Part 17 (2/2)
The hunchback alone was not let into their secret No doubt he too would be glad to get free from his chains, since he was under a sentence of imprisonment for life But who could tell whether at the lastout and betraying theh even for that, and so kept hin
There was no need of further premeditation or contrivance of plans
That had all been traced out for thened ”Ysabel,” and a fehispered words fro of it, as to be done From the time this was settled out, never looked three pair of eyesthe Calle de Plateros; never was a carriage more anxiously awaited than a landau which should show itself with hood up, drawn by a pair of grey horses
It is noell on the afternoon, and the ”beauty and fashi+on” of the Mexican es, with chivalry on horseback, along the line of streets leading to the Paseo Nuevo The procession of thedisplay; and already several equipages had rolled past the place where the chain-gang was at work But as yet appeared not the one so anxiously looked-for, and the half-hour was up!
Still ten n of it!
More anxious noere the three prisoners, who conteree, or for the same reason Kearney feared there had been a failure, from betrayal by the coachman spoken of as so trustworthy; he did not think of suspecting Pepita The Texan, too, believed some hitch had occurred, a ”bit o' crooked luck,” as he worded it Not so Rivas Though, as the others, chafing at the delay, he still had confidence in the carriage co head of one he expected to see inside it It was being purposely kept back, he fancied; likely as not, lest ittoo early on the street
Whatever the cause, his conjectures were soon brought to an end--and abruptly--by seeing the thing itself
”_Bueno_!” heto the others--”Yonder it comes! _Frisones pardes_ coachman in sky-blue and silver--be ready _ca to spring Rock and Rivas, as Kearney himself, were now out of the sewer and up on the street; all three stillbelieve to work; while the dwarf see in the wind, but could not guess what
He knew the instant after, when a strong hand, grasping hi hih he had been but a rat
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
A CLUMSY COCHERO
Perhaps no people in the world have been more accustomed to spectacular surprises than they who perambulate the streets of the Mexicanthe time of which I write, they had witnessed almost as many revolutions as years, seen blood spilled till the stones ran red with it, and dead bodies lying before their doors often for hours, even days, unremoved As a consequence, they are less prone to curiosity than the dwellers in European cities, and the spectacle or incident that will stir their interest in any great degree h was that they were called on to witness now--such of the the Calle de Plateros, where the chain-gang was at work They first saw a carriage--a handsoe of the landau speciality--drawn by a pair of showy horses, and driven by a coach the owner of the turnout as belonging to the military or diplomatic service Only ladies, however, were in it--two of the at a rather leisurely pace As several other carriages with ladies in them, and liveried coach behind, there was nothing about this one to attract particular attention; unless, indeed, the beauty of the two ”senoritas” inside, which was certainly exceptional Both were young, and, if related, not likely to be sisters; in contour of features, co different, even to contrast But alike in that each after her own style was a picture of feminine loveliness of the most piquantly attractive kind; while their juxtaposition made it all the more so, for they were seated side by side
Such could not fail to draw the eyes of the street passengers upon the this, however, they see it The day was one of the finest, the atmosphere deliciously enjoyable, neither too wares were open, yet the hoods of theirs lasses were up Still, as these were not curtained they could be seen through the the hat, lady acquaintances by a nod, a quivering of the fingers For it was the hour of promenade to the Alae it was But not a few noticed in the faces of its fair occupants an expression which struck the of constraint or anxiety--the last so unlike what should have been there
And so all along the line of street, until the carriage caoing slowly; at which the pah-spirited horses seemed to chafe and fret Just then, however, they showed a detere the pace, or at all events the direction, by ht; which carried the off wheels nearly nave-deep into the ridge of mud recently thrown out of the sewer
Instinctively, or mechanically, the coachnedly; since there was sufficient likelihood of his having an overturn Still, as theon the near rein, with a sharp cut of the whip, he ht easily clear the obstruction
This was not done; and the spectators wondered why it was not They had already made up their minds that the balk was due to the coach, and this further proof of his stupidity quite exhausted their patience Shouts assailed hiry ejaculations
”_Burro_!” (donkey) exclai out, ”What a clumsy _cochero_!” a third, ”You're a nice fellow to be trusted with reins! A rope tied to a pig's tail would better become you?”
Other like shafts, equally enveno that he was the driver of the carriage, and the ladies inside it his mistress and the Condesa Al said to hih on hand with his restive horses But why did he not give them the whip, and let them have ht again, and that hat every one was shouting to hi the ani
The ladies looked sorely affrighted; they had from the first, for it was all but the occurrence of an instant Both had risen to their feet, one tugging at the strap to get the sash down, the other working at the handle of the door, which perversely refused to act, all the while uttering cries of alarers rushed to the door in the near side to assist the unapproachable by reason of the open drain