rezanov-第21部分

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d　for　the　position　of　a　public　man's　mate；　nor　more　ingenerate；　perhaps；　with　the　power　to　turn　earth　into　heaven。

He　had　wondered　humorously　if　he　were　fallen　in　love；　but；　although　he　retained　little　faith　in　the　activities　of　the　heart　after　youth；　he　was　begin…　ning　seriously　to　consider　the　expedience　of　marry…　ing　Concha　Arguello。　　He　had　not　intended　to　marry　again；　and　it　was　this　old　and　passionate　love　of　personal　freedom　that　alone　held　him　back；　for　nothing　would　be　so　advantageous　to　the　Russian　colonies　in　their　present　crisis　as　a　strong　individual　alliance　with　California。　　Concha　Arguello　was　the　famous　daughter　of　its　first　subject；　and　with　the　powerful　friends　she　would　bring　to　her　husband；　the　consummation　of　ends　dearer　to　his　heart　than　aught　on　earth　would　be　a　matter　of　months　instead　of　years。　　And　he　thrilled　with　pride　as　he　thought　of　Concha　in　St。　Petersburg。　　Two　years　of　court　life　and　she　would　be　one　of　the　greatest　ladies　in　Europe。　　That　he　could　win　her　he　believed；　and　without　undue　vanity。　　He　had　much　to　offer　an　ambitious　girl　conscious　of　her　superiority　to　the　men　of　this　province　of　Spain；　and　chafing　at　the　prospect　of　a　lifetime　in　a　bountiful　desert。　　His　only　hesitation　lay　in　his　own　doubt　if　she　were　worth　the　loss　of　his　freedom；　and　all　that　word　involved　to　a　man　of　his　position　and　adventurous　spirit。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　at　this　argument；　he　had　walked　off　some　of　his　ill…humor；　and　reverted　willingly　to　a　theme　that　alone　had　given　him　satis…　faction　during　the　past　few　days。　　At　the　same　time　he　made　a　motion　as　if　flinging　aside　an　old　burden。

〃It　is　time　for　such　nonsense　to　end；〃　he　thought　contemptuously。　　〃And　in　truth　these　three　years　should　have　wrought　such　changes　in　me　I　doubt　I　should　have　patience　for　an　hour　of　the　old　trifling。　My　greatest　need　from　this　time　on；　I　fancy；　is　work。　　I　could　never　be　idle　a　month　again。　　And　when　a　man　is　in　love　with　workand　power　and　has　passed　fortydoes　he　want　a　constant　com…　panion？　　That　is　the　point。　　At　my　time　of　life　power　exercises　the　most　irresistible　and　lasting　of　all　fascinations。　　A　man　that　wins　it　has　little　left　for　a　woman。〃

He　had　reached　the　summit　of　the　rocky　outpost；　the　highest　of　the　hills　where　the　peninsula　turned　abruptly　to　the　south；　and；　scrupulously　refraining　from　a　downward　glance　at　the　Battery　of　Yerba　Buena；　stood　looking　out　over　the　bay　to　the　eastern　mountains：　dark；　almost　formless；　wrapped　in　the　intense　and　menacing　mystery　of　that　last　hour　be…　fore　dawn。

〃Senor！〃　called　a　low　cautious　voice。

Rezanov　stepped　hastily　back　from　the　point　of　the　bluff　and　glanced　about　in　wonder；　his　pulses　suddenly　astir。　　But　he　could　see　no　one。

This　time　the　direction　was　unmistakable；　and　he　went　to　the　edge　of　the　plateau　facing　the　south　and　looked　over。　　Halfway　down　a　shallow　and　almost　perpendicular　gully；　he　saw　a　girl　forcing　a　mustang　up　the　harsh；　loose　path。　　The　girl's　white　and　oval　face　looked　from　the　folds　of　a　black　re…　boso　like　the　moon　emerging　from　clouds；　and　its　young　beauty　was　out　of　place　in　that　wild　and　for…　bidding　setting。　　She　reined　in　her　horse　as　she　caught　his　eye　and　beckoned　superfluously；　then　guided　her　mustang　to　a　little　ledge　where　he　could　plant　his　feet　firmly；　permitting　her　to　reassume　her　usual　pride　of　carriage　and　averting　the　danger　of　a　sudden　scramble　or　need　of　assistance。

As　Rezanov　reached　her　side；　she　gave　him　a　grave　and　friendly　smile；　but　no　opportunity　to　kiss　her　hand。

