3 1822 02141 6441 
 
 s^r . >■ 
 
 .v^j^J Vf* 
 
 |n r 
 
 ■^^ x^ 
 
 
 i
 
 v^?^ ^•^^'^,
 
 Alain Rene le Sage 
 
 THE 
 
 BACHELOR 
 
 SALAMANCA 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF ALAIN RENE LE SAGE 
 
 JAMES TOWNSEND 
 
 nOJif^ Sour Ongmaf (gfc^mss fig QJ. &e fio6 (S-ioB 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 WORTHINGTON CO., 747 Broadway 
 
 rSqo
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 flAPTER PAOa 
 
 I. Of the family and education of Don Cherubin — After 
 the death of his father he goes to live with one of his 
 relations — His progress in his studies — He travels to 
 Madrid, where he becomes acquainted with a priest 
 — The remarks which the priest makes on the em- 
 ployment in which Don Cherubin wishes to engage . I 
 
 II. Of the first house in which Don Cherubin became a 
 tutor — Description of the children whom he had to 
 instruct — Imprudence of a father .... 7 
 
 III. Don Cherubin offers his services to a member of the 
 
 Council of Castile — Of the extraordinary interview 
 which he had with that dignitary — His reply to him, 
 and what he did ....... 10 
 
 IV. Father Thomas places the Bachelor at the house of the 
 
 Marquii of Buendia — Charj.cter of the pupil he has 
 
 to instruct— He leaves the house — The reason . 13 
 
 V. The Bachelor of Salamanca becomes preceptor to the 
 son of a Contador — His joy at getting into so good 
 a house — He is paid in advance — He becomes en- 
 amoured of a young servant maid — His rival gets 
 him dismissed ....... 18 
 
 VI: What happened to the Bachelor on quitting the house 
 of the Contador — J lis reflections on his conduct — 
 He is introduced by his host into the house of a 
 widow— Character of the lady— Don Cherubin be- 
 comes her steward — Regard which the widow con-
 
 COXTEXTS. 
 
 ceives for him — Interview with the Dame Rodriguez 
 — Tlie subject of the intemew, and what was the 
 result of it 23 
 
 VII. How Don Cherubin, on the point of becoming the 
 husband of Donna Luisa, lost on a sudden the hope 
 of ever being so — He is carried off by force — His 
 terror at finding himself in the hands of bravoes^ 
 Description of his supper and company ... 29 
 
 VIII, Of Don Cherubin's arrival at Toledo, and of the first 
 education which he undertook — Bad character of his 
 pupil, who takes a dislike to him — How he comes to 
 be dismissed • • • 33 
 
 DC Curious conversation which Don Cherubin had with 
 one of his friends, a Biscayan tutor — The advantage 
 which he derived from that conversation — He enters 
 into the service of a Marchioness — That lady's 
 caprice and singular love of romances — Don Cheru- 
 bin becomes desperately in love with his mistress — 
 Effect produced by his love — He quits her notwith- 
 standing — His reasons 39 
 
 X. Our Bachelor becomes preceptor to the nephew of a 
 jeweller in Cuenca — By his own exertions, and those 
 of Signior Diego Cintillo, his scholar becomes a friar 
 —He returns to Madrid ...... 47 
 
 XT- Don Clierubin returns to Madrid, where he accidentally 
 meets a man who aftords him some information re- 
 lative to Donna Luisa de Pad ilia — That lady intro- 
 duces him into the service of the Duke de Uzeda, 
 in quality of under secretary — Acquaintance which 
 he made with Don Juan de Salzedo — That gentle- 
 man's foible — Description of a ball at which Don 
 Cherubin was present — He sets out for Naples in 
 quality of courier exiraordinary to the Count de 
 Urenna 5' 
 
 XII. In what manner Don Cherubin was received by the 
 Viceroy of Naples, and of the conversation they had 
 together — He receives considerable presents from 
 the Duke and Duchess, by which he is overwhelmed 
 with joy — He returns to Madrid . . t t 58
 
 CONTENTS. vii 
 
 CHAPTER P.\GB 
 
 XIII. Don Juan de Telles marries the daughter of the Duke 
 
 de Uzeda — Consequence of this marriage — Of the 
 
 new course taken by Don Chenibin ... 63 
 
 XIV. Don Cherubin meets with the little licentiate Caram- 
 
 bola — Of his interview with him — Pleasant adven- 
 ture which happens to the licentiate — What was the 
 
 consequence of it 65 
 
 XV. Don Cherubin becomes acquainted with an amiable 
 gentleman, named Don Manoel de Pedrilla — In 
 what way they passed their time together — Of the 
 agreeable surprise which Don Cherubin met with 
 one evening while supping with two ladies . . 70 
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 I. Don Ch«ubin de la Ronda goes to dine with his sister 
 — They relate to each other what has occurred since 
 their separation — History and gallantries of Donna 
 Francisca ......•• 74 
 
 IL Donna Francisca presents herself to the Countess Saint 
 Agni — Of the gracious reception which she met with 
 from that lady — Character of the Countess — Donna 
 Francisca inherits a thousand pistoles — Her regre: for 
 the death of the Countess — Resolution which she 
 comes to in conjunction with Damiana ... 84 
 
 III. In what town Donna Francisca and Damiana resolved 
 
 on settling — Adventures which occurred to them 
 there — Attempt to carry off Donna Francisca — The 
 consequences of this attempt 90 
 
 IV. Of the aew conquests which Donna Francisca made at 
 
 Cordova — She becomes unfaithful to her first lover, 
 and follows a pretended valet of the Commandant's 
 
 to Grenada • • 97 
 
 V. Who Don Pompeio really was — Of the sincere acknow- 
 ledgment, and the proposal which he made to Donna 
 Francisca, as soon as they were married — She is 
 easily consoled for the duplicity which her husband 
 has practised — She consents to his pioposa] . * K>7
 
 viii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGI 
 
 VI. Donna Francisca joins the company of players at 
 Grenada — How she was received by tlie public, and 
 of ihe great number of noblemen who were captivated 
 by her talents and her charms — Her husband procures 
 her the Count of Caniillana for a lover — She receives 
 him in obedience to her husband .... Ill 
 
 VH. Of the fresh presents which the Count de Cantillana 
 made to Donna Francisca — The attendance he paid 
 her — One of her other lovers sends her as a present 
 a box of diamonds of great value — She refuses it — 
 Her favoured lover, in gratitude for this refusal, 
 bestows on her a magnificent country seat — In 
 what manner this so tender engagement was ter- 
 minated . . . . . . . .118 
 
 VIII. What Francisca did after the departure of the Count 
 de Cantillana — Her husband and she go to take pos- 
 ses-ion of their castle— Singular adventure which 
 happens to her, and what lover paid his court to her 125 
 
 IX. Of the misfortune which happened at the castle of 
 Caralla, and what was its consequence — Donna 
 Francisca comes to the resoUition of soing to Madrid 
 with Manuela, her theatrical friend — They pass them- 
 selves for women of quality ..... 130 
 
 X. Of the conversation which Donna Francisca had with 
 Don Cherubin after having finished the recital of her 
 history — She proposes that he should come and live 
 with them — Don Cherubin consents . . . 133 
 
 XI. Don Cherubin goes to lodge with his sister — Of the new 
 acquaintance wliich he made, and of the extreme 
 respect which they entertained for him when they 
 knew him to be Basilisa's brother — Don Andre ob- 
 tains the friendship of Don Cherubin — His reason for 
 seeking his intimacy ...... 134 
 
 XII. Of the bad success which Don Cherubin had in his 
 attempt to serve his friend — He leaves his sister's 
 house, and does not see her again — Donna Francisca 
 marries Don Pedro — What kind of man he was . 139
 
 CONTENTS. ix 
 
 PART THE THIRD. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGB 
 
 I. Don Manoel de Pedrilla being under the necessity of 
 going into the country, prevails on Don Cherubin 
 to accompany him — Of their arrival at Alcaraz . \a,2 
 
 II. Don Cherubin obtains the affections of Donna Paula — 
 Don Ambrosio de Lorca presses Don Manoel to give 
 her to him — He challenges Don Manoel and Don 
 Cherubin — They are victors ..... 146 
 
 III. What course Don Manoel and Don Cherubin adopted 
 
 after their late adventure — They are prosecuted by 
 thfc <"-imily of Lorca, and obliged to retire into a 
 monastery — Uncommon portrait of the superior of a 
 convent ........ 149 
 
 IV. What was tlie termination of the affair which had 
 
 placed Don Manoel and Don Cherubin under the 
 protection of Father Teodor— Of the sudden resolu- 
 tion taken by the former, and in what manner it was 
 executed — He is present at an exhortation made by 
 one of the Carmelites to a dying man — Edification 
 which Don Cherubin derived from this pious dis- 
 course — He declares his resolution to Don Manoel, 
 and they separate . . . . . . .154 
 
 V. How, after six months of novitiate, the fervour of Don 
 Cherubin began to decline — Of his quitting the 
 convent, and the new course he adopts — He acci- 
 dentally meets with the licentiate Carambola — His 
 conversation with him — He resolves again to under- 
 take the business of instruction — What prevents him 160 
 
 VI. Don Cherubin's dream, and the sudden change which 
 took place in his fortune — Incivility of the monks — 
 He becomes a rich heritor — His inclination for 
 Naicissa . . . . . . . . . 166 
 
 Vn. Don Cherubin repairs to Salamanca, and returns to 
 Seville with his papers — He obtains his brother's 
 property^-Marks of respect which he pays to his 
 brother's memory ....... 172 
 
 VIII. Don Cherubins meets with Mileno — What he learns 
 from him, and the news which prevents him from
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 espousing the daughter of Master Gaspard, and 
 causes him to leave Seville as precipitately as if he 
 had been guilty of some crime .... 175 
 
 IX. Don Cherubin returns to Alcaraz — In what state he 
 
 there found Don Manoel de Pedrilla and his sister 
 Donna Paula — Of the reception vv'hich they gave 
 him — His love for Don Manoel's sister revives . 177 
 
 X. By what accident Don Cherubin hears news of his 
 
 sister, and how he was affected by it — He marries 
 Donna Paula — Honours which he receives . . l8o 
 
 XI. With what gentleman Don Cherubin became ac- 
 quainted, and what ensued— He sets out with Don 
 Manoel for Clevillente's country seat— What he met 
 with there 182 
 
 XII. Of the journey which the three cavaliers made to the 
 Castle of Villardesaz — They disguise themselves as 
 pilgrims to get into the castle — In what manner they 
 were received — Singular conversation with a domestic 
 of Donna Francisca's — Surprise of the latter . . 187 
 
 XIII. Our three travellers sup with Donna Francisca and 
 
 Donna Ismenia — Don Cherubin converses privately 
 with his sister — She marries her first lover, Don 
 Gregorio — Donna Ismenia also marries Don Manoel 
 de Pedrilla — Don Cherubin and Don Manoel retire 
 to the Castle of Clevillente, and set out with their 
 wives for Alcaraz — Agreement which tliey made . 195 
 
 XIV. Singular farce at which Don Cherubin was present — 
 
 Serious reflection on his fortune, and on that of his 
 sister — Don Manoel and he are robbed by one of 
 their servants — They take another — Who he was — 
 Surprise of Don Cherubin and his friend when they 
 recognise him ....... 200 
 
 XV. Tragical history of Don Carlos and Donna Sophia . 205
 
 CONTENTS. xi 
 
 PAT^T THE FOURTH. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGB 
 
 I. Don Cherubin de la Ronda, fifteen months after his 
 marriage, becomes the most amorous of husbands — 
 Don Gabriel carries off his \\ife — He pursues her 
 ravisher in vain— He gives up the pursuit, and resolves 
 to go to Mexico . . . . . . .211 
 
 II. Don Cherubin de la Ronda sails from Cadiz and arrives 
 at Vera Cruz, where he hires mules to proceed l)y 
 land to Mexico — Of the curious conversation wliich 
 he had on the first day of his journey with his mule- 
 teer, and of the stories which Tobias relates — He 
 conceives great expectations ..... 219 
 
 III. Of the meeting v/hich Don Cherubin had with a friar 
 of the Order of Saint Francis, on entering the town 
 of Xalapa — Consequence of this meeting — He sups 
 with the Superioi of the monastery — Description of 
 the monks whom he meets with there — After supper 
 he plays, wins, and retires at midnight from the 
 monastery 226 
 
 IV. Of Don Cherubin's arrival at Mexico, and in what place 
 he went to lodge — He is charmed with his host's 
 wife, notwithstanding her blackness . . 231 
 
 V. Don Cherubin goes to see the palace of the Viceroy — 
 He there meets with Don Juan de Salzedo, who 
 recognises him^Of the good reception which the 
 Secretary gave him, and of the first conversation they 
 had together, by which Don Cherubin was exceed- 
 ingly flattered ....... 235 
 
 VI. Of the visit which Don Cherubin made in the afternoon 
 to Don Juan de Salzedo. and of the second conversa- 
 tion he had with him— The result of it — Don Cheru- 
 bin de la Ronda is received as governor of Don 
 Alexis, son of the Viceroy — Toston's joy at learning 
 this agreeable news ...... 239 
 
 VII. Don Cherubin, governor of Don Alexis de Gelves, only 
 son of the Viceroy, pays a visit to the Vice-Queen — 
 His conversation with the t'itor of Don Alexis — 
 Character of the latter ...... 244
 
 an CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PACiB 
 
 VIII. He goes out with his pupil to the field called the 
 Alameda, which is the principal promenade at 
 Mexico — Of the observations he made there, and 
 the extreme astonishment they caused him — Tragical 
 event of which he is witness ..... 247 
 
 IX. How the genius of Don Alexis was brightened — Tiie 
 conversation which Don Cherubin had with his valet 
 — Wliat he learns from his valet astonishes him — 
 Prudent advice which he gives to Toston — The latter 
 is inclined to profit by it 250 
 
 X. Don Cherubin de la Ronda rolls in gold and silver — 
 He expends a great portion in parties of pleasure 
 with ladies of his acquaintance — He goes to see a 
 play — What kind of piece this was, and the im- 
 pression it made upon him ..... 254 
 
 XI. Of the greatest embarrassment in which Don Cherubin 
 ever found himself — In what manner he got out of it 
 — Salzedo proposes to him his daughter in marriage 
 — He refuses her — Surprise of his friend . . . 257 
 
 XII. History of Don Andre de Alvarade and Donna Cyn- 
 thia de la Carrera — Don Cherubin's advice — Don 
 Andre approves and resolves to follow it . . . 261 
 
 XIII. Continuation of the story of Don Andre Alvarade and 
 
 Donna Cynthia de la Carrera — Final success of Don 
 Ciierubin's advice — He is thanked for it by Don 
 Andre 266 
 
 XIV. Don Clierubin goes out of curiosity to hear a famous 
 
 preacher, a father of the Order of Saint Dominic — 
 Who this monk was— His surprise at recognisin|^ 
 him, and the interview he had with him . « * 27 1 
 
 PA/?T THE FIFTH. 
 
 I. The licentiate Carambola begins the history of his 
 voyage to tl>e West Indies — He meets with one of 
 his college companions — Who he was — He resolves 
 to follow him, and becomes a friar ... * 275
 
 CONTENTS. xiii 
 
 UAPTER PAGB 
 
 II. The licentiate Carambola embarks with the good 
 fathers of Saint Dominic — His reception to the 
 novitiate — He receives holy orders — In what manner 
 he preached the first time — He mounts the pulpit a 
 second time — His success — He sails for the Indies — 
 His astonishment on arriving there .... 278 
 
 III. Father Cyril preaches to the satisfaction of a numerous 
 auditory — He goes on the following day to dine with 
 the Bishop of Guatimala — His visit to a number of 
 nuns— Collations and concerts which they give him 
 — Private conversation which the bishop had with 
 him — Subject of this conversation .... 284 
 
 rV. Of the exertions which Father Cyril made to give 
 success to the Bishop's faction — What was the result 
 — An unexpected disturbance arises at the convent 
 gates — Consequence of this event .... 290 
 
 V. How, after the business of the election, Father Cyril 
 became parish priest of Petapa — Of the advantages 
 he found in his cure — He learns the Proconchi with 
 facility — Singular manner in which the Indians cele- 
 brate the patron of their Churches .... 292 
 
 VI. Father Cyril makes himself beloved and esteemed by 
 the Indians — Interesting history of two brothers and 
 a sister — He preaches in Proconchi, and by the beauty 
 of his sermons obtains a place in the academy of 
 Petapa 299 
 
 VII. Of the Indian ladies of Petapa — Marvellous secret for 
 rendering a person amorous, and of which they some- 
 times avail themselves — Of the great and holy enter- 
 prise which Father Cyril undertook, and what was 
 the result of it ....... 303 
 
 VIII. Consequence of this glorious expedition — Of the danger 
 in which Father Cyril found himself, and of the 
 prudent course he took to extricate himself from it 
 — He retires to his monastery — He receives an order 
 from his provincial to go and preach at Mexico . 30J
 
 :iv CONTENTS. 
 
 OHAPTKR FAOa 
 
 IX. What Don Cherubin and Father Cyril did after hav- 
 ing mutually recounted their adventures — Description 
 which the latter gave of his prior — Don Cherubin is 
 received with pleasure — What took place at this visit 310 
 
 X. Don Cherubin goes to see the penitents of the desert, 
 and recognises among them Don Gabriel Monchique, 
 the seducer of Donna Paula — Of the conversation 
 which these two cavaliers had together, and how 
 they separated — Impression made on Don Cheru- 
 bin's mind by the recital of the manner in which his 
 wife had been carried off .... . 314 
 
 XIr Don Cherubin stops in a village on his return from 
 the desert — An unexpected rencounter which takes 
 place there — History of a parish priest and a pilgrim 
 — Who this pilgrim was — Astonishing effect of per- 
 sonal resemblance, and extraordinary generosity of 
 the priest • • 319 
 
 PART THE SIXTH. 
 
 L Don Cherubin, on his return to Mexico, gives Don 
 Juan Salzedo an account of his journey — Of the joy 
 which the secretary felt at finding him in a situation 
 to become his son-in-law — Of the new employment 
 which he obtained for him, and the good advice 
 which he gave him ...... 327 
 
 II. Don Cherubin de la Ronda shares the functions of 
 Salzedo, and acquits himself perfectly well — He 
 marries Donna Blanca — Tragical history of three 
 Indian brothers ....... 33O 
 
 IIL By what accident Toston all at once made his fortune, 
 and of the laudable resolution which he took shortly 
 after — Don Alexis paits without regret from his 
 Creole, Toston's wife 339 
 
 IV. Of the confidence which Don Juan Salzedo reposed 
 in his son-in-law, of a project formed by the Viceroy 
 —What this project was, and how it was executed
 
 CONTENTS. XV 
 
 — The Archbishop of Mexico takes the part of the 
 people, and excommunicates Don Pedro and the 
 Viceroy — Violence which this last resorted to, in 
 having him conducted to Vera Cruz . . . 343 
 
 V. Of the melancholy consequences which arose from 
 carrying off the Archbishop of Mexico — The Viceroy 
 is obliged to retire to the monastery of the Cordeliers 
 — Don Cherubin, his wife, and his father-in-law 
 retire there also — Don Cherubin sets out frona Mexico 348 
 
 VL Don Cherubin having arrfved at Madrid, goes to wait 
 on the Duke de Olivarez, and gives him a detail of 
 the insurrection at Mexico — How the prime minister 
 was affected by this report, and of the resolutions 
 which were taken in consequence in the council of 
 his Catholic Majesty — The Viceroy returns in triumph 
 to his palace — His disgrace — He returns to Madrid 
 — Don Cherubin and his family follow him . . 353 
 
 VIL In what manner the Count de Gelves was received at 
 Court — His visit to the prime minister — The Duke 
 de Olivarez makes him grand equerry — Of the course 
 taken by Salzedo and Don Cherubin — One becomes 
 steward and the other secretary to the Duke de Gelves 357 
 
 VIII. Don Cherubin meets Toston at Madrid — Of the inter- 
 view he had with him, and the disastrous adventure 
 which happened to Toston — Don Cherubin renders 
 him an important service ..... 360 
 
 IX. By what accident Toston met with his wife, when he 
 had entirely forgotten her — Account which she gives 
 of the circumstances attending their separation — Her 
 justification — Fresh change which this recital pro- 
 duced in his heart — His affairs assume a better 
 aspect 366 
 
 X. Continuation of the preceding chapter — Blandina intro- 
 duces her husband to her mistresses — Their interview 
 — What was resolved on by Toston and his wife in 
 favour of the young Count de Gelves . , . 373 
 
 XI. Interview between the young Count de Gelves and 
 Donna Leonora — Its consequences — The Count de 
 Gelves proposes an advantageous match to his son—
 
 ::vi CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 Second interview lietween tlie two lovers — Wliat 
 passes at it — Blandina'.s yood advice — Don Alexis 
 follows it — Who was the person whom it was wished 
 he should marry ..... . . 370 
 
 XII. Of what tock place after the marriage of Don Alexis 
 de Gelves — -Toston's journey to Alcaraz, and his 
 return to Madrid — Don Cheiuhinhas the satisfaction 
 of hearing good news of Don Manoel and Id:; fanul/ 3S6 
 XIII. Of the secret an;l curious conversation which Don 
 Cheruliin had ( ne day with the Count c?e Gelves— 
 Relation of the manner in which the Duke de 
 Ossuna CTitercd Madrid, which proved the cause of 
 his downfall ........ 390 
 
 XIV. Of Don Manoel's arrival at Madrid — The extreme joy 
 
 which that cavalier and Don Ciierubin felt at again 
 meeting after so long a separation, and of the 
 arrangements which they made not to part again , 392 
 
 XV. In consequence of what event the project of Don 
 
 Manoel and Don Cherubin was not carried into 
 execution — Dein Juan de Salzedo is made Corregidor 
 of Alca'nz . ...... 395 
 
 XVI. Don Juan de Salzedo sets out from Madrid wdlh his 
 
 daughter and Don Cherubin — Theirarrival at Alcaraz 
 — The reception I hey met with — End of the history 
 of the Bachelor of Salamanca ..... 397
 
 THE 
 
 BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Part tl)e JFirst* 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OF THE FAMILY AND EDUCATION' OF DON CHMgtUBiN — 
 AFTER THE DEA TH OF HIS FA THER HE GOES TO LIVE 
 
 WITH ONE OF HIS RELATIONS HIS PROGRESS IN HIS 
 
 STUDIES HE TRAVELS TO MADRID, WHERE HE BE- 
 COMES ACQUAINTED WITH A PRIEST THE REMARKS 
 
 WHICH THE PRIEST MAKES ON THE EMPLOYMENT IN 
 WHICH DON CHERUB IN WISHES TO ENGAGE. 
 
 I OWE my birth to Don Roberto de la Ronda, a 
 native of the environs of Malaga, but settled in the 
 province of Leon ; where he became secretary to Don 
 Sebastian de Cespedez, Corregidor of Salamanca, by 
 whom he was afterwards made Alcade of Molorido, 
 a large borough in the neighbourhood of that city. 
 My father, in virtue of his office, assumed the title of 
 Don ; and, happily for him, no one thought proper 
 to contest his right to that distinction. As he had 
 always been a man of pleasure and extremely 
 generous, he had amassed so little wealth, that on 
 being snatched from his family by a premature death, 
 
 A
 
 2 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 his widow and three children were left with but a 
 bare subsistence. I was at this time with my elder 
 brother, Don Caesar, at the University of Salamanca, 
 where I know not how we should have been able to 
 continue our studies, but for the assistance of the 
 Corregidor, who very generously contributed to our 
 support, and omitted nothing which might tend to 
 our comfort. He was very fond of us ; and whenever 
 we went to visit him, never failed to assure us that he 
 regarded us as his own children. We might, indeed, 
 be really so ; though this is a supposition I am not 
 much inclined to, notwithstanding my mother had, it 
 is true, the reputation of being a little inclined to 
 coquet. 
 
 Unfortunately, »ur protector died before we were 
 out of college; so that, finding ourselves reduced to 
 our patrimony, which was very inadequate to the 
 supply of our wants, we were obliged to abandon 
 ourselves to the protection of Providence. Don 
 Caesar, feeling an inclination for the pursuit of arms, 
 joined a regiment of cavalry, which the government 
 about this time despatched to Milan. For my own 
 part, profiting by the friendship of an old relation, a 
 doctor of the University, I accepted a lodging, which 
 he offered me gratuitously, together with a seat at 
 his table. My mother, thus divested of the charge 
 of all but Donna Francisca, my sister, who was not 
 yet seven years old, was, consequently, left in a state 
 of tolerable competency. 
 
 So great was the progress I made at college, that 
 nothing was spoken of there but Don Cherubin de la 
 Ronda. I shone particularly in philosophy, by the 
 extraordinary talent I evinced in disputation. In
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. » 
 
 effect I laboured so successfully, that I had speedily 
 the honour f obtaining a Bachelor's degree. 
 
 Shortly after, my old doctor, who began to be tired 
 of the expense of having me for a boarder (for the 
 good man was a little avaricious), addressed me in 
 the followi.ig terms: — " M}' friend, D ^n Cherubin, 
 you are now of an age to think of an establishment 
 for yoLirseh'", and capable o." pr curing yourself a 
 livelihood by undertaking the office of a preceptor; 
 it is, in m\' opinion, the best course you can ad pt. 
 You have only to go to Madrid, where you will easily 
 find some respectable house, from which, after having 
 completed the education of your charge, you may 
 retire with a pension for life, or at least a bene- 
 fice. You are a young man of talent, and have an 
 air of wisdom; you were born for the office of a 
 preceptor." 
 
 Having seen at Salamanca two or three tutors, 
 who appeared content with their situation, I took it 
 into m\- head that their employment must be ex- 
 tremely agreeable. The old doctor, therefore, found 
 little difficulty in prevailing on me. I told him that 
 I was ready to set out; and, after thanking him for 
 his kindness, I departed for the capital by the Alule- 
 teer's road, carrying with me a trunk containing m\- 
 effects, that is to say, a small quantity of linen, my 
 Bachelor's habit, and a few pistoles, with which the 
 old man, notwithstanding his avarice, had managed 
 to supply me. 
 
 Arrived at Madrid, I took up my residence at an 
 hotel, where the necessaries of the table were decently 
 furnished, and where many respectable persons were 
 lodged. With these I speedily became acqun'm-"'
 
 4 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 and among the rest, cultivated a particular friendship 
 with the Rector of Leganez, whom an affair of im- 
 portance had brought to Madrid. He told me in 
 confidence the object of his journey, and I in return 
 made him acquainted with the motive of my own. 
 
 As soon as he heard that I was desirous of becom- 
 ing a tutor, he indulged in a distortion of features, 
 which I could never since think of without laughter. 
 "I am really sorry for you, Signior Bachelor," said 
 he. " What is it you are about to do ? What a life 
 are you going to enter upon ! Are you aware of the 
 obligations under which it will lay you ; — that it will 
 condemn you to sacrifice your liberty, your pleasures, 
 and your best years, to a laborious, obscure, and 
 tedious occupation .? You must take charge of a 
 child, who, however well born he may be, will, not- 
 withstanding, not be free from faults. You must 
 apply yourself incessantly to the task of forming his 
 mind to science, and his heart to virtue. You wdl 
 have to combat his caprices, to conquer his idleness, 
 and to correct his ill-humours. You will not be quit," 
 continued he, " for all the trouble which your pupil 
 will cause you. You will frequently be obliged to 
 submit to unkind treatment from his parents, and be 
 sometimes exposed to mortifications the most humili- 
 ating. Think not, therefore, that the situation of a 
 preceptor is one full of pleasure : it is rather a kind 
 of servitude, to qualify one's self for which, it is requi- 
 site, as in order to become a monk, to be something 
 either more or less than man. 
 
 " You may," added the Rector of Leganez, " rely 
 upon me in this matter; I have exercised the office 
 vou are desirous of undertaking. Next to that of a
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 5 
 
 bishop's almoner, it is the most miserable I can con- 
 ceive : I know well what it is. I educated the son of 
 an Alcade of the court. It is true I did not entirely 
 lose my labour, because my benefice is the fruit of 
 it; but I protest t^ you that it cost me very dear. 
 I spent eight years in a state of slavery, worse than 
 that of the Christians in Barbary. My pupil, who of 
 a':l the children in the world was perhaps the worst 
 calculated for receiving a superior education, joined 
 to a natural stupidity a perfect aversion for every- 
 thing like order and propriety, so that to instruct him 
 I had to toil myself to death, and found after all that 
 I had scattered my seed upon a barren sand. I 
 should not, however, have lost my patience, had the 
 Alcade, less blinded by paternal love, done justice to 
 his son; but not being willing to believe him so 
 stupid as he really was, he laid all the blame of his 
 deficiencies on me. He reproached me with the 
 inutility of my lessons ; and what re dered me the 
 more sensible of this injustice was, that he expressed 
 himself in terms by no means the most delicate. 
 
 " I was thus," continued the Rector, " condemned 
 to suffer equally from the father and the son, in 
 dififerent wa}-s ; I had also in the d mestic^, t\Tant3 
 of my repose, vigilant spies, and inferiors, ever ready 
 to gratify themselves by treating me with disrespect." 
 — "What a \\ietched house!" exclaimed I ; "in my 
 opinion you are extremely fortunate in not having 
 been forced to leave it without any remuneration for 
 your services." — " You are very much in the right," 
 said he, " and you will also please to take notice, that 
 there are nearly a thousand crowns due to me for my 
 salary, which my friend, the Alcade, has not the least
 
 6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 notion of paying me, or rather wliich he conceives he 
 has amply paid me, by obtaining me a country 
 benefice." — " And your pupil," said I, " is he not 
 grateful for the pains which you have taken with 
 him ? Are you not on terms of friendship when you 
 meet?" — "I never see him," replied the Rector; 
 " scarcely had he entered upon the world ere he 
 forgot both his Latin and his tutor." 
 
 Such was the style in which the Rector essayed to 
 vanquish my desire of becoming a tutor. Sensible, 
 however, as was his discourse, it made no more im- 
 pression on me than the arguments addressed to a 
 young girl, to prevent her from taking a husband. 
 He perceived it, and judging, very properly, that it 
 would only be losing time to attempt turning me 
 from my purpose, he thus pursued the subject : " I 
 perceive very plainly that it is in vain to combat your 
 resolution. You are determined on undertaking the 
 office of a preceptor! Well and good. Since, liow- 
 ever, I am not blessed with eloquence sufficient to 
 make you change your mind, I will at least entreat 
 you to remember the advice I am about to give j'ou. 
 Keep the strictest guard over yourself while in a 
 house in which there are women : the devil is fond of 
 tempting tutors; and if the instrument he employs be 
 possessed of ever so little beauty, they seldom fail to 
 yield to the temptation." 
 
 I promised the Rector of Leganez to comply im- 
 plicitly with his advice, the fair sex being, in fact, a 
 dangerous rock for me; for I was already but to* 
 sensible that I had received from nature a tempera- 
 ment, with which my virtue would find it no easy 
 matter to contend.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OF THE FIRST HOUSE IN WHICH DON CHERUBIN BECAME A 
 
 TUTOR DESCRIPTION OF THE CHILDRE.V WHOM HE 
 
 HAD TO INSTRUCT IMPRUDENCE OF A FATHER. 
 
 The Rector of Leganez, seeing me. determined to 
 take upon myself the office of a pedagogue, introduced 
 me to the Reverend Father Thomas, of Villareal, a 
 friar of the order of Mercy, who had a very peculiar 
 talent for discovering houses in which preceptors were 
 w:,..:ing. This good father speedily pointed out one 
 to me, or rather he conducted me himself to the house 
 of Siguier Isidore Montanos, a rich citizen of Madrid, 
 who, in consequence of the good character which his 
 Reverence gave of me, engaged me, at the rate of 
 fifty pistoles a year. Montanos had been a merchant, 
 and had retired from commerce, to divest himself of 
 its rust and enjoy a life of greater tranquillity. He 
 had two sons, the eldest of whom was sixteen, whose 
 air did not much prapossess me in their favour. The 
 eldest stammered, and the youngest was lame. I 
 put some questions to them, in order to enable me to 
 judge of their intellects, and could perceive by their 
 answers that it would depend wholly upon themselves 
 to profit by my instructions. 
 
 My first care in this house was to observe with 
 attention every person in it, from the master down to 
 the meanest lackey; and I resolved to conduct myself 
 so, that no defect in me should be apparent; an under- 
 taking scarcely less difficult than that of becoming 
 really free from any. I soon became acquainted with
 
 8 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 their characters, and this knowledge was attended 
 with some uneasiness. Signior Isidore was a man 
 of weak mind, who affected to be a wit, and was 
 ever amusing himself by putting off some stale jest. 
 Proud of the possession of ten thousand ducats a 
 year, he strutted along, his cheeks inflamed with 
 pride, and with an air which marked a conviction of 
 his own superiority : for the rest, he was morose, 
 clownish, brutal, and capricious. The sons, on the 
 other hand, were badly enough disposed. Though 
 time had not yet made the«i men, they were rendered 
 so by their passions ; nature appeared to have given 
 them, if I may use the expression, a dispensation 
 of years, in order to become vicious. They had a 
 favourite attendant, a kind of valet-de-chanibre, who 
 possessed their confidenco, and by whose private 
 services their irregularities were facilitated ; so, at 
 least, I conceived ; and my reasons for thinking it ap- 
 peared so strong, that I could not a^oid mentioning 
 my suspicions to their father. 
 
 I expected, on giving him this information, that he 
 would be sensible of its impertance, and that he 
 would immediately take fire, as any other father 
 would have done in his place. But I greatly deceived 
 myself; instead of being at all moved, he laughed in 
 my face, saying: "Go, go, Signior Bachelor, let them 
 go on in their own way ; they will get tired of it in 
 time, as I have. I was," he continued, "a mettle- 
 some spark in my youth, and made all the fathers 
 and mothers in my neighbourhood tremble. I do 
 not expect that my children should be better than 
 myself; I do not give you fifty pistoles a year to 
 make saints for me. Do you teach them history and
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. g 
 
 the Latin language, and make them men of the world ; 
 that is all I ask of you." 
 
 When I found that Montanos had no delicacy as 
 to the morals of his sons, I forbore to trouble myself 
 by watching their conduct ; and, confining myself 
 within the bounds prescribed, contented myself with 
 performing my other duties. I caused my pupils to 
 translate the Latin authors into Castilian, and to 
 turn the works of good Spanish writers into Latin. 
 I read to them the wars of Grenada and other his- 
 tories, and accompanied my reading with instructive 
 reflections. Likewise, whenever anything escaped 
 them contrary to the dictates of good breeding or of 
 charity, I did not fail to reprove them. But it was in 
 vain that I remonstrated with them ; all my advice 
 was rendered ineffectual by the conversation of their 
 father. Whenever he was in a good humour, he used 
 to boast before them of the libertinism of his youth. 
 It appeared as if he really described his debaucheries 
 in order to induce them to follow his example. There 
 are parents of this description, who throw off all re- 
 straint before their children, and who are themselves 
 the means of turning them from the paths of virtue. 
 
 After all, if Signior Isidore had been free from this 
 defect, we should notwithstanding have been unable 
 to live long together. I miyht, indeed, have put up 
 with many others which he had, excepting his ill- 
 humour. When he gave way to this, a circumstance 
 which occurred but too often, he was perfectly insup- 
 portable. On such occasions he did not hesitate to 
 use the harshest and most disobligin"' lan^rua^e. He 
 was even so unjust as to reproach me for the natural 
 defects of his sons. " Why do you not," he would ask
 
 10 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 me, ''teach my eldest son (this was the stammerer) to 
 speak plain ? What is the reason that the youngest 
 (this was the lame one) carries himself so badly ? 
 Why is one of them so pale? Why are the other's 
 clothes so full of stains and dust?" 
 
 It was thus he used to address me. How was it 
 possible to listen with patience to reproaches of this 
 kind ? One morning, no longer able to contain my- 
 self, I quitted the house of Signior Montanos, never 
 more to return to it ; after telling him that I could 
 not accommodate myself to a man who wished that 
 the tutor of his children should be, at the same time, 
 their doctor, their dancing master, and their valet-de- 
 cJiatiibre. 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO A MEMBER OP 
 
 THE COUNCIL OF CASTILE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY 
 
 INTERVIEW WHICH HE HAD WITH THAT DIGNITARY 
 HIS REPLY TO HIM, AND WHAT HE DID. 
 
 I WENT the same day to visit the friar of the order 
 of Mercy, who by no means blamed me for having 
 quitted the service of Signior Isidore. On the con- 
 trar\-, he told me that he was sorry for having been 
 the means of placing me in so bad a house. " Return 
 hither in two or three days, Signior Bachelor," added 
 he. " I shall, perhaps, by that time have been able to 
 find you a more eligible place." 
 
 In effect, he informed me on my return that he 
 had some news for me. "A member of the Council
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. ii 
 
 of Castile," said he, "is in want of a tutor for liis 
 only son. You may go and present yourself in my 
 name to this magistrate; I have spoken of you to 
 him, and I think that you will suit each other very 
 well. I have only to warn you that he is possessed 
 of a plentiful portion of pride, as these gentry usually 
 are : with the exception of that, he is amiable and 
 w«ll-dispo-ed, as far as I can learn. I hope that you 
 will be better pleased with him than with Signior 
 Montanos." 
 
 I repaired immediately to the residence of the 
 Councillor, whom I found on the point of stepping 
 into his carriage to attend the Council. I approached 
 him with the greatest respect, and informed him that 
 I was the Bachelor of whom Father Thomas, of 
 Villareal, had spoken to him. "You have chosen 
 your time very badly," replied he, with a grave, dry 
 air; "I cannot give you audience at present: return 
 at six o'clock in the evening." 
 
 Finding an hour appointed for my audience, I did 
 not fail to attend my great man before the time 
 prescribed. I was announced, but was allowed to 
 remain full two hours in the anteroom, after which 
 I was ushered into a closet where the Counciilor was 
 seated in an arm-chair. I made him a reverence so 
 profound, that I was in danger of falling on my face, 
 lie returned my salute by a slight inclination of the 
 head, and pointing to a low stool, which very much 
 resemibled that on which a prisoner sits at the time 
 of his trial, he motioned me to be seated. 
 
 I never in my life saw a personage of more proud 
 deportment. He cast on me a penetrating glance, 
 and, as if determined to scrutinise me thoroughly,
 
 12 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 addressed me in these words: "Were }'ou born a 
 gentleman?" — " I did not think," replied I, " that it 
 was necessary to be so in order to become a tutor." 
 — "I grant you," replied he, " that it is not absolutely 
 necessary; but, besides that he is none the worse for 
 it, it appears to me that a dogma has more force 
 fioni the mouth of a man of gentle blood, than from 
 that of a plebeian." 
 
 The respect due to a member of the Council of 
 Castile prevented me from bursting into the fit of 
 laughter, into which these last words had nearly 
 thrown me, so ridiculous did they appear. " How- 
 ever," replied the Councillor, "though you be not 
 noble, I have no objection to waive that consideration, 
 provided that you have all the other good qualities 
 which I expect in a man whom I shall constitute 
 preceptor ■ f my son, who will probably one day fill 
 my place." 
 
 I asked the Councillor of what qualities he deemed 
 it requisite this precept r should be possessed ? To 
 which he replied: "I desire a persrn who shall be a 
 great man, a man of learning, a religious man, and a 
 man f the world, at the same time. He must unite 
 all the talents, he must possess all sciences, divine and 
 hu' lan, from the catechism t mystical philosophy, 
 and from heraldry to algebra. Such is the master I 
 am desirous of obtaining ; and as it is just and proper 
 to render happy the lot of a person of so much merit, 
 I will give him a seat at my table, with fifty pistoles 
 annually. This is not all," added he ; " for when my 
 son's education shall be completed, I can easily 
 procure him a benefice, or, at least, will reward him 
 with a small pension for life," I admired the gene-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 13 
 
 rosity of this magistrate, and being perfectly satisfied 
 in my own mind that I was not the pedagogue of 
 whom he had formed so perfect an idea, I rose from 
 my stool, and said : " Farewell, my lord ; may you 
 meet with the man }-ou seek : but to be candid with 
 you, I believe he will be as hard to find as Cicero's 
 Orator." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FATHER THOMAS PLACES THE BACHELOR AT THE HOUSE 
 
 OF THE MARQUIS OF BUENDIA CHARACTER OF THE 
 
 PUPIL HE HAS TO INSTRUCT HE LEAVES THE HOUSE 
 
 THE REASON. 
 
 I GAVE an account of this conversation to Father 
 Thomas, and we both laughed a great deal at the 
 expense of the Councillor, whom we set down as 
 an original. " I cannot be at ease," said the monk, 
 " since I have failed to provide for you. The more 
 I see of you, the more I esteem you. I will agaiii 
 exert mj'self, and it shall go hard, but I will securrt 
 you in one of those houses where tutors are well off in 
 all weathers." 
 
 In effect, a few days after, imagining that he had 
 made my fortune, he came to my lodging and saii.i 
 with an appearance of satisfaction which heightened 
 the merit of the service : "At last, my dear Bachelor, 
 I have an excellent place to offer you. The Marquis 
 of Buendia, one of the principal lords of the court, is 
 willing to confide to your care the education of his 
 son, in consequence of the picture I have drawn of
 
 14 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 you. Call on me to-morrow morning, and I will take 
 you to him. You will meet with one of the most 
 polished of noblemen. You will be charmed with your 
 reception, and I doubt not that you will be perfectly 
 happy in his house." 
 
 On the following morning Father Thomas con- 
 ducted me to the levee of the Marquis: and that 
 nobleman received me with a gracious air, telling me 
 that he was convinced of my merit, since the reverend 
 father, who was his friend, had chosen me to be near 
 the person of the young Marquis, his son. "As to 
 your salary," said the Marquis, "I shall pay you one 
 hundred pistoles a year, and you shall not leave me 
 without a recompense equal to your exertions, and 
 proportioned to my gratitude." 
 
 I had my trunk removed the same day to the 
 house of the Marquis, where I found an apartment 
 furnished expressly for me. I saw my pupil : — he 
 was a child of seven years old, beautiful as the day, 
 and of the mildest manners. He was as yet in the 
 hands of women, but he was immediately given up 
 to me, and a valet-de-chanibre and a lackey were 
 appointed to attend on us. As children are generally 
 born with some propensities which it is necessary to 
 restrain, I employed myself in ascertaining those of 
 my pupil. I could, however, discover none that were 
 bad, such care had been taken by the women who 
 had the charge of his early infancy, not to suffer in 
 him the growth of any vicious inclination. The\' 
 had even taught him to read and write, so that he 
 was already able to form his letters. 
 
 I procured him an accidence, and began to instruct 
 him in the principles of the Latin language, and
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 15 
 
 mixed with my lessons some light fables, proper to 
 open his mind at the same time that they afforded 
 amusement. These he imbibed with surprising 
 facility, and when he repeated them to his father, 
 acquitted himself with so <^ood a grace that the 
 Marquis shed tears of joy. It is certain that much 
 was to be expected from this young nobleman, I 
 was delighted with his happy disposition, and proud 
 beforehand of the honour which I was to derive from 
 his education. 
 
 I was so well contented with my situation, that I 
 could not refrain from going to see the friar of the 
 order of Mercy, to impart to him the satisfaction I 
 felt. "My reverend father," said I, with an air which 
 informed him at once of the motive of my visit, " I 
 come full of gratitude, to return you the thanks which 
 are your due. You have placed me in a house where 
 I am beloved, considered, respected. I have for a 
 pupil the most gentle creature in the v/orld, in whom 
 it is impossible to perceive any defect ; he is not a 
 child, but an angel." 
 
 At these words, Father Thomas, embracing me 
 with joy, exclaimed : " How happy do you make me 
 by the information that you are so well satisfied with 
 your pupil." — " Nor am I less so," rejoined I briskly, 
 "with his father. The Marquis of Buendia is an 
 amiable nobleman. What politeness! I am abso- 
 lutely embarrassed with his attentions. Far from 
 having any of those inequalities of temper, or those 
 moments of caprice, in which people of rank make 
 their superiority felt, he never speaks to me but to 
 say something obliging. He has even, in my pre- 
 sence, charged his domestics to attend to my orders,
 
 I6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 if on any occasion I should require anything from 
 them." — "Once more," said the friar, "you dehght 
 me. You will, doubtless, make your fortune in the 
 house of this nobleman." 
 
 I now viewed my situation as so completely happ}', 
 that I heartily wished the Rector of Leganez, who 
 was no longer in Madrid, could be witness of it. " By 
 his account," said I, " there is no tutor who is not 
 wretched ; I find myself, notwithstanding, in circum- 
 stances worthy of envy." 
 
 My felicity was undisturbed during an entire year. 
 Though I did not touch a single penny of my salary, 
 I had my mind perfectly at ease on that subject. 
 " Wlienever I may be in want of money," said I, 
 "Don Gabriel de Pompano, our steward, will supply 
 me. I need only speak two words to him, and he 
 will immediately tell me out as many pieces as I 
 desire." 
 
 Confident on this point, I let six months more pass 
 over without troubling myself; but at length my 
 want of a few pistoles became so pressing, that I 
 could no longer refrain from applying to Don Gabriel 
 Pompano. " I beg of you," said I, " to give me 
 thirty pistoles on account of my salary." — " Signior 
 Bachelor," said he, affecting an air of chagrin, " you 
 take me at a moment when I am quite unprepared ; 
 and I am extremely sorry for it. Be assured that I 
 would give you a hundred pistoles, instead of thirty, 
 if I had the funds ; but I protest to you that I have 
 not ten crowns in my chest." — " This," said I, " is the 
 steward's usual cant. If you be desirous of obliging 
 me, you will not refuse me what I ask. There are 
 more than a hundred and fifty pistoles due to me;
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 17 
 
 and I am in extreme want of money : let me entreat 
 you to reflect a little on my situation." Useless 
 prayer! Vain were all my arguments; vain was 
 it even to entreat Don Gabriel to assist me even 
 with ten pistoles; the barbarian was inexorable: a 
 steward's heart is flint. 
 
 My clothes were, however, beginning to be ex- 
 tremely shabby, a circumstance whicli gave me con- 
 siderable uneasiness. One day I took the dancing 
 master aside, and asked him if his visits were well 
 paid. "Not too well," said he; "I do not know the 
 colour of the Marquis's money, though I come here 
 three times a week regularly. You are, I presume, 
 much in the same case .''" — "You have hit it," said I, 
 "and unfortunately I have not the same resources as 
 you : you have twenty scholars ; and if ten out of 
 them do not pay, you will at least obtain from the 
 other ten enough to support your table and to keep 
 up your equipage. I am, as you see, more to be 
 pitied than yourself." 
 
 After having made several other attempts to soften 
 the barbarous Pompano, I came to the resolution of 
 making known my wants to the Marquis. It was 
 not without a great deal of pain that I brought myself 
 to do so; necessity, however, at length compelled me 
 to dispense with further ceremony. I represented 
 to his lordship the straits to which I found myself 
 reduced, and the ineffectual efforts I had made to 
 procure relief from Pompano. The Marquis was, or, 
 to speak more justly, appeared to be, in a great rage 
 with the steward, said " that he would rate him soundly, 
 and that he would take care I should be paid regu- 
 larly every quarter." 
 
 B.
 
 i8 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA 
 
 Who would not have supposed that I was on the 
 point of touching at least fifty doubloons? My cause 
 was not, however, in the least advanced ; whether 
 Pompano and his master were hud run for cash, or, 
 as is most probable, they laid their heads together 
 to treat me in the same way as the rest of their 
 creditors. 
 
 I was in a case of too much extremity not to make 
 some violent effort to extricate myself. I therefore, 
 for the fourth time, employed Father Thomas, who 
 pitying my misfortune, introduced me to the house 
 of a Contador;* but previously to leaving the 
 Marquis's house, I addressed him a letter, in which 
 I respectfully represented to him that, not being rich 
 enough to continue in his service without remunera- 
 tion, I was under the necessity of seeking another 
 house than his ; a proceeding I entreated him not to 
 take amiss. This was requisite, for whatever cause a 
 common person may have to complain of a man of 
 quality, it is notwithstanding necessary to give him 
 fair words. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA BECOMES PRECEPTOR TO 
 
 THE SON OF A CONTADOR HIS JOY AT GETTING 
 
 INTO SO GOOD A HOUSE HE IS PAID IN ADVANCE 
 
 HE BECOMES ENAMOURED OF A VOUNS SERVANT MAID 
 H'lS RIVAL GETS HIM DISMISSED. 
 
 I PASSED from one extreme to the other. If the 
 Contador had not all the politeness of the Marquig of 
 
 * A money broker, or person appointed by authority to settle 
 accounts,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 19 
 
 Buendia, he was, on the other hand, much better 
 supplied with cash. Oh, the charming abode '. No- 
 thing was to be heard there from morning to night 
 but the ratthng of silver and gold. How were my 
 ears enchanted with the melodious sound ! 
 
 The Contador was a man who came at once to the 
 point. He wished to know what was my salary in 
 the house of the Marquis of Buendia. " That noble- 
 man," said I, " promised me a hundred pistoles a year ; 
 but he has not been very exact to his word." The 
 Contador smiled at these last words, and said, " Very 
 well ! I promise you — I — a hundred and fifty pistoles, 
 which shall be paid you without fail, and which you 
 may even, if you please, receive in advance." At the 
 same time, calling his cashier, " Raposo," said he, 
 "pay the Bachelor immediately a hundred pistoles, 
 and take care whenever he may want money from 
 you, not to refuse him." 
 
 These words completely confounded me. " How 
 the deuce is this ? " said I to myself. " A Marquis 
 and a Contador are two very different species of men. 
 One fails to pay that which he is indebted ; and the 
 other does not wait till he owes meney before he pays 
 it." As soon as the cashier had delivered me the 
 money, I sent for a tailor, of whom I ordered a com- 
 plete suit, and paid him twenty pistoles in advance, 
 in order to be in the Contador fashion. 
 
 Seeing myself all at once possessed of money, I 
 recovered the good-humour, which the Marquis and 
 his steward had, in some degree, deprived me of; 
 and began with a good heart to discharge the duties 
 of my employment. My new pupil was not far 
 advanced. Although he was ten years of age, he
 
 20 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 had not yet learned to read ; I was his first master. 
 " Signior Bachelor," said his father, " I give up my 
 son to your care, and confide entirely in you for his 
 improvement. I have no inclination to make him a 
 divine ; a small tincture of Latin will, therefore, 
 suffice. Teach him what is called good manners, 
 and procure an able arithmetician to instruct him in 
 all kind of calculations. Be this your care." 
 
 I set myself to work to accomplish the views of 
 the Contador, and to lick the young cub, to which 
 he desired I should impart a form. I had no small 
 trouble in teaching this hopeful youth the letters of 
 the alphabet. He had no more inclination for learn- 
 ing than the disciple of the Rector of Leganez. I, 
 however, took such extraordinary pains that I had 
 the happiness of succeeding in enabling him to read, 
 tolerably well, all kinds »f Spanish books. When I 
 communicated to his mother the information of this 
 attainment, she was transported with joy. Although 
 she tenderly loved her son, she was by no means 
 blind to his imperfections ; and, regarding the success 
 of my lessons as an absolute prodigy, ascribed to me 
 all the honour of it : it obtained me both her esteem 
 and her friendship. 
 
 Insensibly, Portia (so was the lady named) began 
 to admire me, and took so much pleasure in my 
 company, that every day, after the siesta,* sl;e sent 
 for me into her apartment, under pretence of seeing 
 her son, whom I, on those occasions, carried to visit 
 her. She was a woman of about five and thirty at 
 most ; excremely witty, but so reserved, that perhaps 
 I deceive myself in supposing that she indulged any 
 * The afternoon nap in which the Spaniards usually indulge.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 21 
 
 particular inclination for me. I could not, however, 
 help giving way to such a conjecture ; and the reader 
 may judge by what I am about to relate, whether or 
 not I was a coxcomb for thinking so. 
 
 However amiable Portia appeared in my eyes, and 
 though she regarded me in such a manner as to give 
 very good reason to suspect that she had some design 
 upon me, I evinced no kind of sensibility to the marks 
 of favour she bestowed. My attention was entirely 
 engaged by her servant Nise, whose inclination 
 corresponding with my own, rendered me perfectly 
 indifferent to the advances of the mistress. I was by 
 no means proof against her keen and coquettish air, 
 notwithstanding the stock of morality and virtue 
 which I had laid in at the university. After a few 
 amor«us glances on both sides, our intrigue was 
 perfectly established. 
 
 In addition to many other qualifications which she 
 possessed, Nise had an uncommon share of ingenuity 
 in contriving secret interviews with her lovers ; and 
 this was an art particularly useful in a house where 
 the greatest management was necessary to avoid the 
 resentment of a gallant, whom she was desirous of 
 quitting for me, or to whom, at least, she was re- 
 solved on giving a partner. This slighted gallant 
 was the valet-de-cluinibre of my pupil. Nise, who 
 had not perhaps found in his homage a sufficient 
 gratification of her vanity, aspired to the honour of 
 making a conquest of the tutor. 
 
 Be this as it may, triumphant over my rival with- 
 out even being aware that I had one, I went on in 
 the quiet enjoyment of my happiness, which was not, 
 however, long concealed from him. He obtained
 
 22 THE BACHULOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 some intimation of the stolen interviews which I had 
 with his princess, and determined, in revenge, to effect 
 the ruin of us both. He was silent at first, having 
 nothing more against us than suspicions, which, how- 
 ever well founded, could prove nothing; he therefore 
 proceeded with caution. He won over to his party 
 all the lackeys in the house; and these gentry, 
 commonly the enemies of tutors, lent themselves 
 without much difficult}' to his projects. Thus, sur- 
 rounded with spies, Nise and I could not, with all our 
 ingenuity, avoid being surprised in a tctc-a-tite. 
 
 This adventure caused a horrible outcry in the 
 house. All the servants made themselves remarkably 
 merry at my expense. The Contador himself, con- 
 trary to the custom of most of his class, who are very 
 little concerned about scenes of this kind occurring 
 in their houses, took up the aft'air as a point of honour, 
 and flew into a most violent passion. The lad\', still 
 more incensed than her husband, declared it an un- 
 pardonable offence. " How," exclaimed she, "a man 
 whom I thought possessed of sentiment and taste, 
 to degrade himself by an intrigue with a servant!" 
 The result was, that the catastrophe fell upon me. 
 Portia, who was fond of her Abigail, or who had 
 perhaps confided in her secrecy on former occasions, 
 contented herself with scolding her ; and for my own 
 part, I was ignominiously dismissed as a sedkicer, for 
 not having manifested nobler sentiments.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 23 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BACHELOR ON QUITTING THE 
 
 HOUSE OF THE CONTADOR HIS REFLECTIONS ON HIS 
 
 CONDUCT HE IS INTRODUCED BY HIS HOST INTO THE 
 
 HOUSE OF A WIDOU^ — CHARACTER OF THE LADY — DON 
 
 CHERUBIN BECOMES HER STEWARD REGARD WHICH 
 
 THE WIDOW CONCEIVES FOR HIM INTERVIEW WITH 
 
 THE DAME RODRIGUEZ — THE SUBJECT OF THE INTER- 
 yiEW, AND WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF IT. 
 
 I WAS not inclined, on leaving the house of the 
 broker, to visit the friar of the order of Mercy, who 
 would doubtless have reproached me, very justly, for 
 the conduct which had caused my dismissal; and 
 who perhaps, viewing me only as a miserable wretch 
 whom he ought to abandon, would have scrupled to 
 interest himself any further in my service. I did not 
 even dare to return to my hotel, where I imagined 
 that my story was known ; for, when a man has been 
 guilty of an indiscretion, it is common to suppose the 
 whole world acquainted with it. I therefore retired 
 into an obscure quarter, where, as I was not without 
 money, I continued about a fortnight, deliberating 
 what course I should pursue. 
 
 I called to mind more than once the advice of the 
 Rector of Leganez, with bitter repentance for having 
 neglected it ; and, reflecting on my weakness, could 
 not think of Nise without feeling myself ready to 
 expire with shame. *' Fool ! " exclaimed I to myself, 
 * was it to make love to waiting women that thou 
 becamest a tutor ? Instead of carrying scandal from 
 house to house, renounce at once an employment
 
 24 THE BACHELOR OE SALAMANCA. 
 
 which thou dischargest so ill ; or, if thou \vi!t still 
 continue in it, reform thy manners, and endeavour to 
 obtain those virtues which are requisite for properly 
 filling it." In short, I repented heartily of my fault ; 
 and, by promising myself to grow wiser, began to en- 
 tertain the hope of really becoming so. 
 
 About this time, my new host, having conceived a 
 friendship for me, was anxious to render me a service. 
 " Signior Bachelor," said he one day, " I am desirous 
 of } rocuring you a good place, by fixing you in the 
 house of a woman of quality, who is bringing up her 
 grandson under her own eye." This word, widow, 
 made me tremble. "May there not be some new 
 precipice in this .^ " I reflected to myself. "May not 
 the fiend be desirous of again spreading a net for my 
 feet }" 1, however, consoled myself with the reflec- 
 tion that the lady in question was a grandmother, a 
 crcumstance which implied an age ca culated to 
 throw a rein on any illicit inclinations. I therefore 
 told my host that I should feel very much obliged to 
 him for this favour. 
 
 " I promise }-ou I will do it," said he. " Doubt not 
 that I will effect your business. I have been servant 
 to this lady, and my word will go a great way with 
 her; I will this day propose you as a tutor for the 
 young gentleman." He was as good as his word ; 
 and so loud was he in my praise, that the widow was 
 impatient to see me. When I presented myself, my 
 appearance was found prepossessing, and I was 
 immediately engaged. 
 
 The name of the widow was Donna Luisa de 
 Padilla. Her husband, who had been a general 
 officer, was killed in the low countries, fighting
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 25 
 
 against the French. For a grandmother, I found 
 her well enough, without however perceiving any- 
 thing dangerous in her charms. She had in imme- 
 diate attendance upon her person (perhaps out of 
 polic)') two ancient waiting women, whose decrepi- 
 tude served in some degree to give their mistress an 
 air of youth. One of these, who was called Dame 
 Rodriguez, was in the entire confidence of her mis- 
 tress, and had obtained over her the most perfect 
 ascendency. I was secretly rejoiced, and thanked 
 heaven that, instead of these antiquated confidantes, 
 Donna Luisa had not a pair of blooming young 
 maids, whose allurements might once more have put 
 my chastity in danger. 
 
 Established in my new post, everything went on 
 smoothly at first. I became very fond of my scholar, 
 who, joining docility to an excellent genius, acquired 
 most rapidly the elements of the Latin language, 
 though he was not yet eight years of age. In less 
 than six months he made such progress as com- 
 pletely surpassed my expectations, and procured 
 me several presents. Donna Luisa desired my 
 acceptance of a gold watch, and shortly after sent 
 me a large package of very fine linen, with some 
 of the finest cloth of Segovia, to make an entire 
 suit. But all these gifts, which I considered as 
 the result of her gratitude, proceeded from another 
 motive, as the reader will presently understand. 
 
 While engaged one morning with my pupil, I was 
 informed that Donna Luisa demanded to see me. I 
 flew immediately to her apartment, where I found 
 her with her tv/o tire-women, who were exerting all 
 their abilities to patch up her decaying charms. She
 
 26 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 was in a dishabille, sufficiently immodest to be allur- 
 ing, if it had not at the same time displayed where- 
 with to counteract the temptation. 
 
 Having no farther business with her women, she 
 motioned them to retire, and drawing me near her 
 with a mysterious air, " Sit down there," said she, 
 " and attend to what I am about to say ; I have some 
 intentions in your favour, which I am happy in being 
 able to make you acquainted with. I do not look 
 upon you as one who is fit for nothing but to employ 
 himself in the education of children: I think you 
 qualified for far other matters. I have resolved, in 
 fine, to commit to you the charge of my affairs. My 
 present steward, Fr.mcisco Forteza, begins to grow 
 old. I design to dismiss him with a pension, and to 
 put you in his place, which you will fill better than 
 he ; though, at the same time, it is not my intention 
 that, in accepting this new employment, you should 
 relinquish that of preceptor to ni)' grandson. You 
 may easily perform the duties of both places at the 
 same time." 
 
 I represented to the lady that, never having exer- 
 cised the business of a steward, I feared I should not 
 be able to acquit myself so as to afford her satisfac- 
 tion. " You are mistaken," said she, " nothing is 
 easier : I have no lawsuits ; I owe nobody a Marved ; 
 you have nothing to do but to receive my rents and 
 superintend the expenditure of my housekeeping. 
 You need only," continued she, " come every morning 
 to my apartment ; we will set ourselves to work for 
 an hour or two, and you will very speedily become 
 acquainted with the routine of your duty." I assured 
 hor I was perfectly ready to do whatever she desired,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 27 
 
 and so took my leave, though not without remarking 
 that my fair widow's eyes were sparkh'ng, and her 
 cheeks on fire. 
 
 I had too much experience, or, rather, I had too 
 good an opinion of m)self, not to interpret these 
 s}-mptoms to my own advantage. I suspected the 
 good lady of having taken a fancy to me, and my 
 suspicions were speedily converted into certainty. I, 
 one morning shortly after, received a visit in my 
 apartment from Dame Rodriguez. She saluted me 
 with an air of gaiety, exclaiming, " Heaven preserve 
 you, Signior Bachelor ! What will you give me for a 
 piece of good news, of which I am the bearer ? " — 
 "Heyday!" said I, "what have you, so very good, 
 to acquaint me with .-' " — " That you are," replied she, 
 "the most fortunate of tutors, past, present, or to 
 come. You have inspired my mistress with a passion 
 for you, and she has permitted me to make known to 
 you this important secret. But what ! " continued she, 
 perceiving that I was not much interested in the 
 happiness she announced to me, "you receive this 
 news with perfect indifference ! How many men 
 would be happy to be in your place I If my mistress 
 be past the bloom of youth, she is not, thank God, 
 arrived at that dreary period of life, in which the 
 company of our sex ceases to be desirable to men." 
 
 " Oh ! it is not for that, Madam Rodriguez," replied 
 I ; " I must be out of my senses if I thought other- 
 wise than yourself on that subject. Yes, Donna 
 Luisa has indeed abundance of charms ; she is at 
 most but in the commencement of their autumn. 
 Nevertheless, I must avow, that however highly I am 
 honoured by her regard, I cannot profit by it. Affairs
 
 28 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 of gallantly are by no means consistent in men of 
 my description. Although I am not yet in orders," 
 added I, with a hypocritical air, " it is sufficient that 
 1 wear the habit of an ecclesiastic." 
 
 " What an idea have you dared to express," ex- 
 claimed Rodriguez, hastily interrupting me; "what 
 a horrible injustice have you done my mistress! 
 Could she be capable of indulging in an illicit in- 
 trigue, whom the very shadow of crime inspires with 
 terror.'' If, unable to resist, she yield to her love for 
 you, think not that she is inclined to gratify it at the 
 expense of her virtue. Sliall I tell you ? — she has 
 resolved to marry you." 
 
 I was a little startled at these last words. " Sage 
 and discreet Rodriguez," said I, " even though your 
 lady be it^clined to honour me with her hand, will 
 not her relations exert themselves to prevent such 
 a marriage?" — "Donna Luisa," replied the old lady, 
 "is mistress of her own actions. Besides, I presume 
 you are of a noble family ; and she proposes to be 
 married so privately, that nobody will know anything 
 about it." Finding that my widow was really foolish 
 enough to resolve on carrying the thing so far, I 
 thought it was not necessary that I should be foolish 
 enough to oppose her. I desired Rodriguez to thank 
 her mistress for her good intentions, and to assure 
 her that I did not mean to be ungrateful for them. 
 After giving the old lady time to repeat my message 
 to her mistress, I hastened to confirm her report in 
 person. "Madam," said I, throwing myself on my 
 knees before my enamoured widow, " is it possible 
 that you can have honoured with your regard a man 
 so wholly unworthy of possessing you .-* I cannot
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 29 
 
 think of it without trembling for the reahty." — " Do 
 not yourself blame me," said she, "for what I am 
 inclined to do for your advantage. When I close my 
 eyes on what is most reprehensible in my design, is 
 it for you to open them ? Profit by my weakness 
 instead of condemning it. What Rodriguez has in- 
 formed you is the truth : you have pleased me, and our 
 destinies shall speedily be joined in marriage, if you 
 have a just sense of my kindness." — "Ah! madam," 
 cried I, embracing with transport one of her withered 
 hands, " do you think that a man of sentiment can 
 repay with ingratitude the enviable lot you are dis- 
 posed to confer upon me ? Be assured that my sense of 
 obligation will be equal to the excess of my happiness." 
 I accompanied these words with an air and manner 
 the most seducing. I took upon myself ths character 
 of a passionate lover; but if there was art in this, 
 there was, notwithstanding, a great deal of nature. I 
 felt myself so penetrated with her kindness, that I 
 began to view her faded beauties with a more favour- 
 able eye. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 NOir DON CHERUB IN, ON THE POINT OF BECOMING TKE 
 HUSBAND OF DONNA LUISA, LOST ON A SUDDEN 
 
 THE HOPE OF EVER BEING SO HE IS CARRIED 01- F 
 
 BY FORCE HIS TERROR AT FINDING HIMSELF IN 
 
 THE HANDS OF BRAVOES — DESCRIPTION OF HIS 
 SUPPER AND COMPANV. 
 
 Donna LUISA, delighted at finding me so disposed, 
 hastened privately to forward the preparation for our
 
 30 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 nuptials; but, on the evening before the day which 
 had been fixed for their celebration, an accident hap- 
 pened which effectually separated us. 
 
 As I was returning home, and just on the point 
 of entering the house, four valientes, with the most 
 tremendous mustachios that ever were seen in Spain, 
 "darted on me, and forced me into a coach, in which 
 were two others of their fraternity. They carried 
 me to the extremity of one of the suburbs, caused 
 me to alight at a house of no very brilliant appear- 
 ance, and introduced me into a hall which resembled 
 an arsenal. Nothing was to be seen but halberds, 
 swords, cutlasses, guns, and pistols. At another 
 time, I should have been pleased with the sight of so 
 singular a place; but I was too much engaged in 
 reflecting upon the peril in which I conceived myself, 
 with a parcel of assassins, the very sight of whom 
 made my blood freeze in my veins. One of these 
 bullies, remarking my embarrassment, began to 
 laugh, and, in order to dissipate my alarm, addresesd 
 me in these words: "Signior Bachelor, fear nothing; 
 you are here in good company. You are with some 
 honest persons, who make a profession of preserving 
 good order in society, and maintaining the quiet ot 
 families. It is we who are in reality the ministers 
 of justice. An ordinary judge contents himself with 
 adhering strictly to the laws, whereas we sometimes 
 make up their deficiency. The laws, for instance, do 
 not forbid a widow of quality to marry a man inferior 
 to herself. It is, notwithstanding, a degrading con- 
 ducty for which reason we do not suffer it ; and it is 
 to prevent the just regret which the family of Donna 
 Luisa de Padilla must necessarily feel, if you should
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. ^i 
 
 become that lady's husband, that we have taken you 
 into custody ; a course which we have adopted at the 
 request of one of her nephews, who has promised us 
 a hundred pistoles to effect your separation. 
 
