He was of those who hypnotize themselves, who glow with
self-creation, who flower and bloom without pollen.
His rejection of the captain's confidence even had a dignity. He took out
his watch which represented so many laborious hours of other Barbilles,
and with a decision in which the strong pulse of chivalry was beating
hard, he said:
"I can never speak well till I have ate. That is my hobby. Well, so it
is. And I like good company. So that is why I sit beside Senor and
Senorita Dolores at table--the one on the right, the other on the left,
myself between, like this, like that. It is dinner-time now here, and my
friends--my dear friends of Cadiz--they wait me. Have you heard the
Senorita sing the song of Spain, m'sieu'? What it must be with the
guitar, I know not; but with voice alone it is ravishing. I have learned
it also. The Senorita has taught me. It is a song of Aragon. It is sung
in high places. It belongs to the nobility. Ah, then, you have not heard
it--but it is not too late! The Senorita, the unhappy ma'm'selle, driven
from her ancestral home by persecution, she will sing it to you as she
has sung it to me. It is your due. You are the master of the ship. But,
yes, she shall of her kindness and of her grace sing it to you. You do
not know how it runs? Well, it is like this--listen and tell me if it
does not speak of things that belong to the old regime, the ancient
noblesse--listen, m'sieu' le captaanne, how it runs:
"Have you not heard of mad Murcie?
Granada gay and And'lousie?
There's where you'll see the joyous rout,
When patios pour their beauties out;
Come, children, come, the night gains fast,
And Time's a jade too fair to last.
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