taken in."
"On my word, I trust to you with the greater pleasure because we havebeen a long time already at La Magdalena, and I wish to begin my forwardmarch seriously."
"Very good. Can you spare me fifty adventurers?"
"Take as many as you like."
"I only want fifty resolute men accustomed to desert warfare. For thatpurpose I shall take Captain de Laville, and recommend him to selectfrom among the men he brought with him from Guetzalli the boldest andmost clever."
"Do so, my friend. As for myself, I will carefully watch over the camp,and double the patrols."
"That precaution can do no harm. So now good-by till tomorrow."
"Farewell!"
They separated, and Don Louis returned to his tent.
At the moment Valentine reached Captain de Laville's jacal he saw DonCornelio quitting the camp with an indifferent air, and mechanicallylooked after him. In a moment he lost him out of sight behind a clumpof trees, but all at once saw him reappear but mounted this time, andsetting off full gallop in the direction of the pueblo.
"Eh, eh?" Valentine muttered with a thoughtful air. "What can DonCornelio have to do in such haste at La Magdalena? I will ask him."
And he entered the jacal, where he found the captain, with whom heimmediately began discussing the plan he had formed to foil the intendedsurprise on the part of the Mexicans. As we shall see this plan carriedout presently, we will say nothing about it here, but go and rejoinFather Seraphin and Dona Angela.