"The Saragossa Manuscript" "Forward!" "Follow me!" "You are a prisoner." "No resistance, please." "Can you hear me?" "Wait a minute, friend, until I finish admiring these drawings." "What about the enemy?" "Carry on the pursuit!" "Interesting." "Very much so." "Too bad I don't know Spanish." "Look, this is about my grandfather." ""The Count Ollavedez who, at that time, had not yet brought the settlers to the Sierra..."" "Captain!" "they're surrounding us." "What shall we do?" "Why don't you close the door?" "It's drafty!" "Where was I?" "Here, I think." ""...the Sierra Morena," ""a steep range between Andalusia and La Mancha." ""At that time, it was populated," ""with robbers and gyp"" "Thank you, "gypsies..." ""and gypsies, of whom it was said, would eat the corpses of killed wanderers. "" "Will we make it before dark?" "Before dark?" "Three days aren't enough to cross these mountains." "Where will we sleep?" "It becomes dark very quickly." "Sometimes you can find a deserted inn at the roadside, because infernal ghosts chased out the innkeepers, and when evil ghosts..." "So what?" "A traveler who comes here should be prepared for thevery worst." "I am not scared of them." "I can handle them." "Listen to Mosquito!" "Saddle the mules and follow me, and hurry!" "Sir, demons rave there and invisible hands push you into the abyss." "The devils have goats' hooves, not feet." "Let's go through Estramadura." "The sights are prettier there." "We'll go straight on and stop here, at the cork oaks, where we will have our food." "Then we'll spend the night at Venta Quemada." "And the next day, get supplies and prepare to cross the mountains." "And in three days' time, exhausted but happy, we'll ride triumphantly into Castile." "That's my plan and nothing is going to change it!" "He'll ruin us." "Since King Don Philip V honored me with the rank of captain of the Walloon Guard, it is my duty to find the shortest way to Madrid." "My young lord, maybe the king has honored you with a captain's rank, but reason has not done the same for your brains." "It would be good to quench our thirst." "Water isn't good after fruit." "Where is the mule attendant?" "I don't like all this." "He has gone off with all our supplies." "Sir, evil ghosts have kidnapped poor Mosquito." "He's escaped!" "Damned rascal," "I didn't like his shrewd eyes right from the start." "Why didn't I listen to Brother Jerome de la Trinidad, holy monk and preacher?" "Mosquito!" "He said the officers of the guard were heretics." "Shut up, stupid!" "I 'll catch him and break his bones if he fled from fear." "Don't leave me alone here, sir." "Then you go." "No, sir, I will not go." "Well, we'll talk later." "Mosquito!" "Two foreign ladies who are staying here would like to invite you to supper." "Will you please follow me, caballero?" "Señor caballero, thank you for your kind acceptance of this modest supper." "Appease your hunger, sir." "You probably haven't eaten since early morning." "Are you surprised at our meeting?" "My name is Emina and this is my sister, Zibelda." "We live in Tunisia, but we come from Grenada, where our relatives still adhere to our forefathers' faith." "Our journey is an important secret which we want to confide to your honesty." "That was what we expected, señor caballero." "I took a seat near you to tell you our family's story." "Listen carefully." "Does this locket contain a picture of your mistress?" "This jewel is a gift from my mother and it contains a fragment of a genuine relic." "Does it frighten you?" "Only evil ghosts are afraid of relics." "We are Muslim, so don't be surprised at my sister." "Too bad our closest relative follows a strange faith." "Am I your relative?" "You are." "Your mother was a Gomelez." "We also belong to that family." "I've never heard of it." "Aren't you wrong, dear ladies?" "No." "I promised to tell you the story of our ancestors, but I think it would be better if I start with my own." "Sit down." "We were waiting for you." "Had you chosen another road out of fear, we'd have lost respect for you." "You are flattering me, Emina, but I never turn off the road I have chosen." "But whyare you so concerned with my courage?" "We are concerned about you." "Me?" "Maybe you will feel less flattered when I tell you that you are the first man we have ever met." "My sister speak s the truth." "We never had a brother." "And lock ed up in the harem since we were children, we never had the slightest idea about your sex." "But nature gave us the inclination to love." "We gave each other our love." "This is beginning to look interesting." "My sister and I love each other dearly." "Seeing this, our mother said, we would either remain maidens or marry one man." "Her assurance somewhat calmed our anxiety." "The head of the family agreed that we could marry one man, provided he was a Gomelez." "Is it..." "Is it me?" "It is." "This is the idea we liked best." "But my religion, my faith!" "Don't you like us, Alfonso?" "Aren't we nice?" "It's nearly dawn." "Time is too precious to be wasted on idle tal k." "We cannot become your spouses unless you accept the Prophet's law." "You will be allowed to see us in your dreams only." "But you have to keep our existence secret." "Do you agree?" "Pass the chalice!" "But remember your promise." "My dear cousin, why aren't you Muslim?" "How happy I would be, if seeing you... on Emina's lap," "I too could call my self your wife." "Come with me, my son." "Woe to him who, in his wicked inflexibility, refuses to confess his sins." "Do not spend the nights under the s kies." "And beware of all temptations, as the Lord has lifted H is hand." "I will do as you sa y, Father, but first... my belly requires refreshment." "Thin k about your soul's salv ation and I 'll look after your body's needs." "Strange things were happening last night." "Did you stayin the deserted inn byanychance?" "I visited Venta Quemada." "But I have my reasons for being reluctant to explain it to you." "De vils are tempters." "Beware of Satan and pride, my son!" "Yes,yes, beware of Satan." "I am amazed at your courage." "Tell me, young man, who are you and who raised you up?" "Do you believe in ghosts?" "Me?" "Whyshould I?" "have no fear." "This one is possessed, and I am chasing the de vil out of him." "Pashek o!" "I n the name of Our Lord," "I order you to driv e the goats uphill!" "Here is an ex ample of how the Angel of Darkness is still ruling this unfortunate neighborhood." "I am giving him much of my time." "I thin k I will be able to save him." "He's been ma king great progress lately." "He mil k s these goats?" "Yes." "Can you satisfy my curiosity, my son?" "I was as king for details of your life." "You honor me, Father, and you will know everything." "I come from a family who had more prominent men than wealth." "My father, a colonel of the Walloon Guard, was an extremely kind and honorable gentleman." "I n the name of Van Worden!" "You'll pa y for this, rascal!" "A horse, bring me a horse!" "What are you waiting for, cowards?" "I have a feeling this is going to end badly." "Señor, I request you grant me a moment to tal k." "All right." "Priv ately." "Señor, I do not have the