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or even with a sword or staff； unless he were of a certain rank； and
every horseman was obliged to dismount at the gate； and lead his horse
by the bridle。 Now as the hill of the Alhambra rises from the very
midst of the city of Granada； being； as it were； an excrescence of the
capital； it must at all times be somewhat irksome to the
captain…general； who commands the province； to have thus an imperium
in imperio； a petty independent post in the very centre of his
domains。 It was rendered the more galling； in the present instance；
from the irritable jealousy of the old governor； that took fire on the
least question of authority and jurisdiction； and from the loose
vagrant character of the people who had gradually nestled themselves
within the fortress； as in a sanctuary； and thence carried on a system
of roguery and depredation at the expense of the honest inhabitants of
the city。
Thus there was a perpetual feud and heart…burning between the
captain…general and the governor； the more virulent on the part of the
latter； inasmuch as the smallest of two neighboring potentates is
always the most captious about his dignity。 The stately palace of
the captain…general stood in the Plaza Nueva； immediately at the
foot of the hill of the Alhambra； and here was always a bustle and
parade of guards； and domestics； and city functionaries。 A beetling
bastion of the fortress overlooked the palace and public square in
front of it； and on this bastion the old governor would occasionally
strut backwards and forwards； with his Toledo girded by his side；
keeping a wary eye down upon his rival； like a hawk reconnoitering his
quarry from his nest in a dry tree。
Whenever he descended into the city it was in grand parade； on
horseback； surrounded by his guards； or in his state coach； an ancient
and unwieldy Spanish edifice of carved timber and gilt leather；
drawn by eight mules； with running footmen； outriders； and lackeys； on
which occasions he flattered himself he impressed every beholder
with awe and admiration as vicegerent of the king； though the wits
of Granada； particularly those who loitered about the palace of the
captain…general； were apt to sneer at his petty parade； and in
allusion to the vagrant character of his subjects； to greet him with
the appellation of 〃the king of the beggars。〃 One of the most fruitful
sources of dispute between these two doughty rivals was the right
claimed by the governor to have all things passed free of duty through
the city； that were intended for the use of himself or his garrison。
By degrees this privilege had given rise to extensive smuggling。 A
nest of contrabandistas took up their abode in the hovels of the
fortress； and the numerous caves in its vicinity； and drove a thriving
business under the connivance of the soldiers of the garrison。
The vigilance of the captain…general was aroused。 He consulted his
legal adviser and factotum； a shrewd meddlesome escribano； or
notary； who rejoiced in an opportunity of perplexing the old potentate
of the Alhambra； and involving him in a maze of legal subtilties。 He
advised the captain…general to insist upon the right of examining
every convoy passing through the gates of his city； and penned a
long letter for him in vindication of the right。 Governor Manco was
a straightforward cut…and…thrust old soldier； who hated an escribano
worse than the devil and this one in particular worse than all other
escribanos。
〃What！〃 said he； curling up his mustaches fiercely； 〃does the
captain…general set his man of the pen to practise confusions upon me？
I'll let him see an old soldier is not to be baffled by schoolcraft。〃
He seized his pen and scrawled a short letter in a crabbed hand；
in which； without deigning to enter into argument； he insisted on
the right of transit free of search； and denounced vengeance on any
custom…house officer who should lay his unhallowed hand on any
convoy protected by the flag of the Alhambra。 While this question
was agitated between the two pragmatical potentates； it so happened
that a mule laden with supplies for the fortress arrived one day at
the gate of Xenil； by which it was to traverse a suburb of the city on
its way to the Alhambra。 The convoy was headed by a testy old
corporal； who had long served under the governor； and was a man
after his own heart； as rusty and stanch as an old Toledo blade。
As they approached the gate of the city； the corporal placed the
banner of the Alhambra on the pack…saddle of the mule； and drawing
himself up to a perfect perpendicular； advanced with his head
dressed to the front； but with the wary side…glance of a cur passing
through hostile ground； and ready for a snap and a snarl。
〃Who goes there？〃 said the sentinel at the gate。
〃Soldier of the Alhambra！〃 said the corporal； without turning his
head。
〃What have you in charge？〃
〃Provisions for the garrison。〃
〃Proceed。〃
The corporal marched straight forward； followed by the convoy； but
had not advanced many paces before a posse of custom…house officers
rushed out of a small toll…house。
〃Hallo there！〃 cried the leader。 〃Muleteer； halt； and open those
packages。〃
The corporal wheeled round； and drew himself up in battle array。
〃Respect the flag of the Alhambra；〃 said he； 〃these things are for the
governor。〃
〃A figo for the governor； and a figo for his flag。 Muleteer； halt； I
say。〃
〃Stop the convoy at your peril！〃 cried the corporal； cocking his
musket。
The muleteer gave his beast a hearty thwack； the custom…house
officer sprang forward and seized the halter； whereupon the corporal
levelled his piece； and shot him dead。
The street was immediately in an uproar。
The old corporal was seized； and after undergoing sundry kicks；
and cuffs； and cudgellings； which are generally given impromptu by the
mob in Spain； as a foretaste of the after penalties of the law； he was
loaded with irons； and conducted to the city prison； while his
comrades were permitted to proceed with the convoy； after it had
been well rummaged； to the Alhambra。
The old governor was in a towering passion when he heard of this
insult to his flag and capture of his corporal。 For a time he
stormed about the Moorish halls； and vapored about the bastions； and
looked down fire and sword upon the palace of the captain…general。
Having vented the first ebullition of his wrath； he dispatched a
message demanding the surrender of the corporal； as to him alone
belonged the right of sitting in judgment on the offences of those
under his command。 The captain…general； aided by the pen of the
delighted escribano； replied at great length； arguing that as the
offence had been committed within the walls of his city； and against
one of his civil officers； it was clearly within his proper
jurisdiction。 The governor rejoined by a repetition of his demand； the
captain…general gave a sur…rejoinder of still greater length and legal
acumen； the governor became hotter a