the devotion of enriquez-第4章

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consciousness；　and　drifted　away；　leaving　me　none　the　wiser。　　I　felt

that　Enriquez　alone　could　enlighten　me。　　I　must　see　him。



I　did；　but　not　in　the　way　I　expected。　　There　was　a　bullfight　at　San

Antonio　the　next　Saturday　afternoon；　the　usual　Sunday　performance

being　changed　in　deference　to　the　Sabbatical　habits　of　the

Americans。　　An　additional　attraction　was　offered　in　the　shape　of　a

bull…and…bear　fight；　also　a　concession　to　American　taste；　which　had

voted　the　bullfight　〃slow；〃　and　had　averred　that　the　bull　〃did　not

get　a　fair　show。〃　　I　am　glad　that　I　am　able　to　spare　the　reader　the

usual　realistic　horrors；　for　in　the　Californian　performances　there

was　very　little　of　the　brutality　that　distinguished　this　function

in　the　mother　country。　　The　horses　were　not　miserable；　worn…out

hacks；　but　young　and　alert　mustangs；　and　the　display　of

horsemanship　by　the　picadors　was　not　only　wonderful；　but　secured　an

almost　absolute　safety　to　horse　and　rider。　　I　never　saw　a　horse

gored；　although　unskillful　riders　were　sometimes　thrown　in　wheeling

quickly　to　avoid　the　bull's　charge；　they　generally　regained　their

animals　without　injury。



The　Plaza　de　Toros　was　reached　through　the　decayed　and　tile…strewn

outskirts　of　an　old　Spanish　village。　　It　was　a　rudely　built　oval

amphitheater；　with　crumbling；　whitewashed　adobe　walls；　and　roofed

only　over　portions　of　the　gallery　reserved　for　the　provincial

〃notables；〃　but　now　occupied　by　a　few　shopkeepers　and　their　wives；

with　a　sprinkling　of　American　travelers　and　ranchmen。　　The

impalpable　adobe　dust　of　the　arena　was　being　whirled　into　the　air

by　the　strong　onset　of　the　afternoon　trade　winds；　which　happily；

however；　helped　also　to　dissipate　a　reek　of　garlic；　and　the　acrid

fumes　of　cheap　tobacco　rolled　in　cornhusk　cigarettes。　　I　was

leaning　over　the　second　barrier；　waiting　for　the　meager　and

circuslike　procession　to　enter　with　the　keys　of　the　bull　pen；　when

my　attention　was　attracted　to　a　movement　in　the　reserved　gallery。

A　lady　and　gentleman　of　a　quality　that　was　evidently　unfamiliar　to

the　rest　of　the　audience　were　picking　their　way　along　the　rickety

benches　to　a　front　seat。　　I　recognized　the　geologist　with　some

surprise；　and　the　lady　he　was　leading　with　still　greater

astonishment。　　For　it　was　Miss　Mannersley；　in　her　precise；　well…

fitting　walking…costumea　monotone　of　sober　color　among　the　parti…

colored　audience。



However；　I　was　perhaps　less　surprised　than　the　audience；　for　I　was

not　only　becoming　as　accustomed　to　the　young　girl's　vagaries　as　I

had　been　to　Enriquez'　extravagance；　but　I　was　also　satisfied　that

her　uncle　might　have　given　her　permission　to　come；　as　a　recognition

of　the　Sunday　concession　of　the　management；　as　well　as　to

conciliate　his　supposed　Catholic　friends。　　I　watched　her　sitting

there　until　the　first　bull　had　entered；　and；　after　a　rather　brief

play　with　the　picadors　and　banderilleros；　was　dispatched。　　At　the

moment　when　the　matador　approached　the　bull　with　his　lethal　weapon

I　was　not　sorry　for　an　excuse　to　glance　at　Miss　Mannersley。　　Her

hands　were　in　her　lap；　her　head　slightly　bent　forward　over　her

knees。　　I　fancied　that　she；　too；　had　dropped　her　eyes　before　the

brutal　situation；　to　my　horror；　I　saw　that　she　had　a　drawing…book

in　her　hand　and　was　actually　sketching　it。　　I　turned　my　eyes　in

preference　to　the　dying　bull。



The　second　animal　led　out　for　this　ingenious　slaughter　was；

however；　more　sullen；　uncertain；　and　discomposing　to　his　butchers。

He　accepted　the　irony　of　a　trial　with　gloomy；　suspicious　eyes；　and

he　declined　the　challenge　of　whirling　and　insulting　picadors。　　He

