"The Magistrado Comes Calling"
A two weeks after the meeting with the dons in the pueblo, a lancer patrol, led by Sergeant Garcia, pulled up at the gates of Don Alfredo’s hacienda. Garcia ordered his men to dismount and walk their horses to the back of the hacienda where they could water the animals and wait in the shade. They would be waiting because the Magistrado was with them and he always stopped in to visit with the owners of the haciendas they passed while on patrol. They had visited many of the haciendas in the district in the last two weeks, most of them in the southern and eastern sections. The northern section was the last to be visited. Garcia looked through the gates and saw one of Don Alfredo’s servants approaching. The Magistrado had dismounted and was slapping some of the trail dust from his clothing.
The Indian servant opened the gate and said, "May I help you, Sergeant Garcia?"
"Sí," said Garcia. "You may let your master know that His Excellency, the Magistrado, is here and wishes to inquire if Don Alfredo will receive him."
"Oh, sí," said the servant bowing. "Please come into the courtyard while I inform Don Alfredo at once."
"Graciás," said Garcia as he took one step back and bowed to let the Magistrado go before him into the courtyard which was deeply shaded by several great oak trees. Santiago strode in, taking off his gloves and looking around while he and Garcia waited. They did not have long to wait however, as Don Alfredo came quickly.
"Señor Magistrado, it is indeed a pleasure to have you visit my home," said Don Alfredo, bowing.
Santiago bowed in return. "Graciás, Don Alfredo." Sweeping his hand to indicate the hacienda and its canopy of large, spreading oaks which gave such deep shade even in late winter, Santiago said, "Your home is magnificent. I had no idea oaks grew to such great stature in this part of California."
Looking quite proud, Don Alfredo said, "My mother planted these when she and my father married and settled this land, Excellency. They are almost fifty years old. But, please. Do come into the sala. We will have refreshments."
Santiago and Don Alfredo walked side by side into the hacienda with Sergeant Garcia trailing after. The one thing Garcia liked about these visits the Magistrado made with the patrol was that he was able to participate in the refreshments as well. There was only this hacienda and that of Don Alejandro’s which the Magistrado had not visited with the lancer patrols, and he had sampled the wines of all of them. Garcia mused for a moment as to why the Magistrado had left Don Alejandro’s hacienda until the last, since he was the most important of the landowners, but his thoughts were pleasantly interrupted by the wine which the servant handed to him. After that, he was quite occupied.
Don Alfredo and the Magistrado were seated by the great fireplace in the sala as they drank their wine. The fire crackled quietly, sending out its warmth into the room. Don Alfredo held up his glass and said "I am honored that you have come to visit me, Señor Magistrado."
Santiago smiled and sipped his wine. "Yes, I had wanted to see the land of my district first hand, and what better way than to ride with the lancer patrols and visit each rancho along the way? I have been very impressed with the land and its people," said Santiago with a smile. "I am fortunate that the Governor thought me worthy to take up this post."
"And we are fortunate to have such a man as yourself to be named as our Magistrado," said Don Alfredo. "If I may say so, the men who came before you were no better than the law breakers they were sworn to prosecute."
"Yes, I had heard that," said Santiago. "But they are gone and I am here, eh? We will make this district a safe place to raise our children and our cattle." Santiago raised his glass once again and Don Alfredo raised his. They drank. "And just how are your children and your cattle?" Santiago asked, showing a real interest. Before Don Alfredo could answer, his wife entered the sala and Santiago was introduced to Doña Florintina and the don’s four young children who shyly lined up to greet the Magistrado. For quite some minutes, the three adults spoke happily of the children and the rancho. But Santiago had an underlying reason for being here and after a time decided it was time to seek his answers.
Looking over his glass of wine, he said, "Please forgive me, Don Alfredo, but I am curious. As you might imagine, as a prosecutor, as one who is sworn to uphold the law, I am always curious when one of our own dares to break that law. You were with the Administrado, Señor Varga, only the one time before he was killed on that fateful day at the pueblo, were you not?" He did not miss the pensive look that crossed Don Alfredo’s face.
Doña Florintina took the opportunity to gather up the children and take her leave. She knew her husband’s preferences and would leave the two men to talk of such things.
