书城外语加州之旅(Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch)
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第45章 INEZ AND MIGUEL(1)

应亚瑟的要求,伊内兹去请米格尔帮忙寻找米尔德里德的钱财,伊内兹跟他说米尔德里德来这儿找宝时,米格尔的反应很不寻常,他还挑拨两人的关系……

Inez found Miguel Zaloa smoking his cigarette among the orange trees.He was quite alone and looked at the girl in an expectant way as she approached.

"Oh,Miguel !"she cried."I tell you a secret.Of courseit is no secret any more,for now they all know it,up there at the house.Meeldred Travers,the girl from New York,is not Meeldred Travers.She is the child of Leighton the smuggler—she is Meeldred Leighton!"The old ranchero stood as if turned to stone,but he bit his cigarette in two and it fell unnoticed upon the ground.While Inez regarded him with disappointment,because he had exhibited no emotion at hearing the wonderful news,Miguel turned his back and mechanically walked away through a row of trees.A dozen paces distant he haltedand again stood motionless for the space of a full minute.Then he swung around and with slow,hesitating steps returned to Inez.

"You say—she—ees Meeldred Leighton?"he asked,as ifhe thought he had not heard aright.

"Of course.Don't you remember,Miguel?She say,when she used to come here,a little girl,with Leighton the great smuggler,you did know her.It was then you served Se?or Cristoval,at the big house."He nodded,his dark eyes ?xed upon her face but displaying no expression.

"Leighton is dead,"continued Inez,delighted to be ableto gossip of all she had heard."They put him in a prison an'he died.So Meeldred was ashame of her father's bad name an'call herself Travers.She is poor,an'that is why she come here asnurse,so she can ?nd the money that belong to her."Miguel suddenly seized her wrist in a powerful grip."What money?"he demanded.

"Don't;you hurt my arm!It is the money Se?or Cristoval owed her father.Take your hand away,Miguel Zaloa!"Slowly he released her.

"Where will she ?nd thees money?"he asked.

"She does not know.Perhaps it is not here at all.But there was a great heap of laces,worth much money,which Se?or Cristoval hid in the wall to keep for Leighton."Miguel laughed.He seemed suddenly to have regained his equanimitya.He began rolling another cigarette.

"They will be old,by now,thees lace,"said he.

"A lace is better when it is old,"asserted the girl.

The man paused,looked at the half—made cigarette and tossed it away.Then he glanced around to see if they were observed and taking Inez'arm—gently,this time—he led her away from the path and into a thicket of orange trees.