One result of my pondering of the situation was the resolve to keep from my friend all that concerned myself alone. He had enough and to spare of anxieties and difficulties over the safety of himself and his men, without becoming involved in my private affairs. At the least, his concern for my safety and happiness would have tended to with the observations and notes which we hoped would be of such great value to our country.
The following morning being Sunday, I went early to the Parroquia, thinking to visit Father Rocus, should I fail to meet Alisanda again. This last was barely within the bounds of my fondest expectations, and I was accordingly more grieved than surprised when she failed to appear. As I was going out, a few minutes before the close of the service, a rather well-dressed woman in the archway an appeal for alms.
Struck by her lack of dirt and tatters, I stopped. She repeated her appeal, this time in a clear tone, though without opening the veiling folds of her rebozo. It seemed to me I recognized the voice of Chita. At once I held out a coin to her. In reaching for it, she covered my hand with the edge of her rebozo, beneath which I felt a note being slipped into my palm.
She turned away, with a upon the generous Inglese, while I dropped my half-closed hand to my side, thrust it into my pocket and left the note, to draw out a for the foremost of the wretched leprosos who came flocking about the rich foreigner. This time I was provided with a quantity of the smallest coins of the realm, and two or three handfuls to right and left. While the beggars after the like a flock of over their grain, I slipped around the nearest corner of the church to read my precious note. It was short but full of promise:—
"Do not go to the . illness. The Parroquia at nine o'clock to-night."
The Parroquia?—at nine in the evening? It was an appointment to meet her! Yet how could she escape the eyes of Doña Marguerite and Don Pedro, even should they, as was most improbable, take her out to the promenade?
However, I concluded that I could safely trust to her wit and courage to bring about the meeting. My problem was how to fill the weary hours and minutes which lay between. I wandered aimlessly about the city, stopping now and then to watch the with and cards, which, though prohibited by His Excellency, is too deeply seated in the natures of these people to be .
Intense as were these games, where men and even women staked their little all with abandon, the excitement was far greater and the betting higher at the numerous cock-fights. I looked on at one,—which was enough and to spare. Man has a right to kill for food, but none other than the cruel and enjoys the of his fellow creatures.
A gay dinner at the house of Doña Maria Cabrera helped to pass over the day until the . But throughout the long hours of the afternoon rest I could only lie and swelter and eat up my heart with and anxiety. So heated and restless did I become that when Walker waked he inquired whether I had a fever.
This gave me my opening, and I stated my condition at some length, in medical language which impressed him much while telling him nothing. Even Pike was deceived by my statement, but I assured him that I should be quite well by morning if I from the usual round of calls and the evening in the promenade. After with me and explaining my indisposition to the numerous friends who called, they at last my request for quiet, and went off to spread the news of my illness.
Between then and the , the few who called were permitted to peep in and see me on my , with my head swathed about in wet towels. But after la oracion, old Cæsar had his orders to stop all on the threshold of the outer room, and explain that I was not to be disturbed.
A full hour before the time set, I borrowed one of Walker's circular cloaks, and shadowed my face in my wide sombrero. After explaining to Cæsar that I needed a breath of fresh air, but that he should say nothing about my absence unless his master or Pike came in before my return, I slipped out, unseen by any one else.
The moon having risen, I had need of care to cross the without attracting attention. Fortunately it was too early for an encounter with the soldiers of the night patrols, who would have required me to give my . Arriving at the Parroquia, I stationed myself in the shadow around the corner of the farther tower, and waited with such patience as I could command.
Now and then persons passed by in the plaza, singly or in couples or in groups. None caught sight of me, yet I could see them with perfect distinctness, and as I considered this, I was seized with the fear that Alisanda would be detected before she could reach my side.
From the first I had kept my gaze in the direction of the Vallois , and had watched with eagerness the approach of all the gowned figures that came either alone or in pairs. As the time drew near, I became more restless and could not keep so steady a watch. More than once I had to turn to look about at all quarters of the plaza.
It was during one of these chance glances that I was astonished to see my lady approaching the church from the direction of the promenade. She was accompanied by Father Rocus and Chita.
When they came opposite me, I ventured a slight cough, but they went by without stopping. It was otherwise with a group of young gallants, who paused to stare at the figure of my lady until she and the padre and Chita had disappeared into the yawning entrance of the Parroquia. The young beaux had at once guessed the identity of the señorita, notwithstanding her veiling mantilla, and they stood within twenty feet of me, discussing her lovely charms as we would name over the fine points of a pedigreed horse.
Meanwhile I and , in a swelter of . No doubt my lady was waiting for me and wondering at my delay! At last I was on the point of stepping out boldly to follow her, when Chita came scuffling out of the church, over like an old crone. She passed the young men, muttering and , and half sideways around into the shadow. I caught her outstretched hand, and she led me quickly back along the flank of the towering .
We stopped before the dim outline of a little door. Chita tapped upon the panel, and stepped away a few paces, to stand with her back to me. A moment later the door swung open, without a sound, and a dark figure appeared.
"Alisanda!" I whispered.
"Juan!" she replied, stepping nearer.
Ah, the of that moment! Hers was no half love, to shrink with false shame. As I clasped her in my arms, her own arms slipped about my neck in tender embrace, and her lips met mine in a kiss of purest passion. Our hearts together in . She drew back her head to g............