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Updated: June 29, 2025
The prisoners would be haled before the escribano de presas, the scrivener of the captives, as evidences of the victory, and he compelled them to swear "by Alaquivir, by the Prophet and his Koran, with hand and index-finger raised, his face turned toward the rising sun," while the fierce Ivizan corsairs, on dividing the booty, set aside a sum for the purchase of linen for binding up their wounds, and left another portion of the loot under pledge for celebration of daily mass by a priest every day while they were absent from the island.
This the escribano heard of, and forthwith had me away to the prison to confront me with them. I knew them well enough, but I had learnt in my travels when to close my eyes and when to open them; so I told the escribano that I could not say that I had ever seen them before. He was in a great rage and threatened to imprison me; I told him he might and that I cared not.
Patience, patience, senor escribano! you know that for the services you are to render me I say nothing of those already rendered I have promised you my liver-coloured breeches, which have been only a very little used: you have only to gain them." "But what services are to gain them, senor alcalde?" inquired the clerk, in a despairing tone. "Eh Dios! who knows what patience, amigo!
"Your Honor is becoming poetical!" exclaimed the escribano gleefully, and both emptied their wine-glasses. "I can't help it," said the alcalde as he wiped his lips. "Opportunity, while it doesn't always make the thief, makes the poet. In my youth I composed verses which were really not bad."
Appearances, however, are often deceptive; for in truth the ambition of this youth; whose unsteady glance, miserable aspect, and a certain smell of old papers about him, proclaimed to be un escribano his everyday dream was to have a pair of pantaloons entirely different from his own in other words, a pair with long ample legs, of good wide waist, and made out of fine broadcloth.
The election of these candidates ought to be made with closed doors, and must be authorized by the presence of an escribano, or attorney, to note the proceedings. The parish priest is allowed to attend if he choose, in order that he may influence the election of fit persons for the office by speaking in their favour, but he has not any vote in the matter.
He was a person of portly and robust figure; and it was easily seen that one leg of his ample pantaloons would have been sufficient to have made a pair for the thin limbs and meagre body of the escribano. "Por Dios! Senor alcalde," said the clerk, after having exchanged with his superior a profusion of matinal salutations, "what a splendid pair of pantaloons you have on!"
He did the same as the alcalde, but this time more applause was heard, for to the employees were added some friars and Capitan Tiago. Padre Salvi then seemed to seek for some one to whom he might give the trowel. He looked doubtfully at Maria Clara, but changing his mind, offered it to the escribano. The latter in gallantry offered it to Maria Clara, who smilingly refused it.
"Now, friend Gregorio," said the alcalde, in a low voice, "the time has come, when, if you are sharp, you may gain the liver-coloured breeches." He said no more; but it was evident that the escribano understood him, at least, to a certain extent.
CORRAL, an enclosure for cattle. COSTAL, a bag, or sack. CUARTA, a leather horse-whip; see p. 264. CUARTEL, a barrack. CUCARACHA, a cockroach. CUCHILLO, a knife. CURA, a parish-priest. DESAGUE, a draining-cut. DESAYUNO, breakfast. ESCOPETA, a musket. ESCRIBANO, a scribe or secretary. FANDANGO, a dance. FIESTA, a church-festival. FRIJOLES, beans. FUERO, a legal privilege; see pp. 19, 249.
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