rezanov-第17部分

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veral　impromptu　dances　at　the　Presidio　and　Mission；　but　he　pleaded　fatigue；　natural　in　the　damaged　state　of　his　constitution；　and　left　the　ship　only　for　a　gallop　over　the　hills　or　down　the　coast　with　Luis　Arguello。

But　he　had　never　felt　better。　　At　the　end　of　a　week　his　pallor　had　gone；　his　skin　was　tanned　and　fresh。　　Even　his　wretched　crew　were　different　men。　They　were　given　much　leave　on　shore；　and　already　might　be　seen　escorting　the　serving…women　over　the　hills　in　the　late　afternoon。　　Rezanov　gave　them　a　long　rope；　although　he　knew　they　must　be　ger…　minating　with　a　mutinous　distaste　of　the　Russian　north；　he　kept　strict　watch　over　them　and　would　have　given　a　deserter　his　due　without　an　instant's　pause。

The　estafette　that　had　gone　with　Luis'　letters　to　Monterey　had　taken　one　from　Rezanov　as　well；　ask…　ing　permission　to　pay　a　visit　of　ceremony　to　the　Governor。　　Five　days　later　the　plenipotentiary　re…　ceived　a　polite　welcome　to　California；　and　protest　against　another　long　journey；　the　humble　servant　of　the　King　of　Spain　would　himself　go　to　San　Francisco　at　once　and　offer　the　hospitality　of　Cali…　fornia　to　the　illustrious　representative　of　the　Em…　peror　of　all　the　Russias。

Rezanov　was　not　only　annoyed　at　the　Governor's　evident　determination　that　he　should　see　as　little　as　possible　of　the　insignificant　military　equipment　of　California；　but　at　the　delay　to　his　own　plans　for　ex…　ploration。　　He　knew　that　Luis　would　dare　take　him　upon　no　expedition　into　the　heart　of　the　country　without　the　consent　of　the　Governor；　and　he　began　to　doubt　this　consent　would　be　given。　　But　he　was　determined　to　see　the　bay；　at　least；　and　he　no　sooner　read　the　diplomatic　epistle　from　Monterey　than　he　decided　to　accomplish　this　part　of　his　purpose　before　the　arrival　of　the　Governor　or　Don　Jose。　　He　knew　the　material　he　had　to　deal　with　at　the　moment；　but　nothing　of　that　already；　no　doubt；　on　its　way　to　the　north。

Early　in　the　morning　after　the　return　of　the　courier　he　wrote　an　informal　note　to　Dona　Ignacia；　asking　her　to　give　him　the　honor　of　entertaining　her　for　a　day　on　the　Juno；　and　to　bring　all　the　young　people　she　would。　　As　the　weather　was　so　fine；　he　hoped　to　see　them　in　time　for　chocolate　at　nine　o'clock。　　He　knew　that　Luis；　who　was　pressingly　included　in　the　invitation；　had　left　at　daybreak　for　his　father's　rancho；　some　thirty　miles　to　the　south。

There　was　a　flutter　at　the　Presidio　when　the　invi…　tation　of　the　Chamberlain　was　made　known。　　The　compliment　was　not　unexpected；　but　there　had　been　a　lively　speculation　as　to　what　form　the　Russian's　return　of　hospitality　would　take。　　Concha；　whose　tides　had　thundered　and　ebbed　many　times　since　the　night　of　her　party；　submerging　the　happy　inconse…　quence　of　her　sixteen　years；　but　leaving　her　un…　shaken　spirit　with　wide　clarified　vision；　felt　young　to…day　from　sheer　reaction。　　She　would　listen　to　no　protest　from　her　prudent　mother　and　smothered　her　with　kisses　and　a　torrent　of　words。

〃But；　my　Conchita；〃　gasped　Dona　Ignacia；　〃I　have　much　to　do。　　Thy　father　and　his　excellency　come　in　two　days。　　And　perhaps　they　would　not　approvebefore　they　are　here！to　go　on　the　for…　eign　ship！　　If　Luis　were　not　gone！　　Ay　yi！　　Ay　yi！〃

