who was alone empowered to decide upon matters which relate to foreigners, and before whom I must be brought in the presence of the consul of my nation.  “However,” said he, “there is no knowing to what length these jacks in office may go.  I therefore advise you, if you are under any apprehension, to remain as my guest at the embassy for a few days, for here you will be quite safe.”  I assured him that I was under no apprehension whatever, having long been accustomed to adventures of this kind.  From the apartment of Sir George, I proceeded to that of the first secretary of embassy, Mr. Southern, with whom I entered into conversation.  I had scarcely been there a minute when my servant Francisco rushed in, much out of breath, and in violent agitation, exclaiming in Basque, “Niri jauna (master mine), the alguaziloac and the corchetoac, and all the other lapurrac (thieves) are again at the house.  They seem half mad, and not being able to find you, are searching your papers, thinking, I suppose, that you are hid among them.”  Mr. Southern here interrupting him, inquired of me what all this meant.  Whereupon I told him, saying at the same time, that it was my intention to proceed at once to my lodgings.  “But perhaps these fellows will arrest you,” said Mr. S., “before we can interfere.”  “I must take my chance as to that,” I replied, and presently afterwards departed.

Ere, however, I had reached the middle of the street of Alcala, two fellows came up to me, and telling me that I was their prisoner, commanded me to follow them to the office of the corregidor.  They were in fact alguazils, who, suspecting that I might enter or come out of the embassy, had stationed themselves in the neighbourhood.  I instantly turned round to Francisco, and told him in Basque to return to the embassy and to relate there to the secretary what had just occurred.  The poor fellow set off like lightning, turning half round, however, to shake his fist, and to vent a Basque execration at the two lapurrac, as he called the alguazils.

They conducted me to the gefatura or office of the corregidor, where they ushered me into a large room, and motioned me to sit down on a wooden bench.  They then stationed themselves on each side of me:  there were at least twenty people in the apartment beside ourselves, evidently from their appearance officials of the establishment.  They were all well dressed, for the most part in the French fashion, in round hats, coats, and pantaloons, and yet they looked what in reality they were, Spanish alguazils, spies, and informers, and Gil Blas, could he have waked from his sleep of two centuries, would, notwithstanding the change of fashion, have had no difficulty in recognizing them.  They glanced at me as they stood lounging about the room; they gathered themselves together in a circle and began conversing in whispers.  I heard one of them say, “he understands the seven Gypsy jargons.”  Then presently another,