the golden fleece-第10章

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It　will　be　remembered　that　something　was　said　of　Grace　being　privy　to　the　nocturnal　advances　of　Senor　de　Mendoza。　　We　are　not　to　suppose　that　this　implies　in　her　anything　worse　than　an　aptness　to　indulge　in　romantic　adventure：　the　young　lady　enjoyed　the　mystery　of　romance；　and　knew　that　serenades；　and　whisperings　over　star…lit　balconies；　were　proper　to　this　latitude。　　It　may　be　open　to　question　whether　she　really　was　much　interested　in　De　Mendoza；　save　as　he　was　a　type　of　the　adoring　Spaniard。　　That　the　scene　required：　she　could　imagine　him　（for　the　time…being）　to　be　the　Cid　of　ancient　legend；　and　she　herself　would　enact　a　role　of　corresponding　elevation。　　Grace　would　doubtless　have　prospered　better　had　she　been　content　with　one　adorer　at　a　time；　but；　while　turning　to　a　new　love；　she　was　by　no　means　disposed　to　loosen　the　chains　of　a　former　one；　and；　though　herself　as　jealous　as　is　a　tiger…cat　of　her　young；　she　could　never　recognize　the　propriety　of　a　similar　passion　on　the　part　of　her　victims。　　She　had　been　indignant　at　Freeman's　apparent　infidelity　with　Miriam；　but　when　she　had　（as　she　imagined）　discovered　her　mistake；　she　had　listened　with　a　heart　at　ease　to　the　protestations　of　Don　Miguel。　　She　had　parted　from　him　that　evening　with　a　half　expressed　understanding　that　he　was　to　reappear　beneath　her　window　before　day…　light；　and　she　had　pictured　to　herself　a　charming　balcony…scene；　such　as　she　had　beheld　in　Italian　opera。　　Accordingly；　she　had　attired　herself　in　a　becoming　negligee；　and　had　spent　the　fore　part　of　the　night　somewhat　restlessly；　occasionally　emerging　on　the　veranda　and　gazing　down　into　the　perfumed　gloom　of　the　garden。　　At　length　she　fancied　that　she　heard　footsteps。　　Whose　could　they　be；　unless　Don　Miguel's？　　Grace　retreated　within　her　window　to　await　developments。　　Don　Miguel　did　not　appear；　but　presently　she　descried　a　phantom…like　figure　ascending　the　flight　of　steps　to　the　veranda。　　Could　that　be　he？　　If　so；　he　was　bolder　in　his　wooing　than　Grace　had　been　prepared　for。　　But　surely　that　was　a　strange　costume　that　he　wore；　nor　did　the　unconscious　harmony　of　the　gait　at　all　resemble　the　senor's　self…conscious　strut。　　And　whither　was　he　going？

It　was　but　too　evident　that　he　was　going　straight　to　the　room　occupied　by　Miriam！

This　was　too　much　for　Grace's　equanimity。　She　stepped　out　of　her　window；　and　flitted　with　noiseless　step　along　the　veranda。　　The　figure　that　she　pursued　entered　the　door　of　the　house；　and　passed　into　the　corridor　traversing　the　wing。　　Grace　was　in　time　to　see　it　cross　the　threshold　of　Miriam's　door；　which　stood　ajar。　　She　stole　to　the　door；　and　peeped　in。　　There　was　the　figure；　but　of　Miriam　there　was　no　trace。

The　figure　slowly　unfastened　and　threw　back　the　hood　which　covered　its　head；　at　the　same　time　turning　round；　so　that　its　countenance　was　revealed。　　A　torrent　of　black　hair　fell　down　over　its　shoulders。　　Grace　uttered　an　involuntary　exclamation。　It　was　Miriam　herself！

The　two　gazed　at　each　other　a　moment　in　silence。　　〃Goodness　me；　dear！〃　said　Grace　at　last；　in　a　faint　voice；　〃how　you　have　frightened　me！　　I　saw　you　go　in；　in　that　dress；　and　I　thought　you　were　a　man！　　How　my　heart　beats！　　What　is　the　matter？〃

〃This　is　strange！〃　murmured　the　other；　after　a　pause。　　〃I　never　heard　such　words；　and　yet　I　seem　to　understand；　and　even　to　speak　them。　　It　must　be　a　dream。　　What　are　you？〃

〃Why；　Miriam；　dear！　don't　you　know　Grace？〃

〃Oh！　you　think　me　Miriam。　　No；　not　yet！〃　　She　raised　her　hands；　and　pressed　her　fingers　against　her　temples。　　〃But　I　feel　herI　feel　her　coming！　　Not　yet；　Kamaiakan！　not　so　soon！Do　you　know　him？〃　she　suddenly　asked；　throwing　back　her　hair；　and　fixing　an　eager　gaze　on　Grace。

