EL AS DE COPAS (THE ACE OF HEARTS).
Don Fernando checked his steed, and remained motionless as an equestrian statue on a marble pedestal.
"He will not come," he muttered, after a while.
"Can he have deceived me?—It is impossible."
Casting, as a last hope, one more look around him, he dropped the reins, but seized them again an instant later with a suddenness which made his horse perform a curvette and wince with pain. Don Fernando had just seen two cavaliers advancing towards him—one approaching from the pueblo, the other riding down the road he had himself taken.
"Come, come, it is all right," he said to himself; "This one is Don Torribio Quiroga. But who is this other cavalier?" he added, turning to the man who had just left the pueblo.
He frowned, seemed to hesitate for an instant, but soon formed his decision, smiled ironically, and saying half-aloud, "It is better as it is," made his horse execute a traverse, and placed himself exactly across the middle of the road, so as to bar the passage completely.
The two arrivals, who greedily watched all his motions, took good note of the hostile appearance of Don Fernando's position: neither seemed to feel alarm, and both advanced at the same speed as before. The cavalier coming from the pueblo was much nearer Don Fernando than Don Torribio was, and was soon close to him.
Mexicans, of all ranks and however little education, have an instinctive knowledge of social decorum, which never deceives them, and a refined politeness which would astonish the inhabitants of the Old World.
As soon as Don Fernando found the stranger within reach of his voice, he slightly altered the position of his horse, doffed his hat, and said, with a low bow:
"Señor caballero, permit me to ask you a question."
"Caballero," replied the stranger, with no less politeness, "it will be an honour to me."
"My name is Don Fernando Carril."
"And mine, Don Estevan Diaz."
"Señor Don Estevan, I am happy to make your acquaintance. Would you throw away ten minutes in my company?"
"Señor Don Fernando, however pressed for time I might be, I would stop to enjoy your society."
"You are excessively kind; accept my thanks. I will explain in half a dozen words. The caballero who is approaching is Señor—"
"Don Torribio Quiroga," interposed Don Estevan; "I know him."
"So much the better; the matter is simplified. That honourable personage, as I found out by a strange chance is my bitter enemy."
"That is a pity."
"It is; but what shall I say? He is so thoroughly my enemy, that he has tried four times to have me assassinated; has made me serve as a target to banditti."
"It is grievous. He plays an evil game with you, Don Fernando."
"The very reflection I made myself; so, as I wish to have done with him, I have resolved to offer him the means of getting out of the scrape."
"It is the act of a true caballero."
"¡Caray! I can fancy how furious he will be. I am charmed at your consenting to be witness of the transaction."
"With pleasure, caballero."
"A thousand thanks; I will gladly return the compliment. But here is our man."
Don Torribio had continued to advance during this short conversation, and was now only a short distance from the speakers.
"¡Válgame Dios!" he cried gaily; "If I do not mistake, it is my admirable friend, Don Fernando Carril, whom I have the good fortune to meet."
"Himself, my dear friend; and as happy as you can be at the chance which has thrown us together."
"¡Vive Dios! Since I have got you, I will not let you go; we will ride together as far as the pueblo."
"I should like it, Don Torribio; but first of all, with your permission, I have a few words to say which may upset that plan."
"Speak then, señor; you can only utter words I shall be happy to hear in Don Estevan's presence."
"In fact, Don Fernando has requested me to be present at the conversation," said the latter.
"Nothing could be better! Let us hear, señor."
"Suppose we dismount," said Don Estevan; "the conversation may be a long one."
"Well observed, caballero," replied Don Fernando; "I know a grotto where we shall be quite at our ease. It is close at hand."
"Let us go there at once," said Don Torribio.
The three cavaliers left the beaten track, took a turn to the right, and directed their steps towards a little wood of plane trees and mahoganies, which stood at a short distance.
Anyone who had seen them thus, riding side by side, chatting and smiling to each other, would have incontestably believed them to be intimate friends, delighted at having met. However it was, nothing of the kind, as our readers will soon see.
Exactly as Don Fernando had predicted, they soon gained the wood, and found the natural grotto of which he had spoken.
