The Guide of the Desert

h the mameluco, and whom he had at once ordered to enter his tent, was

of the Mogul race. His black eyes, lively and full, his straight nose, his large mouth, his rather high cheekbones, formed a physiognomy which, with

re, respectfully saluted the marquis, and wai

marquis, kindly; "we must

owed, and se

of this tent a minute ago, did

llency," answer

doubt you rec

ed, without oth

do you thi

ur Excellenc

of whom I

think of him what you y

Don Diogo, in order to judg

the Indian, s

ich

an is a trai

lieve in treaso

kly, for 'tis a frank explana

tain

ed mameluco is quietly leading us to s

u know," answered the mar

is a sertanejos, and in the language of the

he suspicions you utte

ord, to see you s

no suspicions?"

am ce

told me nothing of it u

ould be impossible to prove wha

to fall on his breast, and re

moral certainty is founde

ppear very frivolous, if I revealed them to persons who were not forewarned;

I who, of my own accord, have asked this interview with you. T

fficient for me, even if Malco should come to affirm to y

ng to fear abou

aptain, with some animation, "I do not fear him, and he know

them; you have nothing to fear from Diaz, for the

the Indian, with astonishme

f his own accord, who ha

eave; when people have in their power a rasc

fused to renew it, or even to prolong it for some

so you could not retain him; but, under similar circumstances

ily, I had no pretext to give him,

y left us, it is because he had strong reasons for doing so, and that he has

; but who are these accompli

n smiled w

of their path," said he; "skilful as a ma

uch to know where th

ions by which he has surrounded his flight, and

ertaking anything, we

ow, my lord? I ask your pardon

rack, even if it were ever so plainly indic

the captain; "for a man accustomed as I am to trac

a movement of satisfaction, "i

nt immediate

ould bring

; but, nevertheless, I have preserved sufficient of the sagacity of the race to wh

e saddle as soon as possible, and go, for heaven's s

, and with good news; but I want you to all

, Captain; I trust

expectation, my lord," ans

it down; but, after some minutes of reflection, he abruptly rose, went out, and walke

ments by canvas sheets, ingeniously adapted, and rather resembled, for luxury and comfort,

carpet was spread on the ground, and a silver lamp, curiously chased

upied, on the entry of the marquis, in playing with a magnificent ara perched on a s

iscordant cries, leant carelessly towards the marquis, half turning in his direction with a movement full of arc

e attitude assumed by the slave, took some steps tow

Spanish, "will you please to

Se?or marquis?" answered she,

ebe, as it is not for you that I

his h

y n

journey that she has been obliged to make today-has ret

so as to make them meet; but considering, no doubt, the ridiculousness of a scen

her own house to act in her own way; only, this interview, which for some days she

ords, when a curtain was drawn asi

e, in a sharp and loud voice. "Retire, Phoebe," added she; "bu

ast a last look at the m

?a Laura, "since the slave has ret

bowed respec

fore you have deig

hat mark of condescension will abridge this int

t his lip, but

, and crossing her arms on her chest with a wearied ai

she. "Phoebe has not lied to

an old author, from the most sharpened beak than can be imagined,

rquis had been taken, not to

icans have obtained from the Andalusians. Her long deep chestnut hair fell in silky ringlets on brilliantly white shoulders; her blue and dreamy eyes seemed to reflect the azure of the sky, and were crowned by black eyebrows, the delicate outline of w

ecially at that moment when anger, suppressed and mastered with difficulty, caused her virgin bosom to palpitate, and covered her cheeks with a c

manifested, could not resist the powerful charm of a beauty so noble and pure. His look f

f I do not deceive myself, the route it is now necessary to follow is hidden in deserts into which, before us, a fe

disdain, and, interrupt

ors of this country, a refugee in the environs of Buenos Aires, from reasons of which I am ignorant, but which doubtless little concern you, rendered hospitality to a lost traveller, who, in the middle of the night, during a frightful storm, presented himself at the door of his hacienda. That traveller was you, Se?or, you, a descendant of a race not less illustrious

, Se?orita," answ

ouse to become yours, and for my father not keeping secrets from you. There was one, however, of which, notwithstanding all your skill, it was impossible for you to obtain the revelation; it is on the discovery of that secret that depended the future fortune of his family, if, as my father hoped, the king should permit him someday to return to Brazil. This secret, which my father, my brother, and myself alone knew, by what means you succeeded, if not

g, "I know your candour. It remains for me to l

and I might have been brought, if not to love you, at least to be interested in you; but, happily for me, I was not long in seeing clearly into your hea

a," exclaime

summate actor, and that it would not be my fault were I even now

he marquis the opportunity of answering, but, inst

aura s

ided proof to me of the odious scheme of which I have been the victim. If you

demand I had the honour to address to

riage ought not then in any way, and especially with regard to the rules of society to have been addressed to me, but to my father. But no! You had anot

mured he, with a

om my disappearance has plunged into the most profound despair, and to force me to follow yo

ally carried you away from your family, have I conducted myself to

of laughter; "I must admit that. But what is t

t sincere

ied, "your first word on enteri

?or

iscovered by one of my ancestors, and you wish at last to try and obtain from