"A charming woman, your wife," said Santiago watching her go. If only his own wife could, . . . would, . . . . He stopped himself. He would deal with those thoughts later. Much later.
"Sí, that is so, Your Excellency," said Don Alfredo, looking after her fondly. It was the most emotion that Santiago had ever seen the man exhibit in their short acquaintance.
"And now to return to my question, Don Alfredo. Your meeting with the Eagle," said Santiago.
Don Alfredo nodded, turning to look into the fire.
"This meeting took place at the de la Vega hacienda?" asked Santiago.
"Sí."
"If you please, tell me again why you went there," said Santiago.
Don Alfredo did not answer immediately. He did not like to relive that time. He was rather ashamed to admit the real reason he had come to the meeting. But neither would he lie to the Magistrado. He would just have to hope that he could keep from mentioning what he did not wish to admit. He looked at Garcia who was just emptying his wine glass. He also did not like discussing such matters before a soldier like Garcia. The Magistrado might be discreet, but Garcia was another matter.
Seeing where Don Alfredo’s gaze was centered, Santiago surmised part of the reason for the don’s silence. "Sergeant Garcia," he said.
Garcia straightened up and said, "Sí, Magistrado!"
"You may go and check on the lancers and wait there with them while Don Alfredo and I continue our conversation."
"Sí, Magistrado," said Garcia, as he looked reluctantly at his empty glass. No chance of it being refilled now. Sighing, he put it down and went out the door to do the Magistrado’s bidding.
Santiago turned back to Don Alfredo who was again staring at the fire. "Now, Señor, you were about to tell me why you went to the de la Vega hacienda?" He tried to maintain the attitude of one who was making conversation, not probing for information.
Swallowing, Don Alfredo said, "I had signed Don Alejandro’s list to become a member of his citizen’s army." He paused.
Seeing this nervousness, Santiago asked, "You were not entirely certain that you wanted to sign this list?"
Clenching his teeth, Don Alfredo knew he had to tell the truth now or lie to the Magistrado. He had never lied in his life and he would not start now. The Magistrado was a very perceptive man and he would surely know if Don Alfredo tried to prevaricate. Sighing, he said, "Sí. I was reluctantly convinced to sign the list."
"By Don Alejandro?"
Don Alfredo nodded and added, "And by his son, Diego."
"Don Diego?" said Santiago in surprise. "I thought he did not participate in such matters?"
Don Alfredo said, "Usually, he does not. But there are certain causes which do interest him more than his books and music from time to time."
"And what might those causes be?" asked Santiago with great interest.
Don Alfredo shrugged his shoulders and took a sip from his glass of wine. "He is a romantic. He believes in the cause of justice as an ideal. His concept of justice is found in the books of poetry which he reads, not from the reality of life."
"And you are firmly grounded in reality, I take it," smiled Santiago.
"I can see what is before me, Señor Magistrado. I do not have my head in the clouds or in books."
Santiago decided to leave the questioning concerning Don Diego, but he could begin to see possibilities in the young man as a part of his future plans. "And just what did you see before you signed the list?" he asked Don Alfredo.
"I saw lawlessness overtaking our land, Magistrado. I saw that our military seemed to be powerless to stop it. I saw our isolation from Spain and from any aid which might come from that quarter."
"Then Don Alejandro came up with this idea of the citizen’s army made up of all the dons and leading citizens?"
"Sí," said Don Alfredo.
"Why were you reluctant to sign the list? Did you not wish to defend your country, your home and your property against outlaws and traitors?"
Don Alfredo was pushed against the wall. He would have to answer. "My thoughts then were to leave California, Magistrado. I was tired of the lawlessness and strife which had come to this land. I wanted to protect my family. All of this," he gestured to include the hacienda, "all of this is worth nothing against the safety of my family." Here, he looked directly at the Magistrado.
"I can understand your sentiments, Señor," said Santiago. Inwardly, he was finding this discussion enlightening. Here was a man who was willing to give up his rancho to protect his family. Just the kind of thing he hoped to foster when he set his plan in motion. Perhaps Don Alfredo would be the first one to sell out. Bringing himself back, he said, "But Don Alejandro and his son convinced you to remain and to sign the list?"
"Yes."
