Señora Valentino, rather pale, was sitting in the room adjoining the treasure-chamber of the old Spanish governor. Captain Farquharson was opposite.
"So you return to Europe to-morrow, Captain."
"Yes, señora, and glad am I to have the conveniences of a home-going war vessel. When do you go?"
"In a month or so—some time in the latter part of October."
"I regret I was able to give your brilliant work here such inefficient aid."
"My work here has been a brilliant failure," with a little laugh that was half a sigh.
"Señora, except for an altogether unforseeable combination of adverse circumstances California to-day would be English territory."
"Yes, if the wind had not blown; if the fog had not obscured, and if night had not come; or, to put it in different words, if Fairbanks had not been Fairbanks."
"The magnanimity of these squadron commanders is overpowering, Admiral Fairbanks having his equal in Commodore Billings. Why, the capital simply rolled into Billings's hands. Then, he and Mendoza are seen in the castle holding some sort of a conference. The first thing we know, the castle is evacuated, and the Administrator of Mission San José is left cock of the walk."
"That is history as it is written, Captain."
"What do you mean?"
"O, nothing of any consequence. I was merely thinking aloud; that is all."
"My lady, I assure you I was standing at the old parade ground, an interested spectator of the exhibition of the manual of arms, when the occurrence of which I have spoken took place."
"My peon friend, Alberto, crept up under a window, within earshot of Commodore Billings and Señor Mendoza as they were having that little conference of theirs. What Alberto heard has cost him many a nightmare since."
"Señora, I'm in the dark."
"Well, well, Captain, in any case, it is a closed book to us now. Administrator Mendoza has gained advantage in the first throw. We'll leave England's cause in the hands of those whom the Home Office will send out. Who wins the game only the future will disclose."
"Many will miss you here, my lady."
"Crisostimo and my sister go with me, at least, as far as Spain. Our ship will round the Cape of Good Hope, not Cape Horn, as does yours. My brother-in-law, having sent in his resignation as official here to the government in Mexico, has sold his holdings in California to a company of which Señor Mendoza is president."
"Señora, I referred to the province at large. You have a cherished place in the hearts of many."
"It is a delight to be held in good estimation. I appreciate all the kind thoughts."
"As to the province in particular. On my way here I met Abelardo Peralta, in company with young Ysidro de la Barra and the half-'Boston,' Sam Watson. Don Abelardo was saying he had laid the Rancho San Antonio at your feet for the fifth time, and for the fifth time had found himself closing your door from the outside, a rejected suitor."
She smiled. "Abelardo is a dear boy, but very, very young."
"De la Barra and Watson each declared Morando stands between them and their happiness. They would challenge the Captain to a duel, and, dying spit by his rapier, they would leave their haciendas to you, in touching remembrance of their devotion. Peralta, on the contrary, rather scoffed, and said he would live, and see the soldier Captain leave your house biting his fingers in disappointment, as he himself had done."
The señora's pale face flushed. The toe of her slipper tapped the floor.
"I told them," the man not noticing, went on, jocularly, "that I had known many suitors in Europe leaving you disconsolate, but had never heard of any deaths therefrom. Whereupon they insisted that I too am your suitor. I told them I am too old and battered for such a beautiful young lady, besides having a cherished wife at home, a very good friend of the Señora Valentino. The two again denounced Morando, declaring their certainty that the Captain would be the victor."
"You are much interested in romance, I see, Captain. Tell me that old story connected with your life in Dublin. You referred to it once, and aroused my interest. We were too busy then, but now we have a little leisure for diversion."
"Doubtless it would be to you a twice-told tale."
"Never mind, anyway, Captain. We all like to hear good stories, and especially from the lips of the actor himself."
"In the springtime of life sentiment bubbles up, and over, with the most of us. So was it with me.
"Soon after I received my commission as Captain our regiment was ordered to Dublin. A young recruit who had taken the queen's shilling was assigned to the grenadier company, my own. A veritable giant of a man he was, and had in him the making of a consummate soldier. Both of us saw light first on the bank of the lordly Shannon, I, in the hall, he, in a cottage of my father's estate. His parents still live in the old cottage.
"Well, the giant soldier-boy and I became almost chums. I had just come from several gay seasons that London gave us, and I felt pretty much at outs with the inanity of my own class. He was fresh and original, and I had known him from childhood. Of course he loved a girl. She was in domestic service, but as good as gold. I thought I was in love with her too. But, pshaw! she had more sense than I. Otherwise, we might have married, and have been miserable for life. Still, she did seem a breath of heaven after the women of my own set."
"You forgot Lady Matilda," prompted the señora, laughing.
"My wife is one of God's good women, and I pray we shall be able to rear our little daughter to be like her. What I am relating occurred many years before I met Matilda."
"Good, my friend! And now for the rest of the tale!"
