rezanov-第24章

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gh　with　no　loss　of　dignity；　and　beat　about　the　bush　with　the　others　until　the　Governor　betrayed　himself　at　last　by　a　chance　remark：

〃What　you　say　of　the　neighborly　instincts　of　the　Russian　colonists　for　the　Spanish　on　this　coast　in…　terests　me　deeply；　Excellency；　but　if　Russia　is　at　war　with　Spain〃

〃Russia　is　not　at　war　with　Spain；〃　said　Rezanov；　with　a　flash　of　amusement　in　his　half…closed　eyes。　〃Napoleon　Bonaparte　is　encamped　about　half　way　between　the　two　countries。　　They　could　not　get　at　each　other　if　they　wished。　　While　that　man　is　at　large；　Europe　will　be　at　war　with　him；　no　two　na…　tions　with　each　other。〃

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Arrillaga。　　〃That　is　a　manner　of　reasoning　that　had　not　occurred　to　me。〃

The　Commandante　had　spat　at　the　mention　of　the　usurper's　name　and　muttered　〃Chinchosa！〃　and　Rezanov；　recalling　his　first　conversation　with　Con…　cha；　looked　into　the　honest　eyes　of　the　monarchist　with　a　direct　and　hearty　sympathy。

〃No　better　epithet　for　him；〃　he　said。　　〃And　the　sooner　Europe　combines　to　get　rid　of　him　the　bet…　ter。　　But　until　it　does；　count　upon　a　common　griev…　ance　to　unite　your　country　and　mine。〃

〃Good！〃　muttered　the　Governor。　　〃Good！　　I　am　glad　that　nightmare　has　lifted　its　bat's　wings　from　our　poor　California。　　Captain　O'Cain's　raid　two　years　ago　made　me　apprehensive；　for　he　took　away　some　eleven　hundred　of　our　otter　skins　and　his　hunters　were　Aleutianssubjects　of　the　Tsar。　　A　negro　that　deserted　gave　the　information　that　they　were　furnished　the　Bostonian　by　the　chief　manager　of　your　CompanyBaranhovwhose　reputation　we　know　well　enough！for　the　deliberate　purpose　of　raiding　our　coast。〃

Rezanov　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　replied　indif…　ferently：　〃I　will　ask　Baranhov　when　I　return　to　Sitka；　and　write　you　the　particulars。　　It　is　more　likely　that　the　Aleutians　were　deserters。　　This　O'Cain　would　not　be　the　first　shrewd　Bostonian　to　tempt　them；　for　they　are　admirable　hunters　and　ready　for　any　change。　　They　make　a　greater　de…　mand　upon　the　Company　for　variety　of　diet　than　we　are　always　prepared　to　meet；　so　many　are　the　difficulties　of　transportation　across　Siberia。　　When；　therefore；　the　time　arrived　that　I　could　continue　my　voyage；　I　determined　to　come　here　and　see　if　some　arrangement　could　not　be　made　for　a　bi…yearly　exchange　of　commodities。　　We　need　farinaceous　stuffs　of　every　sort。　　I　will　not　pay　so　poor　a　com…　pliment　to　your　knowledge　of　the　northern　settle…　ments　as　to　enlarge　upon　the　advantages　California　would　reap　from　such　a　treaty。〃

The　Governor；　who　had　permitted　himself　to　touch　the　back　of　his　chair　after　the　dispersal　of　the　war　cloud；　stiffened　again。　　〃Ah！〃　he　said。　〃Ah！〃　　He　looked　significantly　at　the　Com…　mandante；　who　nodded。　　〃You　come　on　a　semi…　official　mission；　after　all；　then？〃

〃It　is　entirely　my　own　idea；〃　said　Rezanov　care…　lessly。　　〃The　young　Tsar　is　too　much　occupied　with　Bonaparte　to　give　more　than　a　passing　thought　to　his　colonies。　　But　I　have　a　free　hand。　　Can　I　arrange　the　preliminaries　of　a　treaty；　I　have　only　to　return　to　St。　Petersburg　to　receive　his　signature　and　highest　approval。　　It　would　be　a　great　feather　in　my　cap　I　can　assure　your　excellencies；〃　he　added；　with　a　quick　human　glance　and　a　sudden　curve　of　his　somewhat　cynical　mouth。

〃Um！〃　said　the　Governor。　　〃Um！〃

But　Arguello's　stern　face　had　further　relaxed。　After　all；　he　was　but　eleven　years　older　than　the　Russian；　and；　although　early　struggles　and　heavy　responsibilities　and　many　disappointments　had　de…　prived　life　of　much　of　its　early　savor；　what　was　left　of　youth　in　him　responded　to　the　ambition　he　divined　in　this　interesting　stranger。　　Moreover；　the　idea　of　a　friendly　bond　with　another　race　on　the　lonely　coast　of　the　Pacific　appealed　to　him　irresistibly。　　He　turned　eagerly　to　the　Governor。

〃It　is　a　fine　idea；　Excellency。　　We　need　much　that　they　have；　and　it　pleases　me　to　think　we　should　be　able　to　supply　the　wants　of　others。　　Fancy　any　one　wanting　aught　of　California；　except　hides；　to　be　sure。　　I　did　not　think　our　existence　was　known　save　to　an　occasional　British　or　Boston　skipper。　　It　is　true　we　are　here　only　to　Christianize　savages；　but　even　they　have　need　of　much　that　cannot　be　manu…　factured　in　this　God…forsaken　land。　　And　we　our…　selves　could　be　more　comfortableGod　in　heaven；　yes！　　It　is　well　to　think　it　over；　Excellency。　　Who　knows？we　might　have　a　trip　to　the　north　once　in　a　while。　　Life　is　more　excellent　with　something　to　look　forward　to。〃

