rs.undertheandes-第6章

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　〃So　it　is。〃
　〃Then；　my　dear　senora；　it　would　be　impertinent　of　me。〃
　〃But　if　I　request　it？〃
　〃I　have　said…anything　in　or　out　of　reason。　And；　of　course；　I　am　one　of　the　family。〃
　〃Is　that　the　only　reason？〃
　I　began　to　understand　her；　and　I　answered　her　somewhat　dryly：　〃My　dear　Desiree；　there　can　be　none　other。〃
　〃Are　you　so…cold？〃
　〃When　I　choose。〃
　〃Ah！〃　It　was　a　sigh　rather　than　an　exclamation。　〃And　yet；　on　the　ship…do　you　remember？　Look　at　me；　M。　Lamar。　Am　I　not…am　I　so　little　worthy　of　a　thought？〃
　Her　lips　were　parted　with　tremulous　feeling；　her　eyes　glowed　with　a　strange　fire；　and　yet　were　tender。　Indeed；　she　was　〃worthy　of　a　thought〃…dangerously　so；　I　felt　my　pulse　stir。　It　was　necessary　to　assume　a　stoicism　I　was　far　from　feeling；　and　I　looked　at　her　with　a　cynical　smile　and　spoke　in　a　voice　as　carefully　deliberate　as　I　could　make　it。
　〃Le　Mire；〃　I　said；　〃I　could　love　you；　but　I　won't。〃　And　I　turned　and　left　her　without　another　word。
　Why？　I　haven't　the　slightest　idea。　It　must　have　been　my　vanity。　Some　few　men　had　conquered　Le　Mire；　others　had　surrendered　to　her；　certainly　none　had　ever　been　able　to　resist　her。　There　was　a　satisfaction　in　it。　I　walked　about　the　lobby　of　the　hotel　till　Harry　returned；　idiotically　pleased　with　myself。
　At　the　breakfast　table　I　acquainted　Harry　with　our　plans　for　a　cruise；　and　he　was　fully　as　eager　about　it　as　Le　Mire　had　been。
　He　wanted　to　weigh　anchor　that　very　afternoon。　I　explained　that　it　was　necessary　to　wait　for　funds　from　New　York。
　〃How　much？〃　said　he。　〃I'm　loaded。〃
　〃I've　sent　for　a　hundred　thousand；〃　said　I。
　〃Are　you　going　to　buy　her？〃　he　demanded　with　astonishment。
　Then　we　fell　to　a　discussion　of　routes。　Harry　was　for　Hawaii；　Le　Mire　for　South　America。
　We　tossed　a　coin。
　〃Heads；〃　said　Desiree；　and　so　it　fell。
　I　requested　Le　Mire　to　keep　to　the　hotel　as　closely　as　possible　for　the　days　during　which　it　was　necessary　for　us　to　remain　in　San　Francisco。　She　did　so；　but　with　an　apparent　effort。
　I　have　never　seen　a　creature　so　full　of　nervous　energy　and　fire；　only　by　severe　restraint　could　she　force　herself　to　even　a　small　degree　of　posure。　Harry　was　with　her　nearly　every　minute；　though　what　they　found　to　talk　about　was　beyond　my　prehension。
　Neither　was　exactly　bubbling　over　with　ideas；　and　one　cannot　say　〃I　love　you〃　for　twenty…four　hours　a　day。
　It　was　a　cool；　sunny　day　in　the　latter　part　of　October　when　we　weighed　anchor　and　passed　through　the　Golden　Gate。　I　had　leased　the　yacht　for　a　year；　and　had　made　alternative　plans　in　case　Le　Mire　should　tire　of　the　sport；　which　I　thought　extremely　probable。
　She　and　Harry　were　delighted　with　the　yacht；　which　was　not　surprising；　for　she　was　as　perfect　a　craft　as　I　have　seen。　Sides　white　as　sea…foam；　everything　above　decks　of　shining　brass；　below　mahogany；　and　as　clean　and　shipshape　as　a　Dutch　kitchen。　There　were　five　rooms　besides　the　captain's；　and　a　reception…room；　dining…room；　and　library。　We　had　provisioned　her　well；　and　had　a　jewel　of　a　cook。
　Our　first　port　was　Santa　Catalina。　We　dropped　anchor　there　at　about　five　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　of　such　a　day　as　only　southern　California　can　boast　of；　and　the　dingey　was　lowered　to　take　us　ashore。
　〃What　is　there？〃　asked　Le　Mire；　pointing　to　the　shore　as　we　stood　leaning　on　the　rail　waiting　for　the　crew　to　place　the　ladder。
　I　answered：　〃Tourists。〃
　Le　Mire　shrugged　her　shoulders。　〃Tourists？　Bah！　Merci；　non。　Allons！〃
　I　laughed　and　went　forward　to　the　captain　to　tell　him　that　madame　did　not　approve　of　Santa　Catalina。　In　another　minute　the　dingey　was　back　on　its　davits；　the　anchor　up；　and　we　were　under　way。　Poor　captain！　Within　a　week　he　became　used　to　Le　Mire's　sudden　whims。
