The Two Gospels - The Alguazil - The Warrant - The Good Maria -The Arrest - Sent to Prison - Reflections - The Reception -The Prison Room - Redress Demanded.
At length the Gospel of Saint Luke in the Gypsy language was in a state of readiness.I therefore deposited a certain number of copies in the despacho, and announced them for sale.
The Basque, which was by this time also printed, was likewise advertised.For this last work there was little demand.Not so, however, for the Gypsy Luke, of which I could have easily disposed of the whole edition in less than a fortnight.Long, however, before this period had expired, the clergy were up in arms."Sorcery!" said one bishop."There is more in this than we can dive into," exclaimed a second."He will convert all Spain by means of the Gypsy language," cried a third.And then came the usual chorus on such occasions, of QUE INFAMIA! QUEPICARDIA! At last, having consulted together, away they hurried to their tool the corregidor, or, according to the modern term, the gefe politico of Madrid.I have forgotten the name of this worthy, of whom I had myself no personal knowledge whatever.Judging from his actions, however, and from common report, I should say that he was a stupid wrong-headed creature, savage withal - a melange of borrico, mule, and wolf.
Having an inveterate antipathy to all foreigners, he lent a willing ear to the complaint of my accusers, and forthwith gave orders to make a seizure of all the copies of the Gypsy Gospel which could be found in the despacho.The consequence was, that a numerous body of alguazils directed their steps to the Calle del principe; some thirty copies of the book in question were pounced upon, and about the same number of Saint Luke in Basque.With this spoil these satellites returned in triumph to the gefatura politica, where they divided the copies of the Gypsy volume amongst themselves, selling subsequently the greater number at a large price, the book being in the greatest demand, and thus becoming unintentionally agents of an heretical society.But every one must live by his trade, say these people, and they lose no opportunity of making their words good, by disposing to the best advantage of any booty which falls into their hands.As no person cared about the Basque Gospel, it was safely stowed away, with other unmarketable captures, in the warehouses of the office.
The Gypsy Gospels had now been seized, at least as many as were exposed for sale in the despacho.The corregidor and his friends, however, were of opinion that many more might be obtained by means of a little management.Fellows, therefore, hangers-on of the police office, were daily dispatched to the shop in all kinds of disguises, inquiring, with great seeming anxiety, for "Gypsy books," and offering high prices for copies.They, however, returned to their employers empty-handed.My Gallegan was on his guard, informing all who made inquiries, that books of no description would be sold at the establishment for the present.Which was in truth the case, as I had given him particular orders to sell no more under any pretence whatever.
I got no credit, however, for my frank dealing.The corregidor and his confederates could not persuade themselves but that by some means mysterious and unknown to them, I was daily selling hundreds of these Gypsy books, which were to revolutionize the country, and annihilate the power of the Father of Rome.A plan was therefore resolved upon, by means of which they hoped to have an opportunity of placing me in a position which would incapacitate me for some time from taking any active measures to circulate the Scriptures, either in Gypsy or in any other language.
It was on the morning of the first of May, if I forget not, that an unknown individual made his appearance in my apartment as I was seated at breakfast; he was a mean-looking fellow, about the middle stature, with a countenance on which knave was written in legible characters.The hostess ushered him in, and then withdrew.I did not like the appearance of my visitor, but assuming some degree of courtesy, I requested him to sit down, and demanded his business."I come from his excellency the political chief of Madrid," he replied, "and my business is to inform you that his excellency is perfectly aware of your proceedings, and is at any time able to prove that you are still disposing of in secret those evil books which you have been forbidden to sell." "Is he so," I replied;"pray let him do so forthwith, but what need of giving me information?" "Perhaps," continued the fellow, "you think his worship has no witnesses; know, however, that he has many, and respectable ones too." "Doubtless," I replied, "and from the respectability of your own appearance, you are perhaps one of them.But you are occupying my time unprofitably; begone, therefore, and tell whoever sent you, that I have by no means a high opinion of his wisdom." "I shall go when I please,"retorted the fellow; "do you know to whom you are speaking?
Are you aware that if I think fit I can search your apartment, yes, even below your bed? What have we here," he continued;and commenced with his stick poking a heap of papers which lay upon a chair; "what have we here; are these also papers of the Gypsies?" I instantly determined upon submitting no longer to this behaviour, and taking the fellow by the arm, led him out of the apartment, and then still holding him, conducted him downstairs from the third floor in which I lived, into the street, looking him steadfastly in the face the whole while.
The fellow had left his sombrero on the table, which Idispatched to him by the landlady, who delivered it into his hand as he stood in the street staring with distended eyes at the balcony of my apartment.