Note: First published in La Mode, 30 January 1830.

Synopsis: During Napoleon's campaign in Spain, French soldiers are occupying a Spanish town, some of them attending a ball in the local nobleman's house. Believing that the English are about to land, the townsfolk and the noblemen's family massacre the French soldiers without warning. But English reinforcements fail to arrive. The French general orders all of the killers put to death, along with the nobleman's family from oldest to youngest. The nobleman begs that one family member be spared so that his name can continue; the general agrees on the condition that that one behead all the others. The oldest son Juanito is chosen to execute his brothers, sisters, father, and mother.