The grotto was in the side of a hill of no great elevation, and its proportions were scanty enough. Carpeted with verdure inside and out, it was a charming place of repose for passing away the stifling heat of the sun at midday.
The cavaliers dismounted, took the bridle from their horses, leaving them to graze at will. They entered the grotto, and inhaled with ineffable delight the freshness caused by a slender stream of water which ran between its banks with a melancholy murmur, forming a pleasant contrast with the burning atmosphere to which they were recently exposed. They threw their zarapés on the ground, stretched themselves out comfortably, and lit their maize pajillos (cigarettes).
"I am greatly obliged to you, Don Fernando, for thinking of this delicious retreat," said Don Torribio; "now, if it is your pleasure to speak, it will be an honour to me to listen."
"Señor Don Torribio, you really overwhelm me by so much courtesy. Heaven bear witness, that if I were not your most implacable enemy, I could be your dearest friend."
"Alas!" said Don Torribio, "Heaven has disposed otherwise."
"I know it, my good señor, and regret it with all my soul."
"Not more than I do, I swear."
"Well, as that is the case, we must act accordingly,"
"Alas! That is just what I mean to do."
"I thought so. Then, in your interest and mine, I have resolved to make an end of it."
"I do not exactly see how we can get at that result, unless one of us consents to kill the other."
"I presume this hatred of yours has cost you a round sum of money?"
"Four hundred piastres, which the rascals have stolen from me, as you are still alive; to say nothing of two hundred others I propose to present to a pícaro who has sworn to kill you tonight."
"It is perfectly distressing! If this goes on, you will ruin yourself."
Don Torribio sighed, but made no reply.
Don Fernando resumed, while he threw away his cigarette and occupied himself in rolling another:
"For my part, señor, I confess that, in spite of the lamentable clumsiness of the people you employ, I begin to be tired of serving as a target at moments when I least expect it."
"I can understand that; it must be very disagreeable."
"It is. Well, then, wishing to reconcile our mutual interests, and to put an end to it, once for all, I have racked my brains until I think I have hit on a method of arranging these matters to our mutual satisfaction."
"Well, let us hear this method; I know you to be a man of imagination, Don Fernando. It is doubtless ingenious."
"Oh, no; on the contrary, it is quite simple. Do you ever play?"
"So seldom, that it is hardly worth mentioning."
"Precisely the case with me. This is the proposal I have to make: it is evident you will not succeed in assassinating me."
"Do you think so, señor?" said Don Torribio, still smiling.
"I am sure of it, else you would have succeeded already."
"I will admit it: what, then, do you propose?"
"This: we will have a game at cards—the first to whom el as de copas (the ace of hearts) falls shall win, and be master over the life of his opponent, who shall be bound to blow out his brains as he sits there."
"Not so bad; the idea is ingenious."
"And why not señor?—It is just like a common game, only the loser cannot have his revenge. Now, where are the cards?"
It was then discovered that these three gallant caballeros, who never played, had each a pack of cards in his pocket. They produced them with such spontaneousness, that all three could not help bursting into Homeric laughter.
We have already said, somewhere, that in Mexico the passion for gambling is carried beyond the verge of madness; so that the facility with which Don Torribio accepted the game proposed by his foe has nothing in it to astonish those who know the character of those strange Mexicans, who carry everything to extremes, and for whom anything unexpected and extraordinary has always an irresistible attraction.
"One moment, señores," said Don Estevan, who had hitherto listened without joining in the conversation; "perhaps there might still be another way."
"What other?" exclaimed Don Fernando and Don Torribio, turning briskly to him.
"Is your mutual hatred so great, that in reality it can only be satisfied by the death of one or the other?"
"It is," said Don Torribio hoarsely.
Don Fernando merely replied by a nod.
"In that case," continued Don Estevan, "instead of having recourse to blind chance, why cannot you fight it out with each other?"
Both men made a gesture of disdain.
"What!" exclaimed Don Torribio, "Fight like wretched leperos, at the risk of disfiguring or crippling ourselves, which would be worse than death! No! I will never consent to that."
"Nor I; it is better that chance shall decide."
"As you please, caballeros; do as you like."
"But," said Don Torribio, "who is to deal?"
