The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 397: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

386 kindness of strangers. He assured me, with im- passioned vehomence, that so far froin being a bur- then, I was the most welcome of guests; and he added that circumstances would compel the band to remain in that same spot for another fortnight, during which be besought me to tarry amongst them. Perceiving that I was embarrassed how to answer, he addressed me gravely in the following manner :— “ «Tt would be ridiculous, Senora Chandos, to sup- pose that you do nut suspect what we are. I must however, for my own sake, give you some explana- tions. In me you behold a Spanish nobleman, bearing the rank of Count, and descended from one ef the oldest families af Catalonia. But when I inherited my father’s ti:lo, the family estate was so Hnpoverished that I fuund myself a man of broken fortunes. I sold all that was left, and joined the cause of Don Carlos, with the rank of Captain in his army. Whether I have conducted myself as a gallant cavalier, is not for me to say: suffice it for my lips to proclaim, that where the fight has ever been thickest, thero was I to be found. The recent of Maroto, in signing a capitulation with the Queen’s general Espartero, annihilated my royal master’s cause. Two alternatives then became present to my vontemplation—eitber to throw down my arms and acknowledge Queen Isabella, or to fly into France. No—there was another course to be pursued; and that was to associate myself with a fow men, gallant and desperate as I am, and adopt a wild predatory life such as you behold us leading. The world will doubtless call us banditti—and we are so: but on entering upon this career, solemn oaths were registered amongst us, to the effect that we should never plunder the poor, but only the rich —and that on no occasion should we use unneces- sary violence, much lees spill human blood. Those were our oaths; and they have become our laws. You now know, Senora, who and what we are, if indeed you were not previously aware of it. Per- haps you tremble lest we live in a constant state of danger: but this is not so. The Queen’s troops are still too much occupied in making head against Cabrera, to over-run the wilds of Catalonia for the extermination of such bands as that of which I am the chief: for there are many such bands at presont scattered about the mountainous rogions of this principality. For years to come way we sualely continue our present pursuits. And now, perhaps, you will wonder wherefore instead of adupting this eourse of life, I have not joined the forces still united under the command of General Cabrera ? The explanation can be given in a few words. An insult I received at his hands, and which as a junior officer I could not at the time resent, has engen- dered eo strong a feeling of personal dislike towards that chief, that I could not serve under him.’ “Count Christoval ceased speaking; and I re- mained wrapped up in deep meditation. His nar- rative bad touched me profuundly: I could not find % in my heart to blame him—scarcely think the worse of him—for having adopted this moue of life. Indeed it was impossible to wonder that he had done so; and I knew, moroover, that these circum- stances were invested in the eyes of Spaniards with much less moral degradation and dishonouring taints than in other countgies. It was likewise a source of satisfaction and an infinite relief to my mind to a eee . aay EEE eee? Eee 2 eee EP Sab ESS WE <p - THE MYSTERIZS OF THE COURT. learn that I was not the assuciate of blood-stainel! murderers—but that these mon ontortained, after their own fashion, certain notions of a correct and proper naturo. I had received eo much generous attention and dolicate kindness at their hands, as well as on the part of the women, that I could not possibly insist upon quitting them at once without appearing ungrateful for all that hospitable treat- ment. Therefore, when my meditation was over, I intimated to Don Diego my willingness to abide with his band for another fortnight; but 1 was somewhat troubled when I beheld the glow of fervid delight end enthusiastic joy which suddenly ani- mated his countenance: for I feared that he entertained towards me a sentiment which I could not possibly reciprocate. He saw that I was thus troubled; and again did the melancholy cloud settic upon his features. Then he hastened to change the conversation, and broke off into a lively strain of discourse, mingled with ancodotes of the late Carlist warfure.” CHAPTER LXXXIL CONTINUATION OF LADY BESS’S HISTORY. “ Trg fortnight passed away ; and during this inter. val I avoided as much as possible finding myseif alone with Don Diego Christoval. He saw that such was my endeavour; and with a delicacy which I could not help appreciatin:, he no longer asked me to join him in his evening ramble, though at meal-times his attentions towards me were moet as- siduous. When those two additional weeks had expired, I waited anxiously for some word or si7zn indicative of a removal; and I was well pleased when I heard Don Diego give orders one evening that on the following day we were to set out. Ac- cordingly, at an early huuwr in the morning, the en- campment was broken up: the horses which be- longed to the band, and which were kept in an immense cave serving the purpose of a stable, were brought forth. There were steeds enough fur us all, women included; and even then there re- mained a couple to serve as pack-horses for tho conveyance of the tents and the baggage. We proceeded slowly, in conseq uence of the difficult nature of the ground which we had to traverse. I rode at the head, in company with Don Diego; and the time passed rapidly away, thus beguiled by bis agreeable conversation. I could see that he loved me-—that he entertained, indeed, a profound and adoring passion for me: but I reciprocated it not in the slightest degree. If ever there were a man capable of making an impression on my heart, it was Count Diego Christoval: but I experienced no tender feeling towards him. Even at the timo I somewhat wondered at this, making it a sub- ject of self-congratulation; and I thought mine was a heart altogether maccessible to love—or else that I had never as yet encountered the in- dividual who was to win my affections. Most women, when the term of girlhood is past, furm in their own minds the beas ideal that they hope to encounter in the course of time, and whom they fecl that they can love: but I never indulged in such a dream—I had never thought upon tho subject—I had never felt the slightest want to love iin NOOK