rezanov-第4部分

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the　San　Francisco　Company；　Santiago；　a　cadet　in　the　same　company；　Francesco　and　Toribio；　whose　presence　at　the　table　I　beg　you　will　overlook；　for　when　we　are　so　fortunate　as　to　be　all　together；　senor；　we　cannot　bear　to　be　separated。　　My　oldest　brother；　alasIgnaciois　studying　for　holy　or…　ders　in　Mexico；　and　my　sister　Isabel　visits　at　the　Presidio　of　Santa　Barbara。　　I　beg　that　you　will　be　seated；　Excellency。〃　　And　he　continued　the　intro…　duction　to　the　lesser　luminaries；　with　equal　cour…　tesy　but　fewer　periods。

Rezanov　exchanged　a　few　pleasant　words　with　his　smiling　hostess　before　she　returned　to　her　dis…　tracted　maids　preparing　the　dinner；　but　his　eyes　during　Arguello's　declamation　had　wandered　with　a　singular　fidelity　to　the　beautiful　face　of　the　eld…　est　daughter　of　the　house。　　She　had　responded　with　a　humorous　twinkle　in　her　magnificent　black　eyes　and　not　a　hint　of　diffidence。　　As　she　entered　the　room　his　brain　had　flashed　out　the　thought：　〃Thank　heaven　for　a　pretty　girl　after　these　three　abominable　years！〃　　Possibly　his　pleasure　would　have　been　salted　with　pique　had　he　guessed　that　her　thought　was　the　twin　of　his　own。　　He　was　the　first　man　of　any　world　more　considerable　than　the　petty　court　of　the　viceroy　of　Mexico　that　had　vis…　ited　California　in　her　time；　and　excellent　as　she　found　his　tall　military　figure　and　pale　cold　face；　the　novelty　of　the　circumstance　fluttered　her　more。

Dona　〃Concha〃　Arguello　was　the　beauty　of　California；　and　although　her　years　were　but　six…　teen　her　blood　was　Spanish；　and　she　carried　her　tall　deep　figure　and　fine　head　with　the　grace　and　dignity　of　an　accomplished　woman。　　She　had　in…　herited　the　white　skin　and　delicate　Roman…Span…　ish　profile　of　the　Moragas；　but　there　was　an　in…　telligent　fire　in　her　eyes；　a　sharp　accentuation　of　nostril；　and　a　full　mobility　of　mouth；　childish；　half…　developed　as　that　feature　still　was；　that　betrayed　a　strong　cross…current　forcing　the　placid　maternal　flow　into　rugged　and　unexplored　channels；　while　assimilating　its　fine　qualities　of　pride　and　high　breeding。　　Gervasio　and　Santiago　resembled　their　sister　in　coloring　and　profile；　but　lacked　her　subtle　quality　of　personality　and　divine　innocence。　　Luis　was　more　the　mother's　son　than　the　father'ssav…　ing　his　olive　skin；　a　grandee；　modified　by　the　sim…　plicities　of　a　soldier's　life；　amiable　and　upright。　Dona　Ignacia　recognized　in　Concha　the　quintes…　sence　of　the　two　opposing　streams；　and　had　long　since　ceased　to　impose　upon　a　girl　who　had　little　else　but　her　liberties；　the　conventional　restrictions　of　the　Spanish　maiden。　　Concha　had　already　re…　ceived　many　offers　of　marriage　and　regarded　men　as　mere　swingers　of　incense。　　Moreover；　her　cul…　tivated　mind　was　filled　with　ideals　and　ideas　far　beyond　anything　California　would　yield　in　her　day。

As　Rezanov；　upon　Dona　Ignacia's　retreat；　walked　directly　over　to　her；　she　smilingly　seated　herself　on　a　sofa　and　swept　aside　her　voluminous　white　skirts。　　She　was　not　sure　that　she　liked　him；　but　in　no　doubt　whatever　of　her　delight　at　his　advent。

Her　manners　were　very　simple　and　artless；　as　are　the　manners　of　most　women　whom　Nature　has　gifted　with　complexity　and　depth。

