466 A Tale of the Pyrences. [Nov. 
language, with which he seemed more conversant than with French. 
From the old treasury of this primitive tongue, he drew the copious 
expressions and illustrative imagery, which, as a bystander has witnessed, 
gave to his defence a loftiness and beauty not often reached by the most 
graceful of poets. The tone was eloquent, but restrained; and the flights 
of passion, which sometimes whirled him into a species of phrenzy, were 
completely escaped until the appearance of Eguiapal as a witness to sub- 
stantiate some of the allegations. Then his moderation expanded into 
excesses of feeling, for which language seemed to have no adequate 
expression. 
« Villain!” he exclaimed, “ would you not be content with the ruin 
you have already inflicted? Have I not already suffered worse than 
death by your machinations? Your head was on the pillow of my mar- 
ried bed when I lay in the straw of a dungeon! You drank my wine, 
and ate my hams, when all that I had was water, and bread moistened by 
my tears. You are not yet satisfied! Oh, murderous villain! you have 
spat upon me, and kicked me, and none else has brought me here !” 
The trial lasted two days. A host of circumstantial evidence was pro- 
duced ; but the presumptions of his guilt, however strong, amounted to 
no proof ; and he was finally acquitted, on this score principally—that 
nothing was admitted to convict him of having had fire-arms in his pos- 
session at the time of the transaction. The sympathy of the court with 
the prisoner was extreme. His singular appearance, and rugged untaught 
bearing—his imposing language—and, beyond the rest, the unfortunate 
story of his life, which in itself would have palliated many an error—all 
won over the interest of the audience ; and the verdict of acquittal was 
received by acclamations of the heartiest approval. He was discharged 
from the bar, to be once more exposed to the afflictions of his destiny. 
His home was still polluted by the occasional visits of his enemy, who 
with his wife conspired to the utmost to torture and tempt him. For 
awhile he seemed careless of Eguiapal, and tolerated his presence, if 
they chanced to meet, without any manifestation of that ardent hate which 
was rankling in his heart. Only on one occasion did he exhibit his 
natural sentiments. He was returning to his house, after a day of labour, 
and was met at the threshold by one whom he did not fail to recognize. 
He seized him fiercely by the throat, and prevented his egress. 
« What, Sir !” he cried, “are you so uncourteous as to pass me without 
one evening valediction? Whose hospitality have you been enjoying? 
Not mine, surely, or you would have the grace to thank me for it ;— 
and if not mine, then my wife’s. Come in, thou hate! and thank her 
for it before me.” 
And so saying, he dragged the almost passive coward into the room 
he had just left. The lights were still burning, and the remnants of the 
evening meal lay on the round table ; but his wife either dreaded or was 
ashamed to appear before him. 
« You have eaten together, I see; you have laughed together; you 
have Oh! God! that I should say it! Here, villain! down on thy 
servile knee; and, if thou hast fear of God, who hast no love of man, 
pray to him for the repose of thy soul. What! is that incomprehensible ? 
Here, then, take this staff, and defend thyself as thou mayest: I would 
not kill thee unarmed.” 
He rushed upon his victim ; and few minutes would have intervened 
between that and his dying minute, but for the shrieks of a woman, who, 
