to my ear; but I passed on to a less
fashionable quarter, and rested myself in a
stall of humble appearance, raised for the
sale of "boñuelos." The "boñuelo" is
a sort of fritter, of ring-like form, made
by gipsies only, under the very noses of
their customers, and vended at a price
ridiculously low. When I had consumed a lofty
mountain of these delicacies, and washed
it down with a detestable liquor, resembling
aniseed, I proceeded on my way; for
though I excessively admired a very
handsome gipsy-woman who had waited upon
me, I was somewhat awed by her stern
hard features. I will add, that my adventure
in the dancing-room had made me shy
of gipsies in general.

I reached a booth, on which hung a
boldly-painted picture of a giantess, and
into which a crowd was thronging. I paid
the price of admission, and entering the
booth, saw the giantess seated on a chair
of state. Rising, she made a speech,
stating the particulars of her birth, descent,
and stature, and then invited me, as the
tallest of the company, to stand by her
side, that her own stupendous height might
be rendered more obvious by comparison.
The multitude applauded; I looked up to
the giantess, the giantess looked down upon
me; and our eyes meeting spoke unutterable
things. Here, at last, was an
opportunity for something wonderful. I would
carry off the giantess!

The rest of the spectators quitted the
booth, and I was left alone with the colossal
beauty; but soon a stranger in military
attire made his appearance at the back of
the booth, and, in a peremptory voice,
insisted on my immediate departure. Having
this time resolved to encounter extremities,
I drew my sword, and ran the intruder
through the body, whereupon he fell dead,
while a smile of calm satisfaction passed
over the lips of the giantess. Of remorse
for this atrocious deed I did not feel a
particle. Perceiving a handy stool, I placed
it by the side of the lovely being, and,
standing upon it, flung my arms as far
round her waist as the vastness of its
circumference would permit.

"Fly with me into another land, glory
of thy sex!" I exclaimed.

There was one difficulty on which I
had not calculated, namely, the exceeding
weight of the giantess. My mad
intention had been to carry her off on my
shoulders, as Lothair carries Claudine in
the Miller and his Men. I might as
well have attempted to bear Gog and
Magog from their site in Guildhall. The
giantess yelled with laughter at my very
ridiculous position, which, however, she
varied by catching me up in her arms
and carrying me, like a baby, out of the
booth.

On she stalked through the fair, followed
by a shouting multitude; but our joint
popularity did not reach its height till we
came to the more aristocratic street. The
gossips ceased to gossip, flirtations were
brought to a sudden stand-still, the
musicians left off playing, the dancers stopped
in the midst of their dance; all the beauty
and fashion of Seville were absorbed in the
contemplation of two objects, the giantess
and her puny burden; the former being
regarded with admiration, the latter with
contempt. Derision rose around me in
titters, and amid the confusion of roars
and shrieks I clearly distinguished a deep
guffaw, in which I recognised the stern
lungs of the commandant. I fainted away,
crushed into unconsciousness by the weight
of my own absurdity.

When I had recovered, I slowly pulled
myself together, and became aware that
I was lying in a vast circus. From the
ground, at the circumference of this
circus, seats arose in step-like order, and
above these was a gallery, furnished with
other seats, which arose in step-like order
likewise. It was a bright sunny afternoon,
and in Seville the sun is the source of even
more heat than light. My faceless friend
(or enemy) stood by me, and spake thus:

"You had better have followed my
advice; but as you are determined to make
yourself conspicuous, you shall have your
own ridiculous way. To-day is the Tuesday
in Easter-week; this is the Plaza de Toros,
or bull-ring. In half an hour the bull-
fight will begin, and you are destined to be
the matador."

"I am aware," I said, "that the matador
is the person who kills the bull with a
sword——"

"Such is the rule," interrupted the faceless
one, "but you will possibly illustrate
the doctrine, that there is no rule without
an exception."

"I have never gone through the training
of a matador," I objected.

"The more extraordinary will be your
performance," was the reply. " Be so kind
as to give me your sword, throw off your
large cloak, take this smaller cloak into
your hand, and make the best of your
situation."