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I'd hasten on to Paris。〃
And； with a volume of Meyerbeer open in his hand； Gaston hummed：
〃'Robert； Robert； toi que j'aime。' Why； Padre； I think that your library
contains none of the masses and all of the operas in the world！〃
〃I will make you a little confession；〃 said Padre Ignacio； 〃and then you
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shall give me a little absolution。〃
〃For a penance；〃 said Gaston； 〃you must play over some of these
things to me。〃
〃I suppose I could not permit myself this luxury；〃 began the Padre；
pointing to his operas； 〃and teach these to my choir； if the people had any
worldly associations with the music。 But I have reasoned that the music
cannot do them harm〃
The ringing of a bell here interrupted him。 〃In fifteen minutes；〃 he said；
〃our poor meal will be ready for you。〃 The good Padre was not quite
sincere when he spoke of a 〃poor meal。〃 While getting the aguardiente for
his guest he had given orders； and he knew how well such orders would be
carried out。 He lived alone； and generally supped simply enough； but not
even the ample table at San Fernando could surpass his own on occasions。
And this was for him indeed an occasion！
〃Your half…breeds will think I am one of themselves；〃 said Gaston；
showing his dusty clothes。 〃I am not fit to be seated with you。〃 But he did
not mean this any more than his host had meant his remark about the food。
In his pack； which an Indian had brought from his horse； he carried some
garments of civilization。 And presently； after fresh water and not a little
painstaking with brush and scarf； there came back to the Padre a young
guest whose elegance and bearing and ease of the great world were to the
exiled priest as sweet as was his traveled conversation。
They repaired to the hall and took their seats at the head of the long
table。 For the Spanish centuries of stately custom lived at Santa YsabeI del
Mar； inviolate； feudal； remote。
They were the only persons of quality present； and between
themselves and the gente de razon a space intervened。 Behind the Padre's
chair stood an Indian to waft upon him； and another stood behind the chair
of Gaston Villere。 Each of these servants wore one single white garment；
and offered the many dishes to the gente fina and refilled their glasses。 At
the lower end of the table a general attendant wafted upon mescladosthe
half…breeds。 There was meat with spices； and roasted quail； with various
cakes and other preparations of grain； also the brown fresh olives and
grapes； with several sorts of figs and plums； and preserved fruits； and
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white and red winethe white fifty years old。 Beneath the quiet shining of
candles； fresh…cut flowers leaned from vessels of old Mexican and Spanish
make。
There at one end of this feast sat the wild； pastoral； gaudy company；
speaking little over their food； and there at the other the pale Padre；
questioning his visitor about Rachel。 The mere name of a street would
bring memories crowding to his lips； and when his guest told him of a new
play he was ready with old quotations from the same author。 Alfred de
Vigny they spoke of； and Victor Hugo； whom the Padre disliked。 Long
after the dulce； or sweet dish； when it was the custom for the vaqueros and
the rest of the retainers to rise and leave the gente fina to themselves； the
host sat on in the empty hail； fondly talking to his guest of his bygone
Paris and fondly learning of the later Paris that the guest had seen。 And
thus the two lingered； exchanging their enthusiasms； while the candles
waned； and the long…haired Indians stood silent behind the chairs。
〃But we must go to my piano；〃 the host exclaimed。 For at length they
had come to a lusty difference of opinion。 The Padre； with ears critically
deaf； and with smiling； unconvinced eyes； was shaking his head； while
young Gaston sang Trovatore at him； and beat upon the table with a fork。
〃Come and convert me； then；〃 said Padre Ignacio； and he led the way。
〃Donizetti I have always admitted。 There； at least； is refinement。 If the
world has taken to this Verdi； with his street…band musicBut there； now！
Sit down and convert me。 Only don't crush my poor little Erard with
Verdi's hoofs。 I brought it when I came。 It is behind the times； too。 And； oh；
my dear boy； our organ is still worse。 So old； so old！ To get a proper one I
would sacrifice even this piano of mine in a momentonly the tinkling
thing is not worth a sou to anybody except its master。 But there！ Are you
quite comfortable？〃 And having seen to his guest's needs； and placed
spirits and cigars and an ash…tray within his reach； the Padre sat himself
comfortably in his chair to hear and expose the false doctrine of Il
Trovatore。
By midnight all of the opera that Gaston could recall had been played
and sung twice。 The convert sat in his chair no longer； but stood singing by
the piano。 The potent swing and flow of rhythms； the torrid； copious
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inspiration of the South； mastered him。 〃Verdi has grown；〃 he cried。 〃Verdi
is become a giant。〃 And he swayed to the beat of the melodies； and waved
an enthusiastic arm。 He demanded every note。 Why did not Gaston
remember it all？ But if the barkentine would arrive and bring the whole
music； then they would have it right！ And he made Gaston teach him what
words he knew。 〃'Non ti scorder；'〃 he sang〃'non ti scordar di me。' That is
genius。 But one sees how the world moves when one is out of it。 'A nostri
monti ritorneremo'； home to our mountains。 Ah； yes； there is genius
again。〃 And the exile sighed and his spirit voyaged to distant places； while
Gaston continued brilliantly with the music of the final scene。
Then the host remembered his guest。 〃I am ashamed of my
selfishness；〃 he said。 〃It is already to…morrow。〃
〃I have sat later in less good company；〃 answered the pleasant Gaston。
〃And I shall sleep all the sounder for making a convert。〃
〃You have dispensed roadside alms；〃 said the Padre； smiling； 〃and that
should win excellent dreams。〃
Thus； with courtesies more elaborate than the world has time for at the
present day； they bade each other good…night and parted； bearing their late
candles along the quiet halls of the mission。 To young Gaston in his bed
easy sleep came without waiting； and no dreams at ail。 Outside his open
window was the quiet； serene darkness； where the stars shone clear； and
tranquil perfumes hung in the cloisters。 But while the guest lay sleeping all
night in unchanged position like a child； up and down between the
oleanders went Padre Ignacio； walking until dawn。 Temptation indeed had
come over the hill and entered the cloisters。
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
III
Day showed the ocean's surface no longer glassy；