 "It is for you to choose," continued the bravo. 
 *'If you refuse to remove from this widow and from 
 Madrid, our directions are to kill you; but we are 
 allowed to spare your life, and even to let you off 
 without a drubbing, provided you will abandon this 
 business with a good grace. You have but to choose." 
 — " What do you call choosing.?" retorted I eagerly; 
 "do you think me sufficiently mad to hesitate for a 
 moment, under such circumstances, about quitting 
 Madrid, and all the ladies in the world ? I wish L 
 was already far enough from it." — " I believe you," 
 replied the bravo, with a malignant sneer ; " and 
 upon that footing we are perfectly agreed. You 
 shall sup, and pass the rest of the night with us at 
 table, and at the break of day two of my comrades 
 will conduct you as far as Leganez, from whence you 
 will be able to go to Toledo, at which place I advise 
 you to reside. It is a fine town, where there are a 
 great number of the nobility. You will have your 
 choice of tutors' places." 
 
 On this, I informed these gentlemen (so great was 
 my impatience to be out of their clutches) that, if 
 they would allow me to go and lodge at an inn, I 
 promised, on pain of falling again into their hands, 
 to set out for Madrid before the first dawn of 
 Aurora. 
 
 This proposal excited the most immoderate laughter 
 among the bravoes. "You grow tired of us dien, 
 Signior Bachelor." said one of them, "by what I can
 
 32 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 perceive. But have a little patience : it is necessary 
 to accommodate one's self to the time. You will have 
 much better cheer with us than you could at the 
 inn ; and, among those who will bear you company 
 at supper, there will perhaps be some who may 
 render the repast agreeable to you." I was obliged 
 therefore to make a virtue of necessity, since it was 
 impossible to escape. I affected to appear resolute, 
 and even to laugh with these bravoes, whose good- 
 humour gradually excited mine, or at least divested 
 me of some portion of my fear. 
 
 Supper being ready, we passed into a saloon, where 
 there was a sideboard set out with glasses and 
 bottles, and a large table covered with all sorts of 
 viands. We sat down with three ladies, who had 
 arrived, and who, they told me, were the wives of 
 three of these gentlemen ; which story, I suffered 
 them to believe, passed current with me, though these 
 women had an air too free and familiar to admit of 
 even so good an opinion being formed of them. 
 
 They were in a gay dishabille, which did not hide 
 from the view that which, without the last degree of 
 effrontery, could not be exposed to sight. For the 
 rest, they might pass for three tolerably pretty girls. 
 There was one among them whom they called La 
 Gitanilla,* doubtless because she was of the Bohemian 
 race. I never saw a creature, with a countenance so 
 keen and expressive : her eyes were of dazzling 
 brilliancy, and the vivacity of her mind equalled that 
 of her eyes. It is true that she had an intemperance 
 of tongue, which sometimes carried her too far; but 
 this would have been amply compensated by the 
 * The gipsy.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 33 
 
 abundance of bon vio'.s and pleasant sallies which 
 escaped her, if these saUies and bon mots had not 
 encroached a little upon delicacy. In fine, while 
 listening to her, I admired her, and could not help 
 thinking, that a waiting maid of this kind in a house 
 would have been a terrible stumbling-stone for me. 
 
 Signior Bachelor began to be pleased with his 
 company. Inspired by the glances of La Gitanilla., 
 and the wine which he was ev^ery moment obliged to 
 drink, in answering to the healths with which he was 
 assailed from all quarters, he insensibly forgot with 
 what kind of people he was getting drunk. We 
 continued at table till the approach of day ; then 
 having taken leave of the bravoes and their nymphs, 
 I quitted the town with two of the former, and took 
 the route to Toledo. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 OF DON CHERUBINS ARRIVAL AT TOLEDO, AND OF THE 
 
 FIRST EDUCATION WHICH HE UNDERTOOK BAD 
 
 CHARACTER OF HIS PUPIL, WHO TAKES A DISLIKE 
 TO HIM— HOW HE COMES TO BE DISMISSED. 
 
 On arriving at Leganez, one of my companions said : 
 " So, there, Signior Bachelor, in accompanying you 
 thus far, we have executed our orders : do }'OU, on 
 your part, remember to keep your word with us. Be 
 not again seen in Madrid, for, as you have been before 
 informed, if you venture to set foot in it you are a 
 dead man." — " Gentlemen," said T, " you may boldly 
 assure all the nephews and grand-nephews of Donna 
 
 c
 
 34 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Luisa that you have forever separated me from her.** 
 On this my alguazils wished me a good journey, and 
 we parted with mutual civilities of salutation. 
 
 Our separation delivered me from a cruel fright. 
 I had felt apprehensive that the bravoes, in bidding 
 me adieu, would have done me the favour of empty- 
 ing my pockets. As soon, therefore, as they were 
 out of sight I pulled out my watch, and kissing it, as 
 a mother would kiss a beloved child just escaped 
 from shipwreck, " My dear watch," cried I, apostro- 
 phising it, " you have escaped an imminent peril. I 
 thought, I must confess, that we should not have 
 arrived together in Toledo, and that you were going 
 to take the road back to Madrid." 
 
 I had, in fact, reason to be surprised that they had 
 not robbed me, for these rogues in general are no 
 better than Bohemians. Besides my watch, I had a 
 purse full of doubloons, which, in quality of steward 
 to Donna Luisa, I had received the evening before, 
 from a person who was in her debt, so that they 
 would have gained more by robbing me than they 
 did by forcing me out of Madrid. 
 
 I did not like to pass through Leganez without 
 calling on my friend the rector. I anticipated a great 
 deal of pleasure in giving him an account of my late 
 adventure, and in passing a few days with him. But 
 I was deceived, for I did not meet with my good 
 priest, who, being one of those who admire residence 
 no more than a bishop, was absent from home at the 
 time. I was told that he was gone to Cuen^a, and 
 that it was not known when he would return. 
 
 I continued my route as far as Mosioles, where I 
 had the good fortune to meet with a muleteer of
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 35 
 
 Toledo, who was retui'nin\5 thither with his mule. 
 I hired him, and pursued my journey. We were 
 joined near Illescas b)' an ecclesiastic, who, coining 
 after us on a good horse, hastened to overtake us, 
 that he might have the benefit of our company. We 
 saluted each other politely, and entered into conver- 
 sation. My desire to know who he was made me 
 take the liberty of asking him. " I am," replied he, 
 "one of the sixty canons of the church, commonU' 
 called the holy see of Toledo." 
 
 At these words I was inspired with a most profound 
 respect for my companion, having heard that a canon- 
 ship of this church was worth two Italian bishoprics. 
 Finding, therefore, that I had the honour of being 
 with a man possessed of so important a benefice, I. 
 took a lower tone with him, and began to measure 
 my expressions. I do not know whetiier he remarked 
 it, but he did not appear more vain or more haughty 
 than before. He inquired in his turn who I was .-' 
 I replied that I was a Bachelor of Salamanca; that 
 I was coming from the court, where I had been 
 educating a young nobleman, and that I was going 
 to Toledo to seek a new engagement. "You will 
 easily obtain it," replied the canon, " being, as you 
 appear, a young man of merit." 
 
 We did not cease conversing during our journey; 
 and when, having arrived at Toledo, it became neces- 
 sary to part, he extended his hand to me. "I shall 
 not bid you adieu, Signior Bachelor," said he. " I am 
 called the licentiate Don Prosper. Come and see 
 me; I am interested in your welfare. I will begin 
 to-morrow to make exertions for discovering some 
 house where your services may be wanted, in which
 
 36 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 you will find yourself comfortable." I thanked the 
 canon for his kindness in interesting himself about 
 me, and went to lodge at an inn, the merits of which 
 had been much extolled by the muleteer. 
 
 Four days after, having supplied myself with a 
 fresh stock of linen, and got a new suit of clothes, I 
 went to see the canon. " I have done your business," 
 said he. " Don Jerom de Polan, a knight of Calatrava, 
 and my intimate friend, is in want of a clever man to 
 complete the education of his only son, the young 
 Don Luis. I have this place at my disposal ; will 
 you accept it V ■ I assured the licentiate that I desired 
 nothing better, and he immediately conducted me to 
 the house of Don Jerom de Polan. As soon as this 
 gentleman saw Don Prosper, he ran to him with open 
 arms, and such demonstrations of friendship, as gave 
 rne to understand that they lived on terms of the 
 utmost intimacy. The canon, after having received 
 and returned half a dozen embraces, presented me to 
 Don jet'ofn, saying: "I understand that Don Luis is 
 without a tutor ; I bring )-ou one, for whom I can 
 answer. He is a learned Bachelor of Salamanca, 
 who is returning from Madrid, where he has been 
 educating a young nobleman." Don Jerom, while 
 the canon was thus addressing him, regarded me 
 with attention ; and it appeared to me (without 
 vanity be it said) that I passed well through this 
 ocular examination. It was what I had reason to 
 suppose from the thanks which he gave Don 
 P/osper, for having procured him a person who 
 carried in his appearance his own recommendation. 
 He conducted me to his wife's apartment, where that 
 lady was sitting \vith her son, in whom I thought I
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 37 
 
 perceived an air of stubbornness, and a servant maid, 
 who did not cause me any uneasiness, though she 
 M-as under twenty years of age. All these persons 
 examined me thoroughly, and I dare venture to say 
 that my looks prepossessed them in my favour. 
 
 Thus then was I established in this house, where, 
 being looked on as a master recommended by the 
 licentiate Prosper, I enjo\ed during a fortnight all 
 the pleasure that a tutorship is susceptible of. I was 
 treated with attention by Don Jerom and his lady, 
 respected by the domestics, and, I thought, loved by 
 m\' pupil ; but him, I was not yet fully acquainted 
 with. He had a valet-de-chambre^ who, having con- 
 ceived a regard for me, said to me one day : " Signior 
 Bachelor, I find you such a civil gentleman, that I 
 cannot avoid informing }-ou of something which it is 
 essential you should know. You have a very bad 
 subject to deal with, in your scholar. Don Luis is a 
 liar, and possesses a malignant, slanderous disposition. 
 He has an especial aversion to his tutors; he cannot 
 endure them, and there is no stratagem that he will 
 not resort to, to get rid of them. The two last he 
 had were persons of distinguished merit ; neverthe- 
 less, he managed his matters so well, that they were 
 dismissed." — "By what I can perceive," said I, "the 
 father and mother idolise their .«fon." — "Yes," replied 
 he, "he is a spoiled child; you will find it a difficult 
 matter to obtain any control over him." — " I will do 
 my best for that purpose," said I; "and if, after all, I 
 cannot accomplish it, I will go and seek elsewlicre a 
 pupil more wertliy of my attention." 
 
 That I might have nothing to reproach myself 
 with, I began to fulfil my essential duties with an
 
 38 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 assiduity wliich approached to slavery. I left nothing 
 undone which could contribute to make me loved, 
 and at the same time feared, by my good little man. 
 Although he was twelve years old, and had had three 
 or four masters, he was scarcely competent to the 
 simplest exercises. I was eternally talking to him, 
 and labouring to secure his attention. I endeavoured, 
 as much as possible, to prevent his faults, or, if he 
 had been guilty of any, I punished him without 
 passion, or pardoned him without weakness. 
 
 Nevertheless, with all tliis management, and in 
 spite of all my address, I experienced the truth of 
 what the valet had said. Don Luis conceived an 
 aversion for me, and his hate increasing in propor- 
 tion as I evinced zeal for his improvement, determined 
 on procuring my dismissal. In order to succeed in 
 this, he complained of me privately to his parents : 
 he accused me of being severe and unreasonable, 
 turned me into ridicule, and declared that, if he were 
 not to be delivered from his tyrant, he would never 
 make any progress in his studies. To this menace 
 he added a few crocodiles' tears, and in short played 
 his part so well, that his parents, touched with his 
 pretended grief, took his part, and turned his tutor 
 out of doors. It is thus that fathers and mothers, 
 through weakness for their children, will sometimes 
 dismiss an honest man, who has, perhaps, discharged 
 his duty but too well. 
 
 To add to my grief, on leaving this house I went 
 to call on the licentiate Don Prosper. I wished to 
 represent to him the bad qualities of the young Don 
 Luis, and detail the manoeuvre he had employed to 
 get me out of the house ; but the canon, who appeared
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. j9 
 
 to have been prejudiced by Don Jerom, instead of 
 pitying me, heard me with coldness, and turned hi.s 
 back upon me, after teUing me diily, " that he would 
 take care to recommend nO more tutors, at least 
 without being previously well acquainted with them." 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CURIOUS CONVERSATION WHICH DON CHERUBIN HAD WITH 
 
 ONE OF HIS FRIENDS, A BISCAY AN TUTOR THE 
 
 ADVANTAGE WHICH HE DERIVED FROM THAT CON- 
 VERSATION — HE ENTERS INTO THE SERVICE OF A 
 
 MARCHIONESS THAT LADY's CAPRICE AND SINGULAR 
 
 LOVE OF ROMANCES — DON CHERUBIN BECOMES DES- 
 PERATELY IN LOVE WITH HIS MISTRESS EFFECT 
 
 PRODUCED BY HIS LOVE HE QUITS HER NOTWITH- 
 STANDING HIS REASONS. 
 
 I HAD formed an acquaintance with a little Bis- 
 cayan licentiate, who like myself exercised the pro- 
 fession of a tutor, and who was also, at this time, 
 without employment. His face was not disagree- 
 able, but his person was so very small that he might 
 have been taken for a dwarf. To make amends, he 
 had a considerable share of wit and lively humour. 
 He thought plcassntly, expressed himself equally so, 
 and his expressions were rendered still more striking 
 by his provincial accent. 
 
 I liked particularly to hear him when he was in a 
 passion ; and to put him in one, it was only necessary 
 to speak before him of fathers and mothers. This 
 subject never failed to rouse him. " Parents," he
 
 40 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 would say emphatically, "are almost all ungrateful. 
 Listen to the father of a family: — ' I am content,' he 
 will say, ' with my son's tutor, and I design to procure 
 him a solid establishment: but there is no hurry; it 
 will be time enough to think of that when my son 
 shall be out of his hands.' Is not this the same," 
 Carambola would add, "as if he said, ' I will not yet 
 do good to an honest man, who is at the present 
 moment rendering me service, who has already 
 merited my bounties ; I will think about his fortune 
 when he will no longer be before my eyes, when I 
 shall have nothing more to remind me of him ' ? " 
 
 Such were the amusing tirades with which the 
 Biscayan regaled me from time to time, and of which 
 I failed not to take advantage. Meeting him one 
 evening on the promenade, he came up to me with 
 an air of great gaiety. "What is the matter with 
 you?" said I; "by your jo}'ous a-r, one would 
 suppose that you had discovered some admirable 
 employment." — " There is something in that," said 
 he, " I have, in fact, discovered a place which suited 
 me most admirably; but, unfortunately, they did not 
 find me suited to the place." — " I do not comprehend 
 you," said I; "speak more clearly." — "You must 
 know, then," replied he, "that having yesterday 
 learned, from public report, that a lady was in want 
 of a tutor to begin the education of her son, who is 
 not more than five years old, I went this morning to 
 offer her my services, which were rejected. I was 
 told that I was too little." — " How then," interrupted 
 I. laughing. " to get into this lady's house is it neces- 
 sary to be six feet high?" — "Yes," replied Caram- 
 bola; "the lady wishes for a young man of fine
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 41 
 
 figure, and desires, besides, that he should be ver\' 
 young ; for, though I am but three and thirty, I was 
 too old for her." 
 
 I redoubled m)^ laughter at this, and judged that 
 the lady in question must be some silly creature. 
 When I expressed this opinion to the licentiate, he 
 replied with a serious air : " No, no, she is a woman of 
 very good sense ; a prude, who knows how to con- 
 ciliate her taste for pleasure with her regard for her 
 reputation, and would have a lover in the tutor of her 
 son." — "What is her name ?" I asked. " She assumes," 
 said he, ''the title of Marcliioness. Her husband is 
 a captain in Lombardy. That is all I know about 
 her. For the rest, I can assure you that she is a 
 fme woman, and appears to have a great deal of 
 wit. Are you not curious to see her 1" — "You have 
 inspired me with a wish," replied I, "and I have a 
 mind to go and present myself to-morrow to this said 
 Marchioness." — " I exhort you to do so," cried he ; 
 "and I am persuaded that you are the preceptor 
 whom she wants." 
 
 I did not fail to call the following day on the 
 captain's lady, to whom I caused myself to be an- 
 nounced by the title of Bachelor of" Salamanca. An 
 old female attendant, who bore some resemblance to 
 Rodriguez, introduced me into a closet, where her 
 mistress was occupied in reading. She suspended 
 her study at the sight of me, and inquired my busi- 
 ness. " Madam," replied I, " I have been informed 
 that you are in want of a tutor for your son, and I 
 take the liberty of offering myself to fill that situation, 
 if my services be agreeable to you." The lady, at 
 these words, fixed her eyes steadfastly upon me; nor
 
 42 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 was I less attentively considered by the waiting 
 woman, and I could perceive that my figure had 
 found in them two favourable judges : I appeared in 
 their eyes quite a different man from Carambola. 
 
 " How old are you, Signior Bachelor ? " asked the 
 lady. As I remembered that the licentiate had been 
 thought too old at thirty-three, I boldly replied that 
 I was but twenty-two years of age, though, in fact, I 
 had already completed twenty-six. " So much the 
 better," said the Marchioness ; " I wish for a tutor 
 who is young. I have that particular fancy. But 
 do not deceive me," continued she ; " are you a young 
 man of sober habits? for, I assure you, I could by no 
 means endure a libertine who would be going out 
 every day to seek amusements in the town. I desire 
 a sedate man, and one who will bring up my son 
 under my own eye." 
 
 " I am, then, exactly the man, madam," said I. 
 "Although I am of an age in which the passions are 
 on fire, my reason, aided by the profitable studies 1 
 have pursued, keeps a rein over them, so that I fear 
 nothing from their sallies. Independent of that, I 
 have no acquaintance in Toledo, particularly female 
 acquaintance ; thus, bounding my pleasures to the 
 education of your son, I shall devote myself to 
 nothing but the cultivation of that young plant, if 
 you will entrust me with the care of it." 
 
 " I shall be very well satisfied with you," replied 
 the cp.ptain's lady, " if you pursue so sensible a 
 conduct. • I, therefore, choose you to instruct and 
 govern my son. With regard to your salary," she 
 added, "be under no uneasiness: I shall regulate that 
 in proportion to your zeal and your services." She
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 43 
 
 delivered these words with an air so modest and 
 reserv^ed, that, in spite of m\' vanit}', I could not suffer 
 myself to be prejudiced against her virtue, nor flatter 
 myself with the hope of attracting her attention. 
 
 To perform the part of a faithful historian, I must 
 confess that I was struck with the charms of the 
 Marchioness, who was not yet five and thirty years 
 of age. Her beauty appeared to me ravishing. I 
 felt, without knowing why, a secret joy at being- 
 engaged in this house, to which I proceeded with all 
 expedition to remove my effects. I met the little 
 licentiate in the street, where he was induced by 
 curiosity to wait for me. " Well, my friend," said he, 
 "how has the. Marchioness received you .-* " — "She 
 could not have done so better," replied I, " and I have 
 to inform you that I am preceptor to her son." 
 
 At these words Carambola began laughing. " I 
 was not wrong," cried he, " in supposing that your 
 youth and person would have their proper effect. 
 What a deal of pleasure you will have with this lady !" 
 — " Oh ! softly there, Master Licentiate," interrupted 
 I, penetrating his thought; "do not judge so un- 
 charitably of her. For my own part, I believe her to 
 be virtuous; at least, she shows a fair outside. Why 
 tax with hypocrisy an air of so much prudence ? If 
 we must not trust to fair appearances altogether, 
 neither ought we to condemn them." — "You are 
 right," said he ; "' I may be deceived, but I would lay 
 a wager that I am not," 
 
 I returned some hours after, with my effects, to the 
 house of the Marchioness, and took possession of an 
 apartment prepared for my scholar and myself I 
 requested to see the child, and he was brought to me
 
 44 THE BACHELOR OF SALA^fANCA. 
 
 by the old woman whom I had before seen, and who 
 acted as his governess. I thought him very hand- 
 some. He was in leading-strings, and could but just 
 lisp. What a pupil for a Bachelor of Salamanca! 
 A proud pedagogue in my place would have refused 
 to debase himself so much as to teach the letters of 
 the alphabet ; but I looked on the matter in another 
 point of view, and, as Aristotle took credit to himself 
 for being the first instructor of Alexander, so I made 
 it my glory to be so to a young marquis. 
 
 I entered into conversation with the old governess, 
 whose name was Sephora. " Signior Bachelor," said 
 she, " I am very glad that your person has pleased 
 my lady. Nothing less than a man like yourself 
 could have met her approbation, such is the delicacy 
 of her taste. There have been here twenty tutors to 
 present themselves, all of whom have been rejected, 
 though there were among them some very agreeable 
 persons. You will not regret," she continued, "having 
 come into this house. The Marchioness is rich and 
 generous. In a word, your fortune is made, provided 
 }'ou pay my mistress a great deal of attention, and 
 yield with a blind complaisance to her opinions. Ic 
 is her weakness, I must tell you : profit by it, and, 
 above all things, accommodate yourself, if you can, 
 to her foible of being passionately fond of books of 
 knight-errantry. Shall you be capable ©f entering 
 into these sentiments .-^ " — "Without doubt," replied 
 I; "it will be by no means difficult to flatter her 
 infatuatio::, for I am myself extremely fond of books 
 of that description." — " In that case," said she, "\oii 
 will charm her: that you may rely on." 
 
 In truth I had discovered, in the very first con-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 45 
 
 versation I had with the Marchioness, that she had 
 her memory stuffed with rags and tatters of romances. 
 She spoke to me of nothing but Roland the Amorous, 
 the Knight of the Sun, Amadis of Gaul, Amadis of 
 Greece, and, above all, of the incomparable knight, 
 Don Quixote de la Mancha, and of a number of 
 other works of the same kind, which formed her 
 whole delight, and constituted the contents of her 
 library. Although I was not exactly of her mind 
 about these extravagant productions, I pretended to 
 be so, and bet these romances above all the books in 
 the world. Perhaps, indeed, I was nnself the dupe, 
 and the lady only affected to have her head turned 
 with these kind of books in order to gain her ends. 
 However this may be, if she had confined her folly to 
 the pleasure of reading these nothings, I should always 
 have had complaisance enough to flatter her in de- 
 fiance of good sense ; but she carried it still further. 
 
 " Signior Bachelor," said she, as I entered her 
 apartment one day while she was reading Don 
 Belianis of Greece, " I am enchanted with what I 
 have been reading. How well do Don Belianis and 
 Florisbella understand the art of love! What deli- 
 cacy in their sentiments I How touching are their 
 expressions. I am still all in a tremor." 
 
 " I have no doubt of it, madam," said I ; " nothing 
 can be better calculated to rouse the feelings. I am 
 like yourself; I find myself enchanted when I read 
 some passages in certain books of chivalry ; they 
 throw my mind ilvJc a disorder, a kind of rapture," — 
 "What do I hear.^" interrupted the Marchioness 
 with an air of emotion, "Is it possible that I have 
 met with a n^an as sensible as myself to the pleasures
 
 46 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 of romances, and that that man should be you ? I 
 am so much the more delighted, as I now hope to 
 have a lover who will devote himself to me, and 
 serve me in the quality of a knight-errant. I make 
 choice of you, my dear Bachelor. Let us become, 
 you the hero, and I the heroine of chivalry. Take 
 me for your mistress, and I will love you as my 
 knight. Let us sigh for each other : let us burn with 
 a flame as ardent as that which consumed the Prince 
 of Greece and his mistress." 
 
 She accompanied her discourse with demonstrations 
 so enticing, that poor Don Cherubin, who had already 
 found the lady but too amiable, became most des- 
 perately in love with her. Instead of shunning this 
 infatuated woman, I had the weakness to lend myself 
 to all these fooleries. Adieu my reason ! Behold 
 the Bachelor of Salamanca changed into a knight- 
 errant. The Marchioness and I began to talk in the 
 style of the heroes of romance. I assumed the char- 
 acter of the Knight of the Sun, and she that of the 
 Princess of Lindabrides. We had, every day, con- 
 versations supported in the elevated strain ; but it 
 happened unfortunately, sometimes, that the heroine 
 became a little too tender, and the hero too fond. 
 
 Whilst I was thus living with the Marchioness, like 
 Reginald in the palace of Armida, I heard a piece of 
 news which dispelled my enchantment : I was told 
 that Captain TorbelHno, the husband of my princess, 
 was on the point of arriving from Lombardy, and it 
 was intimated to me at the same time that he was 
 a man of violent and jealous temper. To avoid all 
 discussion, and not being (although a knight-errant) 
 Ht all fond of duelling, I took the wise resolution of
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 17 
 
 removing to a distance from Toledo; a proceeding 
 the more judicious, as there was an old servant in 
 the house completely devoted to his master, whose 
 reports might, very probably, have exposed me to 
 become a victim to his resentment. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OUR BACHELOR BECOMES PRECEPTOR TO THE NEPHEW OF 
 
 A JEWELLER IN CUEN^A BY HIS OWN EXERTIONS, 
 
 AND THOSE OF SIGNIOR DIEGO CINTILLO, HIS SCHOLAR 
 BECOMES A FRIAR HE RETURNS TO MADRID. 
 
 I SET out privately from Toledo one morning with a 
 muleteer who was going to Cuen^a, one of the mo;3t 
 celebrated towns in Spain. A 'iQ.\N days after my 
 arrival, the master of the inn where I lodged, told me 
 that he knew an old priest, who undertook to procure 
 situations for tutors, on consideration of a certain 
 sum, which he exacted in return for his services ; and 
 this sum was to be more or less considerable, accord- 
 ing to the value of the place. 
 
 I made myself acquainted with the priest's address, 
 and, calling on him, demanded if he knew of any 
 tutor's place vacant. He answered that there were 
 several; and when I told him tl at I was a Bachelor 
 of Salamanca, he cried : " That is your eulogy in a 
 single word ; I need know nothing more about you, 
 I will present you to Signior Diego Cintillo, the 
 richest and most famous jeweller in Cuenga. He is 
 in search of a sensible and well-conducted man, under 
 whose care he wishes to place a nephew of hi.s, to
 
 48 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 whom he is guardian. I think that you will suit him 
 exactly." 
 
 The old priest took me immediately to call on 
 Signior Cintillo, to whom, though he knew nothing 
 of me, he undertook to be responsible for me, and 
 who directly received me into his house, on the foot- 
 ing of fifty pistoles a year salary, an offer which I 
 deemed it prudent to accept, until something better 
 should offer. The jeweller was a man who affected 
 a great deal of devotion. He had always a rosary in 
 his hand, passed a great portion of the day in church, 
 and reconciled with all that the business of an usurer, 
 w.hich he exercised so secretly that nobody in the 
 town was ignorant of it. 
 
 In order to please this personage, I took care to 
 put on a pious exterior, which agreed most admirably 
 with his own hypocrisy. He called his nephew, a 
 youth of about eighteen, and presenting him to me, 
 said : " Here is the scholar I have to place under 
 your care : he already knows how to read and write ; 
 he even understands a little Latin. Instruct him in 
 philosophy, and, above all things, direct him to the 
 love of virtue, for that is the matter of most import- 
 ance." 
 
 My new scholar was named Chrysostom. He had 
 such a muddy conception, that I could not help telling 
 his uncle that I did not find in my scholar the 
 slightest inclination to profit by my precepts, and, 
 in fact, that I wholly despaired of making him a 
 philosopher. "Be not discouraged," replied he; "I 
 know very well that my nephew is a dull subject. I 
 shall, therefore, not be so unjust as to complain of 
 you, if you should be unable to render him learned.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 49 
 
 "Between ourselves," continued he, "I have it in 
 view to make a friar of Chrysostom. I think him 
 born for the frock." Here I interrupted the jeweller. 
 "Ah ! Signior Diego," said I, "be very careful not to 
 force the inclination of your nephew : the number 
 of bad friars already in existence does not want 
 augmenting." — "What are you saying?" cried 
 Cintillo, with an air of astonishment. " God forbid 
 tiiat I should constrain the inclinations of Chr\->ostom, 
 and make him a recluse in spite of himself Do me 
 more justice; I desire only his good. Not thinking 
 him formed for the world, I should be happy that he 
 would embrace the monastic life of his own accord. 
 Assist me, I entreat you, to turn his mind that way. 
 I double your salar}% in the hope of engaging you to 
 second my intentions. Let us unite to persuade him 
 to this course, which is in reality the best. How 
 happy should I be to behold my nephew living 
 piousl}.' in a monastery!" 
 
 The good jeweller had not told me all. Besides 
 the pleasure he promised himself, in having a new St. 
 Chr\-sostom in his family, he was not sorry to see a 
 nephew devote himself to religion, to whose property 
 he by that means became heir. I now entered into 
 his views, being paid for doing so, and took upon 
 myself the office of a preacher. I began to declaim 
 against the world, and to extol to my pupil the 
 sweetness of a monastic life. Cintillo, on his side, 
 was eternally preaching to him the same thing; till at 
 length the poor boy, stunned with our sermons, which 
 he stupidly believed to the very letter, commenced 
 his novitiate, in about ten months, at the Convent of 
 the Fathers of St. Dominic, where, persevering in his
 
 50 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 fervour, his uncle had the satisfaction of seeing him 
 profess, and of becoming heir to all his fortune. The 
 good Signior Diego, having then no further need of 
 me, paid me my salary; which I had very well 
 earned, for I had been every day to see Chrysostom 
 (iu.ing his novitiate, in order to confirm him in his 
 laudable sentiments. Thus Cintillo and I parted, 
 perfectly satisfied with each other. 
 
 Shortly after, I quitted Cuenga, in consequence of 
 a piece of information which was given me, and which, 
 I conceive, I ought not to pass over in silence. One 
 day that I was walking along the street, wrapped up 
 in meditation, I found myself tapped gentK' on the 
 shoulder, and, on turning my head, perceived a man 
 whom 1 recognised as one of the two bravoes who had 
 conducted me from Madrid to Leganez. I trembled 
 at the sight of this bird of ill omen, and exclaimed : 
 " J low now, Signior Bully ! am I again so unfortunate 
 as to have you at my heels ? have I, not persevered 
 in banishing myself, agreeably to my promise.'*" — 
 " Pardon me," replied he, laughing ; " }ou are a man 
 of )-our word, and we have no longer anj thing to do 
 witli each other; I can even assure you that you may 
 return to Madrid, if you think proper." 
 
 " I understand you," said I ; " Donna Luisa is dead, 
 I suppose } " — " No," replied the bravo, " she is still 
 alive, and you may renew your acquaintance with 
 her, if your heart be so inclined. We shall not pre- 
 vent you. I will tell you the reason ; it is that our 
 company has separated, on account of a dispute 
 which arose between two of u.'v^about La Gitanilla, 
 that little brunette whom you supped with one night, 
 and whom you thought so pretty. They fought to-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 51 
 
 gether, to decide which of the two should have the 
 sole possession of her, and they had the misfortune 
 to be both run through the body. This event has 
 caused a general separation, and each of us retired 
 whither he pleased." 
 
 I was very much delighted with this news, and I 
 did not fail shortly to put myself on the road to 
 Madrid ; having so much the more desire to see this 
 town, as it had been forbidden me, on pain of death, 
 ever to set foot in it again. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 DON CHE RUBIN RETURNS TO MADRID, WHERE HE ACCI- 
 DENTALLY MEETS A MAN WHO AFFORDS HIM SOME 
 INFORMATION RELATIVE TO DONNA LUISA DE PADILLA 
 
 THAT LADY INTRODUCES HIM INTO THE SERVICE 
 
 OF THE DUKE DE UZEDA IN QUALITY OF UNDER 
 
 SECRETARY ACQUAINTANCE WHICH HE MADE WITH 
 
 DON JUAN DE SALZEDO THAT GENTLEMAN'S FOIBLE 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF A BALL A T WHICH DON CHER UBIN 
 
 WAS PRESENT — HE SETS OUT FOR NAPLES IN QUALITY 
 OF COURIER EXTRAORDINARY TO THE COUNT DE 
 URENNA. 
 
 I HAD scarcely arrived in Madrid ere I met by acci- 
 dent with my ancient host, Martin Cinquillo, he who 
 iiad placed me in the service of Donna Luisa de 
 Padilla. We easily recognised each other. " Signior 
 Bachelor," said he, with an air of astonishment, "is it 
 possible that I behold you once more, safe and sound, 
 after the adventure which happened to you? J
 
 52 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 thought, I confe-s, that the bravoes who cairied you 
 awa}- had taken your life, and Donna Luisa actually 
 considers you among the dead. What pleasure it 
 will give her to hear that you are still alive! Call on 
 me to-morrow," added he, "and I will apprise you how 
 she has received this piece of information." 
 
 Curious to know in what manner this lady would 
 be affected by my return to Madrid, I failed not on 
 the following day to call at Cinquillo's house, where 
 I found Dame Rodriguez waiting my arrival. As 
 soon as this good lady saw me, she embraced me 
 with tears in her eyes, exclaiming: "Welcome back. 
 Den Cherubin. Alas! both my mistress and myself 
 had given up the hope of ever seeing you again. We 
 imagined that the family of Padilla, irritated against 
 you, had had the cruelty to sacrifice you to their 
 resentment. How afflicted have we been in this 
 opinion ! What tears has Donna Luisa shed for 
 your sake ! J udge by the grief she has felt at your 
 absence, how great must be her joy at your return. 
 I come to assure you of it on her part, and to con- 
 vince you that she is disposed to render your fortune 
 agreeable and happy. 
 
 "It is not," pursued Rodriguez, "that she. still 
 entertains the design of marrying you. Thank heaven, 
 her eyes are opened to the folly of such a marriage, 
 and the ridicule to which it would expose ker. In a 
 word, she has entirely given up the idea; but she 
 would, out of friendship, put you in the way of 
 making a fortune, by placing you in the house of 
 the Duke de Uzeda, her relation, and the favourite of 
 the Iving. She flatters herself with having sufficient 
 interest to get you received among this minister's
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 53 
 
 secretaries. You are sensible of the importance of 
 such a post ; and I doubt not that you will be happy 
 to fill it, at least if it be not )'Our intention to con- 
 secrate yourself to the service of the church." — " No, 
 no ! " replied I, " I have no such intention. I feel 
 that I have virtue enough to be a secretary, but not 
 of having enough to make a good priest." — " That 
 being the case," said Rodriguez, "lay aside your 
 present dress and adopt that of a la)man." — " That 
 is what I can promise to do," replied I, " without the 
 slightest hesitation ; for I am beginning to tire of 
 the office of preceptor, which I conceive one that no 
 respectable man ought to hold but as a matter of 
 necessity." I therefore laid aside my ecclesiastical 
 habit, and speedily entered into the office of the 
 prime minister ; a single word from Donna Luisa to 
 her niece. Donna Maria de Padilla, Duchess de Uzeda, 
 having been sufficient to obtain me the appointment. 
 As soon as I was installed in my new post, I 
 expressed to Dame Rodriguez my desire of seeing 
 her mistress, in order to return her thanks ; but she 
 informed me that Donna Luisa would dispense with 
 this piece of attention. "After what has passed 
 between you," said she, "she deems it prudent to 
 forbid you her presence, lest she should again expose 
 you to any unpleasant treatment. She wishes to pro- 
 tect }'ou without seeing you ; a conduct which will 
 not expose her to th6 censure of her relations : you 
 ought to give her credit for her prudence." — "To 
 that," said I, " my dear Rodriguez, I have nothing 
 to reply ; and since I am not allowed personally to 
 return thanks to Donna Luisa, do you, at least, assure 
 her that I am penetrated with the most lively grati
 
 54 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 tude for her kindness." At bottom I was not much 
 grieved that my protectress refused to see me; for if 
 I had been estabhshed on the footing of paying her 
 visits, I might very probably have found myself shortly 
 enp-acred in an affair with a new set of bravoes, who 
 would perhaps have treated me worse than their 
 predecessors. 
 
 As I wrote a tolerably good hand, having learned 
 to write at Salamanca, I was employed in my office 
 in making fair copies of ail kinds of despatches. I 
 became acquainted with the clerks, and had even the 
 honour of attracting tlie particular friendship of Don 
 Juan de Salzedo, principal secretary to the Duke de 
 Uzeda. This Don Juan was not deficient of sense, 
 but he had the defect of being rather too fond of 
 Latin, and of eternally quoting, on all occasions, 
 passages from Horace, Ovid, &c. Whenever we met 
 he accosted me with some Latin sentence, and to 
 accommodate myself to his foible, I alwa\'s replied in 
 the same language. By this method I completely 
 won his esteem ; a convincing proof that in. order to 
 please it is only necessar\' to compl}' with the humour 
 of our companions. " Don Cherubin," said he one 
 day, " I have a regard for j'ou, and whenever I shall 
 find occasion to give you proof of it, I will seize on it 
 hibcnti anwio." Fortune ordained that the occasion 
 should speedily present itself; but it is necessary to 
 detail the circumstances which gave rise to it. 
 
 One evening, at a grand ball given by the Duchess 
 de Uzeda, at her palace in the great square, where the 
 bull-fights are exhibited, it happened that I was of 
 the party. There were present a great number of 
 •aoblemen, and also of the most handsome ladies of
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 55 
 
 the court. It might have been supposed that a 
 selection had been made of the most amiable persons 
 in the kingdom, to form so charming an assembly. 
 
 Before the commencement of the ball, the ladies 
 shared indifferently the admiration of the men ; but 
 no sooner had the company witnessed the dancing of 
 Donna Isabella de Sandoval, the only daughter of the 
 Duke de Uzeda, than she engrossed the attention 
 of all. Every one admired the gracefulness of her 
 planner, her noble and majestic air, the lightness of 
 her step, the sjmimetry of her person, and the fineness 
 of her ear. Thus, no sooner had she finished the 
 dance, than the hall resounded with applause. " She 
 is inimitable," said a marquis. " Why have we not 
 such a dancer in our theatres .? I would take her 
 under my protection, cost what it would." — " I would 
 entreat her to ruin me," said a count. "I would beg 
 of her the preference," said a duke. In a word, the 
 whole company was enchanted with this new Terpsi- 
 chore, nor was I the least delighted of the number. 
 
 It may easily be supposed that so rich and noble 
 an heiress was not Jikely to want admirers. Among 
 those who aspired to the honour of espousing Donna 
 Isabella, no one had better reason to flatter himself 
 with hopes of success than Don Juan Telles Giron, 
 Count de Urenna, the only son of the Duke de Ossuna 
 and certainly the most worthy of preference. This 
 young nobleman fulfilled the duties of Gentleman of 
 the King's Bedchamber for his father, who was then 
 at Naples, of which he was governor. 
 
 While the lovers of the Duke de Uzeda's daughter 
 were essaying, by their attentions,to recommend them- 
 selves to notice, that minister sent for the Count, and
 
 56 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 thus addressed him: "Don Juan, you are aware of 
 the strict friendship which exists between your father 
 and mx'self, and the interest I take in all that concerns 
 the welfare of your house; I have requested this 
 interview in order to represent that you ought to 
 profit by the opportunity presented you, while fortune 
 is in a good humour. The Duke de Ossuna has more 
 enemies than ever: they are labouring incessantly to 
 effect his ruin, and it is to be feared that they may 
 succeed in their purpose. While his credit is yet 
 good, you ought to think of establishing yourself; 
 you are of an age to marry, and even to enter upon 
 important employments. It is now twelve months," 
 continued he, "since your father wrote to me, request- 
 ing that I would seek a wife for you." I answered 
 him, " that I had already fixed on one ; but, as nothing 
 has since passed on the subject between us, I am 
 ignorant whether he be still in the same mind." — " Do 
 not fail," added he, "to recount to him what I have 
 said to you, and to assure him, that if he desire a 
 daughter-in-law at my hand, I have it in contempla- 
 tion to give him one rich enough, handsome enough, 
 and noble enough to deserve such a father-in-law as 
 himself." 
 
 At this discourse, the Count, rightly judging that 
 Isabella was the daughter-in-law alluded to, mani- 
 fested such lively joy, as afforded considerable satis- 
 faction to the Duke de Uzeda. Without, however, 
 appearing to notice it, he continued : " Send immedi- 
 ately a despatch to Naples, and the answer of the 
 Viceroy will decide the affair of your marriage." 
 The Count, to evince the impatience he felt to be- 
 come his son-in-law, immediately took leave of his
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 57 
 
 Excellency, telling him "that he would forthwith 
 write to his father," and went direct!}- to Don Juan 
 de Salzedo, whom he esteemed as an ancient servitor 
 of his house, and without whose counsel he never did 
 anything of importance. After acquainting him with 
 the conversation he had just had with his Excellenc}', 
 he said : " I know not whom I can send to Naples ; I 
 shall want a sensible and confidential person, who 
 may make known to my father a thousand things 
 which I dare not venture to commit to writing." 
 
 Salzedo, recollecting me, and considering it an 
 opportunity of throwing a good windfall in my way, 
 proposed me as a person well qualified to execute 
 the commission ; on which the Count, being content 
 to avail himself of my services, expressed a desire to 
 see me. In a private conference which I had with 
 him, he instructed me in all that he was desirous his 
 father should be informed of; after which, having 
 received from this young nobleman two packets, 
 one for the Duke, and the other for the Duchess de 
 Ossuna, with a purse containing two hundred pistoles, 
 I prepared to set out for Italy ; but before my depar- 
 ture, I went to take leave of the secretary Salzedo, 
 who said, affectionately embracing me, "Go, my dear 
 Don Cherubin ; I am delighted that you are about to 
 take this voyage ; it will produce you a good allow- 
 ance of pistoles et lavina videlis littora" I then set 
 out from Madrid; and, following close upon a courier 
 whom the Count had despatched to Naples, arrived 
 nearly as soon as he.
 
 58 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 11^ WHAT MAI^I^ER DON CHERUB IN WAS RECEIVED BY THE 
 VICEROY OF NAPLES, AND OF THE CONVERSATION 
 
 THEY HAD TOGETHER HE RECEIVES CONSIDERABLE 
 
 PRESENTS FROM THE DUKE AND DUCHESS, BY WHICH 
 HE IS OVERWHELMED WITH JOY — HE RETURNS TO 
 MADRID. 
 
 The Duke de Ossuna had been three years Viceroy 
 of the kingdom of Naples, after having governed 
 Sicily four. I alighted at the royal palace in which 
 he resided, and caused myself to be announced 
 to his Excellency as a courier despatched by his 
 son the Count de Urenna. The Viceroy was at that 
 moment in his closet, into which he caused me to be 
 introduced. I presented him the packet with which 
 I had been entrusted. After reading the contents, 
 " These," said he, " are despatches of a most agreeable 
 nature, and not the less so for being presented by a 
 secretary of the Duke de Uzeda himself. But tell 
 me, I entreat you, is the daughter of this minister 
 possessed of all the merit which my son attributes to 
 her.'' I place no very great reliance on the portraits 
 which lovers draw of their mistresses." — " My lord," 
 replied I, " in whdtever colours your son may have 
 painted Isabella de Sandoval, the copy cannot fail 
 to be inferior to the original. In a word, however 
 great an idea you may form of this lady's charms, 
 your imagination cannot carry you above the truth. 
 Picture to yourself a creature of fifteen, who joins to 
 a beauty the most perfect, a sprightly wit and solid 
 judgment; — ihis idea will but include a part of the
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 59 
 
 transcendent qualities of Isabella. It is true that she 
 has not the serious disposition and the gravity by 
 which the Spanish ladies are generally distinguished; 
 but this imperfection (which is only one in Spain) 
 will meet with toleration from your Excellenc}-." — 
 "You are right," replied the Duke, smiling; " Spaniard 
 though I am, I prefer a lively disposition to a grave 
 one." 
 
 In this part of our conversation, the Duchess, 
 who had been informed of the arrival of a courier 
 despatched by Don Juan Telles, entered the closet, 
 full of impatience to learn some news of her dear son. 
 " Madam," said her husband, "a most advantageous 
 offer is held out for the Count de Urenna ; the Duke 
 de Uzeda offers to make him his son-in-law, in prefer- 
 ence to all the great noblemen who seek the alliance 
 of his only daughter Isabella." I then delivered to 
 the Vice-Queen her packet, which contained only a 
 repetition of the same things which had been detailed 
 in the other. As soon as they had read it, they 
 began to deliberate, not whether they should consent 
 to the marriage, but what steps they were to take on 
 the occasion. They resolved on sending me back to 
 Madrid on the following morning, to testify to the 
 Duke and Duchess de Uzeda the impatience they felt 
 for the alliance of the houses of Giron and Sandoval : 
 it was likewise determined that they should write to 
 the Duke de Lerma and to Donna Isabella. 
 
 They spent the day in preparing their despatches; 
 and as Don Juan had written to his father that I 
 could instruct him on several points necessar)- for 
 him to know, I had in the evening an interview with 
 his Excellency, longer than the preceding. "Give
 
 6o THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 me," said he, " a faithful account of all that the 
 Count, my son, has desired }-ou to inform me. You 
 are about, I suppose, to speak of the last letter I 
 wrote to the kin<j; you will tell me, perhaps, that it dis- 
 gusted the greater part of the grandees," — " Exactly 
 so, my lord," replied I ; '" it is there I would begin. 
 In proposing to render places vendible in Spain, you 
 have raised the council against you. which, being 
 principally composed of grandees interested in reject- 
 ing, was of course very little inclined to approve of 
 such a measure. What is most to be regretted," 
 added I, "is that these grandees do not content them- 
 selves with merely opposing the sale of places; they 
 indulge in murmurs, and, by means of secret contri- 
 vances, endeavour to propagate the opinion that }'ou 
 are an enemy to the nation. They are even seconded 
 by the Neapolitan noblemen, who, in concert with 
 them, are continually writing letters to the Court, 
 calculated to render )-ou suspected." 
 
 The Duke de Ossuna at this passage could not 
 refrain from interrupting me. " These," cried he, with 
 a sigh, "these are the faithful subjects, who are always 
 declaring that they are ready to spill their blood and 
 to sacrifice their property for the good of their sove- 
 reign. If the king were to sell those places which 
 he now bestows gratuitously, what family in the 
 kingdom would lose more than my own } I sacrifice 
 to the profit of the monarch my relations and my 
 friends ; I have only his interest in view, and yet of 
 I his they make a crime. Such is the recompense of 
 lliose servants whose fidelity is greatest. 
 
 " Continue," pursued he ; " I am very well content 
 with the choice my son has made, in appointing you
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 6i 
 
 to instruct me as to what is passing at Court to my 
 prejudice. You acquit j'ourself of the task perfectly 
 to my satisfaction — continue therefore. What further 
 injustice do they do me?" — "The most alarming,' 
 replied I, "and the most touching that can be done 
 to a faithful subject of King Philip ; it is said that 
 you have formed the ambitious project of rendering 
 yourself King of Naples." The Duke at this accu- 
 sation shut his eyes, shrugged up his shoulders, and 
 asked me who could possibly be the enemy capable 
 of accusing him of so culpable a design. " The Count 
 de Benevento," said I, "and some other grandees 
 spread this report, which your armaments, or, to speak 
 more properly, your glorious actions, and the services 
 you have rendered, appear to justify. There are 
 those points in your administration, of which they 
 are jealous, which will, they say, be sufficient to form 
 matter for a process against you." — " I am in the 
 wrong," again interrupted his Excellency ; " I am in 
 the wrong. I ought to have followed the examples 
 of former viceroys of Naples and Sicily : I ought to 
 have suffered both kingdoms to be ravaged by the 
 Turks ; to have enriched myself at the expense of 
 the king and his subjects, and then have returned to 
 Court, there to be thanked for my judicious govern- 
 ment. Oh, unhappy monarchy!" added he, lifting 
 up his e\'es to heaven, " must, then, those who serve 
 thee with the greatest ardour, and who seek only to 
 augment thy glory, be stigmatised as thine enemies ! " 
 After this apostrophe, full of bitterness, the Duke 
 put other questions to me. " Tell me," said he, "who 
 are the grandees who are at present most in confi- 
 dence with the Prince of Spain ? " I mentioned to
 
 62 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 him several, and did not omit Don Gaspard de 
 Guzman de Olivarez. "It is this last/' said I, " who 
 appears to be most in favour. It is true, if one may 
 believe the report of Madrid, that he takes a sure 
 method of gaining the friendship of the young Philip." 
 — " What method is that ? " inquired the Duke. " It 
 is," said I, " the application of that which procures 
 success to all enterprises — money. It is said that the 
 Count de Olivarez, who has an immense fortune, em- 
 ploys a great part of it in procuring for the young 
 prince those pleasures which the avarice of the king 
 denies him. Perhaps," added I, " the report is correct ; 
 at least I know that the Prince of Spain, when engaged 
 in the pleasures of the chase, often finds superb colla- 
 tions, prepared by the care and at the expense of 
 Don Gaspard." — " Ay ! " said the Viceroy, shaking his 
 head, " Olivarez is well acquainted with the means of 
 supplanting the Duke de Lerma and his son. I hope 
 that my prediction may prove false ; but if it should 
 so happen, they will have only themselves to thank 
 for it. Why do they suffer near the person of the 
 heir of the Crown a courtier so polished and so 
 subtle, who is seizing, before their eyes, the helm of 
 government .'' " 
 
 When the Duke de Ossuna had exhausted all the 
 questions he wished to ask me, he delivered me his 
 despatches, saying : " Go and repose yourself, and to- 
 morrow morning set out on your return to Spain ; but 
 before you go, pay a visit to my treasurer ; I have 
 given him some directions concerning you." This 
 was the first thing I did the next morning. The 
 treasurer put into my hands, on the part of his Excel- 
 lency, a bill of exchange for three thousand crowns,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 63 
 
 payable at sight. Besides this present, I received 
 another, which was brought me from the Vice-Queen 
 by one of her gentlemen-ushers: it was a gold chain 
 of exquisite workmanship, and which was worth at 
 least two hundred pistoles. I set out from Naples 
 with all these riches, and resumed the route to Madrid, 
 where I had the happiness of arriving without en- 
 countering any accident. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 DON yUAN DE TELLES MARRIES THE DAUGHTER OF THE 
 
 DUKE DE UZEDA CONSEQUENCE OF THIS MARRIAGE 
 
 OF THE NEW COURSE TAKEN BY DON CHERUB IN. 
 
 The first thing I did was to render an account of 
 my expedition to Don Juan Telles, who embraced 
 me with joy as soon as he had read his father's letter. 
 This young nobleman, to convince me how well he 
 was satisfied with me, or, more properly, with the 
 news which I brought him, rewarded me with a purse 
 in which were two hundred doubloons. 
 
 He immediately went to communicate to the Duke 
 de Uzeda the despatches of the Viceroy, and, two 
 days after, his marriage with Donna Isabella was 
 made public. Preparations were made with a 
 magnificence suitable to the dignity of the parties ; 
 and the Duke de Uzeda testified as much impatience 
 for the completion of it, as had been manifested by 
 the Duke de Ossuna. The relations and friends of 
 the houses of Giron and Sandoval celebrated it with
 
 64 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 the most lively demonstrations of joy, and certainly 
 Hymen could never have united two persons more 
 fit for each other. 
 
 No sooner were the rejoicings finished than the 
 Viceroy wrote to the Duke de Uzeda that, to arrive 
 at the entire completion of his wishes, he had only 
 one to be fulfilled, which was that of having his dear 
 daughter-in-law near him ; that he begged him to 
 send her to see Italy, and, in particular, the city of 
 Naples, and finally, that to render this journey the 
 more agreeable to the young bride, he wished that 
 her husband should accompany her, if such were tiie 
 pleasure of his Majesty. The son of the Cardinal de 
 Lerma entered into the sentiments of the Duke de 
 Ossuna, and obtained permission from his Majesty to 
 send his daughter to Naples, together with the Count 
 de Urenna. The preparations for their departure 
 were speedily made, the Viceroy having expressly 
 forbidden his son to have a numerous and splendid 
 suite. They shortly set out for Barcelona, where two 
 vessels, sent b}^ the Duke de Ossuna, waited to convey 
 them to Genoa, from whence Don Octavio de Aragon 
 was, with eight galleys, to conduct them to Naples. 
 
 It is very seldom that a beggar becomes rich with- 
 out suffering himself to grow giddy with the con- 
 templation of his wealth. I was not proof against 
 this weakness. When I came to count my cash, and 
 saw that I had before me nearly two thousand pistoles, 
 I took a dislike to my post of secretary. It appeared 
 to me that a young man who possessed so much 
 money ought to lead a life, free, independent, and 
 ;ibove all inactive, such as is generally indulged in 
 by the honest people of Spain. ''Since," said I, "I
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 65 
 
 can live like a gentleman and act the gallant in the 
 world, I should be a great fool to remain in the offices 
 of ministers, where one must consume ihe day in 
 labour. It is far more a,'';reeable to have nothing to 
 do but to walk about and amuse one's self with one's 
 friends." It was thus that, )'ielding to the inclination 
 by which I found myseli impelled, I suffered mysel 
 to be. drawn into libertinism, without my philosophy 
 being able to save me. On the contrary, I would 
 listen to none of its remonstrances, and when I bade 
 adieu to the Secretary Salzedo, all that he could say 
 to induce me to retain my post in the office, though 
 full of sense and ornamented with Latin, was thrown 
 aA'ay. I hired a handsome apartment in a furnished 
 hotel, and had made two rich suits of clothes, in which 
 1 walked out alternately to show myself at Court and 
 on the Prado. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 DOiV CHERUBIN MEETS WITH THE LITTLE LICRNTIATR 
 CARAMBOLA OF HIS INTERVIEW WITH HIM PLEA- 
 SANT ADVENTURE WHICH HAPPENS TO THE LICEN- 
 TIATE WHAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE OF IT. 
 
 One day, being on the public walk, where I amused 
 myself with ogling the ladies, I observed the little 
 Biscayan licentiate whom I had left at Toledo. He 
 did not at first know me in my new dress. However, 
 I called to him, and he came over and embraced me. 
 " I am delighted," said I, " my dear friend, that fortune 
 has again brought us together." Instead of making 
 
 E
 
 66 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 me any reply, Carambola set his eyes wide open, and 
 began attentively to review me from head to foot. 
 Then bursting into a loud fit of laughter — *' Here is 
 a metamorphosis," exclaimed he. " You in the dress 
 of a cavalier ! Who has induced }'ou to quit the 
 cassock for the sword 'i I am strongly inclined to 
 think that it has been that handsome marchioness 
 at whose house you were tutor in Toledo ; it is 
 she, apparently, who has robbed the church of the 
 Bachelor Don Cherubin." I informed him that he 
 was mistaken. " You are then," said he, " amusing 
 yourself with some rich widow who shares with you 
 the contents of her purse. Tell me the truth : have 
 you not met here with some piece of good fortune of 
 this description ? " 
 
 " If you will listen to me a moment," said I, " I will 
 satisfy j'our curiosity." As soon as he gave me leave 
 to speak, I related to him what had occurred to me 
 since our separation. I then requested him to inform 
 me, in his turn, what he was then doing in Madrid. 
 " Still the business of teaching," said he ; "I am 
 unfit for any other. I am condemned to the tutor- 
 ship, or, to speak more justly, to the galleys for my 
 life. While you were at the Marquis de Torbellino's, 
 and passing your time very agreeably, I found my- 
 self on the pai'^ without money, oi at least on the 
 point of wanting it ; I therefore abandoned Toledo 
 as a town which was becoming every day more dis- 
 gusting to me. I arrived at Madrid, where I found 
 the means of getting into the house of a rich citizen, 
 who was a widower and who had a son of about 
 twelve years of age. This citizen was seldom at 
 home ; he always went out to dine and sup, a circum-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 67 
 
 utance which by no means tended to improve our 
 ordinary at home, A woman of about five-and-forty, 
 who had the management of his house, provided our 
 meals. 
 
 " Oh, the abominable cook ! Sometimes she put too 
 much salt into her ragouts, and at other times an 
 equal superabundance of pepper, cloves, or saffron. 
 It was useless for me to complain ; the old devil had 
 the malice never to mend her hand. I even thought 
 that she did it purposely to disgust me with the 
 house and oblige me to quit it, having taken an 
 aversion to me — I know not for what reasoji, unless 
 that, in my behaviour to her, I had somewhat the air 
 of a Cato. 
 
 " For my own part, out of spite to this old sorceress, 
 I persisted in remaining in the house, where I should 
 probably have been still, but for an accident, such as 
 perhaps never happened to any preceptor before. 
 One day that I had received about twenty pistoles, 
 I went into a tennis court, which, indeed, I could 
 seldom keep out of while I had a crown remaining. 
 Fortune, who is generally rather averse to me, was 
 on this occasion favourable. I won ten doubloons, 
 which were no sooner in my pocket than I took it 
 into my head to go and give a supper to two ladies 
 with w'nom I had become acquainted, and who lived 
 in the Sun Gate. I went to visit them wath this 
 laudable in*:ention, after having bespoken a very 
 respectable supper at a tavern. 
 
 " I was received by these ladies with the more good 
 will, as I was in the habit of regaling them when I 
 favoured them with my visits. We began to converse 
 with great gaiety, and as soon as the supper which I
 
 68 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 had ordered arrived, we sat down to table, I ex- 
 pected to have plenty of amusement for my money, 
 but on a sudden the door opened, and in a visitor 
 who suddenly entered, I recognised the citizen whose 
 son I was educating. When he perceived me his 
 surprise was not less than my own. We remained 
 for a moment mute with astonishment, an looked 
 at each other as if we doubted the evidence of our 
 own senses. But the confusion into which we were 
 thrown lasted not long ; we recovered ourselves im- 
 mediately, and, getting over the shame of meeting 
 in such a place, burst into such immoderate fits of 
 laughter that the ladies took us for two very intimate 
 friends who had accidentally met together in their 
 company. 
 
 " ♦ By what I can perceive,' said one of the nymphs, 
 'you are acquainted with each other!' — 'We ought, 
 indeed, to be well acquainted,' replied the citizen ; 
 ' we see each other every day ; we dine together 
 sometimes, and we sleep under the same roof: it was 
 only wanting to us to have friends in common — we 
 have now nothing more to wish for.' The air of 
 raillery with which he uttered these words put me in 
 the humour for jesting likewise, an inclination in which 
 I indulged at all hazards, determined to outface the 
 citizen, if he should take me to task about our ren- 
 counter. But, instead of evincing the least discontent 
 on the subject, he sat down with us at table, saying 
 •with an unembarrassed air, that he did not suppose 
 he should make too many in the company. In fact, 
 he was in so good a humour that he appeared to 
 me extremely agreeable. He drank my health, and 
 showed me a thousand little attentions. Insensibly,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 69 
 
 I forgot that I was with the father of my pupil, and 
 we drank together most jovially. 
 
 "When it was time to retire, we took leave of the 
 ladies and returned home. When we had arrived 
 there, the citizen, addressing me, said : ' Signior Licen- 
 tiate, I have no quarrel with you for going to visit the 
 ladies at whose house we met to-night, but be careful, 
 I pray you, not to take my son there. 
 
 Carambola could not help laughing at these last 
 words, and his laughter was accompanied by my own. 
 "This was," said I, "an admirable father, and the 
 house an excellent one for a tutor." — " I quitted it 
 notwithstanding," said Carambola, " for the honour of 
 my character: I did not think it consistent that a 
 vicious licentiate should remain in a house where he 
 was known. I am now in another place. I am 
 bringing up the natural son of a member of the 
 Council of the Indies ; and I am in hopes that his 
 education will be more useful to me than that of a 
 legitimate child." — " I wish," rejoined I, " that you 
 may not be flattering yourself with a vain hope; but 
 you have told me a hundred times, one must not 
 reckon too much on the gratitude of parents." — "That 
 is but too true," replied the little licentiate. " How- 
 ever, those whom I have to deal v/ith at present 
 appear so generous, thit I cannot avoid placing great 
 confidence in them."
 
 70 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 DOHr CHERUBJN BECOMES ACQUAINTED WITH AN AMIABLE 
 
 GENTLEMAN, NAMED DON MANOEL DE PEDRILLA 
 
 IN WHAT WAY THEY PASSED THEIR TIME TOGETHER 
 
 OF THE AGREEABLE SURPRISE WHICH DON CHERUBIN 
 MET WITH ONE EVENING WHILE SUPPING WITH TWO 
 LADIES. 
 
 Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a 
 gentleman with whom I had formed an acquaintance, 
 and who, at this moment, joined me on the promenade. 
 " I bid you not adieu," said the Riscayan ; " we shall 
 see each other again." He then retired, leaving me 
 in the company of my new friend, who was named 
 Don Manoel de Pedrilla. He was a gentleman of the 
 town of Alcaraz on the confines of New Castille, about 
 my own age, and of an agreeable person. The desire 
 of seeing the Court had brought him to Madrid. He 
 lodged in the same hotel with myself; we used to 
 dine at the same table, and go every day together to 
 the public walks and places of amusement. In a 
 word, we became so attached to each other that we 
 were inseparable. 
 
 One morning, as we were sitting together in his 
 apartment, there entered a little footboy who delivered 
 him a letter. Don Manoel read it, and then said to 
 the bearer: " My child, you may assure your mistress 
 that I will not fail to be there." Then, addressing 
 me — " Don Cherubin," said he, " I am to sup this 
 evening at the house of two ladies, where I am at 
 liberty to introduce a friend : are you inclined to 
 accompany me thither?" I accepted the invitation,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 71 
 
 telling Don Manoel with a smile, that I thanked him 
 for the preference he had given me. "You ought 
 so," said he, smiling in his turn ; "the favour I propose 
 you is well deserving of thanks. Know that you are 
 to sup with two ladies who are highly amiable and 
 interesting : their manners are dignified ; they are 
 two women of quality, vi^ho live together at their 
 common cost, and in the French fashion. Their 
 house is open to men of honour, who are admitted to 
 play and sup there." — " And they requite themselves, 
 doubtless," said I, laughing, " with the profits of 
 the game." — " Of that I know nothing," replied he. 
 "Perhaps they may have lovers who supply them 
 secretly with the means of supporting their expendi- 
 ture; but there is no appearance of any such thing: 
 nothing is to be seen about them which can render 
 their virtue liable to suspicion." 
 
 I asked the names of these ladies. " One," said he, 
 "is called Ismenia, and the other, Basilisa. They 
 give themselves out as widows of two gentlemen of 
 Grenada, and by their own account have come to 
 Madrid merely out of curiosity." — "To which of them," 
 said I, " has your heart surrendered itself.''" — "I am 
 in love with Donna Ismenia," said Don Manoel, "and 
 by what I can judge, I sigh not for one who is un- 
 grateful ; but I am not loved as I would be : she is 
 but half kind to me." — "lam impatient to see Ismenia," 
 said I, " as also her companion." — " You will see," 
 returned he, " two persons with whom you will be 
 much obliged to me for making you acquainted." 
 
 In the evening Don Manoel conducted me to the 
 ladies, who resided in a tolerably handsome and well- 
 furnished house. " Ladies," said he, presenting me,
 
 72 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 " I hope that you will not be displeased at my having 
 brought with me one of my most particular friends, 
 a gentleman from the province of Leon, aud a young 
 man of merit." The ladies replied, " That my appear- 
 ance would justif}- whatever he could say in my 
 favour," and honouied me with a mo.'rt gracious 
 reception. 
 
 I shall not draw a portrait of these ladies; I shall 
 only say that I was struck with their beauty, and 
 that after a quarter of an hour's conversation, I found 
 myself equally pleased with both of them, though 
 they were in character extremely different. Ismenia 
 was serious, and Basilisa remarkably lively. The 
 former conversed with as much dignity as elegance, 
 and said nothing inconsiderately ; the other hazarded 
 everything, but almost always successfully. Don 
 Manoel perceived that I took considerable pleasure 
 in listening to them. "Signior Don Cherubin," said 
 he, " I think you are not displeased with me for 
 bringing you hither.^" 
 
 At the name of Don Cherubin, Basilisa looked at 
 me attentively, and asked in what part of Spain I 
 v/as born. I replied, " In the province of Leon, — why 
 do you ask that question ?" The lady appeared 
 troubled at my answer, " It is not without reason," 
 said she, " that I ask you, for I am acquainted with 
 some persons of Salamanca. Were you born in that 
 town f " — "No," replied I, "but in the neighbourhood 
 of it, I first saw the light in Molorido, a considerable 
 boroifgh, of which my father was alcade." — "What 
 was his name.-*" asked Basilisa. "Don Roberto oe 
 la Rcnda," I replied. " Ah, my brother," cried the 
 lady, rising to embrace me, " my dear Don Cherubin,
 
 THE BA CHELOR OF 6V1 LA ^rA NCA . 7 ^ 
 
 it is you ! Is it possible that fortune this day restores 
 you to your sister Francisca ? for it is she whom you 
 have met here,, under the name of Basih'sa." 
 
 The force of blood was no less powerful on m}' 
 side. I was so delighted at having recovered ni}- 
 sister that I enfolded her in my arms with such 
 warmth, as for a time to prevent her utterance. On 
 her part, penetrated with my sensibility, she in her 
 turn became mute, so that it was long before we could 
 express ourselves otherwise than by tears. Ismenia 
 and Don Manoel were much affected, and overwhelmed 
 us with embraces. 
 
 After so many endearments we again placed our- 
 selves at table, and began to converse as gaily as 
 before. The conversation was not, however, always 
 general : from time to time Basilisa, whom I shall in 
 future call Donna Francisca, questioned me in a low 
 tone of voice about the family, and while we con- 
 versed thus, Don Manoel entertained himself with 
 Ismenia in the same way. The night was far 
 advanced when we took leave of these ladies. " Don 
 Chcrubin," said my sister, "you will come to-morrow 
 to dinner. I am d\-ing with impatience to hear your 
 adventures, and you cannot have less to be acquainted 
 with mine." 
 
 END OF THE FIRST PART.
 
 PART THE SECOND. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DON CHERUB IN DE LA RONDA GOES TO DINE WITH HIS 
 
 SISTER THEV RELATE TO EACH OTHER WHAT HAS 
 
 OCCURRED SINCE THEIR SEPARATION — HISTORY AND 
 GALLANTRIES OF DONNA FRANCISCA. 
 
 On my return to m\- hotel I tried in vain to obtain 
 a few hours' sleep ; my spirits were in such a state of 
 agitation that I could not close my eyes. 
 
 I was not a little curious to learn my sister's adven- 
 tures, though I doubted not that I should get but 
 a mutilated account. For her part, being no less 
 anxious than myself for an opportunity to converse 
 with me, she was as little able to rest; so that when 
 I called on her, at the earliest moment I thought I 
 could with propriety, I found her dressed and waiting 
 for me in her apartment. " Come, brother." said she, 
 " come and satisfy my curiosity, and I will afterwards 
 gratify yours. Well, what have you been doing since 
 you quitted the University of Salamanca.-*" — "My 
 dear sister," said I, "I shall very speedily comply 
 with your desire." I then gave her a faithful account 
 of my adventures. When I had concluded. Donna 
 Francisca complimented me on the present state of
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 75 
 
 my fortune. She then proceeded to recount her own 
 history in the following terms : — 
 
 " After the death of our father, Don Roberto de 
 la Ronda, or, rather, after that of the Corregidor of 
 Salamanca, you and Don Caesar, as you know, each 
 embraced your different mode of life, and I remained 
 with my mother, whom the narrowness of our circum- 
 stances prevented from giving me a superior educa- 
 tion. She took this so much to heart, that it caused 
 her death. Fortunately, Donna Melancia, my god- 
 mother, and Don Balthasar de Faranella, her husband, 
 were no sooner informed of this, than they came to 
 seek me at Molorido, and, as they had no children 
 of their own, conveyed me to Salamanca, with the 
 design of bringing me up in their own house. I 
 found in my godmother and her husband a second 
 father and mother, who, every da\' giving me fresh 
 marks of tenderness, allowed me to feel very little 
 of the inconvenience of being an orphan. 
 