〃I　have　followed　your　excellency；〃　she　said。　　〃I　saw　you　leave　the　Juno；　and　as　I　am　often　up　at　this　hour；　and　as　no　one　else　ever　is；　my　father　ignores　the　fact　that　I　sometimes　ride　alone。　　I　have　never　come　as　far　as　this　before；　but　there　is　some…　thing　I　wish　to　say　to　you；　and　there　is　no　oppor…　tunity　at　home。　　I　asked　Santiago　to　find　me　one　last　night；　but　he　was　in　a　bad　temper　and　would　not。　　Men！　　HoweverI　suppose　you　have　heard　nothing　of　the　cargo？〃

〃I　have　not；〃　said　Rezanov　grimly；　although　acutely　sensible　that　the　subject　suited　neither　his　mood　nor　the　hour。

〃But　the　Governor　has！　　Madre　de　Dios！　all　the　women　of　the　Presidio　and　the　Mission　have　pes…　tered　him。　　They　are　sick　with　jealousy　at　the　shawls　you　gave　us　that　daythose　that　did　not　go　to　the　ship。　　How　clever　of　your　excellency　to　give　us　just　enough　for　ourselves　and　nothing　for　our　friends！　　And　those　that　went　want　more　and　more。　They　have　called　upon　himone；　two；　four；　and　alone。　　They　have　wept　and　scolded　and　pleaded。　　I　did　not　know　until　yesterday　that　your　commissary　had　also　shown　the　things　to　the　priests　from　San　JoseFather　Jose　Uria　and　Father　Pedro　de　la　Cueva。　　They　and　the　priests　of　San　Francisco　have　argued　with　the　Governor　not　once　but　three　times。　Dios！　how　his　poor　excellency　swore　yesterday。　　He　threatened　to　return　at　once　to　Monterey。　　I　flew　into　a　great　rage　and　threatened　in　turn　to　follow　with　all　the　other　girls　and　all　the　priestsvowed　he　should　not　have　one　moment　of　peace　until　that　cargo　was　ours。〃

〃Well？〃　asked　Rezanov　sharply；　in　spite　of　his　amusement。

Concha　shook　her　head。　　〃When　he　does　not　swear；　he　answers　only：　'Buy　if　you　have　the　money。　　I　have　never　broken　a　law　of　Spain；　and　I　shall　not　begin　in　my　old　age。'　　He　knows　well　that　we　have　no　money　to　send　out　of　New　Spain；　but　I　have　conceived　a　plan；　senor。　　It　is　for　you；　not　for　me；　to　suggest　it。　　You　will　never　betray　that　I　have　been　your　friend；　Excellency？〃

〃I　will　swear　it　if　you　wish；〃　said　Rezanov　frigidly。

〃Pardon；　senor。　　If　I　thought　you　could　I　should　not　be　here。　　One　often　says　such　things。　　This　is　the　plan：　You　shall　suggest　that　we　buy　your　wares；　and　that　you　buy　again　with　our　money。　　The　dear　Governor　only　wants　to　save　his　conscience　an　ache；　for　we　have　driven　him　nearly　distracted。　　I　am　sure　he　will　consent；　for　you　will　know　how　to　put　it　to　him　very　diplomatically。〃

〃But　if　he　refused　to　understand；　or　his　con…　science　remained　obdurate？　　I　should　then　have　neither　cargo　nor　ballast。〃

〃He　would　never　trick　a　guest；　nor　would　he　let　the　money　go　out　of　the　country。　　And　he　knows　well　how　much　we　need　your　cargo　and　longs　to　be　able　to　state　in　his　reports　that　he　sold　you　a　hold　full　of　breadstuffs。　　Moreover；　I　think　the　time　has　come　to　tell　him　of　the　distress　at　Sitka。　　He　is　very　soft…hearted　and　is　now　in　that　distracted　state　of　mind　when　only　one　more　argument　is　required。　　I　hope　I　have　given　you　good　advice；　Excellency。　　It　is　the　best　I　can　think　of。　　I　have　given　it　much　thought；　and　the　terrible　state　of　those　miserable　creatures　has　kept　me　awake　many　nights。　　I　must　return　now。　　Will　your　excellency　kindly　remain　here　until　I　am　well　on　my　way？and　then　return　by　the　beach？　　I　shall　go　as　I　came；　through　the　valley。　　Neither　of　us　can　be　seen　from　the　Bat…　tery。〃

