“_Monsieur_,” said Antonio, as we rode out of Colunga, “you are anxious to know the history of the gentleman whom you saw embrace me at the inn. Know, _mon maître_, that these Carlist and _Cristino_ wars have been the cause of much misery and misfortune in this country; but a being so thoroughly unfortunate as that poor young gentleman of the inn, I do not believe is to be found in Spain, and his misfortunes proceed entirely from the spirit of party and faction which for some time past has been so prevalent.
“_Mon maître_, as I have often told you, I have lived in many houses and served many masters, and it chanced that about ten years ago I served the father of this gentleman, who was then a mere boy. It was a very high family, for _monsieur_ the father was a general in the army, and a man of large possessions. The family consisted of the general, his lady, and two sons; the youngest of whom is the person you have just seen, the other was several years older. _Pardieu_! I felt myself very comfortable in that house, and every individual of the family had all kind of complaisance for me. It is singular enough, that though I have been turned out of so many families, I was never turned out of that; and though I left it thrice, it was of my own free will. I became dissatisfied with the other servants, or with the dog or the cat. The last time I left was on account of the quail which was hung out of the window of _madame_, and which waked me in the morning with its call. _Eh bien_, _mon maître_, things went on in this way during the three years that I continued in the family, out and in; at the end of which time it was determined that the young gentleman should travel, and it was proposed that I should attend him as valet. This I wished very much to do. However, _par malheur_, I was at this time very much dissatisfied with _madame_ his mother about the quail, and insisted that before I accompanied him the bird should be slaughtered for the kitchen. To this _madame_ would by no means consent; and even the young gentleman, who had always taken my part on other occasions, said that I was unreasonable: so I left the house in a huff, and never entered it again.
“_Eh bien_, _mon maître_, the young gentleman went upon his travels, and continued abroad several years; and from the time of his departure until we met him at Colunga, I have not set eyes upon, nor indeed heard of him. I have heard enough, however, of his family; of _monsieur_ the father, of _madame_, and of the brother, who was an officer of cavalry. A short time before the troubles, I mean before the death of Ferdinand, _monsieur_ the father was appointed captain-general of Corunna. Now _monsieur_, though a good master, was rather a proud man, and fond of discipline, and all that kind of thing, and of obedience. He was, moreover, no friend to the populace, to the _canaille_, and he had a particular aversion to the nationals. So, when Ferdinand died, it was whispered about at Corunna that the general was no liberal, and that he was a better friend to Carlos than Christina. _Eh bien_, it chanced that there was a grand _fête_, or festival, at Corunna, on the water, and the nationals were there, and the soldiers. And I know not how it befell, but there was an _émeute_, and the nationals laid hands on _monsieur_ the general, and tying a rope round his neck, flung him overboard from the barge in which he was, and then dragged him astern about the harbour until he was drowned. They then went to his house, and pillaged it, and so ill-treated _madame_, who at that time happened to be _enceinte_, that in a few hours she expired.