 "Although I was at that time scarcely ten years 
 old, I was so advanced for my age, that I attracted 
 the attention of one of our neighbours, a j'oung 
 gentleman named Don Ferdinand de Gamboa. He 
 called on us frequently in company with his father, 
 who lived on terms of such intimate friendship with 
 Don Balthasar, that they were almost always together. 
 Under favour of this union, Don Ferdinand was at 
 liberty to see and speak to me whenever he pleased. 
 As he was only two or three years older than myself, 
 it was not deemed necessary to keep any watch over 
 us in our little interviews. We, however, deserved 
 very well that they should be looked to, and they, 
 doubtless, would soon have been so, but that Don
 
 75 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Ferdinand was on a sudden snatched from me. His 
 father carried him away to Court, in order to place 
 him in the Spanish Guards, in which he had just 
 obtained him an ensigncy through the interest of his 
 friends. I was for two or three days very much 
 afflicted at the loss of my lover, but at last consoled 
 myself, as it was very natural to a girl of my age. 
 
 " Shortly after the departure of the young Gamboa, 
 I gave birth to a new passion. Don Balthasar, 
 although he was fifty and some odd years of age, 
 conceived an affection for me, to which I at first, 
 though unconsciously, corresponded, receiving his 
 caresses as the innocent marks of friendship from a 
 godfather; for so I called him. This old sinner would 
 infallibly have seduced me, had not my godmother 
 fortunately penetrated his design, and averted it by 
 sending me promptly to a convent in Carthagena, of 
 which the Abbess was her relation. After having 
 escaped these two imminent dangers, I entered into 
 the convent, as into an asylum in which, in all likeli- 
 hood, I must be sheltered from the shafts of love. 
 But this deity, fond of his prey, had resolved to 
 pursue me ever\-where; and I believe no asylum is 
 to be found which is inaccessible to his power. 
 
 "The Lady Abbess, to whom Donna Melancia had 
 most strongly recommended me, became very fond of 
 me. She placed me in the number of the boarders 
 and young nuns who formed her court, and among 
 whom were several of the most perfect beauty. All 
 these girls emulated each other in striving to divert 
 her by the exertion of their talents. Those who had 
 good voices joined in concert with such as could play 
 on musical instruments ; and those who could dance
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 77 
 
 contributed also to the amusement of the Abbess ; 
 who, environed with her elegant damsels, appeared 
 like Diana surrounded by her nymphs. I beheld 
 with env\' the efforts of these girls to please, and 
 wished I could unite in myself all their different 
 talents, in order to be agreeable to the superior. 
 Although I had the principles of dancing, and did 
 r.ot want for a good voice, yet I was but an unin- 
 structed creature, or at least I was not sufficiently 
 clever to contribute to the amusement of our Abbess, 
 who, seeing my good inclination, had me taught to 
 dance and sing by two excellent masters. 
 
 " So great was my talent for these two qualifications, 
 that they had very little difficulty in rendering me a 
 proficient. In less than a year I became the best 
 singer and dancer in the convent. I also learned to 
 play extremely well upon the lute, so that I became 
 by degrees a most admirable and accomplished 
 person. All the ladies of Carthagena who came to 
 our parties overwhelmed me with compliments, and 
 did not fail to give the Abbess her share, on the 
 advantage of having a young girl of so much merit 
 under her protection. The Abbess herself took credit 
 for my talents, which she looked upon in some degree 
 as her own work. However, instead of applauding 
 herself for the accomplishments she had bestowed 
 on me, she ought rather to have reproached herself; 
 and, indeed, it was not long ere she had reason to 
 repent it. One of her nephews, of whom she was 
 extremely fond, who was called Don Gregorio de 
 Clevillente, came to Carthagena for the purpose of 
 passing a fortnight with her, as he was in the habit of 
 doing once a year. This gentleman was young, beau-
 
 78 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 tiful, and extremely well formed. He supped every 
 evening in the parlour, with his aunt and the favourite 
 boarders, in which number I had the honour of being 
 included. The most sprightly among us joined in 
 lively discourse to divert Don Grcgorio ; after supper, 
 all who were qualified assembled to form a concert 
 and the amusement always finished with dancing. 
 
 " I remarked the first day that Clevillente, delighted 
 at seeing so many handsome girls together, suffered 
 his eyes to range among them without being able to 
 decide to which he should give the preference. If he 
 were affected by the soft voice of one, he was presently 
 after enraptured at the graceful dancing of another: 
 he was as much embarrassed as a sultan about to 
 throw the handkerchief. He was, however, fixed at 
 last, and became enamoured of my face, in prejudice 
 of others more worthy than myself. Of this he made 
 me sensible on the second day, by the glances with 
 which he favoured me, for, in fact, he appeared to have 
 eyes for none but your sister. 
 
 " I did not at first appear to be sensible of this, 
 nor make an\' reply to iiis looks ; but the devil lost 
 nothing by that. From the moment I was aware of 
 having secured a lover in Don Gregorio, I felt an 
 inclination for him, though 1 had formerly looked on 
 him with impunity. What delight would it have 
 afforded him could he have read in my face what was 
 passing in my heart! But I so well concealed my 
 growing affection that he had not the least suspicion 
 of it. On the contrarx^ imagining that I had paid no 
 regard to his attentions, he resolved on making me a 
 formal declaration of his sentiments; and thus it was 
 that he put his design in execution. •
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 79 
 
 "He imparted the secret of his attachment to a 
 young valet in his service who was a youth of great 
 dexterity. ' Brabonel,' then continued he, 'can you 
 contrive to convey a billet sccretl}' to Donna Fran- 
 cisca?' — 'Why not?' said Brabonel; 'I have done 
 things much more difficult than that. I have formed 
 an acquaintance with a portress of this convent, and 
 I can easily induce her to perform this little service 
 for you. Only give me your letter, and leave the 
 rest to me.' 
 
 "Brabonel had not exaggerated in boasting of his 
 influence with the porrress, for, in effect, she said to 
 me the same day, slipping into my hand a billet from 
 Clevillente : ' Here, beautiful Francisca, read this 
 paper; you will find in it something which will please 
 you.' I asked her what it was ; but instead of answer- 
 ing me, she withdrew with a precipitancy which in- 
 duced me to think that this good portress was a little 
 too obliging. 
 
 "I found in this letter of Don Gregorio's a most 
 lively declaration of love, and the most earnest soli- 
 citations from that cavalier to allow him to speak to 
 me in private. I ought, I confess, immediately to 
 have carried this letter to the Abbess ; but this was 
 what I did not do, and what I had, besides, no incli- 
 nation to do : a girl of thirteen has not quite so much 
 prudence. More flattered with the conquest of a lover 
 who was not unpleasing to me, than angry at his 
 audacity, I resolved to dissemble, and see whether he 
 would persist in loving me, or rather in wishing to 
 seduce me; for he had no other intention. He again 
 employed the agency of the portress, who, not con- 
 tent with bringing me billets, had the address to
 
 So THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 prevail on rrie to answer them and to contrive an 
 interview between us, in which Don Gregorio told 
 me that he was resolved to marry me, but that, in 
 order to be able to do so, he must carry me off, as 
 his aunt would not, he was confident, give her consent 
 to our union. 
 
 " He had little difficulty in prevailing on me, and, 
 imagining that I was following a husband, I quietly 
 suffered myself to be conducted, disguised in man's 
 apparel, to the castle of Clevillente ; where, during 
 two months, my seducer paid me the greatest atten- 
 tion. After this he relaxed, and at length became 
 perfectly indifferent. I reminded him that he had 
 promised to marry me, and pressed him to keep his 
 word ; but he only put me off with evasions. This 
 disgusted me, and, piqued at his want of faith, I 
 began to despise him. From contempt I passed to 
 hatred, and being once arrived at that, I speedily 
 determined to leave the perjurer; a resolution 1 
 courageously executed. One day when he was gone 
 hunting in the direction of Alicant, I made my 
 escape in my male attire, and walked towards Oii- 
 guela, where I arrived that evenin^^ I entered an 
 inn kept by a good widow, who, judging by my air 
 that I must be the son of some person of distinction 
 who was funning about the country, said to me: 
 'My pretty young gentleman, what brings you to 
 Origuela,-'' — *I am come,' replied I, 'to seek for a 
 place. I served at Murcia, in quality of page, a lady 
 with whom I was not content ; I have left her, and 
 am determined to travel from town to town until I 
 shall have found a new mistress, or some gentleman 
 of distinction who will take me into his service.'
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 8i 
 
 "' A youth of your figure,' said the daughter of the 
 hostess, joining in the conversation, ' will not be long 
 in this town without being provided for agreeably.' 
 I replied to this gracious compliment by a bow, and 
 I perceived that the person who had made it regarded 
 me with the most particular attention. I also ob- 
 served that she was a young woman, probably from 
 five and twenty to thirty years of age, tolerably 
 pretty, and possessed of a good figure ; observations 
 which a young cavalier in my place would perhaps 
 have made with more pleasure than I did. 
 
 " Finding myself fatigued with having walked all 
 day, I requested a room, that I might go to bed. 
 'Juanilla,' said the hostess to her daughter, 'take this 
 little chicken to the closet which looks out on the 
 garden ; there is a good bed in it.' Juanilla imme- 
 diately conducted me thither. ' Signior Page,' said 
 she, 'you will be here as comfortable as a prince. 
 When any person of importance comes to lodge at 
 our house, it is in this room we put him to sleep.' 
 
 "Tlie better to imitate a cavalier under similar cir- 
 cumstances, I thought it requisite to act the gallant, 
 and say a great many sweet things. This, however, 
 I did with a great deal of caution, for fear of raising 
 a flame which I should be incapable of extinguishing. 
 But, with whatever circumspection I endeavoured to 
 address her, all the flattering words that escaped me 
 were so many arrows which pierced her heart. As 
 she was retiring I embraced her, and this embrace 
 completely intoxicated her senses. She, however, 
 escaped rapidly out of the room, like a girl who is 
 agitated by emotions too tender, and who is fearful 
 of yielding to their influence. 
 
 F
 
 82 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 "I was well pleased with her retreat; and, laying 
 myself down immediately after, in a few minutes 
 sleep had taken entire possession of my senses. I 
 awoke about the middle of the night ; and, hearing 
 s mething stirring in my room, asked who was there. 
 Immediately a Lw soft voice replied : 'Sweet page, 
 who can enjoy the repose of which you deprive others, 
 wake and learn your victory. You have inflamed 
 Juanilla, who must die with grief and despair if you 
 refuse her your heart and hand.' I pretended, in 
 order to amuse her, that I was sensible to her regard, 
 thinking that I should get rid of her by a few tender 
 .speeches ; but she approached my bed, and made 
 such advances that it would not have been possible 
 to continue the deception much longer. 'My dear 
 Juanilla,' said I, 'why can I not seal your love with 
 the seal of Hymen ! You are the person in the world 
 for whom I should have the greatest fancy, if heaven 
 had made me a man, instead of causing me to be 
 born a girl like yourself.' 
 
 " If the shades of night had not concealed her from 
 my view, I am sure I should have seen her change 
 colour at these words ; and when she could no longer 
 doubt my sincerity, I believe she was a little sorry 
 for being undeceived. Takmg the affair, however, 
 like a girl of spirit, she began to laugh at her error, 
 and submitted with a good grace to necessity. 'By 
 my faith,' said she, ' I am more lucky than wise, and 
 it must be admitted that I have had a most fortunate 
 escape. When I think of my weakness, I tremble at 
 the idea of a danger which was but imaginary.' 
 
 ** Seeing in what way Juanilla was inclined to treat 
 the subject, I followed her example; and after we
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 83 
 
 had both exhausted ourselves in pleasantries on our 
 adventure, we vowed an eternal friendship for each 
 other. To engage me to recount to her my affairs, 
 she made me the confidante of her own; and I had 
 full cause to believe from her recital that she had not 
 always met with young girls in those who wore male 
 attire. The frankness of Juanilla excited my own. 
 I gave her a faithful detail of my elopement, and 
 informed her why I had separated myself from my 
 seducer. She praised me for having had the reso- 
 lution to withdraw myself from this base and per- 
 fidious betrayer: she, however, persuaded me to lay" 
 aside my disguise ; ' in order,' said she, with a smile, 
 'that no other girls may be deceived by it.' 
 
 "'I have no other intention,' said I, 'than to enter 
 into the service of some lady of quality; and I shall 
 be in a situation to supply myself with female attire 
 as soon as I shall have sold a large diamond which I 
 got from Don Gregorio.' — ' Keep your diamond,' said 
 Juanilla, 'and let me follow an idea which has just 
 come into my head. I am known and, I dare assert, 
 esteemed by a rich and virtuous lady who has been 
 living at Origuela since the death of her husband, 
 who was governor of Majorca. I will but just men- 
 tion you to her, and I doubt not that she will receive 
 you immediately.' 
 
 " I gave permission to Juanilla to act as she pleased; 
 and the next day she told me that she had spoken to 
 the Countess Saint Agni. 'In consequence of the 
 representation I gave of you,' said she, 'this lady has 
 expressed her readiness to take }-ou into her service. 
 It is true, indeed, that I made her the confidante of 
 your misfortune ; but pardon me for this indiscretion;
 
 84 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 by doing so, I have but the more effectually served 
 you. The Countess is the best lady I ever knew, A 
 young girl who has been betrayed appears to her an 
 object rather of pity than contempt. In a word, 
 she compassionates your misfortune, and imputes 
 your fault only to the traitor who has been the 
 cause of it. 
 
 " * You now, therefore, belong to the Countess Saint 
 Agni,' continued the daughter of ni)- hostess. ' Go 
 and call on her in about an hour ; she wishes to see 
 you in your page's dress, after which she will give 
 j'ou other habiliments.' I thanked Juanilla for the 
 service she had rendered me, and, getting dnections 
 to the house of the Countess, I immediately set out 
 to present myself." 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 DONNA FRANCISCA PRESENTS HERSELF TO THE COUNTESS 
 
 SAINT AGNI OF THE GRACIOUS RECEPTION WHICH 
 
 SHE MET WITH FROM THAT LADY — CHARACTER OF 
 
 THE COUNTESS DONNA FRANCISCA INHERITS A 
 
 THOUSAND PISTOLES HER REGRET FOR THE DEATH 
 
 OF THE COUNTESS RESOLUTION WHICH SHE COMES 
 
 TO IN COhJUNCTION WITH DAM I AN A. 
 
 "You may well conceive, my dear brother," said 
 Francisca, " that I could not, without blushing, offer 
 myself to the view of a lady who had been made 
 acquainted with my history. Nay more ! I was 
 exceedingly troubled ; and though naturally bold 
 enough, did not approach the Countess without
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 85 
 
 trembling. She perceived my disorder, and pene- 
 trating the cause of it, ' Compose yourself,' said she, 
 after sending out of the room a woman who was with 
 her ; ' Juanilla has told me everything, and I pity you. 
 If your youth, your shame, and your repentance 
 cannot render your fault excusable, they at least 
 secure you my compassion.' 
 
 " At these words I threw myself at the feet of the 
 Countess, and only replied by a torrent of tears which 
 I found it impossible to restrain. My tears produced 
 an admirable effect, the lady was much affecied ; and 
 raising me kindly, 'Console yourself, my child,' said 
 she; 'it is useless to afflict yourself now. Rather 
 come to a firm resolution of being in future on \'our 
 guard against tiie arts of men; you cannot be too 
 careful to avoid them.' 
 
 '• She said many other things of the same kind to 
 inspire me with a love of virtue. Then wishing to 
 know who I was, and to hear me converse, she 
 questioned me about ray parents. As I am not of 
 a birth which I need be ashamed of, I did not pass 
 myself off for anything more than I was, and I 
 replied with sincerity to all her questions. Whatever 
 may be our birth, we ought not to blush at it : virtue 
 is not dependent upon rank. 
 
 "The Countess appeared perfectly satisfied with 
 my answers. * Francisca,' said she, after a long 
 conversation, 'I am happy that fortune has 'ed \ou 
 to apply to me; I conceive an affection for you, and 
 would stand in the place of a mother to you.' I 
 returned all the thanks which so generous a lady 
 deserved, and hastening to profit by her bounty, 
 entered into her house, less on the footing of a
 
 86 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Avaiting woman, than as a young girl whom she 
 esteemed, and of whom she was desirous of ta-king 
 particular care. 
 
 " I immediately began to contemplate thoroughly 
 the character of my mistress. Oh, what amiable 
 qualities did this study lead me to the discovery of! 
 I found her mild, amiable, affable, gentle, and even- 
 tempered : she was prudent, virtuous, and even devout, 
 without affecting to appear so. A mistress of such a 
 character is too amiable not to be adored by all about 
 her; the Countess was, therefore, the idol of her 
 servants. For my own part, I was so charmed with 
 iier, that I thought I could never exert m}'self suffi- 
 ciently to please her. I am not naturally awkward, 
 and I contrived to pay m\' court to her so well, that 
 in a short time I gained her confidence, or at least 
 shared it with Damiana, an old waiting woman who 
 had been twenty }-ears in her service. 
 
 "You will observe, if you please, that the Countess 
 Saint Agni was then at the completion of her ninth 
 lustrum. She had passed for a beauty in her youth, 
 and was even still handsome; but her charms began 
 to yield to the power of time. I was much surprised 
 one morning to hear her sighing mournfully at her 
 toilet, and to remark that her eyes were filled with 
 tears. I took the liberty of asking her, respectfully, 
 if any secret uneasiness troubled her repose. I pressed 
 her to tell me what was the matter with her; and my 
 requests were so strongly urged, that she was unable 
 to resist them. ' Yes, my dear Francisca,' said she, 
 looking sorrowfully upon me ; 'yes, I am the victim of 
 a grief, the force of which is increased by my being 
 obliged to confine it to my own breast.'
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 87 
 
 "'Do not rest there, madam,' said T, perceiving she 
 had done speaking; 'open to me j'our whole heart. 
 Do not conceal from me the subject f your sorrows ; 
 I already participate in them, though with-^ut know- 
 ing what they are, and you will find consolation in 
 confiding them to me.' — ' I dare not reveal them to 
 )-ou,' said she ; * they are ridiculous to think of, and 
 I cannot without confusion make you the confidante 
 of them.' — ' You must, however, tell me, my dear 
 mistre-s,' said I, throwing myself on my knees; *I 
 cannot live without knowing them. Ought you to 
 leave nie in ignorance of them ? — me who am entirely 
 devoted to you ? I entreat you no longer to make a 
 m\ stery of what afilicts y u. If I cannot console 
 you, at least let me participate in your grief 
 
 " I evinced so great an intere£.t in the situation in 
 which I beheld the Countess, that I at last extracted 
 from her the secret. ' My child,' said she, ' I can no 
 longer hold out against your zeal and friendship ; I 
 mur^t acquaint you with my weakness. Learn, then, 
 the cause f my affliction. I am sensible to the loss 
 ' f my charms : I find them falling, ^ne by one, in 
 ruin, in spite of all the assistance I can derive from 
 art for their preservation. This it is which afflicts 
 me. What do I sa\' ? it plunges me into a melan- 
 ch ly which sometimes arrives at such a height, that 
 I am afraid of losing my reason. You are astonished 
 at this,' said she, observing that I really was surprised 
 to hear her talk in this way, ' but it is a weakness 
 over which, with all the aid of my reason, I cannot 
 obtain the victor)-,* 
 
 "'Allow me to represent to you, madam,' sai ' I, 
 'that you do not really witness what you think you
 
 88 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 do. Win', too ready to torment yourself, do you 
 imagine that you are not what you have always been? 
 View yourself with more favourable eyes, or rather 
 believe the report of mine. They will inform you 
 that time has not yet destroyed your charms, and 
 that you are still in possession of all your beauty.' 
 At these words, which for a moment suspended her 
 grief, the Countess replied with a smile: 'You are a 
 flatterer, Francisca ; my glass is more sincere than 
 you ; it announces to me every day some change in 
 my person, and my eyes cannot deny its testimony.' 
 
 "After the Countess Saint Agni had reposed in 
 me this singular confidence, she was no longer under 
 any restraint before me ; and giving free vent to 
 her complaints, I had the same scene every morning 
 at the toilet. I often spoke on the subject with 
 Damiana, who could not refrain from laughing. *If 
 my lady,' said she, ' were a woman of gallantry, I 
 could pardon her for her grief. An old coquette has 
 indulged in such habitude of having lovers, that she 
 must be quite in despair when she finds herself no 
 longer able to attract them. But my mistress has 
 alv/ays shunned gallantry. It is her interest in her 
 own proper person that renders her so sensible to the 
 outrages of age. One must be very fond of one's self 
 to grow old with such a bad grace.' 
 
 " The Countess Saint Agni had but this one fault, 
 and of that, unfortunateh', we could not hope that 
 she would ever divest herself. On the contrary, 
 finding herself every day less lovely as she advanced 
 in her career, at the end of two or three years she 
 appeared to herself so changed that she no longer 
 dared to look in her glass. 'Francisca,' she exclaimed
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 89 
 
 one morning, as in absolute despair, 'my dear Fran- 
 cisca, I am perfectly decrepid : it is no longer possible 
 to look in my face without horror; I can no longer 
 show myself in the world. I must hide myself in the 
 recesses of a cloister : I had rather be shut up there for 
 the rest of my life than exhibit an object so frightful.' 
 
 " It was in vain that Damiana and mj'self tried 
 ever}' method to restore her spirits, and induce her 
 to consider her face with more indulgence (and, in 
 fact, although old, she had the remains of beauty, 
 from which a coquette, in her place, would not have 
 failed to derive some advantage); it was impossible 
 to alter her design of going into a convent. Previous 
 to executing her resolution, she asked if I would be 
 willing to follow her. 'If you doubt it, madam,' said 
 I, 'you will do me great injustice. The convent, it is 
 true, viewed in itself, does not much please me; but it 
 will become an agreeable residence to me, if I am to be 
 there in your company,' The lady was so pleased with 
 this answer that she embraced me, and declared that 
 ni}- attachment to her formed her only consolation. 
 
 " My mistress, therefore, buried herself in a convent, 
 and Damiana and I shut ourselves up with her. We 
 might have lived there with a great deal more comfort, 
 but that, during six entire months, we were under the 
 necessity of constantly exhorting the lady to sustain 
 with greater fortitude the decay of her charms. She 
 would no longer hear any reason on the subject. 
 Happily heaven interfered. Madam Saint Agni re- 
 turned by degrees to herself, and triumphed insensibly 
 over her weakness. What a change ! This woman, 
 who had been so proud of her beauty, became insen- 
 sible to the loss of it,and quite detached from the world.
 
 90 TP,E BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 " The good widow was only two years in her retreat. 
 She fell sick and died there, after having made a will, 
 in which her attendants were not forgotten. She left 
 a thousand pistoles to each of us, to enable us to live 
 decently, without being again obliged to go to service. 
 Our own inclinations came somewhat near the inten- 
 tions of the Countess. Damiana shortly made me 
 the following proposition : ' I am weary,' said she, * of 
 having a mistress ; I would take my turn in playing 
 the part of a lady in the world. Follow my example, 
 my love. Let us not separate ; let us unite our 
 fortunes: let us go and establish ourselves in some 
 large town of Spain, and there, giving ourselves out 
 for women of quality, we shall make good acquaint- 
 ance, and live very agreeably.' If I had had experi- 
 ence, I should have revolted against such a proposal; 
 I should have penetrated the views of Damiana, and 
 have left her, as a jilt who had a design of ruining me. 
 But segTAg nothing but what was perfectly innocent 
 in that which she had suggested, I readily joined my 
 destiny with hers. We held a council as to what steps 
 we should pursue, and the result was as follows. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 m WHAT TOWN DONNA FRANCISCA AND DAMIANA RE- 
 SOLVED ON SETTLING ADVENTURES WHICH OCCUR- 
 RED TO THEM THERE A TTEMPT TO CARRY OFF DONNA 
 
 FRANCISCA THE CONSEQUENeSS OF THIS ATTEMPT. 
 
 "We fixed on Seville for our place of residence, 
 Damiana having assured me that Andalusia was the 
 most pleasant part of all Spain ; and determined to
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 91 
 
 proceed thither by sea as soon as we should be put 
 in possession of our legacies. 
 
 " According'y, as soon as they were paid us, we 
 went to Cartliagena and embarked on board a ship 
 which was about to sail for Malaga. We were a 
 little incommoded by being at sea; but, as we had 
 a favourable wind all the way, we soon arrived at 
 Malaga, where, having remained a few days, we set 
 out for Seville by land, and arrived there without 
 sustaining the slightest accident. 
 
 "We hired a house near the Exchange, which we 
 had properly furnished, and took into our service a 
 cook and a lackey, who, being strangers to us, could 
 give no information as to who we were. ' Aunt,' said 
 I to Damiana (for it had been arranged that I should 
 pass for her niece), ' I think we are beginning upon 
 too high a scale. Shall we alwaj's be able to main- 
 tain the figure which you are desirous of making.''' — 
 ' Hold your tongue, niece,' replied she ; ' why need 
 you trouble yourself.'* Leave to me the care of 
 managing our expenses, and you will find that we 
 shall never be under the necessity of reforming our 
 housekeeping. It is more likely that we may aug- 
 ment it in the end.' 
 
 "My good aunt, in talking to me thus, had views 
 which she hoped to be able to accomplish without 
 communicating them to me. She flattered herself 
 that we should make some useful acquaintance in a 
 town, into the harbour of which come the fleets and 
 galleons from the West Indies loaded with Spanish 
 dollars, with plates of gold and with bars of silver; 
 she calculated that I should gain the heart of some 
 rich merchant, and that we should not fail to enrich
 
 92 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 ourselves with his spoils. It was upon this notable 
 expectation that she founded the duration of our 
 brilliant mode of .living. 
 
 "Damiana, as you may perceive, relied a great deal 
 upon my beauty and address. The result showed 
 that she was not mistaken. A Mexican, being one 
 day at the Church of San Salvador, whither I went 
 every morning to hear Mass, was struck with the 
 elegance of my figure, and still more with two large 
 black eyes which I turned towards him now and then 
 as if by accident. He gave me to understand by his 
 looks that I had charmed him. Even though I had 
 failed to notice this myself, it could not have escaped 
 my aunt, who was closely on the watch in this matter 
 and took notice of everything. Both, then, had made 
 the observation ; and we doubted not that this gallant 
 from the new world would shortly endeavour to intro- 
 duce himself at home. 
 
 " We were not deceived in our conject«re. He wiote 
 to my aunt, requesting to be allowed the favour of an 
 interview with her; which permission she granted. 
 He had a long conversation with her, in which, after 
 having declared his love for me, he proposed to marry 
 me and to take me to Mexico, where he stated that 
 he possessed immense wealth. Damiana replied that 
 she would mention to me the honour he was desirous 
 of conferring on me, and in three days return him my 
 positive answer. 
 
 " My aunt having informed me of this conversation, 
 asked me if T felt any curiosity to see the country of 
 Montezuma. 'No, truly,' replied I ; * to consent to 
 taking such a voyage as this, it would be necessary to 
 view my new lover with the same eyes as I did Don
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 93 
 
 Gregorlo; and that is what I am very far from doing. 
 I will tell you more : I feel an aversion for the Indian 
 without knowing why. There is about him an air of 
 gloom which prejudices me against him.' — ' Let us 
 say no more about him, then,' rejoined Damiana ; ' I 
 have no more inclination than yourself to go to the 
 Indies. When the Mexican shall return for his pro- 
 mised answer, I will give him his dismissal.' 
 
 " He did not fail to come at the appointed time. 
 She informed him that our inclinations did not cor- 
 respond with his own, and requested him never more 
 to set foot in the house. He did not appear much 
 mortified by this compliment, and it might have been 
 supposed, from the air with which he retired, that he 
 did not take the refusal he had met with much to 
 heart ; but we were deceived. The more vexed in 
 reality, in proportion as he had taken pains to con- 
 ceal it, instead of resolving to forget me, he contem- 
 plated only the means of obtaining me in spite of 
 m\-self, and, in order to effect this, he had recourse to 
 the expedient of Romulus; that is to sa\-, he resolved 
 to carry me off by force. You shall hear directly what 
 was the success of his project. 
 
 " One evening, having been walking with Damiana 
 in the royal garden, near which we resided, just as 
 we had left it to return home, I found myself «ei",ed 
 by three men, who endeavoured to force me into a 
 carriage which was waiting. The screams which were 
 uttered by m\' aunt and myself before they could 
 effect their purpose, prevented them from succeeding. 
 They attracted tiie attention of two young cavaliers 
 who happened to be near, and who, seeing the vio- 
 lence which was offered me, did not hesitate in
 
 94 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 affording their succour. They immediately drew their 
 swords, and attacked my ravishers with such impetu- 
 osity, that they, despairing of being able to retain 
 their prey, abandoned me and took to flight. 
 
 " My deliverers did not do things by halves : they 
 conducted us home, where Damiana and I returned 
 them all the thanks which their services demanded. 
 We gave them an invitation to supper, which they 
 willingly accepted. During the repast, we talked of 
 nothing but the late adventure. One of the cavaliers 
 asked me if I knew who could have been the author 
 of the attempt .-' I replied that I suspected the 
 Mexican of having formed it, out of revenge for my 
 having refused his hand. * That is enough,' said the 
 other cavalier ; ' in less than three days we shall be 
 informed of the whole. I am the son of Don Indico 
 de Mayrenna, Corregidor of this town. There are 
 alguazils coming every morning to my father's ; I 
 will commission one of them to examine into the 
 business. It is not enough," continued he, *to have 
 prevented the execution of this enterprise, we must 
 punish the audacious wretch by whom it was con- 
 ceived. This is what I undertake to do, and you 
 may trust the performance of it entirely to me.' 
 
 " He pronounced these last words in the style of a 
 man whose heart is beginning to be inflamed, and his 
 companion appeared no less ardent than himself in 
 assisting my revenge. 
 
 " The son of the Corregidor was named Don Josef, 
 and his friend was Don Felix de Mendoza. They 
 were both equally lively and elegant in appearance. 
 I expected every moment some sudden and violent 
 declaration of love; however, they contented them-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. " 95 
 
 selves for that evening with ogh'ng nie ; which they 
 did in a manner to make me sensible that I had 
 caught both their hearts at a single cast of my net. 
 The)' repeated their assurances on retiring, that they 
 would use every exertion to procure me satisfaction 
 for the Mexican's insolence. 
 
 "As soon as they had left us, I asked Damiana 
 what she thought of these two young gentlemen. ' I 
 fear,' added I, ' that they will make me pay dear for 
 the service they have rendered us.' — ' That is what I 
 apprehend,' replied Damiana. ' They are both struck 
 with )'Our charms, or I know nothing about such 
 matters. They would not sigh for one who would be 
 ungrateful : that is embarrassing.' — ' We may deceive 
 ourselves, my good aunt,' said I, 'and we are perhaps 
 taking the alarm unnecessarily.' 
 
 "The next day we heard nothing of our deliverers, 
 they being engaged in looking after the Indian, of 
 whom they were extremely happy to have some intel- 
 ligence to give me at their next visit. But, on the 
 following day, the son of the Corregidor came to me 
 in haste. ' Madam,' said he, ' you are revenged. The 
 audacious man who essayed to carry you off is in 
 prison, as also the three wretches who dared to lay 
 their hands upon you. Their process is about to be 
 commenced, and you will soon see with how much zeal 
 I have served you.' I told him that it was impossible 
 to be more grateful than I was for what he had done 
 for me, and that I hoped an occasion would speedily 
 present itself of giving him proof of it. ' The occasion 
 already presents itself,' replied he. 'Sympathise in 
 the sentiments with which }'ou have inspired me, and 
 I shall be repaid with interest'
 
 96 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 "This discourse was but the commencement of a 
 great deal more of the same kind, which he addressed 
 to me, accompanied with the most lively demonstra- 
 tions of tenderness. Scarce!}' was he out of the 
 house, ere his friend Don Felix came to supply his 
 place, and entertain me with a repetition of all that I 
 had just heard. By his own account, never was man 
 more enamoured. He told me that he would only 
 live to consecrate every moment to my service. It 
 must be confessed that Don Felix possessed an elo- 
 quence more seducing than Don Josef, and that he 
 had a better face and figure ; nevertheless he made 
 no more impression on me than the other, so difficult 
 had it become to please me. 
 
 "Although I held out no hopes to either of these 
 cavaliers, I received them graciously as visitors, the 
 obligations they had conferred not leaving me at 
 liberty to do otherwise. These rivals, therefore, began 
 to contest my heart by the most diligent attentions, 
 without any apparent injury to the friendship by 
 which they were united ; but by degrees they became 
 cool to each other, and their jealousy at length gave 
 birth to a hatred which terminated in a duel, in which 
 Don Josef lost his life, and Don Felix was dangerously 
 wounded. The Corregidor, having learned the cause 
 of this combat, arrested both aunt and niece, and, 
 in the first impulse of his anger, shut them up, as 
 two wretched adventurers, in the as}'lum for female 
 penitents. 
 
 " However, two days after, reflecting that I had 
 been guilty of no other crime than that of pleasing 
 two cavaliers too much, his equity prevailed over his 
 resentment, and he set us at liberty, but with orders
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 97 
 
 to go im mediately out of Seville. We could have 
 consoled ourselves if, on getting out of prison, we 
 had found at home the effects which we had left 
 there ; but they had been pillaged and carried off by 
 our domestics, so that all thdt remained to us were 
 sixty pistoles and my diamond, with which we left 
 Seville, and were conducted b\' a muleteer to Cordova, 
 along the banks of the Guadalquivir. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF THE NEW CONQUESTS WHICH DONNA FRANCISCA MADE 
 
 AT CORDOVA SHE BECOMES UNFAITHFUL TO HER 
 
 FIRST LOVER, AND FOLLOWS A PRETENDED VALET OF 
 THE COMMANDANT^ S TO GRENADA. 
 
 " As we could make but a very moderate figure at 
 Cordova, being so low in our affairs, we took a 
 furnished lodging, and began to live with a great deal 
 of circumspection. We went out in the morning to 
 church, and passed the rest of the day at home, with- 
 out seeking to make any acquaintance. Damiana 
 imagined that so retired a hfe would be noticed, and 
 be the means of procuring us some useful visit. This 
 expectation was justified by the event. 
 
 "An old woman named Camilla, tolerably well 
 dressed, came to see us one day. 'Ladies,' said she, 
 'you will not object to a neighbour, who judges by 
 your appearance that you are persons of respecta- 
 bility, coming to evince her desire of forming a little 
 knot of friendship with you.' We answered politely, 
 that she did us both an honour and a pleasure. We 
 then entered into a conversation, which turned prin- 
 
 G
 
 98 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. ' 
 
 cipally on the manners of Cordova. * There is not a 
 town in the world,' said she, ' where gallantry is more 
 in fashion. The men here are gallant even in their 
 old age ; and withal, generous even to prodigality.' 
 She then related us several stories of girls who were 
 strangers having made a fortune there, to which we 
 paid an attention which enabled her to judge that we 
 found them extremely interesting. But if she per- 
 ceived that we had swallowed the bait, we, on the 
 other hand, perceived that she had all the manners of 
 one who is in the habit of conducting intrigues. 
 
 "We were not wrong in our opinion of her. She 
 was a maker of clandestine marriages, and one who 
 was particularly expert in uniting greybeards with 
 minors, and superannuated widows with young men : 
 that was her peculiar fort. The second time she 
 called on us, she offered her talents and services to 
 my aunt, telling her, in private, that she had some- 
 thing in view for me extremely advantageous. ' It 
 is,' said she, * the love of the Commander of Montereal, 
 of the house of Fonseca. He is not, indeed, young, 
 but, with the exception of that, you have seldom seen 
 a more agreeable nobleman ; never, at least, one who 
 knew better how to make himself beloved. Besides, 
 I assure you that he lives in a style of great magnifi- 
 cence, and has a considerable fortune; since, without 
 mentioning his other property, his Commandery 
 brings him in ten thousand crowns a year.' 
 
 "This offer of a heart by no means displeased my 
 aunt, who, desiring nothing better than to assist in 
 plucking a bird of so rich a feather, entered without 
 ceremony into the views of Madam Camilla, and this 
 hopeful pair took upon them the charge, one, of re-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 99 
 
 presenting to me the charms of the Commander and 
 the other, of disposing me to regard him with a favour- 
 able eye. 
 
 " The first time I saw this old nobleman was at 
 church, where I was with Damiana, who, considering 
 attentively all the cavaliers by whom we were sur- 
 rc'jnded, singled out one whom she judged to be the 
 Commander, She made me remark him ; and I 
 joined in opinion that it was he, by the care he took 
 to cast on me some tender looks, of which I suffered 
 not one to escape me, though I affected to avoid them 
 all. I examined, by stealth, this nobleman, who being 
 studiously dressed and ornamented, still appeared 
 }Oung, I thought, though he was more than sixty 
 years of age. 
 
 "'What do you think of the Commander.^' said 
 my aunt, when we returned home. ' For my own 
 part, I do not think him too old to deserve the regard 
 of a lady. Besides that his figr.re is still good, there 
 is an air of neatness in him which should supply the 
 place of youth. What say }-ou, my fair Francisca? 
 Does he not appear to you deserving of some com- 
 plaisance .-' ' — 'Yes, indeed,' said I, 'he appears to me 
 still an accomplished man ; but we do not know 
 whether the man we speak of be really the Com- 
 mander of Montereal.' — ' That we shall very shortly 
 be informed of,' replied my aunt. ' Our old neighbour 
 will come to see us to-day. She will inform us if wc 
 have been mistaken.' 
 
 "In effect, the very same day Madam Camilla 
 came to visit us. She told us that the Commander 
 in question had been in church, and had seen me ; 
 and we perceived by the description she gave of him,
 
 loo THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 that we were not wrong. 'This nobleman,' said she, 
 is already quite enraptured with Donna Francisca. 
 What a noble air she has! said he to me; how 
 majestic ! If the beauty of her face do but corre- 
 spond, she is a person wliom I should love all my 
 life. He then,' she added, 'urged me most strongly 
 to procure him the pleasure of an interview with her. 
 This I promised him, and I am to bring him here this 
 evening.' 
 
 "At these words, Damiana, imagining herself already 
 in possession of the revenues of the Commandery of 
 Montereal, could not refrain from giving vent to her 
 jo}', and to conceal nothing from }-ou, I did not fail to 
 partake in it ; for which I was the more pardonable, 
 as we were beginning to be assailed by poverty. 
 Though, to confess the truth, being constantly ex- 
 horted by rny false aunt to put my beauty to profit, it 
 was impossible that I could avoid becoming a coquette. 
 
 " I therefore prepared to receive the visit of the 
 Commander. I passed several hours at my toilet, 
 consulting my glass, and still more Damiana, who 
 affected, having herself formerly indulged in gallan- 
 tries, to have discovered what description of looks 
 would insure a conquest. But I can assure you that 
 I occupied myself with very unnecessary cares, for to 
 effect the conquest I meditated, or ratlier to preserve 
 it, I had only to show myself such as I was by nature : 
 my youth was sufficient to inflame a man of this old 
 nobleman's character. As soon as he saw me without 
 my veil he imagined that he beheld the heavens opened. 
 He testified an extreme surprise; he seemed as if he 
 had never seen anything so beautiful. 'Ah! Camilla,' 
 vried he with enthusiasm, addressing his conductress,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. loi 
 
 *you have not set too high a value on these charms. 
 What do I say ? You have undeivahied the charms 
 of the divine Francisca rather than exaggerated them. 
 She is, indeed, lovely. What happiness can equal that 
 of possessing her .'' ' 
 
 "As m\' ears were well accustomed to flattery, 1 
 listened coolly to the noble Commander, who, rightly 
 judging that something of a more interesting nature 
 would be necessary in order to arrive at his ends, 
 continued in these terms, apostrophising Damiana : 
 'Madam, I implore }-our protection. Let me entreat 
 you to emplo}- all the power you have over your niece 
 to engage her to permit my attentions. I will attach 
 myself wholly to her, and change the aspect of her 
 fortune, which does not appear to me at present to 
 be equal to her merit.' 
 
 "Here he paused in expectation of m\- repl}-, but 
 I left it to my aunt to answer for me. I did not 
 only remain silent, but affected to be bashful and 
 embarrassed, which had by no means a bad effect. 
 Damiana undertook to answer, and acquitted herself 
 like a woman of talent. If she thanked the Com- 
 mander for the favourable sentiments he expressed 
 for me, she gave him also to understand that I 
 merited them : she boasted to him of my education 
 and my talents, and related such a pretty romance 
 about the conduct which I had always pursued, that 
 this old nobleman was induced to consider me the 
 very best acquaintance that he could ever make. 
 
 "By way of commencing under fortunate auspices, 
 he made us quit our furnished apartment to occupy a 
 lodging which he caused to be hired and handsomely 
 furnished at an hotel. He also gave us servants, of
 
 102 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 whom he undertook to defray the expense. Besides 
 this, he overloaded us with presents, so that in a short 
 time we found our circumstances tolerably respectable. 
 You may well imai^ine that I did not repay with in- 
 gratitude a proceeding so gallant and so generous, 
 but \'ou would never guess what was the nature of 
 the recompense. 
 
 "At the first private interview I had with him, I was 
 given to understand what was to be my behaviour. 
 ' Charming Francisca,' said he, ' I am not ignorant 
 that it would be a folly for a man of my age to 
 expect to inspire you with love. I do justice to 
 myself; I only expect from }'ou esteem and friend- 
 ship. Notwithstanding, I must tell you, such is the 
 passion I have for you, that I should expire with 
 jealousy if I were to see a rival beloved. 
 
 " ' I discover to you the bottom of my heart,' added 
 he, 'and perhaps yours will revolt against the sacrifice 
 which I have to ask from you, and which will perhaps 
 appear to you absolute t}'rann\'.' — 'What, then, is this 
 sacrifice .'' ' said I ; ' it must be impossible if I refuse it 
 to you. What is the nature of it .-* Speak boldly.' — 
 'It is,' replied the Commander, ' to confine your con- 
 Ijuests to myself, and, in order to accommodate )'our- 
 self to my delicacy, to listen to no other lover than 
 myself. Do you feel yourself capable of so much 
 complaisance to a man who has nothing but his 
 tender sentiments to merit it from you ? ' 
 
 " I affected to laugh at this discourse, though at 
 bottom what this old gentleman required of me was 
 not exactly to my taste ; then affecting reserve — 
 * What then,' said I, ' Signior Commander, is this the 
 terrible effort which you expect from my gratitude as
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALA^MANCA, 103 
 
 the price of your kindness to me? Ah! be assured 
 that I could without pain sacrifice to you all the men 
 in the world, so indifferent are they all to me.' My 
 old lord appeared ready to die with pleasure at hear- 
 ing me pronounce these words. He kissed my hands 
 with rapture, and told me that I was born to form the 
 happiness of his life. 
 
 "Well! I promised him to listen to nobody but 
 himself, and I performed my promise faithfully. I 
 resolved to keep my word with him as far as it should 
 be possible, and as a proof of what I say, from the 
 moment of our conversation I was particularly careful 
 to do nothing at which he could take umbrag^e. When 
 at church, instead of throwing my eyes, as formerly, 
 on all the cavaliers who surrounded me, I took par- 
 ticular care to cover up my face in such a way as 
 coinj)letel\' to defeat their curiosity. If the master 
 of the house brought home, as was his custom, some 
 of his friends to supper, far from endeavouring to 
 attract them by coquettish glances, I turned my eyes 
 from them with an assiduity for which the Com- 
 mander knew not how sufficiently to thank me. I 
 was sure to receive from him some rich present the 
 very next day. 
 
 " I thus formed, with little inconvenience to m)'self, 
 the felicity of my ancient lover, who, on his side, 
 omitted nothing to perfect my own, when at length 
 love interfered, to destroy the quiet of our innocent 
 union. The Commander was induced to take into 
 his service a tall young lad named Pompeio, who 
 shortly became his favourite lackey. This j'oung 
 man possessed a good figure, and had the appearance 
 of being the descendant of some respectable family.
 
 104 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 His mind corresponded with his prepossessing appear- 
 ance, and he conversed with an elegance which showed 
 that he had been well brought up. He came every 
 morning to bring me a billet from his master; and I 
 most commonly amused m}'self in conversing with 
 him. I did not at first perceive that he took pleasure 
 in my conversation, though it was my business to 
 have remarked it; for Master Pompeio, when talking 
 to me, regarded me with an air so tender, that if I 
 were not on my guard against him it was no fault of 
 his. At last, however, I opened my eyes and beheld 
 my work." 
 
 Here I interrupted Francisca. " Just heaven, 
 sister!" exclaimed I, " what are }'ou going to tell me.-* 
 Is it possible that this lackey had attracted your 
 regard ? " — " I did indeed become distractedly ena- 
 moured of him," replied she. " However, suspend the 
 reproaches whicli this avowal appears to give }'ou the 
 right of making. Attend me to the end. 
 
 "As soon as my feelings became known to myself, 
 I was overwhelmed with confusion. I was ashamed 
 of being vanquished by a servant, although I had 
 heard that such things had sometimes happened to 
 women of more dignified descent than my own. I 
 called my pride to my aid, and, willing to stifle an 
 unworthy love in its birth, would no more indulge in 
 conversation with him. I coldly received from him 
 the notes of which he was the bearer; I spoke not a 
 single word to him ; I denied myself even the pleasure 
 of looking in his face. 
 
 "The poor boy was visibly mortified at this change, 
 of which he did not penetrate the cause. He thought 
 that I had read his temerity in his looks; that I was
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 105 
 
 incensed at it, and that it was in order to punish him 
 I dechned speaking to him. This caused him so 
 much grief, that he excited my pity. I began to 
 renew my conversations with him. I went further ; I 
 engaged him to open to me the secrets of his heart, 
 or at least I imagined it for him. ' Pompeio,' said I 
 one day, 'do you love me .''' This question, for which 
 he was unprepared, quite disconcerted him. To give 
 him time to recover himself, I continued : ' If you 
 love me, you will repose in me a confidence which I 
 promise you not to abuse. I suspect that )-ou are 
 nothing less than the character you represent: your 
 manners betray you. Acknowledge it : you are some 
 young man of family, who have a design in hand which 
 cannot be accomplished without resorting to your 
 present disguise.' 
 
 " Pompeio was so troubled at this, that he remained 
 some moments unable to speak. 'Your embarrass- 
 ment and }'Our silence,' continued I, ' inform me that 
 I have discovered you. Confide the whole to me, 
 and I will keep the secret.' — ' Madam,' replied Pom- 
 peio, after having a little recovered from his disorder, 
 *if you be absolutely determined that I should satisfy 
 your curiosity, I will obey you; but I warn you that 
 I shall no sooner have done so than you will be dis- 
 pleased with me.' — ' Never mind,' replied I eagerly, 
 'speak: you do but render me more curious.' 
 
 " The Commander's lackey then, placing one knee 
 upon the floor before me, like a theatrical hero before 
 his princess, said, with the air of a declaimer: 'Well, 
 madam ! well ! I am about to reveal myself, since 
 such are jour commands. I am not, it is true, a 
 wretch reduced by fortune to a state of servitude; I
 
 io6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 am a man of quality in disguise. I am called Don 
 Ponipeio de la Cueva. I had discovered that the 
 Commander loved you, and not being- able to imagine 
 that he was loved by you in return, I resolved to 
 endeavour to win your affections, rather encouraged 
 by his age than by my vanity. I had the address to 
 get received into his service, and by this stratagem 
 have obtained admittance into your house. 
 
 "'Yes, it is love, adorable Francisca,' pursued he, 
 in a tone of voice full of sweetness; 'it is love which 
 has inspired me with this stratagem to make you 
 acquainted with my flames. If you contemplate them 
 without anger, nothing can be comparable to my happi- 
 ness ; but if, too faithful to my rival, you will listen but 
 to him, however great the ardour witii which I burn 
 for you, I will remove myself from Cordova for ever.' 
 
 "If my heart had not been already prepossessed in 
 favour of this }-oung cavalier, I should have been on 
 my guard against his discourse, and the air of per- 
 suasion with which it was accompanied ; I should 
 have remembered that Don Gregorio de Clevillente 
 had addressed me in exactly the same strain; instead 
 of which, enchanted with Don Pompeio de la Cueva, I 
 doubted not for a moment his sincerity. I went still 
 further, and added to the weakness of believing him, 
 that of acknowledging that I was sensible to his love. 
 
 "The joy which he manifested on learning his 
 victory was excessive, and mine was no less at seeing 
 him so well pleased. It was thus I fulfilled the oath 
 I had made the Commander, not to give him a rival. 
 But how is it possible to keep oaths of this kind made 
 to an old gentleman .-' It is as much as we can do 
 for the youngest and most accomplished gallants.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 107 
 
 I will say, however, in my defence, that I did not 
 become faithless without remorse. I pitied him, and 
 (what a jilt in my place would not have done) I re- 
 solved to leave him, making a scruple of conscience 
 of receiving his presents and having a lover at the 
 same time. As for m}- aunt, she was less scrupulous; 
 and, considering the custom of a Commander more 
 profitable than that of a lackey, she advised me to 
 give the preference to the former; or, at least, to 
 retain them both, one for the useful, and the other 
 for the agreeable ; a thing which would not have 
 been without example. But I chose rather to follow 
 the counsels of love than hers, and to go off with Don 
 Pompeio, who pressed me to yield to his desire of carry- 
 ing me to Grenada, where he said a life full of pleasure 
 awaited us. I therefore left my old adorer, as well as 
 my false aunt, to whom I abandoned all my effects to 
 console her for our separation, and keep her up until 
 she could get another niece ; and taking nothing with 
 me, as I may say, but my youth and charms, I left 
 Cordova one morning privately with my new lover, 
 and we both arrived the next day at Grenada. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 IF//O DON POMPEIO REALLY WAS OF THE SINCERE 
 
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AND THE PROPOSAL WHICH HE 
 MADE TO DONNA FRANCISCA, AS SOON AS THEY WERE 
 MARRIED — SHE IS EASILY CONSOLED FOR THE DUPLI- 
 CITY WHICH HER HUSBAND HAS PRACTISED — SHE 
 CONSENTS TO HIS PROPOSAL. 
 
 " It was not necessary to preso Don Pompeio to 
 espouse me. He was so impatient for our marriage,
 
 toS THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 that from the moment we arrived at Grenada he 
 occupied liimself with nothing- but the measures re- 
 quisite to facilitate it. In short, we were married; 
 and the morning after our nuptials, we had the follow- 
 ing pleasant conversation together. 
 
 "'My dear Francisca,' said he, embracing me 
 tenderly, 'here we are, bound together in the soft 
 bonds of H\'men. Now is the time, my dear, that we 
 ought to speak to each other with sincerity : lovers 
 only are allowed to behave with duplicity ; people 
 who are married should speak the truth. I am going 
 to change my style, and shall now conceal nothing 
 from \ou. When I told you in Cordova that I was 
 only acting the part of a valet, and that love had 
 inspired me with this stratagem to introduce myself 
 to you, I told you the truth ; but when I took the 
 name of Don Pompeio de la Cueva, I will confess 
 that I imposed upon you, and that I only borrowed 
 this fine name to render my temerity the more ex- 
 cusable. However,' added he, 'though not of noble 
 birth, I do not derive my existence from among the 
 dregs of the people. I am called Bartolo de Mortero, 
 and I owe my birth to a venerable apothecary in the 
 celebrated city of Saragossa. It is therefore, my 
 princess, but a slight fraud that I have practised 
 upon you, and which the daughter of a village judge 
 ought to pardon.' 
 
 " ' I pardon you willingly,' replied I ; ' accident does 
 not always couple people so well. But tell me whether 
 you practise pharmacy.' — ' I did dabble in it a little 
 at first,' replied he ; ' I made some decoctions, and 
 that disgusted me with the business. I discovered 
 that I was born for something: more elevated. I
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 109 
 
 became a prince: sometimes I am a Moorish hero, 
 and sometimes a Christian potentate. You are to 
 understand by this that I am an actor. I play prin- 
 cipal parts : that is my employment.' — ' I am much in 
 doubt.' replied I, ' whether the revenues of your prin- 
 cipalities be very considerable.' — ' It is true,' said he, 
 'the\- are a little slender, except now and then, that 
 our new pieces, whether bad or good, dazzle the eyes 
 of the public, and bring them in crowds for about a 
 couple of months, which good fortune, I admit, is but 
 casual. As for our princesses,' continued he, 'they 
 are infinitely better off than we. Whether the theatre 
 be productive or no, they always live in ease and 
 abundance. One cannot, w ithout witnessing it, believe 
 their happiness. They are adored by the nobility in 
 all the towns through which they pass. For instance, 
 the actresses of the company which is now in the 
 capital of Grenada, are all perfectly well established, 
 from the most handsome to the ugliest among them. 
 It seems as if the theatre girls possessed a talisman 
 to enchant men who are distinguished by the highest 
 birth or the greatest portion of wealth.' 
 
 "When my husband had. thus vaunted to me the 
 happiness of the actresses of Grenada, he proposed to 
 me to augment their number. 'Attend to my advice, 
 my fair Francisca,' said he; 'embrace the profession. 
 Young and handsome as you are, you will find in it 
 nothing but what is agreeable.' — 'You are laughing 
 at me,' said I ; ' one must have talent to go on the 
 stage, and I have none at all.' — 'You have enough, 
 and to spare,' replied he. ' I remember to have heard 
 you sing some ballads before the Commander. I was 
 no less enchanted than he at the softness and powef
 
 tio THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA.' 
 
 of your voice. Not a syren of the Canaries has a 
 finer pipe than yourself.' 
 
 "'Is it possible,' said I, laughing, 'that my singing 
 has made such an impression on you ? What, then, 
 would 30U say if you were to bee me dance.'* I am 
 persuaded that you would feel still more satisfied 
 with my steps than with my voice.' — 'Impossible,' 
 e.vclaimed he, with surprise. 'Ah, my queen, pray 
 have the complaisance to execute a few steps before 
 me. Let me see in what way you will acquit your- 
 self.' To satisfy him, I danced a saraband, and he 
 was actually enraptured at my txecution. ' My dear,' 
 cried he, in the excess of his rapture, ' what a treasure 
 is it to me to have a wife who unites two talents, 
 which may be called, nowadays, two mines of g6ld 
 and precious stones ! Let us hasten to put them to 
 profit. To-morrow I will assemble the actors, and 
 introduce you to their company as a person capable 
 of enriching it. 
 
 "'For my own part,' continued he, 'I have but to 
 show myself to these gentlemen to be received among 
 them. They have heard of the fame of Bartolo de 
 Mortero, and will be delighted to have me. When I 
 was passing through Cordova, where your beauty 
 detained me, I had just cume from Seville, where I 
 had been shining three years; and I should still have 
 shone there, had I not been obliged to disappear on 
 a sudden, in consequence of some information I got 
 of my creditors growing impatient.' 
 
 " In fine, my husband taught me to see so many 
 advantages, so many pleasures in a theatrical life, he 
 urged me so strongly to make a trial of it, that at last 
 he succeeded in persuading me to it,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. iw 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 DONNA FRANC ISC A JOINS THE COM F ANY OF PLAYERS AT 
 
 GRENADA HOW SHE WAS RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC, 
 
 AND OF THE GREA T NUMBER OF NOBLEMEN WHO WERE 
 
 CAPTIVATED BY HER TALENTS AND HER CHARMS 
 
 HER HUSBAND PROCURES HER THE COUNT OF CAN- 
 TILLANA FOR A LOVER SHE RECEIVES HIM IN OBE- 
 DIENCE TO HER HUSBAND. 
 
 "Although my husband had inspired me with some 
 confidence, by the excessive praises which he had 
 bestowed on me, it was not without trembling that I 
 presented myself the following day at the theatre, 
 where all the company, curious to see me, had not 
 failed to assemble. The women, among whom were 
 some tolerably pretty, considered me with critical 
 attention, finding in me more defects than I really 
 had ; and to the men I appeared more lovely than I 
 really was. 
 
 "We passed a great many compliments on both 
 sides, and embraces were bestowed with as much 
 prodigality as if we had all been the best friends in 
 the world. It was then debated what employment I 
 should undertake. ' Gentlemen,' said my husband, 
 'my wife dances and sings to perfection. I believe 
 that with these two talents she will not be the most 
 useless of our party. As for declamation, that is 
 what she has yet to learn ; but, besides the talent I 
 know her to possess for sustaining an amorous part, 
 she will have Bartolo de Mortero for her instructor, 
 who promises you that in the course of six months 
 she shall become an excellent actress.' 
 
 " It was agreed on all hands, that if I were what
 
 112 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Bartolo had represented, I should be of great use 
 to them, as they had a great many very agreeable 
 pieces, which they were unable to represent for want 
 of an actress who could sing and dance. I was then 
 requested to sing; and when I had finished, they 
 applauded me, as if in emulation of each other. 
 
 "'That is nothing, gentlemen,' cried my husband, 
 delighted at hearing my voice so higlily praised ; 
 'you are now going to see that my wife is as capable 
 of charming the eyes as the ears.' In effect, as soon 
 as I had danced, the whole company honoured me 
 with unanimous applause by clapping their hands; 
 and many were the compliments paid to my exe- 
 cution. 'This,' said one, 'is what may be called 
 dancing.' — 'What nobleness! How natural! Ah, 
 ro<^ue!' said another in an undertone, tapping my 
 husband on the shoulder : ' where hast thou been to 
 angle for such a woman as this ? What showers of 
 pistoles are about to fall within thy grasp.' In a 
 word, every one agreed that I was a great acquisition 
 to the company, and I was received by unanimous 
 consent, as was likewise Bartolo, who beyond contra- 
 diction was an excellent actor. 
 
 " Both of us now thought of nothing but preparing 
 for our appearance on the stage ; a business which 
 happened to be rather embarrassing to us, as we were 
 without equipment, without clothes, and without linen: 
 we were even so badly off for money that we had 
 scarcely enough to pay for the furnished room in 
 which we lodged. We should, therefore, have had a 
 considerable deal of difficulty in putting ourselves in 
 a state to make our debut had I not retained Don 
 Gregorio's diamond ; but fortunately this was still in
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 113 
 
 my possession. This, therefore, we sold, and were 
 thus enabled to give money on account to the work- 
 men, who immediately made us theatrical dresses of 
 peculiar grandeur and richness. 
 
 "The da}' for our first appearance being arrived, 
 the actors, who lose no occasion of augmenting their 
 profits, availed themselves of this. They announced 
 us to the public with high encomiums in a bill, which 
 stated that two incomparable actors, lately arrived at 
 Grenada, would that evening appear in the Phoenix 
 of Germany, a revived piece written by Don Juan de 
 Matos Fragoso. The public, who everywhere are 
 fond of novelties, came in crowds to the house, and 
 were highly pleased with my husband, who sustained 
 the part of Ricardo. I appeared in the character of 
 a musician in the first act, and my voice was no sooner 
 heard than the whole house rang with the applause 
 of the assembly. I was still better received in the 
 third act, which I finished with a dance. What clap- 
 ping of hands ! What enthusiasm ! I cannot describe 
 to you to what a degree I pleased the spectators, 
 who remained a full hour after the performance dis- 
 cussing my merits. Some said that I sang better than 
 I danced ; others placed my steps above my voice ; 
 and what astonished them all was to see me unite 
 two talents which are so seldom found together. 
 There were also some who were struck with my 
 youth and person, and among these some who formed 
 the design of cultivating an intimate acquaintance 
 with me. 
 
 "At the second representation we gave of the same 
 play there was again a very crowded audience ; and 
 as I had now more confidence, I sang and danced 
 
 H
 
 114 7'/7ii BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 better than before. Nothing was spoken of in the 
 town but the new actress. Have you seen this 
 prodigy .-' was the question from one to another. 
 The noblemen of Grenada began to solicit my good 
 graces by presents. I was every morning receiving, 
 \\hile at my toilet, jewels or other rich gifts, which 
 were sent to me without any intimation whence they 
 came. Sometimes it was a gold watch, sometimes a 
 collar of pearls with earrings ; then again a piece of 
 rich stuff, or perhaps a basket filled with gloves, laces, 
 silk stockings, and ribbons. 
 
 "The gentlemen who showed me these little gal- 
 lantries soon declared themselves ; and the question 
 was now who should obtain the preference in my 
 favour. One would watch me in the entrances to say 
 something flattering to me as I passed ; another wrote 
 me billets-doux every day, and es.sa\'ed to engage my 
 heart in a commerce of love, foolishly imagining by 
 that means to arrive at his ends; another, taking a 
 better course, sent an old actress, one of' my friends, 
 to invite me to supper, at which he did not fail to be 
 present. But none of these gallants obtained an equi- 
 valent for their expenses. Besides that I grew more 
 vain in proportion as I saw myself more applauded 
 by the public, my husband, from whom I concealed 
 nothing, continually exhorted me to listen to none but 
 a nobleman, or at least some very rich man. 
 
 "It seemed as if he had a foresight of the good 
 fortune which attended me. About this time the 
 Count de Cantillana came to Grenada. As soon as 
 he arrived, he was desirous of going to the theatre in 
 consequence of the high character he had heard of 
 the company. I was in the piece that night, I sang
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA 115 
 
 in it, but did not dance. However, I needed no more 
 than my voice to make a conquest of this nobleman : 
 so Bartolo informed me two days after. 'You have,' 
 said he, 'placed in your chains the Count de Cantillana. 
 You cannot have a lover of more utility to you ; he 
 joins to a fortune of ten thousand crowns a year, a 
 most noblo manner of spending it. He is so generous 
 that he begins, I have been informed, with enriching 
 a mistress before he speaks to her. For the rest, he 
 is a nobleman of about forty years of age at most, 
 and very agreeable in his person.' 
 
 "'How do you know,' said I, 'that the Count de 
 Cantillana has fallen in love with me .-• You think so, 
 perhaps, because you wish it.' — ' No, no,' said he, ' I 
 have it from his own mouth ; and I can inform you 
 that they are now furnishing, by his orders, a hand- 
 some house which he has hired for you, about two 
 hundred yards from our hotel.' I only laughed at 
 this piece of intelligence, not imagining that he could 
 have been serious in relating it. However, he did 
 not jest. 
 
 '"I will tell you besides,' continued he; 'we are to 
 have a cook, an under-cook, and a scullion, who will 
 all be hired by this nobleman ; and who, without our 
 having to embarrass ourselves with cares of any kind, 
 will defray our expenses, and keep us a table of six 
 covers. Iton. He does not design to be tiresome to 
 you : he will not place an}' old duenna to watch you 
 and observe }-our actions. He knows too well how 
 to love, to show a want of confidence, which cannot 
 fail to be odious although a woman may not wish to 
 be unfaithful ; he will depend on your fidelity, and on 
 his own attentions to you.
 
 li6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 " ' Item. Besides the presents you will receive from 
 him every day, you will have a good carriage, the 
 horses for which will stand in the Count's stables, 
 and in which you will go superbly to the theatre, to 
 the great uneasiness of heart of those of your com- 
 panions who are obliged to go there on foot or in a 
 hackney-coach.' 
 
 "*To hear you talk,' said I, 'one would suppose 
 that you would not be displeased that I should have 
 on my' hands this nobleman of whom you speak.' — 
 'There would be reason for thinking it,' replied he; 
 ' and in reality I would rather that you should have 
 a rich and noble lover like this, than see \ou foolishly 
 engaged with an actor or an author. I repeat, I 
 should be delighted with it. If I thought otherwise 
 I should be hissed by all the husbands of our com- 
 pany.' 
 
 " I then assumed a serious tone, as if my virtue had 
 become fortified by my theatrical life, and reproached 
 my husband for wishing, himself, to engage me in 
 a commerce of this kind. But he laughed at njy 
 scruples, and told me, by way of silencing them, that 
 an actress who had but one lover at a time, was as 
 well conducted as another woman who had none at 
 all. *0n that footing, then,' said I, laughing, ' I choose 
 for mine the Count de Cantillana, whom you so wil- 
 lingly propose to me, and ratify by my consent the 
 treaty of alliance which you have made with him.* 
 
 "Although I did not appear to pronounce these 
 words seriously, my husband did not fail to take them 
 most literally. He assured the Count that I was in 
 the disposition he desired ; which so pleased that 
 nobleman, that lie sent me about ten thousand crowns'
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 117 
 
 worth of jewellery; at the same time requesting per- 
 mission to come and see me in my furnished apart- 
 ment, until I could go to reside in my new house. 
 One morning while I was at my toilet he arrived, 
 conducted by Bartolo, who, the better to enable us to 
 converse with freedom, immediately withdrew, like a 
 husband who understands good breeding. 
 
 " ' Madam,' said the Count de Cantillana, ' I shall 
 make no excuse for coming thus indiscreetly to pay 
 my homage to you at your toilet. I know very well 
 that it would be choosing my time badly, with the 
 greater part of your companions ; but for you, lovely 
 Francisca, there is no moment in which you are more 
 redoubtable than the present.' After this compliment, 
 so flattering in its nature, he launched out into other 
 conversation, which was no less so. I found in him 
 all the politeness of the Commander of Montereal, 
 with something more; I mean a person so handsome 
 that I should have given myself credit for obtaining 
 the love of such a noijleman, even though he had 
 not been master of all the riches which he really 
 possessed. 
 
 "After a very long and tolerably lively conver- 
 sation, he retired highly pleased, as far as I could 
 ju/lge, with ills visit. I was presently confirmed in 
 mi/ opinion by Bartolo, who, having joined me as 
 soon as he had gone out, assured me that he went 
 away quite enchanted with my wit and behaviour. 
 ' He has just told me so,' said he, 'and I would wager 
 that you, on your part, have no complaint to make 
 of him.' — 'I am very well satisfied with him,' replied 
 I ; 'he is one of those noblemen with whom a woman 
 makes her fortune very agreeably.' — ' It is true,' re-
 
 ii8 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 plied my husband, ' there are some of them so flat 
 and disai^reeable, that their mistresses may truly say 
 they earn their money.* 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 OF THE FRESH PRESENTS WHICH THE COUNT DE CAN- 
 TILL AN A MADE TO DONNA FRANC/SCA — THE ATTEN" 
 TIONS HE PAID HER — ONE OF HER OTHER LOVERS 
 SENDS HER AS A PRESENT A BOX OF DIAMONDS OF 
 
 GREAT VALUE SHE REFUSES IT — HER FAVOURED 
 
 LOVER, IN GRATITUDE FOR THIS REFUSAL, BESTOWS 
 
 ON HER A MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY SEAT IN WHAT 
 
 MANNER THIS SO TENDER ENGAGEMENT WAS TER- 
 MINA TED. 
 
 "We removed into our new house as soon as it was 
 in a state to receive us. Had it been furnished for a 
 princess, I do not think that it could have been done 
 more magnificent!}'. Richness and good taste were 
 visible in every part oi it. There were two separate 
 apartments, one for m}' husband, and the other for 
 myself, the Count having so ordered it out of deli- 
 cacy. Mine glittered with gold and silver, which 
 shone in all parts of it ; and that of Bartolo, though 
 more modest, would have done honour to a knight 
 of St. James. 
 
 " We visited every part of the house from top to 
 bottom, and it was not without pleasure that we 
 found, in a kitchen supplied v/ith every necessary 
 utensil, three persons employed in preparing our 
 supper; that is to say, a cook, an under-cook, and a 
 scullion. I imagined, from the great number of dishes 
 which I saw preparing, that we should be a dozen
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 119 
 
 persons at table; or, at least, I thought that the 
 Count, who, in order to instal us in our new habi- 
 tation, was to come and sup with us, would bring 
 some of his friends. Nevertheless he came alone, and 
 I had a second conversation with him, in which I 
 confirmed his chains by exercising on him the charms 
 of my voice ; I mean by singing airs from some of 
 the most tender of our theatrical pieces, applying 
 them to him, and looking at him with so languishing 
 an air as penetrated his very soul. 
 
