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Read Ebook: The Pearl of Lima: A Story of True Love by Verne Jules Wilbur Anne T Translator
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Ebook has 433 lines and 19568 words, and 9 pages
oned by one of the domestics, was promptly in attendance. The wound appeared to be a slight one; the shoulder of the mestizo had been pierced in such a manner that the steel had only glided among the flesh. In a few days, Andr? Certa might be once more upon his feet.
When Samuel was left alone with Andr?, the latter said to him:
"You would do well to wall up the gate which leads to your terrace, Master Samuel."
"What fear you, Andr??"
"I fear lest Sarah should present herself there to the contemplation of the Indians. It was not a robber who attacked me; it was a rival, from whom I have escaped but by miracle!"
Andr? Certa half raised himself on his elbow.
"Master Samuel, there is one thing which you do not enough remember, that I pay you for the hand of Sarah a hundred thousand piasters."
"Se?or," replied the Jew, with a miserly chuckle, "I remember it so well, that I am ready now to exchange this receipt for the money."
As he said this, Samuel drew from his pocket-book a paper which Andr? Certa repulsed with his hand.
"The bargain is not complete until Sarah has become my wife, and she will never be such if her hand is to be disputed by such an adversary. You know, Master Samuel, what is my object; in espousing Sarah, I wish to be the equal of this nobility which casts such scornful glances upon us."
"And you will, se?or, for you see the proudest grandees of Spain throng our saloons, around the pearl of Lima."
"Where has Sarah been this evening?"
"To the Israelitish temple, with old Ammon."
"Why should Sarah attend your religious rites?"
"I am a Jew, se?or," replied Samuel proudly, "and would Sarah be my daughter if she did not fulfill the duties of my religion?"
The old Jew remained sad and silent for several minutes. His bent brow rested on one of his withered hands. His face usually bronze, was now almost pale; beneath a brown cap appeared locks of an indescribable color. He was clad in a sort of great-coat fastened around the waist.
Amid this life of business and speculation this man fulfilled the duties of his religion with scrupulous punctuality; his daughter had been carefully instructed in the Israelitish faith and practices.
So, when the mestizo had manifested his displeasure on this subject, the old man remained mute and pensive, and Andr? Certa broke the silence, saying:
"Do you forget that the motive for which I espouse Sarah will compel her to become a convert to Catholicism? It is not my fault," added the mestizo; "but in spite of you, in spite of me, in spite of herself, it will be so."
"You are right," said the Jew sadly; "but, by the Bible, Sarah shall be a Jewess as long as she is my daughter."
At this moment the door of the chamber opened, and the major-domo of the Jew Samuel respectfully entered.
"Is the murderer arrested?" asked the old man.
"We have reason to believe he is dead!"
"Dead!" repeated Andr?, with a joyful exclamation.
"Caught between us and a company of soldiers," replied the major-domo, "he was obliged to leap over the parapet of the bridge."
"He has thrown himself into the Rimac!" exclaimed Andr?.
"And how do you know that he has not reached the shore?" asked Samuel.
"The melting of the snow has made the current rapid at that spot; besides, we stationed ourselves on each side of the river, and he did not re-appear. I have left sentinels who will pass the night in watching the banks."
"It is well," said the old man; "he has met with a just fate. Did you recognize him in his flight?"
"Perfectly, sir; it was Martin Paz, the Indian of the mountains."
"Has this man been observing Sarah for some time past?"
"I do not know," replied the servant.
"Summon old Ammon."
The major-domo withdrew.
"These Indians," said the old man, "have secret understandings among themselves; I must know whether the pursuit of this man dates from a distant period."
The duenna entered, and remained standing before her master.
"Does my daughter," asked Samuel, "know any thing of what has taken place this morning?"
"When the cries of your servants awoke me, I ran to the chamber of the se?ora, and found her almost motionless and of a mortal paleness."
"Fatality!" said Samuel; "continue," added he, seeing that the mestizo was apparently asleep.
"To my urgent inquiries as to the cause of her agitation, the se?ora would not reply; she retired without accepting my services, and I withdrew."
"Has this Indian often thrown himself in her way?"
"I do not know, master; nevertheless I have often met him in the streets of San Lazaro."
"And you have told me nothing of this?"
"He came to her assistance this evening on the Plaza-Mayor," added the old duenna.
"Her assistance! how?"
The old woman related the scene with downcast head.
"Ah! my daughter wish to kneel among these Christians!" exclaimed the Jew, angrily; "and I knew nothing of all this! You deserve that I should dismiss you."
The duenna went out of the room in confusion.
"Do you not see that the marriage should take place soon?" said Andr? Certa. "I am not asleep, Master Samuel! But I need rest, now, and I will dream of our espousals."
At these words, the old man slowly retired. Before regaining his room, he wished to assure himself of the condition of his daughter, and softly entered the chamber of Sarah.
The old man approached the bed of Sarah: he bent over her to listen. The beautiful Jewess seemed disturbed by sorrowful thoughts, and more than once the name of Martin Paz escaped her lips.
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