It is said that there are robbers abroad."
"Are you not rather afraid," replied the figure, "to travel these
roads in the dark? - you who are ignorant of the country, who are a
foreigner, an Englishman!"
"How is it that you know me to be an Englishman?" demanded I, much
surprised.
"That is no difficult matter," replied the figure; "the sound of
your voice was enough to tell me that."
"You speak of voices," said I; "suppose the tone of your own voice
were to tell me who you are?"
"That it will not do," replied my companion; "you know nothing
about me - you can know nothing about me."
"Be not sure of that, my friend; I am acquainted with many things
of which you have little idea."
"Por exemplo," said the figure.
"For example," said I; "you speak two languages."
The figure moved on, seemed to consider a moment, and then said
slowly bueno.
"You have two names," I continued; "one for the house and the other
for the street; both are good, but the one by which you are called
at home is the one which you like best."
The man walked on about ten paces, in the same manner as he had
previously done; all of a sudden he turned, and taking the bridle
of the burra gently in his hand, stopped her. I had now a full
view of his face and figure, and those huge features and Herculean
form still occasionally revisit me in my dreams. I see him
standing in the moonshine, staring me in the face with his deep
calm eyes. At last he said:
"Are you then one of us?"
* * * *
It was late at night when we arrived at Talavera. We went to a
large gloomy house, which my companion informed me was the
principal posada of the town. We entered the kitchen, at the
extremity of which a large fire was blazing. "Pepita," said my
companion to a handsome girl, who advanced smiling towards us; "a
brasero and a private apartment; this cavalier is a friend of mine,
and we shall sup together." We were shown to an apartment in which
were two alcoves containing beds. After supper, which consisted of
the very best, by the order of my companion, we sat over the
brasero and commenced talking.
Myself. - Of course you have conversed with Englishmen before, else
you could not have recognized me by the tone of my voice.
Abarbenel. - I was a young lad when the war of the Independence
broke out, and there came to the village in which our family lived
an English officer in order to teach discipline to the new levies.
He was quartered in my father's house, where he conceived a great
affection for me.
