"Oh yes," said Russell, in his large way; "and, what"s more, I can make you happy for the rest of your life. I like you, Rita. I"m quite fond of you. You"re an uncommonly pretty woman."
Saying this, Russell took Rita"s hand and pressed it with much emphasis. Now, the interpretation which Rita put upon these words and this action was very different from what Russell intended. The benignant Russell merely wished to impress upon Rita"s mind that he had very friendly feelings toward her, and that, if she would help him, he was in a position to reward her handsomely. He didn"t want to name any sum. He wished, for obvious reasons, to leave the amount unsettled. But Rita understood it differently. Being of a sentimental turn, she regarded this as a sort of declaration of love--in fact, almost an offer of marriage--and, if not so altogether, at least an approach to it. Still, she was a shrewd woman, and waited until Russell had explained himself further.
Russell observed her silence, and was quite satisfied. It showed proper caution, and caution was an excellent quality in one whom he wished to have for a helper in his need. So he went on in the same way, still holding Rita"s hand.
"You are so pretty, Rita, my dear, I swear I never before saw such a pretty woman. This isn"t the place for you. You must get out of this; and if you will only go away with me, why, there"s nothing that I wouldn"t do for you. When I like a person, I"m ready to do anything for them. And the first moment I saw you, I said to myself, "There"s the woman for you!""
"Am I really the woman for you?" asked Rita, full of excited hopes, and still continuing to misinterpret his words.
"The very one!" said Russell. "The one of all others! Heaven has sent you to me. Rita, my dear, do what I ask!"
Rita was deeply moved. This brilliant, wealthy stranger seemed to love her. He wanted her to fly with him. But, oh, if he should prove false!
"Ah, senor, you not earnest--you not true!" said Rita, clasping his hand in both of hers.
"True! earnest!" cried Russell. "I swear, Rita, my dear, I will be true to what I say--always, always! Can"t you trust me, Rita, my dear?"
"Oh, senor," sighed Rita, deeply moved, "you persuade me too easy.
And think on the danger--the life is risk--the death will come if we are captura."
"Rita, my dear," said Russell, "let us not talk of danger. Let us fly together. I will always remember your devotion. I will never forget you as long as life lasts. I am noted for my truth and fidelity. I"ve got a warm and throbbing heart. And now, Rita, my dear, if you want one who will always be yours truly--if you want one who will love you and care for you--why, I"m your man!"
Upon these words Rita put, as usual, her own interpretation. The last words especially--"I"m your man"--seemed to her to be the most direct offer yet.
"My man?" she said--"and will you be my man, senor?"
"Of course--of course," said Russell, not comprehending her drift.
Upon this Rita flung her arms around the neck of the astonished Russell.
"Oh, senor--then--I helpa you. I yours--I do all. We fly--you be true--to your Rita."
Russell was so astonished that for some time he said nothing; but feeling how important it was to retain her friendship, he did not dare to disabuse her of her false idea; nay, he even felt that it would be better for her to entertain it since she had it. So he put his arm around her and kissed her.
Suddenly Rita started up.
"I mus" go," she said. "I will soon return."
And with these words she hurriedly retreated, leaving Russell to his breakfast and his meditations.
Russell had been very successful in his attempt to win over Rita to his interests; in fact, too successful. His success caused him at first not a little perplexity. Rita, he perceived, had misunderstood him; but then, in making friendly advances to a woman who was not very well up in the English language, it was next to impossible to preserve those nice and delicate shades of meaning which he had intended. Upon the whole, however, after mature consideration, he concluded that it had all turned out for the best.
It was evident that this woman had formed a very strong attachment for him. Very well. She would be all the more devoted to his interests, and turn all her thoughts and energies toward securing his escape. Things could not have turned out better. He had not intended it, but if Rita chose to misunderstand him, why should he try to undeceive her? The more she cared for him, the better it would be for him. And thus Russell, out of his selfish desires for his own safety, allowed himself to trifle with the heart"s best affections, and beguile poor Rita, and allure her with hopes that could never be realized.
After all, however, there were grave obstacles in his way. Could he desert his wife and leave her in such peril? Or, worse, could he leave those precious bonds, which he had so carefully hidden? If he did, he might never see them again.
