Indeed, when at length the day arrived,
I did not dare venture upon a leave-taking at the good dame Antonia's;
I saw the soft heart of little Dolores, at least, was brim full and
ready for an overflow. So I bade a silent adieu to the palace and
its inmates, and descended into the city, as if intending to return.
There, however, the tartana and the guide were ready; so, after taking
a noonday's repast with my fellow traveller at the posada, I set out
with him on our journey.
Humble was the cortege and melancholy the departure of El Rey Chico
the second! Manuel, the nephew of Tia Antonia, Mateo, my officious
but now disconsolate squire, and two or three old invalids of the
Alhambra with whom I had grown into gossiping companionship, had come
down to see me off; for it is one of the good old customs of Spain, to
sally forth several miles to meet a coming friend, and to accompany
him as far on his departure. Thus then we set out, ourlong-legged
guard striding ahead, with his escopeta on his shoulder, Manuel and
Mateo on each side of the tartana, and the old invalids behind.
At some little distance to the north of Granada, the road
gradually ascends the hills; here I alighted and walked up slowly with
Manuel, who took this occasion to confide to me the secret of his
heart and of all those tender concerns between himself and Dolores,
with which I had been already informed by the all knowing and all
revealing Mateo Ximenes.
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