THE PRISON, AND THE PRISONERS.
"And before I commence my memoirs, just observe the gaolers at the
entrance of this horrible place. The poets of antiquity placed but one
Cerberus at the gate of their hell: there are many more here, however,
as you perceive. They are creatures who have lost all the feelings
of humanity, if they ever possessed any;--the most malicious of my
brethren could hardly replace one of them. But I observe that you are
looking with horror on those cells whose only furniture consists of a
wretched bed,--those fearful dungeons appear to you so many tombs. You
are reasonably astonished at the misery you behold; and you deplore
the fate of those unhappy persons whom the law restrains; still, they
are not all equally to be pitied; and I will enable you to distinguish
between them.
"To begin, in that large cell to the right are four men sleeping in
two beds; one of them is an innkeeper, accused of having poisoned a
foreigner who died suddenly the other day in his house. They assert
that the deceased owed his death to the quality of the wine he partook
of; the host maintains, that the quantity, alone, killed him: and the
accused will be believed, for the stranger was a German." "Well! who
is in the right, the innkeeper or his accusers?" said Don Cleophas.
"It is difficult to decide," replied the Devil "The wine was certainly
drugged; but, i' faith, the Baron drank so largely, that the judges may
for the nonce most conscientiously acquit a tavern-keeper of poisoning
his customer."
"His bedfellow is an assassin by profession;--not a soldier, but one of
those scoundrels who are called _Valientes_, and who for four or five
pistoles obligingly minister to all who will go to so great an expense
for the purpose of secretly ridding themselves of some one to whom they
owe an obligation. The third prisoner is a dancing-master, who has
been teaching one of his female pupils a step not usually practised
in genteel society; and the fourth is an unlucky gallant caught by
the patrole in the act of entering, by the balcony, the apartment of
a lady, whom he was about to console for the absence of her husband.
He has only to declare the charitable object of his visit, to withdraw
himself from the hands of justice; but he nobly prefers to suffer as a
robber, rather than endanger the reputation of his mistress."
"He is a model of discretion, indeed," said the Student; "but it
must be allowed that the cavaliers of Spain excel those of all
other nations in affairs of gallantry; I would bet anything that a
Frenchman, for example, would never permit himself to be hanged under
similar circumstances." "And I would back you for that," answered the
Devil; "he would rather scale the balcony of a lady, of whose favours
he could boast, in broad day-light, for the express purpose of
proclaiming her disgrace."
"In a cell near that of the four men I have just spoken of," continued
Asmodeus, "is a celebrated witch, who enjoys the reputation of doing
all impossible things. By the power of her magic, old dowagers can
find, they say, youthful admirers who will love them for their bloom;
husbands are rendered faithful to their wives; and coquettes sincerely
devoted to the rich fools who keep them: all which is, I need not tell
you, absurd enough. Her only secret is in persuading people that she
has one, and in making the most of that opinion. The Holy Office is
jealous of the poor creature, so have called her to account; and she is
likely to be burnt at the first _aúto de fé_."
"Under this cell, in a dark dungeon, lodges a young tavern
keeper."--"What! another?" cried Leandro,--"surely these people are
going to poison all the world." "Mine host, in this case," replied
Asmodeus, "will not suffer for his wine; it is for an illegal traffic
in spirits that he was arrested yesterday, at the instance of the Holy
Office also. I will explain the matter to you in a few words.
"An old soldier, having risen by his courage, or rather by his
patience, to the rank of serjeant, came to Madrid in search of
recruits, and demanded a lodging in a tavern to which he was directed
by his billet. The host told the serjeant that he certainly had spare
rooms in his house, but that he could not think of putting him into any
one of them, as they were haunted by a ghost who visited them nightly,
and most shockingly ill-treated those who had the temerity to occupy
them. The serjeant was not however to be daunted: 'Place me,' said
he, 'in any room you please; give me a light, some wine, a pipe and
tobacco, and never trouble yourself for my safety; ghosts, depend upon
it, have the highest respect for an old campaigner, whose hairs have
whitened under arms.'