　At　San　Diego　we　went　ashore。　Le　Mire　took　a　fancy　to　some　Indian　blankets；　and　Harry　bought　them　for　her；　but　when　she　expressed　an　intention　to　take　an　Indian　girl…about　sixteen　or　seventeen　years　old…aboard　the　yacht　as　a　〃panion；〃　I　interposed　a　firm　negative。　And；　after　all；　she　nearly　had　her　way。
　For　a　month　it　was　〃just　one　port　after　another。〃　Mazatlan；　San　Bias；　Manzanillo；　San　Salvador；　Panama　City…at　each　of　these　we　touched；　and　visited　sometimes　an　hour；　sometimes　two　or　three　days。　Le　Mire　was　loading　the　yacht　with　all　sorts　of　curious　relics。　Ugly　or　beautiful；　useful　or　worthless；　genuine　or　faked；　it　mattered　not　to　her；　if　a　thing　suited　her　fancy　she　wanted　it…and　got　it。
　At　Guayaquil　occurred　the　first　collision　of　wills。　It　was　our　second　evening　in　port。　We　were　dining　on　the　deck　of　the　yacht；　with　half　a　dozen　South　American　generals　and　admirals　as　guests。
　Toward　the　end　of　the　dinner　Le　Mire　suddenly　became　silent　and　remained　for　some　minutes　lost　in　thought；　then；　suddenly；　she　turned　to　the　bundle　of　gold　lace　at　her　side　with　a　question：
　〃Where　is　Guayaquil？〃
　He　stared　at　her　in　amazement。
　〃It　is　there；　senora；〃　he　said　finally；　pointing　to　the　shore　lined　with　twinkling　lights。
　〃I　know；　I　know；〃　said　Le　Mire　impatiently；　〃but　where　is　it？
　In　what　country？〃
　The　poor　fellow；　too　surprised　to　be　offended；　stammered　the　name　of　his　native　land　between　gasps；　while　Harry　and　I　had　all　we　could　do　to　keep　from　bursting　into　laughter。
　〃Ah；〃　said　Desiree　in　the　tone　of　one　who　has　made　an　important　discovery；　〃I　thought　so。　Ecuador。　Monsieur；　Quito　is　in　Ecuador。〃
　The　general…or　admiral；　I　forget　which…acknowledged　the　correctness　of　her　geography　with　a　profound　bow。
　〃But　yes。　I　have　often　heard　of　Quito；　monsieur。　It　is　a　very　interesting　place。　I　shall　go　to　Quito。〃
　There　ensued　immediately　a　babel。　Each　of　our　guests　insisted　on　the　honor　of　acpanying　us　inland；　and　the　thing　would　most　assuredly　have　ended　in　a　bloody　quarrel　on　the　captain's　polished　deck；　if　I　had　not　interposed　in　a　firm　tone：
　〃But；　gentlemen；　we　are　not　going　to　Quito。〃
　Le　Mire　looked　at　me…and　such　a　look！　Then　she　said　in　a　tone　of　the　utmost　finality：
　〃I　am　going　to　Quito。〃
　I　shook　my　head；　smiling　at　her；　whereupon　she　became　furious。
　〃M。　Lamar；〃　she　burst　forth；　〃I　tell　you　I　am　going　to　Quito！
　In　spite　of　your　smile！　Yes！　Do　you　hear？　I　shall　go！〃
　Without　a　word　I　took　a　coin　from　my　pocket　and　held　it　up。　I　had　e　to　know　Le　Mire。　She　frowned　for　a　moment　in　an　evident　attempt　to　maintain　her　anger；　then　an　irresistible　smile　parted　her　lips　and　she　clapped　her　hands　gaily。
　〃Very　well；〃　she　cried；　〃toss；　monsieur！　Heads！〃
　The　coin　fell　tails；　and　we　did　not　go　to　Quito；　much　to　the　disappointment　of　our　guests。　Le　Mire　forgot　all　about　it　in　ten　minutes。
　Five　days　later　we　dropped　anchor　at　Callao。
　This　historic　old　port　delighted　Le　Mire　at　once。　I　had　told　her　something　of　its　story：　its　successive　bombardments　by　the　liberators　from　Chile；　the　Spanish　squadron；　buccaneering　expeditions　from　Europe　and　the　Chilean　invaders；　not　to　mention　earthquakes　and　tidal　waves。　We　moored　alongside　the　stone　pier　by　the　lighthouse；　the　old　clock　at　its　top　pointed　to　the　hour　of　eight　in　the　morning。
　But　as　soon　as　Le　Mire　found　out　that　Lima　was　but　a　few　miles　away；　Callao　no　longer　held　any　interest　for　her。　We　took　an　afternoon　train　and　arrived　at　the　capital　in　time　for　dinner。
　There　it　was；　in　picturesque　old　Lima；　that　Le　Mire　topped　her　career。　On　our　first　afternoon　we　betook　ourselves　to　the　fashionable　paseo；　for　it　was　a　band　day；　and　all　Lima　was　out。
