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Then, the whole of the negroes employed upon the plantation having been assembled, Carlos related to the blacks the several sufferings and indignities which Alvaros had caused to be inflicted upon the members of the Montijo family, and how to him was due the death of the Senorita, his sister, whom they had all loved so well: and when he had finished his story he flogged Alvaros until the miserable wretch screamed and howled for mercy, offering the most abject excuses and apologies for his conduct, and vowing by all the saints that if Carlos would but release him he would leave Cuba, never to return; that he would surrender the Montijo estates to their rightful owner; that he would never breathe to a single living soul a syllable as to what had passed; and that he would also do a number of other unlikely, not to say impossible, things.
But of course you have; everybody knows or has heard of Montijo, the richest man in Cuba or who was until very recently; but I am afraid that his riches will never be of much use to him again. Why? Simply because the old scoundrel turns out to be hand in glove with the insurgents!
But," altering his tone from one of banter to that of concentrated anger, "let me tell you, Senor Alvaros, that Senorita Isolda Montijo is dead owing to your cruelty and for that and your other crimes retribution is about to fall on you. And this is the first part of it!" Saying which, he unbuckled Alvaros' sword, drew the weapon from its sheath, and snapped the blade across his knee.
These two possibilities were anxiously discussed over the dinner-table of the casa Montijo; and it was finally decided that on the following day steps should be taken to put the estate into a condition of defence against both parties.
There were other glasses that duplicated their splendors; through the open doors down the street, which was the one for the contemplation of the gorgeous and down the street means into the modern end of the city was the residence of the Spanish Admiral of the annihilated fleet, Montijo.
For nearly a full minute Alvaros glared at Don Hermoso, as though he could scarcely believe that he had heard aright, could scarcely credit the fact that a "rascally Cuban", as he mentally termed Montijo, had had the unparalleled, the unspeakable audacity to spurn ay, spurn was the correct word an alliance with him, Don Sebastian Alvaros, Captain in the army of His Majesty the King of Spain!
"Very well, then," exclaimed Alvaros, "if you prefer to have me for an enemy, instead of a friend and ally, be it so, Senor Montijo; I will not disappoint you. But beware! You have insulted me, and I am a man who never forgets or forgives an insult!"
Then Alvaros, who had feigned not to have recognised Jack, exclaimed: "By the by, I must not forget to tell you a most interesting item of news. Do either of you fellows happen to know, or to have heard of, a certain Don Hermoso Montijo, who owns a large tobacco plantation in the direction of Pinar del Rio?
Every Spaniard, therefore, who falls during the operations for the suppression of the present rising will be indebted to Don Hermoso Montijo for his death. But the Government is going to give him ample time in which to repent of his sins, for he and his family sail for Fernando Po on Sunday next on board the convict steamer El Maranon, in the company of several other choice miserables.
Such a description as this must inevitably lead to the reflection that charming as the Countess Montijo may have been, she was in no way peculiar or remarkable except in so far as she represented the highest type of a polished, tactful Spanish hostess, for in every civilized modern country there are women of this class who excite general admiration.
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