The Ghost Breaker: A Novel Based Upon the Play Read online

  XIII

  "GENTLEMEN, A MAN!"

  Dolores had hurried upstairs, where she well knew there was a tinyattic in the rambling old building which acted as an excellentwhispering gallery. Every word spoken in the larger room below could beheard from this vantage. She was no sooner secreted there than sheheard the voice of the Duke.

  "You received my telegram sent to San Fernandez?"

  "Yes, Excellency. Antonio brought it over with the mail-bags."

  "What about the Prince?"

  "Ah, Excellency ... why ask? The same news as before. This stupidVardos has been taking food to the castle every day, but he is toofrightened to venture into the miserable old pile of stones. It is mostdroll, your Excellency."

  "Well then, Robledo, I am satisfied as far as that goes. But you havework before you of a new character."

  The swordsman struck a chair with his riding-crop. It seemed a favoritestage effect with him; the Duke was not slow in catching itssignificance.

  "Just forget these little affectations, my good man," he saidhaughtily. "None of this blustering around me. I know that you do yourwork well, and at other times there is much to be desired. Now, in thiscase, you have a dangerous man to combat. And the combat must be final,no matter how difficult."

  "How is he dangerous?" and there was a new note in Robledo's blusteringvoice.

  "Unless he is stopped he may cause trouble for the traditions ofSeguro. He is crafty as a _contrabandisto_, cunning as the snakes ofthe Pyrenees! He has been brought here by my cousin the Princess tomake some special investigations." He laughed, with that cruel,mirthless inflection so characteristic. "She should have left that tome--and she will be sorry ere it is all over. This man has thwarted metwice already. Coming over on the steamer from America the scoundreldisappeared from the ship most remarkably, just when I had all arrangedto put him into duress in Liverpool. I have yet to learn the secret ofit. He must be discouraged ... you understand, Robledo?"

  "Excellency, I can assure you that the Yankee pig will be convinced, ina language which he will understand, that his presence in the castleto-night is quite unnecessary. Have you any particular instructions?"

  The Duke shook his head and grimaced suggestively.

  "Any way you please, Robledo. You understand my general ideas on suchsubjects. Means are of no consequence to a born statesman. Results arethe only permanent things in this world. However--I warn you. Don'tunderestimate your man. He will shoot; I imagine that he can shootquickly and without a tremor."

  "Ha, ha! Good opposition. I welcome such an antagonist--thesefat-brained peasants about here are too simple to stimulate me to goodwork. I have been growing dull and commonplace--I am almost out oftraining, as they call it in the bull-ring."

  "Come then, and I will give Pedro some money to buy drinks for thestupid dolts,--they can drink my health: it is none of the best thesedays, Robledo. My American trip was wearing. It is a wretched,unromantic hole--not a country, just a great mob of people."

  "I can well believe your Excellency. This way, sir."

  They returned to the big room of the tavern, and Dolores retired fromthe temporary confessional box. Her face showed mixed emotions--butpredominating over any other influence was the great desire to servethe rulers of her family. Curiously loyal are these humble peasants ofthe inland Latin districts. Their lives follow the monotonous exampleof the generations before them: as their grandsires, their fathers weretradesmen of a certain calling, so do they follow the strata, contentedto exist with the conventional beginning, moderately happy middle era,and inevitably stupid ending of their lives.

  It is this which is so pleasing to the European aristocrats: no matterhow bankrupt, incompetent, disreputable, the class theory which isrecognized by the masses is, "Once a gentleman, always a gentleman."

  It is inconceivable upon the Continent for a peasant's or even atradesman's son or daughter to aspire to a higher level than that ofthe family. Exceptions to the rule are looked upon with distrust bysuperiors as well as the lowly equals: too much ambition is atemptation to the gods which is hardly respectable.