　In　five　minutes　every　eye　in　the　gay　and　fashionable　crowd　was　turned　on　Le　Mire。　Then；　as　luck　would　have　it；　I　met；　quite　by　chance；　a　friend　of　mine　who　had　e　to　the　University　of　San　Marcos　some　years　before　as　a　professor　of　climatology。　He　introduced　us；　with　an　air　of　importance；　to　several　of　the　groups　of　fashion；　and　finally　to　the　president　himself。　That　night　we　slept　as　guests　under　the　roof　of　a　luxurious　and　charming　country　house　at　Miraflores。
　Le　Mire　took　the　capital　by　storm。　Her　style　of　beauty　was　peculiarly　fitted　for　their　appreciation；　for　pallor　is　considered　a　mark　of　beauty　among　Lima　ladies。　But　that　could　scarcely　account　for　her　unparalleled　triumph。　I　have　often　wondered…was　it　the　effect　of　a　premonition？
　The　president　himself　sat　by　her　at　the　opera。　There　were　two　duels　attributed　to　her　within　a　week；　though　how　the　deuce　that　was　possible　is　beyond　me。
　On　society　day　at　the　bull…ring　the　cues　were　given　by　Le　Mire；　her　hand　flung　the　rose　to　the　matador；　while　the　eight　thousand　excited　spectators　seemed　uncertain　whether　they　were　applauding　her　or　him。　Lima　was　hers；　and　never　have　I　seen　a　fortnight　so　crowded　with　incidents。
　But　Le　Mire　soon　tired　of　it；　as　was　to　be　expected。　She　greeted　me　one　morning　at　the　breakfast　table：
　〃My　friend　Paul；　let　us　go　to　Cerro　de　Pasco。　They　have　silver…thousands　and　thousands　of　tons…and　what　you　call　them？
　Ornaments。〃
　〃And　then　the　Andes？〃　I　suggested。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃But；　my　dear　Desiree；　what　shall　we　do　with　the　yacht？〃
　〃Pooh！　There　is　the　captain。　e…shall　I　say　please？〃
　So　we　went　to　Cerro　de　Pasco。　I　wrote　to　Captain　Harris；　telling　him　not　to　expect　us　for　another　month　or　so；　and　sending　him　sufficient　funds　to　last　till　our　return。
　I　verily　believe　that　every　one　of　note　in　Lima　came　to　the　railroad　station　to　see　us　off。
　Our　partment　was　a　mass　of　flowers；　which　caused　me　to　smile；　for　Le　Mire；　curiously　enough；　did　not　like　them。　When　we　had　passed　out　of　the　city　she　threw　them　out　of　the　window；　laughing　and　making　jokes　at　the　expense　of　the　donors。　She　was　in　the　best　of　humor。
　We　arrived　at　Oroya　late　in　the　afternoon；　and　departed　for　Cerro　de　Pasco　by　rail　on　the　following　morning。
　This　ride　of　sixty…eight　miles　is　unsurpassed　in　all　the　world。　Snow…capped　peaks；　bottomless　precipices；　huge　masses　of　boulders　that　seem　ready　to　crush　the　train　surround　you　on　every　side；　and　now　and　then　are　directly　above　or　beneath　you。
　Le　Mire　was　profoundly　impressed；　indeed；　I　had　not　supposed　her　to　possess　the　sensibility　she　displayed；　and　as　for　me；　I　was　most　grateful　to　her　for　having　suggested　the　trip。　You　who　find　yourselves　too　well…acquainted　with　the　Rockies　and　the　Alps　and　the　Himalayas　should　try　the　Andes。　There　is　a　surprise　waiting　for　you。
　But　for　the　story。
　We　found　Cerro　de　Pasco；　interesting　as　its　situation　is；　far　short　of　our　expectations。　It　is　a　mining　town；　filled　with　laborers　and　speculators；　noisy；　dirty；　and　coarse。　We　had　been　there　less　than　forty…eight　hours　when　I　declared　to　Harry　and　Le　Mire　my　intention　of　returning　at　once。
　〃But　the　Andes！〃　said　Le　Mire。　〃Shall　we　not　see　them？〃
　〃Well…there　they　are。〃
　I　pointed　through　the　window　of　the　hotel。
　〃Bah！　And　you　call　yourself　a　traveler？　Look！　The　snow！
　My　friend　Paul；　must　I　ask　twice　for　a　favor？〃
　Once　again　we　tossed　a　coin。
　Ah；　if　Le　Mire　had　only　seen　the　future！　And　yet…I　often　wonder…would　she　have　turned　her　back？　For　the　woman　craved　novelty　and　adventure；　and　the　gameness　of　centuries　was　in　her　blood…well；　she　had　her　experience；　which　was　shared　only　in　part　by　Harry　and　myself。
　Those　snow…capped　peaks！　Little　did　we　guess　what　they　held　for　us。　We　were　laughing；　I　remember；　as　we　left　behind　us　the　edge　of　civilization　represented　by　Cerro　de　Pasco。
　We　found　it　impossible　to　procure　a　p