bristled　with　banderillas　like　a　hedgehog；　but　remained　with　his

haunches　backed　against　the　barrier；　at　times　almost　hidden　in　the

fine　dust　raised　by　the　monotonous　stroke　of　his　sullenly　pawing

hoofhis　one　dull；　heavy　protest。　　A　vague　uneasiness　had　infected

his　adversaries；　the　picadors　held　aloof；　the　banderilleros

skirmished　at　a　safe　distance。　　The　audience　resented　only　the

indecision　of　the　bull。　　Galling　epithets　were　flung　at　him；

followed　by　cries　of　〃ESPADA！〃　and；　curving　his　elbow　under　his

short　cloak；　the　matador；　with　his　flashing　blade　in　hand；　advanced

andstopped。　　The　bull　remained　motionless。



For　at　that　moment　a　heavier　gust　of　wind　than　usual　swept　down

upon　the　arena；　lifted　a　suffocating　cloud　of　dust；　and　whirled　it

around　the　tiers　of　benches　and　the　balcony；　and　for　a　moment

seemed　to　stop　the　performance。　　I　heard　an　exclamation　from　the

geologist；　who　had　risen　to　his　feet。　　I　fancied　I　heard　even　a

faint　cry　from　Miss　Mannersley；　but　the　next　moment；　as　the　dust

was　slowly　settling；　we　saw　a　sheet　of　paper　in　the　air；　that　had

been　caught　up　in　this　brief　cyclone；　dropping；　dipping　from　side

to　side　on　uncertain　wings；　until　it　slowly　descended　in　the　very

middle　of　the　arena。　　It　was　a　leaf　from　Miss　Mannersley's

sketchbook；　the　one　on　which　she　had　been　sketching。



In　the　pause　that　followed　it　seemed　to　be　the　one　object　that　at

last　excited　the　bull's　growing　but　tardy　ire。　　He　glanced　at　it

with　murky；　distended　eyes；　he　snorted　at　it　with　vague　yet

troubled　fury。　　Whether　he　detected　his　own　presentment　in　Miss

Mannersley's　sketch；　or　whether　he　recognized　it　as　an　unknown　and

unfamiliar　treachery　in　his　surroundings；　I　could　not　conjecture；

for　the　next　moment　the　matador；　taking　advantage　of　the　bull's

concentration；　with　a　complacent　leer　at　the　audience；　advanced

toward　the　paper。　　But　at　that　instant　a　young　man　cleared　the

barrier　into　the　arena　with　a　single　bound；　shoved　the　matador　to

one　side；　caught　up　the　paper；　turned　toward　the　balcony　and　Miss

Mannersley　with　a　gesture　of　apology；　dropped　gaily　before　the

bull；　knelt　down　before　him　with　an　exaggerated　humility；　and　held

up　the　drawing　as　if　for　his　inspection。　　A　roar　of　applause　broke

from　the　audience；　a　cry　of　warning　and　exasperation　from　the

attendants；　as　the　goaded　bull　suddenly　charged　the　stranger。　　But

he　sprang　to　one　side　with　great　dexterity；　made　a　courteous

gesture　to　the　matador　as　if　passing　the　bull　over　to　him；　and

still　holding　the　paper　in　his　hand；　re…leaped　the　barrier；　and

rejoined　the　audience　in　safety。　　I　did　not　wait　to　see　the　deadly；

dominant　thrust　with　which　the　matador　received　the　charging　bull；

my　eyes　were　following　the　figure　now　bounding　up　the　steps　to　the

balcony；　where　with　an　exaggerated　salutation　he　laid　the　drawing

in　Miss　Mannersley's　lap　and　vanished。　　There　was　no　mistaking　that

thin　lithe　form；　the　narrow　black　mustache；　and　gravely　dancing

eyes。　　The　audacity　of　conception；　the　extravagance　of　execution；

the　quaint　irony　of　the　sequel；　could　belong　to　no　one　but

Enriquez。



I　hurried　up　to　her　as　the　six　yoked　mules　dragged　the　carcass　of

the　bull　away。　　She　was　placidly　putting　up　her　book；　the　unmoved

focus　of　a　hundred　eager　and　curious　eyes。　　She　smiled　slightly　as

she　saw　me。　　〃I　was　just　telling　Mr。　Briggs　what　an　extraordinary

creature　it　was；　and　how　you　knew　him。　　He　must　have　had　great

experience　to　do　that　sort　of　thing　so　cleverly　and　safely。　　Does

he　do　it　often？　　Of　course；　not　just　that。　　But　does　he　pick　up

cigars　and　things　that　I　see　they　throw　to　the　matador？　　Does　he

