Blood and Sand

at La Rinconada, a party of his friends gather

and felt the silence of the big house oppress her, kept her sister-in-law's two youngest children with her. These children, from natural affection and also probably by

f her numerous children, while advancing years were bringing a slight moustache to her upper

could reply the

ir uncle and aunt! The little girl especially, s

fantile cunning, what was expected of them by their parents, exaggerating their caress

Angustias and of their father and mother, threw their arms round th

n the espada had guests-and they were all people of a certain social p

mother must preside. Sit you down ther

shing on her the most affectionate caresses, as if he wished

lardo, wearing a rich zamorra,[68] like a wealthy landowner, his head bare, and the pig-tail smoothed forward almost to his forehead, welcomed his banderill

e Sebastian a

l the working classes being so hopelessly behindhand. All the assembly burst out laughing, as if somethin

The two youngest were godchildren of Gallardo and his wife, so that in this way there was a sort of connection between the two. Hypocrite! Every Sunday he brought the two children, dressed in their best to kiss the hands of their godparents, and the saddler grew

atred, he endeavoured to mortify him by saying that in his opinion every one who propagated r

gured as "the torero of the future," and the amateurs of Seville, fixing their eyes on him, hoped that he would have eclipsed the matadors from other towns. But this lasted only a short time. On his return from his American journey with the prestige of distant and possibly nebulous feats, all the populace of Seville rushed to the Plaza to see him kill. Thousands of people could not obtain admitta

amily, and save sufficient to start some small business. His kindness and his honourable habits were proverbial among his colleagues of the pig-tail, consequently his chief's wife was much attached to him, seeing in him a kind of guardian angel of her husband's fidelity. When in summer Gal

e result of want of education, and most certainly those poor women knew neither how to read nor write. It was also the case with himself, and as he attribut

e National Militia, he had played at being a soldier, figuring in those battalions who wore a red cap in sign of their federal "intransigeance." He had spent whole days in front of those platforms erected in public places, or in those clubs which had declared themselves in permanent sitting, where the orators succee

pt of the absurdities of existing society. He had not spent many years listening to papers being read in vain. However bad a torero he might be, he would earn more, and wo

rs' service. The committee of his district who had decreed the expulsion from the party of all their co-religionists who a

myself clearly. But to read and write is quite as necessary to the people as to have bread, and[Pg 107] it is wrong that money should be spent on us, while schools are so sadly wan

n the part of the espada and his friends could shake, expressed an honourable p

man of Jewish origin, who brought into political strife all the ardour of the Maccabees, and was proud of his swarthy ugli

attacked El National's doctrines with all sorts of extravagant argumen

is why we of the lower orders are such simpletons. Oh! if only Don Joselito were here!... By

hed to the school souvenirs of the Inquisition, and with the meticulous vindictiveness of[Pg 108] a fugitive prisoner endeavoured to reconstruct hour by hour the skeleton of his jailor. There on the shelves of a cupboard were rows of books and parchments, accounts of autos da fe and lists of questions wherewith to interrogate the criminals during their t

soul, quick to feel indignation, rose up agai

e who say.... By the life of the dove

ding to him, those who remained indifferent to the fate of the country and did not figure on the party register, were "poor victims of the national ignorance." The salvation of the people depended on

r, and Gallardo changed into the second-class carriage where "his lads" were travel

g

solemn than usual in presence of the enemy. The picadors, Potaje and Tragabuches, rough and aggressive fellows, fond

t him straight!... Give him one i

silent obedience. But the zeal of proselytism was stronger in this simple soul than his subordination, and one insignificant word was sufficient to start him on a discussion with his fe

d make head against educated men, and even put them in a corner, which by the way mi

to their final argument. How could men who exposed their lives so frequently not think of God, and believe such t

at their women's hands had sewn into their fighting clothes before they left Seville. The espada, wounded in his slumb

is a good fellow, but his head has been turned by all these lies.... Shu

considered as depositaries of the future, overw

d write." And strong in his faith, with the obstinacy of a simple man who only possesses two or three ideas and clutches hold

cadors, who having said their prayer in the chapel, entered the arena, in the hope

lack coat arrived at the "turn" of the banderilleros, El Nacional, with his arms open and

long, p

ho fixed the darts firmly in his neck as he rushed pas

g

r the

aughing at El Nacio

we are nothing but a band of heretics. You know there are some audiences

ter more quickly. He did not care for glory, and he only fought to earn his livelihood. But once Gallardo advanced rapier in hand towards a savage animal, his banderillero remained close by his side, ready to assist him with his heavy cloak and his strong arm which obliged the brute to l

family. The Se?ora Angustias felt that affection for him so often existing between people of a

ake anything? ... tell me how the establishment is

ounter,[Pg 112] so many bottles of country wine delivered at houses, and the old woman listened wi

his tavern would suit him down to the ground. The espada could get him this, through

overnment, and I have my principles. I figure on the register of my p

had to do was to bring as much bread into the family as

w don't answer me. Don't start telling me all sorts of impieties like the ot

thin reach of their hands, and who delighted in making El Nacional talk so that they could laugh a