pleasure of knowing you." "You'll know me in a while." "Señor." "After you." "After you." "Your coach, señor, has outrun my carriage." "There is something offensiv e in that, and I would like you to justify it." "Señor, it seems it wasn't my coachmen who outran yours, but yours who were dragging along and were left behind." "I admit you are right." "Too bad that you didn't saythat before I drew my sword." "Señor, I understand you perfectly well." "Ex cuse me for ha ving ta k en your time." "Oh, don't mention it." "MayI?" "But of course, señor." "I 'll be getting back to my roast which maynot be quite coldyet." "Water!" "Whydid he have his coach chopped up?" "He'd be more comfortable." "After it lost the race, he couldn't look at it an ymore." "Water!" "I would have sold it." "A nobleman like him never sells, he just destroys." "Everything I have for a drop of water." "Did you hear that?" "If you had water, you'd be a rich man." "He's mad to start all these duels." "If you have a master who likes collecting wounds, you have to be ready for an ything." "God damn it!" "I 'd sell my soul for a drop of water." "I have in vited you all to attend my wedding, every one with whom I have had the pleasure of crossing swords at least once and whom, of course, I haven't killed." "You came to rejoice with me." "I need your advice." "Here is a letter from the mayor of Bayon, as king me to ta k e possession of my ancestral castle in the Ardennes." "Should I leave the king's service or leave my heritage to its own fate?" "If youvote..." "I 'll do as you advise." "Please hurry, señores, or the meat will be quite cold." "Farewell, my king and lord, farewell, sunnySpain, and I in vite you to a feast at my castle in the Ardennes." "Who will pa y?" "This is a great loss!" "This is going to ruin me!" "Follow me!" "Nothing can equal our sunnySpain." "This was a stupid idea." "I don't thin k I 'll ever sing a serenade to the most beautiful señorita." "H ush." "True, is not the same." "I don't en vy the bride and groom." "Long liv e the bride and groom!" "I wish your son a prompt return to Spain." "Señora, our son will be named Alfonso." "Señores, continue your feast." "I, a true Spaniard, have to fulfill my duties." "Señora, this rain reminds me of the siege of Lerida, when I stood up to my waist in water." "they were beautiful times." "I was famous for my bra very then." "Ex actly nine months later, I was born." "You told us a nice story." "It seems your father is a man of honor." "have you inherited this virtue?" "Boasting is not a feature of a Walloon Guard officer, Father." "Before you start your own story," "I 'll as k Pashek o to bring you some fresh mil k." "No, I better start straight awa y." "I was brought up awayfrom home to learn the ways of a nobleman." ""...and the lid flew open." "I saw a s k eleton coming out." "" I drew my sword, but the s k eleton tore off its left hand," ""using it as a weapon, and fiercely attack ed me." "" I was defending my self bravely" ""when another s k eleton jumped out," ""snapped off a rib of the first, and struck me with all his might. "" "Welcome, son!" "Is been so long, so manyy ears." "My dearest son!" "You didn't forget your holy alphabet, my son?" "Or my sophisticated teachings?" "No, I 'v e been studying hard." "Show us then, son." "Very well, ex cellent." "Dear Eurek o, leave manly things to men." "The time has come to show you the ultimate strok e." "Is extremely complicated, but once you'v e mastered it, you'll be one of the best fencers." "En garde I" "Dear Eurek o!" "I fought 130..." "y es, my son, 130 duels." "I 'll giv e you all my experience now." "Alle z I" "I failed again." "You were the finest fencer." "Don't worry, Alfonso will ta k e over with honor." "Return to your fatherland, son." "Spain is the loveliest country in the world." "I 'll do my best to help you become a Walloon Guard captain." "Thus I came here, and last night" "Well, dear son, I 'v e become very interested in your story." "I can also see that you receiv ed a good education." "However, as you spent last night at the Venta Quemada..." "What was I sa ying?" "Oh, I am afraid you could have been haunted bytwo hanged men." "I wouldn't like you to have the same fate as Pashek o." "Don't be afraid, Father." "My mother told me that in the old days, you mayhave come across possessed people, but todaythey are no more." "What?" "haven't you seen the awful possessed Pashek o, whose eye the de vils have gouged out?" "Pashek o!" "H is story maycontribute to the salv ation of your soul." "I will order him to begin." "Pashek o!" "I n the name of Our Lord," "I order you to tell your story to our guest." "I was born in C órdoba." "My father was prosperous." "You mayleave that out, Pashek o." "H is mother died threeyears ago, and his father decided to marry a young widow." "Camilla de Tormes." "they were wed in Se ville." "A few days later, my father returned with his new wife... and her sister, I nezillia." "My dear wife, my lady, I bought some mules for your coach, and for you, lovely I nezillia, a sapphire ring." "You are the best husband, señor, and brother in law." "I nezillia is ecstatic, aren't you, I nezillia?" "Than k you with all my heart." "Do not eat fruit, I nezillia, you know it is bad for you." "I am glad you are happ y." "Camilla, we would like to hear your songs, as we always do after lunch." "Ohyes, Camilla, do sing for us!" "Come with me, sister, to get the instruments." "I beg your permission, Father, to marry beautiful I nezillia." "We will go to Madrid and start a wonderful life there." "Forget it, son." "First of all, it would be unbecoming for you to be your father's brother in law." "Secondly, church laws ban such alliances, and thirdly" "I love her more than my own life." "And thirdly..." "I do not want you to marry I nezillia." "Don't worry, Pashek o." "If your father won't allow you to marry my sister, there are no obstacles at all to your being her lover." "Señora, I nezillia is an angel of purity, how could I" "Leave it to me, Pashek o, my sister will listen to my request, which I will pronounce with pain in my heart." "Pashek o, Pashek o, who can resist you?" "Ma k e it short, Pashek o." "Now tell me how soon after your father set out on the trip to Madrid, ta king his wife and her sister along." "The days without I nezillia were unbearable." "I missed her and suffered." "Manuela!" "I n Venta Quemada?" "Thas where you are to wait for him." "Cruel gangs are ro ving the Sierra Morena." "Is quiet since those two thugs the Z ota brothers, were hanged." "Will I nezillia be accompan ying my father?" "Yes, señor." "No more dela y." "I nezillia." "We'll always be together." "Can I eat at your place?" "And spend the night?" "Señor, bySt." "Parazito, don't do it!" "have you no clean bedclothes?" "I am ready even for the king's court." "Well?" "Here, ghosts rave all night." "Ghosts?" "Ev en we go to the next village at night." "Is scary here, at night." "My friend, we'll sleep with ghosts." "As you wish, señor, but allow me and my wife to leave the inn for the night." "I 'll k eep the ghosts from stealing things." "Where are you going?" "Señor, don't playaround with