Part 13 (1/2)
The crash came--Basilio was the first to break down. Whether voluntarily or not, he released his hold upon the knife, which went clattering through the vine-branches to the ground. In another instant his tongue, now free, began pouring forth a supplication in the Spanish language with an eloquence which Violante had never heard equalled.
”Oh, senora!” he said, ”who but an angel could show a mercy tenderer than human? And yet, as I hope for the mercy of the Holy Virgin, there are a sweetness and a kindness in your face that belong to an angel of mercy. Oh, Mother of G.o.d! surely thy unworthy son has been brought into this strait for the trying of his soul, and for its chastis.e.m.e.nt and purification at the hands of thy sweetest and gentlest of daughters; for thou hast put it into her heart--which is as pure as her face is beautiful--to spare me from a most horrible end. Thou hast whispered into her mother-soul that one of thy sons, however base and undeserving, should not be sent unshriven to the judgment-seat of the most Holy Christ, thy son. Through the holy church thou hast enlightened her soul to the duties of a Christian, for in her beautiful face s.h.i.+nes the radiance of heaven.--Ah, senora! see me plead for mercy! Behold the agonies which beset me, and let my sufferings unlock the door of your heart. Let me go in peace, senora; and you shall find in me a slave all the days of my life--the humblest and most devoted of slaves, happy if you beat me, glorying in my slavery if you starve me, and giving praise to Almighty G.o.d if you trample me under your feet.
Senora, senora, release me, for time is pressing--I can barely escape if you let me go this instant. Would you have my blood on your hands?
Can you face the Virgin with that? Oh, senora--senora----”
Her head swam, and all her senses were afloat in a sea of agonies.
Still she looked down into his eyes as he continued his pleadings, but the outlines of his body were wavering and uncertain, and inexpressible suffering numbed her faculties. Still she listened vaguely to his outpouring of speech; and it was not until her husband, with two of his vaqueros, dashed up on horseback that either of these two strangely situated sufferers was aware of his approach. Seeing him, Violante threw her arms abroad, and the pistol went flying to the ground; and then she sank down to the floor, and the brilliant suns.h.i.+ne became night and the s.h.i.+ning glories of the day all nothingness.
She awoke and found herself lying on her bed, with her husband sitting beside her, caressing her hands and watching her anxiously. It was a little time before she could summon her faculties to exercise and to an understanding of her husband's endearing words; but, seeing him safe with her, her next thought was of Velasco.
”Where is Basilio?” she asked, starting up and looking fearfully about.
”He is safe, my dear one. Think no more of Basilio, who would have harmed my Violante. Be calm, for my sake, sweet wife.”
”Oh, I can't, I can't! You must tell me about Basilio.” And, in a frightened whisper, she asked, ”Did you kill him?”
”No, loved one; Basilio is alive.”
She sank back upon her pillow. ”G.o.d be praised!” she whispered.
Suddenly she started again and looked keenly into her husband's eyes.
”You have never deceived me,” she hurriedly said; ”but, Robert, I must know the truth. Have no fear--I can bear it. For G.o.d's sake, my husband, tell me the truth!”
Alarmed, he took her in his arms, and said, ”Be calm, my Violante; for as the Almighty is my witness, Basilio is alive.”
”Alive! alive!” she cried; ”what does that mean? You are keeping something back, my husband. I know your pa.s.sionate nature too well--you could not let him off so easily. Tell me the whole truth, Robert, or I shall go mad!”
There was a frantic earnestness in this that would have made evasion unwise.
”I will, Violante; I will. Listen--for upon my soul, this is the whole truth: When I saw you drop the pistol and sink back upon the floor, I knew that you had fainted. I ordered the vaqueros to secure the weapon and make Basilio descend to the ground. Then I ran upstairs, placed you on the bed, loosened your clothing, and did what I could to restore you. But you remained unconscious----”
”Basilio! Basilio! tell me about him.”
”I went to the window and sent one of the men to the hacienda for a doctor for you, and told the other to bring Basilio to this room. He came in very weak and trembling, for he had fallen from the vine and was slightly stunned, but not much hurt. He expected me to kill him here in this room, but I could not do that--I was afraid on your account, Violante. He was very quiet and ill----”
”Hurry, Robert, hurry!”
”He said nothing. I spoke to him. He hung his head and asked me if I would let him pray. I told him I would not kill him. A great light broke over his face. He fell at my feet and clasped my knees and kissed my boots and wept like a child. It was pitiful, Violante.”
”Poor Basilio!”
”He begged me to punish him. He removed his s.h.i.+rt and implored me to beat him. I told him I would not touch him. He said he would be your slave and mine all his life; but he insisted that he must make some physical atonement--he must be punished. 'Very well,' I said. Then I turned to Nicolas and told him to give Basilio some light punishment, as that would relieve his mind. Nicolas took him down and lashed him to the back of a horse, and turned the animal into the horse-corral. Then Nicolas came back and told me what he had done. I replied that it was all right, and that as soon as I could leave you I would go and release Basilio. And then I told Nicolas to go to the range and look up Alice and bring her home, for she was too weak to come back with me.”
”And Basilio is in the corral now?”
”Yes.”