Kitabı oku: «The Rebel Chief: A Tale of Guerilla Life», sayfa 22
CHAPTER XXXV
JOSÉ DOMINQUEZ
At the end of an hour, Don Jaime left the palace followed by Lopez, went to the house in the suburbs, where he found the Count and his friend, who wholly occupied with their love, and indifferent to the events that were going on around them, spent whole days with those whom they loved, enjoying with, the happy carelessness of youth the present, which seemed to them so sweet, without wishing to think of the future.
"Oh, here you are at last, brother!" Doña Maria exclaimed joyfully. "What a stranger you have grown!"
"Business!" the adventurer answered with a smile.
The table was laid in the centre of the room. The Count's two menservants were preparing to serve, and Leo Carral, with a napkin on his arm, was waiting for the party to sit down.
"My faith, since supper is on the table," Don Jaime said gaily, "I will not let you sup alone with these caballeros, if you will permit me to bear you company."
"What happiness!" Doña Carmen exclaimed.
The gentlemen offered a hand to the ladies and led them to their seats, after which they sat down by their side. The supper began. It was as it should be among persons who had loved and known each other for a long time – that is to say, cheerful and full of pleasant intimacy. Never had the young ladies been so happy, for this unexpected pleasure charmed them. The hours passed rapidly, but no one thought of calling attention to the fact: all at once midnight struck on a clock standing on a console in the dining room The twelve strokes fell one after the other with a majestic slowness into the midst of the conversation, which they suddenly chilled and stopped.
"Good gracious!" Doña Dolores exclaimed, with a slight start of terror, "So late!"
"How time passes!" Don Jaime said carelessly. "We must now think of going."
They left the table; and the three friends, after promising to visit the three recluses as often and soon as possible, at length withdrew, leaving the ladies at liberty to retire. Lopez was waiting for his master under the zaguán.
"What do you want?" the latter asked him.
"We are spied," the peon answered. He led him to the gate and noiselessly pulled back the bolt.
Don Jaime looked out. Exactly opposite the gate a man was standing, almost confounded with the darkness that prevailed in a hollow formed by the scaffolding of a house under repair. It would have escaped any less piercing glance than that of the adventurer.
"I believe you are right," Don Jaime said to the peon. "In any case, it is urgent to make sure, and I will undertake it," he added between his teeth, with a terrible expression. "Change cloak and hat with me. You will accompany these caballeros. The man saw three persons enter, and he must see three depart. Now mount and be off."
"But," said Dominique, "I fancy it would be more simple to kill the man."
"That may happen," Don Jaime answered; "but I wish to make certain beforehand that he is a spy: I do not care to commit a mistake. Do not be anxious about me, within half an hour I will join you again and inform you of what has taken place between this man and myself."
"Good-bye for the present, then," the Count said, shaking his hand.
"Good-bye."
They then went out, followed by Leo Carral and the Count's two servants. Doña Maria's old servant closed the gate with a bang, but was careful to open it again noiselessly. Don Jaime placed himself at the wicket, whence it was easy to watch all the movements of the supposed spy. At the noise caused by the departure of the young men, the latter eagerly bent forward, doubtless to remark the direction they followed, and then returned to his dark corner, where he resumed his statuesque immobility. Nearly a quarter of an hour passed ere the man made the slightest movement. Don Jaime did not lose him out of sight. At length he cautiously emerged from his hiding place, looked carefully around him, and reassured by the solitude of the street, he ventured to take a few steps forward; then, after a moment's hesitation, he boldly advanced toward the house, crossing the street in a straight line. Suddenly the gate opened and he found himself face to face with Don Jaime. He made a sudden backward movement and tried to fly, but the adventurer seized his arm which he held as in a vice, and dragging him after him, in spite of the obstinate resistance he offered, he drew him up to a statuette of the Virgin placed in a niche above a shop, in front of which some tapers were burning, and then, with a backhander he knocked off his prisoner's hat and curiously examined his features.
"Ah, Señor José Dominquez," he said an instant after, in an ironical voice, "is it you? ¡Viva Dios! I did not expect to meet you here."
The poor wretch looked piteously at the man in whose power he was, but made no answer. The adventurer waited a moment, then seeing that his prisoner was decidedly determined, on not answering him, he said, as he gave him a rough shake: —
"Come, scoundrel, are you going to answer or no?"
