attired in full uniform, wearing his cross on his breast. His kilt,
which contained ten yards of the Gordon tartan, reached to within three
inches of his knee; from this the leg was bare to the swell of the calf,
where his silk hose of red and white dice, were gartered with knots of
red ribbons. A handsome brooch confined the folds of his plaid above
the left epaulet, and a tasselled sporan, the mouth of which was hidden
by a fox's head, dangled from his waist. His patron, Don Ascasibur
Ynuerritegui, who was attired in the dress and armed with a long Toledo
of Charles the Fifth's days, had introduced him to several pretty girls,
with all of whom he had danced and flirted, promenaded, handed scarfs,
bouquets, and ices, and acquitted himself as a very accomplished
caballero. For Louis Lisle he looked every where in vain: he was the
only one absent.
"Where is Lisle, Alister?" asked he of Macdonald, who moved slowly past,
with a fat old lady leaning on his arm. Although richly jewelled and
robed, she was confoundedly ugly, and wore a white veil hanging down her
broad back from a comb at least one foot six inches high. "It is very
odd," continued Ronald, "that he should absent himself on this
occasion."
"The Duke of Alba de T---- and his two charming daughters have not
arrived yet. Louis will come with them."
"Ah! I had forgotten. I long to see those beauties of whom I have
heard so much. But how is it that I have not seen you dancing
to-night?"
"Tush!" whispered the other ruefully in English. "Campbell, designedly I
think, introduced me to this old woman, his _patrona_,--wife of the
_Contador_, or Steward of the palace. She sticks to me like a burr, and
I am compelled to waste the night as her _escudero_, when so many
delightful girls are present."
"The flower of Madrid and Aranjuez."
"I will revenge myself on Campbell for this trick of his."
"Try if Blacier, of the 60th, will relieve you of her. Germans are not
very fastidious in their tastes. He is standing among the dancers,
alike regardless of place or persons, smoking his long German pipe as
coolly as he would do in a guard-room."
Alister led the unconscious lady off, and succeeded "in turning her over
to Blacier's command," as he said when he rejoined Ronald.
"There is Seaton," said he, "striving to make himself agreeable to the
gay widow of the Calle Mayor, Donna Elvira Moro."
"Seaton can easily do that; he is a very handsome fellow. Who is the
young lady to whom Bevan has attached himself so closely?"
"One of rank, I believe, and a widow too,--the Condessa Estremera."
"How gaily she flirts."
"Poor Bevan! he is a simple fellow, and I believe she is making a sad
fool of him. Last night I saw her amusing herself thus with one of the
34th, and---- Hah! here comes Lisle, with the duke and the young
ladies. Beautiful girls!"
"Beautiful indeed!" echoed Stuart, as the tall and portly duke, attired
in an old-fashioned dress, with his broad beaver under his left arm,
and, encased in a white glove, the little hand of Donna Olivia drooping
on his right, entered the dancing-rooms, followed by Lisle leading Donna
Virginia. Both the sisters were tall, and of queen-like figures. Their
dresses of white satin were richly trimmed with fine lace, and lofty
ostrich-feathers nodded above their glossy ringlets, amid which many a
diamond and other gem sparkled and blazed when they moved. Long white
Spanish veils, descending from the head, hung down behind them, giving
to their figures still greater grace and dignity.
"They are lovely creatures!" said Macdonald. "But Virginia moves like an
empress among all the plumed and jewelled beauties around her."
"What a thrice enviable sub is Master Louis, to be their cavalier! All
eyes are turned upon them."
"And a knight of Alcantara, yonder, leaning against the mantel-piece,
seems to eye Lisle with a very unfriendly look. In truth, Donna Olivia
appears like some being of another world. Her features are Grecian
rather than Spanish; and her eyes--by Jove! they are brighter than
diamonds, and flash like lightning when she smiles.
"You seem quite enraptured with her."
"I am a connoisseur; but fair as she is, there is one bonnie lass in the
Western Isles, who to me seems fairer still. Olivia is a bold and
beautiful girl, but there is something softer, yet not less pleasing, in
the hazel eyes of Virginia."
"Virginia! By heavens, I should know her face! Where can I have seen it
before?"
