There Were Two
Ill-Looking Fellows In The Kitchen, Smoking Cigars; I Said
Something To Antonio In The Calo Language.
"What is that I hear?" said one of the fellows, who was
distinguished by an immense pair of moustaches.
"What is that I
hear? is it in Calo that you are speaking before me, and I a Chalan
and national? Accursed gypsy, how dare you enter this posada and
speak before me in that speech? Is it not forbidden by the law of
the land in which we are, even as it is forbidden for a gypsy to
enter the mercado? I tell you what, friend, if I hear another word
of Calo come from your mouth, I will cudgel your bones and send you
flying over the house-tops with a kick of my foot."
"You would do right," said his companion; "the insolence of these
gypsies is no longer to be borne. When I am at Merida or Badajoz I
go to the mercado, and there in a corner stand the accursed gypsies
jabbering to each other in a speech which I understand not. 'Gypsy
gentleman,' say I to one of them, 'what will you have for that
donkey?' 'I will have ten dollars for it, Caballero nacional,'
says the gypsy; 'it is the best donkey in all Spain.' 'I should
like to see its paces,' say I. 'That you shall, most valorous!'
says the gypsy, and jumping upon its back, he puts it to its paces,
first of all whispering something into its ears in Calo, and truly
the paces of the donkey are most wonderful, such as I have never
seen before. 'I think it will just suit me,' and after looking at
it awhile, I take out the money and pay for it. 'I shall go to my
house,' says the gypsy; and off he runs. 'I shall go to my
village,' say I, and I mount the donkey. 'Vamonos,' say I, but the
donkey won't move. I give him a switch, but I don't get on the
better for that. 'How is this?' say I, and I fall to spurring him.
What happens then, brother? The wizard no sooner feels the prick
than he bucks down, and flings me over his head into the mire. I
get up and look about me; there stands the donkey staring at me,
and there stand the whole gypsy canaille squinting at me with their
filmy eyes. 'Where is the scamp who has sold me this piece of
furniture?' I shout. 'He is gone to Granada, Valorous,' says one.
'He is gone to see his kindred among the Moors,' says another. 'I
just saw him running over the field, in the direction of -, with
the devil close behind him,' says a third. In a word, I am
tricked. I wish to dispose of the donkey; no one, however, will
buy him; he is a Calo donkey, and every person avoids him.
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