a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第25章
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audible； a far…off railway whistle was startling in its abruptness。 In the
midst of this calm the opening of the door of the salon； with the sudden
uplifting of voices in the hall； told Paul that Yerba's guests were leaving。
He heard Dona Anna's arch accentsarch even to Colonel Pendleton's
monotonous baritone！Milly's high； rapid utterances； the suave falsetto of
Don Caesar； and HER voice； he thought a trifle wearied；the sound of
retiring footsteps； and all was still again。
So still that the rhythmic beat of the distant waltz returned to him； with
a distinctiveness that he could idly follow。 He thought of Rosario and the
rose…breath of the open windows with a strange longing； and remembered
the half…stifled sweetness of her happy voice rising with it from the
veranda。 Why had he ever let it pass from him then and waft its fragrance
elsewhere？ Why What was that？
The slight turning of a latch！ The creaking of the French window of
the salon； and somebody had slipped softly half out on the balcony。 His
heart stopped beating。 From his position in the recess of his own window；
with his back to the partition of the salon； he could see nothing。 Yet he did
not dare to move。 For with the quickened senses of a lover he felt the
diffused and perfumed aura of HER presence； of HER garments； of HER
flesh； flow in upon him through the open window； and possess his whole
breathless being！ It was SHE！ Like him； perhaps； longing to enjoy the
perfect nightlike him； perhaps； thinking of
〃So you ar…range to get rid of meha！ lik thees？ To tur…rn me off from
your heels like a dog who have follow youbut without a word without
aathankswithout a 'ope！ Ah！we have ser…rved you me and my
sister； we are the or…range drynow we can go！ Like the old shoe； we are
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to be flung away！ Good！ But I am here againyou see。 I shall speak； and
you shall hear…r。〃
Don Caesar's voicealone with her！ Paul gripped his chair and sat
upright。
〃Stop！ Stay where you are！ How dared you return here？〃 It was Yerba's
voice； on the balcony； low and distinct。
〃Shut the window！ I shall speak with you what you will not the world
to hear。〃
〃I prefer to keep where I am； since you have crept into this room like a
thief！〃
〃A thief！ Good！〃 He broke out in Spanish； and； as if no longer fearful
of being overheard； had evidently drawn nearer to the window。 〃A thief。
Ha！ muy buenobut it is not I； you understand I； Caesar Briones； who
am the thief！ No！ It is that swaggering espadachinthat fanfarron of a
Colonel Pendletonthat pattern of an official； Mr。 Hathawaythat most
beautiful heiress of the Californias； Miss ARGUELLOthat are thieves！
Yesof a NAMEMiss Arguelloof a NAME！ The name of Arguello！〃
Paul rose to his feet。
〃Ah； so！ You startyou turn paleyou flash your eyes； senora； but you
think you have deceived me all these years。 You think I did not see your
game at Rosarioyes； even when that foolish Castro muchacha first put
that idea in your head。 Who furnished you the facts you wanted？ I
Mother of God！ SUCH FACTS！I； who knew the Arguello pedigreeI；
who know it was as impossible for you to be a daughter of them aswhat？
let me thinkasas it is impossible for you to be the wife of that baron
whom you would deceive with the rest！ Ah； yes； it was a high flight for
you； MeesMeesDona Fulanaa noble game for you to bring down！〃
Why did she not speak？ What was she doing？ If she had but uttered a
single word of protest； of angry dismissal； Paul would have flown to her
side。 It could not be the paralysis of personal fear： the balcony was wide；
she could easily pass to the end； she could even see his open window。
〃Why did I do this？ Because I loved you； senoraand you knew it！ Ah！
you can turn your face away now； you can pretend to misunderstand me；
as you did a moment ago； you can part from me now like a mere
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acquaintancebut it was not always so！ No； it was YOU who brought me
here； your eyes that smiled into mineand drove home the colonel's
request that I and my sister should accompany you。 God！ I was weak then！
You smile； senora； you think you have succeededyou and your pompous
colonel and your clever governor！ You think you have compromised me；
and perjured ME； because of this。 You are wrong！ You think I dare not
speak to this puppet of a baron； and that I have no proofs。 You are wrong！〃
〃And even if you can produce them； what care I？〃 said Yerba
unexpectedly； yet in a voice so free from excitement and passion that the
weariness which Paul had at first noticed seemed to be the only dominant
tone。 〃Suppose you prove that I am not an Arguello。 Good！ you have yet to
show that a connection with any of your race would be anything but a
