rezanov-第25部分

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　you　could〃

Santiago　nodded。　　〃While　Luis　is　at　the　Mission　I　shall　go　to　my　cousin　Juan　Moraga's。　　You　will　dine　with　us　at　the　Presidio；　and　I　shall　escort　you　back　to　the　ship。〃



XIX

It　was　ten　o'clock　when　Rezanov；　who　had　supped　on　the　Juno；　met　Santiago　in　a　sandy　valley　half　a　mile　from　the　Presidio　and　mounted　the　horse　his　young　friend　himself　had　saddled　and　brought。　The　long　ride　was　a　silent　one。　　The　youth　was　not　talkative　at　any　time；　and　Rezanov　was　conscious　of　little　else　save　an　overwhelming　desire　to　see　Con…　cha　again。　　One　secret　of　his　success　in　life　was　his　gift　of　yielding　to　one　energy　at　a　time；　oblivious　at　the　moment　to　aught　that　might　distract　or　en…　feeble　the　will。　　To…night；　as　he　rode　toward　the　Mission　on　as　romantic　a　quest　as　ever　came　the　way　of　a　lover；　the　diplomat；　the　anxious　director　of　a　great　Company；　the　representative　of　one　of　the　mighty　potentates　of　earth；　were　submerged；　forgotten；　in　the　thrilling　anticipation　of　his　hour　with　the　woman　for　whom　every　fiber　of　his　being　yearned。

Nor　ever　was　there　more　appropriate　a　setting　for　one　of　those　inaugural　chapters　in　mating；　half　appreciated　at　the　time；　that　glimmer　as　a　sort　of　morning　twilight　on　mountain　tops　over　the　mild　undulations　of　matrimony。　　The　moon　rode　without　a　masking　cloud　across　the　ambiguous　night　blue　of　the　California　sky；　a　blue　that　looks　like　the　fire　of　strange　elements；　where　the　stars　glow　like　silver　coals；　and　out　of　whose　depths　intense　shadows　of　blue　and　black　fall；　shadows　in　which　all　the　terres…　trial　world　seems　to　float　and　recombine；　where　houses　are　ghosts　of　ancient　selves　and　men　but　the　eidola　of　forgotten　dust。　　To…night　the　little　estate　of　Juan　Moraga；　the　most　isolated　and　eastern　of　the　settlement；　surrounded　by　its　high　white　wall；　looked　as　unreal　and　formless　as　the　blue　oval　of　water　and　black　trees　behind　it；　but　Rezanov　knew　that　it　enfolded　warm　and　palpitating　womanhood　and　was　steeped　in　the　sweetness　of　Castilian　roses。

The　riders；　who　had　taken　a　path　far　to　the　east　of　the　Mission　dismounted　and　tied　their　horses　among　the　willows；　then；　in　their　dark　cloaks　but　a　part　of　the　shadows；　stole　toward　the　wall　designed　to　impress　hostile　tribes　rather　than　to　resist　on…　slaught；　at　the　first　warning　the　settlement　invari…　ably　fled　to　the　church；　where　walls　were　massive　and　windows　high。

In　three　of　Moraga's　four　walls　was　a　grille；　or　wicket　of　slender　iron　bars；　whence　the　open　could　be　swept　with　glass；　or　gun　at　a　pinch；　and　toward　the　grille　looking　eastward　went　Rezanov　as　swiftly　as　the　uneven　ground　would　permit。　　As　Concha　watched　him　gather　form　in　the　moonlight　and　saw　him　jerk　his　cloak　off　impatiently；　she　flung　her　soft　body　against　the　wall　and　shook　the　bars　with　her　strong　little　hands。　　But　when　he　faced　her　she　was　erect　and　smiling；　in　a　sudden　uprush　of　spirits；　almost　indifferent。　　She　wore　a　white　gown　and　a　rose　in　her　hair。　　A　rosebush　as　dense　as　an　arbor　spread　its　prickly　arms　between　herself　and　the　windows　of　the　house。

〃Good…evening；〃　she　whispered。

Rezanov　gave　the　grill　an　angry　shake。　　（San…　tiago　had　considerately　retired。）　　〃Come　out；〃　he　said　peremptorily；　〃or　let　me　in。〃

〃There　is　but　one　gate；　senor；　and　that　is　directly　in　front　of　the　house　door；　that　stands　open〃