The prisoner gave a hollow groan.
"It is El Rayo or the Fiend!" he muttered in horror, as he looked despairingly at the masked face of the man who held him so securely.
"It is certainly one or the other," the adventurer continued with a laugh. "So you are in good hands and need not feel alarmed. Now be good enough to tell me how it is that you, a guerillero and highway robber, have become a spy and doubtless an assassin, if necessary, in this capital."
"Misfortunes, Excellency. I was calumniated. I was too honest!"
"You? Hang me if I believe a word of it. I know you too thoroughly, scoundrel, for you to try to deceive me. Hence decide to tell me the truth, and that at once, without further subterfuge, or I will kill you like the cowardly zopilote you are."
"Would you have any objection, Excellency, to hold my arm not quite so tightly? You are twisting it so cruelly, that it must be broken."
"Very good," he said, loosing his hold; "but make no attempt to fly, for you would suffer for it. Now speak."
José Dominquez, on feeling himself delivered from the adventurer's rough grasp, gave a sigh of relief, shook his arm several times, in order to re-establish the circulation, and then decided on speaking.
"I will tell you first, Excellency," he said, "that I am still a guerillero, and have risen to the rank of lieutenant."
"All the better for you. But what are you doing here?"
"I am on an expedition,"
"On an expedition, alone, in Mexico? What! Are you laughing at me, villain?"
"I swear, on the share I hope in Paradise, that I am telling you the strict truth, Excellency. Besides, I am not here alone; my captain accompanies me, and it was by his express orders I came."
"Ah, ah! And who is this captain?"
"Oh, you know him, Excellency,"
"That is probable. But he has a name, I suppose?"
"Certainly Excellency. He is Don Melchior de la Cruz."
"I suspected it. Now I can guess all. You are ordered to spy Doña Dolores de la Cruz, I suppose?"
"Yes, Excellency."
"Good, what next?"
"Well, that is all, Excellency."
"Oh, no, it is not, my scamp; there is something more yet."
"But I assure you – "
"Ah, I see I must employ a grand method," he said, coldly, cocking a pistol.
"Why, what are you doing, Excellency?" he exclaimed, in terror.
"I should think you can see that I am simply preparing to blow out your brains. Hence, if you wish to try and commend your soul to Heaven, make haste and do it, as you have only two minutes left to live."
"But that is not the way to make me speak," he said, with simplicity.
"No," the adventurer answered, coldly; "but it will make you hold your tongue."
"Hum," he said, "you employ such excellent arguments, Excellency, that it is impossible to resist you. I prefer telling you everything!"
"You will act wisely."
"Well, this is the matter in a few words. I was not only ordered to watch Doña Dolores, but also the old and young ladies with whom she resides, as well as all the persons who visit them."
"Hang it all! That was work enough for one man."
"Not too much, Excellency. They hardly receive any visits."
"And since when have you carried on this honourable trade, scoundrel?"
"About ten or twelve days, Excellency."
"So, then, you were one of the bandits who attempted to enter the house by main force?"
"Yes, Excellency, but we did not succeed."
"I know it. Are you well paid by your employer?"
"He has not given me anything yet, I must allow; but he has promised me fifty ounces."
"Oh! Promises cost Don Melchior nothing. It is easier to promise fifty ounces than to give ten piastres."
"Do you think so, Excellency? Is he not rich?"
"He? He is poorer than yourself."
"In that case he must be badly off, for up to the present all my savings consist of debts."
"I really think you are a precious ass, and that you deserve what has happened to you."
"I! Excellency?"
"Hang it! Yes, who else? What, scoundrel! You attach yourself to a villain who has not a farthing – who is hopelessly ruined, instead of taking side with those who could pay you."
"Who are they, if you please, Excellency? I confess that I have very long fingers, and would serve such persons enthusiastically."
"I do not doubt it. Do you fancy that I am going to amuse myself by giving you advice?"
"Ah! if you would, Excellency, I should be delighted to serve you."
"You? Nonsense."
"Why not, Excellency?"
"Hang it! As you are the enemy of those whom I love, you must be my enemy too."
"Oh! If I had only known it!"
