“Is there lodging here?” the man asked.
“There’s good will,” answered the innkeeper. “Did you come on horseback?”
“Yes.”
“Come in. I’ll take your horse to the stable. Walk right in there.”
The man went to the kitchen.
“The peace of God be with you, gentlemen!” he said.
“May He keep you,” they all answered.
The recent arrival went in, took off his long, tasseled shawl, and sat down upon a grass-bottomed chair near the fire.
The innkeeper’s daughter, more out of curiosity than anything else, threw an armful of dry rose-wood upon the fire, which began to burn brilliantly, producing a large flame, and filling the kitchen with the odour of its incense.
By the light of the flames they could see that the recent arrival was a tall and strong young man of about twenty years, upon whose upper lip the down had not yet begun to appear. He looked like a gentleman of noble blood; he wore a short coat, knee breeches fastened with silver buttons, buckled leggings, a blue sash, a coloured silk handkerchief about his neck, and a small, creased calañés. The hostess noticed that his shirt studs were made of diamonds.