"Hush! they are moving this way, smiling and coquetting as if they meant
to be the death of us all."
"Faith! Alister, I hope Lisle will have the charity to introduce us."
"Tush! A Spanish officer has carried off Olivia. He has engaged her for
the next dance. He is bowing to you, Stuart."
Ronald's eyes at that moment encountered those of the Conde de Truxillo.
Both bowed, and the conde placing his arm around Olivia, wheeled her
into the circle of the waltzers, where they were seen only for a moment
now and then. Fassifern led away the duke to one of the
refreshment-tables in the garden; while Lisle, followed by the sharp
eyes of many a jealous cavalier, advanced towards Stuart and Macdonald,
with Virginia leaning on his arm.
"I wish one of you would find a partner," said he; "we want a
_vis-a-vis_ for the next quadrille."
"With pleasure."
"I am engaged to dance with Donna Isabel de Campo," said Alister; "but
pray introduce me, Louis."
"And me," added Ronald. "A most lucky dog you are!" These observations
passed in English; but the formal introduction was gone through in
choice Castilian. "I have surely had the happiness of seeing Donna
Virginia before," said Ronald. "It is impossible I could ever forget."
"Holy Mother! _Senor Officiale_," exclaimed the young lady with an air
of pretty surprise, as she raised her fine eye-brows; "is it possible
that you recognise me, arrayed as I now am in a garb so different from
that which I wore in the convent of Santa Cruz?"
"Do I behold the Madre Santa Martha of Jarciejo in Donna Virginia? What
riddle is this, senora?"
"A strange one truly, senor, and a very agreeable transformation,"
replied the lady, blushing and smiling as she glanced at her figure,
which was fully reflected in an opposite mirror.
"What is all this?" asked Lisle in surprise. "Then you are acquainted
with each other, it seems?"
"O yes, Don Louis; quite old friends indeed," replied the lady, with a
vivacity which piqued Don Louis a little. "We met on a sad occasion--a
very sad one, truly,--of which I will give you the history when we are
at leisure. 'Tis quite a romance, and Cervantes of Esquivas,[*] or Juan
de Valencia,[**] have never written any thing like it."
[*] Cervantes is said to have been born at Esquivas, near Toledo.
[**] Author of _El Patranuelo_, and other old-fashioned works.
"Allow me to lead you, Donna Virginia; the dancers are arranging
themselves. Had we not better take our places?"
"Certainly, senor; but our _vis-a-vis_, remember. Shall I introduce your
friend to the Condessa Estremera.--she waltzes beautifully."
"The Condessa is engaged; she appears resolved to make quite a conquest
of Bevan of ours."
"Are we to look all night for a _vis-a-vis_? Oh! here comes my sister
Olivia; she is beautiful enough to make him die of love, and I shall
introduce him, if it was only to make Truxillo jealous."
Truxillo regarded Stuart with no pleasant eye as he carried off his
donna. However, he endeavoured to dissemble, and said with a smile, "I
congratulate you, senor, on obtaining the highest order of knighthood
that a Spanish king can confer. You will find it easy work to protect
the pilgrims who visit Compostella from the insults of the Moors in the
nineteenth century. I am myself a commander of the order," he added,
displaying a richer cross, around which was the motto,--_Sanguine
Arabum_.
"I am again to be the rival of this fiery conde. I am always in some
confounded scrape," thought Ronald, as he led his partner to her place.
"_Santa Anna_, senor! these rooms are suffocating," said the lady.
"As soon as the dance is ended, permit me to have the honour of leading
you to the garden."
"Pray relieve me of my scarf." The thin gauze screen was transferred
from the white shoulders of Olivia to Ronald's arm.
"See, senor,--the Condessa; how well she is looking. Ah! had she only
worn her tiara on her black curls, she would have been matchless."
"Impossible, while Donna Olivia is present."
"Look at that officer of Villamur's regiment,--a handsome cavalier; he
bows. How do you do, Pedro? What can that old knight of Calatrava be
whispering to the rich widow of the Calle Mayor. Ah, I would give the
world to know! How they smile at each other. Love must be very
agreeable. _Santos_! I have dropped my fan. Quick, senor; pick it up,
before the feet of the dancers---- A thousand thanks," she added, as
Ronald restored it to her. "I would not have it destroyed for the
universe,--'tis a present from Don Carlos Avallo: he, too, is looking
this way. How d'ye do, Carlos?" and thus did Olivia run on during all
the intervals between the figures of the dance.