ghosts." "I 'm scared." "Then go with them, you wea kling." "Pashek o, the moment has come." "Your father is asleep and I nezillia is waiting for you." "Come on, come on, come on." "Everything is going well, Pashek o." "J ust look." "I ndeed." "I 'll tell you when the time is right." "Pashek o, Pashek o, We are waiting for you." "I nezillia, do you really desire a lover?" "You will be lovers but I will always be with you." "Kiss!" "Hard!" "You love I nezillia and I love you." "She will refuse you nothing, but remember my condition." "Well, son, what do you thin k?" "I thin k you would get scared in such circumstances, too." "A nobleman is afraid of nothing." "Then let Pashek o continue with his story." "I mayhear something interesting." "Pashek o!" "I n the name of God, I order you to continue." "I ran for my life from right under the gallows, and roamed far off the road all da y." "I know what you want to sa y." "Had I come earlier, there'd be a feast fit for a king." "I ndeed." "Now the ghosts have ta k en over" "And you are spending the night in the next village." "Allow me, señor, to leave you." "Was there a nobleman from C órdoba and two womenyesterda y?" "Try to remember:" "A nobleman from C órdoba." "My wife left your supper on the stove, señor." "On the stove." "Pashek o!" "Ma k e room for me right near you." "I am trembling with cold." "Is me, your I nezillia." "Begone, Satan!" "You are chasing us awa y?" "Come on, sister, we'll light the fireplace." "Well, my son?" "I can see you now realize the power of Satan." "It is getting late." "I am not offering you a place here." "Pashek o's screams wouldn't let you close your eyes." "Go to the chapel." "To the chapel?" "To the chapel." "But I 'll hear him there too." "He has such a terribleyell." "Son, I know what I 'm telling you." "Ohyes, to the chapel." "You will sleep quietly there." "Kneel down at the altar, confess your sins and repent." "There's still time to prevent e vil." "I don't thin k I have sinned, unless I did it in my dreams." "Who is there?" "We're cold, it is us, your mistresses." "Go back to your gallows, I want to get some sleep!" "You sneer at us, because you're in a chapel!" "But come join us out in the graveyard." "At your service." "But tomorrow!" "I can see you're nerv ous, my son." "And is not surprising." "Last night, wick ed spirits were up to terrible mischief." "The goats were bleating." "De vils mayassume v arious forms, my son." "they somehow stayawa y from me, Father." "I can see you still have faith, but I 'm worried you won't be able to k eep it." "I will, I will." "I don't want to k eep you anylonger." "You have a long journe y." "Bythe dayafter tomorrow, you'll have crossed the Sierra Morena." "You'll find some supplies byyour saddle." "Whas the shortest wa y to Madrid?" "I have never been to Madrid, my son." "I know, however, you have to go... that wa y." "Than k you..." "Father." "But remember, my son, that God has raised his arm." "Señor Alfonso Van Worden?" "Yes, captain of the Walloon Guard." "You're under arrest in the name of the Holy I nquisition." "Señor, giv e us your sword." "Gentlemen, señores, I 'm a nobleman!" "What an incredibly noisysinner." "I hope he'll be as tal k ativ e in front of the Holy Tribunal." "According to our system, we allow the prisoner the freedom to accuse himself." "H is confession, even though slightly forced, has its adv antages, when the prisoner is willing to name his collaborators." "Do you know two African princesses?" "The longer your silence, the worse ill be for you." "I can see I 'm going to have to help you." "Les start the first trial." "You're going to faint soon, but with salt and alcohol, we'll bring you round." "Les start the second trial" "Alfonso!" "You're saved, Alfonso!" "Señor Z oto is coming to rescue you." "Dear Alfonso!" "You'v e shown great courage, dear cousin." "This is no time for kisses." "Bythe time the guards arriv e, you should be far awa y." "This is Señor Z oto." "Señor Alfonso, I have the honor of introducing my brothers," "Chico..." "Muma and Chico." "How come, Z oto?" "Your brothers were hanged, weren't they?" "You heard right." "But as you can see for yourself, they're fine." "But I saw them my self!" "What you saw were two shepherds, hung to pacify the neighborhood." "This is unbelievable." "U ndoub tedly, is than k s to our horses." "I 'm pleased to see you are yourself again." "Bless you, señor." "they're surrounding us." "Chico, you cover us while we get to the horses." "Where's my sword?" "My sword!" "Kiss me." "And me." "Oh, how happyI am." "Are you pleased about our meeting, cousin?" "Cousin, this lock et is horrible." "Is cooling our passion towards you." "Are you happ y, cousin?" "Yes, although I must sa y that the end of the night" "I spent with you, didn't please me at all." "You'd better accuse us with pleasures." "It wasn't so nice in the morning." "Les sayno more about it." "Here's a plait made of our hair, a talisman to remind you of us." "Talisman?" "Is widely assumed one can only love one woman." "Is a fallacy." "I fell in love with you both equally." "My heart sees no difference." "Adopt our faith." "You would sit on the throne in Tunis among harems, gardens and fountains." "No, no." "Les not tal k about kingdoms flooded with sunshine." "We're in the abyss, close to Hell." "How dare you be in the compan y of Golomez women!" "Cousin, you're done for!" "Forgiv e us." "Either you'll be killed like a coward with an ax e and your corpse hung next to the Z ota brothers at the mercy of crows and de vilish powers, or" "But the brothers" "Or you'll drin k the potion from this chalice." "Gulp it down!" "Father, you'd do the same in the name of honor, wouldn't you?" "What an unpleasant misunderstanding." "Evil spirits ta k e so manyshapes, is completely confusing." "You're here too?" "You're too young to be a cabalist, though you too are carrying a rope around your neck." "Don't worry." "You are brave, I know, though you'v e not had much experience." "You're Alfonso?" "Your mother is a Gomelez and you are a captain of the Walloon Guard." "Les leave this unpleasant place and decide what to do next." "My name is Alfonso Van Worden." "Thas e vident." "I can see you have mellowed." "I have a miraculous potion to restore your strength." "No, no, no more miraculous potions!" "Where are you going, señor?" "To Madrid." "Good." "On our waywe'll stop at a place where I left a good meal." "Not miraculous, but sumptuous." "Now listen, the book s of Nach Sou Chasi contain wise Chaldean knowledge, while theverses of Shir Ha Shi Mir contain the purest beauty of poetry." "I n Hebrew, every letter is a number, every word a very wise combination." "If it is pronounced with the right exhalation and accent, one maymove mountains and drain riv ers." "You must know that Adonai created the world with a word..." "Someone played a jok e on me here last night," "But les go in an ywa y." "My horse!" "U nbelievable!" "Mine too." "I don't understand." "The horse follows his master." "Is luckythat de vils do not need food." "Good, isn't it?" "Whas good?" "J ust as king." "I am pleased to be able to satisfy your hunger." "Whas that?" "It