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comprehension。
〃Ah； posiblemente； it is Don Ricardo Demorest you wish？〃
Mr。 Ezekiel's face and manner expressed a mingling of grateful
curiosity and some scorn at the discovery。 〃Wa'al；〃 he said；
looking around as if to take the entire Posada into his confidence；
〃way up in North Liberty； where I kem from； he was allus known as
Dick Demorest； and didn't tack any forrin titles to his name。 Et
wouldn't hev gone down there； I reckon； 'mongst free…born Merikin
citizens； no mor'n aliases would in courtand I kinder guess for
the same reason。 But folks get peart and sassy when they're way
from hum； and put on ez many airs as a buck nigger。 And so he
calls hisself Don Ricardo here； does he？〃
〃The Senor knows Don Ricardo？〃 said Mateo politely。
〃Ef you mean mewa'al； yesI should say so。 He was a partiklar
friend of a man I've known since he was knee…high to a grasshopper。〃
Ezekiel had actually never seen Demorest but once in his life。 He
would have scorned to lie； but strict accuracy was not essential
with an ignorant foreign audience。
He took up his carpet…bag。
〃I reckon I kin find his house； ef it's anyway handy。〃
But the Senor Mateo was again politely troubled。 The house of Don
Ricardo was of a truth not more than a mile distant。 It was even
possible that the Senor had observed it above a wall and vineyard
as he came into the pueblo。 But it was lateit was also dark； as
the Senor would himself perceiveand there was still to…morrow。
To…morrowah； it was always there！ Meanwhile there were beds of a
miraculous quality at the Posada； and a supper such as a caballero
might order in his own house。 Health； discretion； solicitude for
oneselfall pointed clearly to to…morrow。
What part of this speech Ezekiel understood affected him only as an
innkeeper's bid for custom； and as such to be steadily exposed and
disposed of。 With the remark that he guessed Dick Demorest's was
〃a good enough hotel for HIM；〃 and that he'd better be 〃getting
along there；〃 he walked down the steps； carpet…bag in hand； and
coolly departed； leaving Mateo pained； but smiling； on the doorstep。
〃An animal with a pig's headwithout doubt；〃 said Mateo；
sententiously。
〃Clearly a brigand with the liver of a chicken；〃 responded his
wife。
The subject of this ambiguous criticism； happily oblivious；
meantime walked doggedly back along the road the stage…coach had
just brought him。 It was badly paved and hollowed in the middle
with the worn ruts of a century of slow undeviating ox carts； and
the passage of water during the rainy season。 The low adobe houses
on each side； with bright cinnamon…colored tiles relieving their
dark…brown walls； had the regular outlines of their doors and
windows obliterated by the crumbling of years； until they looked as
if they had been afterthoughts of the builder； rudely opened by
pick and crowbar； and finished by the gentle auxiliary architecture
of birds and squirrels。 Yet these openings at times permitted
glimpses of a picturesque past in the occasional view of a lace…
edged pillow or silken counterpane； striped hangings； or dyed
Indian rugs； the flitting of a flounced petticoat or flower…covered
head； or the indolent leaning figure framed in a doorway of a man
in wide velvet trousers and crimson…barred serape； whose brown face
was partly hidden in a yellow nimbus of cigarette smoke。 Even in
the semi…darkness； Ezekiel's penetrating and impertinent eyes took
eager note of these facts with superior complacency； quite
unmindful； after the fashion of most critical travellers； of the
hideous contrast of his own long shapeless nankeen duster； his
stiff half…clerical brown straw hat； his wisp of gingham necktie；
his dusty boots； his outrageous carpet…bag； and his straggling
goat…like beard。 A few looked at him in grave； discreet wonder。
Whether they recognized in him the advent of a civilization that
was destined to supplant their own ignorant； sensuous； colorful
life with austere intelligence and rigid practical improvement； did
not appear。 He walked steadily on。 As he passed the low arched
door of the mission church and saw a faint light glimmering from
the side windows； he had indeed a weak human desire to go in and
oppose in his own person a debased and idolatrous superstition with
some happily chosen question that would necessarily make the
officiating priest and his congregation exceedingly uncomfortable。
But he resisted； partly in the hope of meeting some idolater on his
way to Benediction； and； in the guise of a stranger seeking
information； dropping a few unpalatable truths； and partly because
be could unbosom himself later to Demorest； who he was not
unwilling to believe had embraced Popery with his adoption of a
Spanish surname and title。
It had become quite dark when he reached the long wall that
enclosed Demorest's premises。 The wall itself excited his
resentment； not only as indicating an exclusiveness highly
objectionable in a man who had emigrated from a free State； but
because he； Ezekiel Corwin； had difficulty in discovering the
entrance。 When he succeeded； he found himself before an iron gate；
happily open； but savoring offensively of feudalism and tyrannical
proprietorship； and passed through and entered an avenue of trees
scarcely distinguishable in the darkness； whose mysterious shapes
and feathery plumes were unknown to him。 Numberless odors equally
vague and mysterious were heavy in the air； strange and delicate
plants rose dimly on either hand； enormous blossoms； like ghostly
faces； seemed to peer at him from the shadows。 For an instant
Ezekiel succumbed to an unprofitable sense of beauty； and
acquiesced in this reckless extravagance of Nature that was so
unlike North Liberty。 But the next moment he recovered himself；
with the reflection that it was probably unhealthy； and doggedly
approached the house。 It was a long； one…storied； structure；
apparently all roof； vine； and pillared veranda。 Every window and
door was open； the two or three grass hammocks swung emptily
between the columns； the bamboo chairs and settees were vacant； his
heavy footsteps on the floor had summoned no attendant； not even a
dog had barked as he approached the house。 It was shiftless； it
was sinfulit boded no good to the future of Demorest。
He put down his carpet…bag on the veranda and entered the broad
hall； where an old…fashioned lantern was burning on a stand。 Here；
too； the doors of the various apartments were open； and the rooms
themselves empty of occupants。 An opportunity not to be lost by
Ezekiel's inquiring mind thus offered itself。 He took the lantern
and deliberately examined the several apartments； the furniture；
the bedding； and even the small articles that were on the tables
and mantels。 When he had completed the roundincluding a corridor
opening on a dark courtyard； which he did not penetratehe
returned to the hall； and set down the lantern again。
〃Well；〃 said a voice in his own familiar vernacular； 〃I hope you
like it。〃
Ezekiel was surprised； but not disconcerted。 What he had taken
in the shadow for a bundle of serapes lying on the floor of the
veranda； was the recumbent figure of a man who now raised himself
to a sitting posture。
〃Ez to that；〃 drawled Ezekiel； with unshaken self…possession；
〃whether I like it or not ez only a question betwixt kempany
manners and truth…telling。 Beggars hadn't oughter be choosers； and
transient visitors like myself needn't allus speak their mind。 But
if you mean to signify that with every door and window open and
universal shiftlessness lying round everywhere temptin' Providence；
you ain't lucky in havin' a feller…citizen of yours drop in on ye
instead of some Mexican thief； I don't agree with yethat's all。〃
The man laughed shortly and rose up。 In spite of his careless yet
picturesque Mexican dress； Ezekiel instantly recognized Demorest。
With his usual instincts he was naturally pleased to observe that
he looked older and more careworn。 The softer； sensuous climate
had perhaps imparted a heaviness to his figure and a deliberation
to his manner that was quite unlike his own potential energy。
〃That don't tell me who you