Sophie. By Mrs. Alfred M. Münster The Constable de Bourbon. By William Harrison Ainsworth BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY. THE HOUSE OF SEVEN CHIMNEYS. A TALE OF MADRID.* BY WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH. Book the Third. THE SECOND COURSE. FROM the moment of Graham's entrance into the arena to that when the bull dropped at his feet, he had been anxiously watched by Doña Casilda, who was seated in a balcony of the amphitheatre, on the right of the toril. With her were the Conde de Saldana, Doña Flor, and Don Pompeo. In the same balcony, immediately behind her young mistress, sat Rose, who, being attired in black silk, draped in a mantilla, and provided with a fan, looked like a Spanish doncella. Throughout the course, Rose's dark eyes had been fixed upon Graham, and she followed his every movement with an interest quite as keen as that felt by Doña Casilda. With the exception of Don Pompeo, all the party were in raptures at the address displayed by Graham, and the conde was loud in his praises. "I can scarcely believe this is the first time Don Ricardo has. encountered a bull," he said. "He has all the skill and coolness of an experienced picador." "The Duke de Cea must have taken great pains with him," remarked Doña Flor. "I think he is quite as skilful as the duke," said Casilda. "That is not saying much in his praise," rejoined Don Pompeo. "De Cea did nothing in the course we have just witnessed." "We shall see what he does in the next," observed Doña Flor. "Is Don Ricardo about to take part in the next course?" asked Casilda, eagerly. "So it appears," replied Don Pompeo. "He and De Cea seem loth to leave the ring." And he muttered, "May they never quit it with life!" While this ill wish was breathed, Doña Casilda detached a knot * All rights reserved. VOL. LVIII. B of ribands from her breast, and, giving it to Rose, said, in an under tone, "Let this be conveyed instantly to Don Ricardo. Say it comes from me." "The señora shall be obeyed," replied Rose. And quickly descending to the barriers, she addressed herself to a chulo, who took the breast-knot, and, vaulting into the ring, hastened towards Graham. Meanwhile, the arena had been prepared for a second course. As soon as the bull had been disposed of, the mules returned with their equipage, and carried off Don Antonio Guino's horse, which by this time was dead. A torero also brought back the sword with which Graham had despatched the bull, and delivered it to its owner. At the same time all evidences of the recent conflict were carefully obliterated by the varlets of the ring. On learning from De Cea that he and Graham desired to join in the second course, the Conde de Villamor at once courteously assented, but it being necessary to ask permission of the corregidor, a messenger was despatched to ascertain the pleasure of that important personage; and it was during this interval, and while the five cavaliers were drawn up opposite the corregidor's tribune, that the chulo ran towards Graham, and, holding out the breast-knot to him, exclaimed: "Hist! Señor don Ricardo!-this favour is from Doña Casilda." "From Doña Casilda! Then it must be for me," cried Don Christóbal, snatching the breast-knot from the chulo. "Nay, señor, I am certain it was meant for the English caballero," cried the chulo. "The doncella told me so." "Concern yourself no further, friend," rejoined Don Christóbal, sternly. "I am Doña Casilda's betrothed." On this, the chulo retired. "The favour was unquestionably intended for me, señor," said Graham to Don Christóbal. "You will not be uncourteous enough to detain it." Don Christóbal made no reply, but proceeded to fasten the breast-knot on his doublet. At this juncture, the corregidor, to whom the message had just been delivered, advanced to the front of his tribune, and bowed to the group of cavaliers to intimate that he assented to their request. The five champions immediately dispersed themselves, each taking up a position close to the inner barrier. Though burning with indignation, Graham was obliged to constrain himself for the moment, but he promised himself speedy revenge. As he glanced towards the balcony where Casilda, was seated, he perceived from her looks that she was aware of what had occurred, and his rage was increased by the smile of triumph that curled Don Christóbal's lips. "He shall not wear that breast-knot long," he thought. Meantime, the trumpets again sounded, the gates of the toril were thrown open, and a second bull dashed into the arena. Like his predecessor, he was for a moment blinded by the flood of sunshine that burst upon him, and stopped, bewildered by the shouts and by the presence of so many spectators. He was a powerful-looking beast, dun in colour, with sharp white horns, tipped with black, and bent upwards. His mouth was covered with foam, and his eyes flashed fire. After gazing round the ring and bellowing furiously, the bull hurled himself on the Conde de Villamor, who stood nearest