"The devil!" said Don Fernando; "that is a good remark: I never thought of that."
"I will, if you have no objection," said Don Estevan; "and so much the more readily, as my friendship for both of you señores, makes me perfectly disinterested."
"It will do," said Don Torribio; "only, to avoid all cause for dispute, you must choose at hap-hazard the pack you are to use."
"Very well: place the three packs under a hat; I will take the first I touch."
"That will do. What a pity you did not think of this game sooner, Don Fernando!"
"What could I do, señor?—I have only just hit upon the idea."
Don Estevan rose and left the grotto, to afford the two foes every facility for arranging the three packs under the hat. He was very soon recalled.
"So," said he, "you are determined to play out this game?"
"We are, they replied."
"You swear, by all the world holds most holy, and whichever of you it may be whom fortune favours, to submit yourselves to the fiat of fate in all its entirety?"
"We swear, Don Estevan, by the word of caballeros."
"Enough, señores," he replied, passing his Hand under the hat and drawing out a pack of cards. "And now recommend your souls to God; for a few minutes hence, one of you will be in his presence."
The two men crossed themselves devoutly, and fixed their eyes anxiously on the pack of cards.
Don Estevan shuffled the cards with the greatest care, and then made each of the adversaries cut them in turn.
"Attention, señores," said he; "I am going to begin."
The two, negligently leaning on their elbows, smoked their pajillos with a perfect assumption of indifference, which was only belied by the flashing of their eyes.
Meanwhile the cards continued to fall on the zarapé: Don Estevan held only about a dozen more in his hand, when he paused.
"Caballeros," said he, "for the last time—reflect."
"Go on, go on!" cried Don Torribio excitedly; "the first card belongs to me."
"Look at it," said Don Estevan, turning it up.
"Oh," said Don Fernando, throwing away his cigarette, "el as de copas. Look, Don Torribio; it is curious. ¡Vive Dios! you can reproach no one; you are the author of your own death."
Don Torribio made a violent gesture, which he repressed immediately, and resumed the tone of affected civility which had characterised the conversation.
"Upon my honour, it is true," said he. "I must confess, Don Fernando, I have no chance with you in anything."
"I am quite in despair, dear Don Torribio."
"Never mind; it was a capital game; I never felt so interested."
"Nor I either. Unfortunately, I cannot give you your revenge."
"Right! And now I must pay my debt."
Don Fernando bowed without answering.
"Be quite easy, dear señor; I will only keep you waiting such time as is absolutely necessary. If I could have foreseen this, I would have brought my pistols."
"I have brought mine; they are perfectly at your service."
"Then pray be kind enough to lend me one."
Don Fernando rose, took a pistol from his holsters, and offered them to Don Torribio.
"It is primed and loaded; the trigger is a little stiff."
"What a capital man of business you are, Don Fernando! You provide for everything; no detail escapes you."
"My traveller's habits, Don Torribio,—nothing more."
Don Torribio took the pistol and cocked it.
"Señores," said he, "I beg you not to leave my body to the mercy of the wild beasts; it would distress me dreadfully to become their food when I am dead."
"Set your mind at rest, dear señor; we will carry you home across your own horse. We should be in despair if the body of so accomplished a caballero were thus profaned."
"That is all I have to request of you, señores; now accept my thanks, and farewell."
After this he cast one last look around him, and coolly placed the muzzle of the pistol against his right temple.
Don Fernando suddenly arrested his hand.
"I have one remark to make," he said.
"Upon my honour, you are only just in time," said Don Torribio, without exhibiting emotion: "two seconds more, and it would have been too late. But let us hear this remark. Is it of much interest?"
"You yourself shall judge. You have lost your life fairly to me."
"As fairly as possible."
"Well, then, it belongs to me. You are dead; I have the right of disposing of you as I think fit."
"I cannot deny it. You will observe that I am ready to pay my losses like a caballero."
"I render you full justice, dear señor; therefore if I allow you to live for the present, you are bound to kill yourself at my first requisition, and to employ the life I leave you (which I could deprive you of at this very moment) solely in my interest, and at my good pleasure."
"Then you offer me a bargain?" said Don Torribio.
"Yes, you have hit the word; it is a bargain."