disgrace。〃
〃Ah！ you defy me； little one！ Caramba！ Listen； then！ You do not know
all！ When you thought I was only helping you to fabricate your claim to
the Arguellos' name； I was finding out WHO YOU REALLY WERE！ Ah！
It was not so difficult as you fondly hope； senora。 We were not all brutes
and fools in the early days； though we stood aside to let your people run
their vulgar course。 It was your hired bullyyour respected guardianthis
dog of an espadachin； who let out a hint of the secretwith a prick of his
bladeand a scandal。 One of my peon women was a servant at the convent
when you were a child； and recognized the woman who put you there and
came to see you as a friend。 She overheard the Mother Superior say it was
your mother； and saw a necklace that was left for you to wear。 Ah！ you
begin to believe！ When I had put this and that together I found that Pepita
could not identify you with the child that she had seen。 But you； senora；
you YOURSELF supplied the missing proof！ Yes！ you supplied it with the
NECKLACE that you wore that evening at Rosario； when you wished to
do honor to this young Hathawaythe guardian who had always thrown
you off！ Ah！ you now suspect why； perhaps！ It was your mother's
necklace that you wore； and you said so！ That night I sent the good Pepita
to identify it； to watch through the window from the garden when you
were wearing it； to make it sure as the Creed。 I sent her to your room late
that night when you had changed your dress； that she might examine it
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among your jewels。 And she did and will swear look you！SWEAR that
it is the one given you as a child by the woman at the convent； who was
your mother！ And who was that woman eh？ Who was the mother of the
Arguello de la Yerba Buena？who this noble ancestress？〃
〃Excuse mebut perhaps you are not aware that you are raising your
voice in a lady's drawing…room； and that although you are speaking a
language no one here understands； you are disturbing the hotel。〃
It was Paul； quiet； pale in the moonlight； erect on the balcony before
the window。 As Yerba； with a start； retreated quickly into the room； Don
Caesar stepped forward angrily and suspiciously towards the window。 He
had his hand reached forward towards the handle as if to close the
swinging sash against the intruder； when in an instant he was seized by
Paul； tightly locked in a desperate grip； and whirled out on the balcony。
Before he could gain breath to utter a cry； Hathaway had passed his right
arm around the Mexican's throat； effectively stopping his utterance； and；
with a supreme effort of strength； dragged him along the wall； falling with
him into the open window of his own room。 As he did so； to his
inexpressible relief he heard the sash closed and the bolt drawn of the
salon window； and regained his feet； collected； quiet； and triumphant。
〃I am sorry；〃 he said； coolly dusting his clothes； 〃to have been obliged
to change the scene of this discussion so roughly； but you will observe that
you can speak more freely HERE； and that any altercation WE may have
in this room will be less likely to attract comment。〃
〃Assassin！〃 said Don Caesar chokingly； as he struggled to his feet。
〃Thank you。 Relieve your feelings as much as you like here； in fact； if
you would speak a little louder you would oblige me。 The guests are
beginning to be awake；〃 continued Paul； with a wicked smile； indicating
the noise of an opening door and footsteps in the passage； 〃and are now
able to locate without difficulty the scene of the disturbance。〃
Briones apparently understood his meaning and the success of his
stratagem。 〃You think you have saved HER from disgrace；〃 he said； with a
livid smile； in a lower tone and a desperate attempt to imitate Paul's
coolness。 〃For the presentahyees！ perhaps in this hotel and this evening。
But you have not stop my mouth for ato…morrowand the whole world；
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Mr。 Hathaway。〃
〃Well；〃 said Paul； looking at him critically； 〃I don't know about that。
Of course； there's the equal chance that you may kill me but that's a
question for to…morrow； too。〃
The Mexican cast a quick glance at the door and window。 Paul； as if
carelessly； changed the key of the former from one pocket to the other； and
stepped before the window。
〃So this is a plot to murder me！ Have a care！ You are not in your own
brigand California！〃
〃If you think so； alarm the house。 They will find us quarreling； and
you will only precipitate matters by receiving the insult that will make you
fightbefore them。〃
〃I am r…ready； sir； when and where you will；〃 said Briones； with a
swaggering air but a shifting； furtive eye。 〃Openathe door。〃
〃Pardon me。 We will leave this room TOGETHER in an hour for the
station。 We will board the night
