rezanov-第32章

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rs？　　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　erect；　with　one　white　hand　on　the　table　and　the　other　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword　（yet　full　of　courtesy；　and　longing　to　enjoy　the　cheer　and　conversation　of　his　host）；　〃the　peaceful　monotony　of　our　lives　has　been　rudely　shaken　by　a　demand　upon　three　fallible　human　beings　to　alter　the　course　of　history　in　two　great　nations。　　That　is　a　sufficient　excuse　for　the　suspense　to　which　we　have　been　forced　to　subject　you。　　The　marriage　of　a　Russian　and　a　Spaniard　is　of　no　great　moment　in　itself；　but　the　marriage　of　the　Plenipotentiary　of　the　Tsar　himself　with　the　daughter　of　Jose　Mario　Arguello；　not　only　one　of　the　most　eminent；　respected；　and　distinguished　of　His　Most　Catholic　Majesty's　subjects　in　New　Spain；　but　a　man　so　beloved　and　influential　that　he　could　create　a　revolution　were　he　so　mindedindeed；　Jose；　no　one　knows　better　than　I　how　incapable　you　are　of　treason〃as　the　Commandante　gave　a　loud　exclamation　of　horror〃I　merely　illustrate　and　emphasize。　　My　sands　are　nearly　run；　Excellency；　it　is　to　the　estimable　mind　and　strong　paternal　hand　of　my　friend　that　this　miserable　colony　must　look　before　long；　would　she　continue　even　this　hand　to　mouth　existencea　fact　well　known　to　our　king　and　natural　lord。　　When　he　hears　of　this　projected　alliance〃

〃Projected？〃　exclaimed　Rezanov。　　〃I　wish　to　marry　at　once。〃

Father　Abella　shook　his　head　vigorously；　but　he　spoke　with　great　kindness。　　〃That；　Excellency；　alas；　is　the　one　point　upon　which　we　are　forced　to　dis…　appoint　you。　　Indeed；　our　own　submission　to　your　wishes　is　contingent。　　This　marriage　cannot　take　place　without　a　dispensation　from　Rome　and　the　consent　of　the　King。〃

Rezanov　looked　at　Don　Jose。　　〃You；　too？〃　he　asked　curtly。

The　Commandante　stirred　uneasily；　heaved　a　deep　sigh；　he　thought　of　the　long　impatience　of　his　Con…　cha。　　〃It　is　true；〃　he　said。　　〃Not　only　would　it　be　impossible　for　my　conscience　to　resign　itself　to　the　marriage　of　my　daughter　with　a　hereticpar…　don；　Excellencywithout　the　blessing　of　the　Pope；　not　only　would　no　priest　in　California　perform　the　ceremony　until　it　arrived；　but　it　would　mean　the　degradation　of　Governor　Arrillaga　and　myself；　and　the　ruin　of　all　your　other　hopes。　　We　should　be　ordered　summarily　to　Mexico；　perhaps　worse；　and　no　Russian　would　ever　be　permitted　to　set　foot　in　the　Californias　again。　　I　would　it　were　otherwise。　I　knowI　knowbut　it　is　inevitable。　　Your　excel…　lency　must　see　it。　　Even　were　you　a　Catholic；　Gov…　ernor　Arrillaga　and　the　President　of　the　Missions；　at　least；　would　not　dare　to　countenance　this　mar…　riage　without　the　consent　of　the　King。〃

Rezanov　was　silent　for　a　few　minutes。　　In　spite　of　the　emotions　of　the　past　few　days　he　was　aston…　ished　at　the　depth　and　keenness　of　his　disappoint…　ment。　　But　never　yet　had　he　failed　to　realize　when　he　was　beaten；　nor　to　trim　his　sails　without　loss　of　precious　time。

