CHAPTER ONE.PEPE, THE SLEEPER.No landscape on the Biscayan coast, presents a more imposing andpicturesque aspect than the little village of Elanchovi. Lying withinan amphitheatre of cliffs, whose crests rise above the roofs of thehouses, the port is protected from the surge of the sea by a handsomelittle jetty of chiselled stone; while the single street of which thevillage is composed, commencing at the inner end of the mole, sweepsboldly up against the face of the precipice. On both sides, the houses,disposed in a sort of _echelon_, rise, terrace-like, one above theother; so that viewed from a distance, the street presents theappearance of a gigantic stairway.In these the common dwellings, there is not much variety ofarchitecture; since the village is almost exclusively inhabited by poorfishermen. There is one building, however, that is conspicuous--so muchso as to form the principal feature of the landscape. It is an oldchateau--perhaps the only building of this character in Spain--whoseslate roofs and gothic turrets and vanes, rising above the highest pointof the cliffs, overlook the houses of the village.This mansion belonged to the noble family of Mediana, and formed part ofthe grand estates of this ancient house. For a long period, the Countsof Mediana had not inhabited the chateau of Elanchovi, and it had falleninto a state of neglect and partial decay, presenting a somewhat wildand desolate aspect. However, at the beginning of the year 1808, duringthe troubles of the French invasion, the Count Don Juan, then head ofthe family, had chosen it as a safe residence for his young wife DonaLuisa, whom he passionately loved.Here Don Juan passed the first months of his married life--a marriagecelebrated under circumstances of sad augury. The younger brother ofDon Juan, Don Antonio de Mediana, had also fervently loved the DonaLuisa; until finding her preference for his brother, he had given up hissuit in anger, and quitted the country. He had gone, no one knewwhither; and though after a time there came back a rumour of his death,it was neither confirmed nor contradicted.The principal reason why the Count had chosen this wild spot as aresidence for his lady was this:--He held a high command in the Spanisharmy, and he knew that duty would soon call him into the field. The_alcalde_ of Elanchovi had been an old servant of the Mediana family,and had been raised to his present rank by their influence. Don Juan,therefore, believed he could rely upon the devotion of this functionaryto the interests of his house, and that during his absence Dona Luisawould find security under the magisterial protection. Don Ramon Cohechowas the name of the chief magistrate of Elanchovi.