"H'm!" said Don Torribio; "That requires consideration. What would you do, if you were in my place, Don Estevan?"
"I?" replied he; "I would accept without hesitation. Life is so beautiful, take it all in all, it is best to enjoy it as long as possible."
"There is something true about what you say; but recollect I should become Don Fernando's slave as I could only employ my life in his service, and should be bound to kill myself whenever he gives the word."
"True; but Don Fernando is a caballero who will only exact this sacrifice in so far as to protect his own life."
"I will even go further," broke in Don Fernando; "I will limit the duration of our bargain to ten years. If by that time Don Torribio is not dead, he will again enter upon his rights in all their plenitude, and can dispose of his life after his own fashion."
"That really touches me to the heart! You are a perfect caballero, señor; and I accept the life you offer me so gracefully. A thousand thanks!" added he, uncocking the pistol. "I have no further use for this weapon."
"One thing more, Don Torribio. As no one can read the future, you will not object to have this bond drawn up in writing?"
"Certainly not; but where shall we get the paper?"
"I think I can find the writing materials in my alforjas."
"How right I was in pronouncing you a perfect man of business, whom nothing escapes, dear señor!"
Don Fernando, without answering, went to fetch his alforjas, a kind of double pocket, which is fastened behind the saddle, to hold the necessary articles for travelling, and used throughout the whole of Spanish America instead of the common European valise.
Don Fernando took out pens, ink, and paper, and laid them in order before Don Torribio.
"Now," said he, "write as I shall dictate."
"Proceed, my dear señor; I will write."
Don Fernando began:
"I, the undersigned, Don Torribio Quiroga y Carvajal y Flores del Cerro, acknowledge that I have fairly lost my life to Don Fernando Carril, in a game played with the aforesaid señor; I acknowledge that the life belongs henceforth to Don Fernando, who shall have the right to dispose of it as he thinks fit, without my having power to raise objection in any case, or to refuse obedience to the orders he may give me, whether they be to kill myself before his eyes, or to risk in any perilous adventure the life I have lost, and which I acknowledge to hold only at his pleasure. I farther acknowledge that all sentiments of hatred to the aforesaid Don Fernando Carril are extinguished in my heart, and that I will never seek to injure him directly or indirectly. I enter into this bond for the space of ten years, beginning from the day on which this deed is signed; it being formally stipulated by me, that at the end of the aforesaid ten years I shall resume all my rights in full, with the entire possession of my life, and that from thenceforth I shall not be responsible to Don Fernando Carril for any account of it."
"Written and signed by me, this 17th March 18—, and subscribed, as witness, by Señor Don Estevan Diaz y Morelos."
"Now," said Don Fernando, "sign: pass the paper to Don Estevan, for his signature; then give it to me." Don Torribio signed with the greatest good humour, added a tremendous flourish to his signature, and gave the pen to Don Estevan, who affixed his name without making the slightest objection to this strange arrangement.
When all this was over, Don Torribio scattered a little sand over the paper, to dry the ink, folded it neatly in four, and placed it in the hands of Don Fernando, who read it attentively, and put it in his bosom.
"There, that is finished," said Don Torribio. "Now señor, if you have no commands for me, I ask your permission to retire."
"I should be distressed to detain you longer, caballero; go where your engagements call you; may they be pleasant ones!"
"Thanks for the wish, though I fear it will scarcely be fulfilled; I have had bad luck for some time past."
He saluted the others once more, put the bridle on his horse, and departed at a gallop.
"Do you really intend to demand the execution of this bond?" asked Don Estevan, as soon as he found himself alone with Don Fernando.
"Most certainly," replied the other; "you forget that this man is my mortal foe. But I must leave you, Don Estevan; I must be today at Las Norias de San Antonio, and it is growing late."
"Are you going to the hacienda of Don Pedro de Luna?"
"Not exactly to the hacienda, but to the neighbourhood."
"Then we can ride together; for I, too, am going in that direction."
"You," said he, looking at him inquisitively.
"I am the major-domo of the hacienda," replied Don Estevan.
The two men left the grotto, and mounted their horses. Don Fernando rode pensively by the side of his companion, only replying in monosyllables.