〃Very　well；〃　he　said。　　〃I　will　go　to　St。　Peters…　burg　at　the　earliest　possible　moment；　obtain　personal　letters　from　the　Tsar　and　proceed　post　haste　to　Rome　and　Madrid。　　At　the　same　time　I　shall　arrange　for　the　treaty　with　full　authority　from　the　Tsar。　　Then　I　shall　sail　from　Spain　to　Mexico　and　reach　here　as　soon　as　may　be。　　It　will　take　a　long　while；　the　best　part　of　two　years；　but　I　have　your　word〃

〃You　have；〃　the　three　asserted　with　solemn　em…　phasis。

〃Very　well。　　But　there　is　one　thing　more。　　I　am　not　in　a　diplomatic　humor。　　My　Sitkans　are　starv…　ing。　　I　must　leave　here　with　a　shipload　of　bread…　stuffs。〃

Again　the　Governor　drew　up　his　slim　soldierly　figure；　deposited　his　cigarette　on　the　malachite　ash　tray。　　〃You　may　be　sure　that　we　have　given　that　momentous　question　our　deepest　consideration。　Father　Abella's　suggestion　that　we　buy　your　com…　modities　for　cash；　and　that　with　our　Spanish　dol…　lars　you　buy　again　of　us；　did　not　strike　me　favor…　ably　at　first；　for　it　savored　of　sophistry。　　I　may　have　failed　in　every　attempt　to　benefit　and　advance　this　Godforsaken　country；　but　at　least　I　have　been　the　honest　agent　of　my　King。　　But　the　circumstances　are　extraordinary。　　You　are　about　to　become　one　of　us；　to　do　our　unhappy　colony　the　greatest　service　that　is　in　the　power　of　any　mortal；　and　personally　you　have　inspired　us　with　affection　and　respect。　　I　have；　therefore；　decided　that　the　exchange　shall　be　made　on　these　terms；　but　that　your　cargo　shall　be　received　by　Don　Jose　Arguello；　Commandante　of　the　San　Francisco　Company；　and　held　in　trust　until　the　formal　consent　of　the　King　to　the　purchase　shall　arrive。〃

Rezanov　glowed　to　his　finger　tips。　　Not　even　the　assurance　of　his　union　with　the　woman　of　his　heart；　which　after　all　had　met　but　the　skeleton　of　his　de…　sires；　gave　him　the　acute　satisfaction　of　this　sud…　den　fulfilment　of　his　self…imposed　mission。　　He　dropped　his　own　official　demeanor　and　throwing　himself　across　the　table　gripped　the　Governor's　hand　while　he　poured　out　his　thanks　in　a　voice　thick　with　feeling；　his　eyes　glittering　with　more　than　vic…　tory。　　He　did　not　lose　sight　of　his　ultimate　designs　and　pledge　himself　to　external　friendship；　but　he　un…　wittingly　conveyed　the　impression　that　Spain　had　that　day　made　a　friend　she　ill　could　afford　to　lose；　and　his　three　visitors　rose　well　pleased　with　the　cul…　mination　of　the　interview。

〃You　must　stay　here　no　longer；　Rezanov；〃　said　Don　Jose；　as　they　were　taking　leave。　　〃My　house　is　now　literally　your　own。　　It　will　be　some　weeks　be…　fore　the　large　quantities　of　corn　and　flour　and　other　stores　you　wish　can　be　got　togetherfor　we　must　lay　a　requisition　on　the　fertile　Mission　ranchos　in　the　valleysand　you　will　exchange　these　narrow　quarters　for　such　poor　comfort　as　my　house　affords　I　take　no　denial。　　Concha　will　remain　at　Juan　Moraga's　for　the　present。〃



XXI

Concha；　after　her　father　left　her；　sat　for　a　long　while　in　an　attitude　of　such　complete　repose　that　Sturgis；　watching　her　miserably　from　the　veranda；　remembered　the　consolations　of　his　sketch　book；　and　he　was　able　to　counterfeit　the　graceful；　proud　figure；　under　the　wall　and　roses；　before　she　stirred。

Concha　had　sent　her　father　away　deeply　puzzled。　When；　after　embracing　her　with　unusual　emotion；　he　had