Another Bull-Fight 



They adjourn to the merchant's house. The Englishman 

 falls in love with his daughter. They drink a few bottles of 

 rom. The Englishman keeps perfectly steady and melan- 

 choly, while the Biscayan gets very drunk. The result of 

 course is, that the milord is struck with the idea of liqui- 

 dating the bankrupt's liabilities, finds benevolence a new 

 and delightful sensation worth living for, marries the 

 Biscayan 's daughter, and the piece ends happily and drily — 

 at any rate not in the river. 



The bull-fight I mentioned as in prospect, came off pretty 

 well, but not brilliantly. The weather had been coldish, 

 and the ganado (cattle) were sulky and truculent, instead 

 of being brisk and furious, which is the most favourable as 

 well as safest phase of taurine humour. They showed a 

 disposition to be wary and false, running at the men rather 

 than the gaudy draperies flourished in their faces to draw 

 them. 



The audience were not in good humour, especially some 

 aficionados (amateurs) near us, who seemed greatly to dis- 

 approve of the performance of one of the picador es. 



There was a very savage beast in the arena, who had 

 made terrible havoc among the horses ; and this picador^ 

 who had been the most unfortunate, was manifestly dis- 

 heartened, and seemed divided in his mind whether 

 to be more afraid of the bull below or the taunting 

 remarks which rained upon his head from the indignant 

 galleries. 



His reputation was at stake, and I felt sorry for the poor 

 fellow. He spurred his bleeding and disembowelled horse, 

 and went to the charge apparently with an uncomfortable 

 presentiment. The bull rushed at him with a tremendous 

 impetus, which his lance was powerless to resist. The 

 horns were plunged into the breast of the horse, who 



307 u 



