We arrived at the prison, which stands in a narrow street not far from the great square.  We entered a dusky passage, at the end of which was a wicket door.  My conductors knocked, a fierce visage peered through the wicket; there was an exchange of words, and in a few moments I found myself within the prison of Madrid, in a kind of corridor which overlooked at a considerable altitude what appeared to be a court, from which arose a hubbub of voices, and occasionally wild shouts and cries.  Within the corridor which served as a kind of office, were several people; one of them sat behind a desk, and to him the alguazils went up, and after discoursing with him some time in low tones, delivered the warrant into his hands.  He perused it with attention, then rising he advanced to me.  What a figure!  He was about forty years of age, and his height might have amounted to some six feet two inches, had he not been curved much after the fashion of the letter S. No weazel ever appeared lanker, and he looked as if a breath of air would have been sufficient to blow him away; his face might certainly have been called handsome, had it not been for its extraordinary and portentous meagreness; his nose was like an eagle’s bill, his teeth white as ivory, his eyes black (Oh how black!) and fraught with a strange expression, his skin was dark, and the hair of his head like the plumage of the raven.  A deep quiet smile dwelt continually on his features; but with all the quiet it was a cruel smile, such a one as would have graced the countenance of a Nero.  “Mais en revanche personne n’etoit plus honnete.”  “Caballero,” said he, “allow me to introduce myself to you as the alcayde of this prison.  I perceive by this paper that I am to have the honour of your company for a time, a short time doubtless, beneath this roof; I hope you will banish every apprehension from your mind.  I am charged to treat you with all the respect which is due to the illustrious nation to which you belong, and which a cavalier of such exalted category as yourself is entitled to expect.  A needless charge, it is true, as I should only have been too happy of my own accord to have afforded you every comfort and attention.  Caballero, you will rather consider yourself here as a guest than a prisoner; you will be permitted to roam over every part of this house whenever you think proper.  You will find matters here not altogether below the attention of a philosophic mind!  Pray, issue whatever commands you may think fit to the turnkeys and officials, even as if they were your own servants.  I will now have the honour of conducting you to your apartment—­the only one at present unoccupied.  We invariably reserve it for cavaliers of distinction.  I am happy to say that my orders are again in consonance with my inclination.  No charge whatever will be made for it to you, though the daily hire of it is not unfrequently an ounce of gold.  I entreat you, therefore, to follow me, cavalier, who am at all times and seasons the most obedient and devoted of your servants.”  Here he took off his hat and bowed profoundly.