The Adventurers

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER XXXVIII.

  TWO ROGUISH PROFILES.

  The city was quiet, the revolt was over, or, to speak more logically,the revolution was complete. The soldiers, after laying down their arms,had evacuated Valdivia, which was left completely in the power of theDark-Hearts. As soon as peace was re-established, the Dark-Hearts gaveorders that the barricades should be destroyed, and that all traces ofthe sanguinary struggle should be removed as quickly as possible. By theforce of accomplished facts alone, Don Tadeo de Leon found himself quitenaturally invested with power, and in command of the province, with thefaculties of a dictator.

  "Well," he asked Valentine, "what do you think of what you have seen?"

  "Faith," the Parisian replied, with characteristic bluntness, "I thinkpeople must come to America to see how men can be caught with hook andline like simple gudgeons."

  Don Tadeo could not refrain from smiling at this whimsical answer.

  "Do not leave me," he said; "all is not over yet."

  "I ask no better; but, our friends yonder, don't you think they will bevery uneasy at our long absence?"

  "Can you for a moment imagine that I have forgotten them? Within an houryou will be at liberty. Come with me; I want to show you two faces towhich our victory has given an expression very different from that whichthey generally wear."

  "That will be curious," said Valentine.

  "Yes," Don Tadeo replied, "or hideous, whichever you please."

  "Hum! man is not perfect," said Valentine, philosophically.

  "Fortunately not; if he were, he would be execrable," Don Tadeo remarked.

  They entered the cabildo, the doors of which were guarded by adetachment of Dark-Hearts. The vast saloons of the palace were invadedby an eager crowd, who came to salute the rising sun; that is to say,they came to offer the spectacle of their baseness to the fortunate man,whom, no doubt, they would have stoned if success had not crowned hisaudacious attempt. Don Tadeo passed, without seeing them, through theranks of these sycophants, the sworn courtiers of every authority, asvoid of honour as of shame, possessing but one single talent--that ofmaking bendings to which it would seem impossible that the vertebralcolumn of a man could attain, however flexible it may be. Valentine, whofollowed the footsteps of his friend, feigned to take for himself thegreater part of the genuflexions meant for Don Tadeo, and bowed to theright and left with imperturbable coolness and assurance.

  The two gentlemen, after many delays caused by the increasing crowd,which closed around them, reached at last a retired apartment, in whichthere were only two persons. These two persons were General Tiburcioand Senator Don Ramon Sandias. The physiognomy of these persons offereda striking contrast. The General, with a sad face and a pensive step,walked about the apartment, whilst the senator, luxuriantly recliningon a fauteuil, with a smile upon his lips, his visage expanded, andone leg thrown over the other, was fanning himself carelessly with anembroidered handkerchief of the finest cambric. At the sight of DonTadeo, the General advanced rapidly towards him; as for the senator, hesat upright in his chair, assumed a serious look, and waited.

  "Sir," the General said, in a low voice, "two words."

  "Speak, General," replied Don Tadeo; "I am entirely at your disposal."

  "I have some questions which I wish to put to you."

  "You may be assured, General, that if it be in my power to answer you, Iwill not hesitate to satisfy you."

  "I am convinced of that, and it is that which emboldens me to speak."

  "I am all attention."

  The General hesitated for a moment, but seemed at length determined.

  "Good heavens, sir!" said he, "I am an old soldier, unacquainted withdiplomacy; I had a friend, almost a brother, and I am a prey to mortaluneasiness on his account."

  "And that friend?"

  "Is General Bustamente. You must know," he added, warmly, "that we havebeen fellow soldiers thirty years; and I should wish--" here he stopped,as if in doubt, looking earnestly at the person he was addressing.

  "You would like?" said Don Tadeo, quietly.

  "To know the fate that is reserved for him."

  Don Tadeo gave the General a melancholy glance.

  "To what purpose?" he murmured.

  "I beg of you."

  "You insist on knowing?"

  "I do."

  "General Bustamente is a great criminal. While a leader in power, hewished to change the form of government against the will of the peoplefrom whom he held his position, and in contempt of the laws, which heshamelessly trampled underfoot."

  "That is but too true," said the General, whose brow turned crimson.

  "General Bustamente has been implacable during the course of his toolong career; you know that he who sows the wind can only hope to reapthe tempest."

  "Hence!"

  "The same implacability will be shown to him that he has shown toothers."

  "That is to say?"

  "He will, in all probability, be condemned to death."

  "Alas! I expected as much; but will this condemnation of which youspeak, be long delayed?"

  "Two days at most; the commission which must try him will be formedtoday."

  "Poor friend!" said the General, piteously; "and that's the end! Willyou grant me a favour, sir?"

  "Name it."

  "As the General must die, it would be a consolation to him to have afriend by his side."

  "No doubt it would."

  "Allow me to be his guard. I am sure he will be happy to know that it isI who have the duty of watching over him and leading him to death. Andthen I shall not, at least, abandon him till the last minute."

  "So be it,--your request is granted. Have you anything else to say? Ishall be happy to serve you."

  "No, I thank you, sir; that is all I desired,--Ah! one word more!"

  "Speak."

  "Can I be allowed to take this guard soon?"