〃Know　who？　　Kamaiakan？　　Why；　yes〃

〃No；　not　him！　　The　youth；the　blue…　eyed；the　fair　beard　above　his　lips〃

〃What　are　you　talking　about？　　Not　Harvey　Freeman！〃

〃Harvey　Freeman！　　Ah；　how　sweet　a　name！　　Harvey　Freeman！　　I　shall　know　it　now！Tell　him；〃　she　went　on；　laying　her　hand　majestically　upon　Grace's　shoulder；　and　speaking　with　an　impressive　earnestness；　〃that　Semitzin　loves　him！〃

〃Semitzin？〃　repeated　Grace；　puzzled；　and　beginning　to　feel　scared。

〃Semitzin！〃　the　other　said；　pointing　to　her　own　heart。　　〃She　loves　him：　not　as　the　child　Miriam　loves；　but　with　the　heart　and　soul　of　a　mighty　princess。　　When　he　knows　Semitzin；　he　will　think　of　Miriam　no　more。〃

〃But　who　is　Semitzin？〃　inquired　Grace；　with　a　fearful　curiosity。

〃The　Princess　of　Tenochtitlan；　and　the　guardian　of　the　great　treasure；　〃was　the　reply。

〃Good　gracious！　what　treasure？〃

〃The　treasure　of　gold　and　precious　stones　hidden　in　the　gorge　of　the　desert　hills。　　None　knows　the　place　of　it　but　I；　and　I　will　give　it　to　none　but　him　I　love。〃

〃But　you　said　that　。　。　。　　Really；　my　dear；　I　don't　understand　a　bit！　　As　for　Mr。　Freeman；　he　may　care　for　Semitzin；　for　aught　I　know；　but；　I　must　confess；　I　think　you're　mistaken　in　supposing　he's　in　love　with　you；if　that　is　what　you　mean。　　I　met　him　before　you　did；　you　know；　and　if　I　were　to　tell　you　all　that　we〃

〃What　are　you　or　Miriam　to　me？Ah！　she　comes！The　treasureby　the　turning　of　the　white　pyramidsix　hundred　paces　on　the　rightthe　arch〃　　Her　voice　died　away。　　She　covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　and　trembled　violently。　　Slowly　she　let　them　fall；　and　stared　around　her。　　〃Grace；　is　it　you？　　Has　anything　happened？　　How　came　I　like　this？　　What　is　it？〃

〃Well；　if　you　don't　know；　I'm　afraid　I　can't　tell　you。　　I　had　begun　to　think　you　had　gone　mad。　　It　must　be　either　that　or　somnambulism。　　Who　is　Semitzin？〃

〃Semitzin？　I　never　heard　of　him。〃

〃It　isn't　a　man：　it's　a　princess。　　And　the　treasure？〃

〃Am　I　asleep　or　awake？　　What　are　you　saying？〃

〃The　white　pyramid；　you　know〃

〃Don't　make　game　of　me；　Grace。　　If　I　have　done　anything〃

〃My　dear；　don't　ask　me！　　I　tell　you　frankly；　I'm　nonplussed。　　You　were　somebody　else　a　minute　ago。　。　。　。　　The　truth　is；　of　course；　you've　been　dreaming　awake。　　Has　any　one　else　seen　you　beside　me？〃

〃Have　I　been　out　of　my　room？〃　asked　Miriam；　in　dismay。

〃You　must　have　been；　I　should　think；　to　get　that　costume。　　Well；　the　best　plan　will　be；　I　suppose；　to　say　nothing　about　it　to　anybody。　　It　shall　be　our　secret；　dear。　　If　I　were　you；　I　would　have　one　of　the　women　sleep　in　your　room；　in　case　you　got　restless　again。　　It's　just　an　attack　of　nervousness；　probably；having　so　many　strangers　in　the　house；　all　of　a　sudden。　　Now　you　must　go　to　bed　and　get　to　sleep：　it's　awfully　late；　and　there'll　be　ever　so　much　going　on　to…　morrow。〃

Grace　herself　slept　little　that　night。　　She　could　not　decide　what　to　make　of　this　adventure。　　Nowadays　we　are　provided　with　a　name　for　the　peculiar　psychical　state　which　Miriam　was　undergoing；　and　with　abundant　instances　and　illustrations；　but　we　perhaps　know　what　it　is　no　more　than　we　did　twenty…five　or　thirty　years　ago。　　Grace's　first　idea　had　been　that　Miriam　was　demented；　then　she　thought　she　was　playing　a　part；　then　she　did　not　know　what　to　think；　and　finally　she　came　to　the　conclusion　that　it　was　best　to　quietly　await　further　developments。　　She　would　keep　an　eye　on　Freeman　as　well　as　on　Miriam；　something；　too；　might　be　gathered　from　Don　Miguel；　and　then　there　was　that　talk　about　a　treasure。　　Was　that　all　the　fabric　of　a　dream；　or　was　there　truth　at　the　bottom　of　it？　　She　had　heard　something　said　about　a　treasure　in　the　course　of　the　general　conversation　the　day　before。　　If　there　really　was　a　treasure；　why　might　not　she　have　a　hand　in　the　discovery　of　it？　　Miriam；　in　her　abnormal　state；　had　let　fall　some　topographical　hints　that　might　prove　useful。　　Well；　she　would　work　out　the　problem；　sooner　or　later。　　To…morrow；　when　the　others　had　gone　off　on　their　expedition；　she　would　have　ample　leisure　to　sound　Don　Miguel；　and；　if　he　proved　communicative　and　available；　who　could　tell　what　might　happen？　　But　how　very　odd　it　all　was！　　Who　was　Semitzin？

