`Six Bishops were exiled and the government troops carried out a brutal scorched earth policy in the western provinces where the Cristero rebellion had originated. But the country continued to be in such a state of anarchy that Alvaro Obregon, who was running as Caller's successor, got himself elected only by promising to amend the Constitution in favour of the Church.
`Most unfortunately, before he could take office he was shot by a fanatic. That resulted in a wave of anti clericalism and further persecutions. But the Catholic faith was so widespread and so strong that the atheists found it impossible to suppress. For over ten years a struggle for the restoration of the Church continued; then, at last, in the 1940s, President Camacho publicly admitted that he was a Catholic and brought about a compromise.
`There are still anti clerical laws in force which enable the provinces to limit the number of priests in them, forbid the wearing of clerical garb in public, curtail Catholic education and activities, and no member of the Cabinet is allowed to attend Mass while holding office. But the government recognizes the P.A.N. that is, the Partido Accion National a Catholic party that sends to the legislature delegates who are allowed to put the views of the Church to the Assembly. And ninety five per cent of the people are still practicing Catholics.
`So, you see, you are quite mistaken in thinking that the Church has lost her power. An overwhelming majority of the people would obey their priests if another Miguel Hidalgo appeared and called on them to take up arms against the government.'
At this point Bernadino, who had been talking to his son and the two younger men, broke up the party. When they went upstairs to join the girls, Adam saw that the servants had cleared the drawing room of most of its furniture. A hi fi radio was turned on, to which they danced. There was more champagne and at one o'clock silver salvers of split rolls appeared, upon which had been spread lavish portions of imported foie gras, caviare and smoked salmon. At dinner none of them had drunk more than one glass of each of the wines but, with the cocktails that had preceded the meal and champagne afterwards, they had all consumed enough to make them carefree and merry. A little before two o'clock they gaily exchanged good nights and went happily to bed.
It had been a much longer day than Adam was accustomed to; but, even so, he could not get to sleep. His mind was filled with
mental pictures of Chela swimming, dancing, gravely consulting with Don Alberuque, laughing with her friends, and eavesdropping under the bridge.
Suddenly he caught himself thinking of asking her to become is wife. He thrust the idea aside as absurd; yet it brought home to him how completely he was fascinated by her. He recalled his former resolution not to become embroiled with any woman again until, much later in life, he really felt like settling down; now he was contemplating marrying one whom he had met barely week before.
There was, of course, her intangible resemblance to Mirolitlit; which had convinced him that she was a reincarnation of the long dead Chichimec beauty. But he had seen Mirolitlit only twice and had exchanged no more than a dozen words with her and, although he had now spent several days in Chela's company, he knew about her only that she was a bundle of contradictions devout Christian who held Communist views; a rich man's daughter who indulged herself in every extravagance in spite of the distress she displayed at the poverty of the Indians; a Roman catholic who connived at the Mexican country folk continuing to worship their pagan gods; apparently a playgirl concerned, apart from her religious activities, only with the social round, yet so interested in political secrets that she would play the spy in her own family. What, he wondered, really went on behind the big, blue eyes in that narrow, but splendid, aquiline Aztec head?
As had been the case with Mirolitlit, Chela's physical attraction it him had proved so strong that he had at once felt a craving to possess her; but, still influenced by the rigid morality of his Scottish upbringing, he had instinctively assumed that an unmarried girl of her class would still be a virgin. Again his thoughts turned to asking her to marry him. That she was attracted to him both mentally and physically he felt sure. But, even if she was willing, what about her father? By British standards, Adam was now very well off, but the money he earned was a pittance compared to the great wealth of Bernadino Enriquez. He would most certainly expect his only daughter to marry another millionaire. And even if to please her he consented to the match, Adam was plagued with doubts about whether he could make Chela happy for long. She was accustomed to so much. Her clothes alone must cost a fortune and he could not count on his present success continuing. To an industrialist or the owner of a chain of
shops many ways were open by which he could retain a large part of the profits in his business, but that did not apply to authors. If
they had a bumper year they were allowed to spread their royalties for tax purposes over two years, but no more; so the government took the lion's share earned by any single best seller. Then, if future books flopped, the author could find himself back earning less than a lorry driver. If that happened, how could he possibly
maintain a wife like Chela?
Turning from side to side in the big, canopied bed, he wrestled with the problem, then endeavoured to think of other things. The conversation he had overheard between Ramon and his father had been most intriguing. Had the F.B.I. stumbled on a mare's nest or was a revolution really brewing?
If so, what section of the people was planning to attempt a coup d’etat? Certainly not the Army or the, traditionally Liberal, white collar workers. Both were too pampered to desire a change. Then it must be either the peasants or the capitalists. The former, neglected and half starved, had abundant reason to desire a different state of things; the latter bitterly resented the Socialist restrictions that prevented them from amassing still more wealth. Yet a peasant jacquerie was hardly possible. The Indians formed a brainless mass and, without leaders to inspire them, must remain impotent. The capitalists, on the other hand, had the brains to plan and the money secretly to import weapons with which to arm their workers who, promised sufficient inducements, might form a formidable army. Bernadino had warmly expressed his appreciation of the news his son had brought him and had spoken of warning `certain people' that they should guard against possible trouble. Those `people' must be other big industrialists and key men in his employ who were in the plot and prepared to lead the workers when he gave the word.
That seemed to be the answer, but it was no concern of Adam's. His concern was Chela and again his mind became absorbed by thoughts of her.
The night was thundery and the atmosphere heavy. The window of his room was wide open, but he still could not get enough air. His throat was parched and, owing to the rich spices with which some of the dishes he had eaten at dinner had been seasoned, he felt thirsty. He thought of going into the bathroom to get a drink of water, but decided not to, in case the tap water there was not safe to drink. It then occurred to him that if he went downstairs to the dining room there were several half filled decanter on the sideboard; so he could quench his thirst with a glass of wine. Afterwards he could take a walk round the garden, which would clear his head and later give him a better chance of getting: off to sleep.
Throwing back the bedclothes, he rolled out of bed, put on his dressing gown and, moving very quietly so as not to disturb other people who were asleep, tiptoed down to the ground floor. Strong moonlight coming through the tall windows enabled him to see his way without difficulty. At the bottom of the staircase he was about to turn left towards the dining room when he caught sight of a streak of light coming from a slightly ajar doorway on his right.