〃It　is　now　two　years　and　more　that　we　have　been　excited　over　the　prospect　of　this　visit；〃　she　said。　　〃But　if　you　will　tell　me　what　you　have　been　doing　all　this　time；　I；　at　least；　will　forgive　you；　for　you　will　never　be　able　to　imagine；　senor；　how　I　long　to　hear　of　the　great　world。　　I　stare　at　the　map；　then　at　the　few　pictures　we　have。　　I　know　many　books　of　travel　by　heart；　but　I　am　afraid　my　imagination　is　a　poor　one；　for　I　cannot　con…　jure　up　great　cities　filled　with　peoplethousands　of　people！　　DIOS　DE　MI　ALMA！　　A　world　where　there　is　something　besides　mountains　and　water；　grain　fields；　orchards；　forests；　earthquakes；　and　climate？　　Will　you；　senor？〃

〃For　quite　as　many　hours　as　you　will　listen　to　me。　　I　propose　a　compact。　　You　shall　improve　my　Spanish。　　I　will　impart　all　I　know　of　Europe　and　of　Asiaif　your　curiosity　reaches　that　far。〃

〃Even　of　Japan？〃　　There　was　a　wicked　spark　in　her　eye。

〃I　see　you　already　have　some　knowledge　of　the　cause　of　my　delay。〃　　His　voice　was　even；　but　a　wound　smarted。　　〃It　is　quite　true；　senorita；　that　the　first　embassy　to　Japan；　from　which　we　hoped　so　much；　was　a　humiliating　failure；　and　that　I　was　played　with　for　six　months　by　a　people　whom　we　had　regarded　as　a　nation　of　monkeys。　　When　my　health　began　to　suffer　from　the　long　confinement　on　shipboardwe　had　previously　been　fourteen　months　at　seaand　I　asked　to　be　permitted　to　live　on　shore　while　my　claims　to　an　audience　were　under　consideration；　I　was　removed　with　my　suite　to　a　cage　on　a　strip　of　land　nearly　surrounded　with　water；　where　I　had　less　liberty　and　exercise　than　on　shipboard。　　Finally；　I　had　a　ridiculous　interview　with　a　'great　man；'　in　which　I　accomplished　nothing　but　the　preservation　of　what　personal　dignity　a　man　may　while　sitting　on　his　heels；　the　superb　presents　of　the　Tsar　were　returned　to　me；　and　I　was　politely　told　to　leave。　　Japan　wanted　neither　the　friendship　of　Russia　nor　her　gimcracks。　　That；　senorita；　is　the　history　of　the　first　Russian　Embassyfor　the　tenta…　tive　visit　of　Adam　Lanxmann；　twelve　years　before；　can　be　dignified　by　no　such　titleto　Oriental　waters。　It　is　to　be　hoped　that　Count　Golofkin；　who　was　to　undertake　a　similar　mission　to　China；　has　met　with　a　better　fate。〃

Underneath　the　polished　armour　of　a　man　who　was　a　courtier　when　he　chose　and　the　dominating　spirit　always；　he　was　hot　and　quick　of　temper。　　His　light　cold　eyes　glowed　with　resentment　at　the　danc…　ing　lights　in　hers；　as　he　cynically　gave　her　a　bald　abstract　of　the　unfortunate　mission。　　He　reflected　that　commonly　he　would　have　fitted　a　different　mask　to　the　ugly　skull　of　fact；　but　this　young　bar…　barian；　as　he　chose　to　regard　her；　excited　the　ele…　mental　truth　in　him；　defying　him　to　appear　at　his　worst。　　He　was　astonished　to　see　her　eyes　suddenly　soften　and　her　mouth　tremble。

〃It　must　have　been　a　hateful　experiencehate…　ful！〃　　Her　voice；　beginning　on　its　usual　low　soft　note；　rose　to　a　hoarse　pitch　of　indignation。　　〃I　should　have　killed　somebody！　　To　be　a　man；　and　strong；　and　caressed　all　one's　life　by　fortuneand　to　be　as　helpless　as　an　Indian！　　Madre　de　dios！〃

〃I　shall　take　my　revenge；〃　said　Rezanov　shortly；　but　the　wound　closed；　and　once　more　he　became　aware　of　the　poignant　sweetness　of　Castilian　roses。　Concha　wore　one　in　her　soft　dusky　hair；　and　an…　other　where　the　little　round　jacket　of　white　linen；　gaily　embroidered　with　pink；　met　on　her　bosom。　But　if　sentiment　tempted　him　he　was　quickly　poised　by　her　next　remarks。　　She　uttered　them　in　a　low　tone；　although　the　animated　conversation　of　the　rest　of　the　party　would　have　permitted　the　two　on　the　sofa　to　exchange　the　vows　of　love　unheard。

