Part 44 (1/2)
Thus saying, she sunk into a seat and dissolved in tears. Ferdinand uttered a slight e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n at the words of his royal consort; and then he gently took the letter from her unresisting hand, and read it with great deliberation and care. It was not often that the wary King of Aragon was as much affected, in appearance at least, as on this occasion. The expression of his face, at first, was that of wonder; eagerness, not to say avidity, followed; and when he had finished reading, his grave countenance was unequivocally illuminated by exultation and joy.
”Good Luis de St. Angel!” he cried, ”and thou, honest Alonzo de Quintanilla, these must be grateful tidings to you both. Even thou, holy prelate, wilt rejoice that the church is like to have acquisitions so glorious--albeit no favorer of the Genoese of old. Far more than all our expectations are realized, for Colon hath truly discovered the Indies; increasing our dominions, and otherwise advancing our authority in a most unheard-of manner.”
It was unusual to see Don Ferdinand so excited, and he seemed conscious himself that he was making an extraordinary exhibition, for he immediately advanced to the queen, and, taking her hand, he led her toward his own cabinet. In pa.s.sing out of the saloon, he indicated to the three n.o.bles that they might follow to the council. The king made this sudden movement more from habitual wariness than any settled object, his mind being disturbed in a way to which he was unaccustomed, while caution formed a part of his religion, as well as of his policy.
It is not surprising, therefore, that when he and the party he invited to follow him had left the room, there remained only the princesses, the Marchioness of Moya, and Mercedes. No sooner had the king and queen disappeared, than the royal children retired to their own apartments, leaving our heroine, her guardian, and Sancho, the sole occupants of the saloon. The latter still remained on his knees, scarce heeding what had pa.s.sed, so intently was he occupied with his own situation, and his own particular sources of satisfaction.
”Thou canst rise, friend,” observed Dona Beatriz; ”their Highnesses are no longer present.”
At this intelligence, Sancho quitted his humble posture, brushed his knees with some care, and looked about him with the composure that he was wont to exhibit in studying the heavens at sea.
”Thou wert of Colon's company, friend, by the manner in which thou hast spoken, and the circ.u.mstance that the admiral hath employed thee as his courier?”
”You may well believe that, Senora, your Excellency, for most of my time was pa.s.sed at the helm, which was within three fathoms of the very spot that Don Christopher and the Senor de Munos loved so well that they never quitted it, except to sleep, and not always then.”
”Hadst thou a Senor de Munos of thy party?” resumed the Marchioness, making a sign to her ward to control her feelings.
”That had we, Senora, and a Senor Gutierrez, and a certain Don Somebody Else, and they all three did not occupy more room than one common man.
Prithee, honorable and agreeable Senora, is there one Dona Beatriz de Cabrera, the Marchioness of Moya, a lady of the ill.u.s.trious house of Bobadilla, anywhere about the court of our gracious queen?”
”I am she, and thou hast a message for me, from this very Senor de Munos, of whom thou hast spoken.”
”I no longer wonder that there are great lords with their beautiful ladies, and poor sailors with wives that no one envies! Scarce can I open my mouth, but it is known what I wish to say, which is knowledge to make one party great and the other party little! Ma.s.s!--Don Christopher, himself, will need all his wit, if he journeyeth as far as Barcelona!”
”Tell us of this Pedro de Munos; for thy message is to me.”
”Then, Senora, I will tell you of your own brave nephew, the Conde de Llera, who goeth by two other names in the caravel, one of which is supposed to be a sham, while the other is still the greatest deception of the two.”
”Is it, then, known who my nephew really is? Are many persons acquainted with his secret?”
”Certainly, Senora; it is known, firstly, to himself; secondly, to Don Christopher; thirdly, to me; fourthly, to Master Alonzo Pinzon, if he be still in the flesh, as most probably he is not. Then it is known to your ladys.h.i.+p; and this beautiful Senorita must have some suspicions of the matter.”
”Enough--I see the secret is not public; though, how one of thy cla.s.s came to be of it, I cannot explain. Tell me of my nephew:--did he, too, write? if so, let me, at once, peruse his letter.”
”Senora, my departure took Don Luis by surprise, and he had no time to write. The admiral had given the princes and princesses, that we brought from Espanola, in charge to the Conde, and he had too much to do to be scribbling letters, else would he have written sheets to an aunt as respectable as yourself.”
”Princes and princesses!--What mean you, friend, by such high-sounding terms?”
”Only that we have brought several of these great personages to Spain, to pay their respects to their Highnesses. We deal with none of the common fry, Senora, but with the loftiest princes, and the most beautiful princesses of the east.”
”And dost thou really mean that persons of this high rank have returned with the admiral?”
”Out of all question, lady, and one of a beauty so rare, that the fairest dames of Castile need look to it, if they wish not to be outdone. She, in particular, is Don Luis' friend and favorite.”
”Of whom speakest thou?” demanded Dona Beatriz, in the lofty manner in which she was wont to insist on being answered directly. ”What is the name of this princess, and whence doth she come?”
”Her name, your Excellency, is Dona Ozema de Hayti, of a part of which country her brother, Don Mattinao, is cacique or king, Senora Ozema being the heiress, or next of kin. Don Luis and your humble servant paid that court a visit”--
”Thy tale is most improbable, fellow--art thou one whom Don Luis would be likely to select as a companion on such an occasion?”
”Look at it as you will, Senora, it is as true as that this is the court of Don Ferdinand and Dona Isabella. You must know, ill.u.s.trious Marchioness, that the young count is a little given to roving about among us sailors, and on one occasion, a certain Sancho Mundo, of Moguer, happened to be of the same voyage; and thus we became known to each other. I kept the n.o.ble's secret, and he got to be Sancho's friend.