登陆注册
5195400000066

第66章

"Those men mean mischief," said I to my friend D-, of the MORNING CHRONICLE, who at this moment joined me; "and depend upon it, that if they are ordered they will commence firing, caring nothing whom they hit, - but what can those cavalry fellows behind them mean, who are evidently of the other opinion by their shouting, why don't they charge at once this handful of foot people and overturn them? Once down, the crowd would wrest from them their muskets in a moment.You are a liberal, which I am not; why do you not go to that silly young man who commands the horse and give him a word of counsel in time?"D - turned upon me his broad red good-humoured English countenance, with a peculiarly arch look, as much as to say -(whatever you think most applicable, gentle reader), then taking me by the arm, "Let us get," said he, "out of this crowd and mount to some window, where I can write down what is about to take place, for I agree with you that mischief is meant."Just opposite the post office was a large house, in the topmost story of which we beheld a paper displayed, importing that apartments were to let; whereupon we instantly ascended the common stair, and having agreed with the mistress of the etage for the use of the front room for the day, we bolted the door, and the reporter, producing his pocket-book and pencil, prepared to take notes of the coming events, which were already casting their shadow before.

What most extraordinary men are these reporters of newspapers in general, I mean English newspapers; surely if there be any class of individuals who are entitled to the appellation of cosmopolites, it is these; who pursue their avocation in all countries indifferently, and accommodate themselves at will to the manners of all classes of society:

their fluency of style as writers is only surpassed by their facility of language in conversation, and their attainments in classical and polite literature only by their profound knowledge of the world, acquired by an early introduction into its bustling scenes.The activity, energy, and courage which they occasionally display in the pursuit of information are truly remarkable.I saw them during the three days at Paris, mingled with canaille and gamins behind the barriers, whilst the mitraille was flying in all directions, and the desperate cuirassiers were dashing their fierce horses against these seemingly feeble bulwarks.There stood they, dotting down their observations in their pocket-books as unconcernedly as if reporting the proceedings of a reform meeting in Covent Garden or Finsbury Square; whilst in Spain, several of them accompanied the Carlist and Christino guerillas in some of their most desperate raids and expeditions, exposing themselves to the danger of hostile bullets, the inclemency of winter, and the fierce heat of the summer sun.

We had scarcely been five minutes at the window, when we suddenly heard the clattering of horses' feet hastening down the street called the Calle de Carretas.The house in which we had stationed ourselves was, as I have already observed, just opposite to the post office, at the left of which this street debouches from the north into the Puerta del Sol: as the sounds became louder and louder, the cries of the crowd below diminished, and a species of panic seemed to have fallen upon all: once or twice, however, I could distinguish the words Quesada! Quesada! The foot soldiers stood calm and motionless, but I observed that the cavalry, with the young officer who commanded them, displayed both confusion and fear, exchanging with each other some hurried words; all of a sudden that part of the crowd which stood near the mouth of the Calle de Carretas fell back in great disorder, leaving a considerable space unoccupied, and the next moment Quesada, in complete general's uniform, and mounted on a bright bay thorough bred English horse, with a drawn sword in his hand, dashed at full gallop into the area, in much the same manner as I have seen a Manchegan bull rush into the amphitheatre when the gates of his pen are suddenly flung open.

He was closely followed by two mounted officers, and at a short distance by as many dragoons.In almost less time than is sufficient to relate it, several individuals in the crowd were knocked down and lay sprawling upon the ground, beneath the horses of Quesada and his two friends, for as to the dragoons, they halted as soon as they had entered the Puerta del Sol.It was a fine sight to see three men, by dint of valour and good horsemanship, strike terror into at least as many thousands: I saw Quesada spur his horse repeatedly into the dense masses of the crowd, and then extricate himself in the most masterly manner.The rabble were completely awed and gave way, retiring by the Calle del Comercio and the street of Alcala.All at once, Quesada singled out two nationals, who were attempting to escape, and setting spurs to his horse, turned them in a moment, and drove them in another direction, striking them in a contemptuous manner with the flat of his sabre.He was crying out, "Long live the absolute queen!"when, just beneath me, amidst a portion of the crowd which had still maintained its ground, perhaps from not having the means of escaping, I saw a small gun glitter for a moment, then there was a sharp report, and a bullet had nearly sent Quesada to his long account, passing so near to the countenance of the general as to graze his hat.I had an indistinct view for a moment of a well-known foraging cap just about the spot from whence the gun had been discharged, then there was a rush of the crowd, and the shooter, whoever he was, escaped discovery amidst the confusion which arose.

