It was very brave in its devices and ornaments, and spacious in size. The ceiling was gilded until it glittered again in the light of the great silver lamp which swung above the table, and draperies and hangings of silk, all embroidered and passamented with gold lace, depended both from starboard and larboard, showing strangely beside the great ponderous breeches, and the strong tackle of two cannons, which you might see peeping from amid the silken bravery. The mizen-mast passed through this great cabin, and it was incrusted as it were with small weapons—pistols and daggers, most richly mounted and hilted—while below was a great buffet, all set out with glimmering crystal and plate—flagons and vases of burnished silver, and curiously-shaped goblets of sparkling glass. But, although I had never seen such splendour on board ship, or indeed, for that matter, anywhere else, I gazed with the greatest interest on the two men who occupied this floating palace; they sat on either side of the table, with a great crystal bottle, almost full of wine, and two long-stemmed glasses, before them. One was rather old and fat, with dark garments and grey grizzled hair. He had little pig-like eyes, and a sly greasy-looking face, and was altogether not pleasant to look on. But his companion was a handsome gaillard, as you might see in a summer’s day, and most bravely dressed. He had a very bronzed face, with jet-black moustaches, which were curled, and oiled, and crisped; and hair flowing about his shoulders in such dainty fashion as I warrant you cost the barber many an hour’s labour; his eye was bright and flashing; his nose and mouth well cut; and, altogether, his head would have been a fortune for a painter to copy, only there was a leer about the eye, and a curl about the lip, which gave the lie to whoso would say, ‘Here be a gentle cavalier.’ Round his neck he wore great masses of lace, among which precious stones glittered; his cloak was of the richest velvet; and the arm which he stretched out to hold the drinking glass, showed a hand daintily gloved and sparkling with rings. On the table before him lay a rapier, sheathed and ornamented with ribbons, and beside it was a great straw hat, or sombrero, looped up with floss of gold and silk. ‘I would I were to see Madrid as soon as you,’ said the young cavalier; ‘there is a balcony I would fain be under but now with a mandoline,’ and, so saying, he set himself to hum, making as though he were playing an instrument. ‘Truly, Don José,’ answered the other, with a grating voice, ‘there are balconies enough in Carthagena, rivals enough to be fought with, and husbands enough to be deceived.’