Theysaid\"Bueno\"altogether,andforthemomentappearedtobeupheldbyareligiousenthusiasm,——ajointconfessionoffaiththatmeantdeath,destruction,andpossiblyforgery,asagainstthemenwhothoughtotherwise。
Thisspiritualharmonydidawaywithallpracticalconsiderationanddoubt。\"Ihavealittleniece,\"saidVictor,\"whoseworkwiththepenismarvellous。Ifonesaystoher,’Carmen,copymethis,ortheotherone,’——evenifitbecopper-plate,——lookyouitisdone,andyoucannotknowofwhichistheoriginal。MadredeDios!
theotherdayshemakesmearubric*oftheGovernor,PioPico,thesame,identical。Thouknowesther,Miguel。Sheaskedconcerningtheeyesterday。\"
*TheSpanish\"rubric\"isthecomplicatedflourishattachedtoasignature,andisasindividualandcharacteristicasthehandwriting。
Withtheembarrassmentofanunderbredman,Migueltriedtoappearunconcerned,butfaileddismally。Indeed,IfearthattheblackeyesofCarmenhadalreadydonetheirperfectandacceptedwork,andhadpartlyinducedtheapplicationforVictor’said。He,however,dissembledsofarastoask:
\"Butwillshenotknow?\"
\"Sheisachild。\"
\"Butwillshenottalk?\"
\"NotifIsaynay,andifthou——eh,Miguel?\"
Thisbitofflattery(which,bytheway,wasalie,forVictor’sniecedidnotinclinefavorablytoMiguel,haditseffect。Theyshookhandsoverthetable。\"But,\"saidMiguel,\"whatistobedonemustbedonenow。\"\"Atthemoment,\"saidVictor,\"andthoushaltseeitdone。Eh?Doesitcontentthee?thencome!\"
MiguelnoddedtoManuel。\"Wewillreturninanhour;waitthouhere。\"
Theyfiledoutintothedark,irregularstreet。FateledthemtopasstheofficeofDr。GuildatthemomentthatConchomountedhishorse。Theshadowsconcealedthemfromtheirrival,buttheyoverheardthelastinjunctionsofthePresidenttotheunluckyConcho。
\"Thouhearest?\"saidMiguel,clutchinghiscompanion’sarm。
\"Yes,\"saidVictor。\"Butlethimride,myfriend;inonehourweshallhavethatthatshallarriveYEARSbeforehim,\"andwithacomplacentchuckletheypassedunseenandunhearduntil,abruptlyturningacorner,theystoppedbeforealowadobehouse。
Ithadoncebeenasomewhatpretentiousdwelling,buthadevidentlyfollowedthefortunesofitslateowner,DonJuanBriones,whohadoffereditasalastsoptothethree-headedCerberusthatguardedtheElRefugioPlutoneantreasures,andwhohadswalloweditinasinglegulp。Itwasinverybadcase。Thefurrowsofitsred-
tiledrooflookedasiftheyweretheresultsofageanddecrepitude。
Itsbestroomhadamustysmell;therewasthedampnessofdeliquescenceinitsslowdecay,buttheSpanishCaliforniansweresensiblearchitects,anditsmassivewallsandpartitionsdefiedtheearthquakethrill,andalltheyearroundkeptaneventemperaturewithin。
VictorledMiguelthroughalowanteroomintoaplainly-furnishedchamber,whereCarmensatpainting。
NowMistressCarmenwasabitofapainter,inaprettylittleway,withallthevaguelongingsofanartist,butwithout,Ifear,theartist’ssteadfastsoul。Sherecognizedbeautyandformasachildmight,withoutunderstandingtheirmeaning,andsomehowfailedtomakethemeveninterpretherwoman’smoods,whichsurelywerenature’stoo。Soshepaintedeverythingwiththisinnocentlustoftheeye,——flowers,birds,insects,landscapes,andfigures,——withajoyousfidelity,butnoparticularpoetry。Thebirdneversangtoherbutonesong,theflowersortreesspakebutonelanguage,andherskiesneverbrightenedexceptincolor。ShecameoutstrongontheCatholicsaints,andwouldtossyouupacleanly-shavenAloysius,sweetlydestituteofexpression,oradropsical,lethargicMadonnathatyoucouldn’thavetoldfromanoldmaster,sobaditwas。Herfacultyoffaithfulreproductionevenshoweditselfinfancifullettering,——andlatterlyintheimitationoffabricsandsignatures。Indeed,withhereyeforbeautyofform,shehadalwaysexcelledinpenmanshipattheConvent,——anaccomplishmentwhichthegoodsistersheldingreatrepute。
Inpersonshewaspetite,withastillunformedgirlishfigure,perhapsalittletooflatacrosstheback,andwithpossiblyatoogreattendencytoaboyishstrideinwalking。Herbrow,coveredbyblue-blackhair,waslowandfrankandhonest;hereyes,averydarkhazel,werenotparticularlylarge,butratherheavilyfreightedintheirmelancholylidswithsleepingpassion;hernosewasofthatunimportantcharacterwhichnomanremembers;hermouthwassmallandstraight;herteeth,whiteandregular。Thewholeexpressionofherfacewaspiquancythatmightbesubduedbytendernessormademalevolentbyanger。Atpresentitwasasaladinwhichtheoilandvinegarweredeftlycombined。Theastutefemininereaderwillofcourseunderstandthatthisistheordinarysuperficialmasculinecriticism,andatoncemakeuphermindbothastothecharacteroftheyoungladyandthecompetencyofthecritic。IonlyknowthatIratherlikedher。Andherfunctionsaresomewhatimportantinthisveracioushistory。
Shelookedup,startedtoherfeet,leveledherblackbrowsattheintruder,but,atasignfromheruncle,showedherwhiteteethandspake。
Itwasonlyasentence,andarathercommon-placeoneatthat;butifshecouldhaveputhervoiceuponhercanvas,shemighthaveretrievedtheGarciafortunes。Foritwassomusical,sotender,sosympathizing,somelodious,sorepletewiththegraciousnessofwomanhood,thatsheseemedtohaveinventedthelanguage。Andyetthatsentencewasonlyanexaggeratedformofthe’Howd’yedo,’
whinedout,doledout,lispedout,orshotoutfromtheprettymouthsofmyfaircountrywomen。
Migueladmiredthepaintings。Hewasstruckparticularlywithacrayondrawingofamule。\"MotherofGod,itisthemuleitself!
