Letters of Two Brides

During our brief revolution, my life of unremitting toil was reduced

to the barest necessaries, and these my salary was sufficient to

provide. You will therefore find the income of the last two years in

the hands of your steward. This sum is mine; but a Duc de Soria cannot

marry without a large expenditure of money, therefore we will divide

it. You will not refuse this wedding-present from your brigand

brother. Besides, I mean to have it so.

The barony of Macumer, not being Spanish territory, remains to me.

Thus I have still a country and a name, should I wish to take up a

position in the world again.

Thank Heaven, this finishes our business, and the house of Soria is

saved! At the very moment when I drop into simple Baron de Macumer, the

French cannon announce the arrival of the Duc d'Angouleme. You will

understand why I break off. . . . October.

When I arrived here I had not ten doubloons in my pocket. He would

indeed be a poor sort of leader who, in the midst of calamities he has

not been able to avert, has found means to feather his own nest. For

the vanquished Moor there remains a horse and the desert; for the

Christian foiled of his hopes, the cloister and a few gold pieces.

But my present resignation is mere weariness. I am not yet so near the

monastery as to have abandoned all thoughts of life. Ozalga had given

me several letters of introduction to meet all emergencies, amongst

these one to a bookseller, who takes with our fellow-countrymen the

place which Galignani holds with the English in Paris. This man has

found eight pupils for me at three francs a lesson. I go to my pupils

every alternate day, so that I have four lessons a day and earn twelve

francs, which is more than I require. When Urraca comes I shall make

some Spanish exile happy by passing on to him my connection.

I lodge in the Rue Hillerin-Bertin with a poor widow, who takes

boarders. My room faces south and looks out on a little garden. It is

perfectly quiet; I have green trees to look upon, and spend the sum of

one piastre a day. I am amazed at the amount of calm, pure pleasure

which I enjoy in this life, after the fashion of Dionysius at Corinth.

From sunrise until ten o'clock I smoke and take my chocolate, sitting

at my window and contemplating two Spanish plants, a broom which rises

out of a clump of jessamine--gold on a white ground, colors which must

send a thrill through any scion of the Moors. At ten o'clock I start

for my lessons, which last till four, when I return for dinner.

Afterwards I read and smoke till I go to bed.