This Excellent Individual, Who Was Both Wealthy
And Respected, Took Up The Matter With An Enthusiasm Which
Doubtless Emanated From On High, Losing No Opportunity Of
Recommending My Book To Those Who Entered His Shop, Which Was In
The Azabacheria, And Was A Very Splendid And Commodious
Establishment.
In many instances, when the peasants of the
neighbourhood came with an intention of purchasing some of the
foolish
Popular story-books of Spain, he persuaded them to carry
home Testaments instead, assuring them that the sacred volume was a
better, more instructive, and even far more entertaining book than
those they came in quest of. He speedily conceived a great fancy
for me, and regularly came to visit me every evening at my posada,
and accompanied me in my walks about the town and the environs. He
was a man of considerable information, and though of much
simplicity, possessed a kind of good-natured humour which was
frequently highly diverting.
I was walking late one night alone in the Alameda of Saint James,
considering in what direction I should next bend my course, for I
had been already ten days in this place; the moon was shining
gloriously, and illumined every object around to a considerable
distance. The Alameda was quite deserted; everybody, with the
exception of myself, having for some time retired. I sat down on a
bench and continued my reflections, which were suddenly interrupted
by a heavy stumping sound. Turning my eyes in the direction from
which it proceeded, I perceived what at first appeared a shapeless
bulk slowly advancing:
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