Now it so happened that this alcalde was one of the most
overbearing, and at the same time most griping and corrupt curmudgeons
in all Granada. It could not be denied, however, that he set a high
value upon justice, for he sold it at its weight in gold. He
presumed the case in point to be one of murder and robbery;
doubtless there must be a rich spoil; how was it to be secured into
the legitimate hands of the law? for as to merely entrapping the
delinquent- that would be feeding the gallows; but entrapping the
booty- that would be enriching the judge, and such, according to his
creed, was the great end of justice. So thinking, he summoned to his
presence his trustiest alguazil- a gaunt, hungry-looking varlet, clad,
according to the custom of his order, in the ancient Spanish garb: a
broad black beaver turned up at its sides, a quaint ruff, a small
black cloak dangling from his shoulders, rusty black under-clothes
that set off his spare wiry frame, while in his hand he bore a slender
white wand, the dreaded insignia of his office. Such was the legal
bloodhound of the ancient Spanish breed, that he put upon the traces
of the unlucky water-carrier, and such was his speed and certainty,
that he was upon the haunches of poor Peregil before he had returned
to his dwelling, and brought both him and his donkey before the
dispenser of justice.
The alcalde bent upon him one of the most terrific frowns.
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