They Were Every Day Expected To
March On Oviedo, In Which Case They Might Perhaps Have Experienced
Some Resistance, A
Considerable body of troops being stationed
there, who had erected some redoubts, and strongly fortified
several of the convents, especially
That of Santa Clara de la Vega.
All minds were in a state of feverish anxiety and suspense, more
especially as no intelligence arrived from Madrid, which by the
last accounts was said to be occupied by the bands of Cabrera and
Palillos.
So it came to pass that one night I found myself in the ancient
town of Oviedo, in a very large, scantily-furnished, and remote
room in an ancient posada, formerly a palace of the counts of Santa
Cruz. It was past ten, and the rain was descending in torrents. I
was writing, but suddenly ceased on hearing numerous footsteps
ascending the creaking stairs which led to my apartment. The door
was flung open, and in walked nine men of tall stature, marshalled
by a little hunchbacked personage. They were all muffled in the
long cloaks of Spain, but I instantly knew by their demeanour that
they were caballeros, or gentlemen. They placed themselves in a
rank before the table where I was sitting. Suddenly and
simultaneously they all flung back their cloaks, and I perceived
that every one bore a book in his hand; a book which I knew full
well. After a pause, which I was unable to break, for I sat lost
in astonishment, and almost conceived myself to be visited by
apparitions, the hunchback, advancing somewhat before the rest,
said in soft silvery tones, "Senor Cavalier, was it you who brought
this book to the Asturias?" I now supposed that they were the
civil authorities of the place come to take me into custody, and,
rising from my seat, I exclaimed, "It certainly was I, and it is my
glory to have done so; the book is the New Testament of God:
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