〃We　go；　we　go；　madre　mia！　　And　his　excellency　will　give　you　a　shawl。　　I　feel　it！　　I　know　it！　　And　if　we　go　now　we　disobey　no　law。　　Have　they　ever　said　we　could　not　visit　a　foreign　ship　when　they　were　not　here？　　We　are　light…headed；　irresponsible　women。　　And　if　they　should　not　let　us　go！　　If　the　Governor　and　the　Russian　should　disagree！　　Now　we　have　the　opportunity　for　such　a　day　as　we　never　have　had　before。　　We　should　be　imbeciles。　　We　go；　madre　mia；　we　go！〃

So　it　proved。　　At　a　few　minutes　before　nine　the　Senora　Arguello；　clad　in　her　best　black　skirt　and　jacket；　a　red　shawl　embroidered　with　yellow　draped　over　her　bust　with　unconquerable　grace；　and　a　black　reboso　folded　about　her　fine　proud　head；　rode　down　to　the　beach　with　Ana　Paula　on　the　aquera　behind　and　Gertrudis　Rudisinda　on　her　arm。　　The　boys　howled　on　the　corridor；　but　the　good　senora　felt　she　could　not　too　liberally　construe　the　kind　invita…　tion　of　a　chamberlain　of　the　Russian　Court。

Behind　her　rode　Concha；　in　white　with　a　pink　reboso；　Rafaella　Sal；　Carolina　Xime'no；　Herminia　Lopez；　Delfina　Rivera；　the　only　other　girls　at　the　Presidio　old　enough　to　grace　such　an　occasion；　Sturgis；　who　happened　to　have　spent　the　night　at　the　Presidio；　Gervasio；　Santiago　and　Lieutenant　Rivera。　　Castro　had　returned　to　Monterey；　Sal　was　officer　of　the　day；　and　the　other　young　men　had　sulkily　declined　to　be　the　guests　of　a　man　who　looked　as　haughty　as　the　Tsar　himself　and　betrayed　no　dis…　position　to　recognize　in　Spain　the　first　nation　of　Europe。　　But　no　one　missed　them。　　The　girls；　in　their　flowered　muslins　and　bright　rebosos；　the　men　in　gay　serapes　and　embroidered　botas；　looked　a　fine　mass　of　color　as　they　galloped　down　to　the　beach　and　laughed　and　chattered　as　youth　must　on　so　glorious　a　morning。　　Even　Sturgis；　always　care…　ful　to　be　as　nearly　one　with　these　people　as　his　dif…　ferent　appearance　and　temperament　would　permit；　wore　clothes　of　green　linen；　a　ruffled　shirt；　deer…skin　botas　and　sombrero。

Three　of　the　ship's　canoes　awaited　the　guests；　and　as　not　one　of　the　women　had　ever　set　foot　in　a　boat；　there　was　a　chorus　of　shrieks。　　Dona　Ignacia　mur…　mured　an　audible　prayer；　and　clutched　Gertrudis　Rudisinda　to　her　breast。

〃Madre　de　Dios！　　The　water！　　I　cannot！〃　she　muttered。　　But　Santiago　took　her　firmly　by　one　elbow；　Sturgis　by　the　other；　Davidov　caught　up　the　children　with　a　reassuring　laugh；　and　in　a　moment　she　was　trembling　in　the　middle　of　the　canoe。　　Con…　cha　had　already　leaped　into　the　second　and　waved　a　careless　little　salutation　to　the　Juno。　　Her　eyes　sparkled。　　Her　nostrils　fluttered。　　She　felt　indif…　ferent　to　everything　but　the　certain　pleasure　of　the　day。　　Rezanov　was　sure　to　be　charming。　　What　mattered　the　morrow；　and　possible　nights　of　doubt；　despair；　hatred　of　life　and　wondering　self…contempt？

Rezanov　awaited　the　canoes　in　the　prow　of　the　ship。　　He　wore　undress　uniform　and　a　cap　instead　of　the　cocked　hat　of　ceremony　which　had　excited　their　awe。　　He　too　tingled　with　a　sense　of　youthful　gaiety　and　adventure。　　As　he　helped　his　guests　up　the　side　of　the　vessel　and　listened　to　the　delightful　laughter　of　the　girls；　saw　the　dancing　eyes　of　even　the　haughty　and　reserved　Santiago；　he　also　dismissed　the　morrow　from　his　thoughts。

