The Insurgent Chief

was indeed Zeno Cabral, the Montonero ch

urning her head, before the young man, who appea

hanging a word; but at the moment when they had reached the entry of the first

id he, in

hen, reassured, no doubt, by the solitude in the midst of which she

thi

d impatience, "You have not, then, watched as

gerly; "watched from evening to mo

ve discover

thi

f you are so little clear-sighted, it is not just yet that you will quit your post of portres

; her little grey eye

d nervous laugh, like the cry of a hyena; "but I suspect, and so

discover?" asked he, wit

ed stress on each syllable, "all that you wish to

"And when will that

e two

promi

ope for

on you

; but as to

I

es

he promise I h

ll

ll

yourself about anythi

's ag

ong stay may excite suspicion; more

er, which, until that moment, it had remained shrouded in darkness; and after having made a threatening gesture t

rtress knocked gently twice without receiving any

s then answere

oor, and announc

enter; he is welcome

ered; then, on a sign from the superior, the

eat abbess's chair; she held open a Book

lightly inclined her head, and, wit

spectfully, "in thus coming so inopport

y duty is to receive you at any hour that you please to come," pursued she, in a tone of cold

u so graciously request it, Madame," answered he, with a c

which completely expressed the relation which the two speaker

lence of two o

ir; while the abbess, who pretended to read attentively the book whic

would appear, recommenced the conversation wi

me; will you acquaint me with the reason, and accept, meanwhile, my humble and respec

only I am vexed at being obliged, at the good pleasure of the persons who govern us, to receive, without being prepared for it beforehand, t

t my fault that this has occurred. Unhappily it is, f

some sharpness, "you s

n insinuating tone, "but complaining at it, beca

ou do not reflect on who I am. What friends or what enemies can I have-I

more probable-excuse me, I beg, Mada

d, with a slight tinge of irony, "owing to the obscurity in w

ssed a gesture

, after a pause, "let u

g better for m

here two p

house on the express injunction of the governor of the

?ora, th

have, indeed, very strict o

now

ng, that I can see, to d

alone that it concerns; it is on thei

or, continue; I

prisoners by me, and by me al

into this convent, S

nemy of these unfortunate women; no one, on the cont

d she, wi

e, Madame; indeed, ap

these unhappy ladies;

ely controlling himself, "pardon me this outbur

I am doing at th

t with your mind made up, beforehand, not to p

asy to allow them to continue their journey; that it is you who brought them into this town; that it is you who also brought them to this convent, in order to deprive them of all hope of flight-how can you expect that I should credit the prof

are many things whi

, let us come to the fact, since you yourself have proposed candour: prove to me t

willing to d

s, and that if you wander from the right path I will pit

ter can be d

promise not to

truth, I shall be obliged to enter into some details touching

wish to be impartial,

he looked stealthily towards t

who at this moment, his head sunk upon his br

r a few minut

of their neighbours and friends, they made long and perilous expeditions into the interior of unknown lands, and several of them were reckoned among the most celebrated and the most bold Paulistas of the province. Pardon me these details, Madame, but they are indispensable; for the rest, I will abridge them as much as possible. M

ails, of which I was ignorant, in

see their country. However, on various occasions propositions were made to him to enter into relations with the Portuguese Government, but he always haughtily rejected them, protesting that, never having committed any crime, he would not be absolved, and that especially-pay particular attention to this, Madame -the Government which had taken away his property had no claim to what

nterest in the recital, which was made with a

he had made, according to his custom, he had discovered diamond mines and deposits of gold of incalculable value. He entered into the minutest details as to the route that was to be followed to discover the country where these unknown riches were hidden; gave to my grandfather a map traced by himself on the very spot, and added, for fear that my grandfather should forget any important detail, a bundle of manuscripts, in which the history of his expedition and of

ry-very interesting, certainly-that you are relating, and these t

sance, Madame; you will not

ir; continue

eno r

beginning to aid him in his labours. He had a sister beautiful as the angels, and pure as they. She was na

he did not try to restrain

ts you, Se?or," said

n proudly ne

ion of this fortune, which, nevertheless, belonged to them by incontestable title. One day, a foreigner presented himself at the chacra, and asked hospitality, which was never refused to anyone. The stranger was young, handsome, and rich-at least, he appeared so-and for our family he had the great advantage of being our fellow countryman; he belonged to one of the most noble families of Portugal. He was then more than a friend-almost a

ed the abbess, carried away

ces. But what was more serious in this affair, Madame, was, that t

le!" said the abb

our fortune. During the time that he lived at the chacra, he several times tried, by artful questions, to learn the details of which he was ignorant-questions addressed sometimes to my grandfather, sometimes to my father, then a young man. The od

the abbess, "why d

you

es

e secret that he wished to discover; that,

ous, Se?or," cried the abb

at any price, determined to possess them, even if to do so he had to br

d, hiding her h

an?" he pursued, with bitterness; "But it is needles

r head affirmatively

rather a l

ast said the abbess, "responsible f

again found a trace that I thought was lost forever; that the name of our enemy has, like a thunderclap, sudd

be just, were it brought to bear on t

violence. "This man has stolen our happiness; I wish to take away his; but I shall not be a coward, as he

ning room opened suddenly, and the m

ts let it be, cabal

, and darting a look of cru

t to be so. This unworthy treachery precludes any further explanation; you know, Madame,

which you have not scrupled to accuse him before a person," added she, directing a look of sorrowful pity to the superior, "who wou

whom your husband would have confided this horrible secret; but whatever happens, a time will come-and

, however skilfully concocted, cann

us would only serve the more to embitter us again

for what reason have you r

listen to me a few minutes more,

elling me, now that

I should have preferred, however, that some other person, who migh

so, and when the honour of my name is con

; I was about to make

-to me!" said

, Ma

Be brief, i

ot to quit this town without my authority, and

I had made t

ou from the accusation which weighs upon you, an

ent," said she, with irony; "you are generous, Se?or. But

ially on women-you are so brave, you revolutionary gentlemen." The

answer, Mad

" she replied

d to make to the proposition w

nt silent; then, raising her he

mit the possibility of the truth of the odious accusation that you dare to bring against my husband.

me more than you can suppose. You have, no doubt, we

l-yes,

ay be t

, and I sh

ne, Madame; you

hter knows too well what she owes to the honour of her house to

Mad

fore me. Men deceive themselves, if they think they alone possess the privilege of courage. It is good, from time to time, for a woman to sho

door, stopped, and half turned as if he wished to speak;

otionless; then, turning towards the

ce, "do you believe that the Marquis de Castelmelhor is gui

rior, melting into tears, and falling i