〃You　should　have　a　royal　welcome。　　Baranhov　is　the　most　hospitable　man　in　Russia；　and　I　might　have　the　happiness　to　be　there　myself。　　I　see；　by　the　way；　that　you　have　not　engaged　in　shipbuilding。　　I　need　not　say　that　we　should　supply　the　ships　of　com…　merce；　with　no　diminution　of　your　profits。　　We　build　at　Okhotsk；　Petropaulovski；　Kadiak；　and　Sitka。　Moreover；　as　the　Bostonians　visit　us　frequently；　and　as　your　laws　prohibit　you　from　trading　with　them；　we　would　see　that　you　always　got　such　of　their　com…　modities　as　you　needed。　　They　come　to　us　for　furs；　and　generally　bring　much　for　which　we　have　no　use。　　Captain　D'Wolf；　from　whom　I　bought　the　Juno；　had　a　cargo　I　was　forced　to　take　over。　　I　unloaded　what　was　needed　at　Sitka；　but　as　there　was　no　boat　going　for　some　months　to　the　other　islands；　I　brought　the　rest　with　me；　and　you　are　wel…　come　to　it；　if　in　exchange　you　will　ballast　the　Juno　with　samples　of　your　agricultural　products；　while　the　treaty　is　pending；　I　can　experiment　in　our　col…　onies　and　make　sure　which　are　the　most　adaptable　to　the　market。

〃Um！〃　said　the　Governor。　　〃Um！〃

Rezanov　did　not　remove　his　cool　direct　gaze　from　the　snapping　eyes　opposite。

〃I　have　not　the　least　objection　to　making　a　trade　that　would　fill　my　promuschleniki　with　joy；　but　that　was　by　no　means　the　first　object　of　my　voyage；　which　was　partly　inspired　by　a　desire　to　see　as　much　of　this　globe　as　a　man　may　in　one　short　life；　partly　to　arrange　a　treaty　that　would　be　of　incalculable　benefit　to　both　colonies　and　greatly　redound　to　my　own　glory。　　I　make　no　pretence　of　being　disinter…　ested。　　I　look　forward　to　a　career　of　ever　increasing　influence　and　power　in　St。　Petersburg；　and　I　wish　to　take　back　as　many　credits　as　possible。〃

〃I　understand；　I　understand！〃　　The　Governor　rested　his　lame　back　once　more。　　〃Your　ambition　is　the　more　laudable；　Excellency；　since　you　have　achieved　so　much　already。　　I　am　not　one　to　balk　the　honest　ambition　of　any　man；　particularly　when　he　does　me　the　honor　to　take　me　into　his　confidence。　　I　like　this　suggested　measure。　　I　like　it　much。　　I　be…　lieve　it　would　redound　to　our　mutual　benefit　and　reputation。　　Is　it　not　so；　Jose？〃

The　Commandante　nodded　vigorously。　　〃I　am　sure　of　it！　　I　am　sure　of　it！　　I　like　itmuch；　much。〃

〃I　will　write　at　once　to　the　Viceroy　of　Mexico　and　ask　that　he　lay　the　matter　before　the　Cabinet　and　King。　　Without　that　high　authority　we　can　do　nothing。　　But　I　see　no　reason　to　doubt　the　issue　when　we；　who　know　the　wants　and　needs　of　California；　approve　and　desire。　　We　are　doomed　to　failure　in　this　unwieldy　land　of　worthless　savages；　but　it　is　the　business　of　the　wretched　servants　of　a　glorious　mon…　arch　to　do　the　best　they　can。〃

Rezanov　had　an　inspiration。　　〃You　might　remind　the　viceroy　that　Spain　and　the　United　States　of　America　have　been　on　the　verge　of　war　for　years；　and　suggest　the　benefit　of　an　alliance　with　Russia　in　the　case　of　the　new　country　taking　advantage　of　the　situation　in　Europe　to　extend　its　western　boundaries〃

Arrillaga　had　bounced　to　his　feet；　his　small　eyes　injected　and　blazing。　　〃Those　damned　Bostonians！〃　he　shouted。　　〃I　distrusted　them　years　ago。　　They　have　too　much　calculation　in　their　bluntness。　　They　cheated　us；　sold　us　short；　traded　under　my　very　nose；　stole　our　otters；　until　I　ordered　them　never　to　drop　an　anchor　in　California　waters　again。　　If　their　ridiculous　upstart　government　dares　to　cast　its　eyes　on　California　we　shall　know　how　to　meet　them　the　sooner　they　march　on　Mexico　and　lose　their　conceit　the　better。　　How　they　do　brag！　　Faugh！　　It　is　sickening。　　I　shall　remember　all　you　say；　Excel…　lency；　and　thank　you　for　the　hint。〃

Rezanov　rose；　and　the　Commandante　solemnly　kissed　him　on　either　cheek。　　〃Governor　Arrillaga　is　my　guest；　Excellency；〃　he　said。　　〃I　beg　that　you　will　dine　with