"We are quits, then," said Don Christóbal, detaching the ornament from his doublet, and presenting it to his rival. Glancing towards the balcony where Casilda was seated, Graham saw she was watching him, and pressing the favour to his lips, he fastened it on his breast. Just at this moment a torero came up, bearing a small flag which he had just unhooked from the neck of the bull. "This trophy belongs to you, Señor Don Ricardo," he said to Graham. "Is there any lady present to whom you desire to send it? If so, I will see it conveyed to her." "I thank you for your courtesy, friend," replied Graham, to whom the torero's features seemed familiar. "The lady to whom I would present it is seated in yonder balcony, on the left of the toril." "I see," replied the torero, glancing in the direction pointed "It is Doña Casilda, daughter of the Conde de Saldana. She is looking towards us, and understands your design. The flag shall be sent to her at once." out. He then bowed towards the balcony, so as to intimate his intention to Doña Casilda, and was about to depart, when Graham stopped him. "Stay, friend," he said. "Methinks we have met before." "True, señor," replied the torero, bowing; "we have met before -in the Somosierra." "Ha! is it possible?" exclaimed Graham, a light suddenly flashing upon him. The torero, however, did not tarry for further questioning, but ran to the barriers, where he quickly found a page, who at once mounted to the balcony. "From Don Ricardo, señora," said the page, as he delivered the trophy to Doña Casilda. "From Don Christóbal you mean," remarked Don Pompeo. "The flag bears his device." "That may be, señor," replied the page, "but it was the English caballero who killed the bull. The flag, therefore, belongs to him, and he has sent it to the señora." "I am much beholden to Don Ricardo, and to you for bringing it," said Casilda, smiling with pride and pleasure. His errand fulfilled, the page bowed and departed. "You should not have accepted the flag, Casilda," remarked Don Pompeo. "Don Christóbal will be offended, and with good reason. Such a mark of attention from Don Ricardo is highly improper. All eyes are upon you, and the incident is sure to be commented upon, and to Don Christóbal's disadvantage. I advise you to throw the flag away." "I shall do nothing of the sort," replied Casilda. "Don Christóbal deserves to be mortified for his want of skill. He has allowed a mere novice to eclipse him. But for Don Ricardo, he would have been killed." "Perhaps you would not have been sorry if he had," remarked Don Pompeo, spitefully. At this moment a great shout from the spectators announced that De Cea had just despatched the other bull. Doña Flor was enchanted, and applauded enthusiastically, much to her husband's annoyance. But his ill humour was increased when, shortly afterwards, the page reappeared, bringing a bunch of blue and red ribands, taken from the neck of the bull which had just been slain, and presented it to Doña Flor. "From the Duke de Cea," said the page. "I thank him for his attention," she replied, with a gracious smile. "I have now got my trophy," she added, turning to Casilda. "You do not mean to wear it," whispered the other. Pompeo looks as black as thunder." "Don "If he chooses to make himself ridiculous in public I cannot help it," returned Doña Flor. "I shall not be deterred by his cross looks from wearing the token." The course being ended, the Duke de Cea and Graham left the ring to other champions. As they rode forth together, they paused for a moment, and bowed gracefully to the balcony, in which Doña Flor and her sister were seated. The acclamations that attended Graham's departure showed how highly his skill and gallantry were appreciated by the specta tors. XI. HOW ARCHIE WAS TOSSED BY A BULL. MEANWHILE, preparations were expeditiously made for another course. The dead bulls and horses were carried off by the mules as before, and the marks of the conflict effaced. The only one of the champions left in the ring who had figured in the last encounter, was Don Christóbal. He had been provided with a fresh horse, and seemed eager to efface his late defeat. The three picadors who joined him in the arena were the Marquis de Velada, Don Pedro de Montezuma, and the Duke de Maqueda. As soon as the champions had posted themselves, the trumpets sounded, and a bull rushed forth, successively assailing Velada and Montezuma, and receiving thrusts from both. In the third assault he was slain by Don Christóbal, who thus redeemed his credit, and gained the applauses he so eagerly coveted. Quickly was the carcase removed-quickly came another bull into the arena. But the new comer not evincing an immediate disposition to attack the picadors, he was drawn to the centre of the ring by the chulos, and there his fury was roused to the proper pitch by the banderilleros, who planted their rustling darts in his shoulders. Among the troop engaged with the bull was one personage who had no previous experience of such performances, but who trusted, nevertheless, to his activity to extricate himself from peril. This was Archie, the court fool. He had so earnestly besought Buckingham to allow him to enter the arena, that the duke consented, though with considerable reluctance. Even Archie's motley garb, which presented a striking contrast to the gay and glittering attire of the chulos, drew immediate attention to him, and the movements of his grotesque little figure were watched with lively curiosity by the spectators, who were much diverted by his appearance and manner. the occupants of the royal gallery watched him. Charles had first remarked him, and called the king's attention to him, and some uneasiness was felt for his safety. Archie had been provided with a crimson capa, which he fluttered in the eyes of the bull, and up to a certain time no misadventure befel him. But after the fury of the bull had been thoroughly roused by the banderilleros, matters began to assume a different complexion, and being warned by his companions, Archie thought it prudent to take to his heels. Unluckily, the bull, after dispersing his other tormentors, who also took to flight, turned, and perceiving the flying jester, dashed after him. It now became a question whether Archie could reach the barrier before his swift and terrible foe could come up with him. So headlong was the dash of the bull that escape seemed