observehowitwillnotgo。\"ThenthecraftyVictorbrokeinwith,\"Butitisnothingtoherwriting;look,youshalltelltomewhichisthehandwritingofPioPico;\"and,fromadrawerinthesecretary,hedrewforthtwosignatures。Onewasaffixedtoayellowishpaper,theotherdrawnonplainwhitefoolscap。OfcourseMigueltookthemoremodernonewithlover-likegallantry。
\"Itisthisisgenuine!\"Victorlaughedtriumphantly;Carmenechoedthelaughmelodiouslyinchild-likeglee,andadded,withaslighttossofherpiquanthead,\"Itismine!\"Thebestofthesexwillnotrefuseajustandoverduecomplimentfromeventhemantheydislike。It’stheprinciplethey’reafter,notthesentiment。
ButVictorwasnotsatisfiedwiththisproofofhisniece’sskill。
\"Saytoher,\"hedemandedofMiguel,\"whatnamethoulikest,anditshallbedonebeforetheehere。\"MiguelwasnotsomuchinlovebutheperceivedthedriftofVictor’ssuggestion,andremarkedthattherubricofGovernorMicheltorenawasexceedinglycomplicatedanddifficult。\"Sheshalldoit!\"respondedVictor,withdecision。
FromafileofolddepartmentalpaperstheGovernor’ssignatureandthatinvolvedrubric,whichmusthavecosthislateExcellencymanyyouthfuldaysofanxiety,wasproducedandlaidbeforeCarmen。
Carmentookherpeninherhand,lookedatthebrownish-lookingdocument,andthenatthevirginwhitenessofthefoolscapbeforeher。\"But,\"shesaid,poutingprettily,\"Ishouldhavetofirstpaintthiswhitepaperbrown。Anditwillabsorbtheinkmorequicklythanthat。WhenIpaintedtheSanAntoniooftheMissionSanGabrielforFatherAcolti,IhadtoputthedecayinwithmyoilsandbrushesbeforethegoodPadrewouldacceptit。\"
Thetwoscampslookedateachother。Itwastheirsuprememoment。
\"IthinkIhave,\"saidVictor,withassumedcarelessness,\"IthinkI
havesomeoftheoldCustom-Housepaper。\"Heproducedfromthesecretaryasheetofbrownpaperwithastamp。\"Tryitonthat。\"
Carmensmiledwithchildishdelight,triedit,andproducedamarvel!\"Itisasmagic,\"saidMiguel,feigningtocrosshimself。
Victor’srolewasmoreserious。Heaffectedtobedeeplytouched,tookthepaper,foldedit,andplaceditinhisbreast。\"IshallmakeagoodfoolofDonJoseCastro,\"hesaid;\"hewilldeclareitistheGovernor’sownsignature,forhewashisfriend;buthaveacare,Carmen!thatyouspoilitnotbytheopeningofyourredlips。Whenheisfooled,Iwilltellhimofthismarvel,——thisnieceofmine,andheshallbuyherpictures。Eh,littleone?\"andhegavehertheavuncularcaress,i。e。,apatofthehandoneithercheek,andakiss。Miguelenviedhim,butcupidityoutgeneraledCupid,andpresentlytheconversationflagged,untilaconvenientrecollectionofVictor’s——thathimselfandcomradeweredueatthePosadadelTorosat10o’clock——gavethemtheopportunitytoretire。ButnotwithoutachanceshotfromCarmen。
\"Telltome,\"shesaid,halftoVictorandhalftoMiguel,\"whathaschancedwithConcho?Hewaseverreadytobringtomeflowersfromthemountain,andinsectsandbirds。Thouknowesthowhewouldsit,oh,myuncle,andtalktomeoftherarerockshehadseen,andthebearsandtheevilspirits,andnowhecomesnolonger,myConcho!Howisthis?Nothingevilhasbefallenhim,surely?\"andherdroopinglidsclosedhalf-pathetically。
Miguel’sjealousytookfire。\"Heisdrunk,Senorita,doubtless,andhasforgottennotonlytheebut,mayhap,hismuleandpack!Itishiscustom,ha!ha!\"
ThereddiedoutofCarmen’sripelips,andsheshutthemtogetherwithasnaplikeasteelpurse。Thedovehadsuddenlychangedtoahawk;thechild-girlintoanantiquevirago;thespirithithertodimlyoutlinedinherface,ofsomeshrewishGarciaancestress,cametothefore。Shedartedaquicklookatheruncle,andthen,withherlittlehandsonherrigidlips,strodewithtwostepsuptoMiguel。
\"Possibly,OSenorMiguelDominguezPerez(aprofoundcourtesyhere),itisasthousayest。DrunkardConchomaybe;but,drunkorsober,heneverturnedhisbackonhisfriend——or——(thewordsgratedalittlehere)——hisenemy。\"
Miguelwouldhavereplied,butVictorwasready。\"Fool,\"hesaid,pinchinghisarm,\"’tisanoldfriend。And——and——theapplicationisstilltobefilledup。Areyoucrazy?\"
ButonthispointMiguelwasnot,andwiththerevengeofarivaladdedtohisotherinstincts,hepermittedVictortoleadhimaway。
Ontheirreturntothefonda,theyfoundMasterManueltoofargonewithaguardiente,andageneralanimositytotheaverageAmericano,tobeofanyservice。Sotheyworkedalone,withpen,ink,andpaper,inthestuffy,cigarrito-cloudedbackroomofthefonda。Itwasmidnight,twohoursafterConchohadstarted,thatMiguelclappedspurstohishorseforthevillageofTresPinos,withanapplicationtoGovernorMicheltorenaforagranttothe\"RanchooftheRedRocks\"comfortablybestowedinhispocket。
CHAPTERVII
WHOPLEADFORIT
Therecanbelittledoubtthecoroner’sjuryofFresnowouldhavereturnedaverdictof\"deathfromalcoholism,\"astheresultoftheirinquestintothecauseofConcho’sdeath,hadnotDr。Guildfoughtnoblyinsupportofthelawandhisownconvictions。A
majorityofthejuryobjectedtotherebeinganyinquestatall。A
sincerejurymanthoughtithardthatwheneveraGreaserpeggedoutinasneakin’kindo’way,Americancitizensshouldbetakenfromtheirbusinesstofindoutwhatailedhim。\"S’posehewaskilled,\"
saidanother,\"tharain’tnotimethisthirtyyearheweren’t,sotospeak,justsufferin’forit,ezhisnat’ralrightezaMexican。\"Thejuryatlastcompromisedbybringinginaverdictofhomicideagainstcertainpartiesunknown。YetitwasunderstoodtacitlythattheseunknownpartieswereseverallyWilesandPedro;
Manuel,Miguel,andRoscommonprovinganunmistakablealibi。WilesandPedrohadfledtolowerCalifornia,andManuel,Miguel,andRoscommondeemeditadvisable,inthethenexcitedstateofthepublicmind,towithholdtheforgedapplicationandclaimfromthecourtsandthepubliccomment。SothatforayearafterthemurderofConchoandtheflightofhisassassins\"TheBlueMassMiningCompany\"remainedinundisturbedandactualpossessionofthemine,andreignedintheirstead。
ButthespiritofthemurderedConchowouldnotdownanymorethanthatofthemurderedBanquo,andsowrought,nodoubt,inaquiet,Concho-likeway,soretroublewiththe\"BlueMassCompany。\"ForagreatCapitalistandMasterofAvaricecamedowntothemineandfounditfair,andtakingoneoftheCompanyaside,offeredtolendhisnameandacertainamountofcoinforacontrollinginterest,accompanyingthegenerousofferwithasuggestionthatifitwerenotaccededtohewouldbecompelledtobuyupvariousMexicanminesandfloodthemarketwithquicksilvertothegreatdetrimentofthe\"BlueMassCompany,\"whichthoughtfulsuggestion,offeredbyamanfrequentlyalludedtoasoneof\"California’sgreatminingprinces,\"andasonewhohad\"donemuchtodeveloptheresourcesoftheState,\"wasnottobelightlyconsidered;andso,afteracautiousnon-consultationwiththeCompany,andacommendablesecrecy,thestockholdersoldout。WhereatitwasspeedilyspreadabroadthatthegreatCapitalisthadtakenholdof\"BlueMass,\"andthestockwentup,andtheotherstockholdersrejoiced——untilthegreatCapitalistfoundthatitwasnecessarytoputupexpensivemills,toemployahighsalariedSuperintendent,infact,todeveloptheminebythespendingofitsearnings,sothatthestockquotedat112wasfinallysaddledwithanassessmentof$50pershare。Anotherassessmentof$50toenabletheSuperintendenttoproceedtoRussiaandSpainandexamineintotheworkingsofthequicksilverminesthere,andalsoageneralcommissiontothegiftedandscientificPillagemantoexamineintothevariouscomponentpartsofquicksilver,andreportifitcouldnotbemanufacturedfromordinarysand-stonebysteamorelectricity,speedilybroughttheotherstockholderstotheirsenses。Itwasatthistimethegoodfellow\"Tom,\"theserious-minded\"Dick,\"andthespeculativebutfortunate\"Harry,\"brokersoftheGreatCapitalist,founditconvenienttobuyup,fortheGreatCapitalistaforesaid,thevariousothersharesatgreatsacrifice。
