preparations were made, so the
popular rumor ran, for the punishment of a young Englishman, who had
aided a Spanish nun in the violation of her vows.

The numerous bells of the city were tolling heavily; and at length,
after the patience of the populace had been nearly exhausted, the head
of a column of men, marching in slow time, was seen to enter upon the
plaza. First came the governor's guard, their steel caps and cuirasses
and halberds polished like silver. After these, walked the officials
of the Inquisition, and some friars of the order of St. Dominic,
surrounding the unfortunate Landon, who wore the _corazo_, or pointed
cap, upon his head, and the _san benito_, a robe painted all over
with flames and devils, typifying the awful fate which awaited him. He
ascended the scaffold with a firm step, while the _cortege_ ranged
themselves around it; and the governor of Valencia, mounted on a
splendid barbed charger, and wearing his inquisitorial robes over his
military uniform, rode into the square, amid the _vivas_ of the crowd
and the presented arms of the troops, and made a sign for the ceremony
to proceed.

As an officer, appointed for the purpose, was about to read the
sentence, a great tumult arose in the square, and attracted the
attention of all the spectators.

"What is the meaning of this, Alvarez?" asked the governor, addressing
one of his lieutenants.

"The people, please your excellency, have got hold of Isaac, the rich
Jew, and insist on his beholding the august spectacle of the _auto da
fe_."

"The unbelieving dog has never liked these brave shows," answered the
governor, with a grim smile, "since his well-beloved brother,
Issachar, expiated his heresy on this spot in the great auto, when we
burned twenty of his tribe before the king. Beshrew my heart! he
abuses my clemency in permitting him to hold house and gold here in
Valencia. He shall behold the execution! Make room there, and drag him
into the heart of the hollow square."

The cruel order was obeyed; and the old Jew, who was a mild and
venerable-looking man, was forced into the centre of the plaza, whence
he could have a full view of the horrid scene about to be enacted.

But the indignities to which he had been subjected aroused a latent
spark of fire even in the soul of the aged Hebrew. He lifted up his
voice and cried aloud:--

"Spaniards! Christians! are ye men, or are ye brutes? Fear ye not the
vengeance of Heaven, when ye enact deed