  There is a smug contentment, then, in the feudal countries which is thesurest bulwark of the "divine right of kings"--and courtiers! Apleasantly distended belly, a mellow thrill from cheap wine, acertainty about the repetition of regular meals and drinks, with enoughclothes and shelter to maintain relative positions with theneighbors--this year, next year, and twenty years from now ... thesethings are the mess of pottage for which the Esaus of the kingdoms andprincipalities sell their birthrights and their souls!

  Vardos--for instance--bodyservant and sole military retainer of aprincely line which for generation after generation had considereditself in humiliating straits unless there were at least a thousandlances at beck and call--old Vardos had been thrown into a mentalmaelstrom by the sudden change in the lifelong existence. Sure of hismeals and a modicum of money for occasional visits to taprooms, he wasnow placed in a position of responsibility, one where executive andaggressiveness were demanded. Here old Vardos failed, because he was apeasant true to his type. The poor fellow had struggled with his griefthese fifteen days--now he felt, with a helpless aching of the faithfulheart, that he must have been in a sense responsible for the death ofhis master. He had pleaded with the young Prince not to enter theaccursed place.

  Insanity and suicide though it seemed to be to him, he could not helpit. That was bad enough--but with the prospect of the beautifulPrincess going into the place as well: life had become a horrible thingto him.

  He sought the wayside shrine down the crooked village street. He threwhimself upon his knees before it, vowing candles to every saint who hadgranted petty favors to him in the past!

  He faced the great cathedral, rearing its pale crest in the dim lightfrom the stars, vast and exalted above the miserable squalor of thosewhose ancestors had created its grandeur with their inspired devotion.He told the Holy Family and the saints, with tear-choked voice, thequandary of his noble master, and begged that, though they should nevergrant him another request, somehow, somewhere, they find and bring agallant adventurer who could turn defeat into victory, one more willingand competent than himself, to die!

  And the answer to this prayer was unburdening his own soul withsemi-religious phrases, in a Kentucky accent, addressed with unwontedand even picturesque fluency at the stumbling, stodgy Rusty Snow, whotrudged along loaded with luggage and an insatiate hatred of this"cussed foreign joint," as he labeled it to himself.

  The Princess and her maid had, at Jarvis' suggestion, left them withthe automobile in its latest quagmire, to reach the shelter of the inn.So it was that, as her vassal and his vassal struggled with the luggagein the dark, she reached the portal of the house of Pedro.

  Robledo was hearkening carefully to certain careful instructions fromthe Duke of Alva, nodding with a smile of malicious portent at thefinal words.

  "I will not fall short of my former reputation, your Excellency,"declared the Don. "When a man reaches my time of life, after a successin the bull-ring as toreador, in the army as a duelist, and in theprivate retinue of so distinguished a nobleman as yourself, he has acertain pride in his ability.... Indeed, I regret that I must waste mytalents upon a stupid pig of a Yankee."

  Shaking his head, Carlos drew out his purse.

  "The man is no idiot, unfortunately. He has completely won theconfidence of the Princess, despite his obvious trickeries. Now,however, I would like to attend to a few little tasks of cleaning upafter that miserable trip."

  Pedro was approaching them subserviently, a humble, bobbing headbetokening his anxiety to please the fine folk.

  "Anything else, your Excellency?" he stammered, overcome with the pompand majesty of the situation.

  "Here, my good man, take this coin and have the brave lads in thetaproom drink to my health and that of her Exalted Highness, thePrincess Maria Theresa."

  With studied carelessness, he dropped the coin upon the floor, andPedro chased the rolling g
olden disk with surprising agility.

  "Then bring me up some hot water, soap, and towels. You may prepare ahasty supper, as well--but let it be fit for a gentleman to eat!"

  "Yes, yes! Your Excellency!" and Pedro nearly brought back hisrheumatic spell by the renewed bobbing of the stiff old back, as heretreated to the barroom.

  He returned promptly after breaking the gladsome tidings of the treat,and led the nobleman up the stairway, as a chorus of cheers rang outfrom the alcoholic ward.

  "The Duke! The Duke! His Excellency the Duke of Alva!"

  Robledo walked to the door, with his characteristic swashbucklerrhythm, and stirred them up to more enthusiasm.

