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Chapter 9
Fever,fever—aheavyfeverhadovertakenthe“muyvalliente”colonel.Awaveringwildnessofexpression,causedbythepassingspasmsofaslightcolicwhichhaddeclareditselfsuddenly,andtherattlingteethofrepressedpanic,hadagenuinenesswhichimpressedtheenvoy.Itwasacoldfit.Thecolonelexplainedthathewasunabletothink,tolisten,tospeak.WithanappearanceofsuperhumaneffortthecolonelgaspedoutthathewasnotinastatetoreturnasuitablereplyortoexecuteanyofhisExcellency’sorders.Butto-morrow!To-morrow!Ah!to-morrow!LethisExcellencyDonPedrobewithoutuneasiness.ThebraveEsmeraldaRegimentheldtheharbour,held—Andclosinghiseyes,herolledhisachingheadlikeahalf-deliriousinvalidundertheinquisitivestareoftheenvoy,whowasobligedtobenddownoverthehammockinordertocatchthepainfulandbrokenaccents.Meantime,ColonelSotillotrustedthathisExcellency’shumanitywouldpermitthedoctor,theEnglishdoctor,tocomeoutoftownwithhiscaseofforeignremediestoattenduponhim.HebeggedanxiouslyhisworshipthecaballeronowpresentforthegraceoflookinginashepassedtheCasaGould,andinformingtheEnglishdoctor,whowasprobablythere,thathisserviceswereimmediatelyrequiredbyColonelSotillo,lyingilloffeverintheCustomHouse.Immediately.Mosturgentlyrequired.Awaitedwithextremeimpatience.Athousandthanks.