"As he appeared so resolute, they showed the old soldier to a chamber,
gave him all he had required; and he began to smoke and drink at his
ease. The hour of midnight sounded, but no ghost appeared to disturb
the profound silence that reigned throughout the house; it seemed as
though the spirit did indeed respect the valiant bearing of his new
guest: but, between one and two o'clock, the wakeful sentinel was
alarmed by a horrible din, as of rattling chains, and beheld, entering
his apartment, a fearful spectre, clothed in black, and enveloped
with iron chains. Our old smoker, not in the least alarmed at this
spectacle, rose calmly from his chair, advanced towards the spirit,
drew his sword, and gave him with the flat side of it, a terrible blow
on the head.
"The phantom, unaccustomed to find such courageous tenants in his
domain, and perceiving that the soldier was preparing to repeat the
blow, fell upon his knees before him, crying out,--'Pardon, signor
serjeant; for the love of Heaven, do not kill me: have pity upon a poor
devil, who throws himself at your feet to implore your clemency. I
conjure you by St James, who, like yourself, was a valiant soldier----'
'If you would preserve your life,' interrupted the serjeant, 'tell me
who you are, and what you do here. Speak the truth,--or, by our Lady,
I will cut you in two, as the knights of old split the giants they
encountered.' At these words, the spirit, finding with whom he had to
do, saw that he had better lose no time in his explanation.
[Illustration: William kneels before the serjeant]
"'I am,' said he, 'the head-waiter of this inn; my name is William;
and I love Juanilla, the only daughter of the landlord, and I do not
love without return; but as her parents have a better match in view,
my sweetheart and myself have arranged that, in order to compel them
to choose me for their son-in-law, I shall nightly disguise myself
in this manner. I clothe myself in a long black cloak, and put the
jack-chain round my neck; and, thus equipped, I go about the house,
from the cellar to the garret, making all the noise I can, of which
you have heard a specimen. When I arrive at the door of my master and
mistress's bed-room, I rattle my chains, and cry loud enough for them
to hear,--"Hope not to rest in peace, until you have married Juanilla
to your head-waiter, William!"'
"'After having pronounced these words in a hoarse and broken voice,
I continue my clatter, and vanish by a window into the chamber where
Juanilla sleeps alone, to inform her of what I have done. And now,
signor serjeant, you may be assured that I have told you the whole
truth. I know that after this confession you may ruin me, by informing
my master of the affair; but if, instead of thus injuring me, you are
inclined to serve me, I swear that my gratitude----' 'Ah!' interrupted
the soldier, 'what service can you hope from me?' 'You have only in the
morning,' replied the young man, 'to say that you have seen the ghost,
and that it has so terribly frightened you,----' 'What, the deuce!
frightened me!' again interrupted the old warrior; 'do you expect
that Serjeant Hannibal Antonio Quebrantador is going to say that he
was frightened? I would rather say that a hundred thousand devils had
me----' 'That is not absolutely necessary,' in his turn interrupted
William; 'and after all, it is of no great consequence what you say,
provided that you but assist me in my design: only let me marry
Juanilla, and see myself established by the assistance of her father,
and I promise to keep open house for you and all your friends.'
"'You are a regular seducer, master William,' cried the soldier; 'you
want to join me in a downright cheat: the matter may be serious,
and you take it so lightly, as to make me, even, tremble for the
consequences. But away with you! continue your infernal noise, and go
to Juanilla to render your account: I will manage the rest.'
[Illustration: the serjeant speaks to his host and hostess]
"Accordingly, on the following morning, the serjeant said to his
host and hostess: 'Well! I have seen the ghost, conversed with it,
and found it very civil and reasonable.' "I am," said he to me, "the
great-great-grandfather of the master of this house. I had a daughter,
whom I solemnly promised to the father of master William's grandfather:
nevertheless, despite my pledge, I gave her hand to another, and died
shortly afterwards. Ever since then, I have remained in purgatory,
suffering for this perjury; and I shall continue in torment until
some one of my descendants has married into the family of the head
waiter. To accomplish this, I come here nightly; but it is in vain
that I command them to unite Juanilla and young William,--the son of
my grandchild turns a deaf ear to my entreaties, as well as his wife;
but tell them, if you please, signor serjeant, that if they do not as
I desire of them soon, I shall come to extremities with them, and will
plague them both in a way they little dream of."'