must be your property." "Then you too have spent the night here?" "Yes, but I won't tell you the whole story." "It was a wonderful night... in spite of everything." "I n spite of what?" "I have also giv en my word." "To whom?" "Two beautiful women, but do not as k for more." "Les set off." "Is still a long wayto Madrid." "Do you know a quick er wa y, señor?" "Yes, that wa y." "Thas where the I nquisition fell upon me." "You're right, is better to avoid an ambush." "I s there anyother path?" "Of course, for a cabalist." "We'll go around and come out on the one to Madrid." "Seter So Har shows us the depth of the ten elements, creating integrity of taste." "All this enables us to get to the powers ruling pandemonium." "Must you always tal k in riddles?" "It ma k es my journe y more interesting." "And they rule nightmares and demons, among which we can distinguish H ungarian and Polish zombies..." "Help!" "I arrest you in the name of the I nquisition!" "Giv e up your sword!" "Do not resist, Alfonso Van Worden!" "I am Don Pedro Velasquez!" "Are you craz y, señores?" "I ndeed." "Is not him." "Who is he?" "Don Pedro." "He look s rather similar." "What are you doing here?" "I thought the roads were for everybody." "Señores bandits!" "There is no road here." "Get off!" "He must have gone the other wa y." "Ma ybe he went back to Venta Quemada." "I was told he was coming this wa y." "You don't seem eager to apologize for this mista k e." "Stop bothering us!" "I n that case, I will apologize to the honorable señores." "A thorn." "There is nothing with which to ta k e it out." "And there is no place to hide, just to ex amine the situation, of course." "Señor Alfonso Van Worden?" "Some ill mannered thugs await you over there." "The I nquisition?" "Yes." "Whyshould the I nquisition be here?" "they didn't recognize you weren't Van Worden?" "they probably didn't, if they held me up." "Thas what logic would dictate." "And what now?" "You will ride to my castle, señor, a few miles awa y." "You have a castle in the neighborhood?" "You didn't mention it." "It just proves the beauty of modesty." "What if they find me?" "they cannot enter my castle." "We'll ta k e the shortest route." "If I too could ta k e adv antage of your hospitality," "I could hope for a quiet night." "Knowing the señor cabalist, I know he won't refuse shelter." "Yes, of course." "Than k you." "I will have time to reconsider everything thas happened to me." "That could driv e an inexperienced person insane." "The human mind is ready to accept an ything, if it is used knowingly." "End of Part One" "The Saragossa Manuscript, Part Two" "Enrico, the master has arriv ed!" "Has something happened?" "I don't know." "Les rest after the rigors of the journe y." "Señor, you're completely safe here." "My house is at your disposal." "Fifteenth century." "You're an expert on everything." "Curiosity distinguishes us from animals." "I look, listen and draw conclusions." "Señor, I am pleased to have met you and to be in your compan y." "Good companyis more precious than wealth or black magic." "Gentlemen, this is not the place for disputes." "Please go in." "Enrico, show the gentlemen the wa y." "You were to be here in three days time." "U nforeseeable complications." "Everything got mix ed up." "And what now?" "What now?" "I don't know." "We must k eep him here." "I await new instructions." "Who's the other one?" "Careful!" "As k no more." "Go and ma k e yourself becoming." "You might have told me." "You're boring me, my dear." "It was not possible." "I have the impression that all this is happening because of e vil spirits." "I 'd rather blame people, señor." "Someone must be after you to put you through all these misfortunes." "I 'm in your deb t, señor, as it seems that than k s to you," "I 'll find the k e y to this riddle." "I like it here." "Peace and quiet." "Thin k it all through once again." "have all your needs been met, señor?" "I don't know how to than k you." "Not at all." "Ma k e yourself at home." "Than k you." "I feel fine here," "I 'm really well." "I 'v e thought everything through." "And?" "Id be best for me to go to Madrid as soon as possible." "I hope I 'll be able to ma k e it in the dark." "The I nquisition is still guarding all the roads." "Ma ybe Señor Velasquez has some good advice?" "He's an unbeliever." "What shall I do then?" "Wait." "You have book s here." "All the wisdom in the world is to be found on these shelv es." "I particularly recommend the Spanish stories." "Señor Don Pedro, I 'v e found the answer." "Les have some wine." "Perhaps this midnight oil will mark our vigil for the last time tonight." "Come, señor, please, I 'd like to show you something." "You're sad." "Les drin k this fine wine." "We'll all soon come to rest in the eternal night." "How could you be so careless?" "If he had read the end, the events which are to follow would ma k e no sense." "Luckily, I arriv ed in time." "Strange things are happening here, señor." "I 'v e seen it with my own eyes, I even had it in my own hands." "It must be all due to the e vil spirits." "I understand, señor, that your mind is rebelling against inexplicable phenomena, but be so kind as to explain in detail." "What are you looking for, señor?" "There was a book here." "I saw the gallows." "Where has it gone?" "Here?" "There's never been a book like that here." "Demons again?" "they are tiring, I admit." "U nfortunately, the world is full of them." "I ncantations stop their mischief." "Nonsense." "Don't you believe in incantations then?" "No." "What if I prove it?" "Only if I can perform them my self." "Go on, señor." "This is not the place for philosophical disputes." "I am so glad to see you, brother." "When did you get back?" "This is Alfonso Van Worden, captain of the guard." "Captain, my sister Rebecca." "Don Pedro Velasquez." "Señora." "I will do my best." "I am glad to con vince you of the power of the supernatural." "Of course." "From Aristotle came the principle that in the mind..." "Señor Alfonso, I implore you to tell me what you thin k of everything you'v e experienced since arriving here." "I wouldn't know where to start." "I must have been put to sleep with a potion and ta k en to the gallows." "Then you got under the Z ota brothers' gallows?" "And found them both hanged?" "Do they, byanychance, have the habit of coming down?" "Very often, usually at night." "Your hand shows that you are possessed with love for the demons." "Such people have no fear of humans." "I am afraid of nobody." "I am afraid for you." "I am so glad they came." "Gaiety and fun will prevail now." "I am sorry, señora, but I have different plans." "Whatever your decision, you won't refuse to spend a few hours in our compan y." "Your brother is greeting a gypsyso warmly." "A gyps y?" "You'll see in a while what a gypsyhe is." "Welcome, Señor Alfonso." "How do you know who I am?" "Our camp moves from one place to another, and my daughters k eep their eyes and ears open." "An enchanted place." "The people of the Sierra are afraid to go near." "I have no reason to tell them they're wrong." "It is better that most of my retinue was left outside." "Señor Av adoro, in this