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street。 We walked some two hundred paces in the deepest silence。 Then he
stretched out his hand。
〃Go straight on；〃 he said； 〃and you'll come to the bridge。〃
That instant he turned his back on me and departed at a great pace。 I
took my way back to my inn； rather crestfallen； and considerably out of
temper。 The worst of all was that； when I undressed； I discovered my
watch was missing。
Various considerations prevented me from going to claim it next day；
or requesting the /Corregidor/ to be good enough to have a search made
for it。 I finished my work on the Dominican manuscript； and went on to
Seville。 After several months spent wandering hither and thither in
Andalusia； I wanted to get back to Madrid； and with that object I had to
pass through Cordova。 I had no intention of making any stay there； for I
had taken a dislike to that fair city； and to the ladies who bathed in the
Guadalquivir。 Nevertheless； I had some visits to pay； and certain errands to
do； which must detain me several days in the old capital of the Mussulman
princes。
The moment I made my appearance in the Dominican convent； one of
the monks； who had always shown the most lively interest in my inquiries
as to the site of the battlefield of Munda； welcomed me with open arms；
exclaiming：
〃Praised be God！ You are welcome！ My dear friend。 We all thought
you were dead； and I myself have said many a /pater/ and ave/ （not that I
regret them！） for your soul。 Then you weren't murdered； after all？ That
you were robbed； we know！〃
〃What do you mean？〃 I asked； rather astonished。
〃Oh； you know！ That splendid repeater you used to strike in the library
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whenever we said it was time for us to go into church。 Well； it has been
found； and you'll get it back。〃
〃Why；〃 I broke in； rather put out of countenance； 〃I lost it〃
〃The rascal's under lock and key； and as he was known to be a man
who would shoot any Christian for the sake of a /peseta/； we were most
dreadfully afraid he had killed you。 I'll go with you to the /Corregidor/；
and he'll give you back your fine watch。 And after that； you won't dare to
say the law doesn't do its work properly in Spain。〃
〃I assure you；〃 said I； 〃I'd far rather lose my watch than have to give
evidence in court to hang a poor unlucky devil； and especially because
because〃
〃Oh； you needn't be alarmed！ He's thoroughly done for； they might
hang him twice over。 But when I say hang； I say wrong。 Your thief is an
/Hidalgo/。 So he's to be garrotted the day after to…morrow； without fail。*
So you see one theft more or less won't affect his position。 Would to God
he had done nothing but steal！ But he has committed several murders； one
more hideous than the other。〃
* In 1830； the noble class still enjoyed this privilege。 Nowadays；
under the constitutional /regime/； commoners have attained the same
dignity。
〃What's his name？〃
〃In this country he is only known as Jose Navarro； but he has another
Basque name； which neither your nor I will ever be able to pronounce。 By
the way； the man is worth seeing； and you； who like to study the peculiar
features of each country； shouldn't lose this chance of noting how a rascal
bids farewell to this world in Spain。 He is in jail； and Father Martinez will
take you to him。〃
So bent was my Dominican friend on my seeing the preparations for
this 〃neat little hanging job〃 that I was fain to agree。 I went to see the
prisoner； having provided myself with a bundle of cigars； which I hoped
might induce him to forgive my intrusion。
I was ushered into Don Jose's presence just as he was sitting at table。
He greeted me with a rather distant nod； and thanked me civilly for the
present I had brought him。 Having counted the cigars in the bundle I had
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placed in his hand； he took out a certain number and returned me the rest；
remarking that he would not need any more of them。
I inquired whether by laying out a little money； or by applying to my
friends； I might not be able to do something to soften his lot。 He shrugged
his shoulders； to begin with； smiling sadly。 Soon； as by an after…thought；
he asked me to have a mass said for the repose of his soul。
Then he added nervously： 〃Would youwould you have another said
for a person who did you a wrong？〃
〃Assuredly I will； my dear fellow；〃 I answered。 〃But no one in this
country has wronged me so far as I know。〃
He took my hand and squeezed it； looking very grave。 After a
moment's silence； he spoke again。
〃Might I dare to ask another service of you？ When you go back to
your own country perhaps you will pass through Navarre。 At all events
you'll go by Vittoria； which isn't very far off。〃
〃Yes；〃 said I； 〃I shall certainly pass through Vittoria。 But I may very
possibly go round by Pampeluna； and for your sake； I believe I should be
very glad to do it。〃
〃Well； if you do go to Pampeluna； you'll see more than one thing that
will interest you。 It's a fine town。 I'll give you this medal；〃 he showed me a
little silver medal that he wore hung around his neck。 〃You'll wrap it up in
paper〃he paused a moment to master his emotion 〃and you'll take it； or
send it； to an old lady whose address I'll give you。 Tell her I am deadbut
don't tell her how I died。〃
I promised to perform his commission。 I saw him the next day； and
spent part of it in his company。 From his lips I learned the sad incidents
that follow。
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CHAPTER III
〃I was born；〃 he said； 〃at Elizondo； in the valley of Baztan。 My name
is Don Jose Lizzarrabengoa； and you know enough of Spain； sir； to know
at once； by my name； that I come of an old Christian and Basque stock。 I
call myself Don； because I have a right to it； and if I were at Elizondo I
could show you my parchment genealogy。 My family wanted me to go
into the church； and made me study for it； but I did not like work。 I was
too fond of playing tennis； and that was my ruin。 When we Navarrese
begin to play tennis； we forget everything else。 One day； when I had won
the game； a young fel