The Prime Minister
Page 22
dried fish, and other provisions of the coarsest sort.A rough deal table and benches run close to the wall the whole length ofthe apartment; and there is a shorter one on the opposite side, near thefire. The floor is of clay, perfectly black, and beaten hard, but worninto irregular undulations and holes where most trodden on. We are nowdescribing the past and the present, and probably the future, for manyyears to come, though we cannot pierce the gloom of the dark abyss oftime; but as our business is rather with the past, we prefer adhering tothat tense. The further end of the room opened into a sort ofstable-yard, from which freely entered at all times several long-legged,thin white swine, with a youthful progeny of grunters, who were allowedto satisfy their inquisitive natures, if not their appetites, by pokingtheir snouts into every pan or utensil they met with in theirperegrinations, receiving now and then a gentle rebuke, administeredwith the bottom of a frying-pan, by the nimble-handed damsel whoofficiated as chief of the culinary department, accompanied by a no verycomplimentary epithet, at which they grunted forth their disapprobation,and continued the same proceedings. Besides the pigs, numerous fowlsappeared to be welcome visitors, being allowed to establish their rooston the rafters of the roof, in one corner, and to hop about and pick upwhat escaped the vigilance of the yet more favoured animals. Nor mustwe forget, having begun with the dumb species, instead of the noblerpart of creation, to mention two or three dogs, whose appearance was farfrom prepossessing, as they stalked about among the guests, in eagerexpectation of the morsels thrown to them, or of the crumbs which fellfrom the table. They were of a dirty yellow colour, their headssomething like that of a fox, but with bodies lean and gaunt as a wolf,to which race they appeared to belong. Such is the large dog of thecountry; but there is every gradation of shape, size, and colour, downto the smallest turnspit, to give any specific name to which would beimpossible. Having described the dogs, we must now mention the agileGriskenissa, the youthful queen of those regions. She was alaughing-mouthed damsel, her lips rather thick and full, disclosing themost pearly teeth, her nose _retrousse_, between a pair of largesparkling black eyes, and her figure rather more fully developed,particularly about the bust, than would accord with the Venus deMedicis. A rich bloom brightened the nut-brown tint of her not verydelicate complexion, whose dark hue was increased by her occupationsover the fire. Her hair was drawn back, fastened in a knot behind, andcovered with a coloured handkerchief, a white one being thrown over hershoulders. The sleeves and skirt of her gown being tucked up, exhibiteda pair of stout arms and legs of the same build, destitute of stockingsor shoes. The noise of her tongue was, as Captain Rolando, in the"Honeymoon," describes most unjustly that of her sex in general, likethe clatter of a mill; the more she moved about, the faster it went, thegrist being the questions and jokes of her guests, to which she failednot to give some sharp repartee. She was aided in the actual work ofcooking by an old crone, who, now bending over the fire, was engaged instirring a mess of broth simmering in a large pot, while a little boy,clothed in the smallest quantity of raiment which could possibly coverhis body, was employed in bringing wood to feed the flame. The masterof the house generally walked about with his hands in his pockets, acigarito in his mouth, and his cap set rakingly on one side, by far toofine a gentleman to attend to the wants of his guests, thoughoccasionally, to those of higher degree, he would condescend to make alow bow as they departed, provided they paid well, and shared with him abottle or so of his best wine.
The sun had some time set, the apartment being thrown into obscurity,except near the blaze of the fire, and at the further end of the longtable, where, round a brass lamp of that elegant shape used by theRomans, and still to be seen in Italy, were seated the landlord and fouror five of his guests, deeply immersed in some game of cards, theircountenances exhibiting all the eager passions of men who had large sumsat stake. Indeed, several gold and silver pieces were seen to changehands, to the evident rage of the losers; though, from the dress andappearance of the men, one would not have expected to find thempossessed of so large an amount. Their costume was soiled, and patchedwith divers shades of cloth: it consisted of short braided jackets, andred waistcoats, loose trowsers and long gaiters, with a red sash roundthe waist, in which was stuck, without any attempt at concealment, along knife, in a sheath, towards whose hilt the hand seemed to have anatural tendency to move. On their heads they wore round, low-crownedhats of black felt, with rather broad brims, which, pulled a littleforward, effectually concealed the features.