"What would you have done?"
"I do not know, but certainly I should not have played the spy on them. Employ me, Excellency, I implore you."
"You are fit for nothing."
"Try me, and you will see, Excellency; that is all I say."
The adventurer pretended to reflect. José Dominquez anxiously waited.
"No," he said at last; "you are a man who cannot be trusted."
"Oh, how badly you know me, Excellency, when I am so devoted to you!"
The adventurer burst into a laugh.
"That is a devotion which has sprung up very rapidly," he said. "Well, I consent to make a trial: but suppose you deceive me?"
"It is enough, Excellency: I know you; you will be contented with me. What do you want?"
"You will only have to turn your dolman, that is all."
"Good, I understand, that is easy: my master will not take a step without your being warned of it."
"Good! Has not our dear Don Melchior an intimate friend?"
"Yes, Excellency, a certain Don Antonio Cacerbas. They are united like the fingers of a hand."
"There will be no harm in your watching him, too."
"I am quite willing."
"And as all trouble deserves payment, I will give you half an ounce in advance."
"Half an ounce?" he exclaimed, with a radiant look.
"And as you are in want of money, I will advance you twenty days' pay."
"Ten ounces! You will give me ten ounces, Excellency! To me! Oh! It is impossible!"
"It is so possible that here they are," he continued, taking them from his pocket, and placing them in José's hand.
The bandit clutched them with a movement of feverish joy.
"Oh!" he exclaimed; "Don Melchior and his friend had better look out."
"Be adroit, for they are clever."
"I know them; but they have to do with a cleverer fellow: trust to me for that."
"That is your business. At the slightest mistake, I give you up."
"I do not fear that happiness."
"Did you not allude to the dexterity of your fingers?"
"Yes, I did, Excellency."
"Well, if by chance these gentlemen let any papers of importance fall, you will do well to pick them up and bring them to me at once. I am of a very curious nature."
"Enough. If I do not find any lying about, I will look for them."
"That is a good idea, which I approve of. Ah! Remember this: the papers count separately. Each of them, if worth it, will fetch you three ounces. If you make a mistake it will be all the worse for you, as you will receive nothing."
"I will take my precautions, Excellency. Now will you be kind enough to tell me where I can find you when I have communications to make, or papers to deliver?"
"That is very easy. I walk every afternoon from three till five along the canal de Las Vigas."
"I will be there."
"Pray be prudent."
"As an opossum, Excellency."
"Good-bye: watch attentively."
"Excellency. I have the honour to salute you."
They separated. Don Jaime, after ordering his sister's old servant who, during the whole of this conversation had held the gate open to go in and secure it on the inside, proceeded toward the residence of the young man rubbing his hands. The Count and his friend, disturbed by Don Jaime's long absence, were awaiting him with a feeling of lively anxiety, they were already preparing to go in search of him, when he entered: they received him with warm testimonies of joy, and then asked him about his expedition. Don Jaime saw no reason for keeping them in ignorance of what had taken place, and he repeated to them in detail his conversation with José Dominquez, and how he had led him to betray his master. This narrative greatly amused the young men. The three remained together till daybreak: shortly before sunrise they separated, Don Jaime's last remark on leaving them being the following:
"My friends, though my conduct may seem to you so extraordinary, do not judge of it yet: in a few days at the most, I shall strike the great blow which I have been preparing for so many years. Everything will then be explained to you, whatever the result may be, and hence be patient, for you are more interested than you suppose in the success of this affair: remember what you promised me and hold yourselves in readiness to act when I claim your assistance. Farewell."
He pressed their hands affectionately and withdrew, a whole week passed away without any events worthy of record. Still a dull anxiety prevailed in the city: numerous meetings in which all the new political movements were discussed, were held in the squares and in the streets. In the mercantile quarters of the city, the shops were only opened for a few hours, and provisions became more and more scarce, and consequently dearer, as only a few Indians came to the city and brought very little with them. A vague agitation, without any known or definite cause prevailed among the population: it was felt that the critical moment was approaching and that the storm; so long suspended over Mexico would soon burst with; a terrible fury.