! Such a patent absurdity could not make him angry. It was as though some one was

hat he should dare to argue with him? With him!... And then losing all restraint, taking no notice of the espada's wife and mother, or of Encarnacion, who, imitating her husband, pursed up

ts he overwhelmed the beli

in six days.... Rubbish!... The story of Adam and Ev

e disrespectful, and that he applied to everything which seemed to him fa

s of quiet drowsiness, when he was travelling with the cuadrilla, during which time he had discovered an irrefutable argument, d

ations. If then we were all grandchildren of Adam, and Adam's name was-we will suppose-Perez, we should[Pg 114] all be named Perez. That is quite clear?... Well then if we all have our family names, there must h

d the orator with a hurrah, which imitated the bellowing of a bull-while the

have been very good!

such things in her house, feeling that as an old w

h, cursed one! or I shall turn you out of doors

r. Besides, it was a great comfort to her and to Carmen, that so serious and right-minded a man should belong to the cuadrilla with the oth

de him reserved and grave, when he saw him in his own house, betw

ter, El Nacional had one day ventured to speak to Gallardo, taking a

g

that will singe the good God's hair!... Just think-the Se?ora Angustias will put on a face like the Mater Dolorosa, and poor Carmen wil

noyed but flattered at the same time that all Se

cho?' What are these

o gives every one so much cause for gossip. The

to find El Nacional so well informed, the latter went o

as the other, and it is a folly to embitter your life by flying from one to another.... Your servant, for the twenty-five years he has lived with his Te

s alive!... "Nacional, don't be an idiot! Every one is[Pg 116] as he is, and if the women come to us, well then, let them come. One lives so short a time! An

ough he wished to disperse the sad a

But I love the other one too. It is quite another thing.... I

ld get no more out of hi

n was approaching with the autumn, Gallardo had had

o live quietly in his own house, free from those perpetual journeys in the train. Killing more than a hundred bulls a year, with all the dangers

the fairs and see the corridas. Many a time Gallardo, after killing his last bull in a Plaza, fearing to lose his train, and still dressed in his gala costume, had rushed down to the station like[Pg 117] a flash of gold and colours, through the crowds of travellers and piles of luggage. Often he had changed his clothes in the carriage under the eyes of his fello

admiration. The amateurs, bewitched by his name, met him at the station and accompanied him to the hotel. These light-hearted people who had slept well

nt emotions, would throw conventionalities overboard, and sit in his shirt sleeves in front of his hotel, to enjoy the cool. The "lads" of the cuadrilla who were lodged in the

come back at dawn to-morrow, having taken a few glasses too much, or done something else whi

g

uadrilla would postpone their journey, then they would indulge in dissolute merriment away from their famili

or four days afterwards he would retrace his steps to fight in a town close to the first, so that as the summer months were most abundant in corridas, he

in a straight line," said Gallardo, "they

ing his arrival. He thought of the unexpected acquaintances he might make, of the adventures that feminine curiosity might bring him, of the life in different hotels, i

earned five thousand pesetas for each afternoon's work,

t like a[Pg 119] silver cup by poor Carmen! Ay

experienced the satisfaction of a celebrated man, who, forgetful of

his journeys need be further than the Calle de las Sierpes or the Plaza de San Fernando. The family, too, seemed quite different, gayer and in better health, now they

em were sun-burnt men, reeking of perspiration, in dirty blouses and wide sombreros with ragged edges. Some were agricultural labourers, moving or on a journey, who on passing through Sevill

onstantly mixing with crowds, would recognise them; they w

ing on well, eh? Times

em to [Pg 120]further intimacies, he would

a to give each of them

et, pleased with his own gene

and his customers would come to the door

I thank you for your civi

iends of his mother's. They begged him to stand godfather to the grandchild of one of them; her poor daughter might be confined at any moment;

ild's nurse? I have already more godchildre

to say about it"; and he walked on, never stopping till he got to the Calle de las Sierpes, saluting some, and a

