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of taste in Paris to make their purchases。 I shall reply to your
letter later。
VI
DON FELIPE HENAREZ TO DON FERNAND
PARIS； September。
The address of this letter； my brother； will show you that the head of
your house is out of reach of danger。 If the massacre of our ancestors
in the Court of Lions made Spaniards and Christians of us against our
will； it left us a legacy of Arab cunning； and it may be that I owe my
safety to the blood of the Abencerrages still flowing in my veins。
Fear made Ferdinand's acting so good； that Valdez actually believed in
his protestations。 But for me the poor Admiral would have been done
for。 Nothing； it seems； will teach the Liberals what a king is。 This
particular Bourbon has been long known to me； and the more His Majesty
assured me of his protection； the stronger grew my suspicions。 A true
Spaniard has no need to repeat a promise。 A flow of words is a sure
sign of duplicity。
Valdez took ship on an English vessel。 For myself； no sooner did I see
the cause of my beloved Spain wrecked in Andalusia； than I wrote to
the steward of my Sardinian estate to make arrangements for my escape。
Some hardy coral fishers were despatched to wait for me at a point on
the coast； and when Ferdinand urged the French to secure my person； I
was already in my barony of Macumer； amidst brigands who defy all law
and all avengers。
The last Hispano…Moorish family of Granada has found once more the
shelter of an African desert； and even a Saracen horse； in an estate
which comes to it from Saracens。 How the eyes of these brigandswho
but yesterday had dreaded my authoritysparkled with savage joy and
pride when they found they were protecting against the King of Spain's
vendetta the Duc de Soria； their master and a Henarezthe first who
had come to visit them since the time when the island belonged to the
Moors。 More than a score of rifles were ready to point at Ferdinand of
Bourbon； son of a race which was still unknown when the Abencerrages
arrived as conquerors on the banks of the Loire。
My idea had been to live on the income of these huge estates； which；
unfortunately； we have so greatly neglected； but my stay there
convinced me that this was impossible； and that Queverdo's reports
were only too correct。 The poor man had twenty…two lives at my
disposal； and not a single /real/； prairies of twenty thousand acres；
and not a house； virgin forests； and not a stick of furniture！ A
million piastres and a resident master for half a century would be
necessary to make these magnificent lands pay。 I must see to this。
The conquered have time during their flight to ponder their own case
and that of their vanquished party。 At the spectacle of my noble
country； a corpse for monks to prey on； my eyes filled with tears； I
read in it the presage of Spain's gloomy future。
At Marseilles I heard of Riego's end。 Painfully did it come home to me
that my life also would henceforth be a martyrdom； but a martyrdom
protracted and unnoticed。 Is existence worthy the name； when a man can
no longer die for his country or live for a woman？ To love； to
conquer； this twofold form of the same thought； is the law graven on
our sabres； emblazoned on the vaulted roofs of our palaces；
ceaselessly whispered by the water； which rises and falls in our
marble fountains。 But in vain does it nerve my heart； the sabre is
broken； the palace in ashes； the living spring sucked up by the barren
sand。
Here； then； is my last will and testament。
Don Fernand； you will understand now why I put a check upon your ardor
and ordered you to remain faithful to the /rey netto/。 As your brother
and friend； I implore you to obey me； as your master； I command。 You
will go to the King and will ask from him the grant of my dignities
and property； my office and titles。 He will perhaps hesitate； and may
treat you to some regal scowls； but you must tell him that you are
loved by Marie Heredia； and that Marie can marry none but a Duc de
Soria。 This will make the King radiant。 It is the immense fortune of
the Heredia family which alone has stood between him and the
accomplishment of my ruin。 Your proposal will seem to him； therefore；
to deprive me of a last resource； and he will gladly hand over to you
my spoils。
You will then marry Marie。 The secret of the mutual love against which
you fought was no secret to me； and I have prepared the old Count to
see you take my place。 Marie and I were merely doing what was expected
of us in our position and carrying out the wishes of our fathers；
everything else is in your favor。 You are beautiful as a child of
love； and are possessed of Marie's heart。 I am an ill…favored Spanish
grandee； for whom she feels an aversion to which she will not confess。
Some slight reluctance there may be on the part of the noble Spanish
girl on account of my misfortunes； but this you will soon overcome。
Duc de Soria； your predecessor would neither cost you a regret nor rob
you of a maravedi。 My mother's diamonds； which will suffice to make me
independent； I will keep； because the gap caused by them in the family
estate can be filled by Marie's jewels。 You can send them； therefore；
by my nurse； old Urraca； the only one of my servants whom I wish to
retain。 No one can prepare my chocolate as she does。
During our brief revolution； my life of unremitting toil was reduced
to the barest necessaries； and these my salary was sufficient to
provide。 You will therefore find the income of the last two years in
the hands of your steward。 This sum is mine； but a Duc de Soria cannot
marry without a large expenditure of money； therefore we will divide
it。 You will not refuse this wedding…present from your brigand
brother。 Besides； I mean to have it so。
The barony of Macumer； not being Spanish territory； remains to me。
Thus I have still a country and a name； should I wish to take up a
position in the world again。
Thank Heaven； this finishes our business； and the house of Soria is
saved！
At the very moment when I drop into simple Baron de Macumer； the
French cannon announce the arrival of the Duc d'Angouleme。 You will
understand why I break off。 。 。 。
October。
When I arrived here I had not ten doubloons in my pocket。 He would
indeed be a poor sort of leader who； in the midst of calamities he has
not been able to avert； has found means to feather his own nest。 For
the vanquished Moor there remains a horse and the desert； for the
Christian foiled of his hopes； the cloister and a few gold pieces。
But my present resignation is mere weariness。 I am not yet so near the
monastery as to have abandoned all thoughts of life。 Ozalga had given
me several letters of introduction to meet all emergencies； amongst
these one to a bookseller； who takes with our fellow…countrymen the
place which Galignani holds with the English in Paris。 This man has
found eight pupils for me at three francs a lesson。 I go to my pupils
every alternate day； so that I have four lessons a day and earn twelve
francs； which is more than I require。 When Urraca comes I shall make
some Spanish exile happy by passing on to him my connection。
I lodge in the Rue Hillerin…Bertin with a