No sooner was the quadrille over, than the galopade was proposed.
"_Viva la galopade!_ cavaliers," cried Cameron, striking his hands
together. Lisle still kept Virginia, and Ronald her gay sister, and all
the cavaliers of Old and New Castile grew hot with indignation and
jealousy. Away flew the dancers to the crash of music from the
orchestra. The scene was indeed glorious. A hundred couples went round
hand in hand, plumes waving, ear-rings trembling, jewels and epaulets,
stars and medals flashing and glittering, spurs and poniards clanking,
the light feet and muslin drapery of the graceful Spanish girls flying
about and mingling with the buckled shoes and dark green tartans of the
Highlanders. Bravo! It was beautiful.
The dance was over, and the ladies, breathless and overcome, with bosoms
panting, cheeks blushing, and eyes sparkling, clung to the arms of their
cavaliers, who led them through the open casements to promenade in the
cool gardens, where the female waiters, little sylph-like girls about
twelve or fifteen years old, clad in white, with their black curls
streaming about, glided through the illuminated arbours and walks,
handing ices to the ladies, and cool and sparkling champagne or Malaga
to the gentlemen. When promenading with Olivia through one of the
beautiful walks, from each side of which he was constantly culling fresh
flowers for her bouquet, Ronald heard familiar voices conversing in an
orange-bower, the interior of which was brilliantly illuminated with
parti-coloured lamps.
"Yes, sir; we turned their flank, and fell upon them with the bayonet,
and with God's help cut to pieces every mother's son of them in five
minutes," said Campbell within the bower, striking his heavy hand
emphatically on the seat; adding afterwards in another tone, "Most
excellent champagne this, Don Ascasibur, and much obliged we are to the
ex-king of Spain for leaving it here to be drunk by better men."
"_Satanas_ take the ex-king!" replied Ynuerritegui. "And so it was as
you tell, that this very noble old cavalier was slain?"
"Ay, sir; the shot struck him _here_, and he fell sword in hand from his
saddle. A gallant fellow was Sir Ralph, and under his command I was
initiated into all the sublime mysteries of soldiery."
"Campbell has been fighting Egypt over again to my _patron_," thought
Stuart. "Major," said he, looking in, "how can you and Don Ascasibur be
so ungallant as to forsake the ladies for champagne flasks? Fie upon
you! senores."
"The ladies will not break their hearts: such a fright old Ynuerritegui
is!" whispered Olivia behind her fan.
"Campbell, do you mean to sit here all night?" said Chisholm, looking in
on the other side as he passed with a lady. "They are arranging
themselves for the galope again."
"It is fit only for subs," replied the major testily. "The idea of a
field-officer galloping any way but on horseback!"
"It seems quite the rage here at Aranjuez," said Stuart, as Chisholm
moved off. "But then the girls here galope so beautifully, they are in
the right to have it so. So, major, you do not mean to join the dancers
to-night?"
"Yes," answered the other, shaking the flasks, which all proved empty;
"but neither at waltz, quadrille, or galope. I have no idea of flying
round a room at the rate of ten miles an hour, in mortal terror the
while of crushing the ladies dear little feet and white satin shoes with
my heavy brogues. Besides, the dance is too intricate for me--'chassez
to the right and left, turn your partner, balancez, turn again, galopade
a la chassez to places!' Pooh! I would rather dance Tullochgorm or the
_Ruighle Thulaichean_, or any other decent fling; but I have no love for
your Spanish dances and galopade quadrilles. They ill become the
_sporran_ and _breacan-anfeile_ of the Highlandman, and are no more to
be compared to a strathspey than a Toledo is to a real-fluted Andrea
Ferrara." The major snapt his fingers, and chanted with a loud voice a
verse of the Grant's reel:
"There needs na be sae great a phrase,
Wi' dringing dull Italian lays,
I wadna gie our ain strathspeys
For half a hundred score o' em.
They're douff an' dowie at the best,
Douff and dowie, douff and dowie,
They're douff an' dowie at the best,
Wi 'a' their variorum.