c club, and, as its name indicated, limited as to numbers, in which nothing was talked of save horses and bulls. It was

llardo, who was going towards the Calle de las Sier

day to pray to the miraculous image of our Father Jesus of Great Power. The ladies descended from their carriages d

ders with people of high position. The son of Se?ora Angustias felt a triumphant pride when w

inity was something vague and undecided, something like the existence of a great lord against whom one may hear every sort of evil-speaking calmly, because one only knows o

nded him of some of his comrades whom he had seen lying in the bull-ring infirmary. One must stand well with that powerful Lord; and he recited ferventl

m, distracted his attention, greedy of supe

she was tall, slight, and of startling beauty, dressed in light colours, with a d

were a natural homage due to her wherever she appeared. The foreign elegance of her dress and the enormous hat, stood out from among the dark mass of mantillas. She knelt and bent her head for an instant in prayer, and then her clear eyes of a greenish blue wit

e directed towards himself. Many women, in confidential hours, had told him of the emotion, the curiosity, and the desire, that had seized them the first time they had seen him in the circus. Do?a Sol's eyes did not

his vanity as a popular idol.

omething was happening, as on the afternoons of his greatest successes. It was the same mysterious heart-throb which made hi

e waiting for her at the door. She mounted into her carriage, accompanied by two friends, and as the coac

d him with shame. But a woman like this, a great lady, who after travelling throughout Europe, now lived in Seville like a queen! That would indeed be a conquest!... To his wonder at Do?a Sol's beauty, he added the instinctive respect of th

124]Moraima and well in with all the best sets i

ts in the ancient maja costume, imitating the manners and dress of the graceful ladies painted by Goya. She was a strong woman accustomed to all sports and a great rider, and the people saw her galloping in the outskirts of Seville in a dark riding habit, a red cravat,

side of her mother, a mass of white frills, while he, poor little wretch, ran underneath the carriage wheels to pick up cigar

r head that Do?a Sol!... And her romantic name agreed well with t

personage much older than herself who had as Ambassador, represented Spain at the principal Courts of

g

hat gachi has turned!... Queens trembled at her arrival. Finally, the poor Ambassador, finding no place open to him except the American Republics-and as he was of good principles and a friend of kings-died. And don't imagine for a moment that she contented herself only with people living in royal palaces! if all that is told of her be true!... Everything she does is most extreme, everything or nothing. Sometimes fixing on the highest, sometimes on the lowest in the land. I have been told that in Russia she ran after one of those shaggy-haired fellows who throw bombs, who did not care much for her because she disturbed his plots, because she followed him everyw

every act of her life extraordinary and original, tho

otherhood of the Cristo de Triana and spends a fortune on Manzanilla for the brothers. Some nights she fills her house with singers and dancers, who bring their families and even their most distant relations; they all fill themselves with olives, sausages and wine, and Do?a Sol, seated in an arm-chair like a queen, spends hours asking for dance after dance. Her servants who have come with her, dressed

of San Lorenzo, the manager came up to him in a ca

d of fortune! Who do you think h

ose to the torero's ear,

g

ad expressed a wish that he should be presented to her

She has applauded you, and she knows that you are very brave. Now see, if she took a fancy to you

time he drew up his fine figure, as if he did not consider hi

d Don José. "Do?a Sol wants to see a torero close, just as she ta

that is; a derribo[76] of cattle at the Moraima breeding farm, that the Marquis ha

through the suburb de la Feria, dressed as "garrochistas," amid the expec

da," they said, "there i

under the chin by a strap. The collar of his shirt, which had no cravat, was fastened by two diamonds, and two other larger ones flashed on his goffered shirt frills. The jacket and waistcoat were of wine coloured velvet with black tags and braidings. The sash was of crimson silk, the tight-fitting breeches with dark embroideries showed off to advantage the torero's muscular thighs, and were tied at the knees by black garter

lders like a lance with a ball at the end to protect the iron point. They received quite an

, fine fellow! Enjoy

running after them. And the little streets with their blueish pa

chistas" who were waiting at the door, motionless in their saddles and leaning on their lances. They were mostly young men, relations or friends of Do?a Sol's, who salu

rectly. Women, you know!