〃I　will　obey　all　your　instructions；〃　said　Rezanov。　But　he　did　not　move；　nor　could　the　mustang。　　Con…　cha　smiled　and　pointed　to　the　other　side　of　the　cleft；　which　was　about　as　wide　as　a　narrow　street。

〃Pardon；　senor；　I　cannot　turn。〃

For　a　moment　Rezanov　stared　at　her；　through　her。　　Then　his　heavy　eyes　opened　and　flashed。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　for　the　first　time　he　saw　how　beautiful；　how　desirable　she　was；　set　in　that　gray　volcanic　rock　with　the　heavens　gray　above　her；　and　the　stars　fading　out。　　It　was　not　the　bower　he　would　have　imagined　for　the　wooing　of　a　mate；　but　neither　moonlight　nor　the　romantic　glades　of　La　Bellissima　could　have　awakened　in　him　a　passion　so　sudden　and　final。　　Her　face　between　the　black　folds　turned　whiter　and　she　shrank　back　against　the　jagged　wall：　and　when　his　eyes　flashed　again　with　a　wild　eager　hope　she　involuntarily　crossed　herself。　　He　threw　himself　against　the　horse　and　snatched　her　down　and　kissed　her　as　he　had　kissed　no　woman　yet；　recognizing　her　once　for　all。

When　he　finally　held　her　at　arm's　length　for　a　moment　he　laughed　confusedly。

〃The　Russian　bear　is　no　longer　a　figure　of　speech；〃　he　said。　　〃Forgive　me。　　I　forgot　that　you　are　as　tender　as　you　are　strong。〃

Her　hands　were　tightly　clasped　against　her　breast　and　the　breath　was　short　in　her　throat；　but　she　made　no　protest。　　Her　eyes　were　radiant；　her　mouth　was　the　only　color　in　that　gray　dawn。　　In　a　moment　she　too　laughed。

〃Dios　de　mi　alma！　　What　will　they　say？　　A　heretic！　　If　Tamalpais　fell　into　the　sea　it　would　not　make　so　great　a　sensation　in　this　California　of　ours　where　civilized　man　exists　but　to　drive　heathen　souls　into　the　one　true　church。〃

〃Will　it　matter　to　you？　　Are　you　strong　enough？　It　will　be　only　a　question　of　time　to　win　them　over；　if　you　are。〃

She　nodded　emphatically。　　〃I　was　born　with　strength。　　NowDios！now　I　can　be　stronger　than　the　King　of　Spain　himself；　than　the　Governor；　my　parents　and　all　the　priests　　You　would　not　be…　come　a　Catholic？〃　she　asked　abruptly。

He　shook　his　head；　although　he　still　smiled　at　her。　〃Not　even　for　you。〃

〃No；〃　she　said　thoughtfully。　　〃I　will　confess　what　matters　it？I　often　dreamed　that　this　would　come　just　because　I　believed　it　would　not。　　But　why　should　one　control　the　imagination　when　it　alone　can　give　us　happiness　for　a　little　while？　　I　gave　it　rein；　for　I　thought　that　one…half　of　my　life　was　to　be　passed　in　that　unreal　but　by　no　means　niggardly　world。　　And　I　thought　of　everything。　　To　change　your　religion　would　mean　the　ruin　of　your　career；　moreover；　it　is　not　a　possibility　of　your　character。　Were　it　I　think　I　should　not　love　you　so　much。　　Nor　could　I　bear　to　think　of　any　change　in　you。　　Only　it　will　be　harderlonger。〃　　Then　she　stretched　out　her　hand；　and　closed　and　opened　it　slowly。　　The　most　obtuse　could　not　have　failed　to　read　the　old　simile　of　the　steel　in　the　velvet。　　〃I　shall　win　be…　cause　it　is　my　natureand　my　powerto　hold　what　I　grasp。〃

〃But　if　they　persistently　refuse〃

〃Dios！〃　she　interrupted　him。　　〃Do　you　think　that　your　love　is　greater　than　mine？　　I　was　born　with　a　thousand　years　of　love　in　me　and　had　you　not　come　I　should　have　gone　alone　with　my　dreams　to　the　grave。　　I　am　all　women　in　one；　not　merely　Concha　Arguello；　a　girl　of　sixteen。〃　　She　clasped　her　hands　high　above　her　head；　lifting　her　eyes　to　the　ashen　vault　so　soon　to　yield　to　the　gay　brush　of　dawn。

〃Before　all