Part 44 (2/2)
Medina met my half bow with a scowl.
”May I inquire the purpose of our distinguished guest's presence with us?” I asked.
”He brings word from the Governor-General that it is high time we put on muzzles,” replied Pike, with one of his rare flashes of anger.
”_Por Dios!_” I mocked. ”Can it be Don Nimesio Salcedo does not admire our teeth?”
”Were I His Excellency,” growled Medina, ”certain teeth would be gnawing crusts in the _calabozo_.”
”But as it is, Lieutenant de Gonzales y Medina comes as an aide in the service of His Excellency,” suggested Walker.
The hint was sufficient to smooth Medina's ruffled front. He fixed his gaze upon Pike, and addressed him with the most formal politeness: ”Then you admit, senor, that yourself and Senor Robinson have persistently and deliberately inculcated and disseminated republican principles throughout the period of your presence in New Spain?”
”It is true,” replied Pike. ”We came to Chihuahua at the insistence of His Excellency, yet have been a.s.sured that we are not to regard ourselves as prisoners. Why, then, should we not discuss topics of world-wide interest with the same freedom we should enjoy in our own country?”
”Lieutenant Pike overlooks the delicacy of his situation.”
”My compliments to His Excellency,” retorted Pike. ”My country is yet young and poor. It may as yet lack strength to resent the outrages of Britain and France. But present to His Excellency the a.s.surance of my confidence that the Republic can exact reprisals for injuries to its citizens and officers inflicted by a secondary power.”
”_Satanas!_” swore the aide. ”You dare name the great Kingdom of Spain as not among the first of the powers?”
”The sun of Spain is fast setting. Your statesmen sneer at the mistakes and seeming weakness of the United States. I predict that unless Spain elects for freedom, within a century she will be shorn of the last of her glory, while free America shall grow in might beyond the grandest dreams of her citizens!”
”It is with the present we have now to deal, senor,” sneered Medina.
”His Excellency sends you fair warning. Those who have permitted you to indulge in your Jacobinical and atheistic discourse in their company, and in particular those who have themselves indulged in the treasonous discussions, are all noted, and their cases will be attended to in due time.”
”That, senor, is doubtless one of the prerogatives arrogated to itself by tyranny,” said Pike. ”As for Senor Robinson and myself, we are citizens of the United States, and not subjects of His Most Catholic Majesty. We propose to continue to express our opinions freely on all subjects.”
”I shall report your reply to His Excellency,” said Medina, rising.
”Rest a.s.sured your conduct will be represented in no very favorable view to your Government.”
”As an officer of the army of the Republic, I am responsible to my Government, and to none other,” replied Pike, now fairly boiling with rage. Fearful of his dignity, he gave Medina a curt bow, and withdrew to our bedchamber.
”_Nom de Dieu!_” gasped Walker, astonished that any one could have so dared the power of the Governor-General.
Medina looked aside at me, and saw me smiling.
”Senor Robinson is pleased to be amused,” he said with a feline suavity which told me the time had come.
”It is most amusing, senor,” I replied. ”That any one could be foolish enough to imagine the possibility of intimidating Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike is little short of ridiculous.”
”_Por Dios!_ Say rather it is an absurdity to expect courteous compliance from the bearer of so barbarous a name.”
”How of my name?” I asked, with mock concern. ”Is it also displeasing to you?”
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