14 Don Alonso. [Juty, 
The alcalde bowed his head to the ground to answer—‘ Certainly ;’ but the 
word appeared to stick in his throat; and Dona Urraca, shaking her rosary; 
observed, with indignation, the humbled air of her husband.—‘ Sister,’ said 
the general, ‘ thou dost not look on me with the eyes of a Christian—what is 
the matter ?’—‘ No concern of yours ; if I wanted a confidant, he should not 
be selected from those who are given to innovation.’—‘ Sister, thou dost not 
speak like one of Arragon ; if the wine of Navarre had not turned thy head, 
thou wouldst know that the Cortes are not an innovation. The states of the 
crown of Arragon were always free, and would remain so, were it not for the 
Camarillas,* whom God and his saints curse! Sister, I am in earnest! the 
king has sworn to the system, and it was high time he should; the nation 
and he went on badly enough. They are now reconciled ; and may the foul 
fiends seize on the man who would attempt to interrupt the concord which 
exists between them! Were it brother, sister, or nephew, I would hang the 
culprit on the highest oak in the country—not even our Lady of the Pillar 
should protect the wretch!’ Here an officer whispered in his ear, that, by 
the terms of the constitution, the military authority could not hang citizens. 
‘Simpleton,’ replied he, ‘ your articles are not designed for the d—d scoundrels 
who trample on the sacred code. They stand aloof: so much the worse for 
them. Let them complain at the day of judgment if they like.’ 
“ During this discussion, Francisca was serving the numerous aides-de- 
camp of her father with wine and chocolate. They were for the most part 
very young, and superior in birth to their chief; to their red cockade was 
attached the famous green ribbon worn by the soldiers of the Isle of Leon, on 
which was inscribed, Constitucion 0 Muerte/+ At first they regarded the 
daughter of their general with great respect; but her condition and beauty 
soon emboldened them; so much so, that one among them threw his arms 
around her waist, and attempted to snatch a kiss. She gave him so hearty a 
box on the ear, that the whole house rang with it. ‘Well done,’ exclaimed 
the general, lighting his cigar: ‘her mother could not have done better.’ 
This recollection brought an emotion into his countenance which nothing had 
> 
seemed able to effect.’ : 
We shall not dwell on the noisy acclamations which were afterwards 
raised in favour of the new order of things ; nor on the applause lavished 
on the general, for his late glorious efforts in support of freedom. We 
continue the personal narrative of our author :— 
«© T had remained two whole hours in the house, but no one had time to 
serve me. I therefore resolved to return to a French village, where a repast™ 
might be procured with less difficulty. I called for the reckoning. Dona 
Urraca asked little for corn and hay ; and I was surprised at her moderation 
when she demanded a veal more for the stable. My poor horse had remained 
all the time in the street—the only place I could procure for him. I ventured 
to remind her of this, and, in return, I had to sustain a deluge of furious 
curses ; I satisfied the noble lady, and was glad to be so easily quit of her 
abuse, and of the battle of Roncevaux. But this was not all: three reals 
more were required for the noise that had been made (para el ruido). I 
thought it hard that I should be compelled to pay for the noise which I had 
heard ; she indignantly told me it was for that which I had made myself. ‘One 
may see, continued she, ‘ that you have never travelled in the dominions of 
his Catholic Majesty ; otherwise, you would bless your stars for guiding you 
among us: any where else, you must have paid much more.’ I gave her the 
reals, and prepared to leave. For the first time Don Francisco de Paula, 
* Camariilla is applied, without distinction of rank or birth, to all who enjoy the privilege 
of being continually with the king. They are his intimate friends, or favourites, among 
whom he passes his evenings. In an absolute government their influence must be all- 
powerful. 
+ The constitution or death! 
