"Those people seem no friends to the gipsies," said I to Antonio, when the two bullies had departed; "nor to the Caló language either."
"May evil glanders seize their nostrils," said Antonio: "they have been _jonjabadoed_ by our people. However, brother, you did wrong to speak to me in Caló, in a _posada_ like this: it is a forbidden language; for, as I have often told you, the king has destroyed the law of the Calés. Let us away, brother, or those _juntunes_ may set the _justicia_ upon us."
Towards evening we drew near to a large town or village. "That is Merida," said Antonio, "formerly, as the Busné say, a mighty city of the Corahai. We shall stay here to-night, and perhaps for a day or two, for I have some business of Egypt to transact in this place. Now, brother, step aside with the horse, and wait for me beneath yonder wall. I must go before and see in what condition matters stand."
I dismounted from the horse, and sat down on a stone beneath the ruined wall to which Antonio had motioned me. The sun went down, and the air was exceedingly keen; I drew close around me an old tattered gipsy cloak with which my companion had provided me, and being somewhat fatigued, fell into a doze which lasted for nearly an hour.
"Is your worship the London Caloró?" said a strange voice close beside me.
I started, and beheld the face of a woman peering under my hat. Notwithstanding the dusk, I could see that the features were hideously ugly and almost black; they belonged, in fact, to a gipsy crone at least seventy years of age, leaning upon a staff.
"Is your worship the London Caloró?" repeated she.
"I am he whom you seek," said I; "where is Antonio?"
"Curelando, curelando; baribustres curelós terela," said the crone. "Come with me, Caloró of my _garlochin_, come with me to my little _ker_; he will be there anon."
I followed the crone, who led the way into the town, which was ruinous and seemingly half deserted; we went up the street, from which she turned into a narrow and dark lane, and presently opened the gate of a large dilapidated house. "Come in," said she.
"Bring the _gras_ in too, my _chabó_, bring the _gras_ in too; there is room for the _gras_ in my little stable." We entered a large court, across which we proceeded till we came to a wide doorway. "Go in, my child of Egypt," said the hag; "go in, that is my little stable."