同类推荐
  • 摄大乘论二译

    摄大乘论二译

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 昙芳守忠禅师语录

    昙芳守忠禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • For Greater Things

    For Greater Things

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唐享太庙乐章·凯安

    唐享太庙乐章·凯安

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说除盖障菩萨所问经

    佛说除盖障菩萨所问经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我怎样学习当记者(增订本)(南振中文集)

    我怎样学习当记者(增订本)(南振中文集)

    本书是作者20年记者生涯的经验体会。30多年前本书第一版出版后,广受新闻学界和业界好评,并陆续被清华大学、复旦大学等高等院校新闻与传播学院列为必读书目或者参考书目。增订版应读者呼声,精选作者的新闻作品,以便于学习者将记者工作的方法实践成果对照阅读。
  • 销售心理学(心理学课堂05)

    销售心理学(心理学课堂05)

    《心理学课堂》套书共5册,包括《消费心理学》、《博弈心理学》、《乌合之众——大众心理研究》、《价格心理学》、《销售心理学》,《心理学课堂》从多方面总结和归纳了与人们生活息息相关的社会活动中的心理学,并配以生动的案例,增加了阅读趣味。阅读《心理学课堂》,可以使人们清醒的认识生活中所遇到的种种不合理现象并加以规避,从中得到人生智慧,使生活更加积极主动。
  • 难以放手

    难以放手

    冷西一直不明白自己是哪里招惹了高子群,他步步相逼。直到很多年后,她终于明白遇见高子群是她一辈子的劫。
  • 逆仙武帝

    逆仙武帝

    九州大陆流传着这样的故事,每隔一万年,都会有一位大帝出世,秉承上天意志,统御世间万载。新的时代开始了,万族林立,群雄并起,争夺那至高无上的大帝尊位。纷乱之中,少年横空出世,逆天而起,不仅要做那统御世间的无上大帝,还要做那打破天命约束的第一人。“我告诉你,我苏阳可是江南第一纨绔子弟,这个世界上就没有什么事情是我干不出来的。”
  • 一寸相思两寸灰

    一寸相思两寸灰

    她,救他,护他,助他;他,恨她,辱她,杀她。到头来,终是误会一场,他以为自己负了师父,岂料师父本无心,是自己自作多情。他想要活着,她许他永生,她想要自由,他囚她永世。费尽心思,终是留不下一个师父。一声师父,一声姐姐,辞,该何去何从。做了那么多,到头来只感动了自己,问他:“值得吗?”他说“值得,我欠师父的。”“师父,我有一寸相思,渡你两世成劫,可好?”
  • 天殇决

    天殇决

    九天帝王不染血,修罗地府问幽冥。龙泉桥上人皇过,紫电夜鸣青霜寒。重剑无锋倚天落,燎原离火焚苍穹。这个由剑开始的故事,也将由剑来终结。
  • 情似空白晴染墨

    情似空白晴染墨

    那年,五个人,我们是“何陆施丁林”,悲欢喜怒都一起。那年,四个人,象牙塔内的世界崩塌,缤纷色彩沦为黑白。那年,一个人,怀抱着旧时光一遍遍回忆,你们都是我的独家记忆。若不是那场猝不及防的意外,若不是那个胆小懦弱的我,也许,现在我们依然能手牵手,嬉笑地打闹在我们永远的象牙塔内。时光流逝,悲伤不止。如今,你的回归,是拯救还是摧毁?
  • 从体术开始征战星辰大海

    从体术开始征战星辰大海

    以亿万年为岁的宇宙,在其初期中,孕育万千诸神,诸神诞生之后,以无上神力镇压星海万族,使万族文明不兴,盲目无知。直至人族诞生,有大能者独辟蹊径,以体术为道,战诸天,斩诸神,至此文明才有繁衍根基。然而人力有时尽,一代大能终敌不过英雄迟暮。当大能者消失在岁月的长河之中,刚刚兴起的文明何去何从?于暗处窥视的古神是否又将卷土重来?泰戈大陆便是文明兴起的诸星之一,凌豪因为一场意外,重生到百叶城,成为城主之子,本来身为天才的他,六岁那年,被神秘人废掉灵根,从此沦为废人。被曾经的手下冷嘲热讽不说,未婚妻还要上门退婚。面对狗血剧情,凌豪只能用体术去证明,功法,血脉,机缘都是狗屁,唯有热血,不负青春。
  • 魔尊嗜宠:逆天三小姐

    魔尊嗜宠:逆天三小姐

    她,现代十阶冰系异能者,一觉醒来,身处异世,世人皆笑她是灵武废材,废材吗?那就且看她这个废材是如何逆天改命!他,尊天门的一尊之主,受世人敬仰,却不知他其实是魔界的魔尊。当她与他相遇,又会擦出怎样的火花?片段一:魔焱霸气的望着穆云霓:“小野猫,你是本尊的!”穆云霓淡淡的看了他一眼,将手中的小猫放到他怀中,郑重的点了点头:“嗯,它是你的!”魔焱:……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 极望之城

    极望之城

    神族少女路简(陵水路氏长老之女)自幼便拥有强大的神力,小小年纪便已登入四级(共七级)灵观,且收服了流光森林中的一品灵兽流光兽。本有能力突破五级极视,却因贪玩,将众神合力封印的饕餮从天宫地牢中放了出来,酿成大祸,遭到众神降罪。最后在其父亲的恳求下,贬去神籍,坠入人间,投胎成一个襁褓婴儿,最后被人族岚帕奇将军所救,成为其养女。在人间体味七情六欲,生老病死的她最终会在人间掀出怎么的风浪呢......