the golden fleece-第6章

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　that　young　lady；　mingled　with　others；　approaching　along　the　veranda。　　At　the　same　moment　he　experienced　acute　regret　at　the　whim　of　fortune　which　had　made　himself　and　that　sprightly　young　lady　fellow…　passengers　from　Panama；　and　at　the　idle　impulse　which　had　prompted　him　to　flirt　with　her。

But　the　past　was　beyond　remedy：　it　was　his　concern　to　deal　with　the　present。　　In　a　few　seconds；　Grace　entered　the　curiosity…　room；　followed　by　Professor　Meschines；　and　by　a　dashing　young　Mexican　senor；　whom　Freeman　had　met　the　previous　evening；　and　who　was　called　Don　Miguel　de　Mendoza。　　The　senor；　to　judge　from　his　manner；　had　already　fallen　violently　in　love　with　Grace；　and　was　almost　dislocating　his　organs　of　speech　in　the　effort　to　pay　her　romantic　compliments　in　English。　　Freeman　observed　this　with　unalloyed　satisfaction。　　But　the　look　which　Grace　bent　upon　him　and　Miriam；　on　entering；　and　the　ominous　change　which　passed　over　her　mobile　countenance；　went　far　to　counteract　this　agreeable　impression。

One　story　is　good　until　another　is　told。　　Freeman　had　really　thought　Grace　a　fascinating　girl；　until　he　saw　Miriam。　　There　was　no　harm　in　that：　the　trouble　was；　he　had　allowed　Grace　to　perceive　his　admiration。　　He　had　already　remarked　that　she　was　a　creature　of　violent　extremes；　tempered；　but　not　improved；　by　a　thin　polish　of　subtlety。　　She　was　now　about　to　give　an　illustration　of　the　passion　of　jealousy。　　But　it　was　not　her　jealousy　that　Freeman　minded：　it　was　the　prospect　of　Miriam's　scorn　when　she　should　surmise　that　he　had　given　Grace　cause　to　be　jealous。　　Miriam　was　not　the　sort　of　character　to　enter　into　a　competition　with　any　other　woman　about　a　lover。　　He　would　lose　her　before　he　had　a　chance　to　try　to　win　her。

But　fortune　proved　rather　more　favorable　than　Freeman　expected；　or；　perhaps；　than　he　deserved。　　Grace's　attack　was　too　impetuous。　　She　stopped　just　inside　the　threshold；　and　said；　in　an　imperious　tone；　〃Come　here；　Mr。　Freeman：　I　wish　to　speak　to　you。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　he　replied；　resolving　at　once　to　widen　the　breach　to　the　utmost　extent　possible；　〃I　am　otherwise　engaged。〃

〃Upon　my　word；〃　observed　the　professor；　with　a　chuckle；　〃you're　no　diplomatist；　Harvey！　　What　are　you　two　about　here？　　Investigating　antiquities？〃

〃The　remains　of　ancient　Mexico　are　more　interesting　than　some　of　her　recent　products；〃　returned　Freeman；　who　wished　to　quarrel　with　somebody；　and　had　promptly　decided　that　Senor　Don　Miguel　de　Mendoza　was　the　most　available　person。　　He　bowed　to　the　latter　as　he　spoke。

〃Youaspoken　to　me？〃　said　the　senor；　stepping　forward　with　a　polite　grimace。　　〃I　no　to　quite　comprehend〃

〃Pray　don't　exert　yourself　to　converse　with　me　out　of　your　own　language；　senor；〃　interrupted　Freeman；　in　Spanish。　　〃I　was　just　remarking　that　the　Spaniards　seem　to　have　degenerated　greatly　since　they　colonized　Mexico。〃

〃Senor！〃　exclaimed　Don　Miguel；　stiffening　and　staring。

〃Of　course；〃　added　Freeman；　smiling　benevolently　upon　him；　〃I　judge　only　from　such　specimens　of　the　modern　Mexican　as　I　happen　to　meet　with。〃

Don　Miguel's　sallow　countenance　turned　greenish　white。　　But；　before　he　could　make　a　reply；　Meschines；　who　scented　mischief　in　the　air；　and　divined　that　the　gentler　sex　must　somehow　be　at　the　bottom　of　it；　struck　in。

〃You　may　consider　yourself　lucky；　Harvey；　in　making　the　acquaintance　of　a　gentleman　like　Senor　de　Mendoza；　who　exemplifies　the　undimmed　virtues　of　Cortez　and　Torquemada。　　For　my　part；　I　brought　him　here　in　the　hope　that　he　might　be　able　to　throw　some　light　on　the　mystery　of　this　embroidered　garment；　which　I　see　you've　been　examining。　　What　do　you　say；　Don　Miguel？　　Have　these　designs　any　significance　beyond　mere　ornament？　　Anything　in　the　nature　of　hieroglyphics？〃

