"My lady knew not the pecuniary condition of Captain Bezan at this
time, and desired that this purse might be devoted to his
convenience and comfort; but she also desires that this may not be
known to him. May I trust to you, sir, in this little matter?"
"It will give me great pleasure to keep the secret, and to improve
the purse solely for the sick man's individual benefit," was the
reply.
"Thank you, sir; I see you are indeed his friend," she answered, as
she bowed low and withdrew.
Scarcely had the door closed after the visitor, before the surgeon,
turning hastily once more to the miniature he had shown, examined it
in various lights, now carefully within a part shaded by the hand,
and now as a whole, and now near to, and then at a distance.
"I more than suspected it," he exclaimed, with emphasis; "and now I
know it; that lady was Senorita Isabella Gonzales, the belle of
Havana!"
And so indeed it was. Unable longer to restrain her desire to see
him who had so infinitely served the interests of herself and her
father's house, the proud girl had smothered every adverse prompting
in her bosom, and donning her dressing-maid's attire, had thus
dressed in humble costume, stepped into a volante, and ordering the
calesaro to drive to the infantry barracks, where she knew the sick
man was, had entered as we have seen, under pretext of bringing
necessities from her pretended mistress to the wounded soldier.
Pages:
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79