"The most remarkable object to be seen at Aldeacorba is a magnificent monument, erected in the cemetery over the grave of a young lady of rank, famous in that part of the country for her beauty. Doña Mariquita Manuela Tellez belonged to one of the noblest and wealthiest families in Cantábria, that of Tellez Giron y de Trastamara. Witty, romantic, and capricious, she took a fancy to wander about the roads, playing the guitar and singing Calderon's odes, and she would dress herself up in rags to enable her to mix with the herd of beggars, pick-pockets, troubadours, bull-fighters, friars, hidalgos, gypsies, and muleteers, which at the great kermesas, constitute that motley scene of Spanish low life which still exists and always must exist, independent and picturesque, in spite of the railways and newspapers which have begun to force their way into the Spanish Peninsula.
"The abad [6] of Villamojada wept as he told us of the whims, the virtues, and the beauty of this wealthy gentlewoman, who, whenever she appeared at the balls, banquets, or cañas of Madrid, was distinguished for her aristocratic deportment. The number of romanceros, sonnets and madrigals composed in honor of this noble damsel by all the Spanish poets, is beyond all calculation." [7]
On reading this I saw at once that the worthy reporters had dreamed dreams. I determined to tell the truth, and the truth, as I have told it, has resulted in this book.
We must now bid farewell forever to this tomb. We will fix our eyes on another object, seek out another figure—searching diligently, for he whom we want is but a small personage, a minute insect, as it were, no larger on the face of the earth than the Phylloxera on the vine. But we have found him—there he is, tiny, squalid, a mere atomy. But he lives and breathes, and will grow great in time. Listen to his story, for it is an interesting one I promise you.
Well, Sir....
But no; it does not belong to this book. If you like the history of Marianela, in good time you shall hear that of Celipin.
THE END.
Footnotes:
[1] "Es tan linda su boca que no pide."