Botello

“ When the Portuguese would refuse, making the excuse that he did not want to displease the washerwoman, Botello would retort, calling him a booby. As the Portuguese did not understand that word, and appeared somewhat offended, Botello would make a movement as if to return the half-dollar. “Take it, take it, if you are angry with me,” the sly youth would exclaim. “My personal dignity will not allow me to accept favors from any one who looks at me in that way. You are angry, aren’t you now?” ”

“ I will attack the rebel to-morrow!"
"Your excellency is heated by anger," said Duero temperately; "or you would observe you have a follower of the rebel for a listener."
"Ay! Botello!" cried the general, with a laugh of scorn. "He will carry my counsels to Cortes when the cony carries food to the serpent, and the sick ox to the carrion crow. Hark, sirrah,—thou hast read the fate of thy master: will I attack him to-morrow?"
"Thou wilt not," said Botello, with an unmoved countenance.
"Hah!" cried Narvaez; "art thou so sure of this that thou wilt pledge thy head on the prophecy? ”

“ What juggler's trick is this? Where is the hound Narvaez?"
"Galloping back to Zempoala, to amuse himself with the dancers on the pyramid," said Botello, with a grin of saturnine delight. "He came out against Cortes, and his heart failed him in the tempest: he loves better, and so do his people, the comfort of the temple, than the strife of these tropical elements. Wo be to him who would contend with a strong man, when he hides his head from the shower! He shall vapour in the morning, but tremble when the enemy comes to him in dreams!" ”

“ His excellency did not relish this scene, and so made haste to end matters. He looked down at Botello even more angrily.
He saw a man whose face failed to betray what emotion he felt. It was like a mask, but behind the mask a mental conflict raged. Botello had made his decision now. No woman should be sacrificed to such a man as Pasqual Garabito if he could prevent it, least of all the woman he loved and who loved him.
"Bartolmeo Botello," the governor said, "it is not necessary to call witnesses, as I said before this interruption. ”

“ Thus for the space of five minutes without advantage to either, and then Botello took a step forward and began to force the fighting, his blade darting in and out like the tongue of a snake. Garabito gave ground, for he was growing weak already, and his wrist was tiring, and he was haunted by the knowing smile of Botello that expressed how this combat was to end.
"Too much high living, señor!" Botello taunted. "Already your wind is gone! Your wrist tires! ”

“ And Malpartida, his daughter clinging to his arm and wishing she dared look back, and with the duenna tripping along behind, walked across the plaza toward the governor's house, his head held high, like the grandee he was in reality.
Botello turned aside with Ruiz, not once looking in Garabito's direction, for there remained some ladies in the plaza, and it was not the proper time to settle differences or pick a quarrel. Near one end of the church wall they stood to watch men flinging the dice, Botello laughing as loud as any at the mishaps of the unlucky ones. ”

“ Botello demanded, with all trust in the native, though Ruiz held spear ready. "Quick! You have scant time to tell your story. Perchance you can die with us as becomes a brave man!"
"Die, master? You are safe—do you not understand?" ”

“ Could Señor Botello do less than defend himself when foully attacked? I knew also that Señor Botello would not speak entirely in his defense, not wishing to voice my name before you in this place, and so I made bold to speak for him."
"And have put yourself on a common level!" old Malpartida cried. "By the saints! What crime have I committed that such a daughter should be mine?"
"Am I less a good woman, my father, because I speak the truth?" she asked.
"To defend a man openly—"
"A caballero of Spain, of good blood, my father, with whom I have exchanged vows of love. ”

“ Botello whirled in time to dodge the darting weapon, though it ripped through his clothing.
"Another tatter, eh?" he cried, drawing blade in turn.
He knocked Garabito's sword arm aside, and struck his foe across the cheek with the flat of his hand.
"That for a man of your stamp!" he cried. "As foul with blade as you are with speech and in mind and actions, eh? 'Tis a disgrace to our king if you draw such sword in his cause. On guard, señor! You fight for life now!" ”