"It would seem that the de la Vegas wield considerable powers of persuasion, Don Alfredo. Do you agree?" Santiago knew what he had further confirmed from the other dons whom he had visited. Don Alejandro de la Vega was a great force in this community. He was the one to whom the others turned when there was trouble.
Don Alfredo nodded. "Yes, Don Alejandro can be most persuasive," he said. "It was mainly out of respect for him that I signed the list."
Santiago probed a bit more. "Do you think there were any others who signed the list who felt as you did?"
Don Alfredo said, "I . . . am not sure what you mean, Your Excellency."
"Were there other men who might have left California but for the persuasion of Don Alejandro?" asked Santiago. If there were, he would mark them for special attention as well, he thought to himself.
"It was a dark time, Excellency. There were . . . some who may have entertained the same thoughts as I, but they signed the list and waited to see what would happen, as I did."
Santiago saw the reluctance of Don Alfredo to mention any names. He did not feel he could press the man at this point to reveal who those men might be. But he was not worried. He had time on his side. He was confident he would ferret out the information at a later time. For now though, he would shift the discussion back to the elder de la Vega. "And so all of you looked to Don Alejandro as your leader in this matter," he said, more as a statement than a question.
"Sí, Excellency," said Don Alfredo. "It was Don Alejandro who went to Monterey to place the list before the Governor and ask for official sanction for the citizen’s army as did men from many other places in California."
"Yes, I had heard about the meeting in a letter from the Governor. I was stationed in San Francisco at the time," said Santiago. "The Governor expressed to me that he had been reluctant to take that step, but with the increasing threat to the lawful government of California, he had no choice. But to continue your part of the story, Don Alfredo, what did you do after you had signed the list?"
"I went home and tried to concentrate on my work, Magistrado. What else could I do?"
"Were you aware the new Administrado had taken up residence at the de la Vega hacienda?"
"No, Magistrado. I did not know this. Not until I received the summons."
Santiago refilled his wine glass and sat back. "Who sent the summons?"
"Don Alejandro’s own servant brought the message, saying there was to be a meeting of all those who had signed the list."
"So you supposed the summons came from Don Alejandro."
"Sí."
"Continue," said Santiago, gesturing with his glass.
Don Alfredo looked down at the glass in his own hands before speaking again. "The meeting was fixed for eight o’clock in the evening. Ever since I had signed the list, I regretted letting Don Alejandro talk me into joining his army. There were more incidents which made me afraid for the safety of my family. Therefore, I came to the meeting early, intending to have Don Alejandro remove my name from the list and informing him of my decision to depart California."
Santiago sat up and leaned forward as he said, "And?" Seeing the look on Don Alfredo’s face, he leaned back in his chair and resumed a more casual demeanor. "Please excuse me, Don Alfredo. I have tried to gather as much information as I can about the traitor Varga, and to be able to speak to someone with first hand knowledge of the man is exciting."
Don Alfredo managed a small smile. "Sí, Magistrado. I will continue. I was shown into the de la Vega’s library where I did not find Don Alejandro as I expected, but only the Administrado and one of his aides. A man named Hernandez. I soon discovered I had been tricked into coming and that the Administrado was eager to find out the names of all those who had signed the list. He thought he would use me to gain that information."
"You refused him," said Santiago.
Don Alfredo drew himself up. "Of course. I am a man of honor, Your Excellency. I would never betray my friends."
"I can see this is so," said Santiago, nodding. "What kind of man was the Eagle, Don Alfredo? You were with him for some time?"
"Not so long, Magistrado, but one did not need to be long in that room to know the man wielded great power. The aid who was with him would do his bidding even to the killing of anyone the Eagle wished. Such was the power that man held over those who followed him."
"Very interesting," said Santiago. "Varga did not try to hide his purpose from you at all?" Don Alfredo shook his head no. "Then he never meant for you to leave that room alive, did he? Don Alfredo shook his head again. "Do go on, Don Alfredo. What happened then?"
"Varga turned me over to his aid, Hernandez, who tied me to a chair, and would have tortured me to try and gain the information he sought while Varga looked on. But I would have died before any one of the names passed my lips," said Don Alfredo with conviction. "However, before Hernandez could begin, there was an interruption." He paused.
