a ward of the golden gate-第21章

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〃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？　　IMother　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　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　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；　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　express　that　will　take　us　in
three　hours　beyond　the　frontier；　where　we　can　each　find　a　friend。〃

〃But　my　affairs　heremy　sisterI　must　see　her。〃

〃You　shall　write　a　note　to　her　at　that　table；　saying　that　important
businessa　dispatchhas　called　you　away；　and　we　will　leave　it
with　the　porter　to　be　delivered　IN　THE　MORNING。　　OrI　do　not
restrict　youyou　can　say　what　you　like；　provided　she　don't　get　it
until　we　have　left。〃

〃And　you　make　of　me　a　prisoner；　sir？〃

〃No；　a　visitor；　Don　Caesara　visitor　whose　conversation　is　so
interesting　that　I　am　forced　to　detain　him　to　hear　more。　　You　can
pass　the　time　pleasantly　by　finishing　the　story　I　was　obliged　to
interrupt　a　moment　ago。　　Do　you　know　this　mother　of　Miss　Yerba；　of
whom　you　spoke？〃

〃That's　mmy　affair。〃

〃That　means　you　don't　know　her。　　If　you　did；　you'd　have　had　her
within　call。　　And；　as　she　is　the　only　person　who　is　able　to　say
that　Miss　Yerba　is　NOT　an　Arguello；　you　have　been　very　remiss。〃

〃Ah；　bah！　I　am　not　one　of　youralawyers。〃

〃No；　or　you　would　know　that；　with　no　better　evidence　than　you　have；
you　might　be　sued　for　slander。〃

〃Ah！　　Why　does　not　Miss　Yerba　sue；　then？〃

〃Because　she　probably　expects　that　somebody　will　shoot　you。〃

〃As　YOU　for　instance？〃

〃Perhaps。〃

〃And　if　you　do　NOTeh？you　have　not　stop　my　mouth；　but　your　own。
And　if　you　DO；　you　help　her　to　marry　the　Baron；　your　rival。　　You
are　not　wise；　friend　Hathaway。〃

〃May　I　remind　you　that　you　have　not　yet　written　to　your　sister；　and
you　may　prefer　to　do　it　carefully　and　deliberately？〃

Don　Caesar　arose　with　a　vindictive　glance　at　Paul；　and　pulled　a
chair　before　the　table；　as　the　latter　placed　pen；　ink；　and　paper
before　him。　　〃Take　your　time；〃　he　added；　folding　his　arms　and
walking　towards　the　window。　　〃Say　what　you　like；　and　don't　let　my
presence　restrain　you。〃

The　Mexican　began　to　write　furiously；　then　spasmodically；　then
slowly　and　reluctantly。　　〃I　war…r…n　you；　I　shall　expose　all；〃　he
said　suddenly。

〃As　you　please。〃

〃And　shall　say　that　if　I　disappear；　you　are　my　murdereryou
understandmy　MURDERER！〃

〃Don't　consult　me　on　a　question　of　epithets；　but　go　on。〃

Don　Caesar　recommenced　his　writing　with　a　malign　smile。　　There　was
a　sudden　sharp　rap　at　the　door。

Don　Caesar　leaped　to　his　feet；　grasped　his　papers；　and　rushed　to
the　door；　but　Paul　was　before　him。　　〃Who　is　there？〃　he　demanded。

〃Pendleton。〃

At　the　sound　of　the　colonel's　voice　Don　Caesar　fell　back。　　Paul
opened　the　door；　admitted　the　tall　figure　of　the　colonel；　and　was
about　to　turn　the　key　again。　　But　Pendleton　lifted　his　hand　in　grim
deprecation。

〃That　will　do；　Mr。　Hathaway。　　I　know　all。　　But　I　wish　to　speak　with
Briones　elsewhere；　alone。〃

〃Excuse　me；　Colonel　Pendleton；〃　said　Paul　firmly；　〃but　I　have　the
prior　claim。　　Words　have　passed　between　this　gentleman　and　myself
which　we　are　now　on　our　way　to　the　station　and　the　frontier　to
settle。　　If　you　are　willing　to　accompany　us；　I　shall　give　you　every
opportunity　to　converse　with　him　alone；　and　arrange　whatever
business　you　may　have　with　him；　provided　it　does　not　interfere　with
mine。〃

〃My　business；〃　said　Pendleton；　〃is　of　a　personal　nature；　that　will
not　interfere　with　any　claim　of　yours　that　Mr。　Briones　may　choose
to　admit；　but　is　of　a　private　quality　that　must　be　transacted
between　us　now。〃　　His　face　was　pale；　and　his　voice；　although　steady
and　self…controlled；　had　that　same　strange　suggestion　of　sudden　age
in　it　which　Paul　had　before　noticed。　　Whether　Don　Caesar　detected
it；　or　whether　he　had　some　other　instinctive　appreciation　of
greater　security；　Paul　could　not　tell。　　He　seemed　to　recover　his
swagger　again；　as　he　said；

〃I　shall　hear　what　Colonel　Pendleton　has　to　say　first。　　But　I　shall
hold　myself　in　readiness　to　meet　you　afterwardsyou　shall　not
fear；　sir！〃

Paul　remained　looking　from　the　one　to　the　other　without　speaking。
It　was　Don　Caesar　who　returned　his　glance　boldly　and　defiantly；
Colonel　Pendleton　who；　with