Wrong turnings--H. C.'s gifts and graces--Out at night--The arcades of Gerona--At the fair--Ancient outlines--Demons at work--In the dry bed of the river--Roasting chestnuts--Mediæval outlines--In the vortex--Clairvoyantes and lion-tamers--Clown's despair--Deserted streets--Vision of the night--Haunted staircase--Dark and dangerous--A small grievance--The reeds by the river--Cry of the watchmen--Hare and hounds--Fair Rosamund--Jacob's ladder--New rendering to old proverbs--Cathedral by night--H. C. oblivious--Scent fails--Return to earth--Romantic story--Last of a long line--_El Sereno!_--The witching hour--H. C. unserenaded--Next morning--Grey skies--A false prophet--Magic picture--Cathedral by day--Mediæval dreams 41
A Gerona señora--Grace and charm--Lord of creation--Morning greeting--Arcades and ancient houses--Conscription--Gerona a discovery--Streets of steps--Ancient eaves and rare ironwork--Old-world corner--Desecrated church--Gothic cloisters--Ghosts of the past--Visions of to-day--Soldiers interested--"Happy as kings"--Lingerings--Colonel seeks explanation--No lover of antiquity--More conscription--Dramatic scene--Pedro to the rescue--Mother and son--Sad story--Strong and merciful--Pedro grateful--Restricted interests--Colonel becomes impenetrable again 58
Beauties of age--Apostles' Doorway--How the old bishops kept out of temptation--Interior of cathedral--Its vast nave--Days of Charlemagne--And of the Moors--A giant dwarfed--Rare choir--Surly priest--And a more kindly--Our showman--Dazzling treasures--Father Anselmo--Romantic story--Heaven or the world?--Doubts--The gentle Rosalie decides--Sister Anastasia--Told in the sacristy--A heart-confession--Anselmo's mysticism--Heresy--Charms of antiquity--Scene of his triumph--Celestial vision--Church of San Pedro--Pagan interior--Rare cloisters--Desecrated church--Singular scene--Chiaroscuro--Miguel the carpenter--His opinions--Daily life a religion--Anselmo improves his opportunity--"A reflected light"--Ruined citadel--War of succession--Alvarez and Marshall--Gerona in decadence--A revelation--Dreamland--Midday vision 72
"Can a prophet come out of Galilee?"--The unexpected happens--Under the probe--Wise reservation--Born to command--Contrasts--Nothing new under the sun--The señora prepares for the fair--Grievance not very deep seated--Bewitching appearance--Señora dramatic--Ernesto--Marriage a lottery--Every cloud its silver lining--Gerona _en fête_--Delormais' mission--Deceptive appearances--Evils of conscription--Ernesto's ambition--Les beaux jours de la vie--Rosalie--A fair picture--Strange similarity--Heavenwards--Anastasia or Rosalie--Her dreams and visions--Modern Paul and Virginia--Eternal possession--A Gerona saint--The better part--More heresy--Fénélon--One creed, one worship--Not peace but a sword--Not dead to the world--Angel of mercy--H. C. mistaken--Earthly idyll 99