s, however, did not hinder
their speed, for they reached Barcelona before sunset. They admired the
magnificent situation of the city, and esteemed it to be the flower of
the world, the honour of Spain, the terror of all enemies near and far,
the delight of its inhabitants, the refuge of strangers, the school of
chivalry, the model of loyalty, in a word, a union of all that a
judicious curiosity could desire in a grand, famous, wealthy, and
well-built city. Upon their entering it they heard a great uproar, and
saw a multitude of people running with loud cries. They inquired the
cause, and were told that the people of the galleys in the port had
fallen upon those of the town. Don Rafael desired to see what was going
on, though Calvete would have dissuaded him; for, as the muleteer said,
he knew well what mischief came of interfering in such frays as this,
which usually occurred in Barcelona when galleys put in there.

In spite of this good advice, Don Rafael and his fellow-travellers went
down at once towards the beach, where they saw many swords drawn, and
numbers of people slashing at each other without mercy, and they
approached so near the scene without dismounting, that they could
distinctly see the faces of the combatants, for the sun was still above
the horizon. The number of townspeople engaged was immense, and great
crowds issued from the galleys, although their commander, Don Pedro
Vique, a gentleman of Valencia, stood on the prow of the flag-ship,
threatening all who entered the boats to succour their comrades. Finding
his commands disregarded, he ordered a gun to be fired without ball, as
a warning that if the combatants did not separate, the next gun he fired
would be shotted. Meanwhile, Don Rafael, who narrowly watched the fray,
observed among those who took part with the seamen a young man of about
two-and-twenty, dressed in green, with a hat of the same colour, adorned
with a rich loop and buttons apparently of diamonds. The skill and
courage with which he fought, and the elegance of his dress, drew upon
him the attention of all the spectators, and Teodosia and Leocadia both
cried out, as if with one voice, "Good heavens! either my eyes deceive
me, or he in green is Marco Antonio." Then, with great nimbleness, they
dismounted, drew their swords and daggers, cleared their way through the
crowd, and placed themselves one on each side of Marco Antonio. "Fear
nothing, Senor Marco Antonio," cried Leocadia, "for