rezanov-第26章
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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；