They're douff and dowie at the best,
Their allegros and a' the rest,
They canna please a Highland taste,
Compared wi' Tullochgorm."
Stuart was leading away Donna Olivia, who laughed excessively at the
major's song, which sounded wondrously uncouth to her ears, when
Campbell called to him. "I say, Stuart," said he, "I am going to show
the ladies here a new fling. I have sent for Ranald Dhu and the six
pipers. Fassifern, Ronald Macdonuil, and myself, are about to perform
the sword dance. We astonished old Mohammed Djedda with it in Egypt.
You must join us."
"I should be most happy, but I am the honoured cavalier of one of the
prettiest girls in Aranjuez, and it is impossible I can join you; but we
will witness it in the hall."
A few minutes afterwards the pipers arrived, and preparations were made
for the Highland dance. Claymores were taken from the wall, and laid
across each other on the floor. The colonel, Campbell, and two other
officers took their places, while seven pipers stood at the end of the
hall, and on a given signal struck up an appropriate air.
"_Santa Maria!_" screamed the senoras, and "_Morte de Dios!_" growled
the senores, while they covered their ears with their hands to protect
them from "so dangerous an invasion." Many an English and Irish officer
did so likewise, for the sound of the pipes in the vaulted hall was
tremendous. Away went the dancers to the sound of the first note, and
continued to leap, skip, and "hooch and hoo!" while they flung about
with true Scottish spirit and agility, moving with miraculous precision
among the bare blades of the claymores, while applauses loud and long
rewarded them. 'Twas a new sight indeed to the Spaniards, and the eyes
of every Scotsman present lighted up with enthusiasm, although many of
them had never witnessed the martial dance before. Long after the
others had resumed their seats, the gigantic Campbell, strong, active,
and filled with perfect delight, continued to dance, wave his arms and
the folds of his enormous kilt and plaid, until at last compelled to
sink into a seat, amid loud huzzas and astounding vivas.
Quadrilles, galopades, and waltzes again followed, and before the ball
broke up the light of the morning sun had replaced the illuminations of
the palace and its gardens. Then came the gallant farewells, and
shawls, mantillas, and furred shoes were in requisition, the gentlemen
making themselves as busy as possible in wrapping up the ladies to
protect them from the chill morning air; and then, muffling themselves
in their cloaks, many an officer and cavalier strode away behind the
lumbering carriage or sedan, which conveyed to her home some lady to
whom they had been particularly attentive during the night, and whom, as
in duty bound, they wished to squire to the door of her own
residence,--the streets of continental cities not being very safe at
these hours, when _picaros_ and _valientes_[*] of every kind are on the
watch, to exercise their talents on the unsuspecting or unprotected.
[*] Rogues and ruffians, or bravos.
On the following evening a grand bull-fight was to be held in the marble
square, for the entertainment of the British. The splendid mansion of
the Duke of Alba de T---- formed nearly a whole side of this elegant
Plaza, and from its windows an excellent view could be obtained. The
Conde de Truxillo, Fassifern, Seaton, Lisle, and Stuart, and many other
officers, dined with the duke that day. The ladies were all smiles and
beauty, although a little pale with the fatigues of the preceding
evening; but Olivia, and her cousin the bright-eyed condessa, were as
gay and vivacious as ever. The dinner, which consisted of a variety of
stews, cutlets, and light confectionary, began by a course of fruit,
just as ours ends. Afterwards came chocolate, and cigars for those
gentlemen who chose to lounge on the balconies, and plenty of flirting,
waltzing, singing and music at the piano and guitar, for those who
remained with the ladies.
During the whole day preparations had been making for the approaching
display. All the streets leading to the Plaza were strongly barricadoed
with bullock-cars, mule-carts, and every thing that could serve to
enclose the arena, and prevent the escape of the bulls.
Four of them were imprisoned in a den at one end of the square, where
they were undergoing a process of torture, being goaded by steel pikes
through holes in the roof, to rouse them to the requisite pitch of
madness and ferocity. It was a beautiful sunny evening, and about four
o'clock the people began to collect; at six the Plaza was crowded to
excess,--the balconies, roofs, and windows were all taken possession of,
and hundreds of pennons, streamers, and garlands flaunted from the
houses; while the bands of the 28th and the 6th Portuguese cacadores
filled the air with strains of music, and delight shone in every Spanish
eye at the amusement promised by their favourite national pastime.