  "Immediately, if you like."

  "I thank you, sir."

  And after profoundly bowing to Don Tadeo, the General quitted the roomwith a hasty step.

  "Poor man!" said Valentine.

  "Eh?" cried Don Tadeo.

  "I said, poor man!"

  "Oh, yes; I heard you plainly enough, but of whom were you speaking?"

  "Of the unfortunate man who has just left us."

  Don Tadeo shrugged his shoulders, and Valentine looked at him withsurprise.

  "Do you think you know whence the solicitude of this poor man, as youcall him, for his friend arises?"

  "Why, from his friendship for him; that is clear."

  "You think so, do you?"

  "I can think nothing else."

  "Well, then, allow me to tell you you are completely mistaken; the poorGeneral is only desirous to be near his companion in arms, that he mayhave the opportunity of suppressing the proofs of his complicity in therash enterprise of yesterday; proofs which Don Pancho most likely hasabout him, and which the other wishes to destroy at all hazards."

  "Can that be possible?"

  "By Saint Jago, yes! He desires to be constantly with him, that he maynot communicate with anyone--why, he would kill him, if necessary."

  "Oh! this is infamous!"

  "But so it is."

  "Bah! it gives me a nausea."

  "Well, do not be sick yet."

  "Why not?"

  "Because," Don Tadeo continued, pointing to the senator, "I think wehave something here that will bring the agreeable feeling to its height."

  As soon as Don Ramon saw the General leave the apartment, he quitted hiseasy chair, and advanced towards Don Tadeo, bowing obsequiously.

  "To whom have I the honour of speaking?" said the King of Darkness, withstudied politeness.

  "Sir," the other replied, with a jaunty, gentlemanly air, "my name isDon Ramon Sandias, and I am a senator."

  "How can I be of service to you, sir?" said Don Tadeo, bowing.

  "Oh," Don Ramon replied, affectedly; "as regards myself, personally, Iask nothing."
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  "Indeed!"

  "Caspita! no; I am rich, what more can I want? But I am a Chilian, apatriot, sir; and, what is more, a senator. Placed in an exceptionalposition, I am bound to give my fellow citizens unequivocal proofs of mydevotion to the holy cause of liberty. Are you not of my opinion, sir?"

  "Entirely."

  "I have heard, sir, that the wretched cabecilla, the cause of this sillymovement, which brought the republic within two inches of ruin, is inyour hands."

  "Yes, sir," replied Don Tadeo, with imperturbable coolness, "we havebeen fortunate enough to obtain possession of his person."

  "You are, doubtless, going to bring this man to trial?" Don Ramon asked,in a somewhat familiar tone.

  "Within forty-eight hours, sir."

  "That is right, sir. It is thus that justice should be dealt to theseshameless agitators, who, in contempt of the sacred laws of humanity,seek to plunge our beautiful country into the gulf of revolutions."

  "Sir!"

  "Pardon me for speaking thus," said Don Ramon, with well-feignedenthusiasm; "I feel that my freedom goes rather far, but my indignationcarries me away, sir; it is quite time that these makers of widows andorphans should receive the exemplary chastisement they merit. I cannotthink, without trembling, of the manifold evils that would have fallenupon us, if this miserable adventurer had succeeded."

  "Sir, this man is not yet condemned."

  "And that is exactly what brings me to you, sir. As a senator, anda devoted patriot, I claim of you the right which belongs to me, ofpresiding over the commission whose duty it is to sit in judgment uponhim."

  "Your request is granted, sir," Don Tadeo replied, who was unable torepress a smile of contempt.

  "Thank you, sir!" said the senator, with an expression of joy; "howeverpainful the duty may be, I shall know how to perform it."

  After bowing deeply to Don Tadeo, the senator left the room in highspirits.

  "You see," said Don Tadeo, turning to Valentine, "Don Pancho had twofriends upon whom he thought he could depend: one took upon him toproclaim him, the other to defend him. Well, in one he finds a gaoler,in the other an executioner."

  "It is monstrous!" said Valentine, with disgust.

  "No," replied Don Tadeo; "it is logical, that's all;--he has failed."

  "I have had enough of your politic men, with two faces, and neither ofthem a true one," replied Valentine; "allow me to return to our friends."

  "Begone, then, since you wish it."

  "Thanks!"

  "You will come back to Valdivia immediately, will you not?"

  "Pardieu, will I!"

  "Will you have an escort?"

  "For what purpose?"

  "Ah! that is true; I am always forgetting that you never apprehenddanger."

  "I am only anxious about our friends; that is why I leave you."

  "Have you any cause for apprehension?"

  "None; but yet, a vague uneasiness, which I can not account for, compelsme to remain no longer away from them."

  "Begone, then, as quickly as you please, my friend; but pray be watchfulover the poor child, Rosario."

  "Be at ease on that score; within three hours she shall be here."

  "That is understood: a pleasant ride to you, and remember that I shalllook for you with impatience."

  "Time to go and return, that is all."

  "Till then, adieu!"

  Valentine left the room, went straight to the stables, saddled his horsehimself, and set off at a gallop. He had told Don Tadeo the truth: avague uneasiness disturbed him, he had a presentiment of some misfortuneor another.