part01-第7部分

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far　above　it　the　snowy　summits　of　the　Sierra　Nevada　shone　like　silver。

　　Our　repast　finished；　we　spread　our　cloaks　and　took　our　last　siesta

al　fresco；　lulled　by　the　humming　of　bees　among　the　flowers　and　the

notes　of　doves　among　the　olive…trees。　When　the　sultry　hours　were

passed　we　resumed　our　journey。　After　a　time　we　overtook　a　pursy　little

man；　shaped　not　unlike　a　toad　and　mounted　on　a　mule。　He　fell　into

conversation　with　Sancho；　and　finding　we　were　strangers；　undertook

to　guide　us　to　a　good　posada。　He　was　an　escribano　（notary）；　he　said；

and　knew　the　city　as　thoroughly　as　his　own　pocket。　〃Ah　Dios；

senores！　what　a　city　you　are　going　to　see。　Such　streets！　such　squares！

such　palaces！　and　then　the　women…　ah　Santa　Maria　purisima…　what

women！〃　〃But　the　posada　you　talk　of；〃　said　I；　〃are　you　sure　it　is　a

good　one？〃

　　〃Good！　Santa　Maria！　the　best　in　Granada。　Salones　grandes…　camas　de

luxo…　colchones　de　pluma　（grand　saloons…　luxurious　sleeping　rooms…

beds　of　down）。　Ah；　senores；　you　will　fare　like　King　Chico　in　the

Alhambra。〃

　　〃And　how　will　my　horses　fare？〃　cried　Sancho。

　　〃Like　King　Chico's　horses。　Chocolate　con　leche　y　bollos　para

almuerza〃　（〃chocolate　and　milk　with　sugar　cakes　for　breakfast〃）；

giving　the　squire　a　knowing　wink　and　a　leer。

　　After　such　satisfactory　accounts　nothing　more　was　to　be　desired　on

that　head。　So　we　rode　quietly　on；　the　squab　little　notary　taking　the

lead；　and　turning　to　us　every　moment　with　some　fresh　exclamation　about

the　grandeurs　of　Granada　and　the　famous　times　we　were　to　have　at　the

posada。

　　Thus　escorted；　we　passed　between　hedges　of　aloes　and　Indian　figs；

and　through　that　wilderness　of　gardens　with　which　the　Vega　is

embroidered；　and　arrived　about　sunset　at　the　gates　of　the　city。　Our

officious　little　conductor　conveyed　us　up　one　street　and　down　another；

until　he　rode　into　the　courtyard　of　an　inn　where　he　appeared　to　be

perfectly　at　home。　Summoning　the　landlord　by　his　Christian　name；　he

committed　us　to　his　care　as　two　caballeros　de　mucho　valor；　worthy　of

his　best　apartments　and　most　sumptuous　fare。　We　were　instantly

reminded　of　the　patronizing　stranger　who　introduced　Gil　Blas　with　such

a　flourish　of　trumpets　to　the　host　and　hostess　of　the　inn　at

Pennaflor；　ordering　trouts　for　his　supper；　and　eating　voraciously　at

his　expense。　〃You　know　not　what　you　possess；〃　cried　he　to　the

innkeeper　and　his　wife。　〃You　have　a　treasure　in　your　house。　Behold

in　this　young　gentleman　the　eighth　wonder　of　the　world…　nothing　in

this　house　is　too　good　for　Senor　Gil　Blas　of　Santillane；　who

deserves　to　be　entertained　like　a　prince。〃

　　Determined　that　the　little　notary　should　not　eat　trouts　at　our

expense；　like　his　prototype　of　Pennaflor；　we　forbore　to　ask　him　to

supper；　nor　had　we　reason　to　reproach　ourselves　with　ingratitude；

for　we　found　before　morning　the　little　varlet；　who　was　no　doubt　a　good

friend　of　the　landlord；　had　decoyed　us　into　one　of　the　shabbiest

posadas　in　Granada。