Ryan Marah Ellis - The Flute of the Gods стр 16.

The other addition was as different as might be from the toughened, gambling conquistadora mere lad, who brought a letter from the hand of the Viceroy as a testimonial that the lad was a good scribe if it so happened that his sanctity the padreor his Excellency Don Ruy, should need such an addition in the new lands where their hunting camps were to be. The boy was poor but for the learning given him by the priests,his knowledge was of little save the knowledge of books. But his willingness to learn was great, and he would prove of use as a clerk or page as might be.

Padre Vicente was not present, and the cavalcade was already two days on the trail, but Don Ruy read the letter, and looked the lad over.

Your name is

Manuel Lenaresand called Chico because I am not yet so tall as I may be.

It should be Manuella because you look not yet so manlike as you may be, declared Ruy Sandoval,and laughed as the angry color swept the face of the lad. By our Lady, Ive known many a dame of high degree would trade several of her virtues for such eyes and lips! Tushboy! Have no shame to possess them since they will wear out in their own time! I can think of no service you could be to meyetI have another gentleman of the court with me holding a like officeName of the Devil:it would be a fine jest to bestow upon him a helper for the ponderous Relaciones! and Don Ruy chuckled at the thought, while the lad stood in sulky embarrassmentwilling to work, but not to be laughed at.

He was dressed as might be in the discarded garments of magnificence, well worn and visibly made over to fit his young figure. His cloak of old scarlet, too large for him, covered a patched shirt and jacket, and reached to his sandal straps of russet leather:scarce the garb of a page of the Viceregal court, yet above that of the native servant.

You areSpanish?

Again the face of the youth flushed, and he shrugged his shoulders and replaced his velvet cap with its pert cocks feather.

I have more than enough Spanish blood to send me to the Christian rack or stake if they caught me worshipping the pagan gods of my grandmother, he stated briefly, and plainly had so little hope of winning service that he was about to make his bow and depart in search of the Padre.

But the retort caught Don Ruy, and he held the lad by the shoulder and laughed.

Of all good things the saints could send, you are the best, he decidedand by that swagger Ill be safe to swear your grandsire was of the conquistadoresI thought so! Well Chico:you are engaged for the service of secretary to Maestro Diego Maria Francisco Brancadori. You work is seven days in the week except when your protector marks a saints day in red ink. On that day you will have only prayers to record, on the other days you will assist at many duties concerning a wondrous account of the adventures Don Diego hopes for in the heathen land.

Hopes for:your Excellency?

Hopes for so ardently that our comfort may rest in seeing that he meets with little of disappointment on the trail.

For one instant the big black eyes of the lad flashed a shy appreciation of Don Ruys sober words and merry smile.

For it is plain to be seen, continued that gentlemanthat if Don Diego finds nothing to make record of, your own wage will be a sad trial and expense.

I understand, your Excellency.

You will receive the perquisites of a secretary if you have indeed understanding, continued Don Ruy, but if there are no records to chronicle you will get but the pay of a page and no gifts to look for. Does it please you?

It is more than a poor lad who owns not even a bedding blanket could have hoped for, señor, and I shall earn the wage of a secretary. That of a page I could earn without leaving the streets and comfort.

Oho! And again the eyes of Don Ruy wandered over the ill garbed figure and tried to fit it to the bit of swagger and confidence.I guessed at your grandfathernow Ill have a turn at you:Is it a runaway whom I am venturing to enroll in this respectable company of sober citizens?

Your Excellency! the lad hung his head yet watched the excellency out of the corner of his eye, and took heart at the smile he sawit is indeed true there are some people I did not call upon to say farewell ere offering my services to you, but it is plain to see I carried away not any ones wealth in goods and chattals.

That is easily to be perceived, said Don Ruy and this time he did not laugh, for with all his light heart he was too true a gentleman to make sport of poverty such as may come to the best of men. By our Lady, Ive a feeling of kinship for you in that you are a runaway indeedthis note mentions the teaching of the priestsIll warrant they meant to make a monk of you.

If such hopes are with them, they must wait until I am born again, decided the lad, and again Don Ruy laughed:the lad was plainly no putty for the moulding, and there was chance of sport ahead with such a helper to Maestro Diego.

It will be my charge to see that you are not over much troubled with questions, said his employer, and handed back the letter of commendation. None need know when you were engaged for this very important work. José over there speaks Spanish as does Ysobel his wife. Tell them you are to have a bed of good quality if it be in the campand to take a blanket of my own outfit if other provisions fall short.

A muttered word of thanks was the only reply, and Don Ruy surmised that the boy was made dumb by kindness when he had braced himself for quips and cuffsknowing as he mustthat he was light of build for the road of rough adventure.

Ho!Lad of mine! he called when the youth had gone a few pacesI trust you understand that you travel with a company of selected virtues?and that you are a lucky dog to be attached to the most pious and godly tutor ever found for a boy in Spain.

It is to be called neighbor of these same virtues that I have come begging a bed on the sand when I might have slept at home on a quilt of feathers:the lads tongue had found its use again when there was chance for jest.

And

Yes:your Excellency?

As to that pagan grandmother of whom you made mention:her relationship need not be widely tooted through a horn on the journeyyet of all things vital to the honorable Maestro Diego and his Relaciones, I stand surety that not any one thing will be given so much good room on paper as the things he learns of the heathen worship of the false gods.

A nod is as good as a wink to a mule that is blind! called back the lad in high glee. Happy am I to have your excellencys permission to hold discourse with him concerning the church accursed lore of our ancestral idols!

Then he joined José and Ysobel as instructed, and gave the message as to bed and quarters. José said no word in reply, but proceeded to secure blankets, one from the camp of Don Ruy. Ysobela Mexican Indianwho had been made Christian by the padre ere she could be included in the company, was building a fire for the evening meal. Seeing that it burned indifferently the new page thrust under the twigs the fine sheet of paper containing the signature of the Viceroy.

Ysobel made an exclamation of protestbut it was too lateit had started the blaze in brave order.

Your letterif you should need itperhaps for the padre! she said.

Rest you easy, Nurse, said the lad and stretched himself to watch the supper cooked. I have no further needs in life but supper and a bed,see to it that José makes it near you own! I am in the employ of Don Ruy Sandoval for a period indefinite. And he has promisedlaugh not out loud Ysobel!that he will see to it I am not questioned as to whence or why I came to seek service under his banner!even the holy father is set aside by that promiseI tell you that laughter is not to be allowed! If you let him see that you laugh, I will beat you when we are alone, YsobelI will though you have found a dozen husbands to guard you!