The Smuggler Chief: A Novel - Aimard Gustave

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weather seemed inclined to be stormy, heavy black clouds coursed athwart the sky, and the hollow moaning of the wind could be heard amid the distant mountains; the moon, half veiled, only spread a vague and uncertain light, and at times a splendid flash tore the horizon, illumining the space with a fantastic reflection.

      "Holy Virgin!" Inez said, addressing the general, "only see, father, how quickly the flashes succeed each other."

      "My dear child," the old gentleman answered affectionately, "if I may believe certain wounds, which are a barometer for me, we shall have a terrible storm tonight, for they cause me intense suffering."

      And the general passed his hand along his leg, while the conversation was continued by the rest.

      Don Juan de Soto-Mayor was at this period sixty-two years of age; he was a man of tall stature, rather thin, whose irreproachable demeanour evidenced dignity and nobility; his grey hair, abundantly on the temples, formed a crown round the top of his head, which was bald.

      "Oh! I do not like storms," the young lady continued.

      "You must say an orison for travellers, Inez."

      "Am I to be counted among the number of travellers, señorita?" interrupted a dashing cavalier, dressed in a splendid military uniform, and who, carelessly leaning against an orange tree, was gazing at Inez with eyes full of love.

      "You, Don Pedro; why so?" the latter said eagerly, as she gave a pout of adorable meaning. "You are not travelling."

      "That is true, señorita; at least, not at this moment, but – "

      "What Colonel!" Don Juan said, "are you returning to Santiago?"

      "Shortly, sir. Ah! you served at a good time, general; you fought, at any rate, while we parade soldiers are fit for nothing now."

      "Do not complain, my friend; you have your good moments too, and the war which you wage is at times more cruel than ours."

      "Oh!" Inez exclaimed, with a tremor in her voice, "do not feel annoyed, Don Pedro, at your inaction; I fear lest those wicked Indians may begin again at any moment."

      "Reassure yourself, Niña, the Araucanos are quiet, and we shall not hear anything of them for a long time; the last lesson they received will render them prudent, I hope."

      "May heaven grant it!" the young lady remarked, as she crossed herself and raised her eyes to heaven; "But I doubt it."

      "Come, come," the general exclaimed, gaily, "hold your tongue, little girl, and instead of talking about such serious things, try to be more amiable to the poor colonel, whom you take a pleasure in tormenting."

      Inez pretended not to hear the words which her father had just said to her, and turning to her mother, who, seated by her side, was talking to her son in a low voice.

      "Mamita," she said, coaxingly, "do you know that I am jealous of you?"

      "Why so, Inez?" the good lady asked.

      "Because, ever since dinner you have confiscated Juanito, and kept him so closely to you that it has been impossible for me to tease him once the whole evening."

      "Have patience, my pet," the young man said, as he rose and leaned over the back of her chair; "you will make up for lost time; besides, we were talking about you."

      "About me! Oh, brother, make haste and tell me what you were saying."

      And the girl clapped her little childish hands together, while her eyes were lighted up by curiosity.

      "Yes," said Don Juanito, maliciously; "we were talking about your approaching marriage with my friend, Colonel Don Pedro Sallazar."

      "Fie! you naughty fellow," Inez said, with a mocking smile; "you always try to cause me pain."

      While saying these words, the coquette shot a killing glance in the direction of the colonel.

      "What! cause you pain!" her brother answered: "is not the marriage arranged?"

      "I do not say no."

      "Must it not be concluded when our sister Maria has pronounced her vows?"

      "Poor Maria!" Inez said, with a sigh, but quickly resumed her usual good spirits.

      "That is true; but they are not yet pronounced, as my dear Maria will be with us shortly."

      "They will be so within three months at the most."

      "Ah!" she exclaimed lightly, "before then the donkey and its driver will die, as the proverb says."

      "My daughter," the general remarked, gravely, "the colonel holds your word, and what you have just said is wrong."

      The girl blushed: two transparent tears sparkled on her long lashes; she rose quickly, and ran to embrace her father.

      "Forgive me, father; I am a madcap."

      Then she turned to the colonel, and offered him her hand.

      "And do you also forgive me, Don Pedro? For I did not think of what I was saying."

      "That is right," the general exclaimed; "peace is made, and I trust that nothing will disturb it in future."

      "Thanks for the kind wish," said the colonel, as he covered with kisses the hand which Inez abandoned to him.

      "Oh, oh!" Don Juan remarked, "here is the storm; let us be off."

      In fact, the lightning flashed uninterruptedly, and heavy drops of rain began beating on the foliage which the gusts continued to agitate.

      All began running toward the house, and were soon collected in the drawing room.

      In Europe it is difficult to form an idea of the magnificence and wealth which American houses contain; for gold and silver, so precious and so rare with us, are profusely employed in Chili, Peru, and the entire southern region.

      The description of the room in which the Soto-Mayor family sought refuge will give a sketch of what is called comfort in these countries, with which it is impossible for us to contend, as concerns everything that relates to splendour and veritable luxury.

      It was a large octagonal room, containing rosewood furniture inlaid with ebony; the floor was covered with mats of Guayaquil straw of a fabulous price; the locks of the doors and window fastenings were of massive silver; mirrors of the height of the room reflected the light of pink wax candles, arranged in gold candelabra enriched with precious stones; and on the white and gold damask, covering the space below the looking glass, hung masterpieces of art signed by the leaders of the Spanish and Italian schools.

      On the credence tables and whatnots, so deliciously carved that they seemed made of lacework, were arranged China ornaments of exquisite workmanship – trifles created to excite for a moment the pleasure of the eye, and whose manufacture had been a prodigy of patience, perfection, and invention. These thousand nothings, – on which glistened oriental gems, mother-o'-pearl, ivory, enamel, jasper, and all the products of the mineral kingdom, combined and mingled with fragrant woods; feathers, &c., – would of themselves have absorbed a European fortune, owing to their inestimable value.

      The lustre of the crystal girandoles, casting multicoloured fires, and the rarest flowers which grew down over enormous Japanese vases, gave a fairy like aspect to the apartment; and yet, of all those who had come there to seek shelter from the bad weather, there was not one who did not consider it quite usual.

      The conversation interrupted in the garden had just been recommenced indoors, when a ring of the visitor's bell was heard.

      "Who can arrive so late?" the general asked; "I am not expecting anybody."

      The door opened, and a servant appeared.

      "Mi amo," he said, after bowing respectfully; "two travellers, surprised by the storm, ask leave to take shelter in the house."

      At the same time a vivid flash rendered the candles pale, and a tremendous peal of thunder burst forth. The ladies uttered a cry of alarm, and crossed themselves.

      "Santa Virgin!" Señora Soto-Mayor exclaimed, "do not receive them, for these strangers might bring us some misfortune."

      "Silence,

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