belong　to　the　management？　　Mr。　Briggs　thinks　the　whole　thing　was　a

feint　to　distract　the　bull；〃　she　added；　with　a　wicked　glance　at　the

geologist；　who；　I　fancied；　looked　disturbed。



〃I　am　afraid；〃　I　said　dryly；　〃that　his　act　was　as　unpremeditated

and　genuine　as　it　was　unusual。〃



〃Why　afraid？〃



It　was　a　matter…of…fact　question；　but　I　instantly　saw　my　mistake。

What　right　had　I　to　assume　that　Enriquez'　attentions　were　any　more

genuine　than　her　own　easy　indifference；　and　if　I　suspected　that

they　were；　was　it　fair　in　me　to　give　my　friend　away　to　this

heartless　coquette？　　〃You　are　not　very　gallant；〃　she　said；　with　a

slight　laugh；　as　I　was　hesitating；　and　turned　away　with　her　escort

before　I　could　frame　a　reply。　　But　at　least　Enriquez　was　now

accessible；　and　I　should　gain　some　information　from　him。　　I　knew

where　to　find　him；　unless　he　were　still　lounging　about　the

building；　intent　upon　more　extravagance；　but　I　waited　until　I　saw

Miss　Mannersley　and　Briggs　depart　without　further　interruption。



The　hacienda　of　Ramon　Saltillo；　Enriquez'　cousin；　was　on　the

outskirts　of　the　village。　　When　I　arrived　there　I　found　Enriquez'

pinto　mustang　steaming　in　the　corral；　and　although　I　was

momentarily　delayed　by　the　servants　at　the　gateway；　I　was　surprised

to　find　Enriquez　himself　lying　languidly　on　his　back　in　a　hammock

in　the　patio。　　His　arms　were　hanging　down　listlessly　on　each　side

as　if　in　the　greatest　prostration；　yet　I　could　not　resist　the

impression　that　the　rascal　had　only　just　got　into　the　hammock　when

he　heard　of　my　arrival。



〃You　have　arrived；　friend　Pancho；　in　time；〃　he　said；　in　accents　of

exaggerated　weakness。　　〃I　am　absolutely　exhaust。　　I　am　bursted；

caved　in；　kerflummoxed。　　I　have　behold　you；　my　friend；　at　the

barrier。　　I　speak　not；　I　make　no　sign　at　the　first；　because　I　was

on　fire；　I　speak　not　at　the　feenishfor　I　am　exhaust。〃



〃I　see；　the　bull　made　it　lively　for　you。〃



He　instantly　bounded　up　in　the　hammock。　　〃The　bull！　　Caramba！　　Not

a　thousand　bulls！　　And　thees　one；　look　you；　was　a　craven。　　I　snap

my　fingers　over　his　horn；　I　roll　my　cigarette　under　his　nose。〃



〃Well；　thenwhat　was　it？〃



He　instantly　lay　down　again；　pulling　up　the　sides　of　the　hammock。

Presently　his　voice　came　from　its　depths；　appealing　in　hollow　tones

to　the　sky。　　〃He　asks　methees　friend　of　my　soul；　thees　brother　of

my　life；　thees　Pancho　that　I　lofewhat　it　was？　　He　would　that　I

should　tell　him　why　I　am　game　in　the　legs；　why　I　shake　in　the　hand；

crack　in　the　voice；　and　am　generally　wipe　out！　　And　yet　he；　my

pardnerthees　Franciscoknow　that　I　have　seen　the　mees　from

Boston！　　That　I　have　gaze　into　the　eye；　touch　the　hand；　and　for　the

instant　possess　the　picture　that　hand　have　drawn！　　It　was　a　sublime

picture；　Pancho；〃　he　said；　sitting　up　again　suddenly；　〃and　have

kill　the　bull　before　our　friend　Pepe's　sword　have　touch　even　the

bone　of　hees　back　and　make　feenish　of　him。〃



〃Look　here；　Enriquez；〃　I　said　bluntly；　〃have　you　been　serenading

that　girl？〃



He　shrugged　his　shoulders　without　the　least　embarrassment；　and

said：　〃Ah；　yes。　　What　would　you？　　It　is　of　a　necessity。〃



〃Well；〃　I　retored；　〃then　you　ought　to　know　that　her　uncle　took　it

all　to　himselfthought　you　some　grateful　Catholic　pleased　with　his

religious　tolerance。〃



He　did　not　even　smile。　　〃BUENO；〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃That　make

something；　too。　　In　thees　affair　it　is　well　to　begin　with　the

duenna。　　He　is　the　duenna。〃



〃And；〃　I　went　on　relentlessly；　〃her　escort　told　her　just　now　that

your　exploit　in　the　bull　ring　was　only　a　trick　to　divert　the　bull；

suggested　by　the　management。〃



〃Bah！　her　escort　is　a　geologian。　　Natur