errant life you must have encountered manyunusual adv entures." "I have." "Then tell us, and Señor Velasquez will teach us how to experience poetry without the help of ghosts." "I do not succumb to ghosts, but I fear your magic power, señora." "I reck on that from one end of the world to the other, the story of love is always the same." "I thin k you will enjoyhearing about my youthful adv entures." "Some are surprising, I could even sa y, miraculous." "Whenever I go back to those long gone times of my life," "I hear the noise of avariety of passions and a mix ed roaring of storms." "You seem wiser than others, and I have a delicate problem." "Will you follow me?" "I am the lover of a certain young person." "She tends, I thin k, to be fickle." "When you see a woman whose dress suits this, you'll see whether she goes to church, or in another direction." "Here." "You'll get another if you do well." "You're her husband, not her lover." "I 'm pa ying you to discover treason, not who I am." "Sharpen your sight, is time forvespers." "I 'll wait at the inn." "Of lovers." "Of lovers." "What is this?" "Your beauty troubled me." "Somebody suspects you of betra ying him." "Follow me." "You will giv e this to Caballero Toledo." "Noble caballero." "My conscience forbids me ta king pa yment from both sides." "What is my fortune?" "We'll get married under a big chestnut tree." "Nature will accept ourvows." "The rosyglow of dawn will bless us." "I 'v e lost Caballero Toledo 's address." "He in vited me to a grand feast." "On the other side of the square." "U ntil we meet again." "Ma ybe." "Señor Toledo, a lady wanted me to giv e you this little tok en." "I appreciate your wit, my friend, and honor." "Would you like to become one of my serv ants?" "Thas impossible, I was born a nobleman." "I chose the position of beggar as it does not dim a nobleman's jewel." "An answer worth y of a Spaniard!" "Les have a drin k." "H uman life is fragile." "Whythese dark thoughts, señor?" "I am a sinner." "I used to leave one mistress for another, but I concluded that" "I was losing too much time that wa y, so I started a new affair before ha ving brok en off the last, and while planning a third." "Spanish women have something... insistent." "I swore love to each." "The punishment for brea king oaths is terrible." "I ndeed, in the other world." "Yesterda y, a friend from Malta visited." "H is name is Aquillar, a noble person and a good Christian." "I cannot understand how, being endowed with such contradictory characters, we have liv ed in such friendship." "Aren't you drin king?" "I 'v e nearly finished the bottle." "You haven't touched your glass." "What are you thin king about?" "I was thin king of the sun which I saw toda y, whether I would see it again tomorrow." "You doub tless will, if there is no mist." "I maynot liv e to see tomorrow." "Are you planning a duel?" "I could act as your witness." "You are the last man I would as k for this favor." "Good heavens!" "You took up your old squabble with my brother?" "Shall I lose my friend or my brother in one duel?" "I have an ominous feeling..." "wait until midnight." "If I die, I will come to warn you about the penalties a sinner faces after he dies." "I didn't want to see you, but avoice from heaven ordered me to come." "Were you killed?" "I was." "I s there a purgatory in the other world?" "There is one." "And thas where I am!" "Who died?" "Tell me, who died?" "Toledo fell unconscious." "I 'm sorry, but my duties are calling me." "At such an interesting point!" "Doses of suspense are the sign of a master." "All that has made me confused." "I 'v e lost the feeling of where reality ends, and fantasyta k es over." "You meant to saypoetry." "I do not know what you are aiming at." "I will tell you something that is based on the principles of geometry." "Wanting to define an infinite number," "I write a horizontal eight and divide it byone." "If I want to express infinite smallness," "I write a one and divide it b y the horizontal eight." "All these signs giv e me no idea about what I want to express infinity... greatness..." "I n the cosmos, infinite smallness is an infinite root of the smallest part of an atom." "So I am defining infinity, but without comprehending." "Well, if I do not comprehend but I can define it," "I am getting near poetry, which seems to be nearer to life than we suspect." "Empirical science leads to lack of faith." "Only an uneducated man who sees a thing every da y thin k s he understands it." "A true researcher proceeds among riddles." "He errs, but he gets nearer his goal every da y." "Señor Av adoro, will you finish Toledo's story?" "I remember he was disturbed byavoice from the other world." "Yes." "H is tender soul was very sensitiv e." "So he was in deep despair." "What will you do?" "I want to rething k my life." "Señor Caballero, let me ma k e one comment." "Thevoice you heardyesterda y said what you could find in anycatechism." "Do not burden oneself with premature worries." "My friend, he who once heard thevoice of the dead, will surely not spend much more time among the living." "Farewell, my friend." "Tell the lady everything without getting into detail." "I have chosen you as I have a delicate problem." "I would be glad to help, but I am afraid to leave my client." "I can substitute for you, it won't be long." "Listen." "I warn you, he is a prattler and a bore." "You can find something interesting in every story." "You remember the señor with whom I dran k wine at your inn?" "He is the husband of a young noblewoman." "Discreetly hand this little jewel over to her." "Señor Lopez Suarez?" "like fortune telling, love has its magic." "This tells me you'll see me again soon." "Ma ybe." "You are kind, but the medicine is awful." "I would giv e you a more tasty one, but the medic won't let me." "Sit down." "Sit down, when I tell you to." "I have one soft spot and you will do me a favor." "Ta k e this instrument in your hand... and now listen carefully." "I am the son of Gaspar Suarez, the richest merchant in C ádiz." "You're wasting time again on romances." "I 'm listening, Daddy." "Is time you departed for Madrid." "You have to get to know the world." "Daddy, I want to get married." "First, pass your ex amination in life." "These are the rules you have to follow." "I forbid you to get into discussions with noblemen." "The lords honor us while actually they just want credit, but cannot repa y, understand?" "I forbid you to use the title of " Don"." "You are Suarez and thas that." "And I also forbid you to use your sword." "The habit brings more discredit than good." "Last but not least, under no circumstances mayyou enter into anyconnections with the house of the ban k er, Moro." "Moro." "And I will reveal to you wh y." "Though I am related to the greatest ban k ers in Spain, seeing how well you are trading with the Philippines," "I will deposit a million with you for a limited partnership." "I am honored." "I 'll try to double your deposit as soon as possible." "You do not need to hurry, señor." "Too bad I didn't hurry." "I am Moro, the royal ban k er, as you know." "My relativ e, Señor Liv ardez, has passed awa y." "I n