him on the left. Villamor avoided the charge, and pierced him in the shoulder with his lance, but the wound only served to irritate him, for he returned to the attack with such celerity, that the conde found it impossible to get out of the way, and, before he could draw his sword, the bull was upon him. Down went horse and man, overthrown by the terrible shock, and for a moment the conde seemed in great danger, as his steed had fallen upon him, and he could not extricate himself. An immense cry rose from the assemblage, mingled with some shouts of "Bravo toro!" Luckily for Villamor, the bull expended his fury upon the horse, plunging his horns repeatedly into the prostrate animal, and while the vengeful beast was thus engaged, a troop of chulos came up, and by fluttering their capas, soon succeeded in luring him towards the centre of the ring. As soon as the bull was gone, some of the assistants leaped over the inner barrier and assisted Villamor to rise. On regaining his feet he called for another horse, but at that very moment his strength deserted him, and but for assistance he must have fallen. While he was being carried out of the arena, the bull caught sight of him, and immediately quitting the chulos, who strove in vain to arrest him, dashed at the party. Scared by the animal's approach, the men left the conde and fled. A cry of horror arose from the assemblage, who thought that Villamor was lost. Even the king manifested the greatest anxiety. But swift as was the bull, De Cea was swifter. As the animal, with lowered horns, and vengeance in his flaming eye, was within a yard of Villamor, who was lying prostrate on the ground, the lance of the young duke smote him deeply on the shoulder. The bull then wheeled round and turned his rage on his new assailant, and while he was thus engaged, Villamor was carried safely out of the arena, to the great relief of the beholders. All eyes were now fixed upon De Cea, who, by executing several rapid voltes and demi-voltes, avoided the furious charges of the bull, and in this manner led the animal to that part of the arena nearest the royal gallery. At this moment, in obedience to the corregidor, who waved his kerchief from his tribune, the trumpets were sounded, the gates of the toril again flew open, and a third bull came instantly forth, bearing between his shoulders a little flag marked with the device of Don Christóbal. The animal's appearance excited high expectations. In colour he was of a reddish brown, with well-set horns sharp as poniards, eyes that burnt like flaming coals, a curled foretop, and an immense dewlap. Lashing himself with his tail, and pawing the ground, he bellowed fiercely. The roar made his presence known to the bull on the opposite side of the ring, who instantly answered by a similar note of defiance, and the twain would have rushed at each other if they had not been prevented. Aided by some of the chulos, De Cea kept his bull in check, and held in play as before, while the toro roxo, as he was styled by the spectators, found his course barred by the three picadors. Despising these obstacles, however, he dashed against Don Christóbal, who was nearest to him, and, regardless of the wound he received, went on, and assailed Don Gaspar Bonifaz, from whom he got a second thrust in the shoulder. Then, abandoning his original design of seeking out the other bull, he wheeled round with inconceivable rapidity, and again dashed at Don Gaspar, ripping up the side of the horse, and wounding the cavalier himself in the thigh. But this was not all. Without a pause in his furious career, he turned his horns upon Don Christóbal, and in another moment horse and rider were rolling upon the ground. Graham saw what had occurred. Had he waited for another moment, the horns of the infuriated monster would have delivered him from his rival. But a nobler impulse swayed him. Without hesitation he charged the bull, whose head was lowered to strike Don Christóbal, and smote the savage brute between the shoulders with such force that more than a third of the lance disappeared, while the bull, who had received his death-wound, fell within a foot of the horse he had slain. Thunders of applause greeted this gallant action. The spectators appeared frenzied with delight. "Viva el Caballero Ingles! Viva Don Ricardo! Viva!" again resounded on all sides. As the hero of the moment glanced towards the balcony, where the mistress of his heart was seated, she waved her kerchief enthusiastically to him, and that was reward enough for his prowess. Meanwhile, a troop of chulos had flown to Don Christóbal's assistance, but before they came up he had extricated himself from his horse. His first business was to proffer thanks to his deliverer, but he did so with an ill grace, and could not conceal his mortifi cation. "I owe my life to you, Don Ricardo," he said, "and must try to pay off the debt, if I can." "Give me that breast-knot of ribands, and I shall be satisfied. You can pay it off at once," rejoined Graham. |