The Snare | Page 6

and
for the remainder of the day they abode there in various states of
nakedness, relieved by blankets and straw capotes, what time the house
was filled with the steam and stench of their drying garments. Rations
had been short of late on the Agueda, and, in addition, their weary ride
through the rain had made the men sharp-set. Abundance of food was
placed before them by the solicitude of Fernando Souza, and they
feasted, as they had not feasted for many months, upon roast kid, boiled

rice and golden maize bread, washed down by a copious supply of a
rough and not too heady wine that the discreet and discriminating
steward judged appropriate to their palates and capable of supporting
some abuse.
Akin to the treatment of the troopers in hall and kitchen, but on a
nobler scale, was the treatment of Lieutenant Butler and Cornet
O'Rourke in the dining-room. For them a well-roasted turkey took the
place of kid, and Souza went down himself to explore the cellars for a
well-sunned, time-ripened Douro table wine which he vowed - and our
dragoons agreed with him - would put the noblest Burgundy to shame;
and then with the dessert there was a Port the like of which Mr. Butler -
who was always of a nice taste in wine, and who was coming into some
knowledge of Port from his residence in the country - had never
dreamed existed.
For four and twenty hours the dragoons abode at Mr. Bearsley's quinta,
thanking God for the discomforts that had brought them to such
comfort, feasting in this land of plenty as only those can feast who have
kept a rigid Lent. Nor was this all. The benign Souza was determined
that the sojourn there of these representatives of his country's deliverers
should be a complete rest and holiday. Not for Mr. Butler to journey to
the uplands in this matter of a herd of bullocks. Fernando Souza had at
command a regiment of labourers, who were idle at this time of year,
and whom his good nature would engage on behalf of his English
guests. Let the lieutenant do no more than provide the necessary money
for the cattle, and the rest should happen as by enchantment - and
Souza himself would see to it that the price was fair and proper.
The lieutenant asked no better. He had no great opinion of himself
either as cattle dealer or cattle drover, nor did his ambitions beget in
him any desire to excel as one or the other. So he was well content that
his host should have the bullocks fetched to Regoa for him. The herd
was driven in on the following afternoon, by when the rain had ceased,
and our lieutenant had every reason to be pleased when he beheld the
solid beasts procured. Having disbursed the amount demanded - an
amount more reasonable far than he had been prepared to pay - Mr.

Butler would have set out forthwith to return to Pinhel, knowing how
urgent was the need of the division and with what impatience the
choleric General Craufurd would be awaiting him.
"Why, so you shall, so you shall," said the priestly, soothing Souza.
"But first you'll dine. There is good dinner - ah, but what good dinner! -
that I have order. And there is a wine - ah, but you shall give me news
of that wine."
Lieutenant Butler hesitated. Cornet O'Rourke watched him anxiously,
praying that he might succumb to the temptation, and attempted
suasion in the form of a murmured blessing upon Souza's hospitality.
"Sir Robert will be impatient," demurred the lieutenant.
"But half-hour," protested Souza. "What is half-hour? And in half-hour
you will have dine."
"True," ventured the cornet; "and it's the devil himself knows when we
may dine again."
"And the dinner is ready. It can be serve this instant. It shall," said
Souza with finality, and pulled the bell-rope.
Mr. Butler, never dreaming - as indeed how could he? - that Fate was
taking a hand in this business, gave way, and they sat down to dinner.
Henceforth you see him the sport of pitiless circumstance.
They dined within the half-hour, as Souza had promised, and they
dined exceedingly well. If yesterday the steward had been able without
warning of their coming to spread at short notice so excellent a feast,
conceive what had been accomplished now by preparation. Emptying
his fourth and final bumper of rich red Douro, Mr. Butler paid his host
the compliment of a sigh and pushed back his chair.
But Souza detained him, waving a hand that trembled with anxiety, and
with anxiety stamped upon his benignly rotund and shaven
countenance.

"An instant yet," he implored. "Mr. Bearsley would never pardon me
did I let you go