"The host, who is simple enough, was somewhat shaken by this discourse;
but the hostess, still more silly than her husband, was so much
affected by it, that she fancied she already saw the ghost at her
heels, and at once consented to the match, which took place on the
following day. William shortly afterwards took an inn in another
part of the town, and serjeant Quebrantador failed not to visit him
frequently. The new tavern-keeper at first, out of gratitude, filled
him with wine at discretion; which so pleased the old moustache, that
he took all his friends to the house: he even there enrolled his
recruits, and made them drunk at the host's expense.
"At last, therefore, master William became tired of constantly wetting
so many parching throats; but, on communicating his ideas upon the
subject to the serjeant, the latter, with a disregard of his own
infraction of their treaty which would have fitted him to command an
army, was unjust enough to accuse mine host of ingratitude. William
replied, the other rejoined, and the conversation ended, as their
first had begun, with a blow of the serjeant's long sword on the thick
head of the unfortunate tavern-keeper. Some passers-by naturally
sided with the civilian: of these Quebrantador wounded three or four;
and his wrath was yet unsatisfied, when he was suddenly assailed
by a host of archers, who arrested him as a disturber of the peace.
They conducted him to prison, where he declared all that I have told
you; and upon his deposition the ex-head-waiter was encaged also. His
father-in-law demands a divorce; and the Holy Office, hearing that
William has acquired some considerable property, has kindly undertaken
to investigate the matter."
[Illustration: the serjeant is restrained from attacking William]
"Egad!" cried Don Cleophas, "our holy inquisition is ever alive to its
interests. No sooner do they light upon a profitable----" "Softly!"
interrupted the devil, "have a care how you launch out against that
tribunal:--for it, the very walls have ears. They echo even words that
the mouth has never spoken; and for myself, I hardly dare to mention it
without trembling."
"Over the unfortunate William, in the first chamber to the left,
are two men worthy of your pity; one of them is a youthful valet,
whom his master's wife privately indulged with the use of more than
her husband's clothes. One day, however, the husband surprised them
together; when the lady immediately began crying out for help, and
accused the valet of having violated her person. The poor fellow was
arrested, of course; and, according to appearances, will be sacrificed
to his mistress's reputation. His companion, still less guilty than the
valet, is also about to pay the forfeit of his life. He was footman to
a duchess who has been robbed of a valuable diamond, which they accuse
him of having taken. He will be to-morrow put to the torture, until the
rack wrings from him a confession of the theft; and in the meanwhile
the lady's maid, who is the real culprit, and whom no one dares to
suspect, will moralise with the duchess on the depravity of modern
servants."
"Ah! Signor Asmodeus," said Leandro, "let not the wretched footman
perish, I entreat you! His innocence interests me for his life. Save
him, by your power, from the unjust and cruel torture they would
inflict: he deserves----" "You cannot expect it, Signor Student!"
interrupted the demon. "What! do you suppose that I would prevent
injustice?--that I would snatch the guiltless from destruction? As well
might you pray an attorney to desist from the ruin of the widow or the
orphan!"
"Oh! and it please you," added the Devil, "expect not of me that which
is contrary to my interest, unless indeed it be of great advantage
to yourself. Besides, were I willing to deliver yonder prisoner from
bondage, how could I effect it?" "How!" repeated Zambullo, "do you mean
to say that you have not the power so to do?" "Certainly," replied the
Cripple. "Had you read the Enchiridion, or Albertus Magnus, you would
know that neither I, nor any of my brethren, can liberate a prisoner
from his cell: even I, were I so unfortunate as to be within the talons
of the law, could only hope to escape by bribing my jailer, or my
judges.
"In the next room, on the same side, lodges a surgeon convicted of
having, in a fit of jealousy, drained the warm blood which wantoned in
the veins of his handsome wife, after the model of the death of Seneca.
He was yesterday tenderly questioned on the rack; and having confessed
the crime of which he was accused, he let out the secrets of his
profession, by detailing a very novel and interesting mode which he had
especially adopted for increasing his practice. He stated that he had
been in the habit of wounding persons in the street with a bayonet, and
of then lancing himself into his house by a back-door. Of course the
patient used to call out lustily at this unexpected operation; and as
the neighbours flocked around at his cries, the surgeon, mingling with
the crowd, and finding a man bathed in his blood, very charitably had
him carried to his shop, and dressed the wound with the same hand that
had given it.