Was it possible to get them before leaving? Would it be safe to tell Rita, and direct her to get them for him? This thought occupied him for some time, and he almost made up his mind to do so. But the risk was too great. After all, Rita might be a spy in the interests of "His Majesty," and sent to worm his secret out of him.
No, it would not be safe. It would be safer to leave the bonds where they were. If he escaped, he might hope to obtain a.s.sistance from the Government, in which case he might be able to come back with them, to show them the way, and then, when the castle was recaptured, he might be able to regain his treasure. And so he decided finally upon this course.
At midday Rita returned, bringing his dinner, a savory _olla podrida_. She set it down, and then threw her arms around the embarra.s.sed Russell, who was seated on the bench, murmuring words of endearment in unintelligible Spanish. He bore it well, however, and, remembering his necessities, he tried to exhibit those feelings which might be expected from him.
Rita this time had a bundle with her, which she gave to Russell, directing him to hide it under the bench for the present.
"You mus" disguisar," she said; "this is a woman dress--"
"A woman"s dress?"
"Oh, no difficolta. You wait till avenin", then you put him on, ofer your militar coat--just as you stands. Alla right; then you disguisado, and commalong me. I be alla ready. You waita forra mi.
But not you put him on till avenin", or mighta be discovaire, you know. Ha, senor?"
CHAPTER x.x.xV.
IN WHICH TWO FUGITIVES HAVE A STARTLING ADVENTURE, NOT WITHOUT PERIL.
Evening came, and Russell, with Rita"s a.s.sistance, put on the woman"s dress over his general"s uniform. The skill of Rita was exerted to give her companion the appearance of a female somewhat stricken in years, and her success was marked.
Perhaps it was this very success that affected the soul of Russell; for no sooner did he look like an old woman than he began to feel and act like one. Away went all his courage, and he would have drawn back after all, had not Rita urged and almost forced him away.
"Allarighta," she said. "The men all gone insidar, and so ongry they think of ony the eaters. So come, my dear. No one shall see. You be trust to myselfa--an" we go like snake in the gra.s.ses."
Russell thus allowed himself to be hurried away by his bolder companion on the path that led to liberty. Rita led the way out into the upper hall, and Russell followed, not without great trepidation, and bitter regret at his rashness, expecting at every step to see "His Majesty," and of course to be arrested and flung into some deep, dark dungeon. One or two men were there, who, however, took no notice of them.
After this they descended the stairs and entered the lower hall.
Here, to the immense dismay of Russell, he beheld what seemed to be the entire Carlist band. It was their feeding-time. A huge pot was in the middle of the hall, and these men were dipping out of it their respective portions of some savory mess whose odor filled the air.
Russell shrunk down almost into his boots at the first sight; but as Rita walked along, he had no alternative except to follow her.
Little danger was there, however, of his being observed. All the men were too intent upon their evening meal to notice what seemed like two very commonplace women who probably belonged to the castle. And thus Russell, to his unspeakable relief, pa.s.sed through this ordeal unquestioned and even unnoticed.
Having pa.s.sed through the lower hall, they emerged into the outer court-yard. Here, as he pa.s.sed through the door, Russell was just drawing a long breath, and thinking within himself that the worst was over, when suddenly, without any warning, there approached them no less a personage than "His Majesty" himself--the very last man, as it is needless to say, whom Russell would have chosen to meet. At that sight the soul of Russell, which had been slowly struggling upward, once more sank down into his boots, carrying down with it all hope, and all desire, and almost all consciousness.
There was not the slightest chance of avoiding him. He was coming straight toward them. What was worse, his eyes were fixed upon them.
"Ah, Rita," said "His Majesty" in Spanish, "where are you going in the dark?"
Bita paused and made a low obeisance. Russell did the same.
"I"m going over there to see about some washing," said Rita.
"Ah ha!" said "His Majesty," "if you only were going alone I should say that some brave boy was intending to help you at your washing.
But you have a friend with you."
Saying these words, "His Majesty" looked hard at the shrinking Russell, who now felt his soul all oozing out at the seams of his boots. He stood trembling, shrinking, expecting the worst.
But Rita was equal to the occasion.