 "If he were pleased at our private interview, he 
 was not less so during supper. I practised a thousand 
 little tricks to raise his ardour, and succeeded so well 
 that he sent me in, next day, plate to the value of a 
 thousand pistoles. Three days after, I had brought 
 me, by his order, two superb dresses for the stage. 
 What do I say .'' it did not rest here ; there was every 
 day some new present. 
 
 "All these gifts, joined to the emoluments which 
 my husband and I derived from the theatre, which, 
 thanks to us, was now much frequented, made us so 
 well in our circumstances, that we began to make a 
 more brilliant figure. We took into our service two 
 lackeys and a lady's-maid ; and I never went to the 
 theatre but in a handsome carriage of which I was 
 the mistress, and which, notwithstanding, I had no*- 
 the trouble of keeping. 
 
 " As soon as this change was remarked, it roused 
 the railleries of our company, and made many of 
 them envious ; but they soon left off talking, and 
 became accustomed to it. For me, who saw in it 
 nothing but what was quite agreeable, I imitated 
 those of my companions who were in the same circum-
 
 120 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 stances. Far from having any confusion on the 
 subject, I braved the prattle and malignant looks 
 of the public; and in truth, if there were anything 
 ridiculous in our equipages, it was not on us that the 
 ridicule should fall. 
 
 " I no longer saw, but at the theatre, the other 
 actresses, with the exception of Manuela, who rolled 
 about in a carriage on the same terms as myself. She 
 had for a lover Don Garcia de Padul, a gentleman of 
 Grenada, who enjoyed a very considerable fortune^ 
 which he spent nobly in her company. This girl 
 sought my friendship, and obtained it, in return for 
 her own. We became so much attached, that no 
 sooner were we separated than we were all impatience 
 to see each other again. I do not know whether we 
 were not better pleased to be together than with our 
 lovers. So very intimate a friendship between us 
 became the means of Don Garcia and the Count 
 getting acquainted ; and when that took place, we 
 formed all four a society, in which were seen predomi- 
 nating gaiety, pleasure, and good cheer. We supped 
 every night at my house or at that of m\' friend. We 
 respired nothing but joy, and we all lived so familiarly, 
 that it would be hard to decide whether the noblemen 
 had stooped to us, or we had raised ourselves to them. 
 
 "While we were leading a life so agreeable, I was 
 making wretches elsewhere : I mean some young men 
 who came every day to the theatre to see me, and 
 who burned with a flame which tiiey concealed, or 
 which, if they gave any signs of it, procured them no 
 return. Among these was one distinguished by his 
 birth, and still more by his personal merit. This 
 was Don Gutierrez de Albunuelas, eldest son of the
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. i2r 
 
 Governor of Grenada, and the most handsome cavalier 
 of his time. He had just returned from finishing his 
 .studies at Salamanca. He had no longer either tutor 
 or governor, and was now beginning to feel the 
 pleasure of being master of his own actions. 
 
 "This )'oung nobleman never failed to be at any 
 play in which I was to perform. He contented him- 
 self for a long time with ogling me and applauding 
 me on the stage, whether from timidity, or that he 
 despaired of supplanting so formidable a rival as the 
 Count de Cantiliana. He at last grew tired of keeping 
 silence; and not being able to make up his mind to 
 speak to me, came to the resolution of making me a 
 detail of his sufferings in a letter, which he had the 
 address to get secretly conveyed to me, and to which, 
 }'ou ma\' be well assured, I returned no answer. I 
 even affected, in order to deprive him entirely of hope, 
 to turn nu- eyes another way as often as by accident 
 they encountered his own. 
 
 "All this rigour could not repel him, and imagining 
 that presents would have a greater effect on me than 
 either his love or his beauty, he sent me a jewel-box 
 in which there were precious stones to the value of 
 fo;ir thousand pistoles, that he had contrived to steal 
 from his mother. I consulted Bartolo on the conduct 
 whicii I ought to pursue in a conjuncture so delicate. 
 'You have onlj' one way of acting,' replied he, after 
 musing a few moments; 'you must, without loss of 
 time, send back these jewels to Don Gutierrez : we 
 shot.ld both be inevitably ruined if we were so im- 
 prudent as to keep them. The Governor's lady (for 
 I dou' t not for a moment that it is from her he has 
 sti ■ jni) cannot be long ere she discover the
 
 122 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 theft. She will then seek for the perpetrator of it, 
 and by diligent inquiries will discover him. The 
 Governor will interest himself in the business ; he will 
 be desirous of getting at the bottom of it, and that 
 will incense him against you. I believe,' added he, 
 'I need say no more upon the subject. You know 
 that actresses, however great may be their talents, 
 venture a high stake when they make enemies of 
 persons in power. After the treatment you received 
 from the Corregidor of Seville, you ought to fear these 
 gentlemen a little.' 
 
 "'Your advice is too judicious for me to neglect,* 
 replied I. ' I have represented to myself all the in- 
 conveniences which you have just laid before me, and 
 I have no hesitation about returning the diamonds; 
 I am even persuaded that that will have the happiest 
 effect in the world on the mind of the Count de Can- 
 tillana.' — ' Never doubt it,' replied my spouse ; ' he 
 will feel himself indebted to you for the sacrifice you 
 will make of Gutierrez, and you will perhaps gain by 
 it more than you will lose.' As I could not then, 
 without danger, retain the jewels, I had them returned 
 to the Governor's son, informing him politely that I 
 sent them back to him, not finding myself capable of 
 the gratitude with which his present should be repaid. 
 
 " We had not been in the wrong in thinking that 
 the Count would be sensible to the sacrifice I had 
 made him of so dangerous a rival. When he 
 became acquainted with it, he w^as transported with 
 joy. ' You prefer me,' said he, ' to the most amiable 
 cavalier in Grenada. Ah ! charming Francisca, why 
 can you not read the bottom of my heart at this 
 mojiient ! you would find how deeply it is penetrated
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 123 
 
 by this glorious preference' — 'Count,' replied I, re- 
 garding him tenderly, ' I do not pretend to make a 
 merit of it with }-©u : can a heart that is enamoured 
 of you &Yer cease to be faithful ? No, Count,' I added, 
 with a passionate air, 'be assured that neither Don 
 Gutierrez, nor all the men in the world, can ever win 
 me from you.* 
 
 " The Count, on hearing all this flatter}', threw 
 himself on his knees in transport, and broke out into 
 an effusion of love and gratitude. After this he took 
 another strain far more to my taste than the common- 
 place expressions of gallantry. 'To make you amends,' 
 said he, 'for the jewels which you refused out of love 
 for me, I make you a present of a castle which I have 
 on the banks of the Guadalquivir, between Jaen and 
 Ubeda. This castle is not very high rented, but it is 
 a most agreeable residence.' I thanked my generous 
 lover for this new present which he had made me, 
 and on the same day the deed of donation was made 
 out and delivered over to me in due form. 
 
 " No»thing could equal the joy of Bartolo when I 
 announced to him the new acquisition which my 
 charms had just made. 'I knew well,' cried he, 'that 
 you would not give up Don Gutierrez for nothing. 
 \Miat, the deuce ! a castle ! it must be admitted that 
 the Count has a noble way of doing things.' In fact, 
 my husband could not contain his joy ; and yielding 
 to his impatience to see *the estate which had cost so 
 little, he hastened thither and tool: possession of it. 
 On his return, a few days after, 'The Count,' said he, 
 * has made you a handsomer present than you are 
 aware of. Learn what description of building is this 
 castle ; it is a house wliich appears to have been built
 
 1^4 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 by the fairies.' He then proceeded to give me so 
 magnificent a description that I could not help inter- 
 rupting liim five or six times to reproach him for 
 exaggerating its beauties. ' Quite the contrary,' he 
 always repHed ; 'instead of embellishing it by my 
 description, I rather weaken its advantages, since it is 
 completely a chcf-d' oeuvre of art and nature. Besides 
 that it has wherewith to please the eye, it is farmed 
 for three thousand crowns to the richest peasant in 
 the country : this is a certain fact ; I have seen the 
 lease. Add to that, that you and I are lord and lady 
 of the village of Caralla, and that we may take the 
 wall of all the hidalgos in the parish ; no trifling pre- 
 rogative. It is true that they will laugh a little at first 
 at our expense on account of our profession, but we 
 shall be quit for that, and enjoy at a cheap rate our 
 revenue and seigniorial rights. Now let the aff"airs of 
 the stage be at the disposal of fortune: let our new 
 pieces have what success God pleases ; we have an 
 asylum inaccessible to famine.' 
 
 It was thus my spouse felicitated himself at seeing 
 us secure of a retreat which is seldom the fruit of 
 long and laborious exertions among those of our 
 profession. I was as well satisfied as he, and very 
 soon the public began to feel the effects of it. I 
 began to put myself on a footing of not going so 
 often on the stage, and came insensibly to omit it 
 altogether; and this in pattet'n of some great actors, 
 who, under pretence of consulting their health, neglect 
 their duty. It appeared to me that a lady who pos- 
 sessed a manor of three thousand crowns a }'ear might 
 give herself the same airs. Bartolo, after my example, 
 would play but ve^y seldom. This displeased the
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 125 
 
 rest, who leagued themselves against us ; and discord 
 spread throughout the company. 
 
 " I am now arrived at the epoch of an event rather 
 unfortunate for me. The Count de Cantillana re- 
 ceived despatches from the Court : the Duke of Lerma, 
 with whom he was a favourite, ordered him to repair 
 immediately to Madrid, this minister having cast his 
 eyes upon him to replace a counsellor of state who had 
 just died. Although the Count was the more pleased 
 with this new.s, as his love was beginning to decline, 
 he failed not to represent to me that he was quite in 
 despair, and that he was ahnost inclined to refuse the 
 place which was offered to him; but, at the same 
 time, he represented to me that if he were to decline 
 it, he should offend all his family, and perhaps lose 
 for ever the friendship of the Duke of Lerma. Lastly, 
 by way of gilding the pill, he assured me that he 
 should always remember his dear Francisca. I affected 
 to be the dupe of these protestations ; and as croco- 
 dile's tears cost nothing to a good actress^ I shed an 
 abundance of them at our last adieux. 
 
 CHAPTER Vin. 
 
 WHAT FRANCISCA DID AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE 
 
 COUNT DE CANTILLANA HER HUSBAND AND SHE GO 
 
 TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THEIR CASTLE — SINGULAR 
 ADVENTURE WHICH HAPPENS TO M-ER, AND WHAT 
 LOVER PAID HIS COURT TO HRR. 
 
 "Thus separated the Count and L Manuela. on 
 her part, almost at the same time was abandoned by
 
 126 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Don Garcia ; one nobleman not being more constant 
 than the other. Padul, under pretence of going to 
 see a sick uncle at Badajos, removed himself from 
 her and from Grenada. Happily we were both of us 
 well fledged, and of an age to console ourselves for 
 the loss of our flighty lovers. 
 
 " Scarcely had they quitted us ere others presented 
 themselves to fill their places ; but, besides that we 
 should have been embarrassed in making a choice, 
 the divisions which reignr J in our company aug- 
 mented to such a degree, that we became disgusted 
 with the theatrical life, and resolved to renounce it, 
 'M\' dear Manuela,' said I one day, 'I am tired of 
 exhibiting myself on the stage, and of diverting the 
 public. I will retire to my seat at Caralla, and act 
 the lady of the [parish. May I flatter myself that you 
 love me sufficiently to accompany me .?' 
 
 "'Such a doubt offends me,' replied Manuela: 'you 
 know that nothing in the world is so dear to me as 
 your friendship; I should be unworthy of that if I 
 could refuse to go and partake with }'0u the comforts 
 of your retreat. Let us go, my dear Francisca, let 
 us go ; I am ready for }'our sake to sacrifice all the 
 gallants of Grenada.' We both, therefore, left the 
 company, as did also Bartolo, who, preferring the 
 character of lord of the village to that of a theatre 
 prince, willingly conducted us to Caralla, where we 
 all three arrived quite happy in a good coach, pur- 
 chased with our own money, or, if you will, with that 
 of the Count. A chaise in which were my servant 
 and Manuela's followed us, with six valets who led so 
 many mules load-ed with our baggage. After which 
 came our cook and Bartolo's lackey, both mounted
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 127 
 
 on very good horses : all which composed a suite 
 worthy the admiration of the peasants, and the envy 
 of the hidalgos. 
 
 "I did not find the house inferior to the description 
 which my husband gave of it. It appeared to me 
 well built, well furnished, and kept in as good order 
 as if the Count had made it his ordinary residence. 
 I was in particular struck with the beauty of the 
 gardens, and of the vast meadows which extended on 
 the north to the very banks of the Guadalquivir. Nor 
 did I consider with less satisfaction the wood on the 
 southern side. Barto'.o, seeing that I was charmed 
 with this dwelling, said with an air of triumph: ' Well, 
 my love, have I deceived you in the account I gave of 
 your mansion ? Is there in Spain a place where one 
 can breathe a purer air, or behold more smiling 
 prospects .'' ' — ' No, unquestionably,' replied my friend, 
 still more delighted than myself with the beauties of 
 my retreat; 'it must be acknowledged that this is 
 truly the present of a nobleman. We shall pass our 
 days here very agreeably if the country gentlemen 
 will be but a little sociable.' 
 
 "'It is true, indeed,' replied Bartolo, 'that the 
 hidalgos are a consequential set : when they have a 
 common person over them, it can scarcely be expected 
 that they will treat him with much respect or con- 
 sideration. However, we every day see rich merchants, 
 after becoming bankrupts, retire to estates which thev 
 purchase at their creditors' expense, and even trades- 
 people as well as ourselves; but it being our business 
 to be good actors, we shall be able to accommodate 
 ourselves to their pride. That will not cost much ; 
 and we may, by flattering them, enjoy ourselves at
 
 128 THE' BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 the expense of what is ridiculous in their behaviour.* 
 — ' I have a better opinion than you of these gentle- 
 men/ observed I in my turn ; ' I think that there are 
 some among them of amiable character. However, 
 be they what they may, we will oblige them by polite 
 and engaging manners to render us our due.' 
 
 " It is certain that we were not prejudiced in favour 
 of these nobles, of whom the greater part inhabited 
 mere cottages. We had imagined that they were 
 stupid and clownish ; and we were astonished, when 
 they came to visit us, to find them so civilised as they 
 appeared to be. Their wives, in particular, gave us 
 to understand by their compliments that they did 
 not want for wit ; and I remarked among them some 
 whose behaviour was very prepossessing. We gave 
 them all so gracious a reception that they had reason 
 to be very well satisfied with us; and this they testified 
 by protesting that they were delighted to have over 
 them persons who treated the nobility with such be- 
 coming deference. 
 
 "We went to see them in their own houses; and in 
 the visits which we paid them, we made it our principal 
 care neither to say nor do anything by which their 
 vanity could be hurt. With this circumspection, 
 which was absolutely necessary to live among them 
 on good terms, we gained their friendship. After 
 this there was nothing but feasting and amusement. 
 There came four or five gentlemen, with their wives 
 and sisters, to sup with us every evening ; and we had 
 after the repast a kind of ball, which sometimes lasted 
 all night. I commonly passed the day at home, at 
 play, or in conversation with the women, while my 
 husband was hunting: with the men in the neighbour-
 
 'THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 129 
 
 hood. Such were my amusements, and very soon it 
 depended only on myself not to have others. 
 
 "Among our small nobles was one who was named 
 Don Domingo Risador* He perfectly justified his 
 name by his character, being an unpolite opposer, 
 an angry disputant, a wrangler, an arrant brute, and 
 withal insupportably proud. No lady till then had 
 been able to subdue him : so difficult a conquest was 
 reserved for me. He was pleased with me, and 
 avowed his passion with the confidence of a gallant 
 who imagines that his love does honour to the object 
 on whom he bestows it. However great was my aver- 
 sion for this personage, I heard him wit'n patience. I 
 however assured him coolly, in clear and distinct 
 terms, that I did not feel the least inclination to love 
 him, and I begged that he would never again set foot 
 in the house. 
 
 " You will think, perhaps, that, mortified with the 
 ill success of his declaration, he retired full of fury, 
 and converted his love to hatred. Not at all. He 
 laughed in my face, telling me that he would persist 
 in loving me whether I would or no. * I am not,' 
 continued he, 'so easy to be put off. I am acquainted 
 with women, and do not take all their grimaces for 
 proofs of virtue. Come, my princess,' continued he, 
 'change your tone if you please; make not so much 
 ado about it; it becomes you less than another.' 
 
 "At this insolent language I could no longer sup- 
 press my rage, and in my first transports I treated 
 Risador like a negro; but he slighted my invectives, 
 and went out, replying only with laughter, which 
 redoubled my fury. I actually cried witii rage, and 
 
 • This surname signifies a (quarrelsome person. 
 
 I
 
 i3o THE BACHELOR OF SAlAMANCA. 
 
 I had my eyes still bathed in tears when Manuela 
 surprised me. 'What is the matter with you ?' asked 
 she, perceiving the state I was in. ' What cause of 
 grief can you have in an abode where everybody is 
 striving to make you happy .-* ' 
 
 " I gave her an account of what had passed between 
 Risador and myself; and when I had concluded, instead 
 of participating in my resentment, she only began 
 laughing. 'You are wrong,' said she, 'to distress }'our- 
 self about the coarseness and ridicule of a clownish 
 lover, which you ought rather to laugh at. The con- 
 tempt with which you repay his passion revenges you 
 sufficiently for his impertinence.' — 'You are right/ 
 replied I ; ' in future, instead of taking it seriously, I 
 design to divert myself with his extravagances.' 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OF THE MISFORTUNE WHICH HAPPENED AT THE CASTLE 
 
 OF CARALLA, AND WHAT WAS ITS CONSEQUENCE 
 
 DONNA FRANCISCA COMES TO THE RESOLUTION OF 
 GOING TO MADRID WITH MANUELA, HER THEATRICAL 
 
 FRIEND THEY PASS THEMSELVES FOR WOMEN OF 
 
 QUALITY. 
 
 ** I WAS now determined to endure again the sight of 
 Don Domingo Risador, without at all changing my 
 sentiments towards him; but he refrained from coming 
 to the house. His pride at length revolting against my 
 rigour, induced him, in order to punish me, to form the 
 design of no longer honouring me with his visits. 
 
 " He did not, however, confine his vengeance to 
 this ; he insulted Bartolo, who, being more of a bully 
 even tlan himself, drew on him, and wounded him
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 131 
 
 dangerously. However, Risador did not die, and this 
 affair appeared to be passed over and forgotten. But 
 six months after, my husband beinc^ out hunting, 
 and alone in a wood, was met by Don Domingo, 
 who treacherously fired at him with a carbine, and 
 stretched him dead on the ground. Although th!s 
 assassination had been committed without any wit- 
 ness, its cowardly perpetrator, persuaded that he 
 should be suspected, and might be taken up, took to 
 flight to save himself from the rigour of the law. 
 
 " I mourned bitterly for Bartolo, and was the more 
 afflicted at his death as I could not have the satisfac- 
 tion of avenging it. I however consoled myself by 
 the help of Manuela, who, ever ready to offer her 
 assistance, had the address to soften my grief But 
 our pleasures were interrupted by this fatal accident, 
 or rather we grew tired of living in solitude. ' I do 
 not know,' said I one day to Manuela, 'whether \ou 
 are in the same disposition as myself; I begin to be 
 tired of the company of country gentlemen and their 
 wives. I am ignorant what can produce this change 
 in me ; whether it be the effect of my natural incon- 
 stancy, or cf my husband's death.' — ' It is to your 
 delicacy only that it is to be attributed,' replied 
 Manuela. ' A girl accustomed, as you are, to the 
 amorous discourses of noblemen, must very soon 
 become disgusted with the conversation of such 
 persons as we meet with here. 
 
 '■ ' Do not imagine,' continued she, 'that I am better 
 adapted than yourself for living in solitude. I will 
 also tell you frankly, that I am growing tired of this 
 place; I have not the same pleasure in it I had 
 formerly. The different originals who come here, no
 
 132 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 longer interest me: the ridiculous may amuse at 
 first ; but it soon becomes disagreeable, and at length 
 insupportable. If you will attend to me,' added she, 
 'we will pursue an idea which has come into my head, 
 and which I have not yet communicated to you.' 
 
 "I asked her what was this idea. 'It is,' replied 
 she, 'to abandon this dwelling for some years, and to 
 go and establish ourselves in Madrid. We are rich 
 enough to live there in a noble style; and we shall 
 easily pass for women of quality, since we have all the 
 manners of such. What do you think of this project.^ 
 has it your approbation ? ' — * Doubtless,' replied I ; ' I 
 am infinitely flattered by it. How many agreeable 
 images does it present to my mind! Let us hasten 
 to execute it,' — *I am very glad,' replied Manuela, 
 'that you approve of this journey. I have a fore- 
 boding that it will not be unfortunate. Let us then 
 prepare to set out. Leave the care of the house to 
 your farmer, with directions always to forward you 
 the rent to Madrid. I will join to that the spoils of 
 Don Garcia, the better to support the figure which we 
 propose to make in the capital.' 
 
 "We now employed ourselves in nothing but pre- 
 parations for our departure, which were no sooner 
 made tiian we commenced our journey, with our two 
 waiting women, all four in a coach; and we were 
 accompanied by two valets mounted on mules, and 
 well armed. After a long and difficult journey, we 
 arrived happily in this town, where we deemed it 
 expedient to change our names. Manuela took that 
 of Ismenia, and T, that of Basilisa ; and representing 
 ourselves as the widows of two gentlemen of Grenada, 
 we hired this house, where we began receiving com-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 133 
 
 pail}'. We have attracted many persons of respecta- 
 bility here by the diijuity of our manners, and obtained 
 their esteem by our prudent conduct. 
 
 "We see," continued she, "a numoer of noble 
 cavaliers, and there is not one of them who does not 
 hold us in esteem and consideration. You may judge 
 of it by Don Manoel de Pedrilla, )'our friend. I am 
 ignorant what he has said to you about us, but I 
 know that he ought not to say anything bad. 
 Although we allow him to conie and visit us freely, we 
 have no apprehension as to any report he can make 
 of us. He has seen nothing which could give him an 
 unfavourable opinion of us. If we do not follow the 
 austere behaviour of ladies who deny themselves the 
 company of men, we have not for that the less virtue." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OF THE CONVERSATION WHICtf DONNA FRANCISCA HAD 
 WITH DON CHERUBIN AFTER HAVING FINISHED THE 
 RECITAL OF HER HISTORY — SHE PROPOSES THAT HE 
 SHOULD COME AND LIVE WITH THEM — DON CHERUBIN 
 CONSENTS. 
 
 Donna FranciSCA, my sister, here finished the recital 
 of her adventures, and then said, with a smile : " Well, 
 brother, what do you think of Bartolo's widow .-' docs 
 she not appear to you a person of importance.?" — 
 " Yes, truly," replied I; "you have made your way 
 in a very short space of time. I congratulate you on 
 it, and thank Heaven that I have a sister in sucii g(;od 
 circumstances. But one thing occurs to me. We are 
 subject in our family to sacrifice to love. I fear that 
 among the cavaliers who visit )ou there may be some
 
 134 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANPA, 
 
 insinuating rogue through whose means you may lose 
 your estate as easily as you gained it." — " Banish that 
 fear," said Fiancisca ; "I am more capable of acquiring 
 another than likely to give my own at the price it cost. 
 
 "But let us change the subject," continued she; 
 "since I have the pleasure of meeting my brother 
 again, let us separate no more. I offer }Ou a lodging 
 in this house ; come and live in it with us. Ismenia 
 will be no less pleased with it than myself You will 
 aid us with your good advice. Embarrassing circum- 
 stances may present themselves, in which )Our prudence 
 will greatly assist us : )-ou may save us from taking any 
 false steps. Let us be under this obligation to you." 
 
 " The proposal, I confess, did not please me at first. 
 I made a scruple of becoming the counsellor and guide 
 of two beauties, whose prudence I was inclined to think 
 very equivocal, notwithstanding all my sister could 
 say. Nevertheless I could not excuse myself, and 
 consented to it at the expense of whom it might con- 
 cern ; reserving to m\self, over and above, the right of 
 separating m)'self from them if I should find any cause, 
 however trifling, to grow tired of their company. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 DO^r CHERUBIN GOES TO LODGE WITH HIS SISTER OF THE 
 
 NEW ACQUAINTANCE WHICH HE MADE, AND OF THE 
 EXTREME RESPECT WHICH THEY ENTERTAINED FOR 
 HIM WHEN THEY KNEW HIM TO BE BASILISa'S BROTHER 
 DON ANDRE OBTAINS THE FRIENDSHIP OF DON CHE- 
 RUBIN HIS REASON FOR SEEKING HIS INTIMACY. 
 
 I "WENT therefore to live with my sister and her com- 
 panion, whr assigned me a small neat apartment in
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 135 
 
 their house which was unoccupied. I removed there 
 the same evening, and took with me Don Manoel de 
 Pedrilla. "Come, my friend," said I; "come and 
 instal me in my new abode, where I protest it will be 
 the greatest pleasure to employ myself in advancing 
 your suit to Ismenia." — " I refuse not your good 
 offices," replied he; "but I know not whether I shall 
 benefit by them. Although Ismenia appears to have 
 some tender sentiments for me, she will not put the 
 seal to my happiness. I doubt whether your friend- 
 ship can do more than my love." 
 
 There came that evening to sup with the ladies 
 two knights of Santiago, who gave me a thousand 
 embraces as soon as they heard that I was the brother 
 of Basilisa. " Permit me, sir," said one, " to embrace 
 you for the sake of your charming sister." — " He is 
 your living image, madam," said the other, addressing 
 Bartolo'swidow; "how rejoiced must you be at meeting 
 each other ! I participate in your mutual satisfaction." 
 
 This discourse was but the commencement of an 
 infinitude of compliments which I had to undergo, 
 and to which I answered in what is called the tone of 
 good company, to show these gentlemen that I was 
 not to be put out of countenance on such an occasion. 
 They also appeared very well content with the speci- 
 mens of my wit which I displayed. They were still 
 more so by some happy sallies which escaped me 
 during supper, and the merit of which they heightened 
 by their praises. 
 
 These knights, one of whom was named Don Denis 
 Langaruto, and the other Don Antonio Peleador, were 
 very different in their characters and persons. Don 
 Denis was a tall,skeleton-lik<9 figure, and Don Antoni©
 
 136 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 a short fat man. The first, to show off as a man of 
 learning, talked of nothing but the sciences ; and the 
 other, assuming the warrior, fatigued us with recitals 
 of military affairs. As soon as one had discussed a 
 passage in some author, the other, quickly taking up 
 the conversation, gave us the relation of a battle. It 
 appeared to be a contest which should tire us most. 
 During this time Don Manoel and Ismenia were 
 amusing themselves with an exchange of glances, 
 which consoled them for the annoying conversation 
 of the two guests, or rather which prevented them 
 from hearing it. As to my sister and myself, we had 
 so much politeness as not to lose a single word, and 
 even to affect that we derived a great deal of pleasure 
 from it. 
 
 In recompense, as soon as these gentlemen had 
 withdrawn, I did not spare them at all. "If all the 
 cavaliers who come to see you," said I, "be as unen- 
 tertaining as those who have just left us, I do not 
 think that in quitting your hidalgos of Caralla you 
 have gained much by the change." — "It is true," 
 replied Francisca, " that these are two suffocating 
 mortals, but you will see others with whom you will 
 be better pleased." I was, however, still less so with 
 two secretaries from the office of the Duke de Lerma, 
 who supped with us on the following evening. 
 
 These, being desirous of commanding as much 
 respect as if they were secretaries of state, affected 
 a most haughty gravity. When they were told that 
 I was the brother of Basilisa, they did not launch out 
 into panegyric, as the knights of Santiago had done ; 
 .they contented themselves with honouring me by a 
 simple inclination of the head, as dignified as if they
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 137 
 
 had been members of the Council of Castile. Al- 
 though they were enamoured of our ladies, they did 
 not appear to be more animated towards them. Far 
 from addressing them in a style of gallantry, they 
 preserved a most dignified silence; or, if they broke 
 it now and then, it was only by monosyllables. 
 
 I imagined that they would at least relax from 
 their gravity when at table. I waited for that period 
 to see them change their behaviour, and give them- 
 .selves up to pleasure, as grave personages generally 
 do on such occasions. But neither my good humour 
 nor the allurements of the ladies could make them 
 lose their office sulkiness, nor draw from them a 
 single smile. 
 
 As soon as they were gone, I again broke out in 
 reproaches to my sister. " How," said I, " can you 
 make such acquaintance .'' you, who are yourself pos- 
 sessed of wit and taste .^ These clerks were still 
 more annoying than your two knigiits yesterday. 
 Really, sister, since you are pleased to receive com- 
 pany at your house, it strikes me that you ought to 
 make a better selection." — " Have patience," said my 
 sister ; " you will meet here more than one cavalier, 
 with whom you will not be sorry to form an ac- 
 quaintance." 
 
 In fact, JL did at last see several who might pass 
 for the flower of gallantry, and whom I could not 
 help looking on as so many brothers-in-law, though 
 my sislcr protested every day that she gave none of 
 them encouragement. There was one among them 
 named Don Andre de Caravajal de Zamora, who 
 united in his own person all the good qualities of 
 which men the best born have in general only a part.
 
 138 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 A.S soon as this cavalier knew that Basilisa was my 
 sister, he spared no pains to insinuate himself into 
 my good graces. He had little difficulty in succeed- 
 ing, being one of those agreeable men who easily 
 prejudice persons in their favour. He was no sooner 
 my friend than, wishing to be something more, he 
 made me his confidant as follows : " Sisrnior Don 
 Cherubin," said he, " I love your sister. I am rich 
 enough, and of a family sufficiently good, to induce 
 me to hope that her wishes might correspond with 
 my own ; but I perceive that she has an inclination 
 for another gentleman, and I have every reason to 
 fear the success of this rival." 
 
 I asked Don Andre who was the gallant of whom 
 he appeared so much afraid. " You will never guess," 
 replied he, " and when I shall have told \'ou, you will 
 find some difficulty in believing me ; for, in fine, it is 
 not Don Felix de Mondejar, nor Don Vincente de 
 Cifuentes ; it is Don Pedro Retortillo." — " Impos- 
 sible !" cried T, with astonishment. " Don Pedro, the 
 ugliest of all my sister's lovers, a capricious creature, 
 a coxcomb ! No, I cannot believe that her taste is 
 so depraved as to prefer such a man as he." — " You 
 may say as you please of this cavalier," replied Cara- 
 vajal, " but he is beloved by Basilisa : nothing is 
 more certain. She looks on his imperfections with a 
 woman's eye: to her he appears perfectly well made; 
 and it does not signify that his conversation is of the 
 most absurd description; she admires his wit." 
 
 I promised Don Andre to do my best to cross the 
 love of Don Pedro; and, not to be worse than my word, 
 had a long conversation with Francisca the next day, 
 the effect of which will be seen in the following chapter
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 139 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 OF THE BAD SUCCESS WHICH DON CHERUBIN HAD IN HIS 
 
 ATTEMPT TO SERVE HIS FRIEND HE LEAVES HIS 
 
 sister's HOUSE, AND DOES NOT SEE HER AGAIN — 
 
 DONNA FRANCISCA MARRIES DON PEDRO WHA T KIND 
 
 OF MAN HE IV AS. 
 
 "I DO not know, sister," said I, "whether you re- 
 member that \-ou begged me to aid you with my 
 advice." — "Yes, doubtless, brother," repHed she, "and 
 I again beg you to do so." — " Well, then," said I, 
 " since it is what you wish, I am about to take upon 
 myself the office of counsellor. But first make me a 
 sincere confession. Do you love Don Pedro Retor- 
 tiUo?" 
 
 At this question Francisca became as red as fire, 
 and wa's quite embarrassed. "You blush," continued 
 I, "and I need no other reply to convince me of what 
 I ought to think : your embarrassment informs me 
 but too well. It is then true that you love Don 
 Pedro 1 Oh, Heaven! Is it possible that }-ou have 
 cast your e\-es on him, who of all )-our lovers appears 
 to me most uriworthy of possessing you ! " 
 
 "Who," said she, "can have so well informed you 
 of a love which I had no idea of ever having mani- 
 fested V — "It is," replied I, "a rival of Don Pedro's, 
 who has penetrated the truth." — "And this so pene- 
 trating rival," replied my sister hastily, "is, I suppose, 
 Caravajal, for whom \'ou have the goodness to interest 
 yourself. Well, since he has discovered my senti- 
 ments, I will not disavow them. Yes, I will not 
 conceal from you that Don Pedro has pleased me. I 
 am sorry that you do not esteem this gentleman ; but
 
 M-O THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 know tliat I view him with a favourable eye, and that 
 I prefer him to Caravajal, as well as to all the rest of 
 his rivals." 
 
 *' Oh ! in that, sister," interrupted I, with some 
 emotion, "I can by no means agree with you in 
 opinion. I can see nothing in Don Pedro, pardon 
 my frankness, but a tissue of bad qualities. He is 
 clownish, consequential, full of caprices, and I believe 
 withal of a jealous disposition." — "Let him be what 
 you please," interrupted Bartolo's widow in her turn, 
 with a hasty and mortified air, " whatever harm you 
 may please to say of him, he shall be my husband; 
 and it is the same thing as to quarrel with me, to 
 undertake to separate me from him." 
 
 My sister pronounced these words in a tone which 
 imposed silence on me. I no longer dared to combat 
 her ridiculous tenderness for Retortillo, nor speak in 
 favour of Caravajal, who was with all his merit obliged 
 to give place to his unworthy rival. I was the more 
 mortified at this, as I every day found rny friendship 
 for one and my aversion for the other growing stronger. 
 I detested the caprice of Francisca, and began to fear 
 that our union would be of no long duration. 
 
 In effect, after the conversation I had with my 
 sister on this subject, she changed her behaviour to 
 me. She abated greatly in the attention and deference 
 she had been accustomed to pay me. She affected 
 even to avoid my conversation, and when she could 
 not do so, she spoke to me with coolness. At last, 
 unable to pardon me for not having approved her 
 design of marrying a man who was detestable, she no 
 longer viewed me but as an inconvenient and per- 
 plexing censor, of whom it was desirable to rid herself.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 141 
 
 As soon as I perceived this, I resolved on my own 
 course. I left the house, from which I had my clothes 
 conveyed to the hotel where I had formerly resided, 
 and rejoined my friend Don Manoel. After this, let 
 them talk of the force of blood : whatever friendship 
 may exist between brothers and sisters, it requires 
 ver\' little to break it 
 
 After our separation I no longer saw Francisca, 
 who did not long delay uniting herself to Don Pedro 
 in a marriage which produced for her nothing but 
 bi'ter fruits; for, instead of meeting in her second 
 husband with the commodious and complaisant 
 humour of the first, she found that she had fallen 
 into the hands of the most jealous man in the world. 
 From the morning after their nuptials, the appearance 
 of the house was totally changed ; no more admission 
 for gallants ; no more pla}- ; no more suppers. Don 
 Pedro changed the servants, and placed over his wife 
 the most crabbed old duenna in all Spain. In a 
 word, he made a miserable wife out of the most happy 
 of widows. I heard shortly after that he had carried 
 her into the country with Ismenia; so that Don 
 Manoel was obliged to console himself as well as he 
 could for the loss of his mistress, as I for the loss of 
 mv sister. 
 
 END OF THE SECOND PART.
 
 Part the third. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DON MANORL DE PEDRILLA BEING UNDER THE t<ieCtSSiTY 
 OF GOING INTO THE COUNrRV, PJiEVAIhS ON DON 
 CHERUBIN TO ACCOM PANV HIM — OE THEiR ARRIVAL 
 AT ALCARAZ. 
 
 As it is much easier to forget a sister than a mistress, 
 in four and twenty hours after I had separated from 
 Francisca I thouglit of her no more ; instead of which, 
 it took a full week to wear out in Don Manoel's mind 
 the recollection of his beloved Ismenia. By the time 
 the ladies were forgotten, my friend received a letter 
 from Alcaraz, in which he was informed that his 
 father Don Josef, having been taken suddenly ill of 
 a malady, from which there were no hopes of his 
 recovery, wished him to repair immediately to his 
 presence, that he might die in his arms, Don Manoel, 
 sensibly afflicted at this news, immediately prepared 
 himself for obeying the orders of his parent ; but 
 wishing at the same time to conciliate this duty with 
 his friendship for me, solicited me so strongl}' to 
 accompany him, that I could not refuse to comply. 
 
 We set out from Madrid followed by a valet, al) 
 three mounted on good mules, and took the road to
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 143 
 
 Alcaraz, where we arriv^ed in less than six days. We 
 found the good man Don Josef just about to make 
 his transit from this world to the other. There were 
 in his room two doctors, who, saluting Don Manoel 
 with an air of gaiety, informed him that his father 
 ought, in the course of nature, to have died three 
 days before; but that, thanks to the virtues of their 
 medicines and the care they had taken of him, his 
 life had been preserved till his son's arrival. "He 
 desired," said one of them, "to have the satisfaction 
 of embracing you, and we have procured it for him." 
 If these physicians had cured their patient they could 
 not have manifested more satisfaction. However, the 
 old man, who was drawing fast towards his end, had 
 no sooner seen his dear son than he expired, and 
 filled the house with mourning. 
 
 He left behind him an old sister, a young daughter, 
 and Don Manoel. These three bitterly lamented his 
 death, and had his funeral obsequies performed in 
 a manner worthy of a gentleman who had been a 
 general officer in the king's army in the preceding 
 reign. When their grief had subsided, and Don 
 Manoel had been put in possession of his father's 
 property, he again appeared in the world, and did 
 not deny himself the pleasures of society. He made 
 it his chief care to introduce me to several of the 
 most respectable persons in the town, as a gentleman 
 of his acquaintance. This was the part I had to 
 sustain, and I dare venture to say that I did not 
 acquit myself badly. I was too well supplied with 
 clothes and money not to make a good figure. I 
 often gave entertainments to ladies, and, without 
 vanity, drew no less of their attention than my friend. 
 
 One cannot long enjoy the company of fine women
 
 144 THE BACHELOR OP SALAMAl.CA. 
 
 without paying the tribute which is due to them. 
 Don Manoel soon became enamoured. Donna Clara 
 de Palomar, a young beauty of Alcaraz, obtained 
 i"he place in his heart which Ismenia had formerly 
 occupied, and even lighted up a flame more ardent 
 than which had been caused by her predecessor. As 
 for me, I paid general court to all the ladies I met, 
 without appearing to attach myself to any one in 
 particular. My friend was much astonished at this, 
 " Don Cherubin," said he, "is it possible that all the 
 fair ones of Alcaraz should have exercised their 
 attractions on you to no purpose,'' Does not some 
 one among them revenge on you the mortifying 
 indifference with which you treat the rest.^" 
 
 I laughed at these reproaches of Don Manoel's ; 
 but, alas! he would have been far from making them, 
 had he known the real state of my mind. Very far 
 from being insensible, I burned with the most ardent 
 love for his sister, Donna Paula: I secretly adored 
 her as one would adore a divinity. I feared to make 
 known to her brother a passion so presumptuous : 
 however great the friendship he manifested for me, I 
 imagined that should I declare myself he would be 
 offended at my rashness. 
 
 I therefore most carefully concealed my love. I 
 even took the vigorous resolution of conquering it ; 
 nor did such a triumph appear to me impossible ; for, 
 notwithstanding my prepossession in her favour, I 
 was sensible that Donna Paula was not a perfect 
 beauty, and conceived that by separating m}'self 
 from her I might be enabled to forget her. Having, 
 therefore, come to the resolution of trying the effect 
 of absence, conformably to the advice of Ovid, I told 
 Pedrilla that I begged him to permit me to return to
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 145 
 
 Madrid, but he most strongly opposed the idea of 
 my leaving him. 
 
 "Are you," said he, "the friend who protested that 
 he would pass his life in my company ? You tire, 
 Don Cherubin," added he, "of this dwelling, or per- 
 haps I have, without intending it, given you some 
 cause to be displeased with me." — " No, my dear 
 Don Manoel," replied I, " I have never been better 
 pleased with you than I am at present." — "Why, 
 then/' resumed he, "do you wish to leave me ?" He 
 then urged me so strongly to discover my secret, that 
 I at last revealed it to him, " This then," added I, 
 "is my reason for desiring to remove from Alcaraz, 
 and )-ou must approve of my resolution," 
 
 Don Manoel, after hearing me attentively, assumed 
 an air of gloom and vexation. I thought that in spite 
 of the friendship by which we were united, the pride 
 of this gentleman had been roused at the temerity 
 which had caused me to raise my thoughts so high, 
 and, under the influence of this mistake, told him that 
 he ought not to be offended at the avowal of a passion 
 on the subject of which I had condemned myself to 
 perpetual silence, and which he would still have been 
 ignorant of had he not forced me to discover it. But 
 in thinking thus of Don Manoel I did him injustice. 
 " Don Cherubin," said he, " I am overwhelmed with 
 despair at your not having sooner made me acquainted 
 with your sentiments towards my sister ; I promised 
 her a week ago to Don Ambrosio de Lorca. How 
 unfortunate that you were not beforehand with him. 
 I would not have passed my word to this gentleman, 
 though a match with him would perhaps be the most 
 advantageous which my sister could possibly be 
 offered."
 
 146 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 I was overpowered by this news, and Don Manoel 
 appeared to feel very sensibly the uneasiness it caused 
 me. But suddenly brightening up, " My friend," con- 
 tinued he with an air of consolation, "the evil is not 
 without remedy. I remember that there is in my 
 engagement with I.orca one circumstance which may 
 render it invalid : I only promised him my sister on 
 condition that she would subscribe without repug- 
 nance to the treaty. Regulate \ our conduct accord- 
 ingly. Pay your court diligenth^ to Donna Paula. I 
 will furnish you with frequent opportunities of seeing 
 and speaking to her in private. Endeavour to obtain 
 her affection, and if you succeed in that I will take 
 upon myself the rest of the business." These words 
 recalled me in a manner to life. I began to flatter 
 myself that I might after all become the husband of 
 Donna Paula. One thing only alarmed me: 1 feared 
 that this lady was prepossessed in favour of my rival, 
 and it was upon that my fate depended. Happily 
 the very first conversation I had with her dispelled 
 my fear: I could even perceive that Don Ambrosio 
 was detested; a circumstance which my vanity induced 
 me to consider as a presage of love for m}'self. 
 
 . CHAPTER II. 
 
 nOJV CHERUBIN OBTAINS THE AFFECTIONS OF DONNA PAULA 
 
 DON AMBROSIO DE LORCA PRESSES DON MANOEL TO 
 
 GIVE HER TO HIM — HE CHALLENGES DON MANOEL AND 
 DON CHERUBIN — THEY ARE VICTORS. 
 
 In effect, I did not flatter myself with an unfounded 
 hope. By dint of acting, sometimes the languishing, 
 sometimes the passionate, sometimes the dying lover,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 147 
 
 I forced Donna Paula to acknowledge that she was 
 sensible to my tenderness. It is true that her 
 brother and her aunt contributed no little to render 
 my attentions pleasing to her, by the praises th&y 
 were constantly bestowing on me; so that I had soon 
 the satisfaction of finding myself in the happy situa- 
 tion of a favoured lover, who is on the point of being 
 united to her he adores. 
 
 On the other hand, my rival, no less amorous than 
 ^lyse'lf, and reh'ing upon the promise he had received 
 /rom Pedrilla, pressed him warmly to the perform- 
 ance of it. " Don Manoel," said he one day, " it 
 appears as if you had lost the inclination of becom- 
 ing my brother-in-law. Speak candidly ; can you 
 have changed your mind in defiance of the promise 
 you have given ?" — " No," replied Don Manoel, " but 
 remember that when I promised you my sister, I told 
 you-that I did not engage to marry her in opposition 
 to her own inclination. You, of course, understand 
 me. I am sorry to inform you, but her heart has 
 escaped your endeavours to win it." 
 
 " Attempt not to put me off with this," interrupted 
 Don Ambrosio, reddening with shame and rage (for 
 he was one of the proudest and most self-important 
 noblemen in Spain) ; " I am not the person with whom 
 it will pass : I am better informed than you think of 
 what is going forward. I know it all. You prefer to 
 a man of my quality, the son of a petty village judge; 
 a mere commoner, to whom I will procure a sound 
 lashing, to punish his audacity and insolence." — "This 
 commoner you speak of," replied Pedrilla, " wears a 
 sword, and I must apprise you that his enemies are 
 likewise mine," — " In that case," replied Lorca, " be 
 both of you to-morrow morning at the entrance of
 
 148 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 the mountains of Bo^arra, and there you will find a 
 man disposed to make you sensible that no one may 
 break his promise to him with impunity." 
 
 Having pronounced this with a menacing air, 
 he retired full of impatience for the morrow. My 
 friend came to me with the account of the conver- 
 sation, and did not contribute very materially to my 
 satisfaction by reminding me that we must prepare 
 ourselves for the combat. It was to no purpose that 
 he showed, himself, so much courage as even to laugh 
 at this challenge ; to me it presented no image by any 
 means so agreeable. Nevertheless, although I felt 
 my nature shudder, I failed not, for the sake of my 
 honour, to put on appearance of resolution. I even 
 affected an air of intrepidity, of which I am sure that 
 my friend was the dupe. But all this did not render 
 me the more valiant, and I should have had no ob- 
 jection to find our party broken up. 
 
 I will confess more: to accommodate matters, I 
 formed that night a plan of pacification, by which I 
 made a free surrender of my mistress to my rival ! 
 I, indeed, afterwards rejected so cowardly a thought: 
 I represented to myself the contempt into which I 
 must sink should I display any want of firmness on 
 this occasion, and that with my good fortune, I should, 
 at the same time, lose the esteem of my friend and 
 the love of my mistress. These reflections warmed 
 me by degrees, and so inspired me with courage, that 
 I became quite impatient to engage. 
 
 I rose, fired with this excess of bravery, to fly to 
 the place of rendezvous with Don Manoel, who, 
 although without the aid of love to animate him, was 
 txaclly in the same mood as myself. We mounted 
 (jur two best horses^ and spurred towards Bogarra.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 149 
 
 Don Ambrosio was already there with another cava- 
 lier. We joined each other, and, after salutations on 
 both sides, Lorca demanded of Don Manoel if he 
 still persisted in refusing him his sister, after having 
 promised her to him. " Yes," replied Pedrilla, "and 
 your menaces have confirmed me in my resolution 
 instead of turning me from it." — "Then," said Don 
 Ambrosio, "}'ou and your friend Cherubin have only 
 to dismount." 
 
 It was not necessary to repeat this intimation ; we 
 were instantly on foot. Our adversaries alighted 
 likewise, and having fastened our horses to trees 
 which grew by the roadside, each presented himself 
 firmly against his opponent. Don Ambrosio attacked 
 Don Manoel, and I had to contend with the other 
 cavalier, who joined to the advantage of being a good 
 fencer that of having to contend against a man who 
 did not even know how to handle his sword. Never- 
 theless, I know not by what accident I contrived to 
 wound this Hector so effectually, that I extended him 
 at my feet. At the same moment that my antagonist 
 fell, Don Manoel had the good fortune to despatch 
 his own ; so that we remained masters of the field of 
 battle. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 WHAT COURSE DON MANOEL AND DON CHERUBIN ADOPTED 
 
 AFTER THEIR LATS ADVENTURE THEY ARE PROSE' 
 
 K.UTED BY THE FAMILY OF LORCA AND OBLIGED TO 
 RETIRE INTO A MONASTERY — UNCOMMON PORTRAIT 
 OF THE SUPERIOR OF A CONVENT. 
 
 The first thing we judged it prudent to do after this 
 melancholy event was to secure our safety. Don
 
 ISO THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Anibrosio was related to the Governor of Alcaraz, 
 and it was very natural to conclude that this governor 
 would set the holy brotherhood after us as soon as he 
 shoidd obtain intelligence of the affair. To this must 
 be added that the cavalier who had the misfortune to 
 feel my rapier, was of a family which possessed con- 
 siderable interest. On the other hand, ^snto whatever 
 p.irt of the world we might choose to retire, mone>' 
 would be a most necessary article. All this being 
 well considered, we resolved to regain Alcaraz before 
 t'ne death of Don Anibrosio could be known, to supply 
 ourselves with a good quantity of gold and jewels, 
 and then make the best of our way to Barcelona in 
 order to embark on board the first vessel which should 
 sail for Ital\'. 
 
 As soon a- we had come to this determination we 
 hastened to return home, where, without loss of time, 
 we loaded ourselves with as many pistoles and precious 
 stones as we could carr\'; we then bade adieu to Donna 
 Paula and her aunt, after arranging the means of hold- 
 ing a secret correspondence with them by letter. We 
 set out for Barcelona followed by a single valet; but 
 not finding there any immediate opportunity of sailing 
 for Italy, we were obliged, while waiting till it should 
 present itself, to remain there for a few days. 
 
 It is impossible to conceive what I felt during this 
 interval. Without having been under the same cir- 
 cumstances, no one could form an idea of the alarms 
 and inquietude which troubled my repose. Though 
 I had killed my antagonist like a man of honour, I 
 was as much disturbed as if I had committed an 
 assassination. I expected every moment to see the 
 archers coming to seize me. Whenever any one 
 looked in my face, I took him for a spy employed to
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 151 
 
 watch my motions. In fact, I had a thousand terxi- 
 fying thoughts by da}', and a thousand dismal dreams 
 by night. 
 
 Besides the constant fears to which I was a prey, I 
 could not reflect without remorse on what I had done. 
 I repented having killed a cavalier instead of follow- 
 ing the plan of pacification which I had contemplated 
 on the evening before the duel. My regret was the 
 stronger because I began to fancy that I was not so 
 deeply in love with Donna Paula as formerly: a 
 change which must be attributed to the horrible 
 situation I was in; for love delights in holding un- 
 divided empire, and cannot even endure the trouble 
 and inquietude which he himself causes in the hearts 
 of those who own his influence. 
 
 While Don Manoel and I were thus agitated with 
 all the terrors common to men whom justice is pur- 
 suing, Mileno, our valet, augmented them one day 
 by telling us that he had seen alight at the door of 
 an inn some persons of suspicious appearance, and 
 that he thought he recognised among them an alguazil 
 of Alcaraz. " But," added he, " I may be mistaken : 
 in order to ascertain the truth, I will go and slip 
 quietly into the inn and get an opportunity of ob- 
 serving them." 
 
 We allowed our servant, with whose address we 
 were well acquainted, to pursue his own plan ; and 
 he, returning in about a couple of hours, told us that 
 the information he had given was but too true. "An 
 alguazil and a party of archers," continued he, "are 
 after you. They are now coming to search, one by 
 one, every inn in the place ; and you need not doubt 
 that they will soon be here : you have no time to 
 lose, if you wish to escape. Hasten to demand an
 
 152 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 asylum in some monastery; it is the only place in 
 which you can now be in security." 
 
 We judged that Mileno was right, and immediately 
 sought refuge among the Barefooted Carmelites, the 
 Superior of whom received us with open arms when 
 he understood tliat we were two gentlemen whom an 
 affair of honour had obliged to seek concealment. It 
 is true that, the better to engage liis hospitality, we 
 gave him to understand b\^ our discourse that we 
 were in a state to make him remuneration. He was 
 desirous, above all things, to be made acquainted with 
 the particulars of the adventure which had placed us 
 under the necessity of seeking a retreat. We con- 
 cealed nothing from him ; and as soon as he had 
 heard our relation, " Your affair," said he, " may 
 easily be made up, for the gentlemen who have fallen 
 beneath }-our swords brought their misfortunes on 
 their i*wn heads. Think no more of embarking for 
 Italy; you need not go so far for safety. Remain 
 quietly here : you will be secure from the resentment 
 of your enemies ; and I hope, by the interest of my 
 friends, to be able to remove your embarrassmen.t," 
 
 We thanked his reverence for his kindness in thus 
 interesting himself in our affairs ; and it was, in fact, 
 a great piece of good fortune in our way. This 
 Superior directed the consciences of some of the 
 principal persons in the town, and among others the 
 Governor Don Gutierrez de Terrassa, by whom he 
 w"as highly respected. The name of Father Teodor 
 carried with it in Barcelona the idea of a good man, 
 or rather of a man of God. To this the Carmelite 
 added a good understanding ; but what was the most 
 to be admired in him was, that he possessed a fund 
 of good humour, which he knew how to reconcile
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 153 
 
 with an austere and mortified life. He passed three- 
 fourths of the ni^^ht in prayer and meditation; he 
 emplo}-ed the morning in listening to sinners who 
 sought conversion through the aid of his ministry' ; 
 and after dinner, in his hours of recreation, he indulged 
 with his visitors in discourse, in which he displa}'ed 
 all the wit and gaiety of a man of the world. A monk 
 of such a character is a rarity. 
 
 Father Teodor (such as I have just described him) 
 ordered two cells to be appointed for us, in which 
 were two couches, each composed of a straw bed and 
 mattress of scanty materials, and which, notwith- 
 standing, hard as they were, might be accounted soft 
 in comparison with those of the monks. "Gentlemen," 
 said this holy Superior, "you must not expect to find 
 in this as}lum all the conveniences which you would 
 meet with in the world : besides that you will be but 
 roughU' lodged, you will have to subsist on our slender 
 pittance, which is adapted only to satisfy the cravings 
 of hunger, without much gratification of the palate. 
 But," added he, smiling. " 1 believe you will have no 
 objection to undergo this little mortification, in order 
 to appease that Heavca which you have irritated 
 against you by your duel." We readily submitted 
 to this slight penance, and I can add that in a few 
 da\'s we accustomed ourselves to the hardness of our 
 beds, and to the frugal portion oi the monks, as 
 well as if we had never slept soiter, nor been better 
 nourished.
 
 X54 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 WHAT WAS THE TER ATI NATION' OF THE AFFAIR WHICH HAD 
 PLACED DON MANOEL AND DON CHERUBIN UNDER THE 
 
 PROTECTION OF FATHER TEODOR OF THE SUDDEN 
 
 RESOLUTION TAKEN BY THE FORMER, AND IN WHAT 
 
 MANNER IT WAS EXECUTED HE IS PRESENT AT AN 
 
 EXHORTATION MADE BV ONE OF THE CARMELITES TO 
 A DYING MAN — EDIFICATION WHICH DON CHERUBIN 
 
 DERIVED FROM THIS PIOUS DISCOURSE HE DECLARES 
 
 HIS RESOLUTION TO DON MANOEL, AND THEY SEPA- 
 RATE. 
 
 Our business was not neglected by the good Father 
 Teodor. In order to get it settled, he applied to his 
 penitent the Governor of the principality of Barcelona, 
 who, finding his reverence greatly interested about it, 
 spared no pains towards bringing it to a favourable 
 issue. He wrote in the strongest terms to the rela- 
 tions of Don Ambrosio de Lorca, and among others 
 to the Governor of Alcaraz, who, by great good 
 fortune for us, was his intimate friend. 
 
 As Don Ambrosio had been the aggressor, his 
 relations were not so much incensed against us as 
 they would probably have been had he had more 
 justice on his side. They easily sacrificed their 
 resentment at the intercession of Don Gutierrez and 
 of the family of Don Manoel. They ceased all 
 further prosecution, and this business was entirely 
 settled at the end of about six months. The reader 
 will doubtless imagine that after this my friend and 
 I returned gaily to Alcaraz to espouse our mistresses, 
 but this was not the case. I continued in Barcelona, 
 where there occurred what I am about to relate. 
 
 While the necessary measures were proceeding for
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 155 
 
 extricating us from our difficulties, I had frequent 
 conversations with Father Teodor ; and the more I 
 saw of him, the more I was pleased with him. There 
 was in him an air of satisfaction which I very much 
 admired. This I often remarked to him, and he as 
 often told me that if I desired to have the same, I 
 had only to pass my life in a monastery. " Take 
 notice of our fraternity," said he, "and you will read 
 in their countenances the tranquillity of their minds. 
 You are," added he, "so much occupied in your own 
 affairs, that you have not attended to this, though, 
 believe me, it is a subject well worth)' of observation." 
 
 I accordingly turned my attention that way, and 
 was in reality edified by it. I was astonished to 
 see men so content, who were condemned to a life 
 so austere. I began to solicit their conversation 
 from curiosity. 1 urged them to talk-, in order 
 that I might discover whether they really enjoyed an 
 internal tranquillity, unalloyed by any secret care. 
 I found their language in perfect unison with their 
 countenances, and I had every reason to believe that 
 they were as happy as they appeared to be. Hence 
 arose the most agitating reflections. "What then!" 
 said I to myself; "tiiere are mortals sufficiently de- 
 tached from the wealth and pleasures of the world, 
 really to prefer the solitude of a cloister ! How much 
 is the happiness of such deserving of envy !" 
 
 Among these venerable monks was one distin- 
 guished by a talent equally useful and uncommon. 
 He appeared to have but one occupation, and that 
 consisted in hearing the confessions of the sick, and 
 exhorting them to repentance. He was constantly 
 called on, at all hours of the day and night, to attend 
 persons who were dying, and dispose them to make a.
 
 156 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Cliristian end. Having heard that he acquitted him- 
 self in a most extraordinarj' way in this melancholy 
 employment, I had one night an inclination to accom- 
 pany him. He had on this occasion to exhort to con- 
 fession an old gentleman of Catalonia, who for forty 
 years at least had been living among the banditti of 
 the mountains of that province. Two ecclesiastics 
 had alreadx' abandoned him, being unable to bear 
 the ofTensive terms with which he overwhelmed them 
 as soon as they appeared in his apartment. 
 
 This hardened sinner gave our old Carmelite, at 
 first, a recei>tion not a whit more gracious. " Retire, 
 monk," cried he ; " the sight of thee offends me ; " and 
 abused him in the most furious terms. The monk, 
 instead of suffering himself to be repulsed, replied but 
 with the utmost mildness, and seemed to have armed 
 himself with indefatigable patience. The sick man was 
 astonished. "For what are you come here, father.''" 
 said he ; "retire. So great a sinner as I should spare 
 you the trouble of spending your breath in vain: I 
 am too guilty to escape the wrath of Heaven." 
 
 Father Seraphin (this was the name of the monk) 
 now extended his arms, and put up the following 
 prayer, in a tone which affected every person pre- 
 sent: "O Divine Saviour, Father of mercies! thou 
 seest one of thy creatures ready to sink into the 
 abyss of despair. Be graciously pleased to render 
 me instrumental in saving him from so dreadful a 
 calamity. Cast upon him, I beseech thee, an eye of 
 pity. Let thy mercy, O Lord ! preserve him from 
 thy justice." The sick man was terrified at this 
 apostrophe, and asked if it were allowed to entertain 
 a hope of mercy, after having committed so many 
 sins as he had been guilty of.
 
 y \.L, r^
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 157 
 
 The Carmelite, zealous in the discharge of his duty, 
 then approaching the gentleman, expatiated on the 
 mercy of God in terms so consoling and so pathetic, 
 that all who heard him melted into tears. To render 
 his exhortation still more touching and efficacious, 
 he himself accompanied it with tears, with which he 
 bathed the cheeks of the sick man, as he every 
 moment embraced him. There was balm in the very 
 manner in which he spoke. The gentleman was 
 moved, and when he had a little recovered himself, 
 confessed his sins, and died, to all appearance per- 
 fectly converted. 
 
 I could not after this contemplate Father Seraphin 
 but with admiration. I cultivated his friendship, 
 which he was by no means inclined to deny to a man 
 in whom he could perceive so great a disposition to 
 become a devotee, as, in fact, I every day felt my 
 inclination become stronger to retire from the world; 
 and the conferences I had sometimes with this holy 
 father, and at others wnth the Superior, insensibly 
 inspired me with a wish to pass the rest of my life in 
 a monastery. This wish was shortly converted into a 
 resolution. I imparted my laudable determination to 
 Father Teodor, who opposed it at first, not so much 
 for the purpose of turning me from it, as to prove tiie 
 firmness of my sentiments. " My dear son," said he, 
 " when \ our affair shall be made up, you will think 
 otherwise than at present." — '' No, father," returned 
 I, " no ; I will die in this monastery, and beneath 
 your habit." 
 
 Whilst this humour lasted, our business was settled. 
 The Superior, after announcing this piece of news, 
 asked me gaily, " Well, my dear son, which now pre- 
 dominates in your mind — the love of the world, or the
 
 158 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 love of solitude ? Which now do you prefer — poverty 
 or plenty ? It now rests with yourself to return to 
 Alcaraz, where the hand of a young and lovely person 
 awaits you. Can you prefer to such a desirable lot, 
 the rough labours of penitence ? Consult your feel- 
 ings thoroughly before you determine on a point of 
 so much moment." 
 
 I replied that I had most thoroughly reflected on 
 it, and that I was determined to augment the number 
 of his monks. I added that I would, on assuming 
 the habit, make over to him all the property I pos- 
 sessed, of which I would make a present to the con- 
 vent. To this he made some objection at first, "for 
 fear," he said, " that he should be accused of having 
 seduced me." I combated his delicacy, which held 
 out a long while against my pious intentions; never- 
 theless, as his reverence desired nothing but that the 
 will of Heaven should in all things be completed, he 
 had the goodness to sacrifice his repugnance to my 
 entreaties. 
 
 I had not yet mentioned my design to Don Manoel, 
 who was very far from entertaining the slightest notion 
 of it. He saw very well that I had put on an out- 
 ward appearance of devotion ; but he by no means 
 supposed that it was such a devotion as would lead 
 me to adopt the habit of a monk. Imagining that I 
 was still constant to his sister, as he himself con- 
 tinued to Donna Clara, he was not a little surprised 
 when I made known to him the change which had 
 taken place in my mind, and my determination to 
 enter into the order of the Barefooted Carmelites. 
 
 "I had," said he, "calculated that you would return 
 with me to Alcaraz, that you would espouse my sster, 
 that we should form but one family, and that only
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 159 
 
 death would separate us." — "That," said I, "is the 
 hope which I myself indulged when we entered this 
 convent. I formed to myself a delightful picture of 
 the life I should enjoy with you and Donna Paula; 
 but Heaven has otherwise ordained it. It has spoken 
 to me in the tone in which it addresses those hearts 
 which it would wean from the allurements of the age. 
 I am no longer moved by the idea of the softest plea- 
 sures Hymen can bestow; or rather I make a sacrifice 
 of them all. Happy if such a sacrifice can expiate 
 the irregularities of my former life I " 
 
 I redoubled Don Manoel's astonishment by this 
 discourse. " If it were permitted," said he, " to mur- 
 mur against Heaven, I should reproach it for having 
 deprived me of the dearest of my friends." — " Instead 
 of complaining of Heaven," returned I, "dread that it 
 should place among the number of your greatest sins, 
 having neglected to profit like myself by the good 
 example of the brotherhood of this monastery. How- 
 ever, my dear Don Manoel, it is not yet too late. 
 Leave your property to your sister, and courageously 
 renounce Donna Clara. Love is not an invincible 
 passion, and the recollection of a mistress cannot 
 here hold out long against the succours which the 
 divine mercy will lend you to subdue it. Come, my 
 friend," continued I, " make an effort to break the ties- 
 which bind you to the world. Remain in this convent, 
 to partake in it with me the sweets of a tranquillity 
 which only retirement c^n bestow. How happy should 
 I be to see \'ou taking such a resolution !" 
 
 " Hope it not," replied Don Manoel ; " I admire, 
 without being able to imitate you. We are not 
 all born for the cloister. It is right, for the honour 
 of Christianity, that there should be persons detached
 
 i6o THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 from the world and devoted to a life of austerity; but 
 we nia}', in all situations of life, work our salvation 
 by fulfilling our duties with regularity and justice. 
 Remain then," continued he, "in this holy solitude, 
 since Heaven detains you here ; but for me it has 
 other designs, and is pleased that I should return 
 to Alcaraz, and preserve the faith I have sworn to 
 Donna Clara." 
 
 This was the last conversation I had with my friend 
 in Barcelona, and we finished it with mutual embraces. 
 "Adieu, Don Cherubin," said he, with an air of 
 tenderness. "May you ever persevere in the fervour 
 which animates you now!" I sustained our separa- 
 tion with more firmness than he, and no sooner was 
 he gone than I began to forget him ; by which I was 
 induced to believe that I was in a fit disposition to 
 divest myself of all earthly aff"ections, and that I 
 might in time acquire that religious stoicism, which 
 renders a monk insensible to the appeal either of 
 blood or friendship. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 NOIV, AFTER STX MONTHS OF NOVITIATE, THE FERVOUR OF 
 
 DON CHERUBIN BEGAN TO DECLINE OF HIS QUITTING 
 
 THE CONVENT^ AND THE NEW COURSE HE ADOPTS 
 
 HE ACCIDENTALLY MEETS WITH THE LICENTIATE 
 
 CARAMBOLA H/S CONVERSATION WITH HIM HE 
 
 RESOLVES AGAIN TO UNDERTAKE THE BUSINESS OP 
 INSTRUCTION — WHAT PREVENTS HIM. 
 
 I WORE the habit of a novice for six months with 
 pleasure, acquitting myself with ardour of all my 
 duties, and perfectly assured that I should pass the
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. i6l 
 
 rest of my life in the monastery. Unfortunately for 
 me, F.ither Teodor was called from Barcelona to 
 Madrid, to fill the place of Superior in the principal 
 convent of the Barefooted Carmelites. To add to 
 my mortifications, I lost about the same time the 
 good Father Seraphin, who died of a pleurisy, which 
 he had got by over-exerting himself in exhorting to 
 repentance a d}'ing alguazil. 
 
 The loss of these good fathers most sensibK' affected 
 me. Deprived of these two guides, who were safely 
 conducting me on the road to salvation, I was now 
 given up to my own management'. Nor was it long 
 ere I again began to feel the tyranny of those passions, 
 from which I had fancied myself delivered : so strong 
 were their temptations to overpower my vocation, 
 that I could not long resist them. Nevertheless, 
 before I yielded, I exerted myself to the utmost to 
 persevere in my godly course. I sought for succour 
 against my weakness, and fancying that I should find 
 it in the conversation of some novices, who appeared 
 to me to have embraced the monastic life from 
 feelings of the utmost devotion, I one day said to 
 one of them: "My dear brother, how iiappy are 
 you to have forgotten the world, and to be able so 
 courageously to pursue your pious career! Alas! 
 wh\' can I not resemble you ? " 
 
 "If," replied the novice, "you could see into my 
 heart, you wt)uld not find much cause to env)' my 
 situation. My family have forced me to become a 
 Carmelite, and I am obliged to make a virtue of 
 necessity : judge if I can be so content with my 
 situation as \ou were inclined t:" think." Another 
 novice told me, that having resolved to become a 
 monk in consequence of his grief for the loss of a lady 
 
 L
 
 1 62 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA: 
 
 whom he loved, he felt that he was indeed consoled 
 for his misfortune, but that there were moments when 
 he regretted not having sought some other method of 
 forgetting her. I believe, if I had examined all the 
 novices round I should have found them not much 
 better satisfied with their condition. 
 