The　senor　was　obliged　to　examine；　and　to　enter　into　a　discussion；　though；　of　course；　his　ignorance　of　the　subject　in　dispute　was　as　the　depths　of　that　abyss　which　has　no　bottom。　　Miriam；　who　was　not　fond　of　Don　Miguel；　but　who　felt　constrained　to　exceptional　courtesy　in　view　of　Freeman's　unwarrantable　attack　upon　him；　stood　beside　him　and　the　Professor；　and　Freeman　and　Grace　were　thus　left　to　fight　it　out　with　each　other。

But　Grace　had　drawn　her　own　conclusions　from　what　had　passed。　　Freeman　had　insulted　Don　Miguel。　　Wherefore？　　Obviously；　it　could　only　be　because　he　thought　that　she　was　flirting　with　him。　　In　other　words；　Freeman　was　jealous；　and　to　be　jealous　is　to　love。　　Now；　Grace　was　so　constituted　that；　though　she　did　not　like　to　play　second　fiddle　herself；　yet　she　had　no　objection　to　monopolizing　all　the　members　of　the　male　species　who　might　happen；　at　a　given　moment；　to　be　in　sight。

She　had；　consequently；　already　forgiven　Freeman　for　his　apparent　unfaithfulness　to　her；　by　reason　of　his　manifest　jealousy　of　Don　Miguel。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　was　not　jealous；　and　he　was　unfaithful；　but　fate　had　decreed　that　there　should　be；　for　the　moment；　a　game　of　cross…purposes；　and　the　decrees　of　fate　are　incorrigible。

〃I　had　no　idea　you　were　so　savage；〃　she　said；　softly。

〃I'm　not　savage；〃　replied　Freeman。　　〃I　am　bored。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know　as　I　can　blame　you；〃　said　Grace；　still　more　softly：　she　fancied　he　was　referring　to　Miriam。　　〃I　don't　much　like　Spanish　mixtures　myself。〃

〃One　has　to　take　what　one　can　get；〃　said　Freeman；　referring　to　Don　Miguel。

〃But　it's　all　right　now；〃　rejoined　she；　meaning　that　Freeman　and　herself　were　reconciled　after　their　quarrel。

〃If　you　are　satisfied；　I　am；〃　observed　Freeman；　too　indifferent　to　care　what　she　meant。

〃Only；　you　mustn't　take　that　poor　young　man　too　seriously；〃　she　went　on：　〃these　Mexicans　are　absurdly　demonstrative；　but　they　don't　mean　anything。〃

〃He　won't；　if　he　values　his　skin；〃　said　Freeman；　meaning　that　if　Don　Miguel　attempted　to　interfere　between　himself　and　Miriam　he　would　wring　his　neck。

〃He　won't；　I　promise　you；〃　said　Grace；　sparkling　with　pleasure。

〃I　don't　quite　see　how　you　can　help　it；〃　returned　Freeman。

〃I　should　hope　I　could　manage　a　creature　like　that！〃　murmured　she；　smiling。

〃Well；〃　said　Freeman；　after　a　pause；　for　Grace's　seeming　change　of　attitude　puzzled　him　a　little；〃I'm　glad　you　look　at　it　that　way。　　I　don't　wish　to　be　meddled　with；　that's　all。〃

〃You　shan't　be；〃　she　whispered；　and　then；　just　when　they　were　approaching　the　point　where　their　eyes　might　have　been　opened；　in　came　General　Trednoke。　　The　group　round　the　Golden　Fleece　broke　up。

The　general　wore　his　riding…dress；　and　his　bearing　was　animated；　though　he　was　covered　with　dust。

〃I　was　wondering　what　had　become　of　you　all；〃　he　said；　as　the　others　gathered　about　him。　　〃I　have　been　taking　a　canter　to　the　eastward。　　Kamaiakan　said　this　morning　that　one　of　the　boys　had　brought　news　of　a　cloud…burst　in　that　direction。　　I　rode　far　enough　to　ascertain　that　there　has　really　been　something　of　the　kind；　and　I　think　it　has　affected　the　arroyo　on　the　farther　side　of　the　little　sierra。　　Now；　I　don't　know　how　you　gentlemen　feel；　but　it　occurred　to　me　that　it　might　be　interesting　to　make　up　a　little　party　of　exploration　to…morrow。　　Would　you　like　to　try　it；　Meschines？〃

〃To　be　sure　I　should！〃　the　professor　replied。　　〃I　imagine　I　can　stand　as　much　of　the　desert　as　you　can！　　And　I　want　to　catch　a　sidewinder。〃

〃Good！　　And　you；　Mr。　Freeman？〃

〃It　would　suit　me　exactly；〃　said　the　latter。　　〃In　fact；　I　had　been　intending　to　gratify　my　curiosity　by　making　some　such　expedition　on　my　own　account。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　general；　eying　him　with　some　intentness。　　〃Well；　we　may　be　able　to　show　you　something　more　curious　than　you　anticipate。And　now；　Senor　de　Mendoza；　there　is　only　you　left。　　May　we　count　on　your　company　into　the　desert？〃

