“They had this place a harbour once,” Sard thought, “and boats loaded produce here. Then, in some flood, the other side of the harbour was washed away: there is a bit of a pier of masonry still standing: and they were never able to afford to repair it. This river makes the northern boundary of the estate, I suppose.”
He stayed, watching the water so intently that he never saw the approach of a woman, coming from the forest along the path by the riverside. He looked up suddenly and found a tall old proud-looking negress within a few feet of him. She was dressed in black, she wore a mantilla over her shoulders, and a big straw Gainsborough hat upon her head. She wore very heavy old silver earrings in her ears, which were small. Her nose was small; her face was sharply and cleanly cut; she walked like an empress; she had race in every line of her. She carried a small basket, which Sard judged to contain eggs or meat. She seemed at once both to resent and to ignore Sard’s presence there. Sard saluted her, and asked her whether he could reach a road to Las Palomas by continuing along the river.
“Yes,” she said. “But if you will come with me by the house, it will be a shorter way.”
She led Sard back along his path; presently they were in sight of the house.
“Madam,” Sard said, “who lives in this house?”
“It is closed at present. I live here with my husband. I am Tia Eusebia, the caretaker.”
“Whose house is it?”
“It is the house of General Martinez, who is away in the South.”
“It has been a beautiful house. Is General Martinez married? Has he children?”
“God has willed that the General should be alone.”