rezanov-第27节
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in the ground and filled by a spring of clear water。 Here； once a week； the linen； fine and heavy； of Fort and Presidio was washed； the stoutest serving women of households and barracks meeting at dawn and scrubbing for half a day。 Rezanov had watched the bright picture they made for they wore a bit of every hue they could com… mandwith a lazy interest； which quickened to thirst when he heard that they were the most re… liable newsmongers in the country。 In every Pre… sidial district was a similar institution； and the four were known as the 〃Wash Tub Mail。〃 Many of the women were selected by the tyrants of the tubs for their comeliness； and each had a lover in the couriers that went regularly with mail and official instructions from one end of the Californias to the other。 All important news was known first by these women； and much was discussed over the tubs that was long in reaching higher but no less interested circles； and domestic bulletins were as eagerly prized。 The sailor that brought this information to Rezanov was a good…looking and susceptible youth； already the victim of an Indian maiden from the handsome tribe in the Santa Clara Valley； and sister of Dona Ignacia's Malia。 Rezanov furnished him with beads and other trinkets and was at no dis… advantage thereafter。
There was nothing Rezanov would have liked better than to see a Russian fleet sail through the straits； but he also knew that nothing was less likely； and that from such rumors he should only derive further annoyance and delay。 Two of his sailors deserted at the prospect of war； and his hosts； if neutral； were manifestly alert。 Luis and Santiago had been obliged to go to Monterey for a few days； and there was no one at the Presidio in whom Rez… anov could confide either his impatience to see Con… cha or at the adjournment of his more prosaic but no less pressing interests。 These two young men had been with him almost constantly since his arrival； and demonstrated their friendship and even affection unfailingly； but there was no love lost be… tween himself and Gervasio。 This young hidalgo had the hauteur and intense family pride of San… tiago without his younger brother's frank intelli… gence and lingering ingenuousness。 With all the superiority and inferiority； he had made himself so unpopular that his real kindness of heart atoned for his absurdities only with those that knew him best。 Rezanov was not one of these nor aspired to be。 Like all highly seasoned men of the world； he had no patience with the small vanities of the provincial； and although diplomatically courteous to all； in his present precarious position； he had taken too little trouble to conciliate Gervasio to find him of use in the absence of his friends。
At the end of three days Rezanov had forgotten his cargo； and would have sent the Juno to the bot… tom for ten minutes alone with Concha。 He had been on fire with love of her since the moment of his actual surrender； and he was determined to have her if there were no other recourse but elopement。 All his old and intense love of personal freedom had melted out of form in the crucible of his lover's imagination。 That he should have doubted for a moment that Concha was the woman for whom his soul had held itself aloof and unshackled was a matter for contemptuous wonder； and the pride he had taken in his keen and swift perceptive faculties suffered an eclipse。 Mind and soul and body he was a lover； a union unknown before。
On the fourth morning； his patience at an end； he was about to leave the Juno to demand a formal interview with Don Jose when he saw Luis and San… tiago dismount at the beach and enter the canoe al… ways in waiting。 A few moments later they had helped themselves to cigarettes from the gift of the Tsar and were assuring Rezanov of their partisan… ship and approval。
〃We were somewhat taken aback at the first mo… ment；〃 Luis admitted。 〃Butwell； we are both in loveSantiago no less than I； although I have had these six long years of waiting and am likely to have another。 And we love Concha as few men love their sisters； for there is no one like heris it not so； Rezanov？ And we quite understand why she has chosen you； and why she stands firm； for we know the strength of her character。 We would that you were a Catholic； but even so； we will not sit by and see her life ruined； and we have called to assure you that we shall use all our influence； every adroit argument； to bring our parents to a more reasonable frame of mind。 They have already risen above the first natural impulse of selfishness； and would consent to the inevitable separation were you only a Catholic。 I have also talked with the Gov… ernorwe arrived at midnightand he flew into a terrible temperthe poor man is already like a mad bull at baybut if my father yielded； he would on all points。 This morning I shall ride over and talk with Father Abella； who； I fancy； needs only a little extra pressureyou may be sure Concha has not been idleto yield； and for more reasons than one。 I shall enlist Father Uria and Father de la Cueva as well。 They also have great influence with my parents； and as they return to San Jose in two days to prepare for the visit of the most estim… able Dr。 Langsdorff； there is no time to lose。 I shall go this morning。 One more cigarito； senor； and when that treaty is drawn remember the con… version of your brother to Russian tobacco。〃
Rezanov thanked him so warmly； assured him with so convincing an emphasis that with his fate in such competent hands his mind was at peace； that the ardent heart of the Californian exulted； Rez… anov； with his splendid appearance； and typical of the highest civilizations of Europe； had descended upon his narrow sphere with the authority of a demigod； and he not only thirsted to serve him； but to fasten him to California with the surest of human bonds。
As he dropped over the side of the ship； Rezanov's hand fell lightly on the shoulder of Santiago。
〃I can wait no longer to see your sister；〃 he whispered； mindful of the sterner responsibilities of the older brother。 〃Do you think you could〃
Santiago nodded。 〃While Luis is at the Mission I shall go to my cousin Juan Moraga's。 You will dine with us at the Presidio； and I shall escort you back to the ship。〃
XIX
It was ten o'clock when Rezanov； who had supped on the Juno； met Santiago in a sandy valley half a mile from the Presidio and mounted the horse his young friend himself had saddled and brought。 The long ride was a silent one。 The youth was not talkative at any time； and Rezanov was conscious of little else save an overwhelming desire to see Con… cha again。 One secret of his success in life was his gift of yielding to one energy at a time； oblivious at the moment to aught that might distract or en… feeble the will。 To…night； as he rode toward the Mission on as romantic a quest as ever came the way of a lover； the diplomat； the anxious director of a great Company； the representative of one of the mighty potentates of earth； were submerged； forgotten； in the thrilling anticipation of his hour with the woman for whom every fiber of his being yearned。
Nor ever was there more appropriate a setting for one of those inaugural chapters in mating； half appreciated at the time； that glimmer as a sort of morning twilight on mountain tops over the mild undulations of matrimony。 The moon rode without a masking cloud across the ambiguous night blue of the California sky； a blue that looks like the fire of strange elements； where the stars glow like silver coals； and out of whose depths intense shadows of blue and black fall； shadows in which all the terres… trial world seems to float and recombine； where houses are ghosts of ancient selves and men but the eidola of forgotten dust。 To…night the little estate of Juan Moraga； the most isolated and eastern of the settlement； surrounded by its high white wall； looked as unreal and formless as the blue oval of water and black trees behind it； but Rezanov knew that it enfolded warm and palpitating womanhood and was steeped in the sweetness of Castilian roses。
The riders； who had taken a path far to the east of the Mission dismounted and tied their horses among the willows； then； in their dark cloaks but a part of the shadows； stole toward the wall designed to impress hostile tribes rather than to resist on… slaught； at the first warning the settlement invari… ably fled to the church； where walls were massive and windows high。
In three of Moraga's four walls was a grille； or wicket of slender iron bars； whence the open could be swept with glass； or gun at a pinch； and toward the grille looking eastward went Rezanov as swiftly as the uneven ground would permit。 As Concha watched him gather form in the moonlight and saw him jerk his cloak off impatiently； she flung her soft body against the wall and shook the bars with her strong little hands。 But when he faced her she was erect and smiling； in a sudden uprush of spirits； almost indifferent。 She wore a white gown and a rose in her hair。 A rosebush as dense as an arbor spread its prickly arms between herself and the windows of the house。
〃Good…evening；〃 she whispered。
Rezanov gave the grill an angry shake。 （San… tiago had