"Although the rascally practitioner has confessed to this atrocity,
for which a thousand deaths were not one too many, he still hopes that
his life will be spared; and it is not improbable that it may be so,
seeing that he is related to the lady who has the honour of clouting
the little princes of Spain: besides which, he is the inventor of a
marvellous wash, of which the secret would die with him, and which
has the virtues of whitening the skin, and of giving to the wrinkled
front the juvenile appearance of fifteen. Now, as this incomparable
water serves as the fountain of youth to three ladies of the palace,
who have united their efforts to save him, he relies so confidently on
their credit at court, or rather on that of his wash, that he sleeps
tranquilly in the soothing hope that he will awaken to the agreeable
intelligence of his pardon."
"I perceive, upon a bed in the same room," said the Student, "another
man, who appears to me to be sleeping peaceably enough; his business
is not a very bad one, I expect." "It is a very ticklish affair,
though," replied the Demon. "That cavalier is a gentleman of Biscay,
who has enriched himself by the fire of a carbine: I will tell you
how. About a fortnight ago, shooting in a forest with his elder and
only brother, who was in possession of a large estate, he killed him,
by mistake, instead of a partridge." "A very lucky mistake, that,"
cried Don Cleophas, laughing, "for a younger son." "Yes," replied
Asmodeus: "but a collateral branch of the family, the members of which
would have no objection to see the deceased's estate fall within their
line, have disinterestedly prosecuted his murderer on the charge of
having designedly shot him, that he might succeed to his property.
The accused, however, immediately rendered himself into the hands of
justice; and he appears to be so deeply afflicted by the death of his
brother, that they can scarcely imagine him guilty of deliberately
taking his life." "And has he really nothing with which to reproach
himself, beyond his fatal awkwardness?" asked Leandro. "No," replied
Asmodeus; "his design was innocent enough; but when an elder son is
in possession of all the wealth of his family, I should certainly not
advise him to make a shooting-party in company with his younger brother.
"Observe attentively those two youths who, in a retreat near to that
of the fatal shot, are conversing as merrily as though they were at
liberty. They are a pair of veritable _picaros;_ and there is one,
especially, who may some day amuse the public with one of those details
of roguery which never fail to delight it. He is a modern Guzman
d'Alfarache: it is he who wears the brown velvet vest, and has a plume
of feathers in his hat.
"Not three months since, in this very town, he was page to the Count
d'Onato; and he would still have been in the suite of that nobleman
but for a little piece of rascality, which gained for him his present
lodging, and which I will narrate to you.
"One day, this youth, whose name is Domingo, received a hundred
lashes, which the Count's intendant, otherwise governor of the pages,
directed to be bestowed on him as a reward for some trick which
appeared to deserve it. Domingo was, however, impatient under such
a load of obligation; and so, proudly resolved to return it on the
first opportunity. He had remarked more than once that the Signor Don
Como, as the intendant styled himself, delighted to wash his hands
with orange-flower water, and to anoint himself with pastes redolent
of the pink or jessamine; that he was more careful of his person than
an old coquette, and that, in short, he was one of those coxcombs who
imagine that no woman of taste can behold them without loving them.
These observations inspired Domingo with a scheme for revenge, which he
communicated to a young waiting-woman who resided in the neighbourhood,
whose assistance he required for the execution of his project, and in
whose favour he stood so high that she had none left to grant him.
"This damsel, called Floretta, in order to have the pleasure of an
unrestrained intercourse with the page, introduced him as her cousin
into the house of Donna Luziana, her mistress, whose father was at that
time absent from Madrid. The cunning Domingo, after having informed his
pretended relative of her part in his design, going one morning into
the apartment of Don Como, found my gentleman trying on a new dress,
looking with complacency at his figure in a mirror, and evidently by no
means displeased with its reflection. The page affected to be struck
with admiration of this Narcissus, and exclaimed, in well-feigned
transport: 'Upon my honour, Signor Don Como, you have the air of
royalty itself. I see, daily, nobles richly clad; but notwithstanding
the elegance and splendour of their vestments, I discern in none that
dignity of mien which distinguishes you. I will not assert,' added he,
'that with the respect I have for you, I may not regard you with eyes
somewhat prepossessed in your favour; but this I can say, that I know
of no cavalier at court whom you would not totally eclipse.'
