I know--I know--but it is inevitable. Your excel-lency must see it. Even were you a Catholic, Gov-ernor Arrillaga and the President of the Missions, at least, would not dare to countenance this mar-riage without the consent of the King."
Rezanov was silent for a few minutes. In spite of the emotions of the past few days he was aston-ished at the depth and keenness of his disappoint-ment. But never yet had he failed to realize when he was beaten, nor to trim his sails without loss of precious time.
"Very well," he said. "I will go to St. Peters-burg at the earliest possible moment, obtain personal letters from the Tsar and proceed post haste to Rome and Madrid. At the same time I shall arrange for the treaty with full authority from the Tsar. Then I shall sail from Spain to Mexico and reach here as soon as may be. It will take a long while, the best part of two years; but I have your word--"
"You have," the three asserted with solemn em-phasis.
"Very well. But there is one thing more. I am not in a diplomatic humor. My Sitkans are starv-ing. I must leave here with a shipload of bread-stuffs."
Again the Governor drew up his slim soldierly figure; deposited his cigarette on the malachite ash tray. "You may be sure that we have given that momentous question our deepest consideration.
Father Abella's suggestion that we buy your com-modities for cash, and that with our Spanish dol-lars you buy again of us, did not strike me favor-ably at first, for it savored of sophistry. I may have failed in every attempt to benefit and advance this Godforsaken country, but at least I have been the honest agent of my King. But the circumstances are extraordinary. You are about to become one of us, to do our unhappy colony the greatest service that is in the power of any mortal, and personally you have inspired us with affection and respect. I have, therefore, decided that the exchange shall be made on these terms, but that your cargo shall be received by Don Jose Arguello, Commandante of the San Francisco Company, and held in trust until the formal consent of the King to the purchase shall arrive."
Rezanov glowed to his finger tips. Not even the assurance of his union with the woman of his heart, which after all had met but the skeleton of his de-sires, gave him the acute satisfaction of this sud-den fulfilment of his self-imposed mission. He dropped his own official demeanor and throwing himself across the table gripped the Governor's hand while he poured out his thanks in a voice thick with feeling, his eyes glittering with more than vic-tory. He did not lose sight of his ultimate designs and pledge himself to external friendship, but he un-wittingly conveyed the impression that Spain had that day made a friend she ill could afford to lose; and his three visitors rose well pleased with the cul-mination of the interview.
"You must stay here no longer, Rezanov," said Don Jose, as they were taking leave. "My house is now literally your own. It will be some weeks be-fore the large quantities of corn and flour and other stores you wish can be got together--for we must lay a requisition on the fertile Mission ranchos in the valleys--and you will exchange these narrow quarters for such poor comfort as my house affords --I take no denial. Concha will remain at Juan Moraga's for the present."