 Be this as it may, I became disgusted with a monastic 
 life, and resuming my secular habit, left the convent 
 as I would have left a prison, delighted to find myself 
 at liberty, though wholly unencumbered with money; 
 for I had given all that formerly belonged to me to 
 these good monks, and getting it back again was a 
 thing not to be thought of. I could not determine 
 to return to Alcaraz, being ignorant with what eyes 
 Donna Paula would regard me. I rather chose to 
 lose the pleasure of again beholding her, than run the 
 risk of being ill received ; besides, I was by no means 
 too well assured that in the married Don Manoel I 
 should still find a friend. 
 
 I was deliberating, therefore, what course to pnrsue, 
 when the Licentiate Carambola, whom I never ex- 
 pected to have seen again, all on a sudden presented 
 himself to my eyes passing along the street. We 
 were both equally astonished at thus meeting together 
 in the capital of Catalonia. "You in Barcelona!" 
 cried 1, embracing him. " You too are here," replied 
 he ; " what has brought that about .? " — " A silly 
 business," replied I, and at the same time acquainted 
 him with my late exploit. After hearing me to an 
 end, he told me that I had been in great haste to get 
 rid of my money, and that I ought by no means to 
 Have given it up, but on condition that it should be 
 returned to me if I should fail to finish my novitiate. 
 '*The error is committed, my friend," replied I, "so
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 163 
 
 let us say no more about the matter. One thing I 
 ha\e to console me, which is, that these good fathers, 
 on bidding me adieu, assured me that I should have 
 a -portion in their pra)-ers for the benefactors of the 
 convent." 
 
 To induce the Licentiate to relate to me in his 
 turn what had happened to him since our separation. 
 *' Wh)'," said I, "did }ou leave Madrid, and the ille- 
 gitimate slip confided to your care ? Did the Coun- 
 sellor of the Indies, his reputed father, dismiss you 
 through caprice.''" — "No," replied he, "it was I who 
 quitted him, and not without good reason. I will 
 explain it to you. 
 
 " ' Signior Licentiate,' said he one day, ' I am in the 
 habit of having every night some one to read to me 
 till I fall asleep, and without this I cannot close my 
 eyes. The person who does it in general is taken 
 ill : have you any objection to supply his place until 
 he shall have recovered.?' I answered that I would 
 willingly do so, not knowing to what a deal of trouble 
 I was about to expose myself; and that very evening, 
 as soon as he was in bed, I seated myself by his 
 bolster, having before me a small table, on which 
 were an old worm-eaten book, called by way of dis- 
 tinction, ' his lordship's soporific,' with a slice o"i 
 ham, some bread, and a bottle of wine to refresh 
 the reader. 
 
 " I took up the book, and had not read more thari 
 a dozen pages ere my Counsellor showed signs of 
 sleep. When I imagined liim fast, I paused to take 
 breath, or rather to refresh myself with 'a glass ; but 
 he instantly awoke, and I was compelled to resume 
 my reading. Astonishing prodigy ! ten lines of this 
 admirable book were suificicnt again to set him
 
 I64 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 asleep ; on perceiving which, I seized the j;lass with 
 one hand and the bottle with the other, and swallowed 
 one good draught of Lucena wine. I would then 
 have eaten a bit of ham, imagining that the Judge 
 would give me time to do so; but I was deceived: 
 he again awoke so quickly that I was unable to eat 
 a morsel. 
 
 "Again I resumed my book, a third time I set my 
 good man asleep, and to render his slumber more 
 profound, I did not cease till I had read three mortal 
 pages more. After having administered so strong a 
 dose of opium, I thought my Counsellor must now 
 be secure for a time. No! no such thing; the bar- 
 barian instantly awoke; and, observing that I had 
 the glass to my mouth, cried out gruffl\- : ' Hey ! 
 what the deuce, Siguier Licentiate, you do nothing 
 but drink ! ' — 'And you, Signior,' replied I, 'do no- 
 thing but fall asleep and wake again. You must, if 
 you please, su[)ply yourself to-morrow with another 
 reader: I would not employ my throat so disagreeably, 
 though you should double my salary.' — 'It is, how- 
 ever,' replied he, 'what you must resolve to do, if you 
 wish to continue the education of my son.' Seeing 
 that he had thus brought it to a point (you know the 
 Biscaxan vivacity), I replied haughtily, ' We will not 
 contest the matter ;' and on the morrow we separated. 
 
 "A few da\-s after," continued the Licentiate, "one 
 of my friends proposed to me to undertake the educa- 
 tion of the son of a Catalonian gentleman. I accepted 
 the offer, and he introduced me to the father, who 
 engaged me, 'and has brought me from Madrid to 
 Barcelona, where I have now been six months." I 
 asked him if he were satisfied with his host. "Veiy 
 much so," replied he; "the parents of my pupil are
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 165 
 
 a good kind of people, and it appears probable that 
 I shall remain with them a long while. The child, 
 who has but just entered into his eighth year, is 
 idolised, and consequently spoiled by his parents. 
 Whatever mi-chief he does, they only laugh at it, and 
 pass over everything. I am forbidden not only to 
 come to blows, but even to scold him for fear of 
 injuring his health: instead, therefore, of correcting 
 him when he merits it, I applaud ever\'thing he doe?. 
 In a word, I burn incense to the idol, and find my 
 account in doing so: by that means I make m}'self 
 beloved by my pupil as well as b}- his parents, who 
 have an infinite deal of respect for me." 
 
 I congratulated Carambola on his happy situa- 
 tion; after which, having reciprocally embraced, we 
 separated with promises of seeing each other again. 
 Thus left once more to m}'self. I plunged again into 
 reflection. " What plan shall I adopt," thought I, 
 "to extricate myself from the indigence into which I 
 am sunk .^ If I had my Bachelor's habit, I would 
 aigaiji essay the business of education. But may I not 
 in my present dress do pretty nearly the same thing.-' 
 Why not .'' 1 have only to look out for some great 
 house where they are in want of a governor to con- 
 duct some young man on his first entry into the world. 
 I am as fit to fill such an office as that of a tutor. 
 
 I resolved therefore upon this employment, which 
 I nas determined to exercise as soon as the oppor- 
 tunity should present itself. Providence, however, 
 which had other views for me, ordained it otherwise, 
 and changed the appearance of my fortune ail at 
 once, by means of an event which 1 should never have 
 expected, and which was preceded by a dream, too 
 singular not to be related.
 
 If 6 THE BACHELOR OE SALAMANCA. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Defy CHERUBIN^S DREAM, AND THE SUDDEN CHANCE WHICH 
 
 TOOK PLACE IN HIS FORTUNE INCIVILITY OF THE 
 
 MONKS HE BECOMES A RICH HERITOR HIS INCLl- 
 
 'NA TION FOR NA RCISSA. 
 
 T DREAMED that I was in the city of Mexico, in a 
 superb apartment, where I beheld my brotiier Don 
 Caesar in his dressing-gown, sitting in an arm-chair, 
 and dictating the articles of his will to a notar\' who 
 was writing. He had near him a strong box, from 
 which taking out several bags filled with gold pieces, 
 he showed them me, saying : " Here, my dear brother, 
 Don Cherubin, here are the fruits of my travels, and 
 of the measures which I have taken to enrich myself 
 since I have been in the Indies. I am now d\-ing, 
 and this wealth I bequeath to thee ; it is now thine 
 own." He then gave me over the doubloons, which 
 I was so delighted to touch, that I awoke with the 
 pleasure, imagining I had my hands full of this 
 enchanting load. 
 
 This dream made so strong an impression on me, 
 that I was all in a tremor when I awoke. Instead 
 of reflecting on it as a chimera, I seriously contem- 
 plated it as a secret intimation, given me by my good 
 angel, of something favourable which was to happen 
 to me. " Such may be the case," thought I. " After 
 all the tales which I have heard on such subjects, I 
 believe that there may be dreams which convey some 
 secret and mysterious meaning ; and if that be the 
 case, mine must certainly be one. My brother, 
 perhaps, is dead, and has left behind him wealth 
 which probably appertains to me." I was so strongly
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 167 
 
 impressed with this idea that, hid I been well sup- 
 plied with money, I should, I believe, have travelled 
 to New Spain in search of my supposed inheritance. 
 On the faith, however, of my dream, I rose full of 
 joy, and with a foresight of good fortune, went out to 
 walk about the town. 
 
 As I was crossing the market-place of our Lady 
 del Mar, I saw at the door of the church of that 
 name, a great number of persons who were attentively 
 reading a placard which had just been stuck up. 
 Feeling some little curiosity, I made my way through 
 the crowd, and was not a little surprised at finding it 
 couched in the following terms : " The public is 
 apprised that an individual, named Don Csesar de la 
 Ronda, who lately arrived from the West Indies 
 with money and merchandise at Seville, died there 
 two days after his arrival. Those who may have 
 any claim to his succession have only to repair to 
 Seville with the proofs of their title, and his effects 
 will be delivered to them, conformably to the in- 
 ventory which has been taken by the order of our 
 Lords the Jud^^es of Commerce." 
 
 I read this bill no less than four times, not daring 
 to trust the evidence of my eyes ; nevertheless, being 
 at length beyond doubt convinced of my good for- 
 tune, I went into the church to return thanks to 
 God : nor did I forget Don Caesar in my prayer. I 
 lamented his death, but in such a way that it could 
 not easSy have been distinguished whether my tears 
 were indicative of grief or joy. It would rest but 
 with myself to do honour to my good nature, by 
 saying that I was sensible only to my brother's death ; 
 hut, besides that there is a possibility of my sincerity 
 being doubted, I am an enemy to falsehood, and I
 
 I68 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 will candidly acknowledge that I mourned for Don 
 Caesar, as a good younger brother generally does for 
 an elder whose death has enriched him. 
 
 All my uneasiness now consisted in the want of 
 money to enable me to go and take possession of 
 what Heaven had so opportunely sent me. I had 
 come out of the convent with empt\' pockets ; and 
 being without any resource, I found myself, rich 
 heritor as I was, cutting a very silly kind of figure. 
 After reflecting a long while, however, there came 
 into my head a plan by which I deemed mj'self 
 secure of obtaining the means of travelling to Seville. 
 The Carmelites, thought I, will willingly lend me 
 fifty pistoles for this purpose. They are good and 
 holy persons, who will desire nothing so much as to 
 serve a man from whom they have received so con- 
 siderable a gift. 
 
 Confident on this point, I addressed the Superior 
 who had succeeded to Father Teodor, and making 
 known to him my situation, begged him to let me 
 have fifty pistoles, promising to repay him with 
 interest as soon as I should have obtained possession 
 of my brother's property. The good monk, after 
 having heard me with attention, answered m^ coldly, 
 tiiat he could not do me this favour without having 
 first held a chapter of the order ; and then put me oft' 
 for a foitnTght, that is to say, till the Greek calends. 
 I could not have expected this refusal, after having 
 made thcni a present of all I had when I was about 
 to jom their number; but I now perceived that those 
 who like ver\^ well to be obliged, have not ahva}-s the 
 same disposition to oblige others in return, and tiiis 
 was particularly the case with these good monks. 
 Nothing, among them, can be done without holding
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 169 
 
 a chapter, with a promise of which they lay asleep the 
 greater part of those who have any favour to expect 
 from them. 
 
 Very ill satisfied with monastic gratitude, I returned 
 in a melancholy mood to the inn where I lodged. 
 My host, whose name was Jeronimo Moreno, taking 
 notice of my gloom, asked me the reason of it. Of 
 this I made no mystery, and nothing more was neces- 
 sary to set him railing at the monks, a thing that he 
 was constantly in the habit of doing as often as he 
 heard any of them mentioned, be they of whatever 
 order they might. With the exception of this, he 
 was a good kind of man enough, candid, obliging, and 
 generous. " Signior Don Cherubin," said he, " console 
 yourself for the ingratitude of these reverend fathers. 
 You have no need of their purse to enable you to 
 undertake your journey, since Jeronimo Moreno is 
 not, thank God, too needy to lend money to an honest 
 man. If }'Ou want but fifty pistol«es to go to Seville, 
 I have them here at your service. I am satisfied you 
 are a young man of honour, and I would lend you all 
 my property with no other security than your word." 
 
 I returned thanks to m\" host for his offer, and took 
 him at his word. He told me out fifty pistoles, for 
 ■which I delivered him an acknowledgment, and two 
 days after embarked on board a Genoese vessel which 
 was on the point of sailing for Seville. There were 
 several passengers on board, and among others an 
 'old merchant of Tortosa, whom some commercial 
 affairs had called to Andalusia. With this Catalonian 
 I formed an acquaintance; and the similarity of our 
 dispositions soon gave birth to a friendship which 
 became so strong, that when we arrived at Seville he 
 begged we might not separate, telling me that he
 
 170 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA, 
 
 knew an inn where we could be well lodged and meet 
 with pleasant company. I assented to his proposal, 
 and we went to lodge together at the sign of the 
 Parrot in Lonxa Street. 
 
 The master of this inn, his wife and his daughter, 
 appeared so rejoiced at seeing the merchant of Tor- 
 tosa, that I was induced to think they had been a 
 long while acquainted. '• Here," said he, " is a cavalier 
 whom I have brought }'Ou, and whom I entreat you 
 to regard as my second self." — " It is sufficient," 
 replied the host very politely, "that the gentleman is 
 of the number of your friends, for him to merit the 
 utmost attention it is in our oower to afford him." 
 The hostess, who might be about forty years of age, 
 and who by no means belied the reputation which the 
 women of Seville have acquired of being flatterers 
 and coquettes, could not refrain from adding to this 
 compliment of her husband's, " that a cavalier of my 
 figure must be satisfied that they could not fail to 
 treat him with all possible regard." 
 
 In the evening, when it was time to sup, the host, 
 who was called Master Gaspard, asked us if we wished 
 to be served in private. " No, no," replied the old 
 Catalonian, "we will sup with you and your amiable 
 family; we are fond of company." We therefore sat 
 down to table with the host, the hostess, and Narcissa 
 their daughter, tlie latter of whom joined to a )-outhful 
 appearance, regular features, an air of gaiety, and 
 eyes full of a fire which fascinated the beholder. Mine 
 v.-ere, of course, frequenll_v' directed towards her during 
 supper. For her own part, she was by no means 
 sparing of her glances, and she favoured me with some 
 which failed not to afford me a subject for reflection. 
 I thought I perceived in them a desire to please me
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 17 1 
 
 which was not long without its due efifect. I was 
 troubled. I felt agitated by some tender sensations; 
 and my heart, which my residence in the convent 
 had only rendered more combustible, was -"vesently 
 inflamed by the beautiful Narcissa. 
 
 The merchant of Tortosa, who perhaps perceived 
 and wished to serve m}' growing tenderness by making 
 me pass for a man of opulence, began speaking of the 
 affair which had brought me to Seville. He dazzled 
 by this means the eyes of the father and mother, and 
 multiplied the favourable glances of the \oung lady. 
 Master Gaspard now offered me his services. He; 
 proposed to talce me on the following day to a lawyer 
 of his acquaintance, whose principal employment con- 
 sisted in securing justice to strangers who came to 
 Se\'ille on commercial pursuits. "This man," said 
 he, "will instruct }-ou what measures to take, to 
 avoid being cheated out of your property by the 
 officers whom you must employ to obtain it; or 
 rather, he will, if you prefer it, take upon himself the 
 whole trouble of the business, and you will be quit for 
 a trifling remuneration ; for he is a man of the most 
 disinterested temper." 
 
 The old merchant persuaded me to accept this offer 
 of the host's, which I did without the slightest hesita- 
 tion ; after which, it being bedtime, the Catalonian 
 and I retired to the rooms which had been prepared 
 for us, and which for the apartments of an inn were 
 decent enough. I went to bed, where I employed my 
 thoughts on the charms of Narcissa, in preference to 
 the brilliant fortune which I was on the point of 
 enjoyinij ; but the image of Gaspard's daugiiter 
 yielding in turn to the idea of riches, I fell asleep 
 upon gold and silver.
 
 172 THE BACHELOR OP SALAMANCA. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN REPAIRS TO SALAMANCA, AND RETURNS 
 
 TO SEVILLE WITH HIS PAPERS HE OBTAINS HIS 
 
 brother's PROPERTY MARKS OF RESPECT WHICH HE 
 
 PAYS TO HIS brother's MEMORY. 
 
 On the following day my host, to convince me that 
 he was a man of his word, took me to the lawyer of 
 whom he had spoken, and introducing me to him 
 "Signior Don Mateo," said he, "here is a gentleman 
 who is lodged in my house. He is not very well 
 acquainted with business, and will stand in need of 
 your advice," The lawyer now gravely demanded 
 what had brought me to Seville, and I made him 
 acquainted with the circumstance. " In the first 
 place," said he, "it is necessary beyond all things to 
 have a copy of the register of your baptism in proper 
 form, with a certificate to prove that x'ou are really 
 the brother of the said Don Csesar de la Ronda, lately 
 deceased in Seville. Lose not a moment ; set out 
 immediately for Salamanca to procure these docu- 
 ments. Bring them to me, and rest assured that I 
 will forthwith procure the property of your brother 
 to be delivered to you, in spite of all the chicanery 
 which can be practised to keep it from you," 
 
 My impatience to procure these papers, which were 
 necessary for extricating from the clutches of the 
 Seville justices the property to which I was entitled, 
 did not allow me to delay a single moment unneces- 
 sarily, and induced me to make such good haste, that 
 in the course of a fortnight I returned with the 
 register of my baptism, and with certificates both of 
 the Corregidor and of all the other magistrates in
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 173 
 
 Salamanca; so that it was impossible to deny that I 
 was my father's son, and consequently the brother of 
 Don Caesar. As soon, therefore, as Don Mateo had 
 read them, he cried out with rapture: "Blessed be 
 God ! these are, indeed, victorious documents. I have 
 further to inform you," added he, "that I have during 
 your absence been with the Judges of Commerce, who 
 told me that }-our brother had made a will the evening 
 before his death, and left you his sole heir. You will, 
 therefore, ver\' shortly be in possession of your pro- 
 pert}', or I will never more interfere in any cause, 
 however good I may have reason to consider it." 
 
 As this lawyer appeared to merit my confidence, I 
 placed an implicit reliance upon him; and I had no 
 reason to repent it, for in about three weeks he put 
 me in the entire possession of Don Caesar's effects, 
 which consisted in bars of silver, Spanish pistoles, 
 and various kinds of merchandise. To speak the 
 truth, it was not without considerable discount that 
 I was enabled to extract these riches from the hands 
 in which they were deposited; and they were not 
 delivered to me until after so many formalities, that 
 it mi^ht truly have been said the officers of justice 
 were my coheirs. Nevertheless, after all the moisture 
 which these doves had drawn from my substance, my 
 lawyer honestly renumerated an infinitude of duties 
 ])aid, aft^r all this reckoned, all deducted, I still found 
 my inheritance amount to clear eighty thousand 
 crowns. 
 
 What an inconceivable blessing ! The first use I 
 made of this good fortune was to give public marks of 
 gratitude to my brother's memorx'. I ordered masses 
 for his soul in every church in Seville ; I paid the 
 clergy, both regular and secular, to offer uptheir pra}'ers
 
 174 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 in his behalf; and in fact made it plainlx' appear that 
 Don Csesar had not chosen an ungrateful brother for 
 his heir. When T had discharged the duty I owed to 
 his ashes, I turned my attention to my own affairs. 
 I sold my merchandise, and deposited the money, by 
 advice of the merchant of Tortosa, in the hands of 
 Signior Abel Hazcndado, who had the reputation of 
 being the safest banker at that time in Seville. 
 
 While I was thus putting ni)- affairs in order, 
 Master Gaspard, at whose liouse I still lodged with 
 the old Catalonian, treated me with the most un- 
 wear\ing complaisance, as did also his wife and his 
 handsome daughter, from the latter of whom I was 
 honoured with a profusion of tender looks. In the 
 meantime the merchant was incessantly expatiating 
 to me on the merits of this girl. He was always 
 praising her wit and amiable character, not forgetting 
 her virtue. I saw very plainly the point to which he 
 would bring me; he wished, as well as the host and 
 hostess, to see me espouse this very amiable lady, 
 to whom he was godfather, and perhaps something 
 besides. I was well enough inclmed to commit this 
 folly; and I believe that I should have committed it, 
 if I had not had the good fortune to be saved from it 
 by a piece of intelligence which I received, and which 
 will be read in the following chapter.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 175 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DON CHERUBirf MEETS WITH MILENO WHAT HE 
 
 LEARNS FROM HIM, AND THE NEWS WHICH PRE- 
 VENTS HIM FROM ESPOUSING THE DAUGHTER OF 
 MASTER GASPARD, AND CAUSES HIM TO LEAVE 
 SEVILLE AS PRECIPITATELY AS IF HE HAD BEEN 
 GUILTY OF SOME CRIME. 
 
 It is certain that I was enamoured of Narcissa, and, 
 imagining that I alone was beloved by her, I was on 
 the point of asking her from her father, when by 
 accident I one day met with Mileno, whom I supposed 
 to have been still in the service of Pedrilla. " Ah, 
 my dear Mileno," cried I, " is it you ? Is Don Alanoel 
 in Seville ?" — " I am no longer with him," replied he ; 
 '* we separated on account of a quarrel I had with 
 his cook, about a waiting maid of Donna Paula. The 
 cook and I were both very fond of this young person ; 
 and, becoming jealous of each other, we fought, and I 
 having wounded my man desperately, was obliged to 
 flv. I came directly to Seville, where I have the honour 
 of serving a young canon, who contrives to reconcile 
 with his breviary the pleasure of having a mistress. 
 He secretly visits, throu^^h the agency of an officious 
 old woman and myself, the daughter of an innkeeper." 
 These last words made me shudder, and 1 trem- 
 blingly asked Mileno if he knew the name of the 
 innkeeper. " He is called," said he, " Master Gaspard, 
 and his daughter's name is Narcissa. You know 
 them, I presume," added he, " since you change 
 countenance at hearing their names. You take some 
 interest in this lady?" — "More than you imagine, 
 child," replied 1. " 1 am enamoured of this perfidious
 
 1/6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 beauty ; you have done me a good office by giving 
 me the information I have just obt lined from you, 
 and of which I shall not fail to profit." 
 
 "If I had known," returned he, "that }ou were 
 about to unite your fate with Narcissa's, I would have 
 taken good care to have said nothing of her weakness 
 for the Licentiate Don Bias Mugerillo, my m.ister. 
 We ought to injure no one, and I should be extremely 
 sorry that any report of mine should prevent you 
 from espousing a charming girl who has only a little 
 matter of gallantry to be laid to her charge." — 
 " Signior Mileno," replied I, " cease, if }'ou please, 
 your ill-timed raillery, and continue your very honour- 
 able services to your very chaste master. Give me 
 some information about Don Manoel. Has he become 
 the husband of Donna Clara .'' " — " No, indeed, has 
 he not," replied he. "You do not know then that on 
 his return from Barcelona to Alcaraz he learned that 
 this lady was in a convent of the nuns of Ninaterra, 
 and had taken the veil ; so that in ail likelihood she 
 is lost to him for ever." — "And in what situation," 
 said I, 'did you leave Donna Paula?" — "In that," 
 said he, " of a girl who would have been very glad to 
 have borne with you the \'oke of Hymen, and who, 
 conceiving herself under the necessity of relinquishing 
 such an expectation, has taken an aversion to marriage, 
 and will no longer hear of it." 
 
 I would willingly have had a long conversation 
 with Mileno, but he was unable to remain with me, 
 and quitted me suddenly, sa}ing: "Adieu, Signior Don 
 Cherubin ; pardon me for not stopping longer. I am 
 in haste. My master has in\ited five or -six of his 
 intimate friends to sup with him this evening, and I am 
 going to order a repast worth)' of their sensuality,"
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 177 
 
 When Mileno had left me I fell into a train of 
 reflection. Zooks! thought I, there are some con- 
 foundedly deceitful faces in the world. Who would 
 not, like myself, have supposed that this Narcissa 
 was prudent and virtuous.'' It must be admitted that 
 my brows have had a most fortunate escape. Then 
 turning my thoughts to Don Manoel, and pitying 
 him for having lost a mistress so estimable as Donna 
 Clara, I participated in his affliction. "If I were at 
 Alcaraz," said I, " at this time, I should be a great 
 consolation to him. What prevents me from going? 
 M\' esteem for my friend, and m\' regard for my own 
 happiness, both urge me to it." Unworthy as Narcissa 
 has proved herself of my tenderness, I still find her 
 influence over my heart, and to forget her I must 
 again return to the company of Donna Paula. The 
 result of these reflections waa that I determined 
 immediately to take the road to Alcaraz. I set out 
 privately from Seville ; but when I was on the point 
 of going away, conveyed a billet to the daughter of 
 Master Gaspard, in which I informed her that being 
 under the necessity of quitting her for some time, I 
 had left to a young canon of the cathedral the care 
 of consoling her during my absence. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN RETURNS TO ALCARAZ — IN WHAT STATE 
 HE THERE FOUND DON MANOEL DE PEDRILLA AND 
 HIS SISIER DONNA PAULA — OF THE RECEPTION 
 
 WHICH THEY GAVE HIM HIS LOVE FOR DON MA- 
 
 NOEL's sister REVIVES. 
 
 After having been il! fed, ill lodged, and otherwise 
 tormented during six days, I arrived at Alcaraz. I 
 
 M
 
 178 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 alighted at the residence of Pedrilla, who imagined 
 that he beheld a phantom when I appeared before 
 him. " Is this an illusion ? " exclaimed he. " Is it 
 really Don Cherubin de la Ronda whom I behold ?" 
 — " Yes, my friend," replied I, " it is himself. I am 
 he whom you left at Barcelona in a habit which 
 my feeble virtue did not permit me to persevere in 
 wearing." I then informed him how my fervour had 
 relaxed so much, that I was unable to complete my 
 novitiate. " And I suppose," said he, " the monks 
 gave you back a part, at least, of the money you had 
 made over to them when you a.,3 uned the frock." — 
 " N'?, no," replied I, "there was no thought of any 
 such generosity ; but I should not have complained 
 of them, had they not refused to lend me fifty 
 pistoles, which I solicited from them a few da}'S 
 after I left the convent." At these words, Don 
 Manoel gave a shrug of the shoulders, which was as 
 good as a volley of the most violent declamations 
 against the monks. " You must," said he, " permit 
 my friendship to reproach you for suffering me to 
 remain in ignorance of your situation. Do }'Ou not 
 know that among good Spaniards it is an offence to 
 a friend not to have recourse to him when one has 
 need either of his purse or his sword .'' 
 
 " By way of reparation for your fault, you shall 
 always remain with me and partake my fortune. All 
 that I exact from your gratitude is, that you will be 
 convinced your misfortunes can never lessen my 
 friendship. I will go further; I promised you my 
 sister, and I now renew my promise. She still 
 preserves the same sentiments for you which she 
 indulged before you went to Barcelona; for think not 
 that by leaving her you have in any degree lost the
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 179 
 
 place you possessed in her heart. She has wept your 
 inconstancy, but without complaining of you." 
 
 I could not hear Pedrilla speak thus without being 
 most sensibly afifected, and pressing him closely in 
 my arms, " Ah, my dear Don Manoel," said I, " what 
 a happiness for me to have a friend like yourself, and 
 how delighted am I to think that I may still aspire 
 to the possession of Donna Paula ! My joy is the 
 greater since I am not in the state of indigence 
 which you imagine, I have eighty thousand crowns 
 to offer her with my hand." — " Is it possible," cried 
 Don Manoel, " that fortune has showered on you 
 such blessings in so short a time ? " 
 
 I then gave my friend an account of all that 
 happened to me since I left the convent ; and so 
 delighted was he with the intelligence that he 
 immediately conducted me to Donna Paula, to whom 
 he cried out in a transport of joy: "Great news! 
 Here is Don Cherubin de la Ronda, who has returned 
 as much as ever devoted to you." — " Yes, madam," 
 said I, " love has again brought me to your feet. 
 Heaven, satisfied with the efforts I made to detach 
 myself from your charms, has sent back the lover of 
 whom it was not willing to deprive }'on." — " I pardon 
 you for those efforts," replied she ; '" my pride is not 
 offended by them, and I have too much respect for 
 the motives of your inconstancy to reproach you for 
 it." 
 
 " How happy are you both," cried my friend. 
 " The moment is approaching which is to carry j'our 
 pleasure to the highest ; but for me, miserable sport 
 of love, I have lost for ever the hope of possessing 
 Donna Clara. I have just heard that she has pro- 
 fessed, and that the cruel girl has left me to the task
 
 l8o THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 of forgetting her. Don Cherubin," continued he, "this 
 was news you did not expect." — "Nay," replied I, 
 "I alread}' knew it. Mileno, whom I met in Seville, 
 informed me of it. I deeply lament your griefs, but 
 I hope that by sharing them with you I shall at least 
 contribute to soften them." 
 
 These two tasks, therefore, now devolved upon me, 
 to console the brother and to make love to the sister. 
 I acquitted myself so well in both, that I diminished 
 the chagrin of one, and augmented the love of the 
 other. It is true, that if by my exertions the passion 
 of Donna Paula was increased, she failed not on her 
 part to excite most effectually my own, and soon 
 restored it to its original warmth. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 BY WHAT ACCIDENT DON CHERUIBN HEARS NEWS OF 
 
 HIS SISTER, AND HOW HE WAS AFFECTED BY IT 
 
 HE MARRIES DONNA PAULA — HONOURS WHICH HE 
 RECEIVES. 
 
 Whil-E waiting till I should become the happy hus- 
 band of Donna Paula, I passed my time agreeably 
 among the most brilliant youth of Alcaraz. One 
 evening that I was on a visit at one of the principal 
 houses of the town, we were joined by a tall, thin 
 man, to whom the company appeared solicitous to 
 show a particular portion of civility. On taking 
 notice of this cavalier, I recognised him as Don 
 Denis de Langaruto, the Knight of Santiago, whom 
 I had met with at my sister's in Madrid. He also 
 recollected me, and throwing himself on my neck, 
 •'Signior Don Cherubin," said he, "will permit me to
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. i8r 
 
 embrace him. I am delighted at meeting with him 
 again." Not to be behindhand with this gentleman in 
 politeness, I manifested as much joy as himself; and 
 God knows at the same time how little either of us 
 was interested by the meeting. 
 
 We supped together at this house. As there were 
 ten or a dozen at table, the conversation was not 
 always general, each from time to time addressing 
 himself in an undertone to the person who sat by 
 him. Being placed near Don Denis, we consequently 
 often discoursed together. " Signior Don Cherubin," 
 said he, "I felt, I assure you, the greatest possible 
 concern for the accident which happened to your 
 sister's husband, Don Pedro Retortillo." I demanded, 
 with an air of surprise, what was the accident he 
 alluded to. " How then ! " said he ; " are you ignorant 
 that Don Pedro, while engaged in hunting about 
 three months ago, was thrown from his horse, and 
 hurt so seriously that he did not survive his fall two 
 hours.?" — "I was, indeed," said I, "unacquainted 
 with this ; and that ought not to surprise you, for I 
 have quarrelled with my sister ever since her marriage 
 with Don Pedro, and all intercourse between us is 
 entirely broken off. But," continued I, "pray be so 
 kind, Signior Don Denis, as to inform me whether 
 what you have mentioned may bf relied on as fact." — 
 "You need entertain no doubt on the subject," replied 
 he; "this accident happened to your brother-in-law 
 near Cuenga, in his Chateau de Villardesaz, where he 
 went to reside with his wife a few days after their 
 wedding," 
 
 I was so much affected by this news, that my mind 
 was full of it all the rest of the evening. My sister, 
 towards whom I imagined myself totally indifferent,
 
 1 82 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 presented herself to my thought in such a way as 
 made rue sensible that I was still interested in her 
 welfare. The cause of our rupture subsisting' ro 
 longer, nature easily resumed her rights. As soon as 
 I saw Don Manoel, I told him of the fatal accident 
 of which Don Denis had informed me. I then ex- 
 pressed some curiosity to know in what state were 
 my sister's affairs at that time. " I am not less curious 
 than you," replied my friend. "We will, if you think 
 proper, repair to Villardesaz, to console this beautiful 
 widow for the death of her husband ; and we shall 
 at the same time see Isnienia, who I suppose is still 
 with her. But," added he, " I am of opinion that it 
 will be better to postpone this journey till after your 
 nuptiaLs." To this delay I a.ssented the more readily, 
 as I was extremely anxious to become the brother- 
 in-law of Don Manoel de Pedrilla. 
 
 The preparations for m\' marriage were therefore 
 made with the utmost magnificence, and I espoused 
 Donna Paula, who united her lot to mine with a 
 satisfaction which rendered my happiness complete. 
 There was nothing during a foitni_;ht but concerts, 
 balls, and entertainments. Had I been the Grand 
 Seignior, I do not suppose that my wedding could 
 have been celebrated by more feasts and rejoicings. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 WITH WHAT GENTLEMAN DON CHERUBIN BECAME AC- 
 QUAINTED, AND WHAT ENSUED — HE SETS OUT WjTH 
 
 DON MANOEL FOR CLEVILLENTh's COUNTRY SEAT 
 
 WHAT HE MET WITH THERE. 
 
 Among the young gentlemen who were at my 
 nuptials, there was one who particularly struck me
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. iS^ 
 
 by h's noble and agreeable air. As soon as I saw 
 him, I demanded of Don Manoel who was that hand- 
 some cavalier. " He is called," replied he, " Don 
 Gregorio de Cleviliente." 
 
 At the name of Cleviliente I changed countenance 
 and became exceedingly agitated, entertaining no 
 doubt that this gentleman was the seducer of my 
 sister Francisca. Nevertheless, I concealed my 
 emotion from the eyes of Pedrilla, who thus con- 
 tinued : " He is returning from Calatrava, and is 
 passing through Alcaraz, on his way to his country 
 seat, which is near Alicant. I am extremely happy 
 at having become acquainted with him ; he appears 
 to me an accomplished gentleman." 
 
 If Don Gregorio pleased Don Manoel, Don Manoel 
 was on his side no less agreeable to Don Gregorio, 
 v/ho stopped a fortnight at Alcaraz, during which 
 time there grew up between these gentlemen so 
 intimate a friendship, that I was at first a little jealous 
 of it. But my jealousy could not hold out against 
 the advances which Cleviliente made to obtain my 
 friendship; so that forgetting what might have opposed 
 it, I honestly met the sincere and afifectionate senti- 
 ments which he manifested towards myself. This 
 cavalier, the evening before his departure, after ex- 
 pressing his regret at leaving us, proposed to carry us 
 to his castle for a few days, and urged his request in 
 a manner so pressing, that we consented. J set out, 
 therefore, for Clevillente's abode, not because it was 
 possible to derive any pleasure from the sight of a 
 house which the brother of my sister must necessarily 
 view with pain, but drawn thither by a secret inspira- 
 tion of heaven, which chose by my ministry to 
 accomplish its designs.
 
 l84 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 The first object which struck my view in this house 
 was a boy about ten or twelve years of age, who came 
 to throw himself into the arms of Don Gregorio. who 
 having affectionately caresr?ed him, presented him to 
 us, saying, "You see here the fruit of my earliest 
 love." We thought this boy extremely prett\\ Don 
 Manoel and I embraced hini, and congratulated Don 
 Gregorio on having so promising a son. Clevillente 
 appeared grateful for the compliments we paid him 
 on this subject. " This child," said he, " is so much the 
 more dear to me, as he is the offspring of a mother 
 whom I cannot console myself for having lost." 
 
 He accompanied these words with a sigh which I 
 re-echoed, in order to induce him to relate a story in 
 which I had but too much reason to fear that my 
 sister was interested. " It is melancholy, sir/' said I, 
 *'to have a beloved object snatchcjd from one by 
 death." — " The person wliose loss I lament," said he, 
 "is not yet dead; so, at least, I imagine: but it is 
 mow ten years since she disappeared from this house, 
 and, notwithstanding all the measures I have taken 
 to discover her, I know not what has become of 
 her." 
 
 "You give us," said Don Manoel, "a great idea of 
 her charms : they must be ravishing, since after ten 
 years you still take so much pleasure in thinking of 
 her." — "She was not," replied he, "a finished beauty; 
 however, so captivating was her whole appearance, 
 that it was impossible to see without loving her. You 
 shall judge for yourselves," added he, " if you will 
 follow me." At these words he led us into his closet; 
 where, amongst a great number of portraits, was that 
 of my sister. I knew it immediately, so great was 
 the resemblance ; all the difference I found being
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 1S5. 
 
 that the cop\' had a striking appearance of youth 
 which the original began to want. 
 
 "There," said C'evillente, pointing with his finger 
 to the portrait in question, "are the features of 
 Francillo's mother ! " I did not pretend to recollect 
 Francisca in this portrait, nevertheless I was persuaded 
 that Francillo' was her child, "I cannot," said I to 
 m\self, "refrain from thinking so, though she made 
 no mention of him in the relation of her adventures. 
 She must have deemed it most proper to suppress 
 this circumstance, thinking that such suppression 
 rendered her tal-e more iimocent." Then changing 
 m}' thought, "And yet, perhaps," added I, "this 
 natural son ma}' be by some other lady, whom 
 Cleviilente had seduced like Francisca." 
 
 To gain from Don Gregorio's conversation some 
 satisfaction of my doubts, I said to him : ''You must, 
 indeed, have been sensible to the loss of so moving a 
 beauty: but how did j-ou lose her.'' Did she quit 
 }Ou tiirough inconstancy, or did you give her cause 
 to complain of you.?" — "Alas!" replied he mourn- 
 fully, " I am the cause of our separation. It is my 
 own fault, and that is what renders me inconsolable. 
 If Donna Francisca had abandoned me out of levity, 
 I should long ago have forgotten her; instead of 
 which, sensible of my ill conduct to her, I cannot 
 dismiss her from my memory. I confess," pursued 
 he, ■' that I can impute her fault only to my own 
 perjuries. When I carried her off from the convent 
 in which she was a boarder, I promised, I swore 
 that I would marry her; and she \'ielded less to the 
 violence' of my love than to this oath. Far, however, 
 from keeping my word with her, I deceived, and finally 
 wearied out her patience. After a year's residence she
 
 1 86 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 escaped from this castle, unrestrained by a new-born 
 infant whom she left, that the sight of him might 
 incessantly reproach me with my perfidy and treason. 
 
 "I had Francisca sought for in every direction as 
 soon as I knew of her flight, but the persons who 
 were entrusted with this charge acquitted themselves 
 so ill that they obtained no intelligence of her. Since 
 that time I have never been at peace. Francisca is 
 ever in my mind, and her avenging image pursues 
 me night and da\'. I think I see her; I think I hear 
 her, deploring her credulity, burst out into bitter 
 invectives against me." — " Perhaps," said I to Cle- 
 villente, "you do not paint her to yourself as she 
 really is; perhaps, accusing herself only of her mis- 
 fortune, the recollection of her tenderness to you 
 excites her tears. Perhaps, in short, you still reign 
 in her heart in spite of your ingratitude." 
 
 "Ah! if I believed it," exclaimed he, "and knew 
 where she was, I would go and lament at her feet the 
 unworthy treatment she has received from me. Yes, 
 I would seek her out, though she were at the end of 
 the world." — "It would not be requisite," said I, "to 
 go so far in search of her, if you were in reality di.s- 
 posed to expiate b\' marriage the mortal blow you 
 have given her honour, and the affront you have 
 offered to her family." — "What do I hear.-*" cried 
 Don Gregorio, astonished, " Is it possible, Don 
 Cherubin, that you are acquainted with the lady 
 whom this portrait represents } " — " Doubt it not," 
 replied I ; "neither is she unknown to Don Manoel." 
 
 At these words Pedrilla considered the portrait 
 with more attention, and distinguishing the features 
 of my sister, " What is it I see } " cried he with 
 emotion: " I dare not disclose my thoughts ; I would 
 rather think that my eyes deceive me." — " No, no,"
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 187 
 
 replied I, " their report is faithful ; Donna Francisca, 
 who is known to you under the name of Basilisa, is 
 the original of that picture. Clevillente seduced my 
 s'ster ; she herself avowed it to me. He carried her 
 off from a convent in Cartliagcna where she was a 
 boarder, and brought her to this castle. It is a rape 
 which honour would im()el me to revenge ; but since 
 Donna Francisca is a widow, there is a milder way 
 by which the matter may be accommodated." 
 
 "After the sentiments which Don Gregorio has just 
 manifested," said Don Manoel, " I am persuaded that 
 his dearest wish is to marry Donna Francisca." — " I 
 have no other intention," cried Clevillente ; " and the 
 remorse to which I have been a prey during ten 
 }'ears ought to convince you of it. Let me only 
 know what part of Spain this lady inhabits, and 
 thther I fly instantly." — "I propose to conduct you 
 there myself," said I, "to be witness of the joy you 
 will both experience at your meeting. I believe that 
 Don Manoel will not refuse to accompany us." — " No, 
 doubtless," replied Pedrilla ; " I have my reasons also 
 for making this journey, independent of the com- 
 plaisance which you have a right to expect from my 
 friendship." 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 OF THE yOURNEY WHICH THE THREE CAVALIERS MADE 
 
 TO THE CASTLE OF VILLARDESAZ THEY DISGUISE 
 
 THEMSELVES AS PILGRIMS TO GET IX TO THE CASTLE 
 IN WHAT MANNER THEY WERE RECEIVED SINGU- 
 LAR CONVERSATION WITH A DOMESTIC OF DONNA 
 FRANCISCa's SURPRISE OF THE LATTER. 
 
 We accordingly all three took the resolution of goin^ 
 to the Castle of Villardesaz, where I conceived that
 
 i88 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 my sister must be. We made preparations for our 
 depnrture, and, followed by three valets, mounted 
 like ourselves upon three mules, we took the road for 
 Cuenga, where we arrived in less than six days. 
 
 When we had reached this town, we deemed it 
 prudent to stop there, and inform ourselves on those 
 subjects which we were desirous of knowinfy, that is 
 to say, what was goin^^ on in the Castle of Villardesaz, 
 which is but three-quarters of a league distant. We 
 learned that Signior Don Pedro Retortillo had really 
 been killed by falling from his horse in a hunting 
 party, and that his widow, still afflicted with his loss, 
 was leading a melancholy life at the castle, with no 
 other consolation than the company of a lady, one of 
 her friends. When Don Manoel heard of this friend, he 
 was filled with joy, entertaining no doubt that it was 
 Ismenia, whom he was no less delighted to see again, 
 than Don Gregorio to recover his lost Francisca. 
 
 As we were all three consulting about the manner 
 in which we should go and present ourselves to these 
 two ladies, a wild idea came into my head which 
 my companions approved, and which we resolved to 
 pursue. We got made three pilgrims' habits, in 
 which, after having left our valets at Cuenca, we went 
 about the commencement of the night towards the 
 Castle of Villardesaz. We knocked at the door, and 
 told a servant who came to open it, that three Ara- 
 gonese pilgrims, who were going to Santiago, in 
 Gallicia, begged permission to pass the night in 
 the stables of the castle. The servant went in to 
 announce us, and then came and told us a moment 
 after, that his mistress consented to it ; and there- 
 upon, having taken us into the castle, and conducted 
 us into the middle of a large hall, where there was
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 189 
 
 some fresh straw and a lamp fastened to the wall in 
 a corner, "Friends," said he, "when pilgrims come 
 this wa\', which often happens, it is in this hall we 
 put them to sleep. You will not be badly off; and 
 as I believe you do not want appetite, I am going to 
 bring you something to satisfy it. You will see that 
 in this castle we do not perform things by halves." 
 
 Saying this he retired, leaving us the liberty which 
 we wanted to \'ield to our desire of laughing at the 
 hospitality which was shown us. It was, in effect, 
 pleasant enough to see pilgrims like us treated in 
 this way, and the idea amused us infinitely. We 
 waited the return of the same servant ; and were not 
 a little curious to know in what consisted the supper 
 to which he had welcomed us, when a quarter of an 
 hour after he returned into the hall with a large 
 basket, in which were bread, cheese, and onions. He 
 was followed by another servant, who brought a large 
 cruise of La Manchn wine ; and approaching us gail\-, 
 " Here," said he, " are refreshments which I bring 
 you to renew )our strength ; line your stomachs well 
 with them, for that is what supports tne feet." 
 
 This lad appearing to us a sprightly fellow, who 
 wished for nothing better than to talk, we all three 
 put him questions by turns, to which he answered 
 like a discreet and affectionate servant. We gave 
 him an opportunity of relating to us the misfortune 
 of Don Pedro ; which he did without omitting the 
 most indifferent circumstance. "And your lady," 
 said I, "was she much grieved at his death.''" — "She 
 is still so," replied he: "I could never have thought 
 that a woman would mourn for her husband so long." 
 — " Don Pedro, your master," said Don Gregorio, "was, 
 it seems, a verv amiable cavalier?" — "Not too much
 
 tgo THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 of that," replied the servant: "he was a mortal of a 
 disposition bad enough, jealous, a grumbler, and full 
 of fantasies. However, in spite of all that, he had 
 an inexpressible something about him which rendered 
 him agreeable to my lady." — "Is there no person 
 who seeks to console this beautiful widow, eh.''" 
 asked Don Manoel. "I beg your pardon," replied 
 the servant : " besides that Signora Ismenia, her friend, 
 incessantly combats her grief, there comes here almost 
 every day a young gentleman of Cuenga, who appears 
 to me well calculated to assuage the tediousness of 
 widowhood. 
 
 "This cavalier," continued he, "is called Don 
 Simon de Romeral. I have no doubt that he is 
 inclined to succeed Don Pedro, and the thing is 
 not impossible. For some days past my lady has 
 appeared to me less afflicted than common, whether 
 because the conversation of Ismenia has taken an 
 effect on her, or that of Don Simon began to be 
 pleasing." 
 
 The report of this servant induced me to fear that 
 we had come too late, and that Don Simon had 
 already rendered himself master of Francisca's heart. 
 " If that be the case," thought I to myself, "my 
 sister will not owe me much goodwill for the care 
 I am taking of her honour: she will not be pleased 
 with the sight of an old lover, if she be actually 
 prepossessed in favour of another." Don Gregorio 
 made much the same reflection, and we began both 
 of us to doubt whether our pilgrimage would prove 
 succes.sful. 
 
 By dint of questioning the servant, who was no fool, 
 we rendered ourselves suspected by him. "Gentle- 
 men," said he, shaking his head, "you appear to me
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 191 
 
 to be very fine pilgrims. You are not picaros* as 
 are the greater part of those who wear the habit, 
 but have all the air of persons of importance. You 
 are disguised in this manner for the purpose of 
 acting some play, and perhaps you have also chosen 
 this castle for the scene of action. If you want," 
 added he, "a fourth actor for \ our piece, I offer you 
 my talents." 
 
 We took him at his word, and perceiving that he 
 was a man who might be useful to us, we discovered 
 ourselves to him ; and, the better to engage him in 
 our interest, gave him thirt}- pistoles. He saw by that 
 that he had not judged wrong of us; and charmed 
 by our behaviour to him, " Gentlemen," said he, 
 "dispose of your servant Clarin ; you have but to 
 command him. What is your design } What can 
 I do for you .'* " — "We are acquainted," said I, " with 
 the mistress of this castle and her friend : it is long 
 since we have seen them, and we wish to appear 
 before them thus disguised, to try if the\' will recog- 
 nise us. Go," continued I, "go and tell Donna Fran- 
 cisca privately, that if she be desirous of hearing news 
 of her brother Don Cherubin de la Ronda, a pilgrim 
 is here who can satisfy her curiosity." — " If you exact 
 nothing more of me than that," replied Clarin, "it is 
 but a trifle : I shall soon have acquitted myself of 
 that commission." 
 
 In effect, after having left us for a few minutes, he 
 returned and said : " Come along with me ; my mistress 
 would speak with you." At the same time he con- 
 ducted me to a very handsome apartment, where my 
 sister was with Ismenia. They both immediately 
 recollected me. " Brother," cried my sister, " what an 
 * Rogues.
 
 192 rilE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 agreeable surprise to me, to see you again. But why 
 offer yourself to my view in this dress ? " — " Sister," 
 said I, "you will cease to be surprised that I appear 
 before you in this form, when you know the cause of 
 my pilgrimage. But allow me first to express the 
 sorrow I feel for the death of Signior Don Pedro. 
 As I know }'ou are most sensible to the death of your 
 husband, I come here to participate in your affliction." 
 
 The widow on this found her grief renewed, and 
 her eyes were filled with tears. I thought she was 
 going to break out in fresh lamentations, and awaited 
 the coming broadside ; but happily Ismenia turned 
 aside the storm. " M)^ darling," said she, "you have 
 wept enough; it is time to console yourself: your 
 brother comes here with the intention of contributing 
 to enable you to do so." — " Oh \es," replied I, "such 
 is my intention ; and I dare venture to predict that 
 the face of things will soon be changed in this castle: 
 I am accompanied by two good pilgrims who are 
 resolved to make joy succeed to sadness." — "And 
 who are these pilgrims.^" asked Donna Francisca: 
 "I will not see, unless I know them." — "Allow me," 
 said I, "not to name them, that I may leave you the 
 pIeaj,'.Li'e of the surprise. Give orders that they may 
 be brought here." Ismenia having then called Clarin, 
 bade him go and fetch the other two pilgrims, who 
 were not a little impatient to show themselves on the 
 stage. 
 
 The moment they appeared, Ismenia knew Don 
 Manoel ; but my sister did not so readily recognise 
 Don Gregorio, who no sooner saw her than he ran 
 and threw himself at her feet. " Madam," said he, 
 "permit a guilty creature, brought hither by remorse, 
 I J soligit pardon." ponn^ Francisca, less struck with
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 193 
 
 these words than at the voice of Clevillente, recol- 
 lected him, and immediately faulted. I had expected 
 that the sight of Francillo's father would affect her; 
 but I was not prepared to see it make so lively an 
 impression on her. 
 
 Ismenia and I gave her prompt assistance ; and 
 when she recovered the use of her senses, she remained 
 for some moments silent. Then addressing me, 
 "Brother," said she, "you see the effect of your 
 imprudence. Ought you not to have given me notice 
 before you brought Don Gregorio into my presence.^ 
 You are not unacquainted with the reasons I have for 
 avoiding him." — "I was wrong, my sister," I replied; 
 " I confess that I ought to have prepared you, by a 
 private conversation, for again beholding a lover on 
 whom you have a right to bestow the most severe 
 reproaches, and who is, notwithstanding, not unworthy 
 of pardon. He has seen his fault, and has for ten 
 years deplored it. Permit him to explain to \'ou 
 what he has suffered. Deign to hear him ; I answer 
 lor his sincerity." 
 
 " Yes, Madam," cried Clevillente, " give rne, I 
 entreat you, a moment's audience ; grant it to the 
 prayers of my friend Don Cherubin. However pre- 
 possessed against me you may be, what I am about 
 to say will disarm your resentment."- — "Ah! what 
 can you say in your justification .? " said the widow of 
 Don Pedro. "Would to God that you were not one 
 of the most perfidious and ungrateful of men !" — " I 
 acknowledge my perfidy," replied Don Giegorio; 
 " but what have I not done to expiate it." He then 
 entered upon a detail of his sufferings, which Ismenia 
 and I allowed him to continue to her private ear^ and 
 which did not fail to produce its effect, that is, to 
 
 N
 
 194 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 soften Francisca ; from which it is reasonable to 
 conclude, that if the passions first felt be not all 
 proof against the effects of time, the}' are at least 
 badly extinguished fires, which may be easily re- 
 kindled. 
 
 While these two lovers were entertaining each other 
 in a low tone of voice, I observed them, and it appeared 
 to me that the anger of m\' sister declined. I believe 
 that my nephew Francillo was not forgotten in their 
 conversation, and that that did not impede their re- 
 conciliation. During this time Don Manoel and I 
 informed Ismenia in what man-ner we had become 
 acquainted with Don Gregorio, and all that had 
 passed between us and that cavalier at the Castle of 
 Clevillente. 
 
 "You delight me," said Ismenia, "in announcing to 
 me the return of a perjured man, whom my friend 
 could never entirely banish from her memor\' ; but, 
 by my faith, you could not have brought him here at 
 a more critical moment : it was full time. A month 
 later you would have found Francisca married. She 
 began to entertain a liking for Don Simon de Romeral, 
 and I was about to advise her to espouse him." — 
 "Heaven be thanked," replied I, "we have then 
 arrived fortunately indeed, provided my sister will 
 not be inclined to prefer a new-comer to an ancient 
 friend." — "Fie!" replied Ismenia, "do more justice 
 to Donna Francisca. Even though her inclination 
 should lead her towards Don Simon, she would with- 
 out hesitation decide in favour of Clevillente : the 
 suitor offered by love would yield to him presented 
 by honour." 
 
 Notwithstanding all Ismenia could say to set my 
 mind at rest on this subject, I did not cease fearing
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 19 
 
 that my sister might be of a different opinion. My 
 fear, ho.\ ever, was vain. Don Gregorio was a gallant 
 of the first class; he possessed the happy talent of 
 persuading ladies. Donna Francisca felt a renewal 
 of all the tenderness which she formerly had for him; 
 and as on her part she was no less clever than this 
 cavalier in the art of pleasing, she rendered him more 
 amorous than ever he had been before. Nor did 
 Don Manoel again find himself in Ismenia's company, 
 without resuming the sentiments he entertained for 
 her in Madrid ; and this lady gave him sufficiently to 
 understand by the obliging manner in which she re- 
 ceived him, that his happiness depended only on 
 himself, if he were disposed to have the pleasure of 
 becoming her husband. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 OUR THREE TRAVELLERS SUP WITH DONNA FRANCISCA 
 
 AND DONNA ISMENIA DON CHERUB IN CONVERSES 
 
 PRIVATELY WITH HIS SISTER — SHE MARRIES HER 
 
 FIRST LOVER, DON GREGORIO DONNA ISMENIA ALSO 
 
 MARRIES DON MANOEL DE PEDRILLA — DON CHERUBIS 
 AND DON MANOEL RETIRE TO THE CASTLE OF CLEVIL- 
 LENTE, AND SET OUT WITH THEIR WIVES FOR ALCARA2 
 AGREEMENT WHICH THEY MADE. 
 
 These two pilgrims, who felt no weariness in the 
 company of their mistresses, were interrupted by the 
 entrance of a servant, who came to apprise us that 
 supper was ready. Hereupon the widow of Don 
 Pedro led us into a saloon, where there was a table 
 covered with all kinds of well-cooked viands. At the 
 sight of a repast at which reigned abundance and
 
 196 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 neatness, I recollected the cheese and onions which 
 Clarin had brought us in the stable. " Brother-in- 
 law," said I to Pedrilla, "here are some eatables rather 
 better than those which were offered us awhile since. 
 What do you think ? " 
 
 This reflection excited a general burst of laughter, 
 and put us in the train for enjoying ourselves. "Gentle- 
 men," said Ismenia, "in your disguise we took you for 
 three adventurers, and we here regulate our hospitality 
 by the mien of our guests; but such pilgrims as \'ou 
 deserve that we should receive them like honest folks ; 
 for which reason ni)' friend and I are very well dis- 
 posed to afford you good treatment. I need not 
 protest it to \'ou," added she, looking with a smile at 
 my two companions; "you must already have per- 
 ceived it." In short, our pilgrimage afforded matter 
 of amusement during supper, and furnished us with a 
 thousand pleasantries which entertained us till mid- 
 night. Then a number of domestics, with liglits, 
 appeared to conduct us to the apartments which had 
 been prepared for us; thus the three pilgrims, instead 
 of retracing their way to the stables, to sleep upon 
 straw, went to rest, like inquisitors, upon beds of 
 down. 
 
 On the following morning, early, my sister sent to 
 say that she wished to have a private conversation 
 with me. I went accordingly to her apartment, where 
 having made me seat m}-self at the head of her 
 bed : " Brother," said she, " I am satisfied with Don 
 Gregorio : he repents of having offended me. For 
 these ten years past, he assures me that the stings of 
 his conscience have pursued him like furies. He 
 sought me everywhere, to expiate his ill conduct by 
 marriage He has found me again ; he offers me his
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 197 
 
 hand ; and, more taken with me than ever, swears to 
 me an eternal constancy. He lias rekindled in my 
 heart all the fire to which he gave birth at Carthagena, 
 and I accept his offer with transport." 
 I applauded this discourse of my sister's, 
 "You do well," said I : " Clevillente is the first who 
 vanquished you, and the pledge of your love ought to 
 make you view him as a husband who rejoins \'ou 
 after a long separation." Francisca blushed at these 
 words, and said : " I believe, my dear brother, that \ou 
 will pardon me for having made a mystery of that 
 pledge which you mention: when a fond girl relates 
 her history, it ought not to be taken amiss that she 
 suppresses some circumstance of it." — " Ay ! truly, 
 my dear sister," replied I ; "I willingly pardon }-ou ; 
 but let me also be permitted to speak to \'Ou of 
 Francillo. There never was a more lovely child. 
 When you shall have seen, you will pity him for 
 having been deprived of your caresses in his earliest 
 infancy, and you will acknowledge he well deserves 
 that his father and mother should recognise him as 
 their legitimate heir." In fact, I pleaded so well 
 the cause of my nephew, that Donna Francisca 
 was soitened even to tears in reflecting on his lot- 
 " Francillo," said I, "is no longer to be pitied, since 
 Heaven has brought his parents together, and that 
 marriage is about to unite them both : they will fix 
 his state, and by that means give a new member ^o 
 the nobility of Valencia." 
 
 After having talked a long while of Francillo, we 
 spoke of the death of my brother, Don Caesar, and of 
 the rich inheritance wi.ich he had left me. ]\Iy sister 
 (I owe her this justice), instead of evincing an avari- 
 cious regret at not having come in for a part of it,
 
 igS THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 was generous enough to congratulate me on it With 
 sincerity. It is true that, being even yet better off 
 than nu'self in her circumstances, and on the point of 
 marrying an opulent gentleman, she had a right to 
 be content with her fortune. Our interview concluded 
 with questions which she asked me about my mar- 
 riage, and she had every reason to judge by my 
 answers that I did not repent of the step I had taken. 
 
 After this conversation, I had another with Don 
 Gregorio, who, finding his love every moment in- 
 creasing, appeared all impatience to possess Francisca. 
 While I was with this cavalier, Don Manoel arrived. 
 " I have," said he, "just left Ismenia. I am enchanted 
 with her, and dying with desire to join my fate to 
 hers." — "Wel'l, gentlemen," said I, "since you are so 
 amorous, \\e must hasten your happiness. That is a 
 care whicli I take upon myself. I am going to seek 
 }-our ladies, and point out to them the fmpatience 
 you feel to become united to them. I do not think 
 they will have the cruelty to make you languish long." 
 In effect, as soon as they perceived that their lovers 
 submitted with so good a grace to the yoke of wed- 
 lock, they complied without hesitation with their 
 wishes. 
 
 When I saw that the four parties interested were 
 agreed, we held a council as to what was proper to 
 be done, and it was resolved that this double wedding 
 should be celebrated at the Castle of Cleviilente, for 
 more reasons than one. This being settled, we sent 
 for our servants from Cuen^a, with our equipage, and 
 prepared to set out ; which we were soon ready to 
 do. We quitted »ur pilgrim's disguise, to resume 
 our cavalier's dress ; and m\- sister, having left to her, 
 farmer the care of the Castle of Viilardesaz, took with
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 199 
 
 us and the whole of her domestics the road to AH- 
 cant, where we arrived at the end of eight days, not 
 having chosen to use more despatch, lest we should 
 fatigue our ladies. We did not stop in this town, and 
 speedily gained the Castle of Clevillente, where the 
 widow of Don Pedro, recalling the recollection of the 
 griefs, or perhaps the pleasures, she had experienced, 
 could not restrain her tears, which were redoubled at 
 the sight of. Francillo. But this amiable child himself 
 dried up the tears he caused, and inspired his mother 
 with so much tenderness for him, that he became her 
 idol. Besides that she beheld in him her living 
 image, he was her only child, she never having had 
 pne by either of her husbands. 
 
 Nothing was going forward in the castle but pre- 
 parations for the nuptials of my two brothers. Whilst 
 these were proceeding, I went to Alcaraz to fetch my 
 wife, Donna Paula, without whom the feast would not 
 have been complete. It was but a journey of six 
 days, at the end of which the Castle of Clevillente 
 beheld my return with my wife, w^hose happy arrival 
 augmented the joy which reigned there. Ismenia and 
 Donna Francisca caressed her in emulation of each 
 other, and found in her a person disposed to live 
 happily with her sisters-in-law. 
 
 Don Manoel and Don Gregorio exerted themselves 
 so much to hasten the day which was to crown their 
 happiness, that it shortly arrived. They received 
 the nuptial benediction from the hand of the Bishop 
 of Origuela, a relation of Clevillente ; his excellency, 
 who was a Dominican, having been kind enough to 
 come to the castle for this purpose. 
 
 Such was the manner in which Ismenia and my 
 sister were married. After having given themselves
 
 200 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 abundance of time, they married two gentlemen, who, 
 through an excess of regard for them, raised them 
 into hidies of importance. What an admirable thing 
 is love ! It draws the curtain over the past life of a 
 coquette when it chooses to marry her to an honest 
 man. 
 
 These two marriages were followed by rejoicings 
 which lasted three weeks. After this, Don Manoel 
 and I begged of Don Gregorio and his lady that 
 they would permit us to retire to Alcaraz ; but we 
 had abundance of trouble to induce them to consent 
 to it. My sister had so long lived in a close union 
 with Ismenia, that she could not make up her mind 
 to this separation. They, however, ceased to oppose 
 our departure, on condition that in order to be 
 together half the }ear, Don Manoel and I should 
 go with our wives for three months to the Castle of 
 Clevillente, and that Don Gregorio and my sister 
 should come and pass three months of the winter at 
 Alcaraz. They lot us quit them at last, on the pro- 
 mise we made of faithfully observing this convention. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 SINGULAR FARCE AT WHICH DON CHERUBIN WAS PRESENT 
 
 SERIOUS REFLECTION ON HIS FORTUNE, AND ON 
 
 THAT OF HIS SISTER DON MANOEL AND HE ARE 
 
 ROBBED BY ONE OF THEIR SERVANTS THEY TAKE 
 
 ANOTHER — WHO HE WAS SURPRISE OF DON CHERU- 
 BIN AND HIS FRIEND WHEN THEY RECOGNISE HIM. 
 
 After having testified by mutual caresses how 
 much we were affected by our separation, Don 
 Manoel and I set out with our charming spouses.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 201 
 
 leaving Don Grcgorio and my sister very melancholy 
 at our departure from the castle. As for us, the 
 possession of what we held dearest in the world 
 consoled us, and we derived infinite pleasure from 
 our little journey. 
 
 As we were obliged to sleep on the road, we 
 stopped at a small town, where we had the diversion 
 of a theatrical piece played by a company of strol- 
 lers ; they had designated it Ines de Castro. Relying 
 on the reputation this piece had acquired in Madrid, 
 we procured our ladies the pleasure of seeing it ; but 
 we were completely in despair when we saw appear 
 in the room of the inn in which this play was per- 
 formed, a woman in a state peculiarly unfavourable 
 to elegance of shape, who uttered a parcel of non- 
 sense of which nothing was heard. Then came an 
 actor about sixty years of age : he represented Don 
 Pedro. In fact, this piece, which could be called 
 neither tragic nor comic, lasted, but a quarter of an 
 hour, to the great satisfaction of the audience. They 
 afterwards gave us an entertainment, consisting of 
 dancing, leaping, and tumbling ; and to close the 
 spectacle, he who had played Don Pedro began 
 fencing with his right foot, standing on his head ; 
 and, as he acquitted himself well, he was much 
 applauded. But the most comic part of the adven- 
 ture was, that the Lady Ines, who while playing 
 had made a number of wry faces, presented an 
 addition to the company before the audience had 
 retired. The actors beo-ored us to excuse them for not 
 
 DO 
 
 giving us a Chinese ballet, which had made great noise 
 in Madrid, but which the unexpected incident that 
 had taken place prevented them from representing. 
 We had a great deal of amusement at supper in con-
 
 ioi THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 sequence of this business. On the morrow we arrived 
 safely at Alcaraz. Our wives were in want of rest, 
 and on our parts we wanted it also. 
 
 We enjoyed the most perfect felicity: though we 
 had been married three months, we loved our wives 
 more than ever. Too happy, had our felicity in my 
 own case lasted for life. But it was written in the 
 table of destiny that there should happen to me 
 misfortunes greater than those I had }-et experienced. 
 The adventures of my sister occurred incessantly to 
 my mind, and I admired the providence which had 
 never abandoned us. " For a woman who has been so 
 great a coquette to enjoy such brilliant fortune," said 
 I, "is indeed extraordinary. How many persons 
 who have more merit and more virtue than my sister, 
 do we see in ignominy and misery. What a world 
 is this! An immoral girl, an actress, become the 
 wife of an honourable gentleman! This is not often 
 seen. The honour of my sister is repaired by this; 
 she is rich, and her husband not particularly so : thus 
 one balances the other. May fortune allow us long 
 to enjoy her bounties! I will not again take it into 
 my head to put on the frock, and give my property 
 to monks : those with whom I had to do were too 
 grateful for the v.-ealth I left among them against 
 my will. (Perhaps I was wrong in talking thus, for 
 I might have derived my preseut fortune from the 
 efficacy of their pra\-ers.) Don Alanoel puts the 
 finishing stroke to my happiness by giving me the 
 half of his castle ; the most distinguished persons in 
 Alcaraz honour us with their visits; and walking, 
 hunting, fishing,' playing, reading, are our occupations 
 and amusements." 
 
 Our pleasures were troubled by an accident which
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 20 j 
 
 happened to us. The castle one night took fire, 
 and nearly the half of our effects were consumed. 
 Happily we had time to remove the most valuable; 
 and some repairs put things in their former state. 
 We should easily have consoled ourselves for this 
 loss, if we had not been robbed of money and of our 
 wives' jewels, which together amounted to a consider- 
 able sum. We did not suspect any of our domestics, 
 and yet it was notwithstanding one of them, who 
 was discovered by a shopkeeper to whom the rogue 
 had applied to sell a part of what he had taken. 
 Don Miinoel wouM have delivered him over to the 
 hands of justice; but out of consideration for me, he 
 contented himself with dismissing him, ordering him, 
 on pain of being prosecuted, to leave the kingdom 
 within two da\'S. We liberally recompensed our 
 honest dealer: he was of a kind not often met with. 
 
 Some days after, there offered himself to our ser^ 
 vice a youth, whose physiognomy and figure spoke 
 in his favour. He came to us with a recommenda- 
 tion from one of our friends. We hired him the 
 same day. His name was Alvares. His mldness, 
 his complaisance, his regularity in fulfilling his duties, 
 secured him our esteem. He had that spirit of 
 modesty and humility which made him beloved by 
 everybody ; but notwithstanding the excellence of 
 his disposition, he was frightfully melancholy, and 
 constantly sighing. I conceived a great interest fo • 
 him. This lad evinced an affection for me, and 1 
 returned it : it was sufficient that be was unhapp\', 
 to render him dear to me. 
 
 1 esteemed Alvares so much, that I took it into 
 m\- head to dissipate his chagr'n ; for his sombre, 
 melancholy air disturbed me. I made him come
 
 204 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 one da}' into Don Manoel's apartment, in order that 
 he might disco\'er to me the cause of his grief. I 
 began by asking him if he were displeased with us, 
 and told hini that we were well satisfied with him; 
 and that the melancholy in which he was absorbed 
 would sooner or later bring him to the tomb. Alvares 
 heard me with a sigh, and said nothing. " You are 
 in love," I continued, "and your affection is not 
 returned. Confess it to me: if the person whom you 
 love be dependent on me, or reside in our neighbour- 
 hood, do not constrain yourself; open your heart to 
 me ; I am sufficiently your friend to obtain you the 
 object of }'our desires." — " I am in love, it is true," 
 replied Alvares, "but witiiout any hope, though I am 
 loved by the most amiable creature that Heaven 
 could ever form." These words surprised me from 
 the mouth of a valet. "Your excessive kindnesses 
 for me," continued he, "are so reiterated, that I feel 
 no difficulty in confiding in you, and letting }-ou 
 know who I am." 
 
