"My errand--_my_ errand, did you say, Benjie Brail?--by the powers, and I had all but forgotten my errand--but let me take a look at you--why, what a funny little fellow you are in your linen garment, Benjie--laconic--short, but expressive"--and he turned me round in so rough a way, that he really hurt me considerably. Seeing this, and that I had to sit down on the side of the bed for support, the worthy fellow changed his tone---- "Bless me, Brail, I shall really be very sorry if I have hurt you, so I will help you to dress--but you certainly do cut a comical figure in dishabille--however, you have not heard the other miracle I came to tell you about, man--why, Adderfang, that you saw die last night, and be d--d to him--I cannot say much for his ending, by the way, if all be true that I have heard--is not dead at all." "Impossible!" "Ay, but it is true--he was only kilt by his own bad conscience, the big villain, and your fantastical _flower_ of sulphur--your Scotch ally, Lennox, is below, ready to vouch for it. If the rascal does recover, what a beautiful subject for the garrote he will make.--What an expressive language this Spanish is, now--garrote--gar-rote--you don't require to look your dictionary for the meaning of such a word, the very sound translates itself to any man's comprehension--when you say a fellow is _garroteado_, don't you hear the poor devil actually _throttling_?--Oh! it's a beautiful word." Here Manuel, the black butler, entered, to assist in rigging me, as Nariz de Niéve was occupied otherwise; and time it was he did so, for Listado was, without exception, the worst and roughest groom of the bedchamber that ever I had the misfortune to cope withal; but the plaguey Irishman must still put in his oar. "Manuel, my worthy," said he, after the negro was done with me, "do me the favour, para tomar un asiento--take a seat--chaizez votre posterioribus, si vous plait, old Snow Ball."