by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.
THE ABBOT.
"_Amigo_," said their host, as he rejoined them, speaking to Kearney,who could alone understand him, "permit me to offer you a cigar--yourcomrade also--with my apologies for having forgotten that you smoked.Here are both Havannahs and Manillas, several brands of each. So choosefor yourself."
The mayor-domo, who attended him, carrying a huge mahogany case, hadalready placed it upon one of the rustic benches, and laid open the lid.
"Thanks, holy father," responded Kearney, with a peculiar smile. "Ifyou have no objection, I'll stick to the Imperadoes. After smoking oneof them a man need have no difficulty as to choice."
At which he took an "Emperor" out of the case.
"I'm glad you like them," observed the generous donor, helping him to alight. "They ought to be of good quality, considering what they cost,and where they come from. But, Don Florencio, don't let the question ofexpense hinder you smoking as many as you please. My outlay on them was_nil_--they were a contribution to the monastery, though not exactly acharitable one."
He said this with a sort of inward laugh, as though some strange historyattached to the Imperadoes.
"A forced contribution, then," thought the Irishman, the remark havingmade a strange, and by no means pleasant impression upon him.
The Texan had not yet touched the cigars, and when with a gesture theinvitation was extended to him, he hung back, muttering to Kearney--
"Tell him, Cap, I'd purfar a pipe ef he ked accomerdate me wi' thet 'erearticle."
"What says the Senor Cristoforo?" asked the Abbot.
"He'd prefer smoking a pipe, if you don't object, and there be such athing convenient."
"Oh! _un pipa_. I shall see. Gregorio!"
He called after the mayor-domo, who was returning toward the house.
"Never mind, reverend Father," protested Kearney; "content yourself witha cigar, Cris, and don't give trouble."
"I'm sorry I spoke o' it," said the Texan. "I oughter be only too gledto git a seegar, an' it may be he wudn't mind my chawin', stead o'smokin' it! My stammuck feels starved for a bit o' bacca. Whatwouldn't I gie jest now for a plug o' Jeemes's River!"
"There, take one of the cigars and eat it if you like; I'm sure he'llhave no objection."
Availing himself of the leave thus vicariously accorded the Texan pickedout one of the largest in the collection, and, biting off about a third,commenced crunching it between his teeth, as though it was a piece ofsugar-stick. This to the no small amusement of the Mexican, who,however, delicately refrained from making remark.
Nor was Cris hindered from having a smoke as well as a "chew,"--themayor-domo soon after appearing with a pipe, a somewhat eccentric affairhe had fished out from the back regions of the establishment.
Meanwhile their host had himself lit one of the "Emperors," and wassmoking away like a chimney. A somewhat comical sight at any time, orin any place, is a monk with a cigar in his mouth. But that the Abbotof the Cerro Ajusco was no anchorite they were already aware, and sawnothing in it to surprise them.
Seating himself beside Kearney, with face turned towards the valley, heput the question--
"What do you think of that landscape, Don Florencio?"
"Magnificent! I can't recall having looked upon lovelier, or one withgreater variety of scenic detail. It has all the elements of thesublime and beautiful."
The young Irishman was back in his college classics with his countrymanBurke.
"Make use of this," said the Abbot, offering a small telescope which hedrew out. "'Twill give you a better view of things."
Taking the glass and adjusting it to his sight, Kearney commenced makingsurvey of the valley, now bringing one portion of it within the field oftelescopic vision, then another.
"Can you see the Pedregal?" asked the Abbot. "It's close in to themountain's foot. You'll recognise it by its sombre grey colour."
"Certainly I see it," answered the other, after depressing thetelescope. "And the thicket we came through on its further side--quitedistinctly."
"Look to the right of that, then you'll observe a large house, standingin the middle of the maguey fields. Have you caught it?"
"Yes; why do you ask?"
"Because that house has an interest for me--a very special one. Whom doyou suppose it belongs to; or I should rather say did, and ought tobelong to?"
"How should I know, holy father?" asked Kearney, thinking it somewhatstrange his being so interrogated. "True," responded the Abbot; "howcould you, my son? But I'll tell you. That _magueyal_ is mine byright, though by wrong 'tis now the property of our late host, theGovernor of the Acordada. His reward at the last confiscation forbasely betraying his country and our cause."
"What cause?" inquired the young Irishman, laying aside the glass, andshowing more interest in what he heard than that he had been looking at.Country and cause! These were not the words likely to be on the lipsof either monk or highwayman.
And that the man who had spoken to him was neither one nor other he hadfuller proof in what was now further said.
"A cause, Senor Irlandes, for which I, Ruperto Rivas, am ready to laydown life, if the sacrifice be called for, and so most--I may say all--of those you've just met at _almuerzo_. You heard it proclaimed in thetoast, `Patria y Libertad!'"
"Yes. And a grand noble sentiment it is. One I was gratified to hear."
"And surprised as well. Is not that so, _amigo_?"
"Well, to be frank with you, holy father, I confess to something of thesort."
"Not strange you should, my son. No doubt you're greatly perplexed atwhat you've seen and heard since you came up here, with much before.But the time has come to relieve you; so light another cigar andlisten."