 Don Manoel, who heard us from his closet, and 
 could not restrain his curiosity, came out and joined 
 us. Alvares was surprised to see him so near, and 
 would have left us. Don Manoel stopped him, telHng 
 him that he had heard our conversation, and that the 
 interest he felt in it had engaged him to leave his 
 closet for the purpose of hearing the rest; and that 
 he might look upon us in no other light than that of 
 his friends. " Oh ! gentlemen," cried he, "how much 
 am I confused by your kindness 1 
 
 " My family is noble, but nobility is but a very 
 trifling matter when it is not sustained by a good 
 fortune. I had a mother who, by her coquetry and 
 the great airs which she gave herself, ruined my father
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 205 
 
 in a very short time. Happil}' I was the only fruit 
 of their marriage. My father, who was called Don 
 Alvar del Sol, died of grief by reason of this; and 
 m\' mother, unable to bear up against the distress 
 which she had herself brougiit on, followed him shortly 
 after." — " What; ! " interrupted Don INIanoel, " are you 
 the son of Don Alvar del Sol .'' Ah ! my dear Don 
 Carlos, let me embrace you." Don Manoel threw 
 himself upon his neck, and recalled to his recollection 
 that they had studied together at Madrid. I was 
 delighted within m}-self at this discovery, and begged 
 Don Carlos to make known to us his misfortunes. 
 My friend asked him news of Don Lopez, whose 
 wealth was immense, and who had resided at Madrid. 
 "Alas!" replied Carlos, "he is the author of all my 
 misfortunes, and by the means I will relate." 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 TRAGICAL HISTORY OF DON CARLOS AND DONNA SOPHIA. 
 
 " After the death of my parents, Don Lopez de 
 ia Crusca, my maternal uncle, took charge of my 
 infancy ; and it was under his eyes that I performed 
 my studies. In spite of his extreme avarice, he loved 
 me, and had taken me home with tiim, where I lived 
 happy, and without inquietude ; but love came at last 
 to trouble my repose. My uncle procured me all the 
 pleasures which can gratify a young man who has 
 just left college. We went frequently to the Prado 
 together, and this promenade was our principal 
 amusement. One day when we were there, my uncle, 
 being tired of walking, sat down, and out of good
 
 2o6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 breeding I sat down with him. There was opposite 
 to us a bench, on which was seated the most lovely 
 person one could behold. She cast a look at me now 
 and then, and her looks were so many arrows darted 
 at me b\' love. Her companion, however, whom I 
 supposed her mother, arose, and she followed her. 
 Seeing that they left the promenade by the side on 
 which we lived, I feigned indisposition to induce my 
 uncle to return home. He complied with my wish, 
 and I had the happiness of following at a distance the 
 person who of all the world had become dearest to 
 me. What was my surprise at seeing them go into 
 the house exactly opposite our own ! I asked my 
 uncle if he knew the ladies who lived opposite; but 
 he replied that, having never chosen to visit his 
 neighbours, he did not desire to know them. I told 
 him that there was, however, a treasure in that house, 
 since it enclosed the most lovely person in the world. 
 'That may be,' said my uncle, 'and yet I take no 
 interest in it.' — ' If you be interested for me, my dear 
 uncle,' replied I, ' you will introduce me at that house.' 
 — ' No, nephew,' replied he, ' I have taken care of you 
 till this time, and I do not repent it, since }'ou have 
 aUvax's obeyed me. Attend to my advice. Do not 
 go to that house: I have my reasons.' He then 
 retired, and left me alone. 
 
 " I was not unmindful of what my uncle had said ; 
 but love obtained the victory, and on the following 
 day I went to pay a neighbourly visit to the parents 
 of the lady whom I had seen. The reception which 
 they gave me enchanted me. I perceived that the 
 daughter at sight of me had blushed exceedingly ; 
 I believe, on my side, I was not too free from the 
 same weakness, being sensible of a flame which had
 
 7 HE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 207 
 
 been hitherto unknown to me. The father and 
 mother of Donna Sophia (this was her name), know- 
 ing me to be the nephew of Don Lopez de la Crusca. 
 reproached me for not having been to visit them 
 before. I excused myself in the best way I could, 
 and told them that my uncle was so extraordinary a 
 man that he saw nobod\' ; that, for m\- own part, I 
 had done m\self a great deal of constraint in not 
 having called on them before, and that they might 
 rely upon me for the future, since they permitted it. 
 Donna Sophia, while I was speaking, ceased not to 
 gaze on me, and I went out the most enamoured of 
 men. 
 
 " I continued my visits during six entire months. 
 No happiness could equal my own ; I loved and was 
 beloved. I formed the design of asking Donna Sopliia 
 from her parents in marriage. They granted me, 
 without hesitation, their consent, on condition that 
 my uncle would subscribe to it ; for without that they 
 retracted their word, since I had no expectation of 
 property but from him. I went to make known my 
 happiness to Donna Sophia ; she blushed, and for 
 the first time embraced me. I read in her e}'es that I 
 did not displease her as a husband. Her father and 
 mother came to interrupt us, and I returned to my 
 uncle's. I there threw myself on my knees, and con- 
 fessed that in spite of his prohibition I had been to 
 see Donna Sophia, and was madly in love with her ; 
 and that her parents had consented to give her to 
 me in marriage, provided he opposed no obstacle to 
 my felicity. ' Nephew,' replied he, ' I oppose none. 
 Espouse your mistress; I consent to it. I know that 
 for six months you have been regularly in the habit 
 of visiting her. I have never spoken of it ; you this
 
 2o8 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 day avow it to me ; be happy; but never hope, while 
 I live, for any part of my property ' — ' Ah, uncle,' 
 cried I, ' }-our consent suffices, and I prefer Donna 
 Sophia to all the wealth in the world.' The next day 
 I acquainted my mistress with my uncle's reply, and 
 she informed her parents, who immediately went to 
 visit Don Lopez, that they might concert together 
 the arrangements for our marriage. They left me 
 with their daughter, and went to my uncle's, who on 
 his part was much surprised at their visit. He let 
 them talk as long as they pleased, and then replied, 
 ' that he readily consented to the honour they designed 
 me, but that I had nothing to expect from him during 
 his life;' such were his intentions. It was in vain 
 they represented to my uncle that I did not merit 
 this injustice ; this implacable old man would not 
 swerve one jot from his opinion, and turned his back 
 upon them. The parents of Donna Sophia were 
 cruelly offended, and returning home, told me that 
 m\' uncle would do nothing for me, that they begged 
 me never more to set foot in the house, and ordered 
 their daughter never to see- me again. 
 
 " A criminal who hears his sentence read, was never 
 more struck with terror nor more troubled than I at 
 this dreadful news. I was taken so ill, that they were 
 obliged to have me carried home ; it was long ere I 
 came to myself, and my uncle, whom I may justly 
 call cruel, left me alone, and went to his country 
 liouse. I inquired after Sophia, and was informed 
 that her parents had sent her to Carthagena, to a 
 convent of which an aunt of hers was abbess. As 
 scjon as I was in a state to go out, I directed my steps 
 thither, but it was impossible for me to behold the 
 object of my love. Despairmg, without resource.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 209 
 
 without support, I would not set foot in my uncle's 
 house, nor see him. I wandered during two years 
 from town to town, wliere, not knowing what to do, I 
 devoted myself to service, until such time as it shall 
 please Heaven to release me from my misery. Death 
 only can put an end to my misfortunes." 
 
 Our ladies came to interrupt us by bringing us 
 news from Madrid, which were, that Don Lopez de 
 la Crusca was dead, and that having left his property 
 to Don Carlos de la Sol, it remained for him to make 
 himself known. Don Carlos mourned his death, 
 which certainly >howed his good nature. Our wives, 
 not being apprised of the change in Alvares, were 
 surprised to see him weep, till we informed them 
 who he was. They then congratulated him on his 
 good fortune. Carlos a mement after cried out, " I 
 can now be happy ; my uncle is no more." He 
 immediately wrote to the parents of Donna Sophia, 
 informing them wliat had happened ; and in the 
 interval which must elapse before he could receive 
 an answer, set out to secure his succession. After 
 having thanked and embraced us, he went away, 
 more amorous than ever. We caused him to be 
 accompanied by one of our servants, at whose return 
 we were informed of his fate. On asking for him, 
 which was our first care, what was our astonishment 
 at learning that he was no more ! The servant 
 informed us, "that while at his uncle's country house 
 to take possession, he there received intelligence that 
 the parents of Sophia agreed to his marr)'ing her, and 
 that he had only to repair to Madrid for the purpose, 
 for that they had written to Carthagena to have her 
 return from the convent. This news was so great to 
 him, and the joy he felt so violent, that after a 
 
 o
 
 2IO 2 HE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 thousand demonstrati ns of it, and a thousand extra- 
 vagances, he died in the arms of several friends to 
 whom he had imparted his happiness. 
 
 " Tiic\' sent me to Madrid," continued the servant, 
 " feo inform the parents of Sophia of what had taken 
 place, and they wrote immediately to the abbess of 
 the convent where she was, that Don Carlos had died 
 f j )'. They learned, in reply, that Sophia had 
 received with great indifference the news that she 
 was going to be married to Don Carlos, as she said 
 she was fond of solitude. Nevertheless when, some 
 days after, she heard that Don Carlos was dead, she 
 fell down in a swo n, and remained eight days with- 
 out recollection. She had raised her eyes to Heaven, 
 and they heard her pr nounce ther:c words : ' O 
 Heaven ! is it possible 1 He is no more ! ' The sighs 
 which she ■ ttered, and the tears which flowed from 
 her in abundance, prevented her from saying more. 
 In this state she continued, refusing every kind of 
 iiouri'^hment, until her sufferings were terminated by 
 death." 
 
 We were much afflicted at this news, and c uld 
 not refuse our tears to the misf rtunes of the un- 
 fortunate Don Carlos and Donna Sophia. They 
 were dissipated by the visit of Don Gregorio, ray 
 brother-in-law, with my sister. They remaine ' with 
 us a month, and took a deal of interest in the tragical 
 history of D n Carlos, of which we gave them a 
 recital. We procured them all the pleasures we 
 had formeWy enjoyed. It was thus we preserved, by 
 our reciprocal visits, the friendship which reigned 
 between us. 
 
 END OF THE THIRD PART.
 
 PART THE FOURTH. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN DE LA RONDA, FIFTEEN MONTHS AFTER 
 HIS MARRIAGE, BECOMES THE MOST AMOROUS OP 
 
 HUSBANDS DON GABRIEL CARRtES OFF HIS WIFE 
 
 HE PURSUES HER RAVISH ER IN VAIN — HE GIVES UP 
 THE PURSUIT, AND RESOLVES TO GO TO MEXICO. 
 
 In this manner then did my two brothers-in-law 
 and myself live with our wives. Don Gregorio and 
 Don Manoel g'ave me every day new proofs of their 
 esteem, as I, on my part, failed not to treat tiiem 
 with the most respectful deference and attention. 
 What is most worthy of notice is, that our ladies 
 were not less united than ourset-ves. They scarcely 
 ever contradicted each other, and when r.uch a thing 
 did happen, it was always without bitterness, and 
 their disputes were always terminated by laughter. 
 
 To crown our happiness, we were soon made sen- 
 sible that Heaven had blessed our marriages. Ismenia 
 in about ten months was delivered of a boy, Donna 
 Paula of a daughter, and Donna Francisca, my sister, 
 brought into the world two at once, as if to make 
 amends for her former sterility, or perhaps to con- 
 vince Clevillente that it was in his arms alone she 
 could be fruitful. 
 
 Our society, delighted with these fortunate ac-
 
 212 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 couchements, celebrated them by feasts which formed 
 occasions for rejoicing to the whole village. In fact, 
 we had now no wish ungratified. In whatever spot 
 we were, joy reigned incessantly among us ; and 
 though our pleasures had in our own families an 
 inexhaustible source, we had notwithstanding a great 
 number of friends who came to augment them by 
 partaking them with us. When we were at Clevil- 
 lente's house, the hidalgos of the environs afforded 
 us good company there ; and when we resided at 
 Alcaraz, Don Manoel's house became the rendezvous 
 of the gentry of the town, as well as of the illustrious 
 strangers who came there. 
 
 We enjoyed a felicity the most perfect, aid I in 
 particular was satisfied with my lot: in Donna 
 Paula's arms I found a source of the most pure and 
 inexpressible pleasures, and though married, I loved 
 her more than ever — too happy had the blessings I 
 enjo\-ed been of longer duration. I thought I had 
 arrived at the end of my misfortunes ; but I had not 
 yet undergone my destiny, which had evils in store 
 for me greater than any which had yet befallen me. 
 
 Among a number of cavaliers who joined in our 
 parties of pleasure, there was one who called himself 
 Don Gabriel de Monchique. He stated himself to 
 be from the kingdom of Algarves, and gave himself 
 out as a relation of the Count of Villa Nova. In 
 travelling through Spain out of curiosity, he had 
 stopped at Alcaraz, and we had become acquainted 
 with him. Besides having the equipage of a grandee, 
 he was extremely ceremonious, and his manners were 
 so noble, that he could not be suspected as a man of 
 a common class; one would rdther have taken him 
 for a young prince who was travelling incognito 
 through the Spanish monarchy, than for a private
 
 THE BACHELOR r p SALA MA NCA . 213 
 
 gentleman. I never saw a man who had a better 
 air or more agreeable figure; nor was his mind 
 inferior to the elegance of his person. My brothers- 
 in-law and myself were charmed with him from the 
 first moment, and spared no pains to acquire his 
 friendship. We took pleasure in introducing him to 
 our Jad'es, who, perhaps, secretly taxed us with 
 imprudence, in bringing into their presence so dan- 
 gerous an object. As for us husbands, instead of 
 being alarmed for the consequences, we acted like 
 true Frenchnien^ by admitting him into our society 
 at all risks. 
 
 He soon gave us to understand that we had let 
 the wolf into the sheepfold, and unfortunately for 
 me, my wife was the sheep he took a fancy to devour. 
 I saw very plainly that she was not unpleasing t -> 
 him; but this circumstance was very far from 
 alarming me : I only laughed at it. I sometimes 
 congratulated Donna Paula, in jest, on having made 
 a conquest of such a handsome man, and she in the 
 same style would reply that she was happy in being 
 able to make me a sacrifice so flattering. Nay 
 more! I made m}-self an amusement out of IMon- 
 chique's 1 ve. Far from having any inquietude on 
 the subject, I congratulated myself in secret on 
 seeing so amiable a rival sigh in vain. In a word, I 
 conceived the sister of Don Manoel too prudent to 
 step aside from the path of duty ; but I relied on 
 her pruden e too far. The gallant, who had formed 
 the design of seducing her, succeeded but too well, 
 through the agency of an old waiting woman, who 
 had obtained a great ascendency over, the mind of 
 my wife, and whose fidelity she f -und the means of 
 corrupting. 
 
 The most singular circumstance in this seduction
 
 214 THE BACHELOR OE SALAMANCA. 
 
 was that it was managed so secretly that I had not 
 the slightest suspicion of it. M\- wife was even already 
 far off from Alcaraz when I was informed that she 
 had disappeare.i with Antonia, her maid, as had also 
 Don Manoel, and that in all probability this cavalier 
 had carried them off. 
 
 I gave no credit whatever to the first report which 
 was brought me on the subject, in which, to my 
 apprehension, there was not the slightest probability. 
 " No, no," cried I, " it is not possible tliat ni}' wife, 
 whose virtue has been unshaken to this moment, 
 should begin by carrying matters to such an extremity 
 as that; this would indeed be a most extraordinary 
 cou/> d'essai. I should have been less surprised at this 
 adventure, had the wife of one of my brothers-in-law 
 been the heroine of it ; for such a thing would suit 
 them better than Donna Paula, whose conduct has 
 been hitherto irreproachable. Notwithstanding, it is 
 she who, in spite of the excellent education she has 
 had, has just covered herself with infamy. How 
 could this possibly have happened ? Don Gabriel 
 must have employed force to carry her off. But by 
 what dexterity was he enabled to tear her from the 
 bosom of her family and the arms of her husband? 
 By what enchantment has he been able to effect this 
 crime, without leaving a single trace of it behind.'' 
 This event confounds me." 
 
 Clevillente and Pedrilla, not knowing what to think 
 of this rape, were no less astonished at it than myself. 
 We did not, however, content ourselves with thinking 
 about the business, but all three made the most 
 vigorous exertions to discover the route which the 
 ravisher had taken with his prey. We made, both on 
 the side of Murcia and of Valencia, the most diligent 
 researches, all of which were ineffectual. We con-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 21$ 
 
 eluded I'lat Monchique had gained the coast of 
 Carthagcna, and embarked there on board some 
 vessel, prepared by his orders to transport him to 
 Portugal with his Helen. I stopped at this conjecture, 
 and, resolving to follow this new Pario, I prepared to 
 go and seek him in the kingdom of the Algarves, 
 where I flattered myself I should find him, 
 
 Don Manoel, not considering himself less interested 
 in obtaining satisfaction for the proceeding of Don 
 Gabriel, was absolutely determined on accompanying 
 me, notwithstanding all I co-.i'd say to turn him from 
 his design, wishing nothing so much as to convince 
 me that a brother such as himself was not less 
 sensible than a husband of the affront done to his 
 family, I had no small difficulty in persuading him 
 to leave to myself the care of our common vengeance. 
 He yielded, however, to my persevering requests, 
 which were seconded by the tears of his wife. I 
 therefore prepared myself to follow Monchique ; but 
 before my departure I begged Don Manoel to charge 
 himself with the care of having his niece, my daughter, 
 educated, and of the administration of my rents. 
 Then, having plentifully supplied m}self with gold 
 and jewels, as with a foresight that I was to be a 
 long while absent from Alcaraz, I took leave of my 
 brothers-in-law and their wives, whom I did not quit 
 without exciting their tears, nor without shedding 
 them abundantly myself The ladies in particular 
 were much moved when we bade farewell, whether 
 because they were really afflicted at my departure, or 
 because they were still good comedians, 
 
 I proceeded to the port of Vera, where I embarked 
 with a lackey, on whose courage and fidelity I could 
 rely, in a vessel freighted for Lagos, a town which 
 forms the point of the kingdom of the Algarves, on
 
 2l6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 the sea-coast. I was no sooner arrived there than I 
 began to make inquiry for Don Gabriel Monchique, 
 and, as they informed me that he was not known in 
 Lagos, I went from town to town endeavouring to ob- 
 tain an account of him. I passed through Tavira, Faro, 
 Sagres ; in a word, all the kingdom of the Algarves, 
 without deriving any other fruit from my researches 
 than the mortification of having made them in vain. 
 I was in despair at not meeting my enem\', and 
 respired only vengeance. 
 
 "What rodomontade!" will perhaps exclaim some 
 of my readers, who remember the business of Don 
 Antonio de Lorca, and the difficulty I had to bring 
 myself to a resolution of engaging in a combat, two 
 against two. It is, however, a certain fact that I 
 would willingly have discovered Don Gabriel, to 
 expose myself with him to the chance of having my 
 throat cut. I must have become brave since that 
 time, or else my injured honour inspired me with 
 a spirit of vengeance which supplied the place of 
 valour. 
 
 Be this as it may, Toston, my valet, who began to 
 be tired of so many useless journeys, said to me one 
 day : " Signior, we are both tiring ourselves to no 
 purpose. Let us leave off running over Portugal after 
 a man who may have directed his course to Flanders, 
 or perhaps to Italy. Besides, do you know whether 
 the lady who has been carried off deserves that you 
 should expose' your life for her } As to me, if you 
 will permit me to speak my mind, I fear that she 
 travels without regret with Don Gabriel, or rather 
 with an adventurer, for I am much mistaken if this 
 gallant be not a new Guzman de Alfarache, or some- 
 thing like him. If such were the case, would it not 
 be much better to abandon a faithless wife to her evil
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 217 
 
 destiny, than to entertain the desire of living with her 
 again ?" — " Assuredly," replied I. " Do not imagine 
 that I think otherwise than yourself about the matter. 
 If I knew that she had voluntarily left me, my con- 
 tempt for her would prevent me from seeking her 
 any longer. What do I say ? Instead of continuing 
 my search, I should look upon her as an infamous 
 wretch, from whom I could not possibly place myself 
 at too great a distance. But I cannot believe her so 
 guilty." 
 
 " What prejudice ! " resumed my confidant. " Is it 
 possible that yoa cannot, with the good sense you 
 possess, imagine the possibility of a hitherto virtuous 
 wife ceasing to be so when vigorously assailed by the 
 attentions of a handsome man .'' What a mistake ! I 
 judge less favourably than you of Donna Paula, and 
 I have particular reason for doubting her virtue. I 
 must make you acquainted with it. I one day saw 
 Don Gabriel and old Antonia conversing in private, 
 with an air of mystery, I am sure that \ou were 
 interested in their discourse, or rather that they w^ere 
 concerting together the plan which they meditated, 
 and in which my lady was, in fact, in concert with 
 them." 
 
 This zealous servant told me so man\' other things, 
 and returned so often to the charge, that he came at 
 last to persuade me that I had been deceived by a 
 hypocritical wife. I no longer doubted it ; and im- 
 mediately passing from one extreme to the other, 
 " Toston," cried I, " \ou have opened my eyes. YeSj 
 I have been the dupe of pretended virtue: certain 
 circumstances which \ou have related convince me 
 of it but too well. O Heaven ! how great has been 
 my blindness ! Donna Paula is a perfidious wretch, 
 whom I will no lonsrer remember but to detest." — " I
 
 2i8 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 am delighted," replied Toston, " to see you in this 
 mind. Heaven be praised for it! Come, my dear 
 master, let us no longer run after one who has de- 
 served your hatred ; let us return to Alcaraz, wherj 
 Don Manoel and Don Gregorio, your brothers-in-law, 
 and, what is more, your friends, will assist you in 
 banishing her from your memory." 
 
 " Ah ! Toston," replied I, " what have you ventured 
 to propose to me? You ought rather to counsel me 
 to pass the Pillars of Hercules, and go into the wilds 
 of Africa, to hide my disgrace and my name. I feel 
 an invincible repugnance to beholding Alcaraz again, 
 after the mortal blow which my honour has receivea 
 there. I would rather keep from it for ever, or, at all 
 events, for a few years." — "Well," said he, "since you 
 make so much difficulty about returning to your 
 friends, let us take another course. Let us sail to the 
 West Indies. After all the wonders I have heard of 
 Mexico, I should be verj'- glad if you would go and 
 see that charming country, which deserves the pre- 
 ference over all the climates in the world; a country 
 in which reigns, according to account, an eternal 
 spring, where sick persons are scarcely ever seen, 
 where the entrails of the earth are silver, and where, 
 in a thousand places, the rivers run over golden sands. 
 It is there, my dear master, it is there you ought to 
 go." — " You have inspired me with a wish to do so, 
 my child," replied I. "I am pleased with the idea; 
 let us set out for New Spain. The thing is decided, 
 and I am determined to undertake the voyage. Per- 
 haps it will enable me the more easily to forget the 
 unworthy sister of Don Manoel." 
 
 I had no sooner taken this resolution, which was 
 in effect better than that of persisting in my search 
 after a woman who shunned me, than I proceeded to
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 219 
 
 Cadiz, where I had not to wait a week for an oppor- 
 tunity of embarking for Mexico. I found a mercluuit- 
 man which was on the point of sailing for Vera Cruz, 
 and hastened to avail myself of this convenience. 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 
 DO.V CHERUBIN DE LA RON DA SAILS FROM CADIZ AND 
 ARRIVES AT VERA CRUZ, WHERE HE HIRES MULES TO 
 PROCEED BY LAND TO MEXICO OF THE CURIOUS CON- 
 VERSA TION WHICH HE HAD ON THE FIRST DA Y OF HIS 
 JOURNEY WITH HIS MULETEER, AND OF THE STORIES 
 WHICH TOBIAS RELATES HE CONCEIVES GREAT EX- 
 PECT A TIONS. 
 
 In order to spare my reader a tedious journal of my 
 passage to the Indies, I shall content myself with 
 stating that after having experienced some perils at 
 sea, I arrived happily at San Juan de Uihua, ot-her- 
 wise called Vera Cruz. As it is customar\- to travel 
 on mules from this cit\' to Mexico, I begged the 
 master of the inn to recommend me a muleteer. He 
 sent for one, and presenting him to me, " Signior 
 Gentleman," said he, "here is, without contradiction, 
 the best muleteer in this country. He will supply 
 you with very good mules, and will take particular 
 care of your property. He is, besides, a witty and 
 good-humoured lad, who will amuse you with his 
 songs, and the recital of a thousand little tales with 
 which his memory is stuffed. Is not this the fact, 
 Master Tobias.^" continued he, turning to the muleteer. 
 "Yes, Signior Gutierrez," replied the muleteer, " I 
 have, thanks be to God, so great a quantity of those 
 goods in my bag, tliat the gentleman will be in no 
 want of them between this and Mexico, although we
 
 220 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 have eisrhtv <Tood leaG[;ues to travel. It is now about 
 two months ago," added he, "since I took thitlier a 
 fat friar of the Order of Mercy, and on the road I 
 related to him such a number of stories, that I thought 
 he would have burst with laughter." 
 
 I judged by this answer that Master Tobias was 
 a babbler, and I was not sorry for it. " He ma\'," 
 thought I, "sometimes fatigue my ears with his songs 
 and tales; but in recompense, he will sometimes 
 divert me. I am even of opinion that he will inform 
 me on seme matters which I am desirous of knowing. 
 As for Toston, his joy was so much the greater, as he 
 hoped that a man of his character might draw me out 
 of the melancholy into which at times I fell in spite 
 of myself, the image of Donna Paula in the power of 
 Monchique incessantly arising in my mind. 
 
 On the morrow, as soon as it was day, Master 
 Tobias, agreeably to our engagement, entered the 
 courtyard of the inn with four good mules, of which 
 there was one for me, one for himself, the third for 
 my servant, and the last was destined to carry my 
 trunk and a portmanteau, which contained all my 
 effects. We set out on our journey, and were scarcely 
 half a league on the road, ere Master Tobias gave 
 employment to a strong voice which might have done 
 honour to a chanter of the cathedral. He thundered 
 forth a number of couplets composed in the time of 
 Carlos V. upon the conquest of Mexico. I was too 
 fond of my country's glory not to hear with pleasure 
 the exploits of the valiant Cortez and his companions; 
 but, besides that I had a thousand times heard the 
 incredible recital of that conquest, the verses which 
 Master Tobias was singing did not render it very 
 agreeable to the ear; the poetry not being quite 
 adequate to the dignity of the subject.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 22t 
 
 After having borne about twenty couplets of the 
 same air, I interrupted the singer, who tired me, 
 though, in fact, his verses were ridiculous enough to 
 have amused me. For my sins it came into my head 
 to say, "You sing marvellously well, Master Tobias ; 
 but enough of it for the present, my friend. Signior 
 Gutierrez, my host, told me, as you know, that you 
 have an infinitude of diverting histories: v/ill you 
 relate one?" — "Most willingly," replied he, "and 
 rather ten than one, to convince you that Gutierrez 
 has told you the truth. I will evtn," continued he, 
 with a malicious smile, " since he has made me 
 welcome with the histories I am acquainted with, 
 begin with his own, which will perhaps appear to }'ou 
 pleasant enough." He then made me his recital 
 nearly in the following words: — 
 
 " The Signior Gutierrez, a native of Zamora, hav- 
 ing made a journey to Portugal, married there the 
 daughter of a citizen of Santarem, both young and 
 pretty. About a month after his marriage, he em- 
 barked with her at Lisbon for Vera Cruz, with a 
 design of settling there. Hoping to make a fortune 
 in this town, he hired a house, the same which he 
 now occupies, and turned innkeeper. He soon per- 
 ceived that he had done a ver\- good thing in coming 
 to Vera Cruz, for his house was alwa}'s filled with 
 guests drawn thither by the gentility of his wife. 
 Nothing was spoken of in the town but the beautiful 
 Portuguese (so she was called), and it might be said 
 that she made as many conquests as there went young 
 men to her house. Gutierrez, naturally jealous, could 
 not without terror behold this concourse of gallants ; 
 and to withdraw his wife from the eyes of men, he 
 shut her up in a room, where he had her food c.inied 
 to her by an old black slave who possessed liis con-
 
 222 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 fidence. You may easily imagine that a husband 
 who treated his wife in this way, without having any 
 reason to complain, and purely out of jealousy, could 
 not fail to render himself odious to all who knew of 
 his tyranny, that is to say, the whole town, for there 
 was nobody ignorant of it. Ever\' person, taking an 
 interest in the fate of the beautiful Portuguese, put 
 up prayers to Heaven that she might speedily be 
 released from her tyrant ; and this was speedily ac- 
 complished. The black, who alone was permitted to 
 enter the apartment of this lady, hearing her every 
 day groaning and lamenting, was touched with her 
 distress ; so that one fine night he released her from 
 slavery, and disappeared with her from Vera Cruz, 
 neither of them having been since seen or heard of." 
 The muleteer here stopped, to g^ve way to his 
 laughter at the expense of Gutierrez. As I was 
 rather serious, Tobias thought that this stor\' was not 
 to my taste; and to put me into a gayer humour, he 
 relatec a number of others, which, in his own opinion 
 at least, were so extremely diverting, that I thought 
 he would have burst with laughter, like the fat friar of 
 the Order of Mercy whom he had conducted before us : 
 as for me, I had little inclination to bear him company 
 in his merriment, the stor}'' of a seduced wife having 
 p.ut me in a frame of mind little calculated for the 
 enjoyment of buffoonery. Toston being well aware 
 why 1 did not laugh, and remarking that I even 
 wished Tobias and his tales at the devil, said to him, 
 in order to change the discourse: "What you have 
 been sa3'ing is extremely pleasant ; but have you 
 any objection that we should talk a little about 
 Mexico? You, who are so well acquainted with that 
 •ire;it town, must be able to inform us of some inte- 
 resting particulars. What do }-ou conceive is the
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 223 
 
 most worthy of attention there ? " — " Five things," 
 replied Tobias ; " the women, the dresses, the horses, 
 the streets, and the carriages of the nobility, which 
 surpass in magnificence and beauty those of any 
 other court in Europe, without exception. It is true 
 that to ornament them, they spare neither gold nor 
 silver. They even employ for that purpose precious 
 stones, with the finest silks of China. The horses 
 have bridles enriched with fine pearls: their bits are 
 of silver; and one would suppose from their proud 
 movement, that they are sensible of their advantage 
 of being the most perfect animals ^f their species. 
 
 "Let us now come to the streets," cmtinued he; 
 "they are of an unc mm^n width; a thing extremely 
 necessary in a town where fifieen thousand carriages 
 are in motion every day. But ne must, at the same 
 time, admire the good rder f them, for there is not 
 a town in the world where they are kept cleaner ; 
 and indeed it would be pity that it should ' e other- 
 wise, on account of the shops, which present an air of 
 opulence nowhere else to be seen. Those, among 
 others, in the Goldsmith's Street, are filled with 
 immense wealth, and most extraordinary workman- 
 ship." 
 
 " I am most curious about the women, Master 
 Tobias," interrupted Toston. " Your impatience is 
 just," replied the muleteer. " What I have to tell 
 you about the women certainly merits attention. 
 The Spanish ladies of Mexic are generally beautiful, 
 and their beauty is considerably heightened by their 
 dress. They have such a prodigious quantity of 
 jewels, that they appear more brilliant than the stars. 
 Wiiat luxury! wiiat magnificence! One ought to 
 go and see them towards the close of the day in the 
 Alameda, which is the promenade for the gentry and
 
 224 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 principal citizens. It is there you may judge of the 
 excessive expense they besto\y on dress. But it is in 
 vain that they are naturally lovely, and richly attired; 
 the most they can do is to share the notice of the 
 men with the Indian girls of their suite, whom they 
 have walking by the sides of their carriages : these 
 blacks arc so pretty and delicate, that they are often 
 preferred to their mistresses." 
 
 " Fie ! Master Tobias," cried my valet, distorting 
 his features, " no joking. Can those tawny skins be 
 looked upon with any pleasure?" — "With any plea- 
 sure.?" repeated the muleteer; "ah! you talk like a 
 man just come from Spain, and who has never been 
 in the habit of seeing brunettes ! Go, go ; when you 
 shall have considered them well, you will not think 
 them so disgusting. The gentlemen," added he, "and 
 the officers of Chancery render them more justice. 
 The Viceroy himself makes them extremely welcome; 
 and his Excellency has so much pleasure in their 
 conversation, that the wags say black has become his 
 favourite colour." 
 
 I could not help laughing at these words of Master 
 Tobias; and, in order to enp^ai^e him to tell me all 
 he knew of the Count de Gelves, who was at that 
 time Viceroy of New Spain, I asked him several 
 questions about that grandee, to which he replied in 
 a manner which made me sensible that the virtues 
 and vices of men in power do not escape the notice 
 of the public. " The Count de Gelves," said the 
 muleteer, " is rather too fond of money, and of those 
 black girls I was talking about. Tiiough he has a 
 hundred thousand ducats a year out of the king's 
 treasury, and gets a million at least by the presents 
 he receives from the countr\-. and the commerce he 
 C.'UTies on with the Philippine Islands, all this cannot
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 225 
 
 satisfy his appetite for wealth. With the exception 
 of this, he is a perfection of a Viceroy. He knows 
 better than any of his predecessors how to make the 
 laws and the king's authorit}' respected ; and he is so 
 strict that he is called for dibtin'-tion ' the Butcher of 
 the Bri;jands.' 
 
 " In truth he well deserves this name," continued 
 Tobias, " for the pains he has taken, and which he 
 still takes every day, to clear the public roads of 
 robbers; for, since he has been Viceroy, he has caused 
 more murderers and malefactors to be executed than 
 have been seen punished since the territories of the 
 Great Montezuma changed their master. But we 
 must conceal nothing. If the Government of Mexico 
 do so much honour to the Count de Gelves, I believe, 
 between ourselves, that he is a little indebted to 
 Signior Don Juan de Salzedo, his principal .secretary, 
 wiio is a man of merit, and in whom he very justly 
 confides for the maiiagTsrufcTit of some of the most 
 laborious duties of the viceroyaltj'." 
 
 I interrupted Tobias, to ask him if Don Juan de 
 Salzedo, of whom he spoke, had not been employed 
 in the office of the Duke de Uzeda. " Yes, truly," 
 replied he, " and he would be so still if the Duke de 
 Uzeda had not been in exile since the death of our good 
 King Philip III. ; but immediately after the disgrace of 
 tliat minister, Don Juan left theCourt, to join at Mexico 
 the Duke de Gelves, who was one of his old friends, 
 and to whom he is rather a colleague than a secretarw" 
 
 I was delighted to find b)- this news that I .should 
 in Mexico be in a land of acquaintance ; for Don 
 Juan de Salzedo was that same secretary who had 
 made choice of me to be the bearer of important 
 despatches to Naples for the Duke de Ossuna, and 
 who had the habit of quoting on all occasions pas- 
 
 P
 
 226 THE' BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 sages from Latin authors. I told the muleteer that I 
 knew Don Juan de Salzedo well, and that I could 
 even boast of having been once among his friends. 
 "Ah, Signior Gentleman!" exclaimed Toby, with 
 great vivacity, "how happy are you in having a friend 
 of so much importance. I know not what brings you to 
 Mexico ; but with whatever view you may have come 
 here, be assured of success, since you are acquainted 
 with a man who disposes of all the employments 
 which the Viceroy can bestow, and who, as one may 
 say, is the mainspring of government." 
 
 When the muleteer Tobias had said thus much of 
 the Count de Gelves and his secretary, he returned 
 once more to the delights of Mexico. " When," said 
 he, "yoii shall have seen this town and its environs, 
 you will admit that if there be a country on earth 
 which may be compared to a terrestrial Paradise, it 
 is that. Andalusia and Lombardy, so praised by 
 travellers, do not come near it." And on this Master 
 Tobias gave us a description interesting enough, but 
 so long that it was not concluded when we arrived at 
 Xalapa, the first small town on our road, and in which 
 there is an inn commonly well stocked with provisions. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OF THE MEETING WHICH DON CHERUB FN HAD WITH A 
 FRIAR OF THE ORDER OF SAINT FRANCIS, ON ENTER- 
 ING THE TOWN OF XALAPA CONSEQUENCE OF THIS 
 
 MEETING HE SUPS WITH THE SUPERIOR OF THE 
 
 MONASTERY DESCRIPTION OF THE MONKS WHOM HE 
 
 MEETS WITH THERE AFTER SUPPER HE PLAYS, WINS, 
 
 AND RETIRES AT MIDNIGHT FROM THE MONASTERY. 
 
 As we alighted at the door of this inn, there poised 
 by us a friar of the Order of Saint Francis, whom
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 227 
 
 my servant and myself viewed with as much atten- 
 tion as wc thought he merited. He was mounted 
 on a good horse, and accompanied by two moorish 
 shives who walked at his stirrups. He wore a robe 
 of brown wool turned up and attached to his girdle 
 by a silken cord, exhibiting drawers of fine holland 
 embroidered at the top, silk stockings, and shoes of 
 Spanisii leather with red heels. He had above his 
 frock a hat of Canadi m beaver, of which the lining 
 was of flesh-coloured satin. So much grandeur in a 
 mendicant friar appeared to me a little out of order; 
 but having learned that in this country it was cus- 
 tomary to see such things, I prepared myself for 
 witnessing others of a surprising nature. 
 
 I was told that this Cordelier was the Superior 
 of the convent at Xalapa, who probably was going 
 to pay some visit at the extremity of the town. I 
 saluted him with a respectful air, and he returned my 
 salute with a great deal of civility. I had no sooner 
 lost sight than I thought no more of him ; and was 
 far from entertaining an idea that we should sup 
 together that evening, when, about three hours after, 
 there came into the inn a little friar who inquired 
 for the muleteer Tobias. They spoke together a 
 moment in private; after which coming to me, 
 " Signior," said the muleteer, introducing me to the 
 friar, "here is a little brother who comes to acquit 
 himself of a commission with which his Superior has 
 charged hiui." — 'Yes, Signior Cavalier," said the 
 friar, "our most holy father Guardian entreats you 
 will do him the honour to come and sup with his 
 reverence." I answered the little brother politeh', 
 "that the proposition was too agreeable for me not to 
 accept it with i)leasure, and that he might a.-sure his 
 most reverend Superior that I would directly prepare
 
 228 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 mj'self for visiting his monastery," as in effect I did, 
 leaving the muleteer and Toston at the inn. 
 
 I met at the gate of the convent the father Guar- 
 dian, who was waiting to conduct me himself to his 
 apartment. "Signior Cavalier," said he, saluting me 
 with a dignified air, "pardon the libertx' which one 
 of your countrymen has taken in inviting you to 
 supper; but it is my custom so to act with all the 
 Spanisli cavaliers who pass this way on the road to 
 Mexico. It affords me an extreme pleasure to receive 
 them, and to hear from them news of my country, for I 
 am a native of Billao, the capital of Biscay, of which 
 my accent will easily inform }-ou. I am descended 
 from the ancient Counts of Durango, who so signalised 
 themselves in the wars of Fernando against the Moors> 
 and in those of Carlos V. in the low countries." 
 
 I judged by this opening that the monk, in spite 
 of the vows he had made, still preserved the Biscayan 
 character. Accordingly, in order to flatter his vanity, 
 I told him " that by his noble and majestic air, I was, 
 from the first sight, inclined to believe that he must 
 be a man of quality ; that that struck the view at 
 once; and finally, that I found myself highly honoured 
 by the invitation he had sent me." 
 
 Upon this the monk, who appeared to be a man of 
 about forty and some odd years, introduced me into 
 a large hall decorated with portraits which represented 
 different saints of his order. From thence, having 
 made me traverse a vast court filled with palms and 
 oraufre trees, he led me into a wing of the building 
 separated from the rest, where he himself resided. 
 To show me all the parts of his dwelling, he made 
 me pass through several rooms hung with cotton 
 tapestr}-, and full with cui)boards furnisiied with vases 
 pf porcelain. This good father then opened a closet
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 229 
 
 where he slept upon a simple woollen mantle, spread 
 out upon a mnt. " How then, my reverened father," 
 cried I, " is it on that your reverence sleeps ? I 
 imagined you would have had a softer bed." — "You 
 are ver}- good," replied he, with a smile. " Do you 
 not find me much to be pitied ? Know that I enjoy 
 upon that pallet, a slumber more profound than that 
 of the inquisitors who sleep on down : admire the 
 effect of habit. I have only," continued he, " my 
 library to show you." At the same time he ushered 
 me into a room quite unfurnished, and in which I 
 perceived about twenty old worm-eaten books on the 
 floor, thrown one upon another, ill bound, covered 
 with dust and cobwebs, and on which there were a 
 guitar, some pieces of music, and a great number of 
 boxes of conserves. At this sight, which appeared 
 to me to have in it something ridiculous, I had no 
 small difficulty in keeping my countenance. I, how- 
 ever, suppressed my inclination to laugh ; and I did 
 well, for the reverend father was most perfectly satis- 
 fied of the importance of what he was displaying. 
 
 When it was time to sit down to table, we went 
 into a saloon in which were three young monks who 
 were to sup with us, and whom he introduced to me, 
 with an eulogium on each of them. One, as he told 
 me, had a fine voice, the other made good verses, and 
 the third played on all manner of musical instru- 
 ments. These were his courtiers, and his ordinary 
 table companions when he received strangers. These 
 young friars (what I should be wrong to forget) were 
 dressed in the stjle of their Superior : they displayed 
 under their large sleeves, doublets of white satin, and 
 the wrists of their fine hoUand sh'rts were ornamented 
 with lace. What is the most remarkable is, that after 
 the fashion of their Guardian, they all laid claim to
 
 i30 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 distinguished birth, whether they were really entitled 
 to do so, or, being unknjown to each other, all thought 
 they might with impunity admit themselves into the 
 order of nobility. To finish the description, they were 
 intelligent men, and their manners rather military 
 than monastic. 
 
 I was astonished at the number of dishes with 
 which we were served ; there were enough to satisfy 
 a general chapter. All kinds of solid meat, of wild 
 fowl and game, composed the first course ; and the 
 second did not less surprise me by the variety of 
 fruits and confections, both dried and liquid, with 
 which the table was covered. I remember among 
 other things that, finding s me conserves of an 
 excellent flavour, I said to the Guardian, " These are 
 admirable conserves. How fortunate are you, father, 
 in having such cl'-vrr confectioners in your convent !" 
 — " These con.=',e'-v js," replied he, " were not made in 
 the house : they are the work of some good nuns, 
 whose c ^javen', is in our neighbourhood, and who 
 give themse'res the trouble of making them for us." 
 
 During supper all these friars ceased not asking 
 me quc.tions about the Court of Spain. One de- 
 manded, of what character was the king, another, if 
 the new minister,the Count Duke of Olivarez, worthily 
 replaced the Dukes of Lerma and Uzeda ; and tlie 
 Guardian in particular, assuming the man of import- 
 ance, informed himself successively of all the grandees, 
 v^ith whom he claimed relationship. He boasted of 
 being cousin to the Duke of Ossuna, nephew of the 
 Dukes of Frias and Alberquerque, allied to the Mar- 
 quesses of Peguafiel and Avila Fuente. In short, he 
 summed up his genealogy, in which he modestly in- 
 cluded all the great names in the Spanish monarchy. 
 
 After the repast, some of the party proposed to play
 
 The bachelor of salamakca. 231 
 
 eit Primero, and this proposal was generally agreed to. 
 Cards were brought; and the first who took them up 
 to deal acquitted himself with a good grace, and in a 
 manner which showed that he was well accustomed to 
 handling them. Here then we were, fairly engaged 
 at play. Fortune at first seemed inclined to favour no 
 one in particular. Sometimes she flattered my com- 
 panions; but at last declared herself against two of 
 the friars, who, losing their coolness with their money, 
 apostrophised this divinity in a manner not the most 
 guarded for persons of a religious character, and rather 
 adapted for a tennis-court than a monastery. 
 
 The building occupied by the Reverend Father 
 Guardian re-echoed with their exclamations, when I 
 heard it strike midnight. Then addressing myself to 
 the Superior, I begged him to permit me to retire, 
 representing to him that I had a great journey to 
 perform, and that I must be on the road again before 
 the dawn of Aurora. He was polite enough not to 
 endeavour to detain me longer. I took leave of his 
 noble reverence, after having thanked him for his 
 gracious reception, and returned to my inn, to the 
 great regret of the two friars, who would willingly 
 have kept me all night, in the hope of regaining some 
 of the pistoles which I had managed to carry oft' in 
 spite of their ingenuity. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF DON CHERUBIN^S ARRIVAL AT MEXICO, AND IN WHAT 
 
 PLACE HE WENT TO LODGE HE IS CHARMED WITH 
 
 HIS host's wife, NOTWITHSTANDING HER BLACKNESS. 
 
 As soon as I returned to my inn I went to bed to get 
 some repose ; but scarcely had sleep taken possession
 
 232 . THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 of my senses, ere the hoarse voice of Master Tobias 
 awaked me. I instantly rose; and as I finished dressing 
 myself, my chocolate was brought me; after which I 
 mounted my mule, and proceeded on my journey. 
 
 The muleteer, an enemy to silence, soon put an 
 end to it. He sang that day ballads made on the 
 wars of Grenada. He then related to us some little 
 tales, the same perhaps which had made the fat friar 
 of the Order of Mercy laugh so much ; but they had 
 not quite so good an effect upon us. On the contrarj', 
 the/ annoyed us so much that we thought the road 
 longer than it really was. I shall, therefore, spare the 
 reader the trouble of perusing them, as well as those 
 which he forced upon us on the following days. Let 
 us hasten to get to Mexico. 
 
 On entering this celebrated town, I asked Tobias 
 to what point he intended conducting us. " The 
 quarter of t'ne nobility," replied he ; "to an inn where 
 gentlemen who come from Spain generally put up, 
 kept by a Spaniard, native of Carmona near Seville, 
 and who is called Master Jerom Juan Morales. Find- 
 ing himself without property in his own country, he 
 left it to come to Mexico, where he keeps an inn with 
 a young Indian girl whom he has married, and who 
 brings showers of gold into his house." — "Beware the 
 Moor," cried Toston, beginning to laugh. " Oh ! there 
 is no Moor to fear," replied the muleteer; "Morales, 
 far from resembling your host at Vera Cruz, is by no 
 nieans jealous, though he has one of the most enticing 
 of Indians for his wife. You will acknowledL;L- when 
 }-ou see her, that there are tawny faces which may be 
 looked on without horror." . 
 
 "On this footing," said I to the muleteer, "his 
 tavern ought not to be ill attended." — " Nor is it so," 
 replied Tobia.s. " Tliere are a number of honest folks
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 233 
 
 who go there every day, less to drink tlian to see the 
 hostess. She receives them with so affable an air 
 that they are enchanted, and the conversations that 
 she has with them, seldom fail to be followed by 
 presents; a thing which is particularly agreeable to 
 Morales, who is delighted at possessing a pretty 
 woman, and seeing people caress her." 
 
 This discourse struck me, and made me wish m\'- 
 self at the inn, that I might have the evidence of my 
 own eyes, not being able to conceive that an Indian 
 woman was capable of fascinating Europeans. Master 
 Tobias, seconding the impatience I evinced for arriving 
 at the house of Morales, redoubled our pace. He 
 took us into Eagle Street, in which reside none but 
 gentlemen and the officers of the Chancery. We 
 alighted at the door of a house which had for a sign 
 a serpent, with these words : Al Basilico, btiena cavia.^ 
 "Zooks!" said I to myself, "this sign appears to 
 me droll enough ; it seems as if it had been put up 
 to apprise strangers that there is danger in going 
 to lodge at this inn." But I thought the danger 
 too agreeable to be intimidated at it: notwith- 
 standing all Tobias had said, instead of fearing the 
 Basilisk, I exposed myself without hesitation to her 
 looks. 
 
 I sustained them at first with impunity : nay, morel 
 her tawny skin displeased me. Nevertheless I soon 
 became accustomed to it. What do I say ? She 
 insensibly fascinated my eyes by her dignified and 
 thoroughh- graceful manners; so that after a quarter 
 of an hour's conversation, I found that hearts are not 
 less in danger with such Indians, than with the most 
 formidable beauties of Madrid, She resembled a little 
 la Gitanilla, of whom I spoke in the first volume of 
 * To the Basilisk, good lodging.
 
 234 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 these memoirs ; I say a little, for the Indian was still 
 more piquant. 
 
 It is true that when I saw her she was dressed out 
 in a fashion which adde'd considerabh' to her charms. 
 She had a petticoat of Chinese linen thickly covered 
 with silver, with a flame-coloured ribbon, the ends of 
 which, ornamented with gold fringe, came down very 
 low both behind and before. She had above this a 
 jacket of the same stuff with large sleeves, embroidered 
 with red silk intermixed with silver, and fastened with 
 gold cords. To this was added a girdle of blue silk 
 enriched with jewels, a collar and bracelets of pearls, 
 with earrings of fine brilliants. 
 
 It is certain that it was difficult to see her thus 
 without emotion, or rather without being enamoured 
 of her. I thought I should have suffered myself to 
 be caught. At least, for the first day I was entirely 
 taken up, with her charms, which persisted throughout 
 the night in presenting themselves to my mind, but 
 my reason, more obstinate than her image, prevented 
 me from \ielding to my tender emotions. " Well, 
 friend," said I to Toston the next day, "what do you 
 think of our hostess ? Has she a little reconciled you 
 to the Indians.''" — "Perfectly," replied he; "Tobias 
 was right in saying that I should change my mind. 
 Last night I fatigued the muscles of my eyes by 
 stretching them in contemplating the wife of Morales. 
 What a sprightly girl ! I could not be satisfied with, 
 looking at her, and she has, it may be said, changed 
 my taste from white to black."
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 235 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN GOES TO SEE THE PALACE OF THE VICEROY 
 
 HE THERE MEETS WITH DON JUAN DE SALZEDO, 
 
 WHO RECOGNISES HIM— OF THE GOOD RECEPTION 
 WHICH THE SECRETARY GA VE HIM., AND OF THE FIRST 
 CONVERSATION THEY HAD TOGETHER, BY WHICH DON 
 CHERUBIN WAS EXCEEDINGLY FLATTERED. 
 
 I FE[;r SO great a desire to see the town, and, in par- 
 ticular, the palace of the Viceroy, that to have this 
 satisfaction I went out in the morning- with my valet. 
 Morales would absolutely accompany me, to answer, 
 as he said, the questions I might be disposed to ask 
 out of curiosity ; and I did not refuse to be conducted 
 by so good a guide. He made me cross the market, 
 the most considerable place in INlexico: one side of 
 this is built in arcades, beneath which are seen shops 
 filled with all kinds of merchandise. 
 
 As I was looking about on all sides, I perceived a 
 large house, and asked to whom it belonged. " It is 
 the palace of the Viceroy," replied my host; "you 
 see it such as Cortez caused t be built on the ruins 
 of Montezuma's." — " Is it possible," cried I, with 
 astonishment, "that this should be the palace, the 
 magnificence of which I have heard so frequently 
 extolled ? There are houses full as good in all the 
 principal towns in Spain. I expected to have seen 
 a more sumptuous building." — "You are mistaken," 
 replied Morales; "it is not this palace of which tra- 
 vellers give so splended a description, but that which 
 was reduced to ashes ; it is affirmed that it might 
 pass for the eighth wonder of the world." 
 
 "What exaggeration!" again exclaimed I. "I 
 have no objection to believe that the walls were, as 
 these gentlemen say, composed of masonry inter-
 
 236 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 mixed with jasper, and of a certain other black stone, 
 mottled with red streaks as brilliant as rubies. I also 
 believe that the roof might be inlaid with cedar and 
 cypress ; but I cannot put faith in the extraordinary 
 things which they relate of Montezuma, apparently 
 to amuse their readers. They say, for instance, that 
 there were in his Seraglio more than two thousand 
 women, of whom there were always two hundred 
 pregnant at the same time." — "Mercy upon us!" 
 cried Toston, bursting with laughter ; " he had then 
 more than King Solomon." — " There is nothing in 
 that which ought to astonish you," said Morales, 
 "since Montezuma might have three thousand of 
 them, having the privilege of carrying ofif the daugh- 
 ters of the principal Indians as often as he pleased." 
 
 Thus conversing, we approached the palace. There 
 were at the gate some soldiers, who suffered every 
 one to pass freely. We entered a spacious square 
 court, to cross over to a large staircase which led to 
 the Viceroy's apartments. We followed several cava- 
 liers, who came to that nobleman's levee. We crossed 
 with them three or four richly furnished apartments, 
 and arrived at last at that in which the Count was 
 being dressed by his vaiets-de-chambre. We all three 
 placed ourselves in a corner, from which we could see 
 with ease everything which was going forward. 
 
 I set myself at first to consider the principal person. 
 He appeared to me about fifty years of age, and pos- 
 sessed the Spanish gravity in a remarkable degree. 
 He had lank hair, black and very thick eyebrows, 
 and a terrible and ferocious air. Nevertheless, I 
 remarked one thing singular enough. W'hile he con- 
 versed with some of the gentlemen who came to pay 
 their court to him, he smiled occa.-^ionally ; and as 
 often as that occurred, he became all at once so dif-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 237 
 
 ferent from himself that he appeared as if he had two 
 faces. In short, while he was serious he inspired fear, 
 and when he smiled he appeared perfectly agreeable. 
 
 The conversation which he was holding with these 
 gentlemen was interrupted by the arrival of his secre- 
 tary, in whom I recognised my old friend Don Juan 
 de Salzedo. He held in his hand a large bundle of 
 papers ; an old piece of policy in the ministers of 
 Spain, who, in order to appear overloaded with busi- 
 ness, always showed themselves standing on end with 
 waste-paper. The Viceroy had no sooner seen, than 
 he came up to him. They both retired to the window, 
 and conversed together nearly a quarter of an hour 
 in private. During this time, I made an observation 
 wiiich agreed very well with what Master Tobias had 
 told me, and which marked very plainly the ascen- 
 dency that Salzedo had over the mind of the Count: 
 I know not what was the subject of conversation 
 between them, but it appeared to me that his excel- 
 lency listened to his secretary with great complaisance, 
 and approved of all he said. 
 
 I was determined not to leave the palace without 
 saluting Don Juan. With this design I placed my- 
 self in waiting for him in an antechamber, very 
 curious to see what reception he would give me. I 
 doubted his behaving very kindly to a man who 
 would not at Madrid profit by his kindness : nay, I 
 even doubted that he would deign to recognise me. 
 Nevertheless, he had no sooner fixed his eyes on 
 me, than making his way through the crowd, he 
 approached, and addressing me with a smiling air, 
 •' I believe," said he, " I do not deceive myself ; you 
 are Don Cherubin de la Ronda." I answered that I 
 was delighted to fmd he still recollected me. " I 
 have not banished you from my memory," replied he,
 
 238 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 " tantiivi abcst ! On your part you ought not to 
 forget that I esteemed you in Spain. I remember 
 that time with pleasure, and I feel at the sight of 
 you all my former friendship revive." 
 
 Touched, penetrated with the friendship which he 
 evinced for me, I would have broken out in grateful 
 acknowledgments; but he cut me short, and dravvin<5 
 me aside, "Don Cheruoin," continued he with a low 
 voice, " let us have no compliments; you know well 
 that lam a man of sincerity, though I have been all 
 my life at court. Speak to me with confidence. 
 What brings y u to Mexico 1 I think I can guess : 
 auri sacra fames, '\s> it not.-* Avow it boldly. I am 
 in a state to aid you," I again opened my mouth 
 to thank the Sec etary for his generosity, and he a 
 second time closed it by sax'ing : " I cannot stop with 
 you any longer. I have some pressing affairs which 
 will detain me the rest of the morning. Come and see 
 me bv and b\', we will then converse at leisure. Vale.'' 
 
 Pronouncing this word of Latin, which he accom- 
 panied with a close embrace, he quitted me to resume 
 his labours, leaving me transported with joy at the 
 rece[)tion he had just given me. All who had been 
 witnesses of it, looking upon Salzedo as a second 
 Viceroy, envied my happiness, and judged that I 
 must be a Spaniard of distinction, since Signior Don 
 Juan had done me the honour to embrace me. My 
 host complimented me on the subject, and conceived 
 a very high respect for me. 
 
 As to Toston, he was in inexpressible rapture. 
 " Sir," said he, as we returned to the inn, " are }-ou 
 not now pleased with having come to the Indies? 
 What may you not expect from the friendship of Don 
 
 Juan .'' You ma\- flatter \ourself by his credit "' — ■ 
 
 " Hey I what hopes," interrupted I, " my friend, would
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 239 
 
 you have me conceive ? You know that I am rich 
 enough to be contented with what I have." — " No, no," 
 repUed he, "abundance does no harm. Besides, con- 
 sider that you have a daughter ; }'ou cannot amass 
 too much wealth, if it be but for the sake of leaving 
 her a rich heiress." 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 OF THE VISIT WHICH DON CHERUBIN MADE IN THE AFTER- 
 NOON TO DON yUAN DESALZEDO, AND OF THE SECOND 
 CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH HIM — THE RESULT OF 
 IT — DON CHERUBIN DE LA RONDA IS RECEIVED AS 
 
 GOVERNOR OF DON ALEXIS, SON OF THE VICEROY 
 
 TO S ton's yOV AT LEARNING THIS AGREEABLE NEWS. 
 
 I DID not fail to return to the palace of the Viceroy 
 in the afternoon. I was shown the part in which 
 Don Juan de Salzedo was lodged, and went to pre- 
 sent myself at the door. I there found a valet-de- 
 chambre, to whom I had no sooner told my name, 
 than he said to me, with a respectful air, " Signior, 
 my master is waiting for you in his closet, whither I 
 will conduct you." At the same time, he made me 
 cross five or six rooms at least, each one more sump- 
 tuous than another ; for the Secretary's lodging was as 
 richly furnished as the Vicero}''s, and perhaps even 
 more so. There were an infinite number of paintings 
 by the best masters in Italy, with some of the finest 
 works of Mechoacan feathers and of rabbits' skins. 
 
 At last my guide opened the door of a closet, in 
 which was Don Juan, alone, and sitting on a sofa of 
 Chinese silk. As soon as he saw he rose to embrace 
 me, saying: "My dear Don Cherubin, I was waiting 
 for you with impatience, to know what had been the 
 means of bringing \ou into this countr}', and to 
 assure you again that if you be badly off in your
 
 240 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 affairs, you shall not be so long. In a word, I take 
 upon myself to make }-our lot happy in Mexico." — 
 " I am," I replied, " as sensible as I ought to be of 
 \'Our kindness; but it would be only abusing it if I 
 were to tell you that the desire of enriching myself 
 had brought me to Mexico, No, sir ! thougli I have 
 but a moderate fortune, I am satisfied with it; and 
 the desire of seeing New Spain has alone induced me 
 tc undertake this journey." 
 
 " Your sentiments are rather too philosophical," 
 replied Don Juan. " To have but that which is pre- 
 cisely necessary to enable us to live, is not to be 
 exact!}' at one's ease, and being confined to a certain 
 expenditure is sad for a man of the world, however 
 little he ma}- be inclined to generosity. Attend to 
 my advice ; preserve what yoa have, and do not 
 refuse the new favours which fortune is preparing to 
 shower upon }'ou through my ministry. An idea has 
 come into my head," added he, "which may be useful 
 
 to you. I will place you " — " Do not propose 
 
 to me," interrupted I, abruptly enough, " a place in 
 any of }our ofiices." My vivacity made Salzedo 
 laugh, " No, no," replied he, " I know that you do 
 not like a secretary's post. I design you another, 
 which will suit you better ; that of governor to the 
 young Don Alexis, the onl}- son of the Viceroy. 
 Leave me to manage it for you. I will this day 
 speak to his Excellenc}', and I dare answer for the 
 success of my application." 
 
 As I had accustomed m}'self to a life of independ- 
 ence, and saw mj'self about to pass from that into 
 the miserable occupation of a child's governor, I was 
 not dazzled with Salzedo's project. I was even going 
 to tell him candidly my sentiments on the subject ; 
 but what he added kept me silent, and appeared
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 241 
 
 deserving of attention. " Do not imagine/' said he, 
 " that I have made you a bad offer. I know as well 
 as yourself that at Madrid, and in the other towns of 
 Spain, the office of governor is no very pleasing one, 
 and that those gentlemen who fill it get barely enough 
 to support themselves, particularly when they have 
 the folly to dress themselves splendidly. God forbid 
 that I should be tempted to procure you a similar 
 establishment here ! That would be rendering you 
 no great service. Rut deign to hear me out. I 
 design, in placing \-ou over the conduct of Don Alexis, 
 to establish you on another footing at the Viceroy's. 
 I will have them look upon you as a Mentor, and 
 treat you with distinction. In a word, you will there 
 be considered, beloved, respected ; and you will have 
 a considerable salary, without counting the profits 
 which you will obtain every year through my means." 
 
 The Secretary Salzedo said so much to me about 
 it, that he prevailed on me. " I can no longer," said 
 I, " hold out against such flattering promises ; and 
 what I am pleased with beyond all the rest is to see 
 you take so great an interest in my fortune. The 
 only question is now whether I shall have the good 
 Juck to please his Excellency." — " That is a point on 
 which I am under no apprehension," interrupted Don 
 Juan. "The description that I shall give him of you 
 will not fail to prepossess him in your favour, and 
 your appearance will spoil nothing. Return," added 
 he, " return hither to-morrow, and I will present you 
 to his Excellency after his dinner." 
 
 Such was the second conversation I had with 
 my friend Salzedo, who said to me the following 
 day as soon as I approached him : "Your business is 
 done ; you are governor of Don Alexis. The Count 
 de Gelves assigns you apartments in the palace^ 
 
 Q
 
 242 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. , 
 
 with twelve hundred pistoles a year for your salary. 
 Besides this, when you desire to go out to pay a 
 visit, or for exercise, there will be always two lackeys 
 and a carriage at your disposal." 
 
 "Truly, Signior Don Juan," cried I, "I am con- 
 founded by the marks of friendship which you are 
 giving me." — "Oh! that is not all," replied he; "I 
 should not be satisfied with myself if I confined my 
 desire of obliging you to that. I calculate on adding 
 every year to your salary two thousand crowns at 
 least, which will result from the commerce carried 
 on by his Excellency and myself, both with Spain 
 and the Philippine Islands, and in which I will give 
 you a share." — "Ah! this is too much," said I. 
 "What have I done to merit so many favours, and 
 how can I repay, them?" — "By esteeming me as 
 much as I esteem you," replied he; "that is all I 
 exact from your gratitude. But," added he, changing 
 the discourse, " let us go and see my lord. He is in 
 his closet, where he must by this time have finished 
 his siesta. Let us seize the opportunity." 
 
 He conducted me directly as far as the door, and 
 desired me to wait there a moment. He then went 
 alone into the closet, where he remained nearly a 
 quarter of an hour; then returning to me, he took 
 me by the hand, and introduced me. . The Viceroy 
 ran me over with his exe from head to foot, and 
 the coup d'ceil was favourable. "I think," said his 
 Excellency, with an air of condescension, "that Sal- 
 zedo has not gone beyond the truth with me : you 
 have a countenance which confirms the eulogism he 
 has passed upon you. I confide Don Alexis to your 
 care, confidemt tiiat he cannot be in better hands. 
 In regard to your into ests, Don Juan has of course 
 made known to )'ou my intentions, and on what
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 243 
 
 footing I design you to be in my establishment." I 
 replied, "that I would make it my whole study to 
 render myself worthy of the employment with which 
 he was disposed to honour me," 
 
 I retired upon this with my Mecaenas, who carried 
 me to Don Alexis, whom we found in his apartment 
 composing a theme under the eyes of his tutor, an 
 old Gallician priest, who had, as they say, burned 
 the broom. " My young lord," said Salzedo to Don 
 Alexis, " here is the governor whom his Excellency 
 has chosen to introduce you into the world, and form 
 Aour mind to virtue. I can assure you that you will 
 be satisfied with him, and I hope he will likewise be 
 so with you." Don Alexis only replied by staring 
 at me with open eyes. I addressed him in order to 
 induce him to speak, and to enable me to judge of 
 his mind, which appeared absorbed in the matter in 
 which he was engaged. While I conversed with 
 him, his preceptor, who was a man bristling with 
 Latin, quoted passages from Virgil and Horace; and 
 Don Juan, who desired nothing better than to do 
 the same thing, overwhelmed us in his turn with 
 Latin sentences. After they had thus amused them- 
 selves to their heart's content, Salzedo said : " Signior 
 Don Cherubin, return to your inn, and prepare your- 
 self for coming hither to-morrow to take possession 
 of your new post. You will find here a lodging 
 befitting the place which you are to hold," 
 
 I immediately made my bow to the company, and 
 returned to the Basilisk, where I found my valet 
 waiting with the utmost impatience to learn the 
 success of my visit. " Toston/' said I, '' we must go 
 and reside at the Viceroy's palace. I am governor 
 to Don Alexis." I had no sooiier pronounced these 
 words, than, abandoning himself to an immoderate
 
 244 THE'BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. i 
 
 joy, he began to jump about like a madman. When 
 he had tired himself, he stopped to take breath. 
 " Here we are then," said he, "thank God, in traio, 
 you of enlarging your fortune, and I of commencing- 
 mine ; for I calculate that one will not go without 
 the other." — "You are right, friend," replied I; "if I 
 acquire riches in this country, I assure you that I 
 will give you a share of them." This promise revived 
 in Toston the humour of jumping. 
 
 While he was cutting fresh capers. Morales, who 
 came in, demanded why he was so exceedingly re- 
 joiced. I told him the cause, and gave him a circum- 
 stantial detail of the advantages attached to my 
 employment. My host was dazzled by this ; and, 
 already looking on me as a great and powerful lord, 
 begged me to grant him my protection. The most 
 amusing part of the business was, that I accorded it 
 to him with a serious air, making him sincere pro- 
 testations of serving him whenever I should find the 
 opportunity. On the following day, after having 
 charged Toston with the care of having my effects 
 conveyed to my new dwelling, I bid adieu to my 
 beautiful hostess, who appeared to me rather mortified 
 at our separation, though she had no great reason to 
 be so, as she only lost in me a man who refused to 
 sacrifice to her charms. 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 DOAT CHERUBINf GOVERNOR OF DON ALEXIS DE GELVESy 
 ONLY SON OF THE VICEROY, PAYS A VISIT TO THE 
 VICE-QUEEN — HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE TUTOR 
 OF DON ALEXIS CHARACTER OF THE LATTER. 
 
 I RETURNED to the palace, where I went in the first 
 place to see Salzedo, who, to instal me in my new
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 245 
 
 post, took me himself to my lodging, which consisted 
 of three small rooms on the same floor, well furnished, 
 with a wardrobe where there was a bed for my valet. 
 "You will not be badly lodged, as you perceive," said 
 Don Juan ; "and you can dine in private with Doctor 
 Gaspard de Aldagna, preceptor of Don Alexis, if that 
 be more agreeable to you than to be served alone in 
 your apartment. This doctor is a very honest eccle- 
 siastic, of a very good disposition, who does not want 
 for wit, and who talks Latin admirably." I replied, 
 "that I should be happy to dine and sup with such a 
 colleague,"and the arrangement was made accordingly. 
 