“ Hardly would he have finished lighting the first one, when a young man, twenty-four years old,—one of Pepa’s boarders also, whom I looked upon for a long time as the personification of an artist,—would burst into the room. His surname was Botello, but I never thought to inquire his Christian name. He was fine looking, of good height, wore his hair rumpled, not too long, but thick and curly, and he looked something like a mulatto—like Alexandre Dumas, with his great thick lips, mustache like Van Dyke’s, bright black eyes, and a fine, dark complexion. ”

“ Botello said.
"Trust the fray, good Bartolmeo! He can care for himself in wilderness or palace. Forget the fray, and give thanks that I have overtaken you."
"Your arrival is excellent fortune. Tarama is gone—left us to spy out the land and did not return. And I have met a native once friendly, who drew bow against me and forced me to slay him. I was beginning to fear, my friend—for some of the natives may be hostile when they find one man and one woman alone, and the pursuit must be near, and the journey is tedious for the lady." ”

“ And when the first streak of dawn scattered the jungle blackness and Tarama had not come, he arose with a heavy sigh and turned back into the cave, but tried to smile bravely when he found Inez awake and looking up at him.
Now Botello began the playing of a game, even the hardest game of all, which is for a man to keep from the woman he loves all hint of the dread he feels.
"The good native has but been delayed," he would say often. "What is another night and a day in this spot, beloved? It means more rest for you, regular food. ”

“ Botello cried, ignoring Garabito. "Harm us not until you are certain of the truth. If you displease the Great Cacique—"
The chieftain bellowed an order, and the big and dirty hand of a warrior stifled Botello's words in his throat. Another order, and Botello and Ruiz were forcibly conducted into the open air, Inez being led after them. Just outside the door they were halted, and out of the hut streamed the natives, the cacique walking between Garabito and Bonilla, and the Señorita Carlotta keeping a little in the background as one who dreads what is to come. ”

“ Botello said, laughing still. "But why should you fear his excellency's soldiers, good Rodrigo?"
"Hah! Why should I? By the saints, there is ample reason! I was not many hours behind you in quitting Antigua. His excellency deemed me too good a friend of yours to be allowed liberty. I made certain remarks, if I remember rightly, concerning his treatment of you. That gained for me a warning from his excellency's lieutenant." ”

“ Inside, Bartolmeo Botello stood against the wall with his arms folded across his breast, scorning to hold conversation with the two soldiers, who regarded him wrathfully since they were the new governor's men and had not seen much experience in the wilderness.
Then the lieutenant returned, two more guards with him.
"Conduct him to the stockade and guard him well," he ordered. "He will have his hearing within two hours, by his excellency's order. It will be plenty time enough then. His excellency dines now and cannot be disturbed." ”

“ I had often seen Botello completely fuddled, stumbling around, or falling on the floor like a block, or wild and beside himself; and I could never forget the shock it gave me, to see that handsome creature converted{92} into a beast, talking nonsense, or bellowing like a calf. Luis Portal, the man of the golden mean in self-indulgence, used to say:
“In jolly company, when there is some advantage in it, one may get a trifle elevated, but never drunk. On the contrary, you should keep cool, and try to enjoy yourself at the expense of the tipsy fellows.” ”

“ Botello was informed that, for reasons of state, his boat must be destroyed, but that he himself should ever continue to enjoy the favorable opinion of his sovereign. As an earnest of the royal favor, which was some day to exhibit itself more openly, he was appointed to an office of no great consequence, and which had also the disadvantage attached to it of a residence in the interior of the country. ”

“ Botello reminded him. "We must escape to save life—si! We must escape, also, to give the warning of this uprising, else renegades triumph and good Spaniards die. This hut stands in the center of a large clearing. Thirty feet from the door is a roaring fire. Before that door are two sturdy native guards. We cannot burrow through the walls, and there are no windows. We have neither rapier nor poniard. ”