But　the　Mexican；　with　a　bow　and　a　grimace；　excused　himself。　　Scientific　curiosity　was　an　unknown　emotion　to　him；　but　he　foresaw　an　opportunity　to　have　Grace　all　to　himself；　and　he　meant　to　improve　it。　　He　also　wished　leisure　to　think　over　some　plan　for　getting　rid　of　Senor　Freeman；　in　whom　he　scented　a　rival；　and　who；　whether　a　rival　or　not；　had　behaved　to　him　with　a　lack　of　consideration　in　the　presence　of　ladies。



CHAPTER　IV。

General　Trednoke's　household　went　early　to　bed。　　As　there　was　more　accommodation　in　the　old　house　than　sufficed　for　its　present　inhabitants；　it　followed　that　each　of　them　had　a　regal　allowance　of　rooms。　　And　when　Grace　Parsloe　became　one　of　the　occupants；　she　was　allotted　two　commodious　apartments　at　the　extremity　of　the　left　wing。　　They　communicated；　through　long　windows；　with　the　veranda　in　front；　and　by　means　of　doors　with　the　passage；　or　hall；　traversing　the　house　from　end　to　end。　　If；　therefore；　she　happened　to　be　sleepless；　she　might　issue　forth　into　the　garden；　and　wander　about　there　without　let　or　hinderance　until　she　was　ready　to　accept　the　wooing　of　the　god　of　dreams；　or；　if　supernatural　terrors　daunted　her；　she　could　in　a　few　seconds　transfer　herself　and　her　fears　to　Miriam's　chamber；　which　occupied　the　same　position　in　the　right　wing　that　hers　did　in　the　left。

The　night；　as　is　customary　in　that　climate；　where　the　atmosphere　is　pure　and　evaporation　rapid；　was　cool　and　still。　　By　ten　o'clock　there　was　no　sound　to　indicate　that　any　person　was　awake；　though；　to　an　acute　ear；　the　rise　and　fall　of　regular　breathing；　or　even　an　occasional　snore；　might　have　given　evidence　of　slumber。　　At　the　back　of　the　house；　the　Indian　retainers　were　lapped　in　silence。　　They　were　a　harmless　people；　somewhat　disposed；　perhaps；　to　small　pilferings；　in　an　amiable　and　loyal　way；　but　incapable　of　anything　seriously　criminal。　　There　were　no　locks　on　the　doors；　and　most　of　them　stood　ajar。　　Tramps　and　burglars　were　unknown。

Miriam；　having　put　on　her　night…dress；　stood　a　few　minutes　at　her　window；　gazing　out　on　the　soft　darkness　of　the　garden。　　All　there　was　peacefulness　and　fragrance。　　The　leaves　of　the　plants　hung　motionless；　the　blossoms　seemed　to　hush　themselves　to　the　enjoyment　of　their　own　sweetness。　　The　sky　was　clear；　but　there　was　no　moon。　　A　beautiful　planet；　however；　bright　enough　to　cast　a　shadow；　hung　in　the　southwestern　sky；　and　its　mysterious　light　touched　Miriam's　face；　and　cast　a　dim　rectangle　of　radiance　on　the　white　matting　that　carpeted　the　floor　of　her　room。　　It　was　the　planet　Venus；the　star　of　love。　　Miriam　thought　it　would　be　a　pleasant　place　to　live　in。　　But　one　need　not　journey　to　Venus　to　find　a　world　where　love　is　the　ruling　passion。　　Circumstances　over　which　she　has　no　control　may　cause　such　a　world　to　come　into　existence　in　a　girl's　heart。

She　left　the　window　at　last；　and　got　into　bed；　where　she　soon　presented　an　image　of　perfect　repose。　　Meanwhile；　in　a　dark　corner　of　the　court…yard　at　the　rear；　a　dark；　pyramidal　object　abode　without　motion。　　It　might　have　been　taken　for　a　heap　of　blankets　piled　up　there。　　But　if　you　examined　it　more　narrowly　you　would　have　detected　in　it　the　vague　outlines　of　a　human　figure；　squatting　on　its　haunches；　with　its　head　resting　on　its　knees；　and　its　arms　clasped　round　them；somewhat　as　figures　sit　in　Egyptian　hieroglyphics；　or　like　Aztecan　mummies　in　the　tomb。　　So　still　was　it；　it　might　itself　have　been　a　mummy。　　But　ever　and　anon　a　blinking　of　the　narrow　eyes　in　the　bronze　countenance　told　that　it　was　no　mummy；　but　a　living　creature。　　In　fact；　it　was　none　other　than　the　aged　and　austere　Kamaiakan；　who；　f