IfearthatIhaveboredmyreadersinthusgivingthetiresomedetailsofthatingenuousAmericanpastimewhichmycountrymendismissintheirepigrammaticwayasthe\"freezing-outprocess。\"
Andlestanyreadershouldquestiontheethicsoftheproceeding,I
beghimtorememberthatonegentlemanaccomplishedinthisartwasalwaysasincereanddirectopponentofthelateMr。JohnOakhurst,gambler。
ButforoncetheGreatMasterofAvaricehadnottakenintosufficientaccounttheavariceofothers,andwassuddenlyandvirtuouslyshockedtolearnthatanapplicationforapatentforcertainlands,knownasthe\"Red-RockRancho,\"wasabouttobeofferedbeforetheUnitedStatesLandCommission。Thisclaimcoveredhisminingproperty。Buttheinformationcamequietlyandsecretly,asalloftheGreatMaster’sinformationwasobtained,andhetooktheopportunitytosellouthiscloudedtitleandhisproprietorshiptotheonlyremainingmemberoftheoriginal\"BlueMassCompany,\"ayoungfellowofpith,beforemany-tonguedrumorhadvoicedthenewsfarandwide。Theblowwasaheavyonetothepartyleftinpossession。SaddledbytheenormousdebtsandexpensesoftheGreatCapitalist,withacreditnowfurtherinjuredbythedefectionofthisluckymagnate,whowasadmiredforhisskillinanticipatingaloss,andwhoserelinquishmentofanyprojectmeantruintoit,thesingle-handed,impoverishedpossessorofthemine,whosetitlewascontested,andwhosereputationwasyettobemade,——poorBiggs,firstsecretaryandonlyremainingofficerofthe\"BlueMassCompany,\"lookedruefullyoverhisbooksandhislasttransfer,andsighed。ButIhavebeforeintimatedthathewasbuiltofgoodstuff,andthathebelievedinhiswork,——
whichwaswell,——andinhimself,whichwasbetter;andso,havingfaithevenasagrainofmustardseed,Idoubtnothewouldhavebeenabletoremovethatmountainofquicksilverbeyondtheoverlappingoffraudulentgrants。And,again,Providence——havingdisposedoftheseseveralscamps——raiseduptohimafriend。Butthatfriendisofsufficientimportancetothisveracioushistorytodeserveaparagraphtohimself。
ThePyladesofthisOresteswasknownofordinarymortalsasRoyalThatcher。Hisgenealogy,birth,andeducationare,Itakeit,oflittleaccounttothischronicle,whichisonlyconcernedwithhisfriendshipforBiggsandtheresultthereof。HehadknownBiggsayearortwopreviously;theyhadsharedeachother’spurses,bunks,cabins,provisions,andoftenfriends,withthatperfectfreedomfromobligationwhichbelongedtothepioneerlife。ThevaryingtideoffortunehadjustthenstrandedThatcheronadesertsandhillinSanFrancisco,withanuninsuredcargoofExpectations,whiletoThatcher’sactivebutnotcuriousfancyithadapparentlyliftedhisfriend’sbarkoverthebarintheMontereymountainsintoanopenquicksilversea。SothathewasconsiderablysurprisedonreceivinganotefromBiggstothispurport:
\"DEARROY——Rundownhereandhelpafellow。I’vetoomuchofaloadforone。Maybewecanmakeateamandpull’BlueMass’outyet。BIGGSEY。\"
Thatcher,sittinginhisscantilyfurnishedlodgings,doubtfulofhisnextmealandinarrearsforrent,heardthisMacedoniancryasSt。Pauldid。Hewroteapromissoryandsoothingnotetohislandlady,butfearingthe\"sweetsorrow\"ofpersonalparting,lethiscollapsedvalisedownfromhiswindowbyacord,and,bymeansofaneconomicalcombinationofstageridingandpedestrianism,hepresentedhimself,atthecloseofthethirdday,atBiggs’sdoor。
Inafewmomentshewasinpossessionofthestory;halfanhourlaterinpossessionofhalfthemine,itsinfelixpastanditsdoubtfulfuture,equallywithhisfriend。
Businessover,Biggsturnedtolookathispartner。\"You’veagedsomesinceIsawyoulast,\"hesaid。\"Starvationluck,Is’pose。
I’dknowyoureyes,oldfellow,ifIsawthemamongtenthousand;
butyourlipsareparched,andyourmouth’sgrimmerthanitusedtobe。\"Thatchersmiledtoshowthathecouldstilldoso,butdidnotsay,ashemighthavesaid,thatself-control,suppressedresentment,disappointment,andoccasionalhungerhaddonesomethinginthewayofcorrectingNature’sobviousmistakes,andshuttingupakindlymouth。Heonlytookoffhisthreadbarecoat,rolleduphissleeves,andsaying,\"We’vegotlotsofworkandsomefightingbeforeus,\"pitchedintothe\"affairs\"ofthe\"BlueMassCompany\"ontheinstant。
CHAPTERVIII
OFCOUNSELFORIT
MeanwhileRoscommonhadwaited。Then,inGarcia’sname,andbackedbyhim,helaidhiscasebeforetheLandCommissioner,filingtheapplication(withforgedindorsements)toGovernorMicheltorena,andallegingthattheoriginalgrantwasdestroyedbyfire。Andwhy?
ItseemedtherewasalimittoMissCarmen’simitativetalent。
Admirableasitwas,itdidnotreachtothereproductionofthatofficialseal,whichwouldhavebeenanecessaryappendagetotheGovernor’sgrant。ButtherewereletterswrittenonstampedpaperbyGovernorMicheltorenatohimself,Garcia,andtoMiguel,andtoManuel’sfather,allofwhichweredulysignedbythesignmanualandrubricofMrs-Governor-Micheltorena-Carmen-de-Haro。Andthentherewas\"parol\"evidence,andplentyofit;witnesseswhorememberedeverythingaboutit,——namely,Manuel,Miguel,andtheall-recollectingDeHaro;hereweredetails,poeticalandsuggestive;andDame-Quicklyish,aswhenhislateExcellency,sittingnot\"byasea-coalfire,\"butwithaguardienteandcigarros,hadsworntohim,theex-ecclesiasticMiguel,thatheshouldgrant,andhadgranted,Garcia’srequest。Therewerecloudsofwitnesses,conversations,letters,andrecords,glibandpattotheoccasion。Inbrief,therewasnothingwantedbutthesealofhisExcellency。Theonlycopyofthatwasinthepossessionofarivalschoolofrenaissantartandtherestorationofantiques,thendoingbusinessbeforetheLandCommission。
Andyettheclaimwasrejected!Havinglatelyrecommendedtwoseparateclaimantstoapatentforthesameland,theLandCommissionbecamecautiousandconservative。
Roscommonwasatfirstastounded,thenindignant,andthenwarlike,——hewasforan\"appaletoonst!\"
Withthereader’spreviousknowledgeofRoscommon’sdispositionthismayseemsomewhatinconsistent;buttherearecertainnaturestowhomlitigationhasalltheexcitementofgambling,anditshouldbeborneinmindthatthiswashisfirstlawsuit。Sothathislawyer,Mr。SaponaceousWood,foundhiminthatbelligerentmoodtowhichcounselareobligedtohypocriticallybringallthesophistriesoftheirprofession。
\"Ofcourseyouhaveyourrighttoanappeal,butcalmyourself,mydearsir,andconsider。Thecasewaspresentedstrongly,theevidenceoverwhelmingonourside,butwehappenedtobefightingpreviousdecisionsoftheLandCommissionthathadbroughtthemintotrouble;sothatifMicheltorenahadhimselfappearedinCourtandtestifiedtohisgivingyouthegrant,itwouldhavemadenodifference,——noSpanishgranthadashowthen,norwillithaveforthenextsixmonths。Yousee,mydearsir,theGovernmentsentoutoneofitsbigWashingtonlawyerstolookintothisbusiness,andhereportedfrauds,sir,frauds,inamajorityoftheSpanishclaims。Andwhy,sir?why?Hewasbought,sir,bought——bodyandsoul——bytheRing!\"
\"Andfwhot’stheRing?\"askedhisclientsharply。
\"TheRingis——ahem!acombinationofunprincipledbutwealthypersonstodefeattheendsofjustice。\"
\"Andsure,fwhot’stheRingtodowidmegrantasthatthavingMexicangavemeasthecollatheralsforthebourdhewasowin’me?