barely possible. Charles gave up the jester for lost, and thought how deeply King James would regret him. However, Archie went on. safe. The barrier was close at hand. The shouts of the spectators, A few more paces and he would be encouraging him to go on, rang in his ears. shouts he heard the bull, who was now close upon him. He But above these made a desperate spring forward, but failed to reach the barrier, and fell. A universal thrill of horror pervaded the spectators as the bull lowered his head. Nowhere was this feeling experienced in a higher degree than in the royal gallery. The next moment the jester was tossed to a great height in the air, and all who looked on expected, on his descent, to see him transfixed by the sharp pointed horns waiting to receive him. But he was not destined to perish thus miserably. Succour arrived at that supreme moment. A capa flung by a dexterous hand over the head of the bull caused him to turn his head, and the movement saved the jester, who alighted on the ground without any material injury, for the bull, in tossing him, had luckily not touched him with his horns. So little, indeed, was he hurt, that before the bull could shake the capa from his head Archie had vaulted over the barrier. A general shout hailed his escape. ATTENTION was then fixed upon the torero to whom Archie had been indebted for preservation. He was a very handsome young man, short of stature, but remarkably well made, and his symmetrical limbs were displayed to the greatest advantage in his glittering garb. His complexion was dark, and his eyes black and keen, and he looked a model of grace and agility. He was, in fact, the person in whom Graham had just before recognised an acquaintance. It being quite evident that he was fully able to cope with the bull, the Marquis de Velada and Don Pedro, who had ridden to the rescue, held aloof. As soon as the bull had freed his horns from the capa, and could distinguish his adversary, who was gazing steadily at him at a short distance, he uttered a short angry roar, and prepared for attack. The torero was only armed with a slight rapier, but he was perfectly undismayed. Indeed, he seemed to regard his furious antagonist with contempt. When the bull dashed at him, he stepped nimbly aside, and the enraged animal passed by, but returned almost instantly, making charge after charge, but without the slightest effect. Charmed with the extraordinary grace displayed by the torero, the spectators applauded loudly. At last, at a sign from the corregidor, the conflict was brought to a close. Pierced to the heart by the keen rapier, the bull dropped at his conqueror's feet. Bowing gracefully to the royal gallery, the torero vaulted over the barrier and disappeared. "Who is that man?" said Philip to the Conde de Puebla, who was standing behind his chair. "I know not, sire," replied the conde; "but I will inquire, and inform your majesty." "I shall be glad to learn his name, that I may reward him," remarked Charles. "He has rendered me a great service in rescuing the unlucky jester. Had Archie perished, my royal father would have been inconsolable." "I will find him out, and let your highness know," said the Conde de Puebla. And he left the gallery for the purpose. When he returned shortly afterwards, he said, "I am unable at present to satisfy your majesty's curiosity. The torero has disappeared, and no one can tell who he is." "Strange! his features seem familiar to me," remarked Charles, thoughtfully. "Make further inquiries, my lord," said Philip. "We must be satisfied." At this moment, the attention of the royal party was attracted by a singular occurrence. Two bulls had been introduced into the ring, both remarkably active animals. They were aware of each other's presence, but were kept at different sides of the arena by the chulos and banderilleros, who had divided themselves into two parties. While pursuing the flying bands of their tormentors, both bulls, as if animated by a kindred spirit, leaped the inner barrier almost simultaneously, alighting in the passage which encircled the arena. In addition to the chulos, who had just gained this place of refuge, there were many other persons in the passage at the moment, but all these saved themselves by vaulting into the arena, leaving the space clear for the bulls, who rushed against each other with such prodigious force and fury that both were killed by the shock. This occurrence, strange and unexpected as it was, only momentarily interrupted the proceedings. The carcases were removed from the passage, and the arena was cleared for another course. The champions now occupying the ground were Don Geronimo de Medanilla, the Conde de Cantillana, and Don Diego Zurate. With them was a fourth cavalier, who attracted far more curiosity than his companions, from the circumstance of his features being concealed by a black mask. Everybody wondered who he was, but no one could tell. But be he who he might, it was evident he was a consummate horseman. He was mounted on a black Andalusian barb, which, though full of fire and spirit, obeyed his slightest movement, and he sat his steed with remarkable grace. His small but symmetrical person was attired in white silk, lined with azure and embroidered with silver, and he wore white and blue plumes in his hat. Never had a more graceful cavalier been seen in the bull-ring, and from the moment of his appearance he enlisted all female sympathies in his behalf. "Who is he?-why is he masked?" resounded on all sides. But, as we have said, no satisfactory answer could be given to the inquiries. He must be known to the marshals of the fête, or he would not have been allowed entrance into the bull-ring. Not only among the general assemblage, but even in the royal gallery, curiosity was excited as to his name and title, for everybody believed him to be a hidalgo. "Who is that masked picador?" inquired the king of the Conde de Puebla. "I am unable to satisfy your majesty at this moment," replied the conde, "but the marshals have just sent word that an explanation will be given at the conclusion of the course." "Enough. We will wait till then," replied Philip. The four picadors having posted themselves, the trumpets sounded, and a bull rushed forth from the toril, singling out Don Geronimo, by whom he was killed. Another bull was then let loose, and another after him. Both these were slain on oppo |