"The intendant smiled at this discourse, which offered so agreeable
a tribute to his vanity, and graciously replied:--'You flatter me,
my friend; or rather, as you say, you esteem me so highly, that your
friendship endows me with graces that nature has refused.' 'I cannot
think so,' replied the parasite; 'for there is no one who does not
speak of you in terms which I dare not repeat, lest you should think
I flattered you indeed. I wish you had heard what was said to me
yesterday by one of my cousins, who is in the service of a lady of
quality.'
"Don Como failed not to ask what it was that Domingo's cousin had
said of him. 'Why,' replied the page, 'I ought hardly to tell you; but
she enlarged on the majesty of your figure,--on the charms which are
everywhere visible in your person; and, what is better, she told me, in
confidence, that the greatest delight of Donna Luziana, her mistress,
is to watch for your passing her house, and to feast her eyes with
beholding you.'
[Illustration: The page flattering Don Como]
"'And who is this lady?' said the intendant,--'where does she live?'
'What!' replied Domingo; 'do you not know the only daughter of general
Don Fernando, our neighbour?' 'Ah! to be sure I do,' replied Don Como:
'I remember to have frequently heard of the wealth and surpassing
beauty of this Luziana; she is not to be despised. But is it possible
that I can have attracted her attention?' 'Can you doubt it?' exclaimed
the page. 'Besides, my own cousin told me of the fact; and, though in a
humble situation, she is incapable of falsehood, and I would answer for
her word with my life.' 'In that case,' said the intendant, 'I should
be glad to have a little private conversation with your relative, to
engage her in my interest by the customary trifling presents to which
her situation entitles her; and if she should advise me to pay court to
her mistress, egad! I'll try my fortune. And why not? It is true that
there is some difference between my rank and that of Don Fernando; but
still I am a gentleman, and have a good four hundred ducats per annum.
There are more extraordinary matches than this made every day.'
"The page fortified his governor in his resolution, and procured for
him an interview with his cousin; who, finding the intendant disposed
to swallow anything, assured him of her mistress's inclination in his
favour. 'You have no idea,' said she, 'how often Luziana has questioned
me as to the handsome cavalier who had made such an impression on her
heart; and you may be sure that my replies were neither unpleasing to
her, nor unfavourable to you: in short, Signor, she loves you; and you
have everything to hope from her affection. Seek then her hand, openly
and without hesitation; justify her secret passion, by showing that she
loves a cavalier, not only the most charming and well-made, but the
most gallant, of all Madrid. Give her, in serenades, the delightful
assurance that your heart responds to hers; and rely on me to picture
your devotion in the most pleasing colours,--an office as agreeable to
myself as I hope it will be useful to you.' Don Como, transported with
joy at finding the maid so warmly disposed to serve him, almost stifled
her with his caresses; and, placing a worthless ring upon her finger,
which he had liberally purchased of a Jew, and which had served the
same purpose fifty times, he exclaimed,--'Dearest Floretta! accept this
ring as an earnest of my gratitude, until I have an opportunity of more
worthily recompensing the favours you are about to shower on me.'
"Never was lover in greater ecstacy than was our intendant at the
result of his conversation with Floretta; and as he was indebted to
Domingo for this happiness, the page not only received his thanks, but
was rewarded by the magnificent present of a pair of silk stockings,
some shirts trimmed with lace, and a promise of the Signor's losing no
opportunity which might offer for promoting his interests. 'My dear
friend,' said he, on leaving Floretta, 'what is your opinion of the
steps I should take in this matter? Do you think I should commence with
an impassioned and sublime epistle to my Luziana?' 'Decidedly,' replied
the page. 'Make her a declaration of your love in fitting terms: I
have a presentiment that it will not be badly received.' 'Well! I
think so too,' replied the intendant; 'at all events, I will try the
experiment.' Accordingly, down he sat to compose the missive; and after
having torn in pieces at least fifty scrawls, which would have made
the fortune of a German romancist, he at last succeeded in composing
a billet-doux which satisfied his scruples. It was conceived in the
following grandiloquent and affecting terms:--
"'Months have rolled like centuries, oh! lovely Luziana, since,
inspired by the renown which everywhere proclaims your perfections,
my too-sensible soul has yielded to the flames of love, to burn for
you alone! My heart consumed in secret, a willing prey to the fires
that devoured me; and I never dared proclaim my sufferings to you,
much less to seek for consolation. But a happy chance has recently
revealed the soothing secret that, from behind the jealous screen
which conceals your celestial charms from the eyes of men, you
sometimes deign to look with pity on me as I pass;--that, directed by
the divinity who guards you, and the destiny of your star,--oh, happy
star for me!--you even think of me with kindness. I hasten then in all
humility to consecrate my life unto your service; and should I be so
fortunate as to obtain permission so to do, to renounce in your favour
all ladies past, or present, or to come.
