of our party. This was a slight female figure, beautiful in the
extreme, but whom tattered garments, raven hair (which fell in
matted elf-locks over her naked shoulders), swarthy complexion,
and flashing eyes, proclaimed to be of the wandering tribe of
'gitanos.' From an intuitive sense of natural politeness she
stood with crossed arms, and a slight smile on her dark and
handsome countenance, until my companion had ceased, and then
addressed us in the usual whining tone of supplication, with
'Caballeritos, una limosita! Dios se lo pagara a ustedes!'
('Gentlemen, a little charity! God will repay it to you!') The
gypsy girl was so pretty, and her voice so sweet, that I
involuntarily put my hand in my pocket.

'Stop!' said the 'Unknown.' 'Do you remember what I told you
about the Eastern origin of these people? You shall see I am
correct. Come here, my pretty child,' said he in Moultanee,
'and tell me where are the rest of your tribe?'

The girl looked astounded, replied in the same tongue, but in
broken language; when, taking him by the arm, she said, in
Spanish: 'Come, caballero; come to one who will be able to
answer you;' and she led the way down amongst the ruins towards
one of the dens formerly occupied by the wild beasts, and
disclosed to us a set of beings scarcely less savage. The
sombre walls of this gloomy abode were illumined by a fire, the
smoke from which escaped through a deep fissure in the massy
roof; whilst the flickering flames threw a blood-red glare on
the bronzed features of a group of children, of two men, and a
decrepit old hag, who appeared busily engaged in some culinary
preparations.

On our entrance, the scowling glance of the males of the party,
and a quick motion of the hand towards the folds of the
'faja,'[132] caused in _me_, at least, anything but a
comfortable sensation; but their hostile intentions, if ever
entertained, were immediately removed by a wave of the hand
from our conductress, who, leading my companion towards the
sibyl, whispered something in her ear. The old crone appeared
incredulous. The 'Unknown' uttered one word; but that word had
the effect of magic; she prostrated herself at his feet, and in
an instant, from an object of suspicion he became one of
worship to the whole famil