Eh,mindthatnow!\"
\"TheRing,mydearsir,istheotherside。Itis——ahem!alwaystheOtherSide。\"
\"Andwhythedivelhaven’tweaRingtoo?Andain’tIpayin’yefivehundreddollars,——andthedivelofRingyehave,atall,atall?FwhotamIpayin’yefur,eh?\"
\"Thatajudiciousexpenditureofmoney,\"beganMr。Wood,\"outsideofactualdisbursements,maynotbeofinfiniteservicetoyouIamnotpreparedtodeny,——but——\"
\"Lookye,Mr。SappyWood,it’sthe’appale’Iwant,andthegrantI’llhave,morebetokenastheoldwoman’shar-rutandmeownissetonitentoirely。GetmethelandandI’llgiveyethehalfofit,——andit’sabargain!\"
\"Butmydearsir,therearesomerulesinourprofession,——
technicalthoughtheymaybe——\"
\"Thedivelflyawaywidyerprofession。Sureisitbetternormeown?IfI’veriskedmeprovisionsandmewhisky,thatcostmesolidgooldinFrisco,onthatthafeGarcia’sclaim,bedad!theloikesofyecanriskyerlaw。\"
\"Well,\"saidWood,withanawkwardsmile,\"Isupposethatadeedforonehalf,ontheconsiderationoffriendship,mydearsir,andadollarinhandpaidbyme,mightbereconcilable。\"
\"Nowit’stalkin’yeare。Butwho’sthefellywe’refoighten,that’sgottheRing?\"
\"Ah,mydearsir,it’stheUnitedStates,\"saidthelawyerwithgravity。
\"TheStates!theGovernmentisit?Andis’tthatye’reafearedof?
Sureit’stheGovernmentthatIfoughtinmeowncounthree,itwastheGovernmentthatdruvmetoAmeriky,andisitnowthatI’mgoingbackonmeprinciples?\"
\"Yourpoliticalsentimentsdoyougreatcredit,\"beganMr。Wood。
\"Butfwhot’stheGovernmenttodowidtheappale?\"
\"TheGovernment,\"saidMr。Woodsignificantly,\"willberepresentedbytheDistrictAttorney。\"
\"Andwho’sthespalpeen?\"
\"Itisrumored,\"saidMr。Wood,slowly,\"thatanewoneistobeappointed。I,myself,havehadsomeambitionthatway。\"
Hisclientbentapairofcunningbutnotover-wisegreyeyesonhisAmericanlawyer。Butheonlysaid,\"Yehave,eh?\"
\"Yes,\"saidWood,answeringthelookboldly;\"andifIhadthesupportofanumberofyourprominentcountrymen,whoaresopowerfulwithALLparties,——menlikeYOU,mydearsir,——why,I
thinkyoumightintimebecomeaconservative,atleastmoreresignedtotheGovernment。\"
Thenthelesserandthegreaterscamplookedateachother,andforamomentortwofeltawarm,sympathetic,friendlyemotionforeachother,andquietlyshookhands。
Dependuponitthereisagreatdealmorekindlyhumansympathybetweentwoopenly-confessedscampsthanthereisinthatcalm,respectablerecognitionthatyouandI,dearreader,exhibitwhenwehappentoopposeeachotherwithourrespectivevirtues。
\"Andye’llgettheappale?\"
\"Iwill。\"
AndheDID!AndbyasingularcoincidencegottheDistrictAttorneyshipalso。Andwithadeedforonehalfofthe\"Red-RockRancho\"inhispocket,sentabrotherlawyerincourttoappearforhisclient,theUnitedStates,asagainstHIMSELF,Roscommon,Garcia,etal。Wildhorsescouldnothavetornhimfromthisnobleresolution。Thereisanindescribabledelicacyinthelegalprofessionwhichweliteraryfolkoughttoimitate。
TheUnitedStateslost!Whichmeantruinanddestructiontothe\"BlueMassCompany,\"whohadboughtfromapaternalandbeneficentGovernmentlandswhichdidn’tbelongtoit。TheMexicangrant,ofcourse,antedatedtheoccupationoftheminebyConcho,Wiles,Pedro,etal。,aswellasbythe\"BlueMassCompany,\"andthesolitarypartners,BiggsandThatcher。Morethanthat,itswalloweduptheirimprovements。ItmadeBiggsandThatcherresponsibletoGarciaforallthemoneytheGrandMasterofAvaricehadmadeoutofit。Mr。DistrictAttorneywasapparentlydistressed,butresigned。
Messrs。BiggsandThatcherwerereallydistressedandcombative。
Andthen,toadvanceafewyearsinthischronicle,beganreallitigationwithearnestness,vigor,courage,zeal,andbeliefonthepartofBiggsandThatcher,andtechnicalities,delay,equivocation,andageneralFabian-likepolicyonthepartofGarcia,Roscommon,etal。OfallthesetediousprocessesInotebutone,whichfororiginalityandaudacityofconceptionappearstometoindicatemoreclearlythetemperandcivilizationoftheepoch。AsubordinateofficeroftheDistrictCourtrefusedtoobeythemandateorderingatranscriptoftherecordtobesentuptotheUnitedStatesSupremeCourt。ItistoberegrettedthatthenameofthisEphesianyouth,whothusfiredthedomeofourconstitutionalliberties,shouldhavebeenotherwisesounimportantastobeconfinedtothedustyrecordsofthatdoubtfulcourtofwhichhewasadoubtfulservitor,andthathisclaimtoimmortalityceasedwithhisdouble-feedservice。Buttherestillstandsonrecordaletterbythisyounggentleman,arraigningthelegalwisdomoftheland,whichisnotentirelydevoidofamusementoreveninstructiontoyoungmendesirousofobtainingpublicityandcapital。Howbeit,theSupremeCourtwasobligedtoprotectitselfbyprocuringthelegislationofhisfunctionsoutofhislocalfingersintothelargerpalmofitsownattorney。
Thesevariousprocessesoflawandequity,which,whenexercisedpracticallyintheaffairsofordinarybusiness,mighthaveoccupiedafewmonths’time,dragged,clung,retrograded,oradvancedslowlyduringaperiodofeightornineyears。ButthestrongarmsofBiggsandThatcherheldPOSSESSION,andpossibly,bythesametacticsemployedontheotherside,arrestedordelayedejectment,andsomadeandsoldquicksilver,whiletheiropponentswerespendinggold,untilBiggs,sorelyhitintheinterlacingsofhisarmor,fellinthelists,hischeekgrowingwaxenandhisstrongarmfeeble,andfindinghimselfinthissorecondition,andpassing,asitwere,madeoverhisshareintrusttohiscomrade,anddied。Whereat,fromthattimehenceforward,RoyalThatcherreignedinhisstead。
Andso,havinganticipatedthelegalrecord,wewillgobacktothevarioushumanintereststhathelpedtomakeitup。
TobeginwithRoscommon:Todojusticetohislaterconductandexpressions,itmustberememberedthatwhenheacceptedtheclaimforthe\"Red-RockRancho,\"yetunquestioned,fromthehandsofGarcia,hewascareless,oratleastunsuspiciousoffraud。Itwasnotuntilhehadexperiencedtheintoxicationoflitigationthathefelt,somehow,thathewasawrongedanddefraudedman,butwiththeobstinacyofdefraudedmen,preferredtoarraignsomeonefactorindividualastheimpellingcauseofhiswrong,ratherthanthevariouscircumstancesthatledtoit。Tohissimpleminditwasmadepatentthatthe\"BlueMassCompany\"weremakingmoneyoutofaminewhichheclaimed,andwhichwasnotyetadjudgedtothem。
