“So has almost everybody who had anything to do with the Mexican war — that is, who took part in Scott’s campaign. He figured there extensively, and not very creditably either. He was captain in a volunteer regiment of Mississippians — for he hails from that State; but he was oftener met with at the monté-table than in the quarters of his regiment. He had one or two affairs, that gave him the reputation of a bully. But that notoriety was not of Mexican-war origin. He had earned it before going there; and was well known among the desperadoes of New Orleans as a dangerous man.”
“What of all that?” asked the young dragoon, in a tone slightly savouring of defiance. “Who cares whether Mr Cassius Calhoun be a dangerous man, or a harmless one? Not I. He’s only the girl’s cousin, you say?”
“Something more, perhaps. I have reason to think he’s her lover.”
“Accepted, do you suppose?”
“That I can’t tell. I only know, or suspect, that he’s the favourite of the father. I have heard reasons why; given only in whispers, it is true, but too probable to be scouted. The old story — influence springing from mortgage money. Poindexter’s not so rich as he has been — else we’d never have seen him out here.”
“If the lady be as attractive as you say, I suppose we’ll have Captain Cassius out here also, before long?”
“Before long! Is that all you know about it? He is here; came along with the family, and is now residing with them. Some say he’s a partner in the planting speculation. I saw him this very morning — down in the hotel bar-room — ‘liquoring up,’ and swaggering in his old way.”
“A swarthy-complexioned man, of about thirty, with dark hair and moustaches; wearing a blue cloth frock, half military cut, and a Colt’s revolver strapped over his thigh?”
“Ay, and a bowie knife, if you had looked for it, under the breast of his coat. That’s the man.”
“He’s rather a formidable-looking fellow,” remarked the young rifleman. “If a bully, his looks don’t belie him.”
“Damn his looks!” half angrily exclaimed the dragoon. “We don’t hold commissions in Uncle Sam’s army to be scared by looks, nor bullies either. If he comes any of his bullying over me, he’ll find I’m as quick with a trigger as he.”
At that moment the bugle brayed out the call for morning parade — a ceremony observed at the little frontier fort as regularly as if a whole corps-d’armée had been present — and the three officers separating, betook themselves to their quarters to prepare their several companies for the inspection of the major in command of the cantonment.
Chapter Ten. Casa Del Corvo
The estate, or “hacienda,” known as Casa del Corvo, extended along the wooded bottom of the Leona River for more than a league, and twice that distance southwards across the contiguous prairie.
The house itself — usually, though not correctly, styled the hacienda — stood within long cannon range of Fort Inge; from which its white walls were partially visible; the remaining portion being shadowed by tall forest trees that skirted the banks of the stream.
Its site was peculiar, and no doubt chosen with a view to defence: for its foundations had been laid at a time when Indian assailants might be expected; as indeed they might be, and often are, at the present hour.
There was a curve of the river closing upon itself, like the shoe of a racehorse, or the arc of a circle, three parts complete; the chord of which, or a parallelogram traced upon it, might be taken as the ground-plan of the dwelling. Hence the name — Casa del Corvo — “the House of the Curve” (curved river).
The façade, or entrance side, fronted towards the prairie — the latter forming a noble lawn that extended to the edge of the horizon — in comparison with which an imperial park would have shrunk into the dimensions of a paddock.
The architecture of Casa del Corvo, like that of other large country mansions in Mexico, was of a style that might be termed Morisco-Mexican: being a single story in height, with a flat roof — azotea — spouted and parapeted all round; having a courtyard inside the walls, termed patio, open to the sky, with a flagged floor, a fountain, and a stone stairway leading up to the roof; a grand entrance gateway — the saguan — with a massive wooden door, thickly studded with bolt-heads; and two or three windows on each side, defended by a grille of strong iron bars, called reja. These are the chief characteristics of a Mexican hacienda; and Casa del Corvo differed but little from the type almost universal throughout the vast territories of Spanish America.
Such was the homestead that adorned the newly acquired estate of the Louisiana planter — that had become his property by purchase.
As yet no change had taken place in the exterior of the dwelling; nor much in its interior, if we except the personnel of its occupants. A physiognomy, half Anglo-Saxon, half Franco-American, presented itself in courtyard and corridor, where formerly were seen only faces of pure Spanish type; and instead of the rich sonorous language of Andalusia, was now heard the harsher guttural of a semi-Teutonic tongue — occasionally diversified by the sweeter accentuation of Creolian French.
Outside the walls of the mansion — in the village-like cluster of yucca-thatched huts which formerly gave housing to the peons and other dependants of the hacienda — the transformation was more striking. Where the tall thin vaquero, in broad-brimmed hat of black glaze, and chequered serapé, strode proudly over the sward — his spurs tinkling at every step — was now met the authoritative “overseer,” in blue jersey, or blanket coat — his whip cracking at every corner; where the red children of Azteca and Anahuac, scantily clad in tanned sheepskin, could be seen, with sad solemn aspect, lounging listlessly by their jacalés, or trotting silently along, were now heard the black sons and daughters of Ethiopia, from morn till night chattering their gay “gumbo,” or with song and dance seemingly contradicting the idea: that slavery is a heritage of unhappiness!
Was it a change for the better upon the estate of Casa del Corvo?
There was a time when the people of England would have answered — no; with a unanimity and emphasis calculated to drown all disbelief in their sincerity.
Alas, for human weakness and hypocrisy! Our long cherished sympathy with the slave proves to have been only a tissue of sheer dissembling. Led by an oligarchy — not the true aristocracy of our country: for these are too noble to have yielded to such, deep designings — but an oligarchy composed of conspiring plebs, who have smuggled themselves into the first places of power in all the four estates — guided by these prurient conspirators against the people’s rights — England has proved untrue to her creed so loudly proclaimed — truculent to the trust reposed in her by the universal acclaim, of the nations.
On a theme altogether different dwelt the thoughts of Louise Poindexter, as she flung herself into a chair in front of her dressing-glass, and directed her maid Florinda to prepare her for the reception of guests — expected soon to arrive at the hacienda.
It was the day fixed for the “house-warming,” and about an hour before the time appointed for dinner to be on the table. This might have explained a certain restlessness observable in the air of the young Creole — especially observed by Florinda; but it did not. The maid had her own thoughts about the cause of her mistress’s disquietude — as was proved by the conversation that ensued between them.
Scarce could it be called a conversation. It was more as if the young lady were thinking aloud, with her attendant acting as an echo. During all her life, the Creole had been accustomed to look upon her sable handmaid as a thing from whom it was not worth while concealing her thoughts, any more than she would from the chairs, the table, the sofa, or any other article of furniture in the apartment. There was but the difference of Florinda being a little more animated and companionable, and the advantage of her being able to give a vocal response to the observations addressed to her.
For the first ten minutes after