〃Then　I　shall　get　over　the　wall〃

〃Madre　de　Dios！　　You　would　leave　your　fine　clothes　and　more　on　the　thorns。　　My　cousin　planted　those　roses　not　for　ornament；　but　to　let　the　blood　of　defiant　lovers。　　Not　one　has　come　twice〃

〃Do　you　think　I　came　here　to　talk　to　you　through　a　grating？　　I　am　no　serenading　Spaniard。〃

His　eyes　were　blazing。　　Adobe　is　not　stone。　Rezanov　took　the　light　bars　in　both　hands　and　wrenched　them　out；　then；　as　Concha；　divided　be…　tween　laughter　and　a　sudden　timidity；　would　have　retreated；　he　dexterously　clasped　her　neck　and　drew　her　head　through　the　embrasure。　　As　Santiago；　who　had　watched　Rezanov　from　a　distance　with　some　curiosity；　saw　his　sister's　beautiful　face　emerge　from　the　wall　to　disappear　at　once　behind　another　rampart；　he　turned　abruptly　on　his　heel　and　could　have　wept　as　he　thought　of　Pilar　Ortego　of　Santa　Barbara。　　But　there　was　a　hope　that　he　would　be　a　cadet　of　the　Southern　Company　before　the　year　was　out；　and　his　parents　and　hers　were　indulgent。　Even　as　he　sighed；　his　own　impending　happiness　in…　fused　him　with　an　almost　patronizing　sympathy　for　the　twain　with　the　wall　between；　and　he　concealed　himself　among　the　willows　that　they　might　feel　to　the　full　the　blessed　isolation　of　lovers。　　His　Pilar　presented　him　with　twenty…two　hostages；　and　he　lived　to　enjoy　an　honorable　and　prosperous　career；　but　he　never　forgot　that　night　and　the　part　he　had　played　in　one　of　the　poignant　and　happy　hours　of　his　sister's　life。

Day　and　night　a　great　silence　reigned　in　the　Mis…　sion　valley；　broken　only　by　the　hoot　of　the　owl；　the　singing　of　birds；　the　flight　of　horses　across　the　plain。　　Even　the　low　huddle　of　Mission　buildings　and　the　few　homes　beyond　looked　an　anomaly　in　that　vast　quiet　valley　asleep　and　unknown　for　so　many　centuries　in　the　wide　embrace　of　the　hills。　　Its　jewel　oasis　alone　made　it　acceptable　to　the　Spaniard；　but　to　Rezanov　the　sandy　desert；　with　its　close　com…　panionable　silences；　its　cool　night　air　sweet　with　the　light　chaste　fragrance　of　the　roses；　the　simple；　almost　primitive；　conditions　environing　the　girl；　possessed　a　power　to　stir　the　depths　of　his　emotions　as　no　artful　reinforcement　to　passion　had　ever　done。　　He　forgot　the　wall。　　His　ego　melted　in　a　sense　of　complete　union　and　happiness。　　Even　when　they　returned　to　earth　and　discussed　the　dubious　future；　he　was　conscious　of　an　odd　resignation；　very　alien　in　his　nature；　not　only　to　the　barrier　but　to　all　the　strange　conditions　of　his　wooing。　　He　had　felt　something　of　this　before；　although　less　defi…　nitely；　and　to…night　he　concluded　that　she　had　the　gift　of　clothing　the　inevitable　with　the　semblance　and　the　sweetness　of　choice；　and　wondered　how　long　it　would　be　able　to　skirt　the　arid　steppes　of　philosophy。

She　told　him　that　she　had　talked　daily　with　Father　Abella。　　〃He　will　say　nothing　to　admit　he　is　weakening；　but　I　feel　sure　he　has　realized　not　only　that　our　marriage　will　be　for　the　best　interests　of　California；　but　that　to　forbid　it　would　wreck　my　life；　and　from　this　responsibility　he　shrinks。　　I　can　see　it　in　his　kind；　shrewd；　perplexed　eyes；　in　the　hesitating　inflections　of　his　voice；　to　say　nothing　of　the　poor　arguments　he　advances　to　mine。　　What　of　my　father　and　mother？〃