Everydollartheytookoutwasafreshcountinthisgeneralindictment。Everydelaytowardsthisadjustmentofrights——
althoughmadebyhisownlawyer——wasapersonalwrong。Themerefactthatthereneverwasnorhadbeenanyquidproquoforthisimmenseproperty——thatithadfallentohimforameresong——onlyaddedzesttohisstruggle。Thepossibilityofhislosingthismerespeculationaffectedhimmorestronglythanifhehadalreadypaiddownthemillionheexpectedtogetfromthemine。Idon’tknowthatIhaveindicatedasplainlyasImightthatuniversalpreferenceonthepartofmankindtogetsomethingfromnothing,andtoacquirethelargestreturnfortheleastpossibleexpenditure,butIquestionmyrighttosaythatRoscommonwasmuchmorereprehensiblethanhisfellows。
ButittolduponhimasitdiduponalloverwhomthespiritofthemurderedConchobrooded,——uponallwhomavaricealternatelyflatteredandtortured。Fromhisquietgainsinhislegitimatebusiness,fromthelittlecapitalaccumulatedthroughindustryandeconomy,helavishedthousandsonthischimeraofhisfancy。Hegrewgrizzledandwornoverhisself-imposeddelusion;henolongerjestedwithhiscustomers,regardlessofqualityorstationorimportance;hehadcliquestomollify,enemiestoplacate,friendstoreward。Thegrocerysuffered;throughgivingfoodandlodgmenttocloudsofunimpeachablewitnessesbeforetheLandCommissionandtheDistrictCourt,\"Mrs。Ros。\"foundherselflosingmoney。Eventhebarfailed;therewasapartyof\"BlueMass\"employeeswhodrankattheoppositefonda,andcursedtheRoscommonclaimovertheliquor。Thecalm,mechanicalindifferencewithwhichRoscommonhadservedhiscustomerswasgone。Thetowelwasnolongerusedafteritsperfunctoryfashion;thecounterremainedunwiped;thedisksofcountlessglassesmarkeditssurface,andindicatedotherpreoccupationonthepartoftheproprietor。Thekeengreyeyesoftheclaimantofthe\"Red-RockRancho\"werealwaysonthelookoutforfriendorenemy。
Garciacomesnext。Thatgentleman’sinborntalentforhistoricmisrepresentationculminatedunpleasantlythroughadefectivememory;ayearortwoafterhehadsworninhisapplicationforthe\"Rancho,\"beingengagedinanothercase,sometriflinginconsistencywasdiscoveredinhisstatements,whichhadtheeffectofthrowingtheweightofevidencetothepartywhohadpaidhimmost,butwasinstantlydetectedbytheweakerparty。Garcia’spreeminenceasawitness,anexpertandgeneralhistorianbegantodecline。Hewasobligedtobecorroborated,andthisrequiredaliberaloutlayofhisfee。Withthelossofhiscredibilityasawitnessbadhabitssupervened。Hewasfrequentlydrunk,helosthisposition,helosthishouse,andCarmen,removedtoSanFrancisco,supportedhimwithherbrush。
Andthisbringsusoncemoretothatprettypainterandinnocentforgerwhoseunconsciousactboresuchbalefulfruitonthebarrenhill-sidesofthe\"Red-RockRancho,\"andalsotoalaterblossomofherlife,thatopened,however,inkindliersunshine。
CHAPTERIX
WHATTHEFAIRHADTODOABOUTIT
ThehousethatRoyalThatchersoinformallyquittedinhisexodustothepromisedlandofBiggswasoneofthoseoversized,under-
calculateddwellingsconceivedanderectedintheextravaganceoftheSanFranciscobuilder’shopes,andoccupiedfinallyinhisdespair。IntendedoriginallyasthepalaceofsomeinchoateCaliforniaAladdin,itusuallyendedasalodginghouseinwhichsomehelplesswidoworhopelessspinstermanagedtocombinerespectabilitywiththehardtaskofbreadgetting。
Thatcher’slandladywasoneoftheformerclass。Shehadunfortunatelysurvivednotonlyherhusbandbuthisproperty,and,livinginsomedesertedchamber,had,afterthefashionoftheItaliannobility,letouttherestoftheruin。Atendencytodwelluponthesefactsgaveherconversationapeculiarsignificanceonthefirstofeachmonth。Thatcherhadnoticedthiswiththesensitivenessofanimpoverishedgentleman。Butwhen,afewdaysafterherlodger’ssuddendisappearance,anotecamefromhimcontainingadraftinnobleexcessofallarrearsandcharges,thewidow’sheartwaslifted,andtherocksmittenwiththegoldenwandgushedbeneficencethatshoneinanewgownforthewidowandanewsuitfor\"Johnny,\"herson,anewoilclothinthehall,betterservicetothelodgers,and,letusbethankful,akindlierconsiderationforthepoorlittleblack-eyedpainterfromMonterey,thendreadfullybehindinherroomrent。For,totellthetruth,thecallsuponMissDeHaro’sscantpursebyherunclehadlatelybeenfrequent,perjuryhavingdeclinedintheMontereymarket,throughexcessiveandinjudicioussupply,untilthelineofdemarcationbetweenitandabsoluteveritywassofinelydrawnthatVictorGarciahadremarkedthat\"hemightaswelltellthetruthatonceandsavehissoul,sincethedevilwasinthemarket。\"
MistressPlodgitt,thelandlady,couldnotresistthedesiretoacquaintCarmenDeHarowithhergoodfortune。\"Hewasalwaysafriendofyours,mydear,——andIknowhimtobeagentlemanthatwouldneverletapoorwidowsuffer;andseewhathesaysaboutyou!\"HeresheproducedThatcher’snoteandread:\"TellmylittleneighborthatIshallcomebacksoontocarryherandhersketchingtoolsoffbyforce,andIshallnotletherreturnuntilshehascaughttheblackmountainsandtheredrockssheusedtotalkabout,andputthe’BlueMass’millintheforegroundofthepictureIshallorder。\"
Whatisthis,littleone?Surely,Carmen,thouneedstnotblushatthis,thyfirstgrandoffer。HolyVirgin!isitofanecessitythatthoushouldststickthewrongendofthybrushinthymouth,andthendropitinthylap?OrwasittaughttheebythegoodSistersattheconventtostrideinthatboyishfashiontothesideofthyeldersandsnatchfromtheirhandsthemissivethouwouldstread?Moreofthiswewouldknow,OCarmen,——smallestofbrunettes,——speak,littleone,eveninthineownmelodiousspeech,thatImaycommendtheeandthyrarediscretiontomyownfaircountrywomen。
Alas,neitherthepresentchroniclernorMistressPlodgittgotanyfurtherinformationfromtheprudentCarmen,andmustfainspeculateuponcertainfactsthatwerealreadyknown。