〃But　what　a　practice　for　your　diplomatic　talents；　Excellency！　　Poor　California！　　At　least　let　me　be　the　first　to　hear　what　you　have　come　for？〃　　Her　voice　dropped　to　a　soft　cooing　note；　although　her　eyes　twinkled。　　〃For　the　love　of　God；　senor！　　I　am　so　bored　in　this　life　on　the　edge　of　the　world！　　To　see　the　seams　and　ravelings　of　a　diplomatic　in…　trigue！　　I　have　read　and　heard　of　many；　but　never　had　I　hoped　to　link　my　finger　in　anything　subtler　than　a　quarrel　between　priest　and　Governor；　or　the　jealousy　of　Los　Angeles　for　Monterey。　　I　even　will　help　youif　you　mean　no　harm　to　my　father　or　my　country。　　And　I　am　not　a　friend　to　scorn；　senor；　for　my　blessed　father　is　as　wax　in　my　hands；　the　dear　old　Governor　adores　me；　and　even　Padre　Abella；　who　thinks　himself　a　great　diplomat；　and　is　watching　us　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　while　I　make　him　believe　you　pay　me　so　many　compli…　ments　my　poor　little　head　turns　roundBueno　senor！〃　　As　she　raised　her　voice　she　plucked　the　rose　from　her　dress　and　tossed　it　to　Rezanov。　　Then　she　lifted　her　chin　and　pouted　her　childish　lips　at　the　ironical　smile　of　the　priest。

Rezanov　was　close　to　betraying　his　surprise；　but　as　he　cherished　a　belief　that　the　souls　of　all　pretty　women　went　to　school　to　the　devil　before　entering　upon　earthly　enterprise；　he　wondered　that　he　had　been　open　to　the　illusion　of　complete　ingenuousness　in　a　descendant　of　one　of　the　oldest　and　subtlest　civilizations　of　earth。　　Within　that　luminous　shell　of　youth　there　were；　no　doubt；　whispering　memories　of　men　and　women　steeped　in　court　intrigue　from　birth；　of　triumphant　beauties　that　had　lived　for　love　and　their　power　over　the　passions　of　men　as　ardent　as　himself。　　It　was　quite　possible　that　she　might　be　as　useful　as　she　desired。　　But　his　impulses　were　in　leash。　　He　merely　looked　and　murmured　his　ad…　miration。

〃Better　ask；　what　chance　have　I；　a　defenceless　man；　who　has　not　seen　a　charming　woman　for　three　years；　against　such　practised　art？　　If　you　can　hood…　wink　a　Spanish　priest；　and　manipulate　a　Governor　who　has　won　the　confidence　of　the　most　suspicious　court　in　Europe；　what　fortune　for　a　barbarian　of　the　north？　　Less　than　with　Japan；　I　should　think。〃

He　divested　the　rose　of　its　thorns　and　many　tight　little　buds；　and　thrust　the　stem　underneath　the　star　of　St。　Ann。　　She　lifted　her　chin　again　and　tossed　her　head。

〃You　do　not　trust　me；　but　you　will。　　I　fancy　it　will　be　before　longfor　it　is　quite　true　that　the　Californians　are　not　so　easily　outwitted。　　And　even　did　I　not　help　you；　I　would　notI　vow；　senor！　betray　you。　　Is　it　true　that　Russia　is　at　war　with　Spain？〃

〃What？〃

〃Have　you　not　heard？　　It　was　for　that　we　were　all　so　excited　this　morning。　　We　thought　your　ship　might　be　the　first　of　a　fleet。〃

〃I　have　heard　no　such　rumor；　and　you　may　dis…　miss　it。　　Russia　is　too　much　occupied　with　Napo…　leon　Bonaparte；　who　has　had　himself　crowned　Em…　peror；　and　by　this　time　is　probably　at　war　with　half　Europe〃

She　interrupted　him　with　flashing　eye。　　The　pink　in　her　cheeks　had　turned　red。　　The　thin　nostrils　of　her　pretty　Roman　nose　fluttered　like　paper。　　〃Ah！〃　she　exclaimed；　again　with　that　note　of　hoarseness　in　her　voice。　　〃There　is　a　great　man；　not　a　mere　king　on　a　throne　his　ancestors　made　for　him。　　Papa　hates　him　because　he　has　seized　a　throne。　　AY　YI！　DIOS；　but　you　should　hear　the　words　fly　when　we　go　to　war　together。　　But　I　do　not　care　that〃she　snapped　her　firm　white　fingers〃for　all　the　Bour…　bons　that　are　in　Europe。　　Bonaparte！　　Do　you　know　him