"'DON COMO DE LA HIGUERA.'
"Domingo and Floretta were not a little amused, on the receipt of this
letter, at the expense of the poor intendant. But, not contented with
the folly they had already induced him to commit, they set their wits
to work to compose an answer to the billet which should be sufficiently
tender. This done, it was copied by Floretta, and delivered by the page
on the following day to Don Como. It was in these words:--
"'I know not who can have so well informed you of my secret
sentiments. Some one has however betrayed me. Still, I pardon the
treachery, since, to it I owe an avowal of your love. I see many pass
before my window, but I look with pleasure upon you alone; and I am
too happy to find that I am dear to you. Perhaps I am wrong to feel
this delight, and still more wrong to dare to tell you so. If it be a
fault in me, your virtues have caused, and must excuse it.
"'DONNA LUZIANA.'
"Although this letter was rather too warm for the daughter of a
Spanish general, as its authors had not thought much about ceremony,
the presumptuous Don Como received it without suspicion. He thought
sufficiently well of himself to imagine that for him a lady might well
forget somewhat of the usages of society. 'Ah! Domingo,' he cried,
with an air of triumph, after having read the letter aloud, 'you see,
my friend, that the fish bites. Congratulate me! I shall soon be
son-in-law to Don Fernando, or my name's not Don Como de la Higuera.'
"'It is beyond a doubt,' said the rascally confidant; 'you seem to have
made a tremendous impression on the girl. But, à-propos,' added he, 'I
must not forget to tell you that my cousin particularly desired me to
say, that to-morrow, at latest, you should serenade your mistress, in
order to complete her infatuation.' 'I will on no account omit it,'
replied the intendant. 'You may assure your cousin that I will in all
things follow her advice; and that to-morrow, without fail, in the
middle of the night, the street shall resound with one of the most
gallant concerts that was ever heard in Madrid.' And away went the
intendant to secure the assistance of a celebrated musician, to whom
he communicated his project, and whom he charged with the care of its
execution.
"In the meanwhile, Floretta, informed of the intended serenade, and
finding her mistress in a desirable mood, said to her,--'Madam, I am
preparing for you an agreeable diversion.' 'What may that be?' asked
Luziana. 'Why,' replied the waiting-maid, laughing until the tears ran
from her eyes, 'there is much to amuse you. An original, one Don Como,
governor of the pages of the Count d'Onato, has taken it into his head
to choose you as the sovereign lady of his thoughts; and he intends,
to-morrow, in order that you may no longer remain ignorant of his
devotion, to gratify you with the sound of music and sweet voices, in
an evening serenade.' Donna Luziana, whose composition was none of the
most grave, and who was far from foreseeing an unpleasant consequence
to her in the gallantries of the intendant, instead of regarding the
matter seriously, was delighted at the anticipated tribute to her
charms; and thus, without knowing what she did, assisted in confirming
the amorous Don Como in an illusion, of which it would have shocked her
greatly to have been supposed designedly the author.
"The night came, and with it appeared, before the balcony of the
lady, two carriages, from which descended the gallant Como and his
confidant, accompanied by six musicians, vocal and instrumental, who
commenced a very decent concert, which lasted for a considerable time.
They performed many of the newest airs, and sang all the songs in
vogue whose verses told the power of love in uniting hearts despite
the obstacles of fortune, and the inequality of rank; while at every
couplet, which the general's daughter perceived to be directed to
herself, her merriment knew no bounds.
