the argonauts of north liberty-第8部分

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serried　files；　a　cool　breeze　swept　down　from　the　coast　range　and；
passing　through　them；　sent　their　day…long　heated　spices　through　the
town。

If　there　was　any　truth　in　the　local　belief　that　the　pious
incantation　of　the　Angelus　bell　had　the　power　of　excluding　all　evil
influence　abroad　at　that　perilous　hour　within　its　audible　radius；
and　comfortably　keeping　all　unbelieving　wickedness　at　a　distance；
it　was　presumably　ineffective　as　regarded　the　innovating　stage…
coach　from　Monterey　that　twice　a　week　at　that　hour　brought　its
question…asking；　revolver…persuading　and　fortune…seeking　load　of
passengers　through　the　sleepy　Spanish　town。　　On　the　night　of　the　3d
of　August；　1856；　it　had　not　only　brought　but　set　down　at　the　Posada
one　of　those　passengers。　　It　was　a　Mr。　Ezekiel　Corwin；　formerly
known　to　these　pages　as　〃hired　man〃　to　the　late　Squire　Blandford；
of　North　Liberty；　Connecticut；　but　now　a　shrewd；　practical；　self…
sufficient；　and　self…asserting　unit　of　the　more　cautious　later
Californian　immigration。　　As　the　stage　rattled　away　again　with　more
or　less　humorous　and　open　disparagement　of　the　town　and　the　Posada
from　its　〃outsiders；〃　he　lounged　with　lazy　but　systematic
deliberation　towards　Mateo　Morez；　the　proprietor。

〃I　guess　that　some　of　your　folks　here　couldn't　direct　me　to　Dick
Demorest's　house；　could　ye？〃

The　Senor　Mateo　Morez　was　at　once　perplexed　and　pained。　　Pained　at
the　ignorance　thus　forced　upon　him　by　a　caballero；　perplexed　as　to
its　intention。　　Between　the　two　he　smiled　apologetically　but
gravely；　and　said：　〃No　sabe；　Senor。　　I　'ave　not　understood。〃

〃No　more　hev　I；〃　returned　Ezekiel；　with　patronizing　recognition　of
his　obtuseness。　　〃I　guess　ez　heow　you　ain't　much　on　American。　　You
folks　orter　learn　the　language　if　you　kalkilate　to　keep　a　hotel。〃

But　the　momentary　vision　of　a　waistless　woman　with　a　shawl　gathered
over　her　head　and　shoulders　at　the　back　door　attracted　his
attention。　　She　said　something　to　Mateo　in　Spanish；　and　the
yellowish…white　of　Mateo's　eyes　glistened　with　intelligent
comprehension。

〃Ah；　posiblemente；　it　is　Don　Ricardo　Demorest　you　wish？〃

Mr。　Ezekiel's　face　and　manner　expressed　a　mingling　of　grateful
curiosity　and　some　scorn　at　the　discovery。　　〃Wa'al；〃　he　said；
looking　around　as　if　to　take　the　entire　Posada　into　his　confidence；
〃way　up　in　North　Liberty；　where　I　kem　from；　he　was　allus　known　as
Dick　Demorest；　and　didn't　tack　any　forrin　titles　to　his　name。　　Et
wouldn't　hev　gone　down　there；　I　reckon；　'mongst　free…born　Merikin
citizens；　no　mor'n　aliases　would　in　courtand　I　kinder　guess　for
the　same　reason。　　But　folks　get　peart　and　sassy　when　they're　way
from　hum；　and　put　on　ez　many　airs　as　a　buck　nigger。　　And　so　he
calls　hisself　Don　Ricardo　here；　does　he？〃

〃The　Senor　knows　Don　Ricardo？〃　said　Mateo　politely。

〃Ef　you　mean　mewa'al；　yesI　should　say　so。　　He　was　a　partiklar
friend　of　a　man　I've　known　since　he　was　knee…high　to　a　grasshopper。〃

Ezekiel　had　actually　never　seen　Demorest　but　once　in　his　life。　　He
would　have　scorned　to　lie；　but　strict　accuracy　was　not　essential
with　an　ignorant　foreign　audience。

