We Experienced Some Difficulty In
Obtaining Admission Into The Posada, Which Was Chiefly Occupied By
Catalans From Valladolid.
These people not only brought with them
their merchandise but their wives and children.
Some of them
appeared to be people of the worst description: there was one in
particular, a burly savage-looking fellow, of about forty, whose
conduct was atrocious; he sat with his wife, or perhaps concubine,
at the door of a room which opened upon the court: he was
continually venting horrible and obscene oaths, both in Spanish and
Catalan. The woman was remarkably handsome, but robust and
seemingly as savage as himself; her conversation likewise was as
frightful as his own. Both seemed to be under the influence of an
incomprehensible fury. At last, upon some observation from the
woman, he started up, and drawing a long knife from his girdle,
stabbed at her naked bosom; she, however, interposed the palm of
her hand, which was much cut. He stood for a moment viewing the
blood trickling upon the ground, whilst she held up her wounded
hand, then with an astounding oath he hurried up the court to the
Plaza. I went up to the woman and said, "What is the cause of
this? I hope the ruffian has not seriously injured you." She
turned her countenance upon me with the glance of a demon, and at
last with a sneer of contempt exclaimed, "Carals, que es eso?
Cannot a Catalan gentleman be conversing with his lady upon their
own private affairs without being interrupted by you?" She then
bound up her hand with a handkerchief, and going into the room
brought a small table to the door, on which she placed several
things as if for the evening's repast, and then sat down on a
stool:
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