 The first step which I considered I ought to take in 
 the discharge of my duty, was that of paying my 
 respects to the Vice-Queen. Salzedo conducted me 
 to her. I expected a reception full of hauglitiness, 
 imagining that the Countess was a proud woman, and 
 intoxicated with her grandeur. Not at all : the good 
 lady, on the contrary, received me graciously, and 
 the more particularly so as Don Juan had previously 
 made her a magnificent eulogium on my merit. She 
 asked me several questions, in order to judge by my 
 replies if my understanding had not been too highly 
 represented to her ; but happily for me, she was so 
 well satisfied with our conversation, that she said to 
 Salzedo in my presence: "I owe you thanks, Don 
 Juan, for having made such a choice. This gentleman 
 appears to me qualified for bringing up a young 
 nobleman. Such is the person required for forming 
 the manners of my son, who, I confess, has but little 
 disposition for becoming a perfect cavalier." — "That 
 will come in time, madam," said Don Juan; "Don 
 Alexis has a slow genius, which will develop itself by 
 degrees with the aid of a good governor." 
 
 After having had this conversation with the Vice-
 
 2.\r, THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Queen, I went to see my pupil, with whom I had one 
 which afflicted me. I found I had to do with a scholar 
 wh(^ was preparing me abundance of employment, 
 with a most heavy subject, with an automaton. I 
 expressed my chagrin on this subject to Doctor Gas- 
 pare!, who, I thought, ougiit not to have had less than 
 myself; however, he appeared to have made up his 
 mind upon it. " I agree with }'ou," replied he, "that 
 it is disa;_:reeable both for you and for me to have an 
 imbecile scholar; for Don Alexis is in reality such, 
 lie is already in his fifteenth year, and he is not 
 capable of making the most simple version, though 
 for eighteen months that I have been his master, I 
 have toiled myself to death to teach him the Latin 
 language. Sometimes, tired of sowing upon sand, I 
 have lost patience, and begged my dismissal from the 
 Count ; but he would never grant it to me. ' Signior 
 Doctor,' he alwa}'s said, ' pray do not abandon my 
 son. I know very well it is not your fault, if hitherto 
 he has not profited by your lessons. No matter ! 
 continue. By hearing the same things often repeated, 
 he ma\' retain some, and that will be enough for him, 
 for I do not pretend to make him a man of learning.' 
 To obey his Excellency, therefore," pursued the 
 doctor, " J remain, and still- go on in my old wa}\ I 
 give my little lord exercises and versions, which he 
 gets through as it pleases God. 
 
 " In the meantime I live well in the palace. My 
 salary, which is tolerably good, is regularly paid, and 
 I shall perhaps in the end get hold of some good 
 benefice; for when in the service of the great, one is 
 not always ill recompensed. Imitate me, therefore, 
 Don Cherubin. Hey ! Why take things so much 
 to heart .^ Conduct young Alexis into the world; 
 reprove him when he is guilty of any reprehensible
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 247 
 
 action, or says any foolish thing, and laugh at the 
 rest. If our pupil be naturally a stupid animal, we 
 cannot help it. Look at his other masters; are they 
 more forward than ourselves? No, truly. One 
 cannot teach him music, nor the other the principles 
 of dancing, though they have been fifteen months 
 instructing him. Do you think that grieves tliem } 
 Not at all. They give the fool their lessons at all 
 hazards, and make a milch-cow of him." 
 
 It was thus that the Gallician exhorted me to con- 
 sole myself for the stupidity of Don Alexis, and I 
 conceived that he was in the right. I began, there- 
 fore, to discharge my duty as best I could. I set 
 myself before all things to gain the friendship of my 
 httle man by mild and insinuating behaviour, and in 
 a few days succeeded in my endeavour. It is true 
 that I only conversed with him in a manner more 
 calculated to divert than instruct him, for fear of 
 disgusting him by dogmatising. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HE GOES OUT WITH HJS PUPIL TO THE FIELD CALLED THE 
 ALAMEDA, WHICH IS THE PRINCIPAL PROMENADE AT 
 
 MEXICO OF THE OBSERVATIONS HE MADE I HERE, 
 
 AND THE EXTREME ASTONISHMENT THEY CAUSED 
 HIM TRAGICAL EVENT OF WHICH HE IS WITNESS. 
 
 I PASSED three days in getting myself properly 
 settled, without going out of the palace ; but on the 
 fourth, towards five o'clock in the evening, I got into 
 a magnificent carriage with Don Alexis, and we drove 
 towards the field of the Alameda, as I felt a great 
 pleasure in seeing it, after the description that Master 
 Tobias, the muleteer, had given me of it. 
 
 This field is of vast extent. It contains a great
 
 248 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 number of alle\'s bordered with trees, where one 
 may walk without being incommoded by the heat 
 of the sun. The Zocodover of Toledo, and even 
 the Prado of Madrid, do not come near this pro- 
 menade, which presents an enchanting spectacle to 
 the c\'e. One may see there as many as two thousand 
 carriages, filled with gentlemen, citizens and people 
 of all conditions. The gentry, those principally 
 who are said to be descendants of the captains of 
 Cortez, have for the most part superb equipages, and 
 are followed by Moorish slaves in rich liveries, with 
 silk stockings, and wearing roses of precious stones 
 on their shoes. Besides this, these slaves are all 
 armed ; so that their proud masters may boast of 
 having guards like kings. 
 
 The ladies do not ride with less pomp than the 
 gentlemen. By the sides of their carriages they ar- 
 range their suites, which are composed of those genteel 
 black girls whom I formerly mentioned, and who are 
 so adorned that they frequently rob their mistresses 
 of the glances of the pien. These, notwithstanding, 
 omit nothing to render themselves charming. All that 
 can be done by art is exerted in their dress, and pre- 
 cious stones are employed in it in the most coquettish 
 taste of America. 
 
 On whatever side I turned my eyes, I saw nothing 
 but gold and diamonds; which produced an effect so 
 advantageous for the women, that they all appeared 
 to me, one more handsome than another. " Where 
 am I then ? " said I to myself. " At seeing so many 
 ravishing objects, little is wanting to believe one's self 
 in Mahomet's paradise." 
 
 I was, in fact, dazzled b\' the brilliant beauty which 
 offered itself to my view on all sides; but no one of 
 these ladies made more impression on me than another:
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 249 
 
 for the moment that I remarked one who struck me, 
 there passed another who attracted my attention to 
 herself; so that I beheld with impunity a number of 
 faces, which I should have found very formidable had 
 I seen them singh'. 
 
 The pleasure which I felt in looking to the right 
 and left was disturbed by an event which is but too 
 common in this promenade, where jealous lovers, who 
 cannot endure that their rivals should speak to their 
 mistresses, nor even approach them tco closely, often 
 dart upon them sword or poniard in hand. I saw at 
 two or three hundred yards from me, at the side of a 
 carriage, two cavaliers who were fighting wnth so much 
 fury that one of them speedily fell to the ground. In 
 a moment twenty swords were drawn, some to avenge 
 the vanquished, and others to defend the victor. The 
 friends of the latter were the strongest ; they delivered 
 him from the hands of his enemies, and carried him to 
 the nearest church, where he remained in safety, the 
 immunity of churches being inviolable in this country. 
 Whatever crime a man n»ay have committed, if he be 
 fortunate enough to save himself in one of these sacred 
 asylums, he escapes the rigour of the laws, without 
 even the Viceroy himself having the power to force 
 him from it, to deliver him up to justice. 
 
 After having been witness of this melancholy adven- 
 ture, I continued to ride about and view the ladies, 
 until the night concealed them from my view. I 
 then returned with my pupil to the palace, my mind 
 much occupied with what I had seen, and unable suffi- 
 ciently to admire the magniricence of the inhabitants 
 of Mexico. When I drew a parallel between them 
 and those of Madrid, the latter did not gain by the 
 comparison.
 
 250 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA.' 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 HOIV THE GENIUS OF DON ALFXIS WAS BRIGHTENED THE 
 
 CONVERSATION WHICH DON CHERUB IN HAD WITH 
 
 HIS VALET WHAT HE LEARNS FROM HIS VALET 
 
 ASTONISHES HIM PRUDENT ADVICE WHICH HE GIVES 
 
 TO TOSrON THE LATTER IS INCLINED TO PROFIT 
 
 BY IT. 
 
 If I had a scholar who was stupid, in recompense he 
 was gentle and obedient. If he did not well that 
 which I wished him, he at least tried to do it : his 
 goodwill supplied .by degrees the talents of which 
 he was deficient. At the end of nine or ten months 
 (what perfectly astonished myself) he appeared quite 
 another thing in the eyes of the Count his father, who 
 complimented me upon his improvement, as did also 
 the Countess. ^* Made aiiiino" said my friend the 
 Secretary to me one morning; "they are well satisfied 
 with you. Perge, and be not in pain for the rest : 
 that is my business," 
 
 Flattered with so fortunate a commencement, I 
 attended more closely than I had hitherto done to 
 my pupil ; and each of his other masters seconding 
 my endeavours, we made of him, in less than two 
 years, a cavalier as good as most others. He knew 
 how to present himself with a good grace, and to 
 sustain a conversation in the style of the best com- 
 pany at Mexico. It was an absolute metamorphosis, 
 and did me peculiar honour, as also Doctor Gaspard, 
 who by dint of repeating the same things over and 
 over to Don Alexis, had at last succeeded in putting 
 a little Latin into his head. 
 
 We were all proud of the happy result of our 
 labours. Nevertheless, whatever cause we might 
 ha\'e to applaud ourselves for having polished our 
 icholar, I know not whether Toston had not a greater
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 251 
 
 share in the work than we. He at least contributed 
 to it as much : a fact which he revealed to me one 
 day, when I was boasting in liis presence of having 
 made my pupil a smart youth. "'Sir," said he, with 
 an arch smile, "you undoubtedly deserve praise, and 
 I should be very much in the wrong were I to refuse 
 it to you ; but permit me, if you please, to say that 
 you and Doctor Gaspard ought not to take all the 
 merit to ^-ourselves since I have laboured at the 
 same work ; or rather, know that it is I who have 
 brightened this young lord: or indeed, if }'Ou will, it 
 is a miracle of love." 
 
 "Speak to me," said I, "more clearly; explain the 
 whole." — "That," said he, "is what I am about to do 
 in a few words. There is, among the attendants of 
 the Vice-Queen, a Creole of about seventeen, who is 
 possessed of wit and beauty. This little person is 
 the author of the change of which you attribute to 
 yourselves the glorw" 
 
 "What sa\'est thou, Toston .? " cried T; "thou 
 announcest to me a piece of information which 
 astonishes me exceedingly. How did Don Alexis 
 become enamoured of tliis Creole } Has he made 
 known to her his sentiments.'' How, in short, does 
 he stand with her.?" — "At the tail of the ballad," 
 replied my valet. " I cannot get over my surprise," 
 replied I hastily ; " recount to me, I pray thee, the 
 means by which this intrigue has been carried on." 
 — " I will faithfully detail it," replied he ; " do me the 
 honour to attend. 
 
 "You know that I pay assiduous court to Don 
 Alexis, and that we live together very familiarly. I 
 am not less his valct-dc-cltanibre than yours, and 
 possess his confidence. Blandina, the most' lovely of 
 the attendants of the Vice-Queen, had charmed him.
 
 252 THE'BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 He made me the confident of his love, and prayea 
 me to exert myself to procure him private interviews 
 with this nymph ; which I effect at night so happily, 
 that no one has the least suspicion of it. This is 
 what I had to inform you. Judge now whether these 
 nocturnal interviews, or your lessons, have brightened 
 up the wits of our young lord." 
 
 Thus spoke the officious and secret agent of 
 Don Alexis; iifter which I said, shaking my head: 
 " Master Toston, if thou thinkest to have my applause 
 for haviiit^ thus contributed to the change in my 
 pupil, thou art in error. God forbid that I should 
 approve the culpable method thou hast used to rid 
 him of his inabecility! Better he had still continued 
 n it. Besides, art thou well assured that thou will 
 not repent of having been so obliging ? Thou knowest 
 the severity of the Viceroy. He will not perhaps feel 
 nmch indebted to thee for such services rendered to 
 his son, if, unfortunately for thee, they should come 
 to his knowledge ; nor may the Countess think it 
 altogether right that thou shouldest corrupt her 
 maids. In short, my friend, thou art playing a game 
 which ma)^ get thyself shut up in a dungeon ; and me 
 turned out of doors, to teach me to chose valets of a less 
 vicious character. See to what thou exposest us both." 
 
 Toston allowed me to talk as long as I liked with- 
 out interrupting me ; but instead of being moved at 
 what I said to him, he turned a deaf ear to my dis- 
 course ; and when I had concluded, answered me, 
 smiling, in the following terms : " Nothing is more 
 reasonable than what you have been representing to 
 me. You are a wise and prudent man. But you 
 know not all. The Countess is not ignorant of what 
 is going forward. I will tell you, — it is by her orders 
 that I conduct this intrigue."
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 253 
 
 "What do I hear?" cried I. "Dost thou not 
 deceive me? May I place faith in thy report?" — 
 ''Doubt it not, sir," said he; "it is a certain fact If 
 a he sometimes escape me, at least it is not with }ou. 
 The Vice-Queen," he continued, "having one day 
 sent for me, said to me in private: ' My friend, I would 
 employ thy ministry; but be discreet. Don Alexis 
 has no longer the air of stupidity which he formerly 
 had. His mind is brightening every day. There 
 wants nothing to finish him but a little female con- 
 versation. An idea has come into my head. Do 
 thou enable him to make a secret acquaintance with 
 Blandina, who is the prettiest and most lively of 
 my attendants. She will not fail to inspire him with 
 love, and that love will produce good effects : it will 
 perfect the cavalier, and prevent him from attaching 
 himself, like his father, to the blacks; a detestable 
 taste, from which I would preserve my son, and for 
 which I cannot pardon Spaniards. For the rest,' 
 added the Countess, assuming an air of reserve, 'if I 
 charge thee with this commission, which perhaps 
 appears a little delicate, it is because I am persuaded 
 that Blandina runs no risk: she has prudence, and 
 my son is too timid to alarm her virtue.' 
 
 "I would not tell the Countess,' continued Toston, 
 "that I had been beforehand with her, and that the 
 parties alreadx', through my interference, lived in the 
 softest union. To give her the honour of it, I pro- 
 mised to execute her project, as if it had not been 
 already done. This is what you were ignorant of," 
 continued he: "now you need no longer tremble either 
 for yourself or me." — " That does not set me at ease," 
 said I; "if the Vicero)- c(Miie to know that thou con- 
 trivest .ctc-a-tctcs between his son and Blandina, a 
 melanchcjly salary may probably be the reward of
 
 254 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 thy services; and the Vice-Queen, although thy ac- 
 comphce, will leave thee in the net instead of drawing 
 thee out of it. Make thou thy own reflections on the 
 matter." 
 
 The advice appeared of importance to my gentle- 
 man intriguer, who, in order to profit by it, resolved 
 to take his measures so well, that he might continue 
 with impunity to serve the passion of Don Alexis; 
 which, in effect, he did with so much good fortune 
 and address, that during two entire years no person 
 in the palace had any knowledge of it. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN DE LA RONDA ROLLS IN GOLD AND SILVRi 
 — HE EXPENDS A GREAT PORTION IN PARTIES OF 
 
 PLEASURE WITH LADIES OF HIS ACQUAINTANCE HE 
 
 GOES TO SEE A PLAY WHAT KIND OF PIECE THIS 
 
 WAS, AND THE iMPRESSION IT MADE UPON HIM. 
 
 On the Other hand, the Count de Gelves, delighted with 
 the polished exterior of his son, and imagining that it 
 was my work, did not know how to repay me. He did 
 not content himself, avaricious as he was, with having 
 my salary exactly paid, but loaded roe with presents. 
 Add to this, that Salzedo was very punctual in keep- 
 ing the promises he had made to me ; so that I began 
 to roll in gold. Had I had ever so little disposition 
 to avarice, I should unquestionably have become a 
 miser in so lucrative a post : but this was not my 
 vice ; and far from hoarding up, I spent my money 
 as I gained it. 
 
 I often made parties of pleasure, and gave enter- 
 tainments to ladies with whom I was acquainted. I 
 used to go to their houses to pass the afternoon in 
 play; which is carried on so frcel}' in Mexico, that it
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 255 
 
 is the principal occupation of the women. I some- 
 times took them to the theatre, the actors of which 
 were supported b}' the Viceroy, or, more properly 
 speaking, by the public; for his Excellency allowed 
 them such a trifling pension that they could not 
 subsist on it. Their company, which was composed 
 of Mexicans, was tolerably good. There were among 
 them five or six excellent actors, a sufficient eulogium 
 of a comic troop, which commonly has not three who 
 deserve to be applauded. 
 
 One day, when these actors represented for the 
 third time a new play which had been very well 
 received, I went to see it with Don Juan and- two 
 ladies of his acquaintance. It was the production of 
 a celebrated author. It was much praised about 
 town, and was entitled La Nobia Son-acada.* I 
 suffered myself to be carried thither out of complais- 
 ance, or rather in spite of myself, not feeling much 
 curiosity to see a piece which promised me more 
 pain than pleasure. The connection which the title 
 had with my own adventure frightened me, and I 
 doubted not that there was something in the comedy 
 of a nature to cause a laugh at m}' expense. 
 
 Nevertheless, though struck with so reasonable a 
 fear, I mixed among the spectators, resolved, since 
 my story was not known, to put the best face on the 
 matter, and even applaud the first strokes of raillery 
 which I should hear uttered against unlucky husbands; 
 but I was not under the necessity of going so far as 
 that, since, though it was a comed)', there was not a 
 single word throughout calculated to excite laughter. 
 The author was not one of those who take Plautus 
 and Terence for their models; but, on the contrar\', 
 sworn enemy to mirth and pleasantry, he admitted 
 * The seduced bride.
 
 256 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 only sighs and tears in his pieces, which he farcified 
 with sentences and tirades of morality in rhyme, to 
 the infinite amusement of the gentleman Americans. 
 
 But if my ears were not struck with any raillery 
 which I could apply to myself, I was not therefore 
 let off at a cheaper rate. As the business of this 
 piece consisted in carrying off a wife, the rape of 
 Donna Paula, which I was beginning to forget, came 
 in full force to my recollection, and caused me incon- 
 ceivable pain. In vain I constrained myself, and 
 exerted every effort to overcome the secret emotions 
 which agitated me; it was impossible to conceal them 
 from Salzedo, who, remarking the alteration of my 
 countenance, said to me, with a smile : " Oh, oh ! it 
 seems to me that this piece interests you." — " It is 
 impossible to do so more," replied I, reddening. 
 " Tlie author possesses perfectly the art of touching 
 tho passions. But it must be admitted that these are 
 admirable actors. I am principally pleased with him 
 who plays the husband. He represents so naturally 
 a tender spouse from whom a wife has been carried 
 off, that I find his grief communicate to myself. I put 
 myself in his place. I imagine that I have lost a 
 beloved wife. I feel as much as he." 
 
 My answer excited the laughter of the Secretary 
 and the two ladies who were with us. They rallied 
 ine on the excess of my sensibility. I suffered them 
 to make themselves merry at my expense ; choosing 
 much rather to sustain their pleasantries, than to 
 make them acquainted with what I was extremely 
 happy they should remain in ignorance of. Having 
 recovered from the disorder into which my spirits had 
 been thrown, I said to Salzedo when the play was 
 ended : "The husband, instead of abandoning himself 
 to despair, as I at first thought he was inclined to do.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 257 
 
 acts wisely in resolving to console himself." — " True, 
 he does well," replied Don Juan, ** since the wife 
 appears to have acted in concert with her ravisher. If 
 I had the misfortune to find myself in similar circum- 
 stances, I would not, I assure you, be fool enough to 
 let mvself die of grief for having lost a woman who 
 had betrayed me." 
 
 As, upon this subject, I had no other opinion than 
 Salzedo's, the impression which " La Nobia Sonsa- 
 cada" made on my mind was speedily effaced; or 
 rather I profited by this piece, in espousing the senti- 
 ments of the husband, and by renewing my resolution 
 of forgetting Donna Paula. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 OF THE GREATEST EMBARRASSMENT IN WHICH DON 
 
 CHERUB J N EVER FOUND HIMSELF IN WHAT MANNER 
 
 HE GOT OUT OF IT SALZEDO PROPOSES TO HIM HIS 
 
 DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE HE REFUSES HER — SUR- 
 PRISE OF HIS FRIEND. 
 
 About this time, Salzedo, who had been a widower 
 some \'ears, took home his daughter Blanca from the 
 convent in which he had placed her on his arrival at 
 Mexico. She possessed a small lively person, very- 
 pretty, and a mind in which was discernible sufficient 
 sense to afford the promise of her having a great deal 
 at a future day. 
 
 To contribute on my part towards forming her, or 
 rather to pay my court to her father, who begged me 
 to see and talk to her as often as possible, I scarcely- 
 let a day pass without having some conversation with 
 her, in wliich I gave her moral lessons, enlivened by 
 discourse as sprightly as was neccssar)' not to make 
 them tiresome, 
 
 R
 
 258 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 All this went on the best in the world ; but there 
 happened an accident which spoiled all : the pre- 
 ceptor could not help falling in love with his pupil. 
 No sooner was I sensible of my sentiments, than I 
 reproached myself with them. "What do you pro- 
 pose to do?" said I to myself. "To show your 
 gratitude for Don Juan's bounties, w^ould you seduce 
 his daughter.^" I was not satisfied with reproaching 
 myself for this passion, I resolved to combat it; which, 
 however, I did at first without effect, for, continuing 
 still to see Blanca, the sight of her always overpowered 
 my reflections; so that I was under the necessity of 
 applying to the efficacious remed}^ recommended by 
 Ovid upon such occasions, that is to say, absence. 
 
 I ceased therefore to pay such frequent visits to the 
 young lad}-, and when I did go to see her, had not 
 more than a moment's conference with her. Piqued 
 at the change which she perceived in my behaviour, 
 she said to me one day : "You grow tired of me, I see 
 very plainly; you look upon me as a child who is not 
 capable of amusing you." I knew not what answer 
 to make, not having resolution to tell her the reason 
 for which I shunned her, for fear of becoming more 
 culpable in endeavouring to justify m}-self. 
 
 At last Blanca, perceiving that I every day took 
 more and more pains to avoid her, complained of it 
 to her father, who did not fail to reproach me for it. 
 " How is this?" said he; "Blanca complains of her 
 master. You grow tired, she says, of instructing her. 
 Is it possible that, in proportion as she grows up, }'Ou 
 find her company less agreeable .'' This surprises 
 me." I replied in the same tone, " That would indeed 
 be a surprising consequence; but may I not, on the 
 other hand, discontinue my lessons because her com- 
 pany is beginning to grow too dangerous .-' " — "Would
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 259 
 
 to Heaven," replied Don Juan, " that it were for that 
 reason \-ou abandoned your scholar!" — "And what 
 other reason," returned I, '"'could make me abandon 
 the charms of Donna Blanca ? Yes, Signior, if I fly 
 her, it is because I find it impossible to view her with 
 impunit)'. After the avowal which I have just made 
 \"ou, I believe you will applaud the care which I take 
 to combat the birth of an affection which might, by 
 augmenting, cause me to lose your friendship." 
 
 Salzedo smiled at these words, which were, in my 
 opinion, calculated to make him assume a more 
 serious air. "Don Cherubin," said he, "you show too 
 much diffidence of your own virtue ; repose more con- 
 fidence in it. Continue your lessons; see my daugh- 
 ter every day: I believe you incapable of abusing the 
 libert\' I o-ive \ou of conversing with her ; I have no un- 
 easiness on the subject. I shall say no more about it." 
 
 This reticence plunged me in a profound reverie. 
 "What could have been the thoughts of Don Juan.'' " 
 said I, "when he had quitted me. Would he be in- 
 clined to have me marr\' Blanca ? Such, it appears 
 to me, m.ust be the meaning of the last words he 
 uttered. Could his friendship for me be carried so 
 far as to afford me such a testimony.-' But what 
 foily in me to think of such a thing ! This Secretary 
 is too rich not to have views more elevated by far ; 
 and his only daughter is not made for a man like me. 
 But whatever may be his intention in requiring me to 
 revisit Blanca, he must be satisfied." 
 
 I deteru.ined then to obey him, fully resolving to 
 keep myself on my guard against the charms of his 
 daugh.ter; a thing more easy to say than to perform, 
 for ever\- day she became more formidable. As she 
 kn-jw how very highl\- 1 whs esteemed b\' her father, 
 she received me in a mariner so familiar and obliging,
 
 26o THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 that I had to fear no less the marks of friendship she 
 bestowed upon me, than the power of her eyes. I 
 was in a situation quite embarrassing. 
 
 To add to my trouble, Don Juan said to me one 
 day : " It is now time to communicate to you a design 
 I have conceived. Learn tlie extent of my regard 
 for you. My daughter is now inatiira viro, and it is 
 you whom I have chosen for my son-in-law." 
 
 I could not hear this without being disconcerted. 
 Salzedo put a wrong interpretation on the embarrass- 
 ment I evinced. He thought it was caused by joy ; 
 and in this error continued: "Yes, my dear Don 
 Cherubin, I feel an extreme pleasure in allying your 
 lot with that of my daughter, to bind you more firmly 
 to m\ self." He even accompanied these words with 
 an embrace which pierced my heart. In the chagrin 
 I felt at this moment in not being at liberty to be- 
 came his son-in-law, I uttered a melancholy sigh, 
 which he interpreted no better than he had my agita- 
 tion : he imagined that Blanca was not to my mind, 
 and that I felt a repugnance to espouse her. He was 
 highly piqued at this; and casting upon me a look 
 in which anger was depicted, said to me, in a tone of 
 irony: "Signior Bachelor, lam extremely sorry that my 
 laughter has not found theway to your heart: you love 
 only beauties old enough to be grandmothers ; you 
 should have to please you a Donna Luisa de Padilla." 
 
 At this piece of raillery I looked in Don Juan's 
 face with such a mortified air, that he, judging some- 
 thing extraordinary was passing in my mind, began 
 to consider me with the most serious attention. " Ah, 
 Signior," said I, "do you imagine that I know not 
 the value of the honour you would confer on me ? 
 Do me more justice. The possession of Donna 
 Blanca would have a thousand charms for mej
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 261 
 
 but, alas! that is forbidden to me : I am married." — 
 "You!" cried Salzedo with surprise, "you marriei 1 
 Why did you not tell me so ? " — " If I made a mystery 
 of my marriage with you," I replied, " it was because 
 in speaking of it I should have been obh'ged to inform 
 you of the misfortune which followed close upon it, 
 and which I would have buried in eternal silence." — 
 " Conceal not this misfortune from me," returned he ; 
 "perhaps I may assist you in rep)airing it." — "I must 
 then reveal the secret," replied I; "pardon me for 
 not having done it before." I then confided to him 
 the whole stor>', and remarked as I related it, that 
 he participated in my affliction. 
 
 "Don Cherubin," said he, when I had finished my 
 recital, " I am sensibly affected with what you have 
 told me. I am no longer surprised at your appearing 
 troubled at the representation of * La Nobia Son- 
 sacada.' This piece no doubt revived the recollection 
 of your misfortune; but let reason banish for ever 
 from your mind these gloomy images. With regard 
 to my daugiiter, we \v\\\ say no more about her; 
 ceasing to see her, }-ou will shortly cease to love her. 
 I would gladly have been your father-in-law; and 
 I should doubtless have been so, had not fortune 
 thrown this uisuperaLle obstacle in the way. Let us 
 then content our.^elves with being united in bonds of 
 the most tender friendship." 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 HISTORY OF DON ANDREDE ALVARADE AND DONNA CYNTHIA 
 
 DE LA CAREER A DON CHERUBIN^S ADVICE DON 
 
 ANDRE APPROVES AND RESOLVES TO FOLLOW IT. 
 
 The easie) to forget Salzedo's daughter, I began to 
 pay court more strorgly than ever to the most lovely
 
 262 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 of the Mexican ladies. I also saw a number of yoiinj 
 gentlemen with whom I every day engaged in parties 
 of pleasure. Among others, I formed a close intimacy 
 with Don Andre de Alvarade, great-grandson to the 
 famous Alvarade, of whom such honourable mention 
 is made in the history of the conquest of Mexco. 
 
 Having one day gone to visit him, I found him 
 in his room extended on a sofa of Chinese silk, 
 and plunged in a reverie so profound, that I entered 
 without his perceiving me. I remained some minutes 
 before him, while he was so occupied witli his thoughts 
 that he was insensible of my presence; and imagining 
 himself alone, pronounced aloud, " \'es, I believe that 
 this creature will drive me mad." He then started 
 from his reverie, and, seeing me, burst out laughing. 
 " Ah ! my dear friend," cried he, " are you there .'' You 
 found me absorbed in my reflections; and, since you 
 have heard me, I will no longer make a mystery with 
 you of the state in which I find myself, I love, or 
 rather I adore, a lady who is driving me to despair." 
 
 " Hey !" cried I, " who is this cruel, this ungrateful 
 creature, o( whom you complain?" — " It is," replied 
 he, " Donna Cynthia de la Carrera, daughter of Don 
 Joaquin de la Carrera, Councillor of the Chancery. 
 You have never seen her, and she is a new acquaint- 
 ance, whom I have made to my misfortune. She is 
 a lady of ravishing beauty ; but the hope of pleasing 
 her is denied me. She is courted by Don Bernardo 
 de Orosco and Don Julian de Martara, who are two 
 young noblemen of great merit," 
 
 " I understand you," replied I ; "these concurrences 
 give you pain ; }'ou are alarmed at their courtship." — 
 " Very little," replied he : " formidable as they are, I 
 fear them less than the strange character of Cynthia: 
 she is so proud and so disdainful, that she does not
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 263 
 
 imagine there is on earth a man worthy of her atten- 
 tion? She becomes Hke a fury when any one speaks to 
 her of love. Don Joaquin, her father, who is desirous 
 enough of marrying her, but who will not constrain her 
 incliitation, finds her so opposed to his intention, that 
 he dares no longer press her to take a husband. Would 
 you believe it .? in the apartment of this cruel creature 
 everything announces that she is an enemy to love. 
 Nothing is to be seen there but the portraits of women, 
 over whom this god could never triumph. On one 
 side, you see Daphne flying from the embraces of 
 Apollo ; on the other, Arethusa, who chooses rather to 
 be changed into a fountain than yield to the love of 
 Alpheus. In a word, all the paintings which there 
 meet the eye evince that she despises men." 
 
 "You are giving me the description of a most ex- 
 traordinary fady," said I, considerably surprised to 
 find that there was any such in Mexico, where the 
 women are naturally less cruel than in any part of 
 the world. " .She has then, it seems, received very ill 
 the declaration of your passion ? "— " I have not yet 
 declared it to her,'' replied he; "and, between our- 
 jelves, I know not what to do about it. If I break 
 silence, she will close my mouth with some haughty 
 answer, and if I hold my tongue, my fate will still 
 remain uncertain. 
 
 " You see my embarrassment,'" pursued Don Andre ; 
 "if you were in my place, what course would you 
 pursue?"— "An extreme," replied I. "Instead of 
 burning incense to the idol, and nourishing her pride 
 by flattery and attentions, I would oppose it by^ a 
 feigned indifference ; I would employ disdain for dis- 
 dain ; I would go beyond her in the aversion she 
 manifests for all tender engagements. It is thus I 
 would act with a person of such a singular character
 
 264 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 What s?y you to my way of thinking ? You perhaps 
 consider it extravagant" — " Not at all," reph'ed Don 
 Andre ; " I approve of it highly ; and, to convince you 
 of it, I am determined to act this part with Cynthia- 
 I think I shall not acquit myself ill, though I burn 
 with the greatest ardour towards her. We shall see 
 what this artifice will produce. I will go and see her 
 to-day, and will give \'ou an account to-morrow of 
 what shall pass between us." 
 
 We here separated, and early the following day 
 Alvarade called upon me. I was no less impatient 
 to hear the progress he had made than he to recount 
 it to me. "Don Cherubin," said he gaily, "I shall 
 be very much deceived if our strategem do not suc- 
 ceed. Yesterday, when I went to Cynthia's, as I was 
 going into the house I met her servant Laura, whom 
 I have already engaged in my interest. I made her 
 the confident of our project, telling her the plan I 
 intended to pursue with her mistress ; and nothing 
 it appeared to her could have been more ingeniously 
 conceived. Laura," continued he, "was not content 
 with only applauding my design, but promised to 
 second it ; and I rely a great deal upon this promise, 
 for she is a girl of talent, and capable of serving nie." 
 — " But," said I, " did you not see Cynthia? Did }ou 
 not speak to her?" — "Pardon me," said he, "I went 
 to her apartment, where T found her v/ith some ladies 
 of her acquaintance, and Don Bernardo de Orosco. 
 We began talking of marriage. Don Bernardo ex- 
 tolled the advantages of it, and made the happiness 
 of life consist in the union of two persons bound by 
 mutual affection. Don Joaquin's daughter, on the 
 contrar}', maintained that there was no condition 
 more wi-etched than that of two persons bound together 
 b\' the yoke of Hymen. ' I am of the lady's opinion,'
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 265 
 
 cried I, 'on that subject. I tliink that no state can 
 be more deplorable than that of married people; and 
 have therefore, ever since I attained the age of reason, 
 looked with horror upon wedlock, as also upon love; 
 for it is this dangerous passion which commonly con- 
 ducts to marriage.' 
 
 "All the company burst out laughing at hearing 
 me speak thus. 'You are then,' said one lady, 'an 
 enemy to our sex, Don Andre?' — 'No, madam,' 
 replied I, ' do not make me more culpable than I 
 am. God forbid that I should be a woman-hater! I 
 respect and honour them infinitely ; but that is all 
 they are to expect from me. I will neither love them, 
 nor be loved by them.' — ' How, then ! ' said Don 
 Joaquin's daughter, 'if any beautiful lady should 
 cast her eyes on }'ou, she might run the risk of being 
 repaid with ingratitude.' — 'Yes, madam,' replied I, 
 doubtless; she would have the mortification of 
 loving by herself, were she as amiable as you.' The 
 ladies redoubled their laughter at these words, which 
 I pronounced with a very serious air, and with which 
 Cynthia appeared to me to be a little moved. 
 'Ladies,' returned she, addressing her friends, 'you 
 see that Don Alvarade will not deceive you, since 
 he declares his sentiments so plainly.' — 'But, Don 
 Andre,' cried a lady, ' be consi.stent with yourself: 
 you have been seen to give entertainments to ladies, 
 which seems to imply that you are not so insensible 
 as you would have us believe to their attractions.' 
 — ' That does not,' replied I, ' prove that I love 
 them ; it only shows that I am gallant, as every 
 gentleman ought to be. I do not deny myself their 
 company ; but I view the ladies without suffering 
 my affections to be engaged to them, and without 
 feeling any desire to please them.*
 
 266 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. ' 
 
 "This is what passed yesterday with Don Joaquin's 
 daughter," continued Don Andre Alvarade ; "and to 
 tell you my opinion of it, I thought I remarked in 
 Cynthia's eyes a secret anger at meeting a man who 
 seemed to bid defiance to her empire. I do not know, 
 after all, whether I may not deceive m\self in think- 
 ing so. I would not swear it; and the indifference 
 which I affect out of pride, will perhaps answer no 
 other purpose than that of making her despise me 
 the more." — " No, my friend," said I ; " I rather con- 
 clude, that to avenge her wounded vanity, she will 
 be the more desirous of fixing you in her chains." 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF DON ANDRE ALVARADE 
 AND DONNA CYNTHIA DE LA CAR R ERA FINAL SUC- 
 CESS OF DON CHERUBIN's ADVICE HE IS THANKED 
 
 F.yR IT BY DON ANDRE. 
 
 In effect, on the very same day, Don Andre having 
 met Laura at a house appointed, he learned that her 
 mistress had fallen into the snare. "Yes, Signior 
 Don Andre," said the waiting-maid, "you have raised 
 against you the pride of the haughty Cynthia. She 
 says she cannot pardon your insensibility ; and I 
 warn you that she is resolved to spare no pains to 
 triumph over it. She has not slept all night; and 
 has done nothing but groan and sigh with rage, at 
 }Our having braved the power of her eyes." — "But, 
 madam," said I, "what cause have you to complain 
 cf Don Andre .'' he is not more blamable in being 
 insensible to the charms of ladies, than you in despis- 
 ing the most accomplished cavaliers." — "Do not take 
 his part, Laura," replied she. " Seek not to excuse
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 267 
 
 him. I detect him; and I shall never feel satisfied 
 till I see this savage dying at my feet. I would, if I 
 possessed it, give all the wealth in the world to have 
 that pleasure." 
 
 '^You of course judge by what I have told you," 
 said the maid, "that Don Joaquin's daughter is pre- 
 paring to set ever\- engine at work to inflame you. 
 Take your measures accordingly, and be persuaded 
 that you have everything to hope for in continuing 
 the deception you have began. Adieu, Signior Don 
 Andre," continued she, "I am going back to my mis- 
 tress. Return here at six o'clock, and it is probable 
 I may have some information for you." Don Andre, 
 having returned at the appointed time, accordingly 
 met the maid. " Keep yourself on your guard," said 
 she; "my mistress designs to attack you with her 
 strongest weapons: as it is now Carnival time, she 
 designs to give a Sarao* to-morrow evening, in which 
 it will be so contrived, that you w ill both wear sashes 
 of the same colour. She makes tolerably sure of 
 enchanting you, with the flattering glances whieh she 
 will abundantl)' bestow upon you. Distrust this syren, 
 who has no other view in charming you, than that of 
 overwhelming you with contempt. I fear that, trans- 
 ported with joy, and too full of your love, you will 
 betray yourself." — " No, no, my dear Laura," replied 
 
 * This is an assembly which takes place in the Carnival time. It is 
 .;ompo3ed of young people of both sexes, who are in disguise, but with- 
 out masks. A woman who has in her hand a basket of silk sashes of 
 different colours, presents one to each lady as she enters the Sarao 
 saloon. Another woman, supplied with sashes of the same kind, dis- 
 tributes them to the gentlemen. After this, each of the gentlemen 
 seeking the 's,iy who wears the colour which marks her as his partner 
 for the evening, accosts her, and remains at her feet all the time the 
 Sarao lasts. He is allowed to address her in the must tender language 
 vithouL her being at libcity to lake offence : sucii is the rule, which of 
 course often occasions intrigues. The Sarao concludes with dancij>g.
 
 268 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Don Andre, "lay aside that fear: enoui^h that I am 
 apprised of the peril to enable me to shun it. Let 
 me alone in the business ; the haughty Cynthia will 
 most probably be caught herself." 
 
 Alvarade, after having had this fresh conversa- 
 tion with Laura, came with an account of it to me ; 
 and we both congratulated ourselves upon it. Don 
 Joaquin's daughter, on her part, meditating the con- 
 quest of a man who was already but too much taken 
 with her beauty, employed herself in making pre- 
 parations for her Sarao on the following evening. She 
 sent tickets to the ladies whom she wished to be 
 present ; and as Don Bernando and Don Julian were 
 of the number of the cavaliers who were likewise 
 invited, Don Joaquin was extremely pleased, flattering 
 himself with the hope that one or other of these 
 gallants might render himself agreeable to his 
 daughter. Don Andre, as it may be well supposed, 
 was not forgotten. He also received his ticket, and 
 the next day \vhen the hour for the Sarao had arrived, 
 went there gaily dressed, and disposed to acquit him- 
 self well of his part. 
 
 As soon as he entered the saloon, the woman who 
 held the sashes designed for the gentlemen, presented 
 him with a green one. He immediately put it on, 
 and looking out for the lady who should have one of 
 the same colour, he found her in the daughter of Don 
 Joaquin. He advanced towards her, and accosting 
 her politely, "Madam," said he, "I look upon this 
 day as the happiest of my life, since it falls to my 
 lot to become the partner of the charming Cynthia." 
 — "Do not congratulate yourself too much on your 
 good fortune," replied she; "the danger you are in 
 ougiit rather to make you tremble. You ought to 
 complain of your chance; which would have been
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 269 
 
 more favourable had it assigned }-ou another lady. 
 You might have been able to please her, instead of 
 which }-ou will derive no advantage from the con- 
 versation we shall have together. I will even apprise 
 you out of charit}-, that if you have the misfortune to 
 become enamoured of me, I shall treat you with the 
 utmost rigour. This is what you may make up )'our 
 mind to." 
 
 "You think to frighten me," replied my friend, 
 "but fear yourself that your pride may be forced to 
 stoop to mine; for, in short," continued he, assuming 
 a tone of tenderness, "is it possible that you will not 
 be touched by my pains, when, profiting by the liberty 
 which the Sarao affords me to speak to you of love, 
 I shall make known the deplorable state to which I 
 am reduced ? Yes, lovely Cynthia, my heart is a 
 pre\- to a thousand flames." So saying, he kissed 
 her hand in transport. " Alvarade," replied the lady, 
 repulsing him gently, "you contradict yourself: you 
 express yourself in such a manner, and in such terms, 
 as make me imagine that you really love me, though 
 }-ou think you do not. You do not remember that I 
 told you I should repay your sighs with contempt 
 and rigour." — " It is you, madam," replied Don Andre, 
 " it is you that forget we are in a Sarao. All that I 
 .'^aid was only affected." — " What ! " cried the lady, 
 "do )ou not feel what you have just been saying .^ '" — 
 " Heaven preserve me from it ! " returned the cavalier, 
 changing his tone. " Wiio ! I augment the number 
 of your slaves } No, madam, though I were even 
 capable of loving you, shame would oblige me to 
 concer.l it." 
 
 "You can, then, counterfeit extremely well," said 
 Cynihia. "To perfection!" replied Alvarade; "I 
 borrow when I please the eyes and language of the
 
 270 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 most tender love ; for example, if I wished to make 
 you a declaration of love, I would say : Adorable 
 Cynthia, it is not through gallantry, or to fulfil 
 the duties of the Sarao, that I tell you my heart 
 was surrendered to your earliest glances ; it is to 
 discover to you my secret sentiments, since I can 
 this day make you acquainted with them without 
 raising \-our anger at my presumption." — " And that 
 was onl)' pretended?" interrupted the lady hastily. 
 " Say no more, Alvarade : I see through your finesse ; 
 you pretend to be insensible to female beaut}', flat- 
 tering yourself that by that means you will render 
 me more tractable. Have I not penetrated your 
 design ? Acknowledge it with a good grace, and \-ou 
 shall not repent it : rely on the promise which I make 
 you." 
 
 Don Andre hesitated some moments before he 
 answered ; but determined at last to satisfy her at the 
 expense of whom it might concern, he confessed the 
 whole : after which he said : " Madam, I now await 
 my doom ; deign to pronounce it, decide my fate." — 
 " I might," replied Cynthia, " be offended at your 
 duplicity, and to punish you for it, treat you like my 
 other lovers ; but I pardon you for the sake of the 
 invention, and give you tJie preference over all your 
 rivals." 
 
 I leave it to the reader to conceive the rapture 
 which these last words caused my friend, who as long 
 as the Sarao lasted, which was till the following 
 morning, ceased not to manifest his gratitude to 
 Don Joaquin's daughter. No sooner had he quitted 
 this lad}', than he ran to me to comnmnicate to me 
 his joy. He returned me a million of thanks for 
 having advised to assume the part which he had 
 acted so successfully, telling me that I was the authof
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 271 
 
 of his felicity. In short, a fortnight after he married 
 his mistress, in prejudice of his two rivals, who at 
 bottom were preferable to him. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN GOES OUT OF CURIOSITY TO HEAR A 
 
 FAMOUS PREACHER, A FATHER OF THE ORDER OF 
 SAINT DOMINIC WHO THIS MONK WAS — HIS SUR- 
 PRISE AT RECOGNISING HIM, AND THE INTERVIEW 
 HE HAD WITH HIM. 
 
 A SHORT time after this marriage, it happened that 
 a friar of the Order of Saint Dominic came from 
 Guatimala to reside at Mexico. He preached at first 
 in the cathedral, and made so much noise from the 
 time of his first sermon, that he became the General 
 subject of conversation in the town. Whatever house 
 I entered, I heard nothing there but the praises of 
 Father C}'ril : the women in particular extolled him, 
 and set him above the most famous preachers of the 
 Order of Mercy, of Saint Francis, and even of the 
 Jesuits, although among these latter were some of 
 great celebrity. When he preached in a religious 
 house, all the nobility flocked thither in crowds ; and 
 the price of seats was enhanced. The congregation 
 burst out in exclamations of applause. They even 
 clapped their hands, and went out of the church 
 praising the eloquence of the preacher to the skies. 
 
 I could not hold out against the reputation of 
 Fati.er C} ril, and was desirous of judging of his 
 talents from my own observation. Having learned 
 that he was to preach on the Day of the A-sumption 
 at his convent, I \\c ;.t thither, and found a numerous 
 and brilliant congregation, though this monastery is
 
 272 THE BACHELOR OE SALAMANCA. 
 
 a league from the town. I took my seat for my 
 money among the rest of the auditors, and, while 
 waiting for the sermon, conversed with a cavalier who 
 v/as sitting near me. I asked liim if he had ever 
 heard Father Cyril. " Twice," replied he ; " and I 
 protest to you, that no preacher ever pleased me so 
 much as he. 
 
 "You will be astonished," continued he, "with his 
 dazzling style, and the beauty of his portraits. He 
 has a choice of terms and an eloquence which set 
 off everything ; happy metaphors, judicious and 
 charming allegories, beauties of detail, terms which 
 are peculiar to himself, and, above all, the most nicely 
 conceived transitions. I warn you only, that it is 
 necessary to listen to him with all the attention you 
 are capable of; for he has a volubility of tongue 
 which it is difficxilt to follow. I was at his last 
 sermon at the Convent of Mercy : I had the misfor- 
 tune to sneeze, and m\- sneezing caused me to lose a 
 period." I replied, "that there were some preachers 
 who spoke so quick, that one must not even turn 
 one's eyes from them for a moment, if one would not 
 lose the thread of their discourse." 
 
 This conversation, however, redoubled the impa- 
 tience I felt to see this celebrated personage. I saw 
 him ascend the pulpit, and the church immediately 
 echoed with a general acclamation ; which gave me 
 to understand to wiiat a point the public were pre- 
 judiced in his favour. Father Cyril appeared to me 
 not bigger than a dwarf; and was really so small, 
 that we could but just see his head. I was struck 
 with his features ; and scarcely had he pronounced 
 his text, ere I completely recognised him by the 
 sound of his voice. " It is lie," said I to myself. 
 "Yes, faith, it is the Licentiate Carambola. What a
 
 / THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 273 
 
 1 
 
 pleasant adventure ! It seems that we follow each 
 other. We bade adieu in Toledo, and met again in 
 Madrid ; there we separated, and found each other at 
 Barcelona. One would say that fortune takes pleasure 
 in bringing us together," Then, doubting the report 
 of my eyes and ears, " May I not deceive myself .'' " I 
 reflected. " This is, indeed, his voice and figure, but do 
 we not every day see men who exactly resemble each 
 other .'' Besides, can it be possible that Carambola 
 has assumed the frock and (what is beyond my com- 
 prehension) become a great preacher ? This is what 
 I cannot understand." Nevertheless, the more I 
 heard and contemplated Father Cyril, the more was 
 I convinced that he was my Biscayan licentiate. 
 
 Whilst waiting until I should be able to convert 
 my doubt into certainty, I listened attentively to the 
 friar, to ascertain if the public were right in admiring 
 his eloquence; but he delivered himself so rapidly 
 that, without sneezing, I lost more than half of what 
 he said. I heard, however, enough to console me 
 for this loss ; I even made a remark which did not 
 redound to the glory of the preacher ; I observed 
 that the auditors were only taken with his style, and 
 that the orator spoke Less to the heart than to the 
 head. 
 
 When the sermon was concluded, I got myself 
 conducted to the apartment of Father Cyril, who 
 beheld me again with a surprise equal to that which 
 I had felt on seeing him in the pulpit. We both 
 embraced affectionately. " Signior Licentiate," said 
 1, " thank Heaven that we once more meet ; but 
 acknowledge that this last rencounter is more aston- 
 ishing than the rest. I should never have expected to 
 find you in the habit of a Jacobin." — " My astonish- 
 ment," replied he, "is equal to yours, and \ ou may 
 
 S
 
 274 ^-f^S BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 easily imagine that I am not a little curious to know 
 what you are doing in Mexico. I suppose you are 
 not less so to know how I became a friar, and what 
 is more, a preacher of the first flight. We must 
 satisfy each other. But let us put it off, if you please, 
 till to-morrow, for two reasons : besides that I am 
 fatigued, I have a long recital to make." — " And on 
 my side," returned I, " I have also an infinitude of 
 things to recount to you. Adieu, Father Cyril; 
 repose yourself. We shall see each other again 
 to-morrow." 
 
 Hereupon I left my preacher; and, having rejoined 
 him on the following day in the afternoon, we shut 
 ourselves up in his apartment, where we prepared 
 ourselves for mutually recounting what had happened 
 since our last separation. I spoke first ; and per- 
 suaded that I need have no reserve with my friend 
 Carambola, I told him everything. When I had 
 concluded, he recounted to me his own adventures 
 with equal sincerity. 
 
 END OF THE FOURTH PART.
 
 PART THE FIFTH. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE LICENTIATE CARAMBOLA BEGINS THE HISTORY OF HIS 
 
 VOYAGE TO THE IVEST INDIES HE MEETS WITH ONE 
 
 OF HIS COLLEGE COMPANIONS IVHO HE WAS HE 
 
 RESOLVES TO FOLLOW HJM, AND BECOMES A FRIAR. 
 
 " You know well," said he, " that you left me at 
 Barcelona, tutor to a spoiled child ; I told you, if you 
 remember, that I was very well satisfied with my 
 post, that I possessed in it all the advantages which 
 a pedagogue could anywhere have, and that in all 
 likelihood I should occupy it a long while. Never- 
 theless, I was obliged to leave it. They gave me my 
 thanks ; what do I say ? They dismissed me unfairly 
 enough. This was the reason : one day being a little 
 out of humour with my young gentleman, into whose 
 head I could not drive the first principles of the 
 Latin language, it happened that I forgot I was for- 
 bidden to chastise him, for fear of grieving and making 
 him ill; and I pulled his ears ratlier roughly, I must 
 acknowledge. He screamed as loud as if I had been 
 burning him alive. His mother, who was within 
 hearing, ran to him, and, finding her son in tears, 
 accused me of brutality. The father, who was not 
 master in his own house, was desirous of interceding 
 in my favour, but he was silenced as if he had been a
 
 276 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 child, and I was turned out of doors without further 
 process. 
 
 " Some days after having been thus dismissed, as I 
 was walking alone on the wharf, musing on the un- 
 promising state of my affairs, I met two reverencf 
 fathers of Saint Dominic, of whom I recognised one 
 as having been my fellow-student at the university of 
 Alcala. We accosted each other, and, after having 
 cordially embraced, began to amuse ourselves with 
 conversing on the little tricks we had played onr 
 professors at college. He then informed me that he 
 had come from Salzona with his companion, in order 
 to embark on the follo\\ing day on board ;i vessel 
 which was to sail for Cadiz, where they were both 
 expected in their convent, one to be professor of 
 philosophy, and the other of theology. * I envy your 
 happiness, fathers,' said I, sighing, ' and repent of not 
 having embraced your life, instead of haviruj^^ made 
 m\'self a galley-slave, for such I call a poor d^wW of a 
 tutor.' 
 
 " My schoolfellow began laughing at b«;aring me 
 talk thus. 'I did not know,' said he, 'that the con- 
 dition of a tutor was that of a galley-sl:..ve.' — 'I can 
 inform you then that it is so,' replied I, ' and you 
 may take my word for it. I acknowledge that there 
 are no rules without exceptions, and that there are 
 houses where the slavery of pedagogues is mild, 
 or at least supportable. At the house of an old 
 prudish devotee, for instance, a hypocritical preceptor 
 is not badly off: he possesses tlie confidence of his 
 patroness, who sees but with his eyes, and who, as 
 the price of his interested complaisance towards her, 
 sometimes makes generous mention of him in her 
 w ill. But such places are rare, and as for me, I have 
 hitherto met with none but wretched ones.'
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 277 
 
 *'*I am sorry,' replied the monk, 'that you are not 
 content with your lot. I wish you were as much so 
 as I am with mine. If everybody knew how happy 
 we Jacobins are, our cloister would not contain the 
 great number who would eagerly press forward to 
 inhabit it.' — 'Ah! father,' cried I, 'you augment my 
 regret for not having assumed the fortunate habit of 
 Saint Dominic' — ' If you speak seriously,' said he, 
 ' I will enable you to put it on when you please. It 
 is not yet too late. Profit by the opportunity. Come 
 with us to Cadiz : I will present you to the Reverend 
 Father Isidore, prior of our houhC, and I am sure that 
 he will receive you willingly among us, when he shall 
 learn that you have made a noise among the schools 
 of Alcala, where I have witnessed your brilliant 
 studies. I still remember that they used to call you 
 by way of excellence, aquila theologice. 
 
 "'Yes, Signior Licentiate,' continued he, 'Father 
 Isidore will look upon you as an excellent acquisi- 
 tion to our order, and will owe me much goodwill 
 for having procured it such an one. Determine ; see 
 what you will do ! ' — ' I will take you at your word,' 
 replied I, ' and would set out with you for Cadiz, ii 
 I were sufficiently well off for cash to defray the 
 expenses of my journey and my reception; but I 
 will candidly acknowledge to you, that all my pro- 
 perty consists in a single doubloon, of which I owe 
 three-fourths at the inn where I have been living 
 since I was out of place.' 
 
 " ' You have no need of money with us,' said the 
 other friar ; ' we are able to defray all the expenses 
 on the journey : and as for your reception, be assured 
 that it will be given gratuitously on consideration of 
 your merit. Well ! are there now any more difficulties 
 to get over.'' — 'No,' replied I, ' there are none. In-
 
 278 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 deed, fathers, you inspire me ; I am ready to follow 
 you.' 
 
 " My future companions appeared charmed to see 
 me disposed to go along with them. 'We say not 
 adieu, brother,' said my scho Ife.iow ; 'we shall have 
 plenty of time for conversation. We leave you,* 
 added he, pointing with his finger to a vessel which 
 was lying in the port, 'to deposit on board that ship 
 all the provisions necessary for our voyage ; for we 
 are tjot folks to embark without biscuit. Come and 
 join us then this evening: we shall sail to-morrow 
 before day.' " 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE LICENTIATE CARAMBOLA EMBARKS WITH THE GOOD 
 
 FA THERS OF SAINT DOMINIC HIS RECEPTION TO THE 
 
 NOVITIATE HE RECEIVES HOLY ORDERS IN WHAT 
 
 MANNER HE PREACHED THE FIRST TIME HE 
 
 MOUNTS THE PULPIT A SECOND TIME HIS SUCCESS 
 
 HE SAILS FOR THE INDIES HIS ASTONISHMENT ON 
 
 ARRIVING THERE. 
 
 Not choosing to leave Barcelona like a swindler, I 
 returned to my inn, where I paid my host ; then 
 resuming my road to the port in order to attend my 
 appointment, I arrived there with a small portmanteau, 
 which I carried under my arm, and in wdiich were my 
 clothes. The monks were already on board, and 
 waited for me with impatience. These good fathers, 
 by w^ay of precaution, had provided themselves with 
 an abundance of viands, an ! a copious number of 
 bottles of the best wines of La Mancha, as if they 
 had been going to the end of the world. We weighed 
 anchor the next day before the dawn of Aurora, and 
 our vessel soon left the port of Barcelona far behind. 
 During the voj-age, which, thank Heaven, was very
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 279 
 
 fortunate, our monks showed themselves so good 
 humoured, that, far from repenting of having enrolled 
 myself in their company, I incessantly congratulated 
 myself upon it, persuading myself that no mortals 
 were happier. I will assure you that I am this day 
 in the same opinion, 
 
 "Arrived at Cadiz, we repaired to the monastery of 
 the order of Saint Dominic. The prior Isidore received 
 my two companions with distinction, as persons of 
 whom his house was in need. He also gave me a favour- 
 able reception, as soon as he heard that I was a learned 
 licentiate who desired the habit of a novice. He granted 
 it to me without difficulty on their assurance that I was 
 born to reside among them, as in fact I had sufficiently 
 let them see on board ship, where I accommodated 
 myself wonderfully well to their mode of living. 
 
 " I entered then upon my novitiate, and, thanks be 
 to God, was not disgusted with the monastic life. 
 After having professed, I was called Father Cyril. 
 I attached myself to the study of theology. I 
 then took holy orders ; and finding, in my own 
 opinion, that I possessed talents for the pulpit, I 
 composed a sermon, which I had the boldness to 
 attempt delivering in the cathedral of Cadiz, before 
 the Bishop and the Governor. But do you know 
 how I acquitted myself.? You shall learn; for my 
 sincerity ought to correspond with your own, and we 
 ought on both sides to recount our disagreeable 
 adventures with the same candour as the others. 
 The assembly was numerous, and filled with monks 
 of all orders. A congregation so enlightened, but at 
 the same time so critical and jealous, agitated me to 
 such a degree that I stopped short in the middle of 
 my exordium. In vain I fatigued my memory to 
 be able to continue ; the rebel obstinately refused me
 
 28o THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 his aid, and I was obliged to vanish. But before 1 
 disappeared I said to my auditors, ' Gentlemen, I am 
 sorry for you ; you loose a good sermon.' 
 
 "You may easily judge that these words, pro- 
 nounced by a Bisca}'an," continued Father Cyril, 
 "did not fail to produce laughter. The Bishop and 
 the Governor lost their gravity. All the monks, if 
 you except those of our order, left the church stifling 
 their laughter, and better satisfied than if I had 
 preached to perfection. 
 
 " So unfortunate a cou/> d'essai did not discourage 
 me. On the contrary, to retrieve my honour, I 
 armed myself with audacity, and three months after 
 remounted the same pulpit from which I had so 
 disagreeably descended. Those of my auditors who 
 had been witnesses of the trick which my memory 
 had played me the first time, expected perhaps again 
 to see me stop sh rt, and to laugh anew at my 
 expense ; but they were deceived in their expecta- 
 ti ns ; my memory was faithful, and I was generally 
 applauded. What do I say ? they found me an 
 orator complete, and from that day forward I was 
 placed on a parallel with the most famous preachers 
 of Spain ; a thing which proves that one may acquire 
 a reputation at very little cost. This made me 
 redouble my efforts to merit the praises which were 
 bestowed on me, and which, in spite of my self-love, I 
 was perfectly aware I did not merit. I composed other 
 sermons, with which my auditors were so well satisfied, 
 that my name became every day more famous. 
 
 " I was enjoying at Cadiz the general esteem of its 
 inhabitants, when Father Isidore received a letter 
 from America. The prior of Saint James of Guati- 
 mala begged him to send over two skilful preachers 
 to support the reputation of our order in that country.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 281 
 
 I was desirous of being one of these holy labourers: 
 less in truth from apostolic zeal, than from my desire 
 to see those fine countries which had been subdued 
 by the Spanish arms, I can affirm that it was not 
 without repugnance Father Isidore permitted me to 
 go to the Indies, not having at that time in his com- 
 munity a member of equal value. Nevertheless he 
 had the goodness to yield to my request, on condition 
 that after some \-ears I should return to Spain. 
 
 " I set out then from Cadiz with Father Bonifacio 
 de Tabara, who was appointed to accompany me. 
 The wind continued favourable until we reached the 
 Havannah ; thence we proceeded to Portobello during 
 the time of the fair, which beyond contradiction ought 
 to be accounted the finest in the world. The prodi- 
 gious concourse of Spanish and Peruvian merchants, 
 of whom the one description come to buy, and the 
 other to sell their goods, offer to the eyes a most 
 amusing spectacle. As for me, what I found most 
 worthy of notice, was the great number of mules 
 which I saw arrive from Panama, loaded with bars 
 and ingots of silver. In one hour I counted as many 
 as two hundred, which were unloaded in the public 
 square; making altogether some heaps of ingots ex- 
 tremel}' gratif)-ing to the view of the parties interested. 
 
 " We did not remain long at Portobello. We again 
 set sail for Venta de Cruzez, then Panama, whence we 
 gained the port of the Salinas, and afterwards Cartha- 
 gena. From this place we went to the town of 
 Grenada, otherwise called Mahomet's Garden, from 
 whence we did not long delay in proceeding to the 
 port of Realejo on the coast of the South Sea, and a 
 few days after we arrived at the port of the Trinity," 
 
 Here I interrupted Carambola rather bluntly: 
 "Hollo! what the deuce," said I, '* Signior Licen-
 
 282 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 tiate, you are making a traveller's journal. Do not 
 name to me, I beg of you, all the places through which 
 you passed : I acquit you of that trouble. I am only 
 curious to hear your adventures. Be so good there- 
 fore as to make but one leap from the port of the 
 Trinity to Saint James of Guatimala; for in all ap- 
 pearance this last-named town is the theatre of the 
 principal exploits you have to relate to me." — " Signior 
 Bachelor," said he, smiling, " you do wrong to com- 
 plain : to avoid prolixity, and compress my story, I 
 have passed over the tempests and other perils which I 
 had to go through, I have even spared you the descrip- 
 tions which I could have given of the places, of which 
 I have simply told you the names, and which would 
 perhaps be more interesting than my own adventures. 
 Go, you have interrupted me very unreasonably. 
 
 " But in short," said he, " since you absolutely desire 
 it, I will make you a leap of five-and-twenty leagues, 
 by conveying you all at once to Guatimala. Permit 
 me fir^t to tell only one thing of a most extraordinary 
 nature. It is this: near the town of Trinidad is seen, 
 in a deep hollow rising out of the earth without any 
 intermission, a thick and black smoke, mixed some- 
 times with sulphur and flames of fire. It is said that 
 some travellers, curious to discover the cause, having 
 had the imprudence to approach it too closely, have 
 been thrown to the earth half dead. The people of 
 the country assure us, that at a certain distance they 
 hear the cries of persons in torment, and that these 
 cries are accompanied by a noise of iron chains ; 
 which has caused the name of Hell to be given to 
 this horrible chasm. 
 
 " Let us now come to Guatimala," continued Father 
 Cyril : " I will malce \'ou languish no longer. Father 
 Bonifacio and I arrived there, then ; but (what was
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 283 
 
 extremely laughable) we looked for the town in the 
 town itself. Neither walls nor gates were to be seen 
 at the entrance, and some thatched or tiled houses 
 were all that presented themselves to our view. Sur- 
 prised at this sight of a town which corresponded so 
 ill with the idea I had formed of it, I said to my 
 companion : 'Father, are you not of opinion that we 
 have done a ver\' foolish business in quitting Cadiz, 
 where we were so well off, to come and preach here ? 
 To judge of the citizens by their habitations, we shall 
 have nothing but mob for our auditors. Is this the 
 celebrated city of Guatimala, that capital of a king- 
 dom three hundred leagues in extent, and where 
 there is, we are told, a court, indep- ndent of that of 
 Mexico, with a first President, who, though without 
 the title of Viceroy, has the authority of one ? This is 
 what I cannot understand.' — 'Nor I, neither,' replied 
 Father Boniface; ' I am almost inclined to think that 
 they have been playing tricks with us,' 
 
 "Our astonishment, however, was of no long dura- 
 tion. When we had got beyond the thatched houses 
 we found some more handsomiC, and, among others, 
 two superb edifices which are in the quarter of Saint 
 Dominic, that is to say, the Jacobins' convent, and 
 the nunnery of the Conception. This last in parti- 
 cular, surrounded by high walls of an immense cir- 
 cumference, long attracted our attention: it appeared 
 to us a town of itself enclosed in that of Guatimrda. 
 There are in this convent as many as a thousand 
 females, including the nuns, boarders, and black 
 women who are in their service. 
 
 " In proportion as we advanced into this canital, 
 we found houses which did it more honour than the 
 first. We at last presented ourseives at the gate of 
 the convent of our fathers, who received us like two
 
 284 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 personages whose arrival was agreeable to them. 
 Father Valentin Tiraquello, who was at that time 
 prior, had no sooner read the letter which I presented 
 him from Father Isidore, than he gave us a thousand 
 testimonies of friendship, and to me in particular, 
 because the letter contained a magnificent eulogium 
 on Father Cyril, They regaled us extremely well, 
 and left us some days to repose ourselves in. 
 
 " During this time the report ran in the town that 
 two great preachers had just arrived from Spain. 
 Nothing more was requisite to set all the Spanish 
 families in motion, and, in particular, the female part 
 of them. 'When shall we see them.?' cried one, 
 ' How impatient I am,' said another, 'to hear these new 
 apostles!' ' Father Cyril,' said the prior to me one 
 day,' I can no longer hold out against the curiosity of 
 the public : the gentry, the courtiers, the citizens — all 
 the town ardently desire to see you in the pulpit, to 
 judge if you answer your great name. They press me 
 to grant them this satisfaction, and I cannot help inces- 
 santly promising them that they shall have it' — 'I will 
 fulfil your promise, my reverend father,' said I ; ' I will, 
 if you please, preach to-morrow in our church to satisfy 
 them.' 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 FATHER CYRIL PREACHES TO THE SATISFACTION OF A 
 NUMEROUS AUDITORY — HE GOES ON THE FOLLOWING 
 DAY TO DINE WITH THE BISHOP OF GUATIMALA — 
 
 HIS VISIT TO A NUMBER OF NUNS COLLA TIONS AND 
 
 CONCERTS WHICH THEY GIVE HIM PRIVATE CON- 
 VERSATION WHICH THE BISHOP HAD WITH HIM 
 
 SUBJECT OF THIS CONVERSATION. 
 
 "The Prior, finding me in this mind, sent immediate 
 notice to the principal houses, that the Reverend
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 285 
 
 Father Cyril would make his first appearance on the 
 following day at the convent of the Jacobins. This 
 news spread so rapidly over Guatimala, that on the 
 morrow our church was filled with all the respectable 
 people in the town. On one hand, the congregation 
 v/as honoured with the venerable presence of Don 
 Francisco de Castro, Bishop of Guatimala, and on 
 the other, by all the officers of the Chancery, from the 
 principal down to the registrar, without mentioning 
 the principal ladies of the town, all dressed out with 
 the most extraordinary magnificence. As soon as 
 I entered the pulpit there arose a slight murmur, 
 which appeared to me to be caused by my pigmy- 
 like figure, for nothing escapes notice : but I had not 
 finished my exordium before this disagreeable noise 
 was followed by one of a more flattering nature ; and 
 ever)' one, forgetting in a manner that he saw me, 
 listened to me with attention. 
 
 " If I had had the happiness of pleasing at Cadiz, 
 I had it in a more eminent degree at Guatimala. 
 To say all in a word, I gained the approbation of my 
 auditors, and obtained the esteem of the bishop, who 
 sent to me the next morning to invite me to dine, 
 together with the Prior, at the episcopal palace. 
 
 "This good prelate, who, although a septuagenar\', 
 had not yet an air of antiquity, overloaded me wirii 
 compliments. He congratulated Father Valentin on 
 having a person so capable as I was of doing honour 
 to the order of Saint Dominic. Judge whether 
 his lordship's praises failed to tickle the heart of a 
 Biscayaru I inwardly relished them ; but the more 
 I found my vanity flattered, the more modest did I 
 uppear, like all other authors when they are praised 
 in tiieir own presence. 
 