"When the serenade was over, and the performers had departed in the
carriages which brought them, the crowd which the music had attracted
dispersed, and our lover remained in the street with Domingo alone. He
approached the balcony, whence, in a few minutes, the servant-girl,
with her mistress's permission, said to him in a feigned voice: 'Is
that you, Signor Don Como?' 'Who asks me that question?' replied the
Don in a languishing tone. 'It is,' rejoined the girl, 'Donna Luziana,
who would know if the concert she has heard but now, is an offering of
your gallantry to her.' 'It is,' exclaimed the intendant, 'but a shadow
of those festivals my love prepares for her who is the marvel of our
days, if she will deign receive them from a lover who is sacrificed on
the altar of her beauty.'
"At this brilliant metaphor, Luziana with difficulty restrained her
laughter; but, coming forward and putting her head partially out of
the little window from which her maid had addressed him, she said to
the intendant, as seriously as possible: 'Signor Don Como, you are, I
perceive, no novice in the art of love; in you, each gallant cavalier
who would gain his lady's heart, may find a model for his conduct. I
thank you for your serenade, and feel flattered by your attention;
but,' added she, 'retire now, lest we should be observed; another time
we may, unrestrained, indulge in further conversation.' As she finished
these words, she closed the window, leaving the intendant in the
street, highly delighted at the kindness she had displayed for him, and
the page greatly astonished that the lady had herself undertaken a part
in the comedy.
"This little fête, including the carriages and the enormous quantity
of wine which its bibulous performers had consumed, cost Don Como
upwards of a hundred ducats; and, two days afterwards, his confidant
engaged him in a further outlay, in the following manner. Having
learned that, on the night of St. John,--a night so celebrated in this
city,--Floretta was about to join the damsels of her class at the
_fiesta del sotillo_, Domingo undertook to enliven this dance by a
magnificent breakfast at the intendant's expense.
[Illustration: Don Como serenades Luziana]
"'Accordingly, Signor Don Como,' said he, on the eve of this festival,
'you are aware of what takes place to-morrow. I thought, however, you
would like to be informed that Donna Luziana intends to repair at break
of day to the banks of the Mançanarez, to witness the _sotillo_. I need
say no more to the Corypheus of gallant cavaliers;--you are not the man
to neglect so favourable an opportunity, and I am certain that your
mistress and her companions will not fare badly to-morrow.' 'Of that
you may be sure,' replied the governor, 'and I am obliged to you for
informing me of her intention: you shall see if I know how to kick the
ball as it bounds.' In effect, very early on the following day, four
of the Count's servants, conducted by Domingo, and loaded with every
description of cold meat, cooked in all fashions, with an infinite
number of small loaves and bottles of delicious wines, arrived on the
bank of the river, where Floretta and her companions were dancing, like
nymphs before the golden throne of Aurora.
"Had that goddess herself appeared, she would hardly have been more
cordially greeted than were the wines and cold collation which the page
brought on the part of Don Como; offering, as they did, so agreeable
a repast after the delightful fatigues of the dance, which they so
agreeably interrupted. The damsels seated themselves on the velvet turf
of the meadow, and lost no time in paying due honour to the feast, the
while laughing immoderately at the dupe who gave it; for Domingo's kind
cousin had not omitted to inform them of their benefactor, and his
amorous adventure.
"While they were in the midst of their rejoicing and their breakfast,
they perceived the squire, richly dressed, and mounted on one of the
Count's steeds, which was ambling towards them. He rode up to his
confidant, and gaily saluted the ladies, who rose at his approach,
and politely thanked him for his generosity. His eyes wandered among
the company in search of Donna Luziana, as he was anxious to deliver
himself of a speech, glittering with compliments as the sward beneath
his horse's feet with flowers, and which he had composed during his
ride in honour of his mistress. Great therefore was his grief, when
Floretta, taking him aside, informed him that a slight indisposition
had prevented her lady from joining in the festival. The Don, with
a proper display of sensibility on the occasion, was particular in
his inquiries as to the ailment; but when the girl informed him that
Luziana suffered from a cold, caught on the previous night from
exposure in the balcony without her veil, talking of him and of his
serenade, he was not without consolation to find so sad an accident
proceeded from a cause so good. He therefore contented himself with
the usual expressions of condolence; and, after praying Floretta to
continue to interest herself in his behalf with his mistress, took the
road to his dwelling, rejoicing more and more at his great good fortune.