MistressCarmen’slittleroomwasoppositetoThatcher’s,andonceortwice,thedoorsbeingopen,Thatcherhadaglimpseacrossthepassageofablack-hairedandasturdy,boyishlittlefigureinagreatblueapron,perchedonastoolbeforeaneasel,andontheotherhand,Carmenhadoftenbeenconsciousofthefumesofatobaccopipepenetratinghercloisteredseclusion,andhadseenacrossthepassage,vaguelyenvelopedinthesamenicotinecloud,anAmericanOlympian,inarockingchair,withhisfeetonthemantelshelf。Theyhadonceortwicemetonthestaircase,onwhichoccasionThatcherhadgreetedherwithawordortwoofrespectfulyethalf-humorouscourtesy,——acourtesywhichneverreallyoffendsatruewoman,althoughitoftenpiquesherself-
aplombbytheslightassumptionofsuperiorityinthehumorist。
AwomanisquicktorecognizethefactthatthegreatandmoredangerouspassionsarealwaysSERIOUS,andmaybeexcusedifinself-respectsheisofteninducedtotryiftherebenotsomewhereundertheskinofthislaughingMercutiothefleshandbloodofaRomeo。Thatcherwasbynatureadefenderandprotector;weakness,andweaknessalone,stirredthedepthsofhistenderness,——often,I
fear,onlythroughitshalf-humorousaspects,——andonthisplanehewaspleasedtoplacewomenandchildren。Imentionthisfactforthebenefitofthemoreyouthfulmembersofmyspecies,andamsatisfiedthatanunconditionalsurrenderandthecompletelayingdownatthefeetofBeautyofallstrongmasculinityisacheapGallicismthatisuntranslatabletomostwomenworthythewinning。
ForawomanMUSTalwayslookuptothemanshetrulyloves,——evenifshehastogodownonherkneestodoit。
OnlythemasculinereaderwillinferfromthisthatCarmenwasinlovewithThatcher;themorecriticalandanalyticalfeminineeyewillseenothinghereinthatmightnothavehappenedconsistentlywithfriendship。ForThatcherwasnosentimentalist;hehadhardlypaidacomplimenttothegirl,——evenintheunspokenbutmostdelicateformofattention。Thereweredayswhenhisroomdoorwasclosed;thereweredayssucceedingtheseblankswhenhemetherasfranklyandnaturallyasifhehadseenheryesterday。Indeed,onthosedaysfollowinghisflightthesimple-mindedCarmen,beingaware——heavenknowshow——thathehadnotopenedhisdoorduringthatperiod,andfearingsickness,suddendeath,orperhapssuicide,byherappealstothelandlady,assistedunwittinglyindiscoveringhisflightanddefection。AsshewasforafewmomentsasindignantasMrs。Plodgitt,itisevidentthatshehadbutlittlesympathywiththedelinquent。Andbesides,hithertoshehadknownonlyConcho,herearliestfriend,andwastruetohismemory,asagainstallAmericanos,whomshefirmlybelievedtobehismurderers。
Soshedismissedtheofferandthemanfromhermind,andwentbacktoherpainting,——afancyportraitofthegoodPadreJuniperoSerra,agreatmissionary,who,haplyfortheintegrityofhisbonesandcharacter,diedsomehundredyearsbeforetheAmericanstookpossessionofCalifornia。Thepicturewasfairbutunsaleable,andshebegantothinkseriouslyofsignpainting,whichwasthenmuchmorepopularandmarketable。AnunfinishedheadofSanJuandeBautista,artificiallyframedinclouds,shedisposedoftoaprominentdruggistfor$50,whereitdidgoodserviceasexhibitingtheeffectoffourbottlesof\"Jones’sFreckleEradicator,\"andinapleasantandunobtrusivewayrevivedthememoryofthesaint。Still,shefeltwearyandwasgrowingdespondent,andhadalongingforthegoodSistersandtheblamelesslethargyofconventuallife,andthen——
Hecame!
ButnotasthePrinceshouldcome,onawhitecharger,tocarryawaythiscruelly-abusedandenchanteddamsel。Hewassunburned,hewasbeardedlike\"thepard\";hewasalittlecarelessastohisdress,andpre-occupiedinhisways。Buthismouthandeyeswerethesame;andwhenherepeatedinhisoldfrank,half-mischievouswaytheinvitationofhisletter,poorlittleCarmencouldonlyhesitateandblush。
Athoughtstruckhimandsentthecolortohisface。Yourgentlemanbornisalwaysasmodestasawoman。Herandownstairs,andseizingthewidowedPlodgitt,saidhastily:
\"You’rejustkillingyourselfhere。Takeachange。ComedowntoMontereyforadayortwowithme,andbringmissDeHarowithyouforcompany。\"
Theoldladyrecognizedthesituation。Thatcherwasnowamanofvastpossibilities。InallmaternaldaughtersofEvethereistheslightestbitofthechaperoneandmatch-maker。Itisthelastwayofrevivingthepast。
Sheconsented,andCarmenDeHarocouldnotwellrefuse。
Theladiesfoundthe\"BlueMass\"millsverymuchasThatcherhadpreviouslydeliveredittothem,\"atrifleroughandmannish。\"Buthemadeovertothemtheonetenementreservedforhimself,andsleptwithhismen,ormorelikelyunderthetrees。AtfirstMrs。
Plodgittmissedgasandrunningwater,andtheseseveralconveniencesofcivilization,amongwhichIfearmaybementionedsheetsandpillowcases;butthebalsamofthemountainairsoothedherneuralgiaandhertemper。AsforCarmen,sheriotedintheunlimitedlicenseofherabsolutefreedomfromconventionalrestraintandtheindulgenceofherchild-likeimpulses。Shescouredtheledgesfarandwidealone;shedippedintodarkcopses,andscrambledoversterilepatchesofchemisal,andcamebackladenwiththespoilofbuckeyeblossoms,manzanitaberriesandlaurel。
Butshewouldnotmakeasketchofthe\"BlueMassCompany’s\"millsonaMercator’sprojection——somethingthatcouldbeafterwardslithographedorchromoed,withthemillsturningouttonsofquicksilverthroughtheenergiesofahappyandpicturesqueassemblageofminers——eventopleaseherpadrone,DonRoyalThatcher。Onthecontrary,shemadeastudyoftheruinsofthecrumbledanddecayedred-rockfurnace,withtheblackmountainaboveit,andthelightofadyingcampfireshininguponit,andthedull-redexcavationsintheledge。Buteventhisdidnotsatisfyheruntilshehadmadesomealterations;andwhenshefinallybroughtherfinishedstudytoDonRoyal,shelookedathimalittledefiantly。Thatcheradmiredhonestly,andthencriticisedalittlehumorouslyanddishonestly。\"Butcouldn’tyou,foraconsideration,putupasign-boardonthatrockwiththeinscription,’RoadtotheBlueMassCompany’snewmillstotheright,’andcombinebusinesswithart?That’sthefaultofyougeniuses。Butwhat’sthisblanketedfiguredoinghere,lyingbeforethefurnace?Youneversawoneofmyminersthere,——andaMexican,too,byhisserape。\"\"That,\"quothMistressCarmen,coolly,\"wasputintofilluptheforeground,——Iwantedsomethingtheretobalancethepicture。\"\"But,\"continuedThatcher,droppingintounconsciousadmirationagain,\"it’sdrawntothelife。Tellme,MissDeHaro,beforeIasktheaidandcounselofMrs。
