Convents -- Fiction; Spain -- History -- 19th century -- Fiction; Young women -- Spain -- Fiction
"She has not dated her letter," said Sarrion, at length.
"No, but it was written on Thursday. That is the day that the colchonero
goes to the Calle de la Dormitaleria."
He drew a strand of wool from the envelope and showed it to Sarrion.
"And the day that Mon returned to Pampeluna. He will be prompt to act. He
always has been. That is what makes him different from other men. Prompt
and restless."
Sarrion glanced across the table, as he spoke, at the face of his son,
who was also a prompt man, but withal restful, as if possessing a reserve
upon which to draw in emergency. For the restless and the uneasy are
those who have all their forces in the field.
"Do not sit up for me," said Marcos, rising. He stood and thoughtfully
emptied his glass. "I shall change my clothes," he said, "and go out.
There will be plenty of Navarrese at the Posada de los Reyes. The night
diligencias will be in before daylight. If there is any news of
importance I will wake you when I come in."
It was a dark night, and the wind roared down the bed of the Ebro. For
the spring was at hand with its wild march "solano" and hard, blue skies.
There was no moon. But Marcos had good eyes, and those whom he sought
were men who, after a long siesta, traveled or worked during half the
night.
The dust was astir on the Paseo del Ebro, where it lies four inches deep
on the broad space in front of the Posada de los Reyes where the carts
stand. There were carts here now with dim, old-fashioned lanterns, and
long teams of mules waiting patiently to be relieved of their massive
collars.
The first man he met told him that Evasio Mon must have arrived in
Saragossa at sunset, for he had passed him on the road, going at a good
pace on horseback.
From another he heard the rumour that the Carlists had torn up the line
between Pampeluna and Castéjon.
"Go to the station," this informant added. "They will tell you there,
because you are a rich man. To me they will tell nothing."
At the station he learnt that this rumour was true; and one who was in
the telegraph service gave him to understand that the Carlists had driven
the outpost back from the mouth of the Valley of the Wolf, which was now
cut off.
"He thinks I am at Torre Garda," reflected Marcos, as he returned to the
city, fighting the wind on the bridge.
Chance favoured him, for a man with tired horses stopped his carriage to
inquire if that were the Count Marcos de Sarrion. He had brought Juanita
to Saragossa in his carriage, not with Sor Teresa, but with the Mother
Superior of the school and two other pupils. He had been dismissed at the
Plaza de la Constitucion, and the ladies had taken another carriage. He
had not heard the address given to the driver.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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