a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第30节
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forgot the unpleasantness of the interview。 He found himself thinking only
of his ride with Yerba。 Well！ he had told her that he loved her。 She knew it
now； and although she had forbidden him to speak further； she had not
wholly rejected it。 It must be her morbid consciousness of the mystery of
her birth that withheld a return of her affections；some half…knowledge；
perhaps； that she would not divulge； yet that kept her unduly sensitive of
accepting his love。 He was satisfied there was no entanglement； her heart
was virgin。 He even dared to hope that she had ALWAYS cared for him。 It
was for HIM to remove all obstaclesto prevail upon her to leave this
place and return to America with him as her husband； the guardian of her
good name； and the custodian of her secret。 At times the strains of a
dreamy German waltz； played in the distance； brought back to him the
brief moment that his arm had encircled her waist by the crumbling wall；
and his pulses grew languid； only to leap firmer the next moment with
more desperate resolve。 He would win her； come what may！ He could
never have been in earnest before： he loathed and hated himself for his
previous passive acquiescence to her fate。 He had been a weak tool of the
colonel's from the first： he was even now handicapped by a preposterous
promise he had given him！ Yes； she was right to hesitateto question his
ability to make her happy！ He had found her here； surrounded by stupidity
and cupidityto give it no other nameso patent that she was the common
gossip； and had offered nothing but a boyish declaration！ As he strode into
the hotel that night it was well that he did not meet the unfortunate colonel
on the staircase！
It was very late； although there was still visible a light in Yerba's salon；
shining on her balcony； which extended before and included his own
window。 From time to time he could hear the murmur of voices。 It was too
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late to avail himself of the invitation to join them； even if his frame of
mind had permitted it。 He was too nervous and excited to go to bed； and；
without lighting his candle； he opened the French window that gave upon
the balcony； drew a chair in the recess behind the curtain； and gazed upon
the night。 It was very quiet； the moon was high； the square was sleeping in
a trance of checkered shadows； like a gigantic chessboard； with black
foreshortened trees for pawns。 The click of a cavalry sabre； the sound of a
footfall on the pavement of the distant Konigsstrasse； were distinctly
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