"And that was . . .?" said Santiago, as he suppressed a mental sigh. Getting information from this man was excruciatingly slow.
"A man was escorted into the library. He was British. I could tell Varga was not happy to see him. They exchanged heated words. It seemed the Britisher was unhappy at the turn of events in Los Angeles. He called Señor Varga to task."
"Ah, this British Señor was one of those who would have paid Varga if he could deliver California into their hands?" said Santiago. "I have read some of the reports given to the Governor concerning foreigners coming to our land."
"Sí, it would seem so. The Britisher told Varga to release me, but Varga insisted he could not be told what to do. He also told the man there were plenty of others who would pay much money for California. The Britisher left in anger at that point."
Santiago sipped his wine again. "Interesting," he said. "After the Britisher left, what happened? You were still tied up, awaiting your fate I believe."
Don Alfredo took a deep breath and said, "Señor Varga was displeased with me. He yelled, ‘Why did you have to be here!’ as if it were my fault I had been summoned to the hacienda. I held my peace. I said nothing. Suddenly, the lights went out. Even in the dark, I could tell that Varga and Hernandez were very frightened as they were frantic to get the candle lighted once again."
"So the Eagle was afraid of the dark," laughed Santiago. "What was the cause of the light going out?"
"Zorro, Your Excellency," said Don Alfredo, with the briefest of smiles playing around his lips.
"Ah, Zorro." said Santiago, nodding. Then he looked puzzled. "But how did he get in the room without anyone seeing him?"
"I do not know, Your Excellency. All I know is one moment he was not there and the next moment he was."
"Is he a ghost?" laughed Santiago.
Don Alfredo shrugged. "Your Excellency, it is said that walls are no barrier to El Zorro. He comes and goes as he wills."
"An extraordinary ability," Santiago mused. "And quite useful I would suppose."
Don Alfredo said, "Be that as it may, Your Excellency, by the time Hernandez had found the candle to light it, Zorro was beside me, cutting my bonds with his sword. He told me to flee and I wasted no time in heeding his words."
"You expected him to face two men while you escaped?" asked Santiago with narrowed eyes.
"I was unarmed, Your Excellency," said Don Alfredo, holding up his empty hands. "I had no choice. Hernandez tried to follow me, but Zorro stopped him with a warning, saying that he would kill him if he harmed me. I ran from the hacienda and went to get my horse."
"And Zorro stayed behind?"
"Sí, Your Excellency. However, he was not able to keep both men in the library. Hernandez found me at the stable and would have killed me with a scythe, except that Sergeant Garcia found us first."
"Garcia?" said Santiago in surprise.
Don Alfredo nodded. "Sergeant Garcia drew his sword and prepared to defend me. I told him I did not want him to fight my battles, but he said that it was his fault I was there and he would take care of the man with the scythe. I took him at his word and got on my horse and left."
Santiago stroked his beard. Then he asked, "What do you think the Sergeant meant when he said it was his fault that you were there?"
"I do not know, Your Excellency. It never occurred to me to ask. As you might imagine, all I could think about was returning here and preparing for any further attacks against me or my family."
"You remained here until that fateful day when you and your citizen’s army rode to engage the Eagle and his army?"
"Sí. That day, Diego came and told me his father and Sergeant Garcia were being held prisoner by Señor Varga. It seemed Varga was even more desperate to discover the names of the members of the citizen’s army and thought to wring the names from Don Alejandro. He was also prepared to take the cuartel and the pueblo by force and thus begin his conquest of California."
"You found yourself at the head of Don Alejandro’s army then?" said Santiago.
Don Alfredo’s face grew more stern than before. "I sent my vaqueros to notify the other dons at once and we met just outside the pueblo. We could already hear the fighting in the plaza as we assembled. We were not going to leave Don Alejandro to his fate without a fight and we were also there to defend our homes and our country from a would be usurper. We charged headlong into the battle. The fighting was furious, but it was over in a short time. We were able to see our flag flying over the pueblo once again and Varga lay dead in the dust."
"And what happened with Don Diego?" asked Santiago. "I mean, while the fighting was going on, where was he?"
"I do not know, Your Excellency," said Don Alfredo. "He was not there during the fighting." Don Alfredo looked down at the floor before he spoke again. "Perhaps I should not say this, but it is well known that Don Alejandro’s son does not know how to fight. He does not know the sword or how to use firearms. I suppose he just waited until the fighting was over and then rode into town."