[Illustration: Don Como at the _sotillo_]
"About this time, the intendant received a bill of exchange for a
thousand crowns from Andalusia, as his portion of the effects of one of
his uncles, who had died at Seville. On turning this bill into cash,
he happened to count it over and place it in a coffer in the presence
of Domingo, who took so lively an interest in the operation, that, in
order to repeat it, he was tempted to appropriate, if possible, the
shining gold; and resolved, if successful in so doing, to escape with
it into Portugal. He related his project in confidence to Floretta,
and even proposed to her that she should accompany him. Now this
proposition was undoubtedly one which most people would think worthy
of reflection; but the girl, as interested in the matter as the page,
accepted it without a moment's hesitation. Consequently, one night,
while the intendant was labouring in his cabinet to compose a touching
letter to his mistress, Domingo found means to open the coffer in which
the money was confined, to release it from its captivity, and to hasten
with the enfranchised crowns into the street. He instantly repaired
to the balcony of Luziana, and, as a signal which had been agreed
upon between him and his confederate, commenced a caterwauling, which
disturbed the gravity of all the tabbies in the neighbourhood. The
girl, ready to wander with him through the world, promptly responded to
the amatory call; and in a few minutes they were on the high road from
Madrid, together.
"They reckoned that, in the event of pursuit, they would have plenty of
time to gain the frontiers of Portugal before they could be overtaken;
but, unfortunately for them, Don Como discovered the theft, and the
flight of his confidant that very night. He gave immediate information
to the police, whose officers were without loss of time dispersed on
all sides in pursuit of the fugitives, and Domingo was taken, near
Zebreros, in company with his lady. They were quickly brought back
to Madrid: the girl has been sent to join our friend Marcella in _las
Arrepentidas_, and Domingo is, as you perceive, as gay as ever within
the walls of this prison."
"And the intendant," added Don Cleophas, "has saved his golden crowns;
as of course they have been restored to him." "Of course they have
not," replied the Devil: "the thousand pieces are the proof of the
robbery, and the officers of justice understand their business too
well to give them up; so that Don Como, whose loving history is spread
throughout Madrid, has lost his money and his mistress, and is laughed
at by everybody into the bargain."
"Domingo and his fellow-prisoner have for a neighbour," continued the
Cripple, "a young Castilian who has been arrested for having, in the
presence of too many witnesses, struck his father." "Oh heaven!" cried
Leandro, "is it possible? Lives there a child, however lost to shame,
who can raise his impious hand against a father?" "Oh yes," said the
Demon: "yon Castilian is not without example; and I will cite you one
whose history is rather remarkable. Under the reign of Don Pedro I.,
surnamed the Just and the Cruel, the eighth king of Portugal, a youth
of twenty fell into the hands of justice for the same crime. Don Pedro,
as much surprised as yourself at the novelty of the case, was curious
to interrogate the mother of the criminal, and he examined her so
adroitly as to obtain from her a confession, that the real father of
this child was a certain reverend prelate. If the Castilian's judges
were discreet enough to interrogate his mother with equal address, it
is probable that it would be attended with a similar avowal.
"Cast your eyes into a large dungeon beneath the prisoners I have just
pointed out to you, and observe what is passing there. Do you see
those three ill-looking rascals? They are highwaymen. See! they are
effecting their escape. Some one has furnished them with a dumb-file
in a loaf of bread; and they have already cut through one of the thick
bars of a window, by which they may gain the court-yard, and from
thence the street. They have been more than ten months in prison, and
it is upwards of eight since they should have received the public
recompense due to their exploits; but, thanks to the tardiness of
justice, they are about to begin again their career of robbery and
murder.
[Illustration: a prisoner being beaten up by his fellow inmates]
"And now look into that low roofed cell where you perceive twenty
or thirty men, some of them stretched upon straw. They are mostly
pickpockets, shop-lifters, or professors of other branches of the
Spartan craft. Do you observe five or six of them worrying a sort of
labourer, who was introduced to their society this morning for having
wounded an alguazil with a stone?" "And what are they thrashing him
for?" asked Zambullo. "Why," replied Asmodeus, "because he has not paid
his entrance-fees. But," added he, "let us leave this horrible place,
and the miserable wretches it contains; they are not in my vocation: we
will go elsewhere, in search of objects less disgusting."