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bones in the Peninsula； I would rather dress the wounds made by our
worthy neighbors the Germans。 Their weapons do not run quite so deep
into the body as these Castilian daggers。 Besides； a certain dread of
Spain is； with me； a sort of superstition。 From my earliest youth I
have read Spanish books； and a heap of gloomy romances and tales of
adventures in this country have given me a serious prejudice against
its manners and customs。
〃 'Well； now； since my arrival in Madrid； I have already been； not
indeed the hero； but the accomplice of a dangerous intrigue； as dark
and mysterious as any romance by Lady （Mrs。） Radcliffe。 I am apt to
attend to my presentiments； and I am off to…morrow。 Murat will not
refuse me leave； for； thanks to our varied services； we always have
influential friends。'
〃 'Since you mean to cut your stick； tell us what's up；' said an old
Republican colonel； who cared not a rap for Imperial gentility and
choice language。
〃The surgeon…major looked about him cautiously； as if to make sure who
were his audience； and being satisfied that no Spaniard was within
hearing； he said：
〃 'We are none but Frenchmenthen； with pleasure； Colonel Hulot。
About six days since； I was quietly going home； at about eleven at
night； after leaving General Montcornet； whose hotel is but a few
yards from mine。 We had come away together from the Quartermaster…
General's； where we had played rather high at /bouillotte/。 Suddenly；
at the corner of a narrow high…street； two strangers； or rather； two
demons； rushed upon me and flung a large cloak round my head and arms。
I yelled out； as you may suppose； like a dog that is thrashed； but the
cloth smothered my voice； and I was lifted into a chaise with
dexterous rapidity。 When my two companions released me from the cloak；
I heard these dreadful words spoken by a woman； in bad French：
〃 ' 〃If you cry out； or if you attempt to escape； if you make the very
least suspicious demonstration； the gentleman opposite to you will
stab you without hesitation。 So you had better keep quiet。Now； I
will tell you why you have been carried off。 If you will take the
trouble to put your hand out in this direction； you will find your
case of instruments lying between us； we sent a messenger for them to
your rooms； in your name。 You will need them。 We are taking you to a
house that you may save the honor of a lady who is about to give birth
to a child that she wishes to place in this gentleman's keeping
without her husband's knowledge。 Though monsieur rarely leaves his
wife； with whom he is still passionately in love； watching over her
with all the vigilance of Spanish jealousy； she had succeeded in
concealing her condition； he believes her to be ill。 You must bring
the child into the world。 The dangers of this enterprise do not
concern us： only； you must obey us； otherwise the lover； who is
sitting opposite to you in this carriage； and who does not understand
a word of French； will kill you on the least rash movement。〃
〃 ' 〃And who are you？〃 I asked； feeling for the speaker's hand； for
her arm was inside the sleeve of a soldier's uniform。
〃 ' 〃I am my lady's waiting…woman；〃 said she； 〃and ready to reward you
with my own person if you show yourself gallant and helpful in our
necessities。〃
〃 ' 〃Gladly；〃 said I； seeing that I was inevitably started on a
perilous adventure。
〃 'Under favor of the darkness； I felt whether the person and figure
of the girl were in keeping with the idea I had formed of her from her
tone of voice。 The good soul had； no doubt； made up her mind from the
first to accept all the chances of this strange act of kidnapping； for
she kept silence very obligingly； and the coach had not been more than
ten minutes on the way when she accepted and returned a very
satisfactory kiss。 The lover； who sat opposite to me； took no offence
at an occasional quite involuntary kick； as he did not understand
French； I conclude he paid no heed to them。
〃 ' 〃I can be your mistress on one condition only；〃 said the woman； in
reply to the nonsense I poured into her ear； carried away by the
fervor of an improvised passion； to which everything was unpropitious。
〃 ' 〃And what is it？〃
〃 ' 〃That you will never attempt to find out whose servant I am。 If I
am to go to you； it must be at night； and you must receive me in the
dark。〃
〃 ' 〃Very good；〃 said I。
〃 'We had got as far as this； when the carriage drew up under a garden
wall。
〃 ' 〃You must allow me to bandage your eyes；〃 said the maid。 〃You can
lean on my arm； and I will lead you。〃
〃 'She tied a handkerchief over my eyes； fastening it in a tight knot
at the back of my head。 I heard the sound of a key being cautiously
fitted to the lock of a little side door by the speechless lover who
had sat opposite to me。 In a moment the waiting…woman； whose shape was
slender； and who walked with an elegant jauntiness'/meneho/； as they
call it；〃 Monsieur Gravier explained in a superior tone； 〃a word which
describes the swing which women contrive to give a certain part of
their dress that shall be nameless。'The waiting…woman'it is the
surgeon…major who is speaking；〃 the narrator went on〃 'led me along
the gravel walks of a large garden； till at a certain spot she
stopped。 From the louder sound of our footsteps； I concluded that we
were close to the house。 〃Now silence！〃 said she in a whisper； 〃and
mind what you are about。 Do not overlook any of my signals； I cannot
speak without terrible danger for both of us； and at this moment your
life is of the first importance。〃 Then she added： 〃My mistress is in a
room on the ground floor。 To get into it we must pass through her
husband's room and close to his bed。 Do not cough； walk softly； and
follow me closely； so as not to knock against the furniture or tread
anywhere but on the carpets I laid down。〃
〃 'Here the lover gave an impatient growl； as a man annoyed by so much
delay。
〃 'The woman said no more； I heard a door open； I felt the warm air of
the house； and we stole in like thieves。 Presently the girl's light
hand removed the bandage。 I found myself in a lofty and spacious room；
badly lighted by a smoky lamp。 The window was open； but the jealous
husband had fitted it with iron bars。 I was in the bottom of a sack；
as it were。
〃 'On the ground a woman was lying on a mat； her head was covered with
a muslin veil； but I could see her eyes through it full of tears and
flashing with the brightness of stars； she held a handkerchief in her
mouth； biting it so hard that her teeth were set in it： I never saw
finer limbs； but her body was writhing with pain like a harp…string
thrown on the fire。 The poor creature had made a sort of struts of her
legs by setting her feet against a chest of drawers； and with both
hands she held on to the bar of a chair； her arms outstretched； with
every vein painfully swelled。 She might have been a criminal
undergoing torture。 But she did not utter a cry； there was not a
sound； all three speechless and motionless。 The husband snored with
reassuring regularity。 I wanted to study the waiting…woman's face； but
she had put on a mask； which she had removed； no doubt； during our