Santiago sipped the last of his wine and nodded to himself as he listened to Don Alfredo. This was all interesting. Extremely interesting. Don Alfredo’s perception of Diego de la Vega seemed quite consistent with the views of the other dons he had visited. Some were less tactful than Don Alfredo, calling Diego a foppish young man with winsome ways, basically useless unless you wanted a song or a glass of wine. But to his credit, none of the men Santiago had spoken with had ever said anything negative about his honesty or his good nature. Most of the men seemed to like young Diego even as they shook their heads in pity for poor Don Alejandro.
Seeing that Santiago seemed to be considering his last words overlong, Don Alfredo said, "I do not mean to imply that Don Diego is a coward, Your Excellency. It is just not his nature to fight."
Santiago smiled as he considered that it had taken quite a lot to convince Don Alfredo to fight against the Eagle instead of fleeing. Was he so different from young Diego at that? But it would not do to bring that up. So instead, he just raised his hand and said, "It is not necessary to explain, Don Alfredo. I have heard about young de la Vega from the other dons whom I have visited before you and from those about the pueblo. I understand how it is with him. I am sure, although Don Alejandro would like a son who was just like him in temperament and abilities, he loves Diego even so."
Don Alfredo nodded solemnly. In a quiet voice, he said, as he looked into the fire, "Yes, he loves the boy. Deeply. That is why he hurts so much. I know this even though he tries to hide it. He wanted Diego to come back from Spain and be the strong son that would be needed to take his place some day, both in running the rancho and being a leader of men. Don Alejandro is not a young man and Diego is his only heir. I have known Don Alejandro many years and I know that despite Diego’s failings, the father does indeed love the only son of his wife . . . almost as deeply as he loved her." Don Alfredo grew silent as he continued to gaze into the fire. He was thinking about his own wife, Florintina, and his own children. He would not fault Don Alejandro for loving his only son. He knew how much he loved his own family and what he was willing to do for them.
Santiago found it interesting that Don Alfredo found himself speaking more freely about Don Alejandro’s personal life than about his own. But that was just human nature he supposed. Setting his glass down on the table next to him, Santiago said, "Well, this has been most enlightening, Don Alfredo. But let us get back to you. What you did took great courage. Holding your silence in the face of Varga’s torturer and leading the citizen’s army into the pueblo tells me what kind of man you are, Señor. I am pleased that we have such men in the pueblo." Santiago glossed over the point that Don Alfredo had been on the verge of leaving California during that same time. But he knew the don’s story would have a prominent place in his plans. Already, he could see parts of it which he could build upon.
"Graciás," said Don Alfredo. "I was but doing what a caballero should do when called upon to defend his family, friends and country."
"Well, on behalf of the government of His Majesty, Graciás," said Santiago. He knew it would not hurt to praise the man. I would only serve to ingratiate himself further with the don.
Standing, Santiago picked up his hat and gloves as he said, "This has been a most interesting visit, Don Alfredo. Thank you for indulging my curiosity concerning your experiences with the Eagle. And now, would you care to show me around your rancho? I would like to see your holdings and your livestock. I wish to familiarize myself with the lands of all the citizens so I may better serve the community."
Don Alfredo stood and escorted the Magistrado to the door saying, "I would be most honored to show you my rancho, Your Excellency. Please give me but a moment to speak to my wife and I will be at your service."
"Graciás," said Santiago, as he put on his hat. "Oh, I wonder if you would be so good as to send one of your servants around the back and tell Sergeant Garcia I wish to speak with him?"
"At once, Your Excellency," said Don Alfredo, bowing. Then he turned and went back into the hacienda.
As Santiago waited in the courtyard, he knew the de la Vegas, the old and the young, would be the key to his plans. He had not only found out more about the Eagle today, but also more about young de la Vega’s part in the whole thing. Yes, there were many nuggets of information which he could use in formulating his final plans. Now it only remained to visit the de la Vega’s in their own home and see what information he could gain from them. He was looking forward to that visit, for there he would assess for himself the relationship between the father and the son, and to what degree he could use that strained relationship in his plans.