his accounts, there is your cheque for a million." "Will you please return the capital?" "I have legally ta k en over his estate." "The million was invested." "It will be doubled in the future, ma ybe even..." "I am very sorry." "All right." "Here is your late relativ e's share." "And now listen carefully." "Years later, my ships returned, ha ving tripled the fortune, so I wrote to the ban k er Moro that I had his two million." "My principal receiv ed your letter and begs to inform you that the Liv ardez capital was entered into the book s." "He will not claim anymore." "I owe him two million!" "My principal does not even want to hear of it." "This is an insult!" "I do not need his generous donation!" "He is insulting me!" "I began to claim my rights, considering my good name and that of my profession." "I started proceedings." "The tribunal of Se ville pronounced Moro right." "We are to paycourt fees of 600, 000 piastres." "We got no justice." "Sixyears wasted." "And the two million is supposed to be mine?" "Thas vile!" "You will appeal." "So you see, my son, I have good reasons to forbid you anycontact with the house of the ban k er Moro." "And then?" "I said goodbye and, filling my carriage with love stories I had bought in C ádiz," "I left for Madrid." "Pour me some more of this good mixture, good man." "I feel my strength returning." "These sentimental stories had softened my soul so much that arriving here I was madly in love, although I didn't know the object of my desire." "Oh, sorry." "Who is that?" "Come on in, señor." "Señor Don Lopez Suarez." "I came to pa y my respects." "I am generally known under the name of... under the name of..." "Don Roque Busqueros, a family from Old Castile." "My father has forbidden me to use the title of " Don", and to get involv ed with noblemen." "Senor Don Lopez, my father, in turn, ordered me to giv e the title of " Don" to all prominent merchants, and to seek their compan y." "I also respect my father's will." "Your attitude and the elegance with which you got out of your carriage impressed me." "I s it yours, Don Lopez?" "Mine." "Luckycoincidence!" "This is what I passionately collect." "Here, I 'll be glad to oblige." "A real collector always has copies, should one get lost for un known reasons." "And the third could come in handy, when the chance arises." "Don..." "Roque, I just got out of the carriage." "I am tired and hungry." "Ex actly." "Well, Don Lopez, it isn't becoming that we eat off one plate and use the same spoon and fork." "He y, bo y!" "He y, bo y." "Get another set!" "Heybo y, get another set!" "Busqueros entertained me with gossip from Madrid, while I was impatiently looking forward to getting back to Buen Retiro." "This depopulated park is famous in our romantic stories, and I don't even know what was telling me" "I would enter into some tender relationship there." "Señora, I probably found what you are looking for." "I lost my lock et and gold chain." "Was an ything written on it?" "You read my name was I nez, and that the original of the portrait is mine." "MayI comment, lovely lady, that the finder usually gets a decent prize?" "You're forward for a first meeting." "Congratulations!" "You'v e met the son of C ádiz's richest merchant." "I did not giv e anyreason to have strangers tal k to me." "Lopez Suarez." "Be kind enough to return my lock et." "Begone!" "Señor Don Lopez," "I 'v e refused twenty in vitations to come and see you." "Well, you have to admit I did you a favoryesterda y." "Feigning unwittingness, I told the lady you were the son of one of the richest merchants." "Though she pretended to be angry, it was only to con vince you she was not at all impressed bywealth." "Believe me." "You are young, reasonable and handsome, but remember gold is never an obstacle to love." "How shall we spend the afternoon?" "I want to see the town..." "alone!" "You see there was no wa y out of this situation." "Go and sayprayers, then!" "It was a lock et from my brother." "Don't as k about an ything else, unless you find something else belonging to me." "Then you'll be able to demand a reward." "We shouldn't be seen together." "Lopez Suarez to..." "What?" "To I nez." "There is charm in my eyes, comma and you, lady, are the only reason for it." "I would like to put my thoughts in this letter, but they seem... they seem tovanish." "Don Roque, giv e it back!" "Where?" "Don Roque!" "Don Lopez!" "Stop, wait!" "Well, a letter has to be deliv ered." "You should be grateful to me, señor." "Señora." "Whydid you use a man whose impertinence I already disliked, to bring me your letter?" "I wrote that letter for my own pleasure, and that imp stole it." "Ev er since I got to Madrid, he has haunted me like an e vil spirit." "I don't thin k I can be bothered with this nonsense." "And what would you like to know now, señor?" "Señora, I wish I knew who you were and what your name is." "The daughter of a man who is as rich as your father, the ban k er, Moro." "The curse of my life." "I cannot thin k of you under the threat of my father's curse." "He crossed manyseas to set up as a merchant in C ádiz." "I n C ádiz." "Don't believe him and don't lose heart." "Those little heirs are hard to get hook ed, but sooner or later, their turn will come." "You'll scare my dog, meddler!" "Now only death is left for me." "Lightning, stri k e me!" "Do not be afraid." "I nez loves you more than her life." "Me?" "She wants to meet you at the same spot tomorrow at sunset." "I understand that at your age, you don't feel like marriage." "However, I find your ex cuse very strange." "Your father crossed manyseas to set up as a merchant in C ádiz." "You're luck y, I 'v e fix ed everything." "Señor Don Roque, do one more thing for me:" "Do not go to Buen Retiro." "Fair I nez won't be there, but I must sit once more on the same bench and weep over my misfortune." "There's something very offensiv e in your words." "they seem to infer some lack of appreciation on your part." "Señor." "Jasmine breathes the balmyfragrance, the trees grow greener as you pass under them." "What will happen to a heart which you honor?" "I could let you cry in misery alone, but fair I nez maycome, and who will repair your nonsense?" "Whas this?" "To kill time, I suggest I tell you a story, in which you will find manyinstructiv e events." "I always had a talent for the law." "I wanted to know people and life." "What is it?" "Whas the matter?" "Oh, fearsome head!" "I thought it was one of my relativ es with whom I was to have an important tal k." "I don't know you or the reason for this unexpected visit." "I had no intention of entering your room." "I just wanted to know who liv es here." "I am a lawy er, studying people's liv es." "Thas different." "Nothing's more pleasant than knowing what people are doing." "Before you wok e up, señora, your husband honored me bythin king my face was a fearsome head." "And she" "Señor Don Roque, time is passing." "Don Lopez, when a decent man is telling you a fascinating story, you should not interrupt him." "No, no explanations!" "This woman" "Let me explain everything." "I am the daughter of a brave officer." "My name is Frasquita Salero." "I