Don Jaime, apparently at least, led the idle life of a man whom his position places above all accidents, and for whom political events possess no importance: he strolled about the squares and streets, smoking his cigar, listening to everything that was said with the simplicity of a believer, accepting as true all the monstrous absurdities invented by the novelists of the street corners, and not saying a word himself. Every day he took a walk on the canal de Las Vigas, accident made him meet José Dominquez, they conversed for a long time while walking side by side, and then separated apparently mutually satisfied. For the last two or three days, however, Don Jaime had not seemed so pleased with his spy, sharp words and covert threats were exchanged between them.
"My friend José Dominquez;" Don Jaime said to his spy at the six or seventh interview he had with him: "take care; I fancy I can perceive that you have been trying to play a double game, I have a fine nose as you are aware, and scent treachery."
"Oh, Excellency," José Dominquez exclaimed, "you are mistaken; I am on the contrary most faithful, be assured of that, for men do not betray a generous caballero like yourself."
"That is possible; at any rate you are warned, and act accordingly; and mind not to forget to bring me tomorrow the papers you have promised me for the last three days."
Upon this Don Jaime left the spy greatly abashed by this sharp reprimand, and very anxious as to the turn matters might take if he did not act prudently; for, it must be confessed, José Dominquez' conscience was not very tranquil. Don Jaime's suspicions were not totally devoid of foundation; if the spy had not yet betrayed his generous protector, the idea had occurred to him of doing so, and for a man like the guerillero, from thought to execution was only a step. Hence he resolved to rehabilitate himself in Don Jaime's opinion by a brilliant stroke in order to regain his confidence; for this purpose he decided on taking the papers which Don Jaime asked of him, and handing them to him on the morrow, with a determination of stealing them from him again if he considered it worth the while. On the next day, at the appointed hour, Don Jaime was at the place of meeting: José Dominquez speedily arrived, and with a great display of devotedness according to his wont, handed a rather large bundle of papers to the adventurer; the latter took a rapid glance at them, concealed them under his cloak, and after letting a heavy purse of gold drop into the guerillero's hand, he brusquely turned his back on him, without listening to his protestations.
"¡Diablos!" José Dominquez muttered. "He does not seem in a very sweet temper today, so I must not leave him the time to take his precautions: I have luckily discovered where he lives, and now I must act and go and tell everything to Don Melchior. I shall be able to arrange matters so that he will believe I have only manoeuvred to make his enemy confident, and betray him the more easily; and as I intend to betray him, Don Melchior will be enchanted, and congratulate me on my skill. By Heavens! Sense is a fine thing. I am decidedly a man full of intelligence."
While complimenting himself thus in an aside, José Dominquez, who was walking with his head down as persons do who are reflecting, ran full butt against two individuals who were walking arm in arm and conversing. The two persons were probably quick tempered, for they turned sharply, and addressed some rather harsh reproaches to the guerillero. The latter, who felt himself in the wrong, and as he had a considerable sum about him, did not feel anxious to get into an ugly quarrel, attempted to apologise as well as he could. But the strangers would listen to nothing, and continued to apply to him the epithets of brute, ass, and other compliments of the sort. Though the guerillero was on his guard, his patience at length deserted him, and letting himself be overpowered by passion, he laid his hand on his knife. This imprudent action was his ruin. The two strangers rushed upon him, knocked him down, and both stabbed him repeatedly; then, as the street in which this quarrel took place was entirely deserted, and consequently no one had seen them, they assured themselves that the poor fellow was really dead; after which they quietly went off, though not till they had eased him of his money and everything that could prove his identity.
Thus died Señor José Dominquez. The celadores picked up his body two hours later, and as no one recognised it, it was unceremoniously cast into a hole dug in the cemetery, without further enquiry. Don Melchior was perhaps astonished at not seeing him again; but as he placed slight confidence in his honesty, he supposed that he had committed some roguery, which rendered his absence advisable, and thought no more of him.
CHAPTER XXXVI
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
The few days which had elapsed since his interview with Don Jaime, were not wasted by General Don Miguel Miramón. Decided on playing a last stake, he had not been willing to risk it till he had as far as possible equalised the advantages, even though he might not have all the chances on his side, so as to render the struggle which, whatever its result might be, must be decisive, more favourable to his projects.
Not only did the President actually employ himself in recruiting and organising his army and placing it on a respectable footing; but in addition, not heeding for himself how injurious the seizure of the six hundred thousand piastres of the convention bonds in the house of the consul of that nation was to him, he made energetic efforts to repair the injury which this stroke had done him, and paved the way for a negotiation, by which he pledged himself to refund in London the money he had so unfortunately taken; while alleging as excuse for this audacious act that it was only intended as reprisals against Mr. Mathew, the Chargé d'Affaires of the British Government, whose incessant machinations and hostile demonstrations against the recognised government of Mexico had placed the President in the critical position in which he now found himself. As a proof of this statement, he declared, as was true, that after the battle of Toluca there had been found among the baggage of General Degollado, who was made prisoner in that affair, a plan for attacking Mexico, written by Mr. Mathew himself – a fact that constituted an act of felony on the part of the representative of a friendly government.
The President, in order to give greater force to this declaration, showed the original of this plan to the foreign ministers residing in Mexico, and then had it translated and published, in the official journal. This publication had produced all the effect the President anticipated from it, and, by increasing the instinctive hatred of the population for the English nation, regained him the sympathies of a few.
Miramón then redoubled his efforts, and, at length succeeded in arming eight thousand men – a very small number against the twenty-four thousand who menaced him – for General Huerta, whose conduct had for some time past been marked with hesitation, at length decided on leaving Orelia at the head of four thousand men, who, joined to the eleven thousand of Gonzalez Ortega, the five thousand of Gazza Amondea, and the four thousand of Aureliana, Carbajal and Cuellar, formed an effective strength of twenty-four thousand men, who were advanced by forced marches on Mexico, and would speedily appear before the city. The situation became more critical with every moment. The population, ignorant of the President's plans, were agitated by the most lively terror, expecting at any moment to see the heads of the Juarist columns debouch, and to undergo all the horrors of a siege.
In the meanwhile, Miramón, who was anxious before all not to lose the esteem of his countrymen, and to calm the exaggerated fears of the population, resolved on convoking the ayuntamiento. He then strove, by a speech full of courage, to make these representatives of the population of the capital understand that it had never been his intention to await the enemy behind the walls of the city – that, on the contrary, he had determined to go and attack them in the open country, and that, whatever might be the result of the battle he proposed to fight, the city would have no cause to fear a siege. This assurance slightly calmed the fears of the population, and stopped, as if by enchantment, the tentatives at disorder, and the seditious cries which the hidden partizans of Juárez secretly excited among the groups assembled in the squares, which were constantly stationed there for the last two or three days, and even bivouacked there at night.
When the President believed that he had taken all the prudential measures which circumstances demanded to attack the enemy without too marked a disadvantage, while leaving in the city the requisite forces to keep it in subordination, he assembled a last council of war, to discuss the most suitable plan for surprising and defeating the enemy. This council of war lasted several hours. A number of projects was proposed, some of which, as always happens under such circumstances, were impracticable – and others which, had they been adopted, might possibly have saved the government.
Unfortunately, on this day, General Miramón, usually so sensible and prudent, allowed himself to be carried away by his personal resentment, instead of considering the true interests of the nation.
Don Benito Juárez is a lawyer. We will mention, in passing, that, since the proclamation of Mexican, independence, he is the sole President of the Republic who has not emerged from the ranks of the army, or belonged to the magistracy. Now, Juárez, not being a soldier, could not place himself at the head of his army. Hence, he had temporarily established his residence at Veracruz, which he had made his capital, and appointed Don Gonzalez Ortega Commander-in-Chief, with the most extensive powers as regarded questions of military strategy, trusting entirely to special knowledge and experience for the conduct of the war. But he had completely held back the diplomatic question in his own hands, not wishing that General Ortega, a brave soldier but very bad negotiator, should compromise, by misplaced generosity, the success which he anticipated from his cautious And crafty policy. It was General Ortega by whom Miramón had been defeated at Silao. The resentment at this defeat had remained ever present in the President's heart: and he felt the most lively desire to wash out the insult he had received on that occasion. Hence, forgetting his habitual prudence, and contrary to the advice of his wisest councillors, he insisted, in the council, that the first attack should be directed against the corps, at the head of which was Ortega.
The motives he alleged in order to have this resolution adopted, though rather specious, were not absolutely deficient in logic. He declared that if he succeeded in defeating Ortega, the Commander-in-Chief, at the head of the largest corps, demoralization would break out in the enemy's army, and they would have an easy victory over them. The President sustained his opinion with so much eloquence and obstinacy, that he overcame the opposition of the members of the council, and caused the plan he had conceived to be definitively adopted; and once this decision was formed, the General, not wishing to lose a moment in putting it in execution appointed for the morrow a review of all the troops, and fixed the departure for the same day, so as not to let the enthusiasm of his soldiers grow cold.
When the council finally broke up, the President withdrew to his apartments, in order to make his final arrangements, set his affairs in order, and burn certain compromising papers which he did not wish to leave behind him. The President had been shut up in his apartments for some hours; the enemy was advanced when the usher on duty announced Don Jaime. He at once ordered him to be shown in. The adventurer entered.
"You will permit me to go on, will you not?" the President said with a smile; "I have only a few more papers to arrange, and then I shall have finished."
"Do so, pray, General," the adventurer said, seating himself in a butaca.
Miramón resumed his momentarily interrupted occupation. Don Jaime gazed at him for a moment with an expression of indescribable melancholy.
"So," he said, "your resolution is decidedly formed, General?"
"Oh, the die is cast. I have crossed my Rubicon, I would say, were it not ridiculous for me to compare myself with Cæsar. I am going to offer my enemies battle."
"I do not blame that resolution, for it is worthy of you, General. Will you permit me to ask when you propose setting out?"
"Tomorrow, immediately after the review I have ordered."
"Good: in that case I have time to send out two or three intelligent scouts, who will inform you of the enemy's exact position."
"Although several have already started, I gratefully accept your offer, Don Jaime."
"Now, be kind enough to tell what direction you intend to follow, and the corps you have resolved to attack."
"I intend to take the bull by the horns; that is to say, Gonzales Ortega himself."
The adventurer shook his head, but did not venture the slightest observation. He merely said, "Very good."
Miramón left his writing table and sat down by his side. "There that is finished," he said; "now I am at your service. I guess that you wish to make up some important communication; so speak, Don Jaime, I am ready to hear you."
"You are not mistaken, General; I have, indeed, a matter of the utmost importance to communicate to you. Be good enough to read this paper."
And he handed the President a folded document. The President took it, read it without displaying the slightest sign of surprise, and then returned it to the adventurer. "Have you read the signature?" he said.
"Yes," he replied coldly; "it is a letter of credit given by Don Benito Juárez to Don Antonio Cacerbas, recommending the latter to his adherents."
"It is really so, General; you have now no doubts left as to that man's treachery?"
"None."
"Pardon me for asking, General, but what do you intend doing?"
"Nothing."
"What, nothing?" he exclaimed with unaffected surprise.
"No, I shall do nothing," he added.
The adventurer looked stupefied.
"I do not understand you, Excellency," he muttered.
"Listen to me, Don Jaime, and you will understand me," the President answered in a gentle and penetrating voice: "Don Francisco Pacheco, Ambassador Extraordinary of the Queen of Spain, has rendered me immense services since his arrival in Mexico. After the defeat of Silao, when my position was most precarious, he did not hesitate to recognise my government. Since then he has offered me the best advice, and given the greatest proof of sympathy; his conduct has been so kind toward me, that he has compromised his diplomatic position, and so soon as Juárez obtains the power, he will certainly hand him his passports. Don. Pacheco is aware of all this, and yet, at this moment, when I am all but ruined, his conduct remains the same. It is on him alone – I confess it – I reckon to obtain from the enemy, in the probable event of a defeat, good conditions, not for myself, but for the unhappy population of this city, and the persons who, through friendship for me, have been most compromised latterly. Now the man whose treachery you denounce to me – treachery – I hasten to agree with you – so flagrant, that not the slightest doubt can exist about it: this man is not only a Spaniard and the bearer of a great name, but he was also personally recommended to me by the ambassador himself, whose good faith, I feel convinced, has been surprised, and who was the first person deceived in the matter. The principal object of Don Pacheco's mission is, as you cannot be ignorant, to demand satisfaction for the numerous insults offered his countrymen, and reparation for the annoyances to which they have been exposed for some years."
