"They will be forthcoming, like enough, when the time comes," said Cranch; "the main thing at first was to find the girl; that was MYjob; the lawyers, I reckon, can fit the proofs and say what's wanted, later on.""But why lawyers," continued Padre Pedro, with a slight sneer he could not repress, "if the child is found and Senor Cranch is satisfied?""On account of the property.Business is business!""The property?"
Mr.Cranch pressed the back of his knife-blade on his boot, shut it up with a click, and putting it in his pocket said calmly,--"Well, I reckon the million of dollars that her father left when he died, which naturally belongs to her, will require some proof that she is his daughter."He had placed both his hands in his pockets, and turned his eyes full upon Father Pedro.The priest arose hurriedly.
"But you said nothing of this before, Senor Cranch," said he, with a gesture of indignation, turning his back quite upon Cranch, and taking a step towards the refectory.
"Why should I? I was looking after the girl, not the property,"returned Cranch, following the Padre with watchful eyes, but still keeping his careless, easy attitude.
"Ah, well! Will it be said so, think you? Eh! Bueno.What will the world think of your sacred quest, eh?" continued the Padre Pedro, forgetting himself in his excitement, but still averting his face from his companion.
"The world will look after the proofs, and I reckon not bother if the proofs are all right," replied Cranch, carelessly; "and the girl won't think the worse of me for helping her to a fortune.
Hallo! you've dropped something." He leaped to his feet, picked up the breviary which had fallen from the Padre's fingers, and returned it to him with a slight touch of gentleness that was unsuspected in the man.
The priest's dry, tremulous hand grasped the volume without acknowledgment.
"But these proofs?" he said hastily; "these proofs, Senor?""Oh, well, you'll testify to the baptism, you know.""But if I refuse; if I will have nothing to do with this thing! If I will not give my word that there is not some mistake," said the priest, working himself into a feverish indignation."That there are not slips of memory, eh? Of so many children baptized, is it possible for me to know which, eh? And if this Juanita is not your girl, eh?""Then you'll help me to find who is," said Cranch, coolly.
Father Pedro turned furiously on his tormentor.Overcome by his vigil and anxiety.He was oblivious of everything but the presence of the man who seemed to usurp the functions of his own conscience.
"Who are you, who speak thus?" he said hoarsely, advancing upon Cranch with outstretched and anathematizing fingers."Who are you, Senor Heathen, who dare to dictate to me, a Father of Holy Church?
I tell you, I will have none of this.Never! I will not.From this moment, you understand--nothing.I will never..."He stopped.The first stroke of the Angelus rang from the little tower.The first stroke of that bell before whose magic exorcism all human passions fled, the peaceful bell that had for fifty years lulled the little fold of San Carmel to prayer and rest, came to his throbbing ear.His trembling hands groped for the crucifix, carried it to his left breast; his lips moved in prayer.His eyes were turned to the cold, passionless sky, where a few faint, far-spaced stars had silently stolen to their places.The Angelus still rang, his trembling ceased, he remained motionless and rigid.
The American, who had uncovered in deference to the worshiper rather than the rite, waited patiently.The eyes of Father Pedro returned to the earth, moist as if with dew caught from above.He looked half absently at Cranch.
"Forgive me, my son," he said, in a changed voice."I am only a worn old man.I must talk with thee more of this--but not to-night--not to-night;--to-morrow--to-morrow--to-morrow."He turned slowly and appeared to glide rather than move under the trees, until the dark shadow of the Mission tower met and encompassed him.Cranch followed him with anxious eyes.Then he removed the quid of tobacco from his cheek.
"Just as I reckoned," remarked he, quite audibly."He's clean gold on the bed rock after all!"