  "Louder, you beggars, or I'll give you something to yell about--louder,I say!"

  Dolores had slipped through the doorway, facing the road.

  Suddenly she danced in through the entry again, happy and exultant.

  "Her Highness has come, father. Her Highness!"

  Old Pedro stumbled toward the balcony and peered over at herquerulously.

  "Father, father!"

  "What is it, Dolores?"

  "Her Highness, the Princess!"

  The old man bustled down the stairs, trembling with added excitement,just as Maria Theresa and Nita were bowed into the tavern by a villagerwho had accompanied them from the delayed machine.

  The peasants trooped into the room from the tap, howling with mediaevalenthusiasm.

  "Your Gracious Highness does my humble inn great honor," began Pedro,as his local guests imitated the clumsy courtesy with varying ability.

  "Thank you, Pedro," replied the Princess graciously as one wouldaddress a polite child.

  She held out her hand to Dolores, who kissed it reverently, with a bowand a bend of the knee.

  "Your Highness, we are poorly prepared for this great favor, illprepared indeed," apologized Dolores. "Your exalted cousin gave us butshort warning of your coming. Our humble tavern is hardly fitting for agreat lady."

  "My child, any place to remove the dust of travel will do for me." Sheturned toward the villager at the door. "Tell my chauffeur that when herepairs the car I shall want it kept in readiness to use again."

  Nita advanced anxiously.

  "Your Highness is not thinking of going to the castle to-night,surely?" Her voice was politely remonstrative, with a note ofapprehensiveness for the welfare of her mistress.

  "But I must have news," declared the young woman impatiently. "I amfrantic with worry, and the things which Jose has told me. Come to aroom, Nita."

  "Ah, your Highness, you are too brave, too determined. You are all wornout with this long trip. Better to wait until daylight, if I may be sobold as to suggest to your ladyship. You are all unstrung just now."

  Maria Theresa did indeed show the strain of the nerve-racking trip, butshe valiantly shook her head.

  "Show me up, Dolores. When Mr. Warren, my representative, arrivesinform him that I will be down very soon. Come, Nita, for I know thatyour hands can rest me, with their skillful massage," and she spokewearily.

  Pedro stepped forward, bowing.

  "Allow me the honor, your Highness. I have the finest chamber in thetavern prepared for you--a fire to take the night chill from thelargest bedroom."

  She started up the steps, followed by her maid and the old man, stillrisking a strained back with his excited bows.

  Again she turned to Dolores, with a strange nervousness, to say: "Donot forget to explain to Mr. Warren. He may think I have left thetavern. I will see him soon."

  "I will give your commands to the Senor Americano, your Highness,"promised the black-eyed Dolores, with a heightened color.

  Then the Princess disappeared across the end of the balcony. Doloreswalked to the doorway, and discerned two figures approaching with astrange slowness.

  "Is this the inn?" cried a voice, with a slight foreign accent in theSpanish.

  "Yes, yes, senor. Come in, senor, we are expecting you," replied thegirl.

  The villagers were still grouped about the door to the taproom. Doloresstepped back, as Warren Jarvis and Rusty Snow entered the big fronthallway, and blinked in the unaccustomed glare of light.

  They were both burdened with suitcases, and two of the Princess'hatboxes. These they dropped unceremoniously on the floor, with sighsof relief.

  "We're here, Rusty, with both feet!"

  "Yassir," and the negro groaned with exhaustion, "and I'd jest as lievebe back in Meadow Green. Dis don't look very scrumptious for a Mrs.Princessess' plantation house."

  "This is no castle, Rusty. This is only the halfway house."

  Dolores could not understand their low conversation in English--andAfro-Americanese! But she had studied the clear features, thenonchalant bearing of the tall American. She turned toward thesheep-like, staring villagers, and with an eloquent wave of her handshe cried out resonantly:

  "Gentlemen--_a man_!"