“ What previous understanding might have existed between the enchanter and the señor Duero, he knew not; but, certain he was, Botello had predicted a speedy deliverance for all; and all were now delivered.
"I have often considered," said the novice, thoughtfully, "that the existence of magical powers, either for the purposes of prediction or enchantment, was incompatible with the known goodness and wisdom of God; for surely if the power to foresee would have added any thing to the happiness of man, God would not have denied it to men generally. ”

“ Get thee to thy horoscopes again, thy prayers and thy suffumigations; and see if thou hast not, by any mischance, overlooked some favourable moment for to-morrow, or the day after."
"It cannot be," said Botello; "my art has disclosed me no hope; but, without art, I can see that, to-morrow, the news of Montezuma's death, (for surely he is now dying,) will fill the causeways with mountaineers, and cover the lake with navigators, all coming to avenge it."
"I like thy magic better than thy mother wit," said Don Hernan, with a frown. "Give me what diabolical comfort thou canst to the soldiers ”

“ Botello and Ruiz spoke in whispers, while Inez, sitting between them, listened.
"Escape we must!" Ruiz said. "Warn De Balboa we must! Were we free now, we'd have but a few hours start of them."
"But how—" Botello asked.
"Here is where wit and strategy come in, good friend. I have studied natives somewhat. They are curious individuals. Do you stand at one side of the door, good Bartolmeo, and be ready to do your part at the proper time."
Botello stood at one side of the door. Ruiz went to the doorway and looked out. One of the native guards was asleep ”

“ I wanted no more macerated friars and spear-gashed sides. Ghirlandaio’s elegant way of telling his story had put me in the humour for something more largely intelligent, more profanely pleasing. I departed, walked across the square, and found it in the Academy, standing in a particular spot and looking up at a particular high-hung picture. It is difficult to speak adequately, perhaps even intelligibly, of Sandro Botticelli. An accomplished critic—Mr. Pater, in his Studies on the History of the Renaissance—has lately paid him the tribute of an exquisite, a supreme, curiosity. ”

“ It is probable that this is what is already being done even here now in Venice and all over the world. It would not be left to a little one like me to think of it. What an idea for the brothers at home to laugh at!"
"Some people do think these things," I admitted.
"But do not all?" asked Brother Leo, incredulously.
"No, not all," I confessed.
"Andiamo!" said Leo, rising resolutely. "Let us pray to the Madonna. What a vexation it must be to her and to all the blessed saints to watch the earth! It needs the patience of the Blessed One Himself, to bear it." ”

“ This, then, is the favor I have to ask of you, Signore. I should like to have you take Brother Leo to Venice to-morrow, and, if you have the time at your disposal, I should like you to show him the towers, the churches, the palaces, and the poor who are still so poor. I wish him to see how people spend money, both the good and the bad. I wish him to see the world. Perhaps then it will come to him as it came to me—that money is neither a curse nor a blessing in itself, but only one of God's mysteries, like the dust in a sunbeam. ”

“ Ready for all comers, and a match for them,—thinks the universal Fortitude;—no thanks to her for standing so steady, then!
But Botticelli's Fortitude is no match, it may be, for any that are coming. Worn, somewhat; and not a little weary, instead of standing ready for all comers, she is sitting,—apparently in reverie, her fingers playing restlessly and idly—nay, I think—even nervously, about the hilt of her sword.
For her battle is not to begin to-day; nor did it begin yesterday. Many a morn and eve have passed since it began—and now—is this to be the ending day of it? ”

“ It will help us to perceive how great Botticelli is in his solitary poetry, to consider two younger contemporaries, Filippino Lippi, his pupil, and Piero di Cosimo, an intelligent imitator of Leonardo, both of whom, sharing Botticelli’s discontent, also sought escape in self-assertiveness of an eccentric sort. As the modern age begins to dawn, the modern temperamental artist appears. The bottega begins to be a studio. ”