"A breach opened, and widened, between O'Donnell and me. She preferred him, you see, wherein she was wise.
"Then followed some words of mine for which I have always been sorry. I tried to make her believe he wasn't worthy of her, and all that. I didn't actually succeed, though she allowed him to think I did. I suppose at the time she really did half believe what I had insinuated.
"The young man stormed, pleaded, and raved. She seemed not to heed. One afternoon, on the parade ground, I rallied him harshly for some error in the drill which was really most immaterial. Then I sneered some beastly words at him. He clubbed his carbine and attacked me. I dodged and a glancing blow struck my shoulder and head. I was disabled for a year."
After a short wait, he went on:
"And I deserved what I received. By some miracle O'Donnell escaped capture. For some years he was in South America; then he came to California, went among the plains Indians east of here, and became a mighty sachem among them. When he was in Washington, on some delegation for the Indians, he came under attention of high officials of the United States Government. No word need be said of his work here, señora," with a laugh.
"What of the peasant maid, Captain? You are forgetting her."
"She read of O'Donnell's activities, it seems; and learned of my presence here through the same source, the newspaper. The man-of-war lately from England, which brought news of my father's death, together with my accession to his title and estates, carried a letter to me from her, inclosing another to O'Donnell. I delivered his letter in person. I told him I am glad his old love is waiting for him, and promised when I get home to have all disability removed, so he can return and claim his bride. O'Donnell and I parted on the terms of our old-time friendship."
"Why did not the girl write direct to O'Donnell himself?"
"She was sure of my address, but not of his."
"I am more than glad that your story has such a happy ending."
"I had come on O'Donnell in the city plaza. We were sitting together in conversation when Mendoza walked up and greeted me with all possible cordiality, as a former comrade-in-arms. I found that the Administrator remembered me perfectly, and has kept track of me rather closely, the world over, considering distance and isolation."
"Did he know of your driving the powder wagons through the blazing buildings at Waterloo, when the regular postilions had deserted their charge?" asked the señora, with a smile of admiration.
"Yes," modestly. "He was kind enough to speak of it. When we left each other, he told me whenever I return to California to make his house my own. I am glad that I met him."
A knock shook the door.
Colonel Barcelo was outside.
"Silvia," he said, "I may say you have shown yourself to be an unusual woman, a woman of knowledge and acumen quite remarkable for your years."
"Come in and be seated, Crisostimo. Here is my friend, Captain Farquharson."
"Ah, yes. Thank you for the chair. Good day, Captain Farquharson," this last stiffly. "Well, what I want to decide is, shall I issue a pardon for that low-down Indian, Stanislaus? Padre Osuna is now in the reception room waiting for my answer."
"Does the padre wish for this pardon?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It's this way. Padre Osuna has the fellow confined here in Monterey. You see," looking at Farquharson, "I'm still acting-governor, and shall be until notice accepting my resignation comes back from Mexico City. So, I can pardon or not, as I please. Do you understand?" glowering at the Captain.
"But why does the padre ask the pardon?" persisted the señora.
"O, well, he expects to make a good man out of him, and then through him convert all those savages in the San Joaquin over whom Stanislaus has become a sort of king, since the death of Yoscolo."
"Surely Padre Osuna's judgment should be trusted in the matter, Crisostimo."
"Yes, yes. Exactly what has been in my mind all the time. I'll pardon the fellow. He told me the Señorita Mendoza has thrashed all the bad spirits out of him, and that Padre Osuna has beaten many good spirits into him—yes, I'll pardon the fellow. But there is one thing I never can forget, and that is the way that rascally Morando has treated me." He again glared at Farquharson, left the room and stamped down the corridor.
"It's Crisostimo's way," laughed the señora. "Captain, there is the question of the maps in this chamber, and those wonderful placer mines."
"Why not let Twickenham, our consul, take up the matter? He is entirely dependable."
"Very true, Captain; but there are many inquisitive eyes about. The working of the mine would mean that many may learn of its existence, and soon a deluge of Americanos come. Then, surely California would never be England's. Let our successors in the work do their part without undue handicap. In quieter times we will form a company, find the mines and work them."
"Señora, in Europe your hand will be busy in affairs of far greater interest to the world than the future of California."
"I shall never forget California, and the maps shall be safely kept till such time as we wish to use them."
"Now, dear lady, after long association comes the time for good-bys. It will be months, at least, before we meet again. Allow me to express my gratitude for the inspiration you have been to me in this California work."
"Captain, I thank you most cordially for what you say. When Lord Bevis Farquharson, with his wife, Lady Matilda, and their little daughter, Margaret, come to London remember that my establishment in Great Curzon Street is their home."
They clasped hands, their eyes dimming.
"My lady, do not forget that you have another home at Farquharson Court."