, seldom smiling, he was quite a great nobleman of the olden days: Clad almost always in riding dress he hated town life, bored by the social obligations that his rank imposed on him when he was in Seville, longing to range the country with his farmers and herdsmen whom he treated

m the white walls of the street; some looked up at the sky, to

I came out of the house I saw the wind blowing a pi

d said it would not. He knew the weather[Pg 130] just as well as

ame up to

We shall see if you will kill them like good Christians. Last year,

high grey leather riding boots. She wore a man's shirt with a red cravat, a jacket and waistc

gizing for having kept them waiting, her eyes were watching Gallardo. Don José pricked on his

lady's presence. What a woman

t in the strong grasp used to overthrowing bulls. But the hand, so white and pink, was not crushed in the rough invo

or having come. Del

hat he must answer something, stammere

the family,

heir first start. The lady put her horse to a trot, and the cavalcade of riders followed her, Gallardo, u

Del Oro[77] behind them and then on through the shady gardens strewn with yellow sand

rge concourse of people and carriages drawn up close to the pa

le, and many white country houses peeped out from among the silver grey of the olive trees. On the opposite side of the wide horizon, on which a few woolly clouds we

ted all the ladies of Seville. Her friends saluted her as she passed their carriages, thinking she looked very beautiful in her

, Sol! do not r

g

g greeted as they went through the palings by the s

them from afar, began to prance, neighing and

he winter; others, wilder, trotted towards the river, the old oxen, the prudent "cabestros"[78] immediately starting in pursuit, the big bells round

lding a council under the impatient eyes of th

within a short distance stopped their horses, standing up in their stirrups, waving their "garrochas" and shouting loudly to

ads, and large and ill-placed horns. They were animals of nervous vivacity, strong and robust, making the ground shake as they went along raising clouds of dust under their hoofs. Their coats were fine and shining like well-groomed horses, their

his horse, gained on him, and, nearing the bull with his garrocha in front of him, drove the iron on to his croup, the combined impetus of the horse and

e paling. Olé for the old men!... No one understood bulls like the Marquis. He managed them as if they were his own childre

uis stopped them, giving the preference to his niece. If she wished to accomplish a "derrib

to accompany her, but she refused his escort. No, she preferred having Gallardo, who was a torero. Wh

strength of the rider forced him to advance; Gallardo waved his garrocha, giving shouts that were rea

nging brisket, with horns of the finest point, soon detached himself. He trotted to the further end of the enclosure as i

is an old and malicious bull, he is drawing

n his tail and overthrow him, the brute suddenly turned as if realizing his danger, planting himself menacingly in front of his attackers. The horse r

and fronting the bull. She held her garrocha under her arm like a picador, and drove it into the bull's neck as it rushed forward bellowing with lowered head. Its enormous poll was covered wit

the palisades; the horse,[Pg 135] freed from the horns, rushed on madly, its b

the grass, stood up, picking up her garrocha, and putting it bravely in rest under her arm to confront the brute afresh. It was a mad display of cour

oo late, the bull was already pawing the ground with its forefeet, and lowering his head, to attack that slight figure threatening him with her lance. One simple blow

f his horse, dropping his lance, to seize

Entra

rsary so worthy of him, turning his hind quarters to the figure in the black riding skirt

" said the[Pg 136] torero, pale with emo

the brute, drawing it away from the lady, and av

ndously. What a joy! To have come to see a simple "derribo" and to

only on slipping away from his attacks. The bull turned again and again, furious at seeing this invulner

foam; then Gallardo, taking advantage of the brute's bewilderment, took off his hat and laid i

rowd of herdsmen and bell oxen surrounded the brute, an

not moved, picked up his garrocha, mounted and then cantered slowly towards the

pada with the greatest display of enthusiasm, his m

dhand. Very good: extremely goo

g

all over, determined to find something put out of joint by her fall. They offered her glasses of Manzanilla to get ov

h the ranks of people, between waving hats a

Cid Campeador![81]

right hands met, in a

s beaming as after a great corrida. Her son saving one of those great ladies, whom she, accustomed to years of servitude, had alw

" But one evening Don José went to seek his matador at a café in the Calle de las Sierpes, where many amateurs of "the sport" gathered. He had only returne

at her house. She has stayed[Pg 138] at home evening after evening thinking you might come at any moment. Such things are

scratching his hea

laggard, that I can carry on with most women, and say a few words to a 'gachi' as well as anyone else. But this one-no. She is a lady who knows more than Lepe,[82] and

alking as he went of his interview with that lady. She seemed rather offended at Gallardo's n

ing a little education and showing that you are not a cowherd brought up in a stable. Just think. A

you go w

ain, as if freed from th

h were swimming, murmured gently in the evening silence. In the four galleries with ceilings of inlaid Moorish work,[83] which were divided from the patio by marble pillars, he saw ancie

ed as if they had been cut out with a hatchet, painted in faded colours and dull gilding; tapestries of soft dead leaf colour, framed in borders of fruit and flowers, of