At the smaller table, near the fire, were several other people,discussing in silence their suppers of cabbage broth, inattentive towhat was going forward at the other end of the room. Two hours of thenight had passed away, the card party yet eagerly proceeding in theirgame, with slight variations of fortune, when the clatter of horses'hoofs was heard, and the boy was loudly summoned to hold a lantern whilethe animals were stalled and fed; and, soon afterwards, two men, wrappedin large riding cloaks, entered, and glancing at the guests near thefire, advanced towards the end of the long table. The gamblers, lookingup for a moment, received them as friends; but their interest in thegame was far too intense to permit their attention to be withdrawn for alonger period; the others looking patiently on, till one of the formersprang from his seat, exclaiming, "By St. Anthony, I play no more:curses on the game; I've lost my last testoon, and owe more to boot.How to pay my debts I know not."
One of the new comers, fixing his eyes on him, smiled significantly."What, Salvador," he said, "know you not how a man of spirit may bestrecruit his exhausted finances? Banish all fears, I will soon put youin the way of it."
"Thanks, senhor, I have trod it before," answered Salvador; "but I likenot the sight of the gibbet in the distance."
"Fool!" muttered the other; "no man of courage is frightened at such aphantom."
What further might have been said was cut short by another of the partydashing the cards to the ground, and trampling on them almost withscreams, in his fury at having become the loser of all his wealth,darting fierce scowls at those who were the gainers, particularly thelandlord, who had managed to pay himself well for the time occupied inthe game, and who, now calling to the boy, ordered him to pick up thescattered pack.
The game now terminated; and the party, having again resumed theirseats, made many inquiries of their newly-arrived friends. "We littleexpected to see you here so soon," said the Landlord; "what made youleave Lisbon so suddenly?"
"A cursed mistake we committed last night, when two of our friends fellinto the hands of justice. We had been engaged by the Conde de SanVincente, who gives us plenty of employment, to get rid of a rival ofhis in the affections of a certain lady; and, after following our manfor some way, who we knew would make no resistance, and, feeling quitesure of him, just as Miguel was about to give him his quietus, out hewhips his rapier, and uses it so manfully, after knocking down Miguel,that he kept us at bay till a friend came to his assistance; but weshould have got the better of them both, when, who should pass by butthe devil, in the shape of Sebastiao Joze de Carvalho himself, whoforthwith seized on Miguel and Baltar, whom he has clapped into prison;and we, thinking Lisbon may be too hot for us, came off here; for he isnot apt to let any escape whom he may wish to find."
"Ah! San Vincente is a man I like to serve," said another. "His verycowardice is a recommendation, as he first pays one well to commit adeed he dare not do himself, and then double to keep it concealed."
"Yes, if it were not for the hatred of the proud fidalgos for eachother, we honest, humble men should not be able to exist."
"Ay, thank the saints, they give us work enough to keep our hands inpractice, though scarce enough to let us live like gentlemen," criedanother.
"Forsooth, the profession has fallen into much disrepute lately, sincepretenders to it offer their services to commit a murder for a couple ofcrowns. Such shabby villains ought to be scouted from society,"exclaimed a fourth. "When a man does undertake to do a piece of work,let it be for something, or he is
acting dishonestly towards others,besides being guilty of a meanness of which any gentleman ought to beashamed."
"Silence, Senhores, silence!" exclaimed the Landlord, looking round;"your conversation is becoming of a nature not fit for common ears: andsee, some persons at the other table are opening theirs to listen."
"Never fear," answered one of the last comers; "we are not ashamed ofour profession, as long as it is exercised with credit."
"That may be," said the Landlord; "but you must remember therespectability of my house. I might lose my customers, if it were knownI had the honour of your friendship. No offence to you at the sametime."
"Well, well, Senhor Bernardo; say no more on the subject," said theother, laughing. "Ah! see, here comes your