The guests of the duke occupied the large balcony, which extended along
the front of his house. It was covered with a piece of tapestry, and
the ladies were seated in front, while their cavaliers stood behind.
Here Stuart missed the conde, who had been by Donna Olivia's side all
day. He was about to inquire for him, when Balthazzar suddenly appeared
in the arena, arrayed in a very singular garb. A small velvet cap was
on his head, fully displaying his short curly hair and fine features.
He wore a close-fitting doublet of black cloth, slashed with white; a
mantle of a bright orange colour hung on his left arm, and in his right
hand he carried a short pike about five feet long, the head of which was
of sharp and bright steel. Three other cavaliers, similarly accoutered,
made their appearance in the arena, and the people raised a cry of
"_Viva Baltazar, el valiente soldado! Viva el gracios caballero
Ascasibur Ynuerritegui_! Here are the bulls! Here are the bulls!"
Balthazzar kissed his hand to Donna Olivia, who threw him a flower from
her breast, and he placed it in his cap.
"Beware, my poor conde," said she, "and be not over rash. Remember that
your foes are bulls from the Xamara."
"Are they different from any other bulls, Donna Virginia?" asked Louis.
"Oh! have you not heard? They are the very fiercest in Spain,--perhaps
in the world. When once aroused, nothing tames them but being slain."
"And to these the conde is about to oppose himself. Are you not
concerned for his safety, senoras?"
"Balthazzar has a sharp pike and a sure heel," answered Olivia, fanning
herself, "and I have no fears for him."
"Have you ever seen any one killed in the arena?"
"Yes. A bull of Xamara tossed our poor cousin, the Conde Estremera,
into the air, and he came down dead."
"And still you like this sport?" said Cameron, "sport which our Scottish
ladies would shudder to look upon."
"Yes, senor. _O viva Santissima!_" answered all the ladies at once,
clapping their white hands, "here come the bulls!"
A shout of delight from the multitude shook the Plaza. A sort of
portcullis had been raised, and forth from his den rushed a bull into
the arena, his eyes darting fire, with nostrils elated, and mouth
covered with foam, the hair of his neck bristling up like the mane of a
lion, and every muscle quivering with the torture he had undergone. He
rolled his red eyes about, as if to select a convenient object to
attack. The conde waved his orange mantle across the face of the bull,
which, uttering a roar, plunged forward upon him. Closely pursued by
his formidable adversary, Truxillo ran round the arena. This was the
most dangerous part of the game, as a fall, or the least false step,
would be certain death. At the moment when the bull was preparing for a
grand plunge "with hoof and horn," the conde sprung over a barrier,
dropping his mantle as he did so. It was instantly transfixed and
tossed into the air by the bull, which was now attacked in the rear by
Don Ascasibur, who carried a red mantle and a pike, which he plunged
into the brawny flank of the victim. With a roar of fury and agony the
beast thundered over the marble pavement after his assailant, but was
diverted from the pursuit, being pierced by the pikes of a third and
fourth cavalier, who kept him galloping round the arena in every
direction, dropping their mantles and leaping the barriers whenever the
danger became too pressing, until he sunk exhausted and bloody at the
base of the statue of Charles the Fifth, where the conde put an end to
its agony by plunging his pike repeatedly into its body. Three others
were slain in the same manner, and all the performers had narrow escapes
for their lives at different times. The four bulls were sent away to
the kitchen of the _Casa de los locos_[*] for the benefit of the
patients and the poor people of the town. Extraordinary agility, skill,
and courage were displayed by the four cavaliers in this daring Spanish
game, which, though not less cruel, had in it, by the personal risk
incurred, something infinitely nobler and more chivalric than the brutal
custom of bull-baiting, which so long disgraced South Britain.
[*] Asylum for the insane.
In the course of an hour all the bulls had fallen in succession, and
yielded the palm to their four tormentors, who were greeted with
enthusiastic applause by the multitude, on whose shoulders they were
lifted up, and carried by force triumphantly round the square.