  "_Gentlemen--a man_"]

  Jarvis was lighting his cigarette, and he laughed, with a side-remarkto his valet:

  "Rusty, as the Indians said to Columbus: 'We're discovered!'" He turnedtoward the girl. "Did you by any chance address me, fair senorita?"

  "I'm calling the attention of these valiant gentlemen of Seguro to theonly man with spirit and bravery enough to enter the haunted castle,"she declared.

  "How did you know?" and his eyes widened with surprise. This was aqueer place.

  "All Seguro knows by this time, senor."

  At these words, Don Robledo swaggered in through the door from the bar.He pushed the villagers aside with contemptuous roughness. He eventhrust the girl out of his way as she tried to detain him. He laughedinsultingly into the bland face of Jarvis.

  "So, you are the _brave_ American, are you?" he cried, surveyingJarvis, with hands on hips and stocky legs well spread.

  "_So, you are the brave American, are you?_"]

  Jarvis puffed cigarette smoke at him and answered with ingenuousmodesty.

  "I'm _an_ American. And here" (he waved his hand to Rusty, who salutedwith divination of the tenor of the interchange) "I present to yournotice another American. In fact, we're both Americans!"

  "And you both want to die?" cried Don Robledo, drawing a stiffforefinger suggestively across his brawny throat. Rusty was reading thepantomime with perfect understanding. He made a wry face and rolled hiseyes at Jarvis, who responded with a droll wink.

  "Well, now that you mention it, I'm in no hurry about it. I'm not atall anxious on the subject."

  He sat down in one of the carven chairs and continued to puff hiscigarette with provoking amiability.

  Robeldo leaned forward toward him and snarled:

  "You had better keep out of the castle then. It has a fatal climate."

  Warren laughed, and flicked the ashes of the cigarette upon the sleeveof his interviewer.

  "Oh, you mean the castle ghost--this old rummy who can't sleep in hisgrave of nights? Ha, ha! I'm not afraid of a little trifle like that,senor."

  Robledo stepped back threateningly, and yet with hesitation caused bythe perplexing simplicity of this foreigner.

  "No?... Well, senorita, we gentlemen of Seguro will gladly drink toyour American hero! Here, lads, is a toast to the maddest fool thatever came to Spain!"

  He turned contemptuously on his heel, with military precision. Then hechuckled Dolores under the chin with a leer, to have his handindignantly pushed aside. As the girl glared at him with a flash ofhatred in her eyes, he stalked into the taproom, followed by the readytopers.

  "Pile these bags on the table, Rusty," ordered Warren, as he smiledwinningly at the girl.

  "Yassir. We kin use 'em for one of these yere barracadies, if we hasto."

  "It looks as though we're booked for a warm reception in Seguro, Rusty.Doesn't it?"

  Rusty rolled those chalky optics, with an expression of mingleddrollery, apprehension, and confidence in his master's ability to leadthe battle. It is wonderful how much expression can be condensed into adark
y's eyes!

  "Yassir. It's some tropical, dat's shore. But, you-all ain't nocold-storage rooster yohself, Marse Warren. A little Kaintuckyammanition might make some echoes 'round dis confabulation."

  From the taproom came loud howls of derision from the associatedvillage sports of Seguro.

  "That ward heeler seems to be making a campaign speech, Rusty. He maybe making a few promises that he can't fulfill after he gets elected,"observed the Kentuckian, with pursed lips. "Listen to them holler!"

  Rusty looked over his shoulder, while Dolores studied these two typeswith girlish curiosity, as they chattered in their alien tongue. Shehad never seen a man unafraid of Don Robledo but his distinguishedExcellency, the Duke, before. It gave her a new thrill.

  "He's a mighty nice man, he is. Mighty nice, Marse Warren. He's almos'too nice, ain't he?"

  Warren shook his head, with a serious look on the usually laughingface.

  "No, Rusty, not too nice--yet! He'll be a lot nicer before he's tenyears older. I think his education has been neglected. You and I mustbegin to keep school around this township. There's nothing so nice aseducation, especially when the school-teacher has a nice long rattanconcealed up his sleeve!"