Part 14 (1/2)
”But ould you have me do”
”Show yourself _complaisant_ to the Colonel Only in appearance, as I've said; and only for a time till you've tried your power over him, and see hat success”
”I'ato instructions Though it may cost you some unpleasantness, Luisita, and an effort, you'll make it for my sake, won't you? And as a reward,” pursued the Countess, as if to render her appeal more surely effective, ”I shall do as much for you, and in a si complacency in a certain quarter, and in the interest of a different individual--Don Florencio Now, you understand me?”
”Not quite yet”
”Never mind I'll make it more plain by-and-by Only promisefor you”
”And Don Florencio I thought that would secure your consent Well, _a; I for you, and you for me, and neither for ourselves! Let us hope we e had stopped in front of the Casa Valverde to set down Dona Luisa The Countess alighted also, ordering the horses home
It was but a step to her own house, and she could walk it For she had so there and then Passing on into the _patio_, far enough to be beyond earshot of the ”cochero,” and there stopping, she resuue at the point where she had left off
”We must set to work at once,” she said; ”this very day, if opportunity offer Perhaps in the procession--”
”Oh! Ysabel?” interrupted the other ”How I dislike the thought of this procession-- merry as it were, and he in a prison! And we must pass it too--its very doors! I'e and rushi+ng inside to see him”
”That would be just the way to ensure your not seeing him--perhaps, never more The very opposite is what you must do, or you'll spoil all my plans But I'll instruct you better before we start out”
”You insist, then, on our going?”
”Of course, yes; for the very reason--the very purpose we've been speaking of That's just why I ask you to take htiness, angry as weshown te Ruperto called a robber? However, that uarda-roba_, and your jewel case; array yourself in your richest apparel, and be in readiness for the gilded coach when it co out her jewelled watch,--one of Losada's best--and glancing at its dial, ”we haven't a moment to spare, I must be off to my toilet too”
She had made a step in the direction of the street, when suddenly turning again she added--
”As a last word, lest I et it When next you appear in the Grand Presence drop that forlorn doleful look Misery is the weakest weapon either man or woman can make use of--the very worst advocate in any cause So don't show it, especially in the company of Don Carlos Santander, where in all likelihood you will be before the end of another hour Try to look cheerful, put on your sweetest s for Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna”
She took her departure now; but as she passed out through the _saguan_ a cloud could be seen upon her countenance,that she herself needed quite as much as her friend, admonition to be cheerful
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
IN THE SEWERS
Along with a score of other prisoners, the ”chain-gang” of the Acordada, Kearney, Rock, Rivas, and the dere conducted out into the street, and on the Calle de Plateros Do received orders to that effect--carrying a heavy _cuarta_ with hard raw-hide lash knotted at the end Their escort consisted of two or three files of the prison guard, dirty looking soldiers of the _infanteria_, in coarse linen uniforms, stiff shakoes on their heads, their arers had still their ankle chains on, coupled two and two, these lengthened, however, to givethele sentry thus being as good as a dozen Of course, it is an additional precaution against escape, a thing which ht seem impossible under the muzzles of muskets and bayonets fixed But to desperadoes such as are so free More than once had the attempt been made, and with success; for in no city is it easier, or indeed so easy In the Mexican metropolis there are whole districts where the policeman fears to show his face, and a criminal pursued, even by soldiers in uniform, would have every door thrown open to hi himself away Get he but out into the country, and up to the mountains--on all sides conveniently near--his chances are even better, since the first man there met may be either footpad or _salteador_
As said, the street to which the scavengers were taken was the Calle de Plateros, where it ends at the Alas of the _zancas_ had been already lifted off, exposing to view the drain bris, and shovels having been sent on before
Soon, on arriving on its edge, Douez, who kept close by the two couples in which were the Tejanos, ordered them to lay hold and fall to
There could be no question of refusal or disobedience Froers it looked as though he wished there was, so that heback would be rewarded by a blow from the butt of a musket, and, persisted in, possibly a bayonet thrust--like as not to lame the refractory individual for life
There was no need for such violent er work before; and knowing its ways, went at it as soon as the as given _Nolens volens_ Kearney and Cris Rock, with their chain partners, had to do likewise; though, perhaps, never man laid hold of labourer's tool withshafted shovel that had been assigned to hi it round his head, as though he intended bringing it down on that of one of the sentries who stood beside