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downstairs； the females assailed her like lunatics； the cripple
poked at her with a stick； the tall hag clawed at her hair； whilst
the father Gypsy walked close beside the man； his hand on his
clasp…knife； looking like nothing in this world： the man； however；
on reaching the door； turned to him and said： 'Gypsy demon； my
borrico by three o'clock … or you know the rest； the justicia。'
The Gypsies remained filled with rage and disappointment； the hag
vented her spite on her brother。 ''Tis your fault；' said she；
'fool！ you have no tongue； you a Chabo； you can't speak'； whereas；
within a few hours； he had perhaps talked more than an auctioneer
during a three days' sale： but he reserved his words for fitting
occasions； and now sat as usual； sullen and silent； smoking his
pipe。
The man and woman made their appearance at three o'clock； but they
came … intoxicated； the Gypsy's eyes glistened … blandishment was
again had recourse to。 'Come and sit down with the cavalier here；'
whined the family； 'he is a friend of ours； and will soon arrange
matters to your satisfaction。' I arose； and went into the street；
the hag followed me。 'Will you not assist us； brother； or are you
no Chabo？' she muttered。
'I will have nothing to do with your matters；' said I。
'I know who will；' said the hag； and hurried down the street。
The man and woman； with much noise； demanded their donkey； the
innkeeper made no answer； and proceeded to fill up several glasses
with the ANISADO。 In about a quarter of an hour； the Gypsy hag
returned with a young man； well dressed； and with a genteel air；
but with something wild and singular in his eyes。 He seated
himself by the table； smiled； took a glass of liquor； drank part of
it； smiled again； and handed it to the countryman。 The latter
seeing himself treated in this friendly manner by a caballero； was
evidently much flattered； took off his hat to the newcomer； and
drank； as did the woman also。 The glass was filled； and refilled；
till they became yet more intoxicated。 I did not hear the young
man say a word： he appeared a passive automaton。 The Gypsies；
however； spoke for him； and were profuse of compliments。 It was
now proposed that the caballero should settle the dispute； a long
and noisy conversation ensued； the young man looking vacantly on：
the strange people had no money； and had already run up another
bill at a wine…house to which they had retired。 At last it was
proposed； as if by the young man； that the Gypsy should purchase
his own mule for two dollars； and forgive the strangers the
reckoning of the preceding night。 To this they agreed； being
apparently stultified with the liquor； and the money being paid to
them in the presence of witnesses； they thanked the friendly
mediator； and reeled away。
Before they left the town that night； they had contrived to spend
the entire two dollars； and the woman； who first recovered her
senses； was bitterly lamenting that they had permitted themselves
to be despoiled so cheaply of a PRENDA TAN PRECIOSA； as was the
donkey。 Upon the whole； however； I did not much pity them。 The
woman was certainly not the man's wife。 The labourer had probably
left his village with some strolling harlot； bringing with him the
animal which had previously served to support himself and family。
I believe that the Gypsy read； at the first glance； their history；
and arranged matters accordingly。 The donkey was soon once more in
the stable； and that night there was much rejoicing in the Gypsy
inn。
Who was the singular mediator？ He was neither more nor less than
the foster child of the Gypsy hag； the unfortunate being whom she
had privately injured in his infancy。 After having thus served
them as an instrument in their villainy； he was told to go home。 。
。 。
THE GYPSY SOLDIER OF VALDEPENAS
It was at Madrid one fine afternoon in the beginning of March 1838；
that； as I was sitting behind my table in a cabinete； as it is
called； of the third floor of No。 16； in the Calle de Santiago；
having just taken my meal； my hostess entered and informed me that
a military officer wished to speak to me； adding； in an undertone；
that he looked a STRANGE GUEST。 I was acquainted with no military
officer in the Spanish service； but as at that time I expected
daily to be arrested for having distributed the Bible； I thought
that very possibly this officer might have been sent to perform
that piece of duty。 I instantly ordered him to be admitted；
whereupon a thin active figure； somewhat above the middle height；
dressed in a blue uniform； with a long sword hanging at his side；
tripped into the room。 Depositing his regimental hat on the
ground； he drew a chair to the table； and seating himself； placed
his elbows on the board； and supporting his face with his hands；
confronted me； gazing steadfastly upon me； without uttering a word。
I looked no less wistfully at him； and was of the same opinion as
my hostess； as to the strangeness of my guest。 He was about fifty；
with thin flaxen hair covering the sides of his head； which at the
top was entirely bald。 His eyes were small； and； like ferrets'；
red and fiery。 His complexion like a brick； a dull red； checkered
with spots of purple。 'May I inquire your name and business； sir？'
I at length demanded。
STRANGER。 … 'My name is Chaleco of Valdepenas； in the time of the
French I served as bragante； fighting for Ferdinand VII。 I am now
a captain on half…pay in the service of Donna Isabel； as for my
business here； it is to speak with you。 Do you know this book？'
MYSELF。 … 'This book is Saint Luke's Gospel in the Gypsy language；
how can this book concern you？'
STRANGER。 … 'No one more。 It is in the language of my people。'
MYSELF。 … 'You do not pretend to say that you are a Calo？'
STRANGER。 … 'I do！ I am Zincalo； by the mother's side。 My father；
it is true； was one of the Busne； but I glory in being a Calo； and
care not to acknowledge other blood。'
MYSELF。 … 'How became you possessed of that book？'
STRANGER。 … 'I was this morning in the Prado； where I met two women
of our people； and amongst other things they told me that they had
a gabicote in our language。 I did not believe them at first； but
they pulled it out； and I found their words true。 They then spoke
to me of yourself； and told me where you live； so I took the book
from them and am come to see you。'
MYSELF。 … 'Are you able to understand this book？'
STRANGER。 … 'Perfectly； though it is written in very crabbed
language： （48） but I learnt to read Calo when very young。 My