He　took　up　his　carpet…bag。

〃I　reckon　I　kin　find　his　house；　ef　it's　anyway　handy。〃

But　the　Senor　Mateo　was　again　politely　troubled。　　The　house　of　Don
Ricardo　was　of　a　truth　not　more　than　a　mile　distant。　　It　was　even
possible　that　the　Senor　had　observed　it　above　a　wall　and　vineyard
as　he　came　into　the　pueblo。　　But　it　was　lateit　was　also　dark；　as
the　Senor　would　himself　perceiveand　there　was　still　to…morrow。
To…morrowah；　it　was　always　there！　　Meanwhile　there　were　beds　of　a
miraculous　quality　at　the　Posada；　and　a　supper　such　as　a　caballero
might　order　in　his　own　house。　　Health；　discretion；　solicitude　for
oneselfall　pointed　clearly　to　to…morrow。

What　part　of　this　speech　Ezekiel　understood　affected　him　only　as　an
innkeeper's　bid　for　custom；　and　as　such　to　be　steadily　exposed　and
disposed　of。　　With　the　remark　that　he　guessed　Dick　Demorest's　was
〃a　good　enough　hotel　for　HIM；〃　and　that　he'd　better　be　〃getting
along　there；〃　he　walked　down　the　steps；　carpet…bag　in　hand；　and
coolly　departed；　leaving　Mateo　pained；　but　smiling；　on　the　doorstep。

〃An　animal　with　a　pig's　headwithout　doubt；〃　said　Mateo；
sententiously。

〃Clearly　a　brigand　with　the　liver　of　a　chicken；〃　responded　his
wife。

The　subject　of　this　ambiguous　criticism；　happily　oblivious；
meantime　walked　doggedly　back　along　the　road　the　stage…coach　had
just　brought　him。　　It　was　badly　paved　and　hollowed　in　the　middle
with　the　worn　ruts　of　a　century　of　slow　undeviating　ox　carts；　and
the　passage　of　water　during　the　rainy　season。　　The　low　adobe　houses
on　each　side；　with　bright　cinnamon…colored　tiles　relieving　their
dark…brown　walls；　had　the　regular　outlines　of　their　doors　and
windows　obliterated　by　the　crumbling　of　years；　until　they　looked　as
if　they　had　been　afterthoughts　of　the　builder；　rudely　opened　by
pick　and　crowbar；　and　finished　by　the　gentle　auxiliary　architecture
of　birds　and　squirrels。　　Yet　these　openings　at　times　permitted
glimpses　of　a　picturesque　past　in　the　occasional　view　of　a　lace…
edged　pillow　or　silken　counterpane；　striped　hangings；　or　dyed
Indian　rugs；　the　flitting　of　a　flounced　petticoat　or　flower…covered
head；　or　the　indolent　leaning　figure　framed　in　a　doorway　of　a　man
in　wide　velvet　trousers　and　crimson…barred　serape；　whose　brown　face
was　partly　hidden　in　a　yellow　nimbus　of　cigarette　smoke。　　Even　in
the　semi…darkness；　Ezekiel's　penetrating　and　impertinent　eyes　took
eager　note　of　these　facts　with　superior　complacency；　quite
unmindful；　after　the　fashion　of　most　critical　travellers；　of　the
hideous　contrast　of　his　own　long　shapeless　nankeen　duster；　his
stiff　half…clerical　brown　straw　hat；　his　wisp　of　gingham　necktie；
his　dusty　boots；　his　outrageous　carpet…bag；　and　his　straggling
goat…like　beard。　　A　few　looked　at　him　in　grave；　discreet　wonder。
Whether　they　recognized　in　him　the　advent　of　a　civilization　that
was　destined　to　supplant　their　own　ignorant；　sensuous；　colorful
life　with　austere　intelligence　and　rigid　practical　improvement；　did
not　appear。　　He　walked　steadily　on。　　As　he　passed　the　low　arched
door　of　the　mission　church　and　saw　a　faint　light　glimmering　from
the　side　windows；　he　had　indeed　a　weak　human　desire　to　go　in　and
oppose　in　his　own　person　a　debased　and　idolatrous　superstition　with
some　happily　chosen　question　that　would　necessarily　make　the
officiating　priest　and　his　congregation　exceedingly　uncomfortable。
But　he　resisted；　partly　in　the　hope　of　meeting　some　idolater　on　his
way　to　Benediction；　and；　in　the　guise　of　a　stranger　seeking
information；　dropping　a　few　unpalatable　truths；　and　partly　because
be　could　unbosom　himself　later　to　Demorest；　who　he　was　not
unwilling　to　believe　had　embraced　Popery　with　his　adoption　of　a
Spanish　surname　and　title。

