Part 50 (1/2)
”Senora, the question, like its motive, is altogether new to me; I have the utmost reliance on the honor of the count, and then did I know that his heart hath long been given to the fairest and worthiest damsel of Spain; besides, my mind hath been so much occupied with the grave subjects of your Highness' interests, that it hath had but little opportunity to dwell on minor things.”
”I believe thee, Senor, and thy pardon is secure. Still, for one so experienced, it was a sore indiscretion to trust to the constancy of a fickle heart, when placed in the body of a light-minded and truant boy.
And, now, Conde de Llera, I have that to say to thee, which thou may'st find it difficult to answer. Thou a.s.sentest to all that hath hitherto been said?”
”Certainly, Senora. Don Christopher can have no motive to misstate, even were he capable of the meanness. I trust our house hath not been remarkable in Spain, for recreant and false cavaliers.”
”In that I fully agree. If thy house hath had the misfortune to produce one untrue and recreant heart, it hath the glory”--glancing at her friend--”of producing others that might equal the constancy of the most heroic minds of antiquity. The l.u.s.tre of the name of Bobadilla doth not altogether depend on the fidelity and truth of its head--nay, hear me, sir, and speak only when thou art ready to answer my questions. Thy thoughts, of late, have been bent on matrimony?”
”Senora, I confess it. Is it an offence to dream of the honorable termination of a suit that hath been long urged, and which I had dared to hope was finally about to receive your own royal approbation?”
”It is, then, as I feared, Beatriz!” exclaimed the queen; ”and this benighted but lovely being hath been deceived by the mockery of a marriage; for no subject of Castile would dare thus to speak of wedlock, in my presence, with the consciousness that his vows had actually and lawfully been given to another. Both the church and the prince would not be thus braved, by even the greatest profligate of Spain!”
”Senora, your Highness speaketh most cruelly, even while you speak in riddles!” cried Luis. ”May I presume to ask if I am meant in these severe remarks?”
”Of whom else should we be speaking, or to whom else allude? Thou must have the inward consciousness, unprincipled boy, of all thy unworthiness; and yet thou darest thus to brave thy sovereign--nay, to brave that suffering and angelic girl, with a mien as bold as if sustained by the purest innocence!”
”Senora, I am no angel, myself, however willing to admit Dona Mercedes to be one; neither am I a saint of perfect purity, perhaps--in a word, I am Luis de Bobadilla--but as far from deserving these reproaches, as from deserving the crown of martyrdom. Let me humbly demand my offence?”
”Simply that thou hast either cruelly deceived, by a feigned marriage, this uninstructed and confiding Indian princess, or hast insolently braved thy sovereign with the professions of a desire to wed another, with thy faith actually plighted at the altar, to another. Of which of these crimes thou art guilty, thou know'st best, thyself.”
”And thou, my aunt--thou, Mercedes--dost thou, too, believe me capable of this?”
”I fear it is but too true,” returned the marchioness, coldly; ”the proof is such that none but an Infidel could deny belief.”
”Mercedes?”
”No, Luis,” answered the generous girl, with a warmth and feeling that broke down the barriers of all conventional restraint--”I do not think thee base as this--I do not think thee base at all; merely unable to restrain thy wandering inclinations. I know thy heart too well, and thine honor too well, to suppose aught more than a weakness that thou wouldst fain subdue, but canst not.”
”G.o.d and the Holy Virgin be blessed for this!” cried the count, who had scarcely breathed while his mistress was speaking. ”Any thing but thy entertaining so low an opinion of me, may be borne!”
”There must be an end of this, Beatriz; and I see no surer means, than by proceeding at once to the facts,” said the queen. ”Come hither, Ozema, and let thy testimony set this matter at rest, forever.”
The young Indian, who comprehended Spanish much better than she expressed herself in the language, although far from having even a correct understanding of all that was said, immediately complied, her whole soul being engrossed with what was pa.s.sing, while her intelligence was baffled in its attempts thoroughly to comprehend it. Mercedes alone had noted the workings of her countenance, as Isabella reproved, or Luis made his protestations, and they were such as completely denoted the interest she felt in our hero.
”Ozema,” resumed the queen, speaking slowly, and with deliberate distinctness, in order that the other might get the meaning of her words as she proceeded. ”Speak--art thou wedded to Luis de Bobadilla, or not?”
”Ozema, Luis' wife,” answered the girl, laughing and blus.h.i.+ng. ”Luis, Ozema's husband.”
”This is plain as words can make it, Don Christopher, and is no more than she hath already often affirmed, on my anxious and repeated inquiries. How and when did Luis wed thee, Ozema?”
”Luis wed Ozema with religion--with Spaniard's religion. Ozema wed Luis with love and duty--with Hayti manner.”
”This is extraordinary, Senora,” observed the admiral, ”and I would gladly look into it. Have I your Highness' permission to inquire into the affair, myself?”
”Do as thou wilt, Senor,” returned the queen, coldly. ”My own mind is satisfied, and it behoveth my justice to act speedily.”
”Conde de Llera, dost thou admit, or dost thou deny, that thou art the husband of the Lady Ozema?” demanded Columbus, gravely.
”Lord Admiral, I deny it altogether. Neither have I wedded her, nor hath the thought of so doing, with any but Mercedes, ever crossed my mind.”
This was said firmly, and with the open frankness that formed a princ.i.p.al charm in the young man's manner.