attracted men, even when I was a young girl." "Frasquita, Frasquita, be modest!" "Be reasonable, Mama!" "How can I be bad with such elegant caballeros?" "haven't you dropped something?" "Too bad for me." "If you had dropped that little cross," "I would have pick ed it up and k ept it as a dear souv enir." "Frasquita, get awa y from the window." "U nfortunately, the young man never showed up again." "My beautiful wife." "My sweetness." "Do you love your hubb y?" "I do." "And nobody else?" "Nobody." "What do you have there, son?" "A letter for Señora Frasquita." "Giv e it to me." "I am her father." "Here." "A ring?" "What ring?" "" I am waiting for you and y earning for you, Peña Flor. "" "Frasquita, do you love me?" "I do." "Then there are no obstacles to our love." "Perfect, Don Ramino!" "If you go on like that with the noble Count Peña Flor, he won't be a nightmare to husbands anymore." "What if I put an end to his conquests?" "I 'm afraid of the effects of such a duel." "If I could have 100 doubloons," "I would wait out in the islands." "I 'll gladly offer you 100 for such a noble cause." "The count was murdered last night." "Peña Flor!" "From the letter we found on one of the criminals, we know that you offered 100 doubloons for the crime to be carried out." "I have never set eyes on Señor Peña Flor." "Yesterda y, two men came with a promissory note for 100 doubloons which I signed ayear ago." "Shall I show you?" "No, I am a member of the criminal court, and I am not interested in trade." "That will be all." "Ex cuse us for the inconvenience." "Did you really order this señor to be killed?" "Whyshould you care?" "Do you know him?" "I would go on a pilgrimage to St. James of Campostela and even a greater distance, if I believed it could help me." "A wonderful story." "Yes." "Since then, strange things have been happening in the house." "Here are your 100 doubloons back!" "Don Diego!" "I like it." "Needless to sa y, Count Peña Flor was only made up to upset my husband and ma k e him go on a pilgrimage!" "The justice clerk s, as well as the thugs, were all paid off." "Now I understand "the fearsome head"." "And you understand whyi thought you were somebody else." "I haven't finishedyet, señor!" "Later!" "My duties are calling me." "Do you want to offend me, señor?" "Yes, as there is no other wa y to get rid of you." "Your daddy will surely be glad." "Now." "Where was I?" "That same night," "I found my self in entirely different circumstances." "You are luckyonly to be injured, not depriv ed of life." "Eas y, eas y." "I 'v e ta k en things into my own hands." "Things will work out ok ayfor you." "But is too bad you interrupted my story at such an interesting point." "So, listen." "That same night..." "I found my self in entirely different circumstances." "Well, and what next?" "Señor..." "Don Lopez." "You shouldn't strain yourself, señor." "Is so long." "Who is it from?" "A child, a complete child." "From fair I nez, of course." "Is done." "But what is it?" "You are supposed to be at her place tonight." "The wedding is tomorrow!" "I sn't it enough?" "What place?" "Moro's house?" "Tell me how." "The simple wa y." "But the house is guarded." "The old, well known wa y." "Ta k e it eas y." "I 'll ta k e care of it." "I don't know." "What would you do without me, señor?" "Which window?" "First, second, third." "Which one?" "Third!" "The window of fair I nez." "My heart is pounding." "I am moved, and please, do not bring anyshame on me." "My gratitude, señor, but now we have to use the ultimate means." "When I clap my hands, go up to heaven!" "Ready?" "Ready!" "Well." "Balm breathes." "Jasmine does not." "Oh God!" "Did you die?" "I did!" "I s there purgatory in the other world?" "There is one and I am in it!" "Was it storm y that night?" "Lightning like in hell... it must be whyhe got the wrong window." "Señor, I found a purgatorial soul." "Where?" "What are you tal king about, man?" "Señor Toledo." "Listen, señor." "So it is the end of my penance." "But how did you find out about it?" "Lopez Suarez told me." "The merchant from C ádiz." "But how did it happen?" "Busqueros got the wrong window." "Busqueros?" "Ah, Busqueros!" "I don't know him, but as k him to come b y." "I 'd like to know more." "What do you thin k?" "The lady who gave you a hand k erchief..." "I s she still faithful to me?" "U ndoub tedly." "Farewell then." "I made up my mind to find that intruder, known all over Madrid." "Please, don't stop now." "Allow me, señora, to giv e a few moments to this man." "Frasquita told her story to Busqueros, he told it to Lopez Suarez, who in turn told it to Señor Av adoro." "Is enough to driv e you craz y." "All these adv entures begin simply." "The listener thin k s ill soon be over, but one story creates another, and then another." "Something like quotients which can be divided infinitely." "I 'm a captain of the guard, not a philosopher." "Your math is just dead numbers." "Señor, this zero, plus and minus one, gave Archimedes and Newton power equal to the gods." "Very noble men." "But whas the point of it?" "We are like blind men lost in the streets of a big city." "The streets lead to a goal, but we often return to the same places to get to where we want to be." "I can see a few little streets here which, as it is now, are going nowhere." "New combinations have to be arranged, then the whole will be clear, because one man cannot invent something that another cannot solv e." "I no longer follow." "Then les k eep listening." "Caballero Toledo regained his former gaiety and balanced soul, and I went to look for that impossible man." "I happened to meet him that same da y." "I like you, I 'll ta k e you as a serv ant." "Giv e than k s to heaven that unlimited possibilities are opening up to you." "I suppose you haven't met manynoblemen." "I can easily prove that I was brought up as a gentleman." "The fact that I 'm a beggar is down to fate, not birth." "Thas fine." "Les go, señor." "At first, your duties won't seem very attractiv e, as you won't be paid or have proper clothes." "As for board..." "Are you byanychance the Don Busqueros to whom Lopez Suarez owes so much?" "Yes, thas me." "I 'd have ended this whole thing successfully if he hadn't got the wrong window, but les be patient." "Caballero Toledo wishes to get to know you." "Toledo?" "Is a great honor for me." "I found out that Lopez Senior travelled from C ádiz, and waited at the house, but ha ving missed his son, went to town." "Where to?" "Where can a pro vincial man go?" "To see the church." "Wrong, you noble tramp." "To the tavern." "But which one?" "The nearest." "But señor, what nonsense." "You must admit, C ádiz is a more important city than Madrid." "Whas more, Suarez, who was short of cash, was trading, than k s to his contacts with Liv ardez." "Moro, in order to retrieve the mone y, had to start a case, which is still unfinished." "Suarez sued Moro to ma k e him accept not a million, but two million from the investment." "The Suarez family is the greatest in Spain and you are an ill informed big mouth." "Than k you for your compan y." "I can see, señor, that you're an honest negotiator." "I 'm honored bywhat