It　had　become　quite　dark　when　he　reached　the　long　wall　that
enclosed　Demorest's　premises。　　The　wall　itself　excited　his
resentment；　not　only　as　indicating　an　exclusiveness　highly
objectionable　in　a　man　who　had　emigrated　from　a　free　State；　but
because　he；　Ezekiel　Corwin；　had　difficulty　in　discovering　the
entrance。　　When　he　succeeded；　he　found　himself　before　an　iron　gate；
happily　open；　but　savoring　offensively　of　feudalism　and　tyrannical
proprietorship；　and　passed　through　and　entered　an　avenue　of　trees
scarcely　distinguishable　in　the　darkness；　whose　mysterious　shapes
and　feathery　plumes　were　unknown　to　him。　　Numberless　odors　equally
vague　and　mysterious　were　heavy　in　the　air；　strange　and　delicate
plants　rose　dimly　on　either　hand；　enormous　blossoms；　like　ghostly
faces；　seemed　to　peer　at　him　from　the　shadows。　　For　an　instant
Ezekiel　succumbed　to　an　unprofitable　sense　of　beauty；　and
acquiesced　in　this　reckless　extravagance　of　Nature　that　was　so
unlike　North　Liberty。　　But　the　next　moment　he　recovered　himself；
with　the　reflection　that　it　was　probably　unhealthy；　and　doggedly
approached　the　house。　　It　was　a　long；　one…storied；　structure；
apparently　all　roof；　vine；　and　pillared　veranda。　　Every　window　and
door　was　open；　the　two　or　three　grass　hammocks　swung　emptily
between　the　columns；　the　bamboo　chairs　and　settees　were　vacant；　his
heavy　footsteps　on　the　floor　had　summoned　no　attendant；　not　even　a
dog　had　barked　as　he　approached　the　house。　　It　was　shiftless；　it
was　sinfulit　boded　no　good　to　the　future　of　Demorest。

He　put　down　his　carpet…bag　on　the　veranda　and　entered　the　broad
hall；　where　an　old…fashioned　lantern　was　burning　on　a　stand。　　Here；
too；　the　doors　of　the　various　apartments　were　open；　and　the　rooms
themselves　empty　of　occupants。　　An　opportunity　not　to　be　lost　by
Ezekiel's　inquiring　mind　thus　offered　itself。　　He　took　the　lantern
and　deliberately　examined　the　several　apartments；　the　furniture；
the　bedding；　and　even　the　small　articles　that　were　on　the　tables
and　mantels。　　When　he　had　completed　the　roundincluding　a　corridor
opening　on　a　dark　courtyard；　which　he　did　not　penetratehe
returned　to　the　hall；　and　set　down　the　lantern　again。

〃Well；〃　said　a　voice　in　his　own　familiar　vernacular；　〃I　hope　you
like　it。〃

Ezekiel　was　surprised；　but　not　disconcerted。　　What　he　had　taken
in　the　shadow　for　a　bundle　of　serapes　lying　on　the　floor　of　the
veranda；　was　the　recumbent　figure　of　a　man　who　now　raised　himself
to　a　sitting　posture。

〃Ez　to　that；〃　drawled　Ezekiel；　with　unshaken　self…possession；
〃whether　I　like　it　or　not　ez　only　a　question　betwixt　kempany
manners　and　truth…telling。　　Beggars　hadn't　oughter　be　choosers；　and
transient　visitors　like　myself　needn't　allus　speak　their　mind。　　But
if　you　mean　to　signify　that　with　every　door　and　window　open　and
universal　shiftlessness　lying　round　everywhere　temptin'　Providence；
you　ain't　lucky　in　havin'　a　feller…citizen　of　yours　drop　in　on　ye
instead　of　some　Mexican　thief；　I　don't　agree　with　yethat's　all。〃

The　man　laughed　shortly　and　rose　up。　　In　spite　of　his　careless　yet
picturesque　Mexican　dress；　Ezekiel　instantly　recognized　Demorest。
With　his　usual　instincts　he　was　naturally　pleased　to　observe　that
he　looked　older　and　more　careworn。　　The　softer；　sensuous　climate
had　perhaps　imparted　a　heaviness　to　his　figure　and　a　deliberation
to　his　manner　that　was　quite　unlike　his　own　potential　energy。

〃That　don