While　asking　herself　this　question；　Grace　fell　asleep；　and　by　the　time　the　summons　to　breakfast　came；　she　had　passed　through　thrilling　adventures　enough　to　occupy　a　new　Scheherazade　at　least　three　years　in　the　telling　of　them。



CHAPTER　VI。

By　nine　o'clock　in　the　morning；　Professor　Meschines　and　Harvey　Freeman　had　ridden　up　to　the　general's　ranch；　equipped　for　the　expedition。　　The　general's　preparations　were　not　yet　quite　completed。　　A　couple　of　mules　were　being　loaded　with　the　necessary　outfit。　　It　was　proposed　to　be　out　two　days；　camping　in　the　open　during　the　intervening　night。　　It　was　necessary　to　take　water　as　well　as　solid　provisions。　　Leaving　their　horses　in　the　care　of　a　couple　of　stable…boys；　Meschines　and　Freeman　mounted　the　veranda；　and　were　there　greeted　by　General　Trednoke。

〃I'm　afraid　we'll　have　a　hot　ride　of　it；〃　he　observed。　　〃The　atmosphere　is　rather　oppressive。　　Kamaiakan　tells　me　there　was　a　touch　of　earthquake　last　night。〃

〃I　thought　I　noticed　some　disturbance；〃　returned　the　professor；　with　a　stealthy　side…　glance　at　Freeman；〃something　in　the　nature　of　an　explosion。〃

〃Earthquakes　are　common　in　this　region；　aren't　they？〃　Freeman　said。

〃They　have　made　it　what　it　is；　and　may　unmake　it　again；〃　replied　the　general。　　〃The　earthquake　is　the　father　of　the　desert；　as　the　Indians　say；　and　it　may　some　day　become　the　father　of　a　more　genial　offspring。　　Veremos！〃

〃How　are　the　young　ladies？〃　inquired　Freeman。

〃Miriam　has　a　little　headache；　I　believe；　and　I　thought　Miss　Parsloe　was　looking　a　trifle　pale　this　morning。　　But　you　must　see　for　yourself。　　Here　they　come。〃

Grace；　who　was　a　little　taller　than　Miriam；　had　thrown　one　arm　round　that　young　lady's　waist；　with　a　view；　perhaps；　to　forming　a　picture　in　which　she　should　not　be　the　secondary　figure。　　In　fact；　they　were　both　of　them　very　pretty；　but　Freeman　had　become　blind　to　any　beauty　but　Miriam's。　　Moreover；　he　was　resolved　to　have　some　private　conversation　with　her　during　the　few　minutes　that　were　available。　　A　conversation　with　the　professor；　and　some　meditations　of　his　own；　had　suggested　to　him　a　line　of　attack　upon　Grace。

〃I'm　afraid　you　were　disturbed　by　the　earthquake　last　night？〃　he　said　to　her。

〃An　earthquake？　　Why　should　you　think　so？〃

〃You　look　as　if　you　had　passed　a　restless　night。　　I　saw　Senor　de　Mendoza　this　morning。　　He　seems　to　have　had　a　restless　time　of　it；　too。　　But　he　is　a　romantic　person；　and　probably；　if　an　earthquake　did　not　make　him　sleepless；　something　else　might。〃　　He　looked　at　her　a　moment；　and　then　added；　with　a　smile；　〃But　perhaps　this　is　not　news　to　you？〃

〃He　didn't　comeI　didn't　see　him；〃　returned　Grace；　wishing；　ere　the　words　had　left　her　lips；　that　she　had　kept　her　mouth　shut。　　Freeman　continued　to　smile。　　How　much　did　he　know？　　She　felt　that　it　might　be　inexpedient　to　continue　the　conversation。　　Casting　about　for　a　pretext　for　retreat；　her　eyes　fell　upon　Meschines。

〃Oh；　there's　the　dear　professor！　　I　must　speak　to　him　a　moment；〃　she　exclaimed；　vivaciously；　and　she　slipped　her　arm　from　Miriam's　waist；　and　was　off；　leaving　Freeman　in　possession　of　the　field；　and　of　the　monopoly　of　Miriam's　society。

〃Miss　Trednoke；〃　said　he；　gravely；　〃I　have　something　to　tell　you；　in　order　to　clear　myself　from　a　possible　misunderstanding。　　It　may　happen　that　I　shall　need　your　vindication　with　your　father。　　Will　you　give　it？〃

〃What　vindication　do　you