〃They　look　troubled；　almost　ill；　but　nothing　could　exceed　their　kindness　to　me；　although　they　have　pointedly　given　me　no　opportunity　to　introduce　the　subject　of　our　marriage　again。　　The　Governor　makes　no　sign　that　he　knows　of　any　aspiration　of　mine　above　corn；　but　he　informed　me　to…day　that　California　is　doomed　to　abandonment；　that　the　In…　dians　are　hopeless；　that　Spain　will　withdraw　troops　before　she　will　send　others；　and　that　the　country　will　either　revert　to　savagery　or　fall　a　prey　to　the　first　enterprising　outsider。　　As　he　was　in　compari…　son　cheerful　before；　I　fancy　he　apprehends　the　irre…　sistible　appeal　of　your　father's　surrender。〃

Concha　nodded。　　〃If　my　father　yields　he　will　see　that　you　have　everything　else　that　you　wish。　　He　may　have　advocated　meeting　your　wishes　in　other　respects　in　order　to　leave　you　without　excuse　to　lin…　ger；　but　that　argument　is　not　strong　enough　for　the　Governor；　whereas　if　he　made　up　his　mind　to　ac…　cept　you　as　a　son　he　would　throw　the　whole　force　of　his　character　and　will　into　the　scale；　and　when　he　reaches　that　pitch　he　winswith　men。　　I　must；　must　bring　you　good　fortune；〃　she　added　anxiously。　〃Marriage　with　a　little　California　girlare　you　sure　it　will　not　ruin　your　career？〃

〃I　can　think　of　nothing　that　would　advantage　it　more。　　What　are　you　going　to　call　me？〃

〃I　cannot　say　Petrovich　or　Nicolaimy　Spanish　tongue　rebels。　　I　shall　call　you　Pedro。　　That　is　a　very　pretty　name　with　us。〃

〃My　own　harsh　names　suit　my　battered　self　rather　better；　but　the　more　Californian　you　are　and　remain　the　happier　I　shall　be。　　When　am　I　to　see　your　ears？　　Are　they　deformed；　pointed　and　furry　like　a　fawn's？　　Do　they　stand　out？　　Were　all　the　women　of　California　tattooed　in　some　Indian　raid〃

Concha　glanced　about　apprehensively；　but　not　even　Santiago　was　there　to　see　the　dreadful　deed。　With　a　defiant　sweep　of　her　hands　she　lifted　both　loops　of　hair；　and　two　little　ears；　rosy　even　in　the　moonlight；　commanded　amends　and　more　from　penitent　lips。

〃No　man　has　ever　seen　them　beforesince　I　was　a　baby；　not　even　my　father　and　brothers；〃　said　Concha；　trembling　between　horror　and　rapture　at　the　tremendous　surrender。　　〃You　will　never　remind　me　of　it。　　Ay　yi！　promisePedro　mio！〃

〃On　condition　that　you　promise　not　to　confess　it。　　I　should　like　to　be　sure　that　your　mind　belonged　as　much　to　me　and　as　little　to　others　as　possible。　　I　do　not　object　to　confessionwe　have　it　in　our　church；　but　remember　that　there　are　other　things　as　sacred　as　your　religion。〃

She　nodded。　　〃I　understandbetter　than　you　understand　Romanism。　　I　must　confess　that　I　met　you　to…night；　but　Father　Abella　is　too　discreet　to　ask　for　more。　　It　is　such　blessed　memories　that　feed　the　soul；　and　they　would　fly　away　on　a　whisper。〃



XX

The　next　morning　Father　Abella　rode　over　to　the　Presidio　and　was　closeted　for　an　hour　with　the　Commandante　and　the　Governor。　　Then　the　three　rode　down　to　the　beach；　entered　a　canoe；　and　paddled　out　to　the　Juno。　　Rezanov　met　them　on　deck　with　a　gravity　as　significant　as　their　own；　but　led　them　at　once　to　the　cabin　where　wine；　and　the　cigarettes　for　which　alone　they　would　have　counselled　the　treaty；　awaited　them。

The　quartette　pledged　each　other　in　an　embar…　rassed　silence；　disposed　of　a　moment　more　with　ob…　durate　matches。　　Don　Jose　inhaled　audibly；　then　lifted　his　eyes　and　met　the　veiled　and　steady　gaze　of　the　Russian。

〃Senor；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　come　to　tell　you　that　I　consent　to　your　marriage　with　my　daughter。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Rezanov。　　And　their　hands　clasped　across　the　table。

But　this　was　far　too　simple　for　the　taste　of　a　Governor。　　So　important　an　occasion　demanded　official　dignity　and　many　words。

〃Your　excellency；〃　he　said　severely；　sitting　very