you'v e said." "I 'm Gaspar Suarez from Cádiz." "My name is Moraredo." "You are heaven sent." "I deduced from your talk that you're a true connoisseur of life." "At your service." "I sent my son here," "I forbade him to use the title "Don" or frequent nobles." "Very wise." "Or draw a sword." "Understandable." "Just imagine, my Lopez is now Don Lopez, and the only person he is close to is a nobleman called Busqueros." "U nbelievable." "And he fought him and was thrown out of the window." "I've decided to have him married immediately." "Do you know a young lady from a spotless family?" "I do." "What a luckycoincidence." "A reputable merchant also got angry and said he'd closet her in the monastery if she doesn't choose a husband this week." "I 'd love to tal k to her." "You'll meet her toda y." "What in an inn?" "A lady from a good family?" "I ncognito." "We should hurry." "He's pa ying." "Farewell." "Toda y, more than ever, you'll understand thevalue of my friendship." "You know, Don Lopez, such complex tas k s are my specialty." "From what I gather, you know the merchans life well." "But ex cuse me, Señor..." "Moraredo." "Your name is not known in merchants' circles." "You know, señor..." "I presume the situation hasn't allowed you, so far, to try your hand at a business conduciv e to your abilities." "The reason for my beha vior, señor, is not impertinence." "I came here only because my father's rage forces me to seek salv ation." "I respect the name of Suarez." "Dear lady, I 'm honored." "So you intend to marry Señorita Moro." "Señorita Moro?" "Are your intentions not serious?" "There's a misunderstanding!" "If you can kneel in front of my sister, you're not too old to duel." "Draw or go out the window!" "What?" "Your honor is at sta k e." "I forbid you to have an ything to do with nobility." "I only got close to the one standing next to you." "You shouldn't have duelled." "Mind, señor, you'v e got a sword in your hand too." "Oh, Lopez, whyon earth did you choose Señorita Moro?" "But you yourself were kneeling at her feet not long ago." "The punishment, Señor Gaspar Suarez, always fits the crime." "If your son ta k es my daughter's hand, it would be an honor." "Although he chose to introduce himself through the window, his actions were undoub tedly due to the grudge over the two million." "I 'll accept it then, pro vided I can add another two million, and giv e it all to your son, along with my daughter's hand." "You'v e done a good job." "Well done, well done, señor." "Is not hard to see how ill turn out." "Lopez was ta k en to his future father in law's house, and with I nez's care, he'll soon recover." "And now I 'd like to hear more about the other affair." "Was this woman, Frasquita, so charming then?" "I told the story you just mentioned to a young gentleman." "Yes,yes, and Lopez Suarez passed it on to my friend, who introduced me to her." "You have an incredible memory, señor." "Since you already know Frasquita's story," "I should tell the story of her husband, and how he got to meet an unfortunate young man." "Go ahead." "That very night," "I found my self in entirely different circumstances." "Who are you?" "This sign shows I 'm in the De vil's power." "Reprobate, stop persecuting me!" "Persecute." "What of the doubloons you paid for Count Peña Flor's head?" "What do you want of me?" "You recognize me?" "As you can see, the count, before his death, raised the sta k es." "Don't!" "Don't!" "You'v e giv en us a pleasant hour, señor." "You have not disappointed me." "Ex cuse me for telling of things which is a sin in itself, but it is a very instructiv e story." "What happened to Señora Cornandez?" "She became a widow!" "Then she married her lover, and ever since, has led a model life." "Here she is!" "Well?" "But this is Doña I scariz." "Frasquita." "What can I do?" "I couldn't." "Nor could I!" "The only wayis" "She said I was her first lover." "There are other women in the world." "Toledo?" "Señor Toledo!" "Run!" "Don't panic!" "I must thin k it all over again." "More carefully this time." "Señor I" "Farewell, my friends." "Your sword." "He leads an exhausting life, I must sa y." "There should be a ladder under every window." "J ust in case." "Whas up?" "The officers of the guard are sorting out a problem." "Must have been a dilemma." "There were other reasons too." "I s what you said true?" "I never back down." "If I 'm not mista k en, that brave officer was your father." "The chronicles of his duels mention those events." "I n order to avoid an argument, he duelled twice that da y, wounded fiv e in the afternoon and six more in the evening." "He did right, or there'd have been an unnecessary argument!" "And this is the end of the story." "You wanted me to tell of my adv entures, and I don't thin k you regret your curiosity." "We must part." "The hour of parting..." "I 'm very sorry..." "also has its sweetness." "I mportant affairs are calling you." "But you said..." "I don't thin k, señor, you'v e got much time left." "Alfonso Van Worden, we're waiting for you." "Who are you?" "My name will tell you nothing." "Welcome to Gomelez's land." "You must recognize the hermit in me, and thus guess that I am the Shei k of the Gomelez." "You are here because you have not disappointed us." "Well, I 'm a captain of the guard." "Is time for me to reveal our secret." "The Prophet has blessed your love." "they will both soon be mothers and continue the family line." "We'v e been to ying with you long enough to ma k e sure that your first night in Venta Quemada will be fruitful for the Gomelez family, as you are the only male heir to ourvanishing line." "Everything you have been through was a planned game, meant to test your honor and courage." "Your men were the ghosts and spirits?" "And the Cabalist?" "Yes." "So was Pashek o." "He is a Basque acrobat and he lost an eye performing some dangerous acrobatics." "If you sayVelasquez was also involv ed, I won't believe it." "Yes." "This heretic caused us a lot of trouble and we are putting our hopes in Rebecca's hands." "I n this book is everything you saw and experienced." "Ma ybe I can put it all in some order at last." "The rest you can write yourself." "MayAllah send the dew of happiness on your head." "Kiss him, Zibelda." "I will be happyseeing him in your arms." "Whenever I see you, I am always afraid I won't see you again." "Perhaps we won't meet again." "But we want to liv e in your memory forever." "The hour of parting also has its sweetness." "But now I know everything, so tell me really who you are." "Close your eyes." "And when you hear your name, follow us." "Now?" "Can we ma k e it before dark?" "We can." "This time we can." "For sure." "Where have you been?" "The mules have escaped." "Off we go on our wa y." "And hurry!" "You must see to him." "A nice room and some peace are the adv antages of our inn." "For a long time, they thought I was missing." "Everybody was overjoyed to see me." "Only the shel k was saddened to see me wea k and my health damaged." "A meal for the señor, quick." "Two foreign ladies, who are spending the night at this inn, would like to in vite you for supper." "Whas that?" "Where?" "The End"