"I thought that sort of thing was only good for conve

ed as they passed, while the sunset spl

fragile chairs, white or green; tables and cupboards of simple outline, walls of one colour, with only a few pictures wide apart hanging by thick cords-a luxury of which the beautiful polish seemed due only to the finish of the

ch also left uncovered the curve of her beautiful neck, marked by the two lines called Venus' necklace. As she moved her hands, stones of all colours, set in curiously shaped rings which covered her fingers, flashed brilliantly. On her delicate wrists gold bracelets tinkled, one of Oriental filigree w

eyes fixed on him with an expression at once caressing and ironical. To conceal his emotion

the trouble," was all he could stammer to Do?a Sol's gr

ed confidence. She had seen him kill several times, and remembered the principal incidents with[Pg 141] great exactit

nge flowers and offered the two men gold-tipped ci

them," she said, "

h eyes which in the light seemed like liquid

tte with curiosity. Nothing but straw-a thing to please ladies. But the st

wandering life of a torero who has not yet succeeded in gaining the good will of the public, and Gallardo talked and talked with sudden confidence, telling her of his

. How very original" ...

o she seemed lost in the contem

ith rough enthusiasm. "Believe me, Sol, there are n

do[Pg 142] had received, describing them as if he saw them through his clothes. The lady's eyes followed thi

with smiling insistence; they really must both of them stay to dinner; it was an unceremonious invitation, but tha

ot another word, I command it

s admitted of no repl

s family had hardly seen him; besides he had invited two friends. As far as concerned his matado

y. "Curse it!... You are never going to leave me al

, wearing now one of those creations of Paquin, which were at

e, but his matador would remain, and he undertook to let

ture, but was a little quiete

g 143] the door. "Do you think I am a child? I shall

f the room intimidated him; he and his hostess seemed lost in it, sitting opposite to each other in the

ir gravity, inspired him with respect. He was ashamed of his clothes and of his manner

hed the plates and glasses. Gallardo looked at her admiringly, certainly the golden-haired lady had a fine appetite! Accustomed as he was

g in the many fine wines a remedy for that nervousness which had made him so shamef

the feats of his picador Potaje, who swallowed hard-boiled eggs whole, who was half an ear short, because a companion had bitten it off, who, when he was taken wounded to the infirmary of

resting! How v

f these rough men, always face to face with death,

red his arm to his hostess, amazed at his own audacity. Did they not do this in the gr

spied a guitar, no doubt the one on which Lechuzo gave Do?a Sol

killing bulls!"... He much regretted that the Puntillero[84] of his cuadril

moked one of those cigarettes whose perfume seemed to induce a vague drowsiness. The torero

and went to the grand piano, which soon rang under

torero, shaking off his drowsi

as, and[Pg 145] then some Andalusian popular

is exclamations just as he would have d

golden hands!

of music?" enq

o, who up to now had never

something slow and more solemn, which Gallardo with h

licious sleepiness; his eyes were closing, and he felt certain t

What a beautiful figure, and he fixed his African eyes on the round white neck, crowned with the waving curls of

went up softly on tip-toe and

Still, he looked at that neck, though the mist of sleep was spreading before his eyes. He knew he would fall asleep! And he feared that soon a loud snore would interrupt that

g

leep. Suddenly the sound of Do?a Sol's voice woke him from his dro

It was something foreign. Curse it!... Why could she not sing a tango or

an, the great warrior, so invincible to men, so tender to women. That tender and

clearly the gallantry with which he had come to her aid the other day, the smiling confidence with which he ha

r hero, her paladin, rise from the sofa, with his Moorish eyes fixed on her; she could hear his cautious footsteps, she could feel his hands on her shoulders, and a kiss of fire on her neck, a sign

e warrior was opposite to her, buried in the sofa cushions, trying for the twentiet

oment was coming! Her hero was coming towards her to clasp her in h

is getting late and I am go

p, and scarcely knowing what she did held o

woman never forgets even in her moments of greatest self-abandonment. Her longing was not possible

eyes that could only look at her with passionate intensi

o!... Com

ing more

TNO

Littl

at, generally of s

drillas

oro de

is a Govern

Liq

y term to the lady-a stingin

sy word, applied to male or fe

nce, used in overth

ng of bulls by overthro

e banks of the Guadalquivir clo

rds-trained to act a

air or lur

e a bull to attack-lit. en

hat the Cid tilted at

erbially le

Artes

l with a dagger, if the matador has failed to