Plodgitt,whoismyhatedrival,andyourlayfigureandmodel?\"
\"Oh,\"saidCarmen,withalittlesigh,\"It’sonlypoorCoucho。\"
\"AndwhereisConcho?\"(alittleimpatiently。)\"He’sdead,DonRoyal。\"\"Dead?\"\"Ofaverity,——verydead,——murderedbyyourcountrymen。\"\"Isee,——andyouknowhim?\"\"Hewasmyfriend。\"
\"Oh!\"
\"Truly。\"
\"But\"(wickedly),\"isn’tthisaratherghastlyadvertisement——
outsideofanillustratednewspaper——ofmyproperty?\"
\"Ghastly,DonRoyal。Lookyou,hesleeps。\"
\"Ay\"(inSpanish),\"asthedead。\"
Carmen(crossingherselfhastily),\"Afterthefashionofthedead。\"
Theywerebothfeelinguncomfortable。Carmenwasshivering。But,beingawoman,andtactful,sherecoveredherheadfirst。\"Itisastudyformyself,DonRoyal;Ishallmakeyouanother。\"
Andsheslippedaway,asshethought,outofthesubjectandhispresence。
Butshewasmistaken;intheeveningherenewedtheconversation。
Carmenbegantofence,notfromcowardiceordeceit,asthemasculinereaderwouldreadilyinfer,butfromsomewonderfulfeminineinstinctthattoldhertobecautious。Buthegotfromherthefact,tohimbeforeunknown,thatshewasthenieceofhismainantagonist,and,beingagentleman,soredoubledhisattentionsandhiscourtesythatMrs。Plodgittmadeuphermindthatitwasaforegoneconclusion,andseriouslyreflectedastowhatsheshouldwearonthemomentousoccasion。ButthatnightpoorCarmencriedherselftosleep,resolvingthatshewouldhereaftercastasideherwickeduncleforthisgood-heartedAmericano,yetneveronceconnectedherinnocentpenmanshipwiththedeadlyfeudbetweenthem。Women——thebestofthem——arestrongastocollateralfacts,swiftofdeduction,butvagueaschildrenaretotheexactstatementorrecognitionofpremises。ItishardlynecessarytosaythatCarmenhadneverthoughtofconnectinganyactofherswiththeclaimsofheruncle,andthecircumstanceofthesignatureshehadtotallyforgotten。
ThemasculinereaderwillnowunderstandCarmen’sconfusionandblushes,andbelievehimselfanasstohavethoughtthemaconfessionoforiginalaffection。Thefemininereaderwill,bythistime,becomesatisfiedthatthedeceitfulminx’ssoleideawastogaintheaffectionsofThatcher。AndreallyIdon’tknowwhoisright。
NeverthelessshepaintedasketchofThatcher,——whichnowadornstheCompany’sofficeinSanFrancisco,——inwhichthepropertyislaidoutinpleasinggeometricallines,andtherosypromiseofthefutureinstinctineverytouchofthebrush。Then,havingearnedher\"wage,\"asshebelieved,shebecamesomewhatcoldandshytoThatcher。Whereatthatgentlemanredoubledhisattentions,seeingonlyinherpresenceacertainmeprise,whichconcernedhermorethanhimself。Thenieceofhisenemymeantnothingmoretohimthananinterestinggirl,——tobeprotectedalways,——tobefeared,never。Butevensuspicionmaybeinsidiouslyplacedinnobleminds。
MistressPlodgitt,thusearlyestoppedofmatchmaking,ofcourseputtheblameonherownsex,andwentovertothestrongerside——
theman’s。
\"It’sagreatpitygalsshouldbesocurious,\"shesaid,sottovoce,toThatcher,whenCarmenwasinoneofhersullenmoods。
\"YetIs’poseit’sinherblood。ThemSpaniardsisalwaysrevengeful,——liketheEyetalians。\"
Thatcherhonestlylookedhissurprise。
\"Why,don’tyousee,she’sthinkinghowalltheselandsmighthavebeenheruncle’sbutforyou。Andinsteadoftryingtobesweetand——\"hereshestoppedtocough。
\"GoodGod!\"saidThatcheringreatconcern,\"Ineverthoughtofthat。\"Hestoppedforamoment,andthenaddedwithdecision,\"I
can’tbelieveit;itisn’tlikeher。\"
Mrs。P。waspiqued。Shewalkedaway,delivering,however,thisParthianarrow:\"Well,Ihope’TAINTNOTHINGWORSE。\"
Thatcherchuckled,thenfeltuneasy。WhenhenextmetCarmen,shefoundhisgreyeyesfixedonherswithacurious,half-
inquisitoriallookshehadnevernoticedbefore。Thisonlyaddedfueltothefire。Forgettingtheirrelationsofhostandguest,shewasabsolutelyrude。Thatcherwasquietbutwatchful;gotthePlodgitttobedearly,and,undercoverofshowingamoonlightviewofthe\"LostChanceMill,\"decoyedCarmenoutofear-shot,asfarasthedismantledfurnace。
\"Whatisthematter,MissDeHaro;haveIoffendedyou?\"
MissCarmenwasnotawarethatanythingwasthematter。IfDonRoyalpreferredoldfriends,whoseloyaltyofcourseheknew,andwhowereabovespeakingillagainstagentlemaninhisadversity——
(oh,Carmen!fie!)ifhepreferredTHEIRcompanytoLATERFRIENDS——
why——(themasculinereaderwillobservethistremendousclimaxandtremble)——whyshedidn’tknowwhyHEshouldblameHER。
Theyturnedandfacedeachother。Theconditionsforaperfectmisunderstandingcouldnothavebeenbetterarrangedbetweentwopeople。Thatcherwasamasculinereasoner,Carmenafemininefeeler,——ifImaybepardonedtheexpression。Thatcherwantedtogetatcertainfacts,andarguetherefrom。Carmenwantedtogetatcertainfeelings,andthenfitthefactstoTHEM。
\"ButIamNOTblamingyou,MissCarmen,\"hesaidgravely。\"ItWAS
stupidinmetoconfrontyouherewiththepropertyclaimedbyyouruncleandoccupiedbyme,butitwasamistake,——no!\"headdedhastily,\"itwasnotamistake。Youknewit,andIdidn’t。Youoverlookeditbeforeyoucame,andIwastoogladtooverlookitafteryouwerehere。\"
\"Ofcourse,\"saidCarmenpettishly,\"Iamtheonlyonetobeblamed。It’slikeyouMEN!\"(Mem。Shewasjustfifteen,andutteredthisawful’resume’ofexperiencejustasifithadn’tbeentaughttoherinhercradle。)
Femininegeneralitiesalwaysstaggeraman。Thatchersaidnothing。
Carmenbecamemoreenraged。
\"WhydidyouwanttotakeUncleVictor’sproperty,then?\"sheaskedtriumphantly。
\"Idon’tknowthatitisyouruncle’sproperty。\"
\"You——don’t——know?HaveyouseentheapplicationwithGovernorMicheltorena’sindorsement?Haveyouheardthewitnesses?\"shesaidpassionately。
\"Signaturesmaybeforgedandwitnesseslie,\"saidThatcherquietly。
\"Whatisityoucall’forged’?\"
ThatcherinstantlyrecalledthefactthattheSpanishlanguageheldnosynonymfor\"forgery。\"TheactwasapparentlyaninventionofelDiabloAmericano。Sohesaid,withaslightsmileinhiskindlyeyes:
\"Anybodywickedenoughanddexterousenoughcanimitateanother’shandwriting。Whenthisisusedtobenefitfraud,wecallit’forgery。’Ibegyourpardon,——MissDeHaro,MissCarmen,——whatisthematter?\"
Shehadsuddenlylapsedagainstatree,quitehelpless,nerveless,andwithstaringeyesfixedonhis。Asyetanembryowoman,inexperiencedandignorant,thesex’sinstinctwaspotential;shehadinoneplungefathomedallthathisreasonhadbeenyearsgropingfor。
Thatchersawonlythatshewaspained,thatshewashelpless:thatwasenough。\"Itispossiblethatyourunclemayhavebeendeceived,\"hebegan;\"manyhonestmenhavebeenfooledbycleverbutdeceitfultricksters,menandwomen——\"
\"Stop!MadredeDios!WILLYOUSTOP?\"
Thatcherforaninstantrecoiledfromtheflashingeyesandwhitefaceofthelittlefigurethathad,withmenacingandclenchedbabyfingers,strodetohisside。Hestopped。\"Whereisthisapplication,——thisforgery?\"sheasked。\"Showittome!\"
Thatcherfeltrelieved,andsmiledthesuperiorsmileofoursexoverfeminineignorance。\"Youcouldhardlyexpectmetobetrustedwithyouruncle’svouchers。Hispapersofcourseareinthehandsofhiscounsel。\"
\"AndwhencanIleavethisplace?\"sheaskedpassionately。
\"Ifyouconsultmywishesyouwillstay,ifonlylongenoughtoforgiveme。ButifIhaveoffendedyouunknowingly,andyouareimplacable——\"
\"Icangoto-morrowatsunriseifIlike?\"
\"Asyouwill,\"returnedThatchergravely。
\"Gracias,Senor。\"
Theywalkedslowlybacktothehouse,Thatcherwithamasculinesenseofbeingunreasonablyafflicted,Carmenwithawoman’sinstinctofbeinghopelesslycrushed。Nowordwasspokenuntiltheyreachedthedoor。ThenCarmensuddenly,inherold,impulsiveway,andinachildliketreble,sangoutmerrily,\"Goodnight,O
DonRoyal,andpleasantdreams。Hastamanana。\"
Thatcherstooddumbandastoundedatthiscapriciousgirl。Shesawhismystificationinstantly。\"ItisfortheoldCat!\"shewhispered,jerkingherthumboverhershoulderinthedirectionofthesleepingMrs。P。\"Goodnight,——go!\"
Hewenttogiveordersforapeontoattendtheladiesandtheirequipagethenextday。HeawoketofindMissDeHarogone,withherescort,towardsMonterey。AndwithoutthePlodgitt。
Hecouldnotconcealhissurprisefromthelatterlady。She,leftalone,——anotaltogetherunavailablevictimtothewilesofoursex,——wasembarrassed。ButnotsomuchthatshecouldnotsaytoThatcher:\"Itoldyouso,——gonetoheruncle……TotellhimALL!\"
\"All。D——nit,WHATcanshetellhim?\"roaredThatcher,stungoutofhisself-control。
\"Nothing,Ihope,thatsheshouldnot,\"saidMrs。P。,andchastelyretired。
Shewasright。MissCarmenpostedtoMonterey,runningherhorsenearlyoffitslegstodoit,andthensentbackherbeastandescort,sayingshewouldrejoinMrs。PlodgittbysteameratSanFrancisco。ThenshewentboldlytothelawofficeofSaponaceousWood,DistrictAttorneyandwhilomsolicitorofheruncle。
WiththemajorityofmasculineMontereyMissCarmenwasknownandrespectfullyadmired,despitetheinfelixreputationofherkinsman。Mr。Woodwasgladtoseeher,andawkwardlygallant。
MissCarmenwascoolandbusiness-like;shehadcomefromheruncleto\"regard\"thepapersinthe\"Red-RockRancho\"case。Theywereinstantlyproduced。Carmenturnedtotheapplicationforthegrant。Hercheekpaledslightly。Withherclearmemoryandwonderfulfidelityofperceptionshecouldnotbemistaken。THE
SIGNATUREOFMICHELTORENAWASINHEROWNHANDWRITING!\"
Yetshelookeduptothelawyerwithasmile:\"MayItakethesepapersforanhourtomyuncle?\"
EvenanolderandbettermanthantheDistrictAttorneycouldnothaveresistedthosedroopinglidsandthatgentlevoice。
\"Certainly。\"
\"Iwillreturntheminanhour。\"
Shewasasgoodasherword,andwithinthehourdroppedthepapersandalittlecourtesytoheruncle’slegaladvocate,andthatnighttookthesteamertoSanFrancisco。
ThenextmorningVictorGarcia,alittletheworseforthepreviousnight’sdissipation,reeledintoWood’soffice。\"IhavefearsformynieceCarmen。Sheiswiththeenemy,\"hesaidthickly。\"Lookyouatthis。\"
Itwasananonymousletter(inMrs。Plodgitt’sownawkwardfist)
advisinghimofthefactthathisniecewasboughtbytheenemy,andcautioninghimagainsther。
\"Impossible,\"saidthelawyer;\"itwasonlylastweekshesentthee$50。\"
Victorblushed,eventhroughhisensanguinedcheeks,andmadeanimpatientgesturewithhishand。
\"Besides,\"addedthelawyercoolly,\"shehasbeenheretoexaminethepapersatthyrequest,andreturnedthemofyesterday。\"
Victorgasped:\"And-you-you-gavethemtoher?\"
\"Ofcourse!\"
\"All?Eventheapplicationandthesignature?\"
\"Certainly,——yousenther。\"
\"Senther?Thedevil’sowndaughter?\"shriekedGarcia。\"No!A
hundredmilliontimes,no!Quick,beforeitistoolate。Givetomethepapers。\"
Mr。Woodreproducedthefile。Garciaranoveritwithtremblingfingersuntilatlastheclutchedthefatefuldocument。Notcontentwithopeningitandglancingatitstextandsignature,hetookittothewindow。
\"Itisthesame,\"hemutteredwithasighofrelief。
\"Ofcourseitis,\"saidMr。Woodsharply。\"Thepapersareallthere。You’reafool,VictorGarcia!\"
Andsohewas。And,forthematterofthat,sowasMr。SaponaceousWood,ofcounsel。
MeanwhileMissDeHaroreturnedtoSanFranciscoandresumedherwork。Adayortwolatershewasjoinedbyherlandlady。Mrs。P。
hadtoolargeanaturetopermitananonymousletter,writtenbyherownhand,tostandbetweenherandherdemeanortoherlittlelodger。SoshecoddledherandflatteredheranddepictedinslightlyexaggeratedcolorsthegriefofDonRoyalathersuddendeparture。AllofwhichMissCarmenreceivedinademure,kitten-
likeway,butstillkeptquietlyatherwork。InduetimeDonRoyal’sorderwascompleted;stillshehadleisureandinclinationenoughtoaddcertaintouchestoherghastlysketchofthecrumblingfurnace。
Nevertheless,asDonRoyaldidnotreturn,throughexcessofbusiness,Mrs。Plodgittturnedanhonestpennybylettinghisroom,temporarily,totwoquietMexicans,who,butforabeastlyhabitofcigarritosmokingwhichtaintedthewholehouse,werefairenoughlodgers。Iftheyfailedinmakingtheacquaintanceoftheirfaircountrywoman,MissDeHaro,itwasthroughthelady’spre-
occupationinherownwork,andnotthroughtheirostentatiousendeavors。