 "Besides the esteem of this prelate, I attracted
 
 286 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 that of the principal courtiers, who unanimously 
 praised me, so that it was decided that little Father 
 Cyril was the Cor\-phaeus of preachers in the Indies. 
 I pleased not only people of the world ; my reputation 
 penetrated the walls of the monastery of the Con- 
 ception. The nuns were desirous of hearing me, and 
 I delighted them. Some of them wrote to me to 
 testify in how great a degree they were satisfied with 
 my sermon, and to invite me to go and see them at 
 the grate ; which I failed not to do when I was 
 informed that at Guatimala, as well as at Mexico, 
 the monks freely visit the nuns, who converse with 
 them in the parlours, and sometimes entertain them 
 with collations accompanied by music. This hap- 
 pened to myself on the very first visit I made to 
 those ladies who had written me such obliging letters. 
 They regaled me with confections, and made me 
 listen to some very fine voices ; among others, that 
 of the young mother Donna Angela de IVIontalvan, 
 daughter of an officer of the court, and a person, 
 perhaps, of the greatest merit in the world. 
 
 " One sees few women, who, with great beauty, 
 have not a defective figure, or, perhaps, a contracted 
 mind; but it may be said that Nature, in forming 
 Donna Angela, was desirous of effecting a work of 
 perfection. It is most certain that this nun, who had 
 but just entered on her fifth lustrum, was an incom- 
 parable girl. She understood music thoroughly, and 
 joined to a ravishing voice a superior genius. She 
 addressed me two or three times with such spright- 
 liness and with an air so gracious, that I imagined I 
 beheld an angel. She enchanted both my eyes and 
 my ears. 
 
 " I left the convent of the Conception, and returned 
 home, much taken with the politeness of the nuns,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 2S7 
 
 and perhaps too much with the merit of the young 
 devotee of whom I have spoken. * Well, Father 
 Cyril/ said our Prior, 'are you satisfied with our 
 neighbours?' — 'I have reason to be so,' said I. 
 ' These ladies regaled me with confections, and a 
 concert marvellously well executed.' — ' I have no 
 doubt of it,' replied Father Valentin, ' particularly if 
 the Mother de Montalvan took a part in it.' — 'Yes, 
 truly, did she,' said I ; ' she sang in it, and I thought 
 her voice admirable.' — ' You must also have remarked,' 
 replied he, ' that this girl is possessed of an uncommon 
 beauty.' — 'That is what I paid no attention to,' said 
 I, with a hypocritical air: 'I thought of nothing but 
 listening to her.' This was not altogether true ; for 
 no sooner had the touching sounds of Angela's voice 
 reached my ears, than I looked at nothing else but 
 her ; but I did not dare acknowledge that I had 
 made this observation, for fear I should appear to 
 him to have been too deeply interested in it. 
 
 " ' I am sorry,' returned the Prior, who was a simple, 
 natural kind of man, ' that you did not attentively 
 consider the Mother de Montalvan ; you would have 
 seen a celestial face. Signior Don Francisco de 
 Castro, our Bishop, has a most particular esteem for 
 her. He goes every day to see her, and every day 
 sends her presents. He might be suspected of being 
 enamoured of her, if his consummate virtue and his 
 great age did not put his Excellency above such 
 suspicion : but the world do justice to this venerable 
 prelate, and all the town, as well as myself, are per- 
 suaded that he has for this lady only a pure and 
 delicate friendship.' If I had not known Father 
 Valentin to be a man incapable of slandering his 
 neighbo'ir, and particularly his bishop, I should have 
 thought that he was not speaking seriously ; never-
 
 288 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. ; 
 
 theless he thought what he said, so great was his 
 opinion of his lordship's virtue. 
 
 "Two days after having been to visit the nuns of 
 the Conception, a gentleman called upon me from 
 the prelate, to say that his Excellency desired to 
 speak to me. I immediately went to the palace, 
 where Signior Don Francisco having taken me into 
 his closet, addressed me in the most obliging and 
 flattering terms; then all on a sudden changing the 
 subject, 'Father Cyril,' said he, 'I have need of )'ou, 
 to succeed in a design which I have in contemplation. 
 I flatter myself you will not refuse your assistance. 
 The nuns of the Conception, who lost their Superior 
 about a fortnight ago, are about to elect another. 
 I am desirous that their choice should fall on the 
 Mother de Montalvan. It will be necessary to form 
 a vigorous faction in her favour. I have already 
 been able to gain over some of these ladies : they 
 have promised me their votes, and I am confident of 
 having the majority if you second me.' 
 
 "'My lord,' replied I, 'you may dispose of your 
 servant : lay your commands on me ; what am I to 
 do ? ' — ' I know,' replied he, ' that you have made ac- 
 quaintance with several nuns of this monastery, and 
 that they have conceived the highest esteem for you. 
 I shall be much obliged by your speaking to them 
 successively in private about the approaching elec- 
 tion, and employing j-our eloquence to bring them to 
 the way of thinking which I desire.' 
 
 "'I do not think, my lord,' said I, 'that I shall 
 have much trouble in succeeding in this negotiation. 
 I am persuaded that all the nuns will readily conform 
 To \'our Excellency's sentiments.' — ' I doubt it,' cried 
 he: 'let us not flatter ourselves. The extreme youthi 
 of Angela is a terrible difiicultv to surmount. There'
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 289 
 
 are in this convent twenty nuns of high rank, who 
 have been more than thirty years devoted to reb'gion, 
 and whose conduct has alwa\-s been irreproachable. 
 With what eye will these behold authority placed 
 in the hands of a young nun .? However,' added he, 
 heaving a sigh whicli showed me the interest he took 
 in the affair, 'this nun, young as she is, deserves to 
 have the preference over all her companions. 
 
 "'You have seen her,' he continued, 'you have seen 
 her in the parlour; but she did no more than appear 
 before you for an instant. You know not all her 
 worth : )'ou must have seen her more than once ; you 
 must, in short, be acquainted with her to be able to 
 estimate her, to perceive her merit in its full extent. 
 What wit she has ! If she open her mouth to speak, 
 it is a boji mot which escapes her. If a subject is to 
 be argued, her reasons are just and solid. A girl of 
 twenty! how amiable is this! But what can never 
 be sufficiently praised, and which alone renders her 
 worthy of being superior, is her extreme mildness : 
 liappx' consequence of her temperament and her virtue! 
 Exempt from those sallies of humour which the most 
 sensible persons cannot at all times restrain, she con- 
 verses with a tranquillity of soul which nothing can 
 disturb. In a word, she unites in her person every 
 amiable and estimable quality. It is this rare merit 
 which interests me for her; and, between ourselves, 
 I do not think that her youth ought to exclude her 
 from a rank for which I consider her born.* 
 
 "I saw very plainly by this discourse that his lord- 
 ship suffered himself to be rather too much swayed 
 by his pure and delicate friendship for Angela, and 
 his project appeared to me extravagant. Neverthe- 
 less (what I shall reproach m}'self for all my life), 
 instead of combating, and representing to him the 
 
 T
 
 290 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 folly of it, I approved of it against mj^ conscience, in 
 order to pay court to the prelate and get into his good 
 graces. It is thus that the great find almost always, 
 among common persons, ministers ready to serve 
 their passions. I assured his Excellency that I de- 
 voted myself entirely to him. and that I was about 
 to do my utmost to acquit myself successfully of the 
 commission with which he honoured me. The old 
 bishop, delighted with the zeal I evinced in his service, 
 embraced me affectionately ; and by his embraces, 
 which flattered my vanity, put the finishing stroke to 
 confirming me in this silly enterprise. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF THE EXERTIONS WHICH FATHER CYRIL MADE TO GIVR 
 SUCCESS TO THE BISHOP'S FACTION — WHAT WAS THE 
 
 RESULT AN UNEXPECTED DISTURBANCE ARISES AT 
 
 THE CONVENT GATES — CONSEQUENCE OF THIS EVENT. 
 
 "To show the more haste, I made but one leap from 
 the episcopal palace to the monastery of the Con- 
 ception. I saw there the nuns with whom I was 
 acquainted, and conversed separately with each of 
 them. I found them very much opposed to the will 
 of the prelate; but the opposition of each did but 
 afford a triumph to my rhetoric. This encouraged 
 me. I then spoke to others of the community, and 
 principally to some of those who, thinking they them- 
 selves deserved the preference, looked upon it as in- 
 tolerable injustice that it should be decided in favour 
 of a person of two and twenty. You will easily be- 
 lieve that these ancient mothers did not easily yield. 
 Nevertheless, shocked as they were at what I pro- 
 posed, I succeeded at last in inducing them to comply
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 291 
 
 wiih it; as if I had had the talent of Carneades* for 
 persuasion. In short, I succeeded so well, that in 
 less than a week I secured the vote of the greater 
 part of these ladies. 
 
 " I carried these agreeable news to m}' lord, who 
 received them with inexpressible transports of joy, 
 and gave me thanks from the bottom of his heart. 
 He made me, besides, a present of a gold watch, 
 which he obliged me to accept, and which I received, 
 although a Dominican. After having given me a 
 thousand marks of affection, he begged me to go and 
 see the young Mother de Montalvan, and inform her 
 of the happy effect of my exertions ; which I readily 
 did. I gave her an account of what I had done for 
 her, and assured her that in all likelihood she could 
 not fail of becoming Superior. Upon this she 
 thanked me for my pains, and gave loose to her 
 gratitude in terms and with an air which enchanted 
 me. How^ agreeable did I find her! I admired those 
 estimable qualities which caused his lordship so 
 warmly to interest himself in her behalf. 
 
 " However, the day of election arrived, and we 
 should doubtless have had a majority of votes, if all 
 the ancient mothers of the community had not united 
 in favour of the Mother Saint Bridget, sister of an 
 old president of the Audience, and beyond contra- 
 diction the most worthy subject among them. This 
 unioii, which we had not foreseen, and which after 
 all we could not have prevented, disconcerted our 
 enterprise. Discord was raised in the convent ; and 
 farther, the report having spread in the town that it 
 was intended to elect for Superior a nun of two and 
 
 * Caio the Cei^sor was for banishing the philosopher Carneades, 
 because by his eloquence he bewildered the mind in such a way that i' 
 was not possible to distinguish truth from falsehood.
 
 292 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 twenty, several of the principal inhabitants took fire 
 on the subject. They ran sword in hand to the 
 monastery, threatening to force open the gates, to 
 defend their daughters against the faction raised by 
 the bishop in favour of the Mother de Montalvan. It 
 was necessary, in order to appease the tumult, that 
 the father of this lady should go to the monastery, 
 and exert the power he had over his daughter to 
 engage her to desist from her pretensions: this I 
 believe she did with regret, for this little lady was as 
 ambitious as beautiful. By this means the disorder 
 ceased, and peace was re-established both in the 
 town and the convent. Thus the Mother Angela was 
 compelled to remain a simple nun, and to content 
 herself with being the prettiest of the community, 
 which some of her companions would have preferred 
 to the honour of being Superior. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HOIV, AFTER THE BUSINESS OP THE ELECTION, FATHER 
 
 CYRIL BECAME PARISH PRIEST OF PETAPA OF THE 
 
 ADVANTAGES HE FOUND IN HIS CURE HE LEARNS THE 
 
 PROCONCHI WITH FACILITY SINGULAR MANNER IN 
 
 WHICH THE INDIANS CELEBRATE THE PATRON OF 
 
 THEIR CHURCHES. 
 
 " I KNOW not whether the bishop or I looked most 
 foolish of the two after this adventure, which made a 
 terrible noise in the city of Guatimala. This prelate, 
 whom I have never seen since that time, was so 
 mortified with having been foiled in an aft'air of so 
 interesting a nature, that he came to the resolution of 
 shutting himself up in his palace, to hide his con- 
 fusion from the malignant view of the public. On my 
 part, monk as I was, I was not nuicb less ashamed
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 2yj 
 
 than himself. I dared not show myself; for, as I 
 was known in the town for one whose fault it was not 
 that the Mother de Montalvan was not abbess, the 
 sight of me might have excited hisses. For all the 
 gold in the world I would not then have preached in 
 Guatimala, imagining that I was no longer looked on 
 but as the secret agent of Signior Don Francis de 
 Castro. This idea gave me so much pain, that I 
 resolved to abandon my residence in this town, how- 
 ever agreeable it was. 
 
 '•' I communicated my design to the prior, who, 
 judging like myself that after what had passed I 
 actually had reason to wish myself out of Guatimala, 
 replied : ' Father C}'ril, I am of your opinion. Yoti 
 will do well to disappear for some time. Father 
 Boniface, next to )-ou the best preacher of our order, 
 will preach here during }-our absence. I have,' con- 
 tinued he, ' a solid establishment to propose to }'ou. 
 You know that we are collators of almost all the 
 cures in the environs of Guatimala. I ofier )'Ou the 
 most considerable, which is that of Petapa, a large 
 market-town about six leagues from hence. Father 
 Estefano, one of our monks, who has had it more 
 than thirty \-ears, needs repose, and demands a 
 successor. Go to him, and act as his coadjutor unt'l 
 he shall abandon his place in your favour, which he 
 will doubtless do as soon as he shall have instructed 
 you in the language of the Indians. I promise you 
 that you will do very well in that country, which is, 
 besides, one of the most deiicious in America.' 
 
 " I set out then from Guatimala, carrying a letter 
 from Father Valentin to the old curate of Petapa. I 
 was mounted on a mule from the stables of our 
 convent, and an Indian accompanied me on foot. In 
 order to follow exactlv the instructions which the
 
 294 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 prior had given me, I stopped at Mixco, a village 
 near Petapa, and remained there until the following 
 day, that the Alcades and Regidors, whom I caused 
 to be apprised of my arrival, might have time to 
 prepare for receiving me, as they commonly receive 
 the priests and monks who come to be their pastors ; 
 I mean with a pomp which fully marks the respect 
 and consideration they have for them. Accordingly 
 they preceded me on the following day for about a 
 league with singers, trumpeters, and hautboy-players. 
 Besides this I found, on entering the town, triumphal 
 arches decorated with branches of trees, and the 
 streets through which I had to pass were strewed 
 with flowers. 
 
 "I was thus ceremoniously conducted to the Pres- 
 bytery, where Father Estefano, after having read my 
 letter of credit, gave me a reception such as might 
 have gratified a pastor more vain than myself. This 
 good Jacobin, though advanced in years, appeared 
 still robust, and enjoyed an old age exempt from 
 infirmities. With all the good sense he had had in 
 his best days, he preserved a gaiety of humour which 
 made him agreeable in society. 'I see very plainly,' 
 said he, 'by this letter that Father Valentin is giving 
 me a successor who will soon cause the loss of me to 
 be forgotten among the inhabitants of Petapa. 
 
 "*I am greatly rejoiced at it,' continued he, 'and I 
 would leave this to-morrow to go and finish my holy 
 career in some one of our cloisters, if you would not 
 be in want of me ; but I am necessary to you to teach 
 you the Proconchi, which is the language of the 
 Indians, and which it is absolutely necessary that a 
 priest should be acquainted with in this town, where 
 they scarcely speak any Spanish, the officers and the 
 gentry being almost all of Indian race The talent
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 295 
 
 which you have for preaching would be useles's to you 
 here, unless you learn the Proconchi : did not Father 
 Valentin tell you this?' — 'Pardon me,' replied I, 
 'truly he did represent to me the necessity of it; but 
 he told me at the same time, that you would instruct 
 me in it in less than three months.' — ' He told you 
 truth,' replied Father Estefano; 'I am thoroughly 
 acquainted with this idiom. I have even composed 
 a grammar and a dictionary in the Indian language, 
 and these two works have had the honour of being 
 approved of by the Academy of Petapa.' 
 
 " At this word academy I burst out laughing. 
 'How!' cried I, 'there is an academy in this town. 
 There is not then a small town without one!' — 'This 
 is much celebrated,' returned Father Estefano, with a 
 very serious air ; ' by the same token that I am an old 
 member of this respectable body, into which you will 
 also enter shortly ; for I design immediately to qualify 
 you for preaching to the Indians in Proconchi; and 
 when you shall be well acquainted with this language, 
 the members of the academy will send two deputies 
 of their company to offer you a place among them: 
 of this I can assure you,' 
 
 "At so flattering an assurance, I manifested so 
 much desire to learn Proconchi, that, without loss of 
 time, he instructed me in the first principles. I pro- 
 fited so well by his instructions, and applied so closely 
 to study, that in three months I became capable of 
 composing in that tongue an exhortation which I 
 learned by heart, and had the boldness to deliver in 
 public ; in which I was so successful, that the Indian 
 connoisseurs looked on me from that moment as one 
 who knocked at the door of the academy. 
 
 " If you ask me the nature of the Proconchi idiom, 
 I will answer you that it is a tongue which has it^
 
 296 THE BACHELOR OF SALAWANCA. 
 
 declensions and its conjugations, and that you may 
 learn it as easily as Greek or Latin ; more easily, 
 indeed, because it is a living tongue, which one may 
 possess in a short time b}' conversing with Indian 
 purists. For the rest, it is harmonious, and more 
 loaded with figures and metaphors than even our 
 own. If an Indian who prides himself on speaking 
 Proconchi well, desire to make you a compliment, he 
 will employ in it only fantastical singular thoughts, 
 and laboured expressions. It is an obscure inflated 
 style, a glowing verbiage, a pompous nonsense; but 
 this IS what forms its excellence. It is the tone of 
 the academy of Petapa. 
 
 "I had little difficulty in conforming to it, the 
 Bisca}'an genius being friendly to obscurity. I made 
 such rapid progress in the language of the Indians, 
 that the old curate seeing me qualified worthily to 
 replace him, put me in possession of his cure, and set 
 out for Guatimala, there to pass the rest of liis days. 
 
 " After his departure I remained master of the 
 parsonage, where I be^an living in the style of one 
 who holds a good benefice: for till that time, be it 
 said without offence to anybody. Father Estefano, 
 for fear no doubt of turning me from the study of 
 the Proconchi, had taken the trouble of receiving 
 himself the whole of the revenue of the cure, which 
 did not amount to less than two thousand crowns of 
 good Spanish money. This monk, with many good 
 qualities, had one bad one ; he was avaricious. Of this 
 he had made me perfecth' sensible by the frugality 
 which I had seen prevail in our repasts, composed 
 almost entire!}- of butter, cocoa, and detestable liquors. 
 For this reason, the first trouble I conceived I ought 
 to despatch, \v?,s that of having a better table, and 
 enlarging the number of my domestics. I took into
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 297 
 
 my service a black whom one of our alcades gave 
 me as a skilful cook, and with whom I was in fact 
 well satisfied. 
 
 " This black, whose name was Zamor, had been 
 scullion at the house of a President of the Audience 
 of Gautimala, and had there learned the business of 
 the kitchen. He served up to me every day some 
 new dish which bore ample testimony to his skill and 
 tickled my sensuality. Sometimes he gave me pud- 
 dings made with Indian corn and fowl or fresh pork, 
 seasoned with chili or long pepper, and sometimes he 
 regaled me with a stewed hedgehog, or occasionally 
 with a sort of lizard which they call iguana, which 
 has black and green scales on its back, and resembles 
 a scorpion." 
 
 Father Carambola, remarking at this passage that 
 I was making wry faces, could not help laughing. 
 " Signior Bachelor," said he, " it appears to me that 
 the viands of which I am speaking do not make 
 your mouth water." — " No, I protest to you," replied 
 I, " they are more calculated to turn an honest man's 
 stomach than to flatter his palate : I will never have 
 Zamor for my cook."—" Nevertheless," replied Father 
 Cyril, " I assure you that these ragouts are not so 
 bad as you imagine ; and I am persuaded that if you 
 had once come across them, you would render them 
 more justice. A hedgehog and an iguana well 
 cooked and seasoned have an exquisite flavour ; any 
 one eating of either would suppose it a rabbit. The 
 Spaniards, as well as the Indians, conform very 
 generally to such food in the country of Guatimala. 
 The principal officers of the Chancery prefer them to 
 quails, partridges, or pheasants."—" It is all very well," 
 returned I ; " there is good reason for saying that one^ 
 must not argue upon tastes."
 
 298 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 " God be pniised ! " cried the friar, as if he had 
 not already sufficient!)' extolled his hedgehogs and 
 Hzards ; " I protest to you that I found these viands 
 delicious. I also ate with pleasure both land and 
 sea turtles ; and it was to me a feast of the gods, 
 when with this ambrosia I drank nectar, that is to 
 say, a drink called by the Indians Chicha, composed 
 of water and the juice of the sugar-cane, with a little 
 honey. Nevertheless, excellent as was this beverage, 
 I became disgusted with it when I found that, in 
 order to give it strength, they throw into the vessel 
 in which it is made some leaves of tobacco, and some- 
 times a live toad, and that it often causes the death 
 of people who have drunk too freely of it. I there- 
 fore renounced Chicha as soon as I found in what 
 manner it was made, and stuck to other drinks, which 
 it must be acknowledged were not equal to the wines 
 which are drunk in Europe ; but thanks be to Heaven, 
 one gets accustomed to everything. 
 
 " With my cook Zamor, I had besides four other 
 domestics : one who waited at table, and did my 
 errands to the town ; another whose employment 
 was to go out to collect my tithes, which consisted in 
 eggs, poultry, and a certain sum of money which was 
 regularly paid me every month by the regidors ; a 
 gardener, with a valet and a groom ; for I kept a 
 mule to carry me when I went to preach in a little 
 village about three leagues from Petapa. This httle 
 village, which was called Mixco, produced me a great 
 revenue. I went there often, and never without 
 bringing home half a dozen fowls at least, with cocoa 
 to make my chocolate, without counting the money 
 given me for my mass and my sermons : for, notwith- 
 » standing I had to do with auditors very little capable 
 of deriving advantage from my exhortations, I did
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 299 
 
 not fail always to mount the pulpit and preach to 
 some purpose ; so that my presbytery was well fur- 
 nished with provisions. 
 
 " As each village is dedicated to some saint, whose 
 festival the inhabitants celebrate during eight days, 
 the patron of Mixco is highly honoured during his 
 octave, and the curate has every reason to be satisfied 
 with the offerings he receives. The brethren of St. 
 Hyacinth rejoice in a manner which, in my opinion, 
 deserves to be succinctly detailed to you. On the 
 first day, the men, with the prettiest girls in the vil- 
 lage, dress themselves out in fine silks or linen stuffs, 
 ornament themselves with feathers and ribbons, and 
 join together in well-concerted dances, which they 
 execute to perfection. But, what I by no means 
 approve, and can only be pardoned in Indians who 
 are still in idolatr}', is that they begin dancing in the 
 church, and continue it in the churchyard. After 
 this, the rest of the eight days are passed in banquet, 
 prodigally supplied with Chicha, of which all the 
 guests drink till they are ready to burst. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 FATHER CYRIL MAKES HIMSELF BELOVED AND ESTEEMED 
 
 BY THE INDIANS INTERESTING HISTORY OF TWO 
 
 BROTHERS AND A SISTER HE PREACHES IN PRO- 
 
 CONCHI, AND BY THE BEAUTY OF HIS SERMONS 
 OBTAINS A PLACE IN THE ACADEMY OF PET A PA. 
 
 *' I FEATHERED my nest then pretty well, both at 
 Mixco and Petapa. Though I was obliged to send 
 three hundred crowns a year to our house at Guati- 
 mala, there still remained with me money enough 
 not to allow me cause for envying the happiness of 
 the monks of Peru, who hold benefices in the Indian
 
 300 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 villages, and keep all they can get. I was neither 
 less rich nor less happ^^ Besides that I could have 
 paid my convent five, instead of three hundred 
 crowns, I began to carry on a little underhand traffic 
 in merchandise, a thing which I confess was a little 
 against my vow of poverty ; but what would you 
 have? I imitated other monks, who had good cures 
 like myself. Such is the effect of bad example. 
 
 " The Indians of the environs of Guatimala are a 
 mild, gentle kind of people : all they desire is to live 
 in peace. They would love even the Spaniards them- 
 selves, if these would treat them with humanity. We 
 must, however, except a species of black slaves who 
 live in the Indigo farms. These are ferocious and for- 
 midable fc'.lows. Though they have no other weapon 
 tlian a small lance, they have the boldness to face a 
 wild bull in the height of his fury, and to attack cro 
 codiles in the river, which they do not quit till the\' 
 liave killed them : such slaves sometimes make their 
 masters tremble. As for the Indians of Petapa, I 
 pronounce them the best in America : as polished as 
 the others are clownish, they form together a mild 
 society, in which reigns a spirit of concord and fra- 
 ternal amity. But what is the most to be admired, 
 is their good faith and integrity. Of this I will 
 recount to you an instance. 
 
 "A noble and rich Indian of Petapa died, and left 
 a tolerably large succession to his daughter and two 
 sons. The eldest of the two brothers undertook to 
 divide it into three equal portions. When he had 
 done so, lie desired his brother and sister to take 
 their choice. ' You are our elder,' answered they ; 
 * It IS for yea to choose.' — 'No,' replied he, 'since I 
 have made the lots, it is right that you should take 
 which of them you please.' The younger brother and
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 301 
 
 the sister each chose a lot. and the third remained to 
 the elder. There was in this latter a heavy coffer, in 
 which had been contrived a secret drawer, where he 
 discovered by chance a thousand pieces of gold. Hav- 
 ing made this discovery, he invited his brother and 
 sister to a repast, towards the end of which he served 
 lliem up all the money in a dish, sa)'ing, ' Here is what 
 I found hid unknown to me in a coffer, which fell to 
 my lot ; we must share it — ^justice demands it.' 
 
 " I lived in the most perfect union with these 
 Indians, who loved me, Spaniard though I was. I 
 amused myself with them every day. I conversed 
 freely, and played at cards with their wives, of whom 
 the\' are not jealous, and who for the most part are 
 so sprightly, that it is a pleasure to hear them speak 
 Proconchi. The members of the Academy of Petapa 
 consult them too very often ; and when in the confer- 
 ences of these gentlemen their opinions are divided 
 upon any word, they say, ' We must consult the 
 women on the subject.' This proves that the Academy 
 are very gallant. 
 
 " The Indian ladies, then, decide, and their decisions 
 are respected, sometimes even in contempt of the 
 grammar of Father Estefano. I kne"\V, among others, 
 a lady at whose house the choice spirits of the town 
 assembled, and whom they listened to as an oracle : 
 she expressed herself with wonderful elegance, and 
 decided so judiciously on all works of taste, that she 
 never found any to contradict her. This lady was 
 wir'-ow of a noble Indian, who had left her wealth 
 enough to live in a manner suitable to her quality. 
 I went often to see her, and met at her house, almost 
 every day, members of the Academy, whose conversa- 
 tion I turned to account. I retained everything re- 
 markable which I heard them say. I took notice of
 
 302 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 their turns, of their expressions ; and I remarked that 
 these men had a mode of thinking superior to that of 
 ordinary persons. In fine, by hstening to them I 
 finished learning all the delicacies of the Proconchi 
 language. 
 
 "When I thouglit I possessed the spirit and the 
 refinements of it, I was bold enough to wish to preach 
 before the whole body of tlie Academy. But, in 
 order to be sure of pleasing these masters of the 
 Indian language, I bethought ni\self of an expedient 
 which crowned my boldness with success. Among 
 the books which Father Estefano, on returning to 
 Guatimala, had left to render me perfect in Proconchi, 
 I found besides his dictionary and grammar, a collec- 
 tion of discourses recently pronounced at the Academy 
 of Petapa : I turned it over ; and fishing, as one may 
 say, in troubled waters, extracted the most brilliant 
 phrases, the newest modes of speaking, and composed 
 from them a sermon which struck the members of the 
 Academy with wonder. ' There was something very 
 fine in it,' said they one to the other; 'this Jacobin 
 says some very good things, and in a style marked 
 with our stamp.' 
 
 " What shall I say .-* These gentlemen were so 
 satisfied with my diction, or, if you will, with their 
 own, that at their first meeting they resolved to 
 associate me in their glorious labours. They sent to 
 announce to me this honour by two of their deputies. 
 I had again recourse to my collection in order to 
 compose a discourse, and the day of my reception 
 being arrived, I returned my acknowledgments to my 
 new brethren, delivering myself with effrontery to 
 their very beards in their own phrases."
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 303 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 OF THE INDIAN LADIES OF PETAPA MARVELLOUS SECRET 
 
 FOR RENDERING A PERSON AMOROUS, AND OF WHICH 
 THEY SOME TIMES A VA IL THEMSEL VES — OF THE GREA T 
 AND HOLY ENTERPRISE WHICH FATHER CYRIL UNDER- 
 TOOK, AND WHA T WAS THE RESULT OF IT. 
 
 Father Cyril was about to continue his narration, 
 but I first asked him a question. "You have," said 
 I, " been just extolling the minds of the Indians of 
 Petapa, without saying anything of their beauty. 
 This does not prepossess me in favour of their 
 charms." — " They are not less handsome than those 
 of Mexico," replied he, " nor less neatly dressed, but 
 their habiliments are of a different kind. 
 
 " They wear instead of a shift, a species of surplice, 
 which they call guiapil, which descends from the 
 shoulders below the waist, with very large sleeves, so 
 short that they do not cover more than half the arms. 
 This guiapil is ornamented on the stomach with some 
 work of feathers or of cotton, which rather serves to 
 set off the bosom than to hide it. With that they 
 have bracelets and earrings, but no covering on the 
 head ; their hair is only turned up with silken fillets. 
 They go with the legs bare, and wear shoes fastened 
 with a large ribbon. 
 
 " I speak to you only of rich women or those of 
 quality, for the others go barefoot, and have but a 
 simple mantle of wool, which they wrap round them; 
 a thing which at first view does not dazzle the eyes. 
 Nevertheless, though these have not a seducing ap- 
 pearance at the first glance, they do not fail to make 
 their conquests. There are some noble Indians and 
 Spaniards of capricious taste who court them: they 
 go secretly to see them in their thatched cabins, where
 
 304 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 all the dwelling consists in one low room, in the 
 middle of which these Indians make a fire for dressingr 
 their food : and as there is no vent in the roof of the 
 cabin, the smoke necessarily fills the whole room in 
 such a manner, that it may be said of these gallants, 
 that being there as in an oven, they are smothered 
 with love and smoke. 
 
 " Let us return to the wives of the principal Indians. 
 These inhabit houses better built and better furnished. 
 When they go to church or on a visit, they wear a 
 veil of Holland, Spanish, or Chinese linen, which 
 covers the head, and descends to the ground ; but 
 when they return home, they let down the upper part 
 of the guiapil so effectually as to leave the neck and 
 shoulders bare. It is true that, either through decency 
 or affectation, they speedily replace the guiapil if a 
 man come to visit them. I say from affectation, for 
 they are not naturally either cruel or hypocritical. 
 Far from arming themselves against the young men 
 who court them, they usually give them fair play. 
 In short, they are gallant like the other Indians ; but 
 at the same time very superstitious. Whatever incli- 
 nation they may feel for a man who courts them, 
 they will not yield to his love until they have con- 
 sulted the flight and the song of birds, or made 
 observations on the meeting of animals who are 
 passing along the roads. If from these they draw a 
 favourable omen, the gallant has everything to hope 
 for, instead of which, if they conceive from them an 
 unfavourable presage, he has only to seek his fortune 
 elsewhere. 
 
 "Some of these Indians carry superstition farther, 
 and resort to magic to secure the success of their 
 entei prises. I remember that one of them, wishing 
 to irspire with love an Indian girl, whose heart he
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 305 
 
 knew to be otherwise engaged, composed an amorous 
 philter which rendered her unfaithful." 
 
 "What is it you are saying, Father Cyril ? " inter- 
 rupted I, laughing. "You are using the traveller's 
 license ; you are relating fables." — " There is no 
 disputing facts," said he, "and what I relate to you 
 is one of which I was myself a witness. I can tell 
 }ou, moreover, that the philter was composed of the 
 powder of the colibri. The colibri," added he, "is a 
 bird of brilliant plumage, and nearly about the size 
 of a starling. They put it to dry in the sun, then 
 pulverise it ; and this fatal powder, mixed in wine or 
 any other liquor, conveys the poison of love into the 
 heart of the person whom it is desired to inflame, 
 according to the intentions of him who performs the 
 charm. Do not give faith, unless you please, to what 
 I have told you ; but it is certain that several Indians 
 have assured me of having seen this powder used 
 with success. The woman who employed it so effica- 
 ciously, herself avowed it to me." 
 
 In vain the monk would have had me seem per- 
 suaded of this, in vain he protested that nothing was 
 more true ; I could not believe him. Nevertheless, 
 it will be seen in the event, by an adventure which 
 happened to m\-self, that the story of the Indian 
 lover detached from his mistress by sorcery, might 
 probabl}' not be a fable. 
 
 " To finislf describing to you the Indians of Pe- 
 tapa," pursued Father Cyril, " I must tell you that 
 they profess the Catholic religion only to outward 
 view. What passes their comprehension meets in 
 them with nothing but incredulity. My efforts to 
 convert them were useless, though I emplo)'ed for 
 that purpose the most energetic expressions in the 
 Procon :hi language. These intractable and super- 
 
 U
 
 3o6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 stitious spirits adore in secret their idols of stone and 
 wood. Tliey preserve in their houses with rehgious 
 care a toad or some similar animal, to the life of 
 which they firmly believe that their own is attached. 
 
 " When I say they adore their idols in secret, it is 
 to be understood that they would not dare to offer 
 them public worship. The Spaniards prevent this, 
 and treat their false divinities very roughly when they 
 have the misfortune to fall into their hands. But of 
 this these idolaters take particular care. They gener- 
 ally hide them in some cavern, of which they close up 
 the mouth, and in which they assemble at night, as in 
 a pagod, to adore them. If, unfortunately for them, 
 their pastors be informed of these nocturnal meetings, 
 it is for him to put them in order; which he can do 
 by demanding assistance from the alcades and re- 
 gidors, who, to show themselves zealous Catholics, 
 fail not to supply him with Spanish soldiers to escort 
 him and demolish their idols. But expeditions of 
 this kind are not without danger to an ecclesiastic, 
 who by means of them puts himself in the way of 
 obtaining the crown of martyrdom by having the 
 Indians tear him to pieces. 
 
 " So glorious an end is not to the taste of all pastors. 
 Father Estefano had always taken care to avoid it. 
 He contented himself with preaching the word of 
 God to his parishioners, without going to destroy 
 their idols ; and I believe I should have done very 
 well following his example, instead of yielding to the 
 temptation which one day assailed me of deserving a 
 place in the martyrology. Having learned that at 
 the loot of a mountain between Mixco and Petapa, 
 there was a cavern which concealed an idol, and in 
 v/hicb. were frequently held secret meetings, I gave 
 information of it to the alcades, bravely offering
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 307 
 
 myself to destroy the idol. These officers praised 
 my zeal and courage, and furnished me with an escort 
 of twenty well-armed Spaniards, at the head of whom 
 I marched proudly towards the cavern in the middle 
 of the night. 
 
 " We found it lighted up with a prodigious quantity 
 of wax candles, and saw about five hundred Indians, 
 men and women, some of whom were offering incense 
 to the idol, whilst others danced, singing praises to it. 
 This idol was nothing more than a large painted 
 dragon, elevated on an altar of stone. Our arrival 
 disturbed the festival ; and the appearance of my 
 soldiers, who had all their swords in their hands, 
 terrified the idolaters so much, that, far from putting 
 themselves in a posture for defending their divinity, 
 they thought of nothing but making their escape. 
 
 " I ordered that they should not be opposed in 
 their flight, and that no harm should be done them. 
 I gave over the dragon to my escort, who broke it 
 into a thousand pieces. After this I returned in 
 triumph to Petapa, looking on this fine exploit as a 
 very important service rendered to the church." 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 CONSEQUENCE OF THIS GLORIOUS EXPEDITION — OF THE 
 DANGER IN WHICH FATHER CYRIL FOUND HIMSELF, 
 AND OF THE PRUDENT COURSE HE TOOK TO EXTRICA TE 
 
 HIMSELF FROM IT HE RETIRES TO HIS MONASTERY 
 
 HE RECEIVES AN ORDER FROM HIS PROVINCIAL TO 
 
 GO AND PREACH A T MEXICO. 
 
 "So vigorous an execution made a great noise in the 
 country. Those of the Indians who were really con- 
 verted did not disapprove of it ; but the others, b\' far 
 the more numerous, viewing it as a sacrilege which
 
 3o8 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 they ought not to leave unpunished, held a council 
 together, in which it was decreed that I should, one 
 fine night, be assassinated in my house. 
 
 "All their measures were taken for striking this 
 blow, and my ruin was inevitable, had not Heaven 
 interposed. But the objects which it had in view for 
 me engaged its bounty not to abandon me, and per- 
 mitted that on the day before that appointed for the 
 execution of the project, I should receive an anony- 
 mous letter, apprising me of my danger. This charit- 
 able information came to me from an Indian woman, 
 to whom one of the conspirators had revealed the 
 business, and who, though an idolatress, had preferred 
 the life of an honest man to the revenge of her idol. 
 
 "On the receipt of this letter, which appeared to 
 me deserving of attention, I made up my bundle, co'ni- 
 posed of all my money ; and without saying a single 
 word to my servants which could cause them to 
 suspect my design, I mounted my mule, and took 
 the road to Guatimala, without choosing to be accom- 
 panied but by my guardian angel, who, if he saved 
 me from the danger which threatened me, did not 
 preserve me from fear. I looked a thousand times 
 behind me to see if any were following, and I was 
 finaHy fortunate enough to arrive safe and sound at 
 our monaster}'. 
 
 " I related to our prior my holy prowess, which he 
 praised less than my flight. ' Father Cyril,' said he, 
 'to console you for having lost the crown of martyr- 
 dom which the Indians designed you, I have an 
 agreeable piece of news to announce to you. There 
 is wanting in Mexico a monk of our order who has 
 a talent for preaching: the Jesuits and Cordeliere at 
 tiie present moment take the lead of us in that city. 
 V\ c have need of some powerful person to maintain
 
 THE BACHELOR OP SALAMANCA. 309 
 
 the balance, and we have cast our eyes on you. Our 
 provincial, on the report which I have made him of 
 the applause which your sermons received at Guati- 
 mala, is desirous of sending you to Mexico. I was 
 on the point of writing to }'ou by his orders, to recal 
 you from Petapa : you could not have come more 
 critically in time.' 
 
 "This news gave me so much the more pleasure, 
 as I wished to see Mexico; and Father Cj'ril found 
 his vanity not a little flattered b\' the choice which 
 had been made of him, to go and dispute the honour 
 of the pulpit in this fine city against such formidable 
 rivals. I therefore prepared myself for obeying the 
 orders of the father provincial, who, in a conversation 
 we had together before my departure, particularly 
 recommended that I should labour to sustain by my 
 sermons the good name which the preachers of our 
 order have ahva\'S had in the Indies. His reverence 
 then assured me that my toils should be, one day, 
 well recompensed ; and joining to this assurance a 
 letter which he wrote in my favour to the father prior 
 of our convent at Mexico, he gave me his benediction, 
 with which I took the road to this great town. I had 
 for my guide an Indian who was perfectly acquainted 
 with the road, and who had the address to enable me 
 to avoid the negroes, who inhabit the mountains and 
 murder travellers. Without him these honest folks 
 would perhaps have carried off my tithes and Signior 
 Don Francisco de Castro's gold watch : at the same 
 time I had to pay him ver}- hand.somel)- for his trouble. 
 
 " Having arrived at Mexico, I went to wait upon 
 the prior, who is called Father Athanasio, and deli- 
 vered him m\- provincial's letter. Before he unsealed 
 it he very respectfully kissed it. He read it to himself 
 wit'i attention, and I observed that while reading it
 
 3IO THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 he appeared surprised and satisfied. ' Father Cyril,' 
 said he, after liaving finished it, ' even tliough this 
 letter were not from our reverend father provin- 
 cial, it contains so handsome an eulogium on your 
 merit, that I could not omit receiving you as a man 
 sent by Heaven to preserve the glory of our oreier. 
 We cannot sufficientl}'' rejoice at your arrival: for in 
 fact,' pursued he, ' the Jesuits have taken the wall in 
 Mexico: that is certain. But I trust they will soon 
 \'ield it to us: if this letter may be beli-^ved, you are 
 about to deprive them of the prize of preaching.' 
 
 " I returned to this compliment a reply as modest 
 as that was flattering; and after a rather long conver- 
 sation, in which the prior evinced a very great impa- 
 tience to hear me preacli, I prepared to comply with 
 his desires. I mounted the pulpit after a week, and 
 from my very first sermon made a noise in tlie town. 
 Wiiat shall I say to you .-* This noise is daily augment- 
 ing, in spite of those who are jealous of it, and I have 
 become the fashionable preacher of the day." 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WHAT DON CHERUB IN AND FATHER CYRIL DID AFTER 
 HAVING MUTUALLY RECOUNTED THEIR ADVENTURES 
 
 DESCRIPTION WHICH THE LATTER GAVE OP HIS 
 
 PRIOR DON CHERUBIN IS RECEIVED WITH PLEA- 
 SURE WHAT TOOK PLACE AT THIS VISIT. 
 
 When Father Cyril had finished his relation, I ex- 
 pressed the joy I felt at finding him, after so long an 
 absence, so honoured and esteemed in tiie capital of 
 Mexico. I congratulated him on the success of his 
 sermons without telling him what I thought of them, 
 or rather by telling him what I did not think; for I
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. ^n 
 
 praised him even so highly as to call him Cicero's 
 orator, a thing for which some reader may reproach 
 me. " Signior Bachelor," he may say, "we ought to 
 flatter no one, and particularly our friends." Agreed : 
 but I reply that it is not necessary to be unseasonably 
 sincere, and that it is better to approve of the praises 
 which one's friend receives, than to tell him brutally 
 that he does not deserve them. Besides, Father Cyril 
 had taken his mould, and my candour would not have 
 been less useless than indiscreet if I had undertaken 
 to give him advice. 
 
 When I had complimented him on his reputation of 
 being a great preacher, I asked him if he was content 
 with^his prior's behaviour to him. " Is he properly 
 sensible," said I, " of his happiness in having you ? 
 How does he act towards you ? "— " The best in the 
 world," replied the Biscayan. " I have every reason 
 to praise Father Athanasio : he honours me with his 
 confidence; he consults me, and causes me to enter 
 into a thousand little details which prove he has a 
 friendship for me. Moreover, he never invites any 
 party in which I am not included. If he regale secu- 
 lars in his apartment, he sends for me to help him to 
 do the honours of the table with my conversatioa, 
 which, without vanity, is not of the dullest. If we go 
 to visit the nuns, I am his companion. In a word, I 
 partake of all his pleasures." 
 
 "As far as I see," replied I, "this Father Atha- 
 nasio appears a virtuoso." — " Without doubt," replied 
 Carambola. " To give you a portrait of him, I will 
 first tell you that he is not yet two and forty years 
 of age. For his person, he is one of those portly 
 friars whom one cannot see passing along the street 
 without admiring their good mien. ^ The ladies of 
 Mexico are delighted when he visits them. Besides
 
 312 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 that he has a most amusing wit, lie may be said to 
 be one who sings well, and is thoroughly acquainted 
 with music. Moreover, he has a talent for poetry 
 which ought not to pass for nothing. I must," con- 
 tinued he, " make his reverence known to you." — "You 
 will do me pleasure," said I: "such a monk appears 
 to me to be a very desirable acquaintance." — "Very 
 well," said he, " I will do it for you immediately," At 
 the same time he took me by the hand, and conducted 
 me to the apartment of Father Athanasio. While 
 going there, I said to myself: " Let us now see whether 
 the prior of the Jacobins of Mexico be as well off 
 for furniture as the guardian of the Cordeliers of 
 Xalapa. I ought not to doubt it : Saint Dominic is 
 richer than Saint Francis." 
 
 In effect. Father Athanasio had a floor of eight or 
 nine rooms, all ornamented with pictures and magni- 
 ficently furnished. The most beautiful ornaments 
 of Mechoacan feathers shone on all sides. There 
 were seen tables covered with silk, and buffets orna- 
 mented with vases of the finest porcelain of China 
 or Japan. In short, my eyes were dazzled by the 
 beauty of all that struck them, and which would have 
 certainly done honour to the palace of a cardinal. 
 We found the prior amusing himself with singing 
 and touching the strings of a lute. "My reverend 
 father," said my conductor, "your reverence will allow 
 me to introduce to you one of my best friends, Don 
 Cherubin de la Ronda, the illustrious governor of the 
 young Count de Gelves, son of the Viceroy." Father 
 Athanasio, on my friend Carambola's account, showed 
 me all imaginable politeness. He even regaled me 
 with a collation, during which he talked of nothing 
 btit music and concerts. 
 
 This friar gave me by these means to understand
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 313 
 
 which was his accessible side ; and making my attack 
 accordingly, "Reverend father," said I, "my friend 
 has praised y^ur voice to me in such terms as have 
 inspired me with a violent desire to hear y u sing : I 
 can hardly believe that he has n t overdone his praise." 
 — "You shall judge for y^irself," replied the pri'-^r 
 modestly. "You have reas->n to mistrust Father 
 C\ril : besides that he has a great friendship for me. 
 he is not very sensible to harmony." At these words 
 he rose to take his lute, and without ceremony began 
 pla\-ing, singing at the same time a song of which he 
 had himself, he informed us, composed the air and the 
 words. In this song a lover was complaining of a 
 cruel mistress, and essaying to soften her b\' touching 
 expressions. It was amusing to see h nv the friar 
 entered into the spirit of the song, and vented the 
 most tender sounds, rolling his eyes at the same time 
 with the languor of a lover, making a most singular 
 contrast with his religious habiliments and emblems 
 of mortification. 
 
 "Signior Don Cherubin," said Father Cyril, when 
 the prior had done singing, "you see what are the 
 innocent recreations of his reverence. What do }'ou 
 think of his voice.' Do you not perceive in it an 
 infinite softness, and would it not be a murder not to 
 exercise it.?" I took care not to tell him, in reply, 
 that the \oice of priest and monk ought to be devoted 
 to the praises of the Almighty, because persons wh-^ 
 preach to others are not fond of having sermons 
 addressed to themselves ; on the contrary, I approved 
 very h'ghly of the prior's amusements. I made him 
 repeat his song, telling him that I was charmed w'th 
 his voice, his music, and his poetr\-. I did not, how- 
 ever, fail to impart to Father Cyril, in pri\ate, my 
 opinion n his subject. He to k the part f his
 
 314 THE BACHELOR. OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 prior, and to make the apology of the American 
 monks in two words, said : "If the monks of this 
 country have not faces which speak of mortification, 
 be not therefore prejudiced against them : they are 
 not the less virtuous because they have not an air of 
 hypocrisy." 
 
 After spending the rest of the day with these two 
 friars, I left them with a promise of returning occa- 
 sionally to see them, and begging them to honour 
 me with their visits when their affairs should call 
 them to Mexico. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 DON CHE RUBIN GOES TO SEE THE PENITENTS OF THE 
 DESERT, AND RECOGNISES AMONG THEM DON GABRIEL 
 
 MONCHIQUE, THE SEDUCER OF DONNA PAULA OF THE 
 
 CONVERSATION WHICH THESE TWO CAVALIERS HAD 
 
 TOGETHER, AND HOW THEY SEPARA TED IMPRESSION 
 
 MADE ON DON CHERUBIN's MIND BY THE RECITAL OF 
 THE MANNER IN WHICH HIS WIFE HAD BEEN CARRIED 
 OFF. 
 
 One evening, being in a company where the con- 
 versation turned upon the beauty of the environs of 
 Mexico, it was stated, and every one agreed in the 
 opinion, that the most agreeable of all was that which 
 is called the Solitude of the Desert. As I had never 
 yet been there, though I had frequently heard the 
 place highly praised, I resolved to go thither the 
 following day along with Toston, who was no less 
 curious than myself to see this spot. We accordingly 
 repaired to it, mounted on two mules from the stables 
 of the Viceroy. In a very short time we had com- 
 pleted the three leagues, the distance between the 
 town and this solitary abode, which well deserves to
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 315 
 
 be described. It is a mountain environed with rocks, 
 and on which there is a convent built by the Bare- 
 footed Carmelites, to retire to as to a hermitage. 
 
 There are at the base, and all around this mountain, 
 a number of chapels, all of which have gardens filled 
 with flowers and fruits. There even run from the 
 rock in many places, fountains, which, together with 
 the shade of palm-trees, render this solitude delightful. 
 The interior of each of these chapels is ornamented 
 with paintings in fresco, which represent the different 
 kinds of torments suffered by martyrs; and, as if it 
 were not enough to expose to the view of the world 
 scourges, hair shirts, and other instruments of mortifi- 
 cation, to intimate the life of penance led in this- 
 desert, there are also to be seen in each of the chapels 
 a kind of hermits, who are employed in lacerating 
 their skin with rods of iron wire; a great attraction 
 to the people of Mexico, who are as fond of horrid 
 spectacles as the English themselves. 
 
 These self-scourged penitents pass for saints. I 
 considered them with admiration : and, having ob- 
 served that several of the spectators gave them 
 money in order to be remembered in their prayers, I 
 was desirous of imitating them, and with this inten- 
 tion approached a chapel to present a pistole to the 
 holy personage who was there flagellating himself 
 with great severity ; but imagine what was my 
 astonishment at recognising in this miserable hermit, 
 all disfigured as he was, Don Gabriel de Monchique, 
 the seducer of Donna Paula. I doubted at first the 
 evidence of my eyes, and said to Toston : " Examine 
 that penitent attentively ; do you not recognise in him 
 the features of the perfidious Don Gabriel ? Is it an 
 illusion ?"— " No, sir," replied he, "you do not deceive 
 yourself; it is indeed your enemy. I cannot mistake,
 
 31 6 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 though he is so covered with blood as to make the 
 recognition barely possible." 
 
 While I ran m)' e\'es over this miserable wretch, 
 the sight of whom, while it awaked my vengeance, 
 forbade me to gratify it, he placed himself by m.y 
 side. As soon as he knew me, he threw to the ground 
 the scourge with which his cruel hand was armed 
 against himself; and presenting me his breast all 
 covered with blood : " Don Cherubin," said he, " strike ; 
 revenge the outrage which I have committed on you : 
 far from wishing to screen myself from your blows, I 
 entreat them as a favour; by piercing my heart, you 
 will deliver me from the remorse with which I am 
 eternally tortured, or rather from the furies which 
 for the last two years have incessantly pursued me." 
 — " What have you done with my wife ? " cried I, 
 hastily interrupting him; "what has become of 
 her ? Speak, wretch, inform me of her situation." — 
 "Donna Paula is no more," replied he; "a month 
 after our flight she was snatched from me by death. 
 Scarcely had I tasted the fruit of my crime, ere 
 Heaven punished me for it. If you would know 
 more," added he, " enter my chapel, and I will inform 
 you of all you can desire to learn : it is also due to 
 justice that I should vindicate Donna Paula, who was 
 not culpable." Thus addressing us, he drew Toston 
 and m)'self into the chapel, and continued in the 
 following terms : 
 
 " Listen to me, Don Cherubin ; I am about to 
 make you a faithful recital of the seduction and rape 
 of your wife. When I had formed the design of 
 winning her, 1 gained over, by means of presents, her 
 old attendant, Antonia, who informed me that Donna 
 Paula loved you too sincerely to become unfaithful 
 to )^ou. On this, instead of renouncing my s 11\- h)ve,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 317 
 
 as I ought to have done, I abandoned mx'self to it in 
 such a degree that I do not hesitate to avail niyseh 
 of an amorous philter which was made known to me 
 by an old apothecary of Alcaraz, and which was, he 
 informed me, composed of the powder of a certain 
 bird whose species exists in some part of America. 
 As I put no faitli in such things, which I treated as 
 mere chimeras, I doubted very much of its success; 
 yet no sooner had Antonia administered some of this 
 powder to her mistress in a cup of chocolate, than 
 the charm operated. 
 
 "As soon as I was apprised of this, I took my time 
 and arranged my measures so well, that at the be- 
 ginning of a very dark night I left Alcaraz with 
 Donna Paula and her servant, unseen by any person 
 about the place. We arrived before day at the village 
 of Villa Verde, distant about two leagues, where we 
 concealed ourselves in the castle of a gentleman v/ith 
 whom I had contracted an acquaintance, who was a 
 relation of Don Ambrosio de Lorca, and, consequently, 
 an enemy to Don Manoel and yourself This gentle- 
 man pleased himself with the idea of lendirig us an 
 as\lum, and of favouring an action which would dis- 
 honour you both. We remained about a fortnight in 
 our retreat, without entertaining any appreh'jn.snni 
 from your perquisitions, since we were with a ca\-a!ier 
 whose domestics were all discreet and faithful. After 
 this, taking the road to the coast near Carthagena bv 
 night, we arrived at a small port, and embarked oa 
 board a vessel which I had freighted for Genoa, my 
 own country, where I proposed to conceal my prey ; 
 but Heaven, tired with the profligacy of my life, 
 would not permit the accomplishment of my de>ign : 
 Donna Pauia fell ill and died on the passage, in spite 
 of all that could be done to save her.
 
 3i8' THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 ** This melancholy event," continued Monchique, 
 " induced me to look into myself. I reproached 
 nu'self with my crime, of which I now saw all the enor^ 
 mit}', and took a resolution to expiate it, if possible, 
 by devoting the remainder of my days to the rudest 
 penance. Arrived at Genoa, I sold with this design 
 all my effects, and this is the use I made of the 
 money I by that means obtained : I gave a part of it 
 to old Antonia, to enable her to go and mourn in an 
 establishment of female penitents the part she had 
 acted in the seduction of her mistress ; I paid and 
 dismissed my servants, and after having distributed 
 the rest of my property to the poor, I set out from 
 Genoa in the habit of a hermit, determined to stop 
 in the first wood or place which might appear to me 
 adapted for the residence of an anchorite ; and that 
 I speedily found. 
 
 "But, Don Cherubin," continued he, " I believe it 
 is not necessary to tell you more, nor to relate to }-ou 
 by what means I was brought from Italy to Mexico ; 
 in that you can have no interest : enough that I have 
 revealed that which is connected with your own affairs ; 
 and I think I have said sufficient to excite your 
 vengeance. Plunge, then," added he, presenting me 
 his breast, "plunge \'our sword into the heart of a 
 miserable wretch, who can only appear a very monster 
 in your eyes." — ^" No, no," replied I, "whatever injury 
 you have done me, I cannot resolve to revenge myself 
 b\' assassination. I choose rather to leave you in 
 this desert, that by long and rigorous penance you 
 may obtain the mercy of Heaven." 
 
 So saying, I left the chapel and resumed the road 
 to Mexico, my mind filled with the most serious 
 reflections upon this adventure. They were of a 
 me'anc' oly kind when I considered that Donna Paula
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 319 
 
 had not swerved from her duty but through the means 
 of a most detestable artifice, and was therefore excus- 
 able in what had happened. Nevertheless, there arose 
 in my mind a secret joy when I remembered that by 
 her death I was placed in a situation to aspire to the 
 possession of Donna Blanca. As for Toston, who 
 found in this adventure nothing but what was cal- 
 culated to inspire joy, his ideas w ere all of a pleasing 
 kind. When he saw me lamenting over the fate of 
 Donna Paula, he talked to me of Salzedo's daughter: 
 and, all things considered both on the part of joy and 
 grief, the former preponderated. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 DOI/ CHERUBIN STOPS IN A VILLAGE ON HIS RETURN FROM 
 
 THE DESERT AN UNEXPECTED RENCOUNTER WHICH 
 
 TAKES PLACE THERE HISTORY OF A PARISH PRIEST 
 
 AND A PILGRIM WHO THIS PILGRIM WAS ASTONISH- 
 ING EFFECT OF PERSONAL RESEMBLANCE, AND EXTRA- 
 ORDINARY GENEROSITY OF THE PRIEST. 
 
 I WAS returning with my valet from the desert, and 
 had my mind still full of what I had been told by 
 Don Gabriel de Monchique, when I had a rather 
 singular rencounter, which dissipated for a time the 
 melancholy in which I was plunged anew, on reflecting 
 on the tragical end of my unfortunate wife, whom I 
 pitied from the bottom of my heart. Stopping in a 
 village, or rather in a small town, to rest the horses, 
 I was surprised by the sight of a great number of 
 persons assembled round the door of the parsonage, 
 so I judged the house to be, as it immediately joined 
 the church. I desired Toston to go and inquire in*o 
 the cause of the tumult. He accordingly went, and
 
 320 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 returned in a moment after, cr\'ing out like a mad- 
 man : "Oh, sir, a most laughable adventure has just 
 taken place: the curate of this parish has recognised 
 his wife in the habit of a pilgrim to whom he was 
 giving alms, and these people are waiting to see her 
 come out." 
 
 My valet again burst into laughter about this event, 
 and begged me to stay like the rest, to see what 
 would be the result. I, however, ordered him to be 
 silent, not choosing that he should make a fool of 
 himself in a village where it was probable I might be 
 known. I fell into reflection on this subject. What 
 a difference, thought I, is there between this man's 
 fortune and my own. I have lost a wife, without the 
 slightest hope of ever seeing her again, while the 
 priest has met with his at a moment when he had not 
 the slightest expectation of it. Curious to be informed 
 of this history more in detail, I made my way through 
 the crowd and desired to speak with the curate. They 
 at first made some difficulty about admitting me, but 
 my dress and equipage catching the attention of those 
 who came to open the door, my request was ultimately 
 complied with. On entering, I saw in a rather large- 
 sized saloon all the principal people of the village 
 assembled round a venerable pastor, whom they were 
 endeavouring to persuade that the pilgrim was not his 
 wife ; and that she even did not know, and had never 
 seen him. 
 
 I approached the pastor, who was in absolute 
 despair that the pilgrim would not acknowledge him. 
 He rose as I advanced, and, finding no doubt my 
 countenance prepossessing, entreated me to listen to 
 him ; and this I readily assented to, addressing to 
 him at the same time some few words of consolation, 
 calculated to inspire him with hope. He received my
 
 TUB BACHELOR OF SALAUAXCA. 321 
 
 compliments with his e)'cs full of tears, and replied : 
 "My misforhnie, sir, is this. It is now about fifteen 
 years since, travelling with my wife, whom }-ou see 
 here surrounded b}' m\' friends, and who now disowns 
 me, we encountered a dreadful storm. Our vessel 
 was shattered into a thousand pieces, and I should 
 have fallen a victim to the fury of the winds and 
 waves, but for the peculiar interposition of Providence. 
 After having been long tossed about the surge, which 
 one moment gave me to see the very depths of the 
 ocean, and at another raised me to the skies, I had 
 the good fortune to discover an empty boat, which, 
 like myself, was driving at the mercy of the storm. 
 I got into it. Although aU was dark, I by accident 
 discovered a pair of oars, which I immediately seized, 
 returning thanks to Heaven ; and, without an idea 
 of which way I was going, continued rowing for two 
 or three hours, until I at last perceived that the sea 
 had grown more calm, and that my boat was aground. 
 While awaiting the day, I put up a thousand prayers 
 to Heaven for tlie safety of my wife and two children 
 who had embarked with me. Scarcely had the 
 morning dawned, ere my surprise was excited at 
 finding myself in a harbour filled with numerous 
 vessels. Doubtless Providence had conducted my 
 boat, and watched over my days. Some sailors who 
 perceived me from afar came to my assistance. They 
 were much astonished at seeing me escape from such 
 a furious tempest. They pitisd my situation, and 
 lent me some articles of dress, for which I gladly 
 exchanged the wet clothes I wore. 
 
 " Saved from this frightful peril, I entered a church, 
 and oft'ered up m)- heart to God. I was firmK- re- 
 solved never more to embark on board a ship. I 
 deeply regretted, however, the loss I had sustained
 
 322 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 of a wife who was so dear to me, and of two children 
 whom I tenderly loved. After inquiring of a number 
 of travellers whether there were any news of the 
 vessel called the Shepherd's Star, and having heard 
 that all had perished, and that I was the onl\' person 
 who had escaped from this cruel wreck, I travelled 
 from port to port, with money which I made of some 
 jewels which remained in my possession, and two 
 rings which I had upon my fingers. Hearing no intel- 
 ligence whatever of my wife, I came to the resolution 
 of devoting ni}' life to the service of God, since I could 
 never be sufficiently grateful to Him for the mercy 
 He had shown me. I resumed my studies, which I 
 had not yet forgotten, and sometime after entered 
 into a seminary. In about four years I entered into 
 holy orders, perfectly to my satisfaction, and after 
 having some time served this parish, was appointed 
 its pastor. I have now been here six years, and this 
 morning, while giving alms to this pilgrim, I thought 
 that in her features I could recollect those of my wife. 
 The surprise I felt at the moment caused me to utter 
 a cry which brought all my people around me. The 
 pilgrim, terrified at this accident, not knowing to 
 what cause to attribute it, came herself to my assist- 
 ance. Recovering my senses, and looking more closely 
 at this woman, I caused all the rest to retire, and 
 when alone with her, asked if she were not the daughter 
 of Don Bardo de Mendoza. She admitted that she 
 was, and inquired in her turn how it happened that 
 I knew anything about her. I embraced her, and 
 told her that in me she beheld her unfortunate 
 husband, Don Raxas, escaped by the mercy of God 
 from the fur\' of the waves. But judge of my 
 astonishment, when, withdrawing herself from my
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 323 
 
 arms, she told me that I was mad, and that she had 
 never been married. She would then have gone 
 out, bwt I stopped her, and her cries have been the 
 means of attracting the people of the village to my 
 door. Am I not most unhappy," continued the 
 good priest, " not to be recognised by one who was 
 dearer to me than the world } Gentlemen, I appeal 
 to your judgment." 
 
 Curious to see the end of this adventure, I told the 
 curate that prudence should forbid him to divulge 
 this matter out of respect to his own character, and 
 that it was requisite to act with caution under such 
 circumstances ; that, if he would permit me, I would 
 go and speak to this pilgrim in private, and might by 
 that means discover who she was : to this he con- 
 sented, and desired that we should be left together. 
 I accordingly approached the woman : but what was 
 my astonishment at recognising, in a pilgrim's dress, 
 Nise, m\' earliest love. She was no less troubled at 
 the sight of me, and inquiring by what chance I came 
 there, I told her what had been said about her, and 
 that curiosity had induced me to enter the curate's 
 house. I exhorted her to tell me the truth. She 
 replied that it was true she had never been married, 
 and that she was the daughter of Don Bardo de IMen- 
 doza. I asked what was her Christian name. She 
 told me it was Theresa Nise, and that finding herself 
 unable to continue at service in consequence of a 
 malady with which she had some time been afflicted, 
 she had taken the resolution of asking charity in the 
 habit of a pilgrim; that she had made up her mind 
 to that course, and that it had afforded her subsist- 
 ence. " But had }'ou not a sister .-' " asked I. " Alas ! 
 yes," said she : " but having been separated from her
 
 324 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 in my earliest infancy, at which time she was married, 
 I am ignorant in what part she is, or whether she be 
 still alive." I asked her sister's name. " Francisca," 
 replied she. " That is enough," said I, leaving her. 
 I then returned to the curate, who, as soon as he saw 
 me, demanded if this woman were really his wife ? 
 I answered that I did not believe she was, and that 
 her resemblance to his wife had surprised him, and 
 struck upon his imagination. "What," I asked, "was 
 the name of your wife ? " — " Donna Francisca," replied 
 he. "Well then," said I, taking him by the hand, 
 "come hither, and in this pilgrim embrace your 
 sister-in-law, Donna Theresa Nise." — " My sister-in- 
 law ! Is it possible," cried the priest, rushing towards 
 her, "that you should be Nise, of whom my wife has 
 so frequently spoken ?" The pilgrim assured him it 
 was so, and I confirmed her stor\', stating that I had 
 formerly known her. To this effect I related to them 
 where I had seen her, sa}'ing nothing, however, of the 
 share which she had had in m\' affections. But what 
 was most convincing of all, was that our pilgrim drew 
 forth a register of her baptism from a small box 
 which she had by her side, and showed it to the 
 priest, who could now no longer entertain the slightest 
 doubt of the truth, and once more embraced her as 
 his sister-in-law. After being apprised of her circum- 
 stances, he told her that they should in future live 
 together, and be only separated by the tomb. The 
 news immediately spread in the village that the 
 pilgrim was the priest's sister-in-law, and that her 
 great resemblance to her sister had been the cause 
 of the mistake. 
 
 This adventure appeared to me too singular not 
 to afford it a detail among my memoirs, and I think
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 325 
 
 that my readers will not be displeased with me for 
 having inserted it, I took my leave of the priest, 
 who wuuld not allow me to set out before I had par- 
 taken of a frugal collation to which he invited me; 
 by which means I had an opportunity of witnessing 
 his excessive joy at seeing a sister who had been 
 hitherto unknown to him. His eyes were full of 
 tears, and when he looked at Nise he could not help 
 sighing incessantly at the recollection of his wife. I 
 was much moved with this spectacle, and if I were 
 delighted at seeing the turn which the affair had 
 taken, I was still more so at the generosity of the 
 worth}- pastor. How many are there far more rich 
 than he (his revenue amounting to less than two 
 hundred crowns per annum) who leave their relations 
 in the extreme of indigence, while they have it in 
 their power to relieve them by taking them to their 
 ho.mes, or at least by aiding them to subsist. 
 
 The priest, curious to learn to whom he had been 
 speaking, asked who I was. I did not conceal my 
 quality from him, and he consequently evinced the 
 greatest respect for me. He begged me to permit 
 him to come and see me, to which I readily consented. 
 His conduct in taking his sister-in-law into his house 
 appeared so praiseworthy in my eyes, that some time 
 after I procured for him, through the medium of Don 
 Juan de Salzedo, a rich benefice a few leagues from 
 Mexico, in the direction of Petapa, worth two thou- 
 sand crowns a year. 
 
 The curate never ceased to thank me, and manifest 
 his gratitude for the favour. I have mentioned here 
 the end of this story, because it will not be again 
 adverted to in the course of these memoirs. When 
 I left him I perceived that the good curate's house-
 
 326 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 keeper looked with an evil eye upon her new hostess : 
 she was the only person who appeared chagrined at 
 the event. I returned with Toston to Mexico ; and 
 had my brain so occupied with this adventure, that 
 I related it immediately on my arrival to Don Juan 
 Salzedo, and totally forgot to mention that in which 
 I was infinitely more interested, and which I after- 
 wards resolved not to omit acquainting him with the 
 next morning. 
 
 END OF THE FIFTH PART.
 
 PART THE SIXTH. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 DON CHE RUBIN, ON HIS RETURN TO MEXICO, GIVES DON 
 
 JUAN SALZEDO AN ACCOUNT OF HIS JOURNEY OF 
 
 THE JOY WHICH THE SECRETARY FELT AT FINPrVG 
 HIM IN A SITU A TION TO BECOME HIS SON-IN- 1 AW — 
 OF THE NEW EMPLOYMENT WHICH HE OBTAIN hi. PJ.i 
 HIM, AND THE GOOD ADVICE WHICH HE GAVE HIM, 
 
 I WENT in haste to Salzedo, to inform him of the 
 unexpected rencounter which I had had, and which I 
 had forgotten to give him an account of on the evening 
 before. I accosted him with an agitation which gave 
 him to see beforehand that I had some interesting 
 news to announce to him. " What is the matter, Don 
 Cherubin," said he, "that you are so agitated.? Has 
 anything extraordinary happened to you .' " — " Yes, 
 Signior," replied I, "and you have little notion of the 
 astonishing reciti^l I am about to make you." At the 
 same time I gave