The little party of enchantment hunters ventured to the entrance
of the covered way, but nothing would tempt them to enter, in this
hour of gathering gloom; they dreaded the grasp of the phantom arm.
At length they came running back into the Hall of Ambassadors in a
mock paroxysm of terror; they had positively seen two spectral figures
all in white. They had not stopped to examine them; but could not be
mistaken, for they glared distinctly through the surrounding gloom.
Dolores soon arrived and explained the mystery. The spectres proved to
be two statues of nymphs in white marble, placed at the entrance of
a vaulted passage. Upon this a grave, but, as I thought, somewhat
sly old gentleman present, who, I believe, was the count's advocate or
legal adviser, assured them that these statues were connected with one
of the greatest mysteries of the Alhambra; that there was a curious
history concerning them, and moreover, that they stood a living
monument in marble of female secrecy and discretion. All present
entreated him to tell the history of the statues. He took a little
time to recollect the details, and then gave them in substance the
following legend.
Legend of the Two Discreet Statues.
THERE lived once in a waste apartment of the Alhambra, a merry
little fellow, named Lope Sanchez, who worked in the gardens, and
was as brisk and blithe as a grasshopper, singing all day long.
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