rezanov-第12章
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of his mouth he lit and adjusted another。
〃No doubt she has some fervent wish； like all children；〃 he thought apologetically。 〃And whether this will help her to realize it or not； at least it will be interesting to watch her eyesand mouth when I tell her。 Will she melt； or flash； or receive my offering at her shrine as a matter of course？ I'll surprise her to…night in the middle of a dance。〃
He deposited a gold piece among the candles on the table and followed Father Abella through a side door。 A corridor ran behind the long line of rooms designed not only for priests but for travellers al… ways sure of a welcome at these hospitable Mis… sions。 Father Abella shuffled ahead； halted on the threshold of a large room； and ceremoniously in… vited his guests to enter。 Two other priests stood before a table set with wine and delicate confec… tions； their hands concealed in their wide brown sleeves； but their unmatched physiognomiesthe one lean and jovial； the other plump and resigned alight with the same smile of welcome。 Father Abella mentioned them as his coadjutor Father Martin Landaeta； and their guest Father Jose Uria of San Jose； and then the three； with the scant rites of genuine hospitality； applied themselves to the tick… ling of palates long unused to ambrosial living。 Re… sponding ingenuously to the glow of their home… made wines； they begged Rezanov to accept the Mis… sion； burn it； plunder it； above all； to plan his own day。
〃I hope that I am to see every detail of your great work；〃 replied the diplomatic guest of honor。 〃But at your own leisure。 Meanwhile； I beg that you will order one of your Indians to bring in the little presents I venture to offer as a token of my respect。 You may have heard that the presents of his Im… perial Majesty were refused by the Mikado of Japan。 I reserved many of them for possible use in our own possessions； particularly a piece of cloth of gold。 This I had intended for our church at New Archangel； but finding the priests there more in need of punishment than reward； I concluded to bring it here and offer it as a manifest of my ad… miration for what the great Franciscan Order of the Most Holy Church of Rome has accomplished in the Californias。 Have I been too presump… tuous？〃
The priests all wore the eager expressions of chil… dren。
〃Could we not see them first？〃 asked Father Lan… daeta of his superior； and Father Abella sent a ser… vant with an order to unload the horse and bring in the presents。
Not a vestige of reserve lingered。 Priests and guests sat about the table eating and drinking and chatting as were they old friends reunited； and Rezanov extracted much of the information he de… sired。 The white population〃gente de razon〃 of Alta California； the peculiar province of the Franciscansthe Jesuits having been the first to invade Baja California； and with little success numbered about two thousand； the Christianized Indians about twenty thousand。 There were nine… teen Missions and four Presidial districtsSan Diego； close to the border of Baja California； Santa Barbara； Monterey； and San Francisco。 Each Mis… sion had an immense grant of land； or rancho generally fifteen miles squarefor the raising of live stock； agricultural necessities； and the grape。 At the Presidio of San Francisco there were some seventy men； including invalids； and the number varied little at the other military centres； Rezanov inferred； although there was a natural effort to im… press the foreigner with the casual inferiority of the armed force within his ken。 Cattle and horses increased so rapidly that every few years there was a wholesale slaughter； although the agricultural yield was enormous。 What the Missions were un… able to manufacture was sent them from Mexico； and disposed of the small salaries of the priests； the 〃Pious Fund of California〃 in the city of Mexico being systematically embezzled。 The first Presidio and Mission were founded at San Diego in July of 1769； the last at San Francisco in Sep… tember and October of 1776。
Rezanov's polite interest in the virgin country was cut short by the entrance of two Indians carry… ing heavy bundles； which they opened upon the floor without further delay。
The cloth of gold was magnificent； and the padres handled it as rapturously as had their souls and fin… gers been of the sex symbolized while exalted by the essence of maternity； in whose service it would be anointed。 Rezanov looked on with an amused sigh； yet conscious of being more comprehending and sympathetic than if he had journeyed straight from Europe to California。 It was not the first time he had felt a passing gratitude for his uncomfort… able but illuminating sojourn so close to the springs of nature。
The priests were as well pleased with the pieces of fine English cloth； and as their own homespun robes rasped like hair shirts； they silently but uni… formly congratulated themselves that the color was brown。
Father Abella turned to Rezanov； his saturnine features relaxed。
〃We are deeply grateful to your excellency； and our prayers shall follow you always。 Never have we received presents so timely and so magnificent。 And be sure we shall not forget the brave officers that have brought you safely to our distant shores； nor the distinguished scholar who guards your ex… cellency's health。〃 He turned to Langsdorff and repeated himself in Latin。 The naturalist； whose sharp nose was always lifted as if in protest against oversight and ready to pounce upon and penetrate the least of mysteries； bowed with his hand on his heart； and translated for the benefit of the officers。
〃Humph！〃 said Davidov in Russian。 〃Much the Chamberlain will care for the prayers of the Cath… olic Church if he has to go home with his cargo。 But he has a fine opportunity here for the display of his diplomatic talents。 I fancy they will avail him more than they did at Nagasakiwhere I am told he swore more than once when he should have kow… towed and grinned。〃
〃I shouldn't like to see him grin；〃 replied Khos… tov； as they finally started for the outbuildings。 〃If he could go as far as that he would be the most terrible man living。 Were it not for the fire in him that melts the iron just so often he would be crafty and cruel instead of subtle and firm。 He is a for… tunate man！ There were many fairies at his cradle！ I have always envied him； and now he is going to win that beautiful Dona Concha。 She will look at none of us。〃
〃We will doubtless meet others as beautiful at the ball to…night；〃 said Davidov philosophically。 〃You are not in love with a girl who has barely spoken to you； I suppose。〃
〃She had almost given me a rose this morning； when Rezanov； who was flattering the good Dona Ignacia with a moment of his attention； turned too soon。 I might have been air。 She looked straight through me。 Such eyes！ Such teeth！ Such a form！ She is the most enchanting girl I have ever seen。 And he will monopolize her without troubling to notice whether we even admire her or not。 Pray heaven he does not break her heart。〃
〃He is honorable。 One must admit that； if he does fancy his own will was a personal gift from the Almighty。 Perhaps she will break his。 I never saw a more accomplished flirt。〃
〃I know women；〃 replied the shrewder Khos… tov。 When men like Rezanov make an effort to please〃 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃Some men are the offspring of Mars and Venus and most of us are not。 We can at least be philosophers。 Let us hope the dinner will be excellent。〃
VII
It proved to be the most delicate and savory repast that had excited their appetites this side of Europe。 The friars had their consolations； and even Dona Ignacia Arguello was less gastronomic than Father Landaeta。 Rezanov； whose epicurianism had sur… vived a year of dried fish and the coarse luxuries of his managers； suddenly saw all life in the light of the humorist； and told so many amusing versions of his adventures in the wilderness； and even of his misadventure with Japan； that the priests choked over their wine； and Langsdorff； who had not a grain of humor； swelled with pride in his chance relationship to a man who seemed able to manip… ulate every string in the human network。
〃He will suc
