Outlined against the western sky was the town of San Augustin,--square walls and low, flat roofs built along a low, green sh.o.r.e. The watch-tower of the castle fort rose up in menace as we came nearer.
Upon the deck of the Spanish galley, hand in hand, stood my love and I.
"Yonder is----our destination," said Mr. Rivers.
"Our prison, you would say," I answered him, "and so I think also.
Nevertheless, I would rather stand here, at your side, than anywhere else in this wide world--_alone_!"
He smiled and raised my fingers to his lips. "Verily, dear lady, so would I also."
There was a rattle of heavy chains, and a loud plash as the anchor slipped down in the darkening waters.
CHAPTER VI.
We were received by the Spanish Governor immediately after our landing.
I had already pictured him, in my thoughts, as a man of commanding presence, with keen, dark eyes set in a stern countenance; crisp, curling locks--such as Melinza"s--but silvered lightly on the temples; an air of potency, of fire, as though his bold spirit defied the heavy hand of time.
"Twas therefore a matter of great surprise to me--and some relief--when, instead, I beheld advancing toward us a spare little figure with snow-white hair and a pallid face. His small blue eyes blinked upon us with a watery stare; his flabby cheeks were seamed with wrinkles, and his tremulous lips twitched and writhed in the shadowy semblance of a smile: there was naught about him to suggest either the soldier or the man of parts.
He was attired with some pretension, in a doublet of purple velvet with sleeves of a lighter color. His short, full trousers were garnished at the knee with immense roses; his shrunken nether limbs were cased in silken hose of a pale lavender hue, and silver buckles fastened the tufted purple ribbons on his shoes. On his breast was the red cross of St. James--patent of n.o.bility; had it not been for that and his fine attire he might have pa.s.sed for a blear-eyed and decrepit tailor from Haberdashery Lane.
I plucked up heart at the sight of this little manikin.
"Can this be the Governor and Captain-General of San Augustin?" I whispered in the ear of my betrothed.
""Tis not at the court of _our_ Charles only that kissing, or promotion, goes by favour!" was his answer, in a quick aside. Then he met the advancing dignitary and responded with grave punctilio to the suave welcome that was accorded us.
Melinza"s part was that of master of ceremonies on this occasion. He appeared to have laid aside his rancour, and his handsome olive countenance was lightened with an expression of great benignance when he presented me to the Governor as--"_the honourable and distinguished senorita Dona Margarita de Tudor_."
I looked up at Mr. Rivers with an involuntary smile.
"My betrothed, your Excellency," he said simply, taking me by the hand.
The blear-eyed Governor made me a compliment, with a wrinkled hand upon his heart. I understood no word of it, and he spoke no French, so Mr.
Rivers relieved the situation with his usual ease.
This audience had been held in the courtyard of the castle, which is a place of great strength,--being, in effect, a square fort built of stone, covering about an acre of ground, and garrisoned by more than three hundred men.
We stood in a little group beneath a dim lamp that hung in a carved portico which appeared to be the entrance to a chapel. Captain Baulk and the rest were a little aloof from us; and all around, at the open doors of the casemates, lurked many of the swarthy soldiery.
Suddenly light footsteps sounded on the flagged pavement of the chapel in our rear, and a tall, graceful woman stepped forth and laid her hand upon my shoulder. Through the delicate folds of black, filmy lace veiling her head and shoulders gleamed a pair of luminous eyes that burned me with their gaze.
She waved aside the salutations of the two Spaniards and spoke directly to me in a rich, low voice. The sight of a woman was so welcome to me that I held out both hands in eager response; but she made no move to take them: her bright eyes scanned the faces of our party, lingering on that of my betrothed, to whom she next addressed herself, with a little careless gesture of her white hand in my direction.
Mr. Rivers bowed low, and said, in French: "Madame, I commend her to your good care." Then to me: "Margaret, the Governor"s lady offers you the protection of her roof."
His eyes bade me accept it, and I turned slowly to the imperious stranger and murmured: "Madame, I thank you."
"So!" she exclaimed, "you can speak, then? You are not dumb? I had thought it was a pretty waxen effigy of Our Lady, for the padre here,"
and she laughed mockingly, with a glance over her shoulder.
Another had joined our group, but his bare feet had sounded no warning tread. The sight of the coa.r.s.e habit and the tonsured head struck a chill through me. Two sombre eyes held mine for a moment, then their owner turned silently away and re-entered the chapel door.
Melinza was standing by, with a gathering frown on his forehead.
"Such condescension on your part, Dona Orosia, is needless. We can provide accommodations for all our English guests here in the castle."
"What! Would Don Pedro stoop to trick out a lady"s boudoir?--Nay, she would die of the horrors within these gloomy walls. Come with me, child, I can furnish better entertainment."
I turned hastily toward my dear love.
"Go!" said his eyes to me.
Then I thought of Barbara, and very timidly I asked leave to keep her by me.
"She may follow us," said the Governor"s lady carelessly, and sharply clapped her hands. Two runners appeared, bearing a closed chair, and set it down before us.
"Enter," said my self-elected guardian. "You are so slight there is room for us both."
In dazed fashion I obeyed her, and then she followed me.
I thought I should be crushed in the narrow s.p.a.ce, and the idea of being thus suddenly torn away from my betrothed filled me with terror. I made a desperate effort to spring out again; but a soft, strong hand gripped my arm and held me still, and in a moment we were borne swiftly away from the courtyard into the dark without.
I wrung my hands bitterly, and burst into tears.
"_O cielos!_ what have we here?" cried the rich voice, petulantly. ""Tis not a waxen saint, after all, but a living fountain! Do not drown me, I pray you. What is there to weep for? Art afraid, little fool? See, I am but a woman, not an ogress."
But "twas not alone for myself that I feared: the thought of my dear love in Melinza"s power terrified me more than aught else,--yet I dared not put my suspicions into words. I tried hard to control my voice as I implored that I might be taken back to the fort and to Mr. Rivers.
"Is it for the Englishman, or Melinza, that you are weeping?" demanded my companion sharply.
"Madame!" I retorted, with indignation, "Mr. Rivers is my betrothed husband."
"Good cause for affliction, doubtless," she replied, "but spare me your lamentations. Nay, you may _not_ return to the fort. "Tis no fit place for an honest woman,--and you seem too much a fool to be aught else.
Here, we have arrived----"
She pushed me out upon the unpaved street, then dragged me through an open doorway, across a narrow court filled with blooming plants, and into a lighted room furnished with rich hangings, and chairs, tables, and cabinets of fine workmanship.
I gazed around me in wonder and confusion of mind.
"How does it please your pretty saintship? "Tis something better than either Padre Ignacio"s hut or Melinza"s galley, is it not? Are you content to remain?"
"Madame," I said desperately, "do with me what you will; only see, I pray you, that my betrothed comes to no harm."