As　Dona　Ignacia　was　hauled　to　the　deck；　uttering　embarrassed　apologies　for　bringing　the　two　little　girls；　Rezanov　protested　that　he　adored　children；　patted　their　heads　and　told　off　a　young　sailor　to　amuse　them。

Four　tables　on　the　deck　were　set　with　coffee；　chocolate；　Russian　tea；　and　strange　sweets　that　the　cook　had　fashioned　from　ingredients　to　which　his　skilful　fingers　had　long　been　strangers。

Dona　Ignacia　sat　beside　the　host；　and　when　she　had　tried　both　the　tea　and　the　coffee　and　had　de…　manded　the　recipe　of　the　sweets；　he　said　casually：　〃After　breakfast　I　shall　ask　you　to　go　down　to　the　cabin　for　a　few　moments。　　I　bought　the　cargo　with　the　Juno；　and　find　there　are　several　articles　which　I　shall　beg　as　a　great　favor　to　present　to　my　kindest　hostesses　and　the　young　girls　she　has　been　good　enough　to　bring　to　my　ship。　　Shawls　and　ells　of　cotton　and　all　that　sort　of　thing　are　of　no　use　to　a　bachelor；　and　I　hope　you　will　rid　me　of　some　of　them。〃

Dona　Ignacia　lost　all　interest　in　the　breakfast；　and　presently；　murmuring　an　excuse；　was　escorted　by　Langsdorff　down　to　the　cabin。　　When　the　light　repast　was　over；　Rezanov　made　a　signal　to　several　sailors　who　awaited　commands；　and　they　sprang　to　the　anchor　and　sails。

〃We　are　going　to　have　a　cruise；〃　announced　the　host　to　his　guests。　　〃The　bay　is　very　smooth；　there　is　a　fine　breeze；　we　shall　neither　be　becalmed　nor　otherwise　the　sport　of　inclement　waters。　　I　know　that　most　of　you　have　never　seen　this　beautiful　bay　and　that　you　will　enjoy　its　scenery　as　much　as　I　shall。〃

He　moved　to　Concha's　side　and　dropped　his　voice。　〃This　is　for　you；　senorita；〃　he　said。　　〃You　want　change；　variety；　and　I　have　planned　to　give　you　all　that　I　can　in　one　day。　　I　expect　you　to　be　happy。〃

〃I　shall　be；〃　she　said　dryly；　〃if　only　in　watching　a　diplomat　get　his　way。　　You　will　see　every　corner　of　our　bay；　and　I　shall　have　the　delightful　sensation　of　doing　something　for　which　I　cannot　be　held　re…　sponsible。〃

He　laughed。　　〃I　am　quite　willing　that　you　should　understand　me；〃　he　said。　　〃But　it　is　true　that　I　thought　as　much　of　you　as　of　myself。〃

In　a　few　moments　the　ship　was　under　way。　　San…　tiago　and　Sturgis　had　gone　down　to　the　cabin　to　reassure　Dona　Ignacia；　who　uttered　a　loud　cry　as　the　Juno　gave　a　preliminary　lurch。　　Gervasio　and　Rivera　had　opened　their　eyes　as　Rezanov　abruptly　unfolded　his　plan；　but　dropped　them　sleepily　before　the　delight　of　the　girls。　　After　all；　it　was　none　of　their　affair；　and　what　was　a　bay？　　If　they　requested　him；　as　a　point　of　honor；　to　refrain　from　examining　the　battery　of　Yerba　Buena　with　his　glass；　their　con…　sciences　would　be　as　light　as　their　hearts。

As　Rezanov　stood　alone　with　Concha　in　the　prow　of　the　ship　and　alternately　cast　softened　eyes　on　her　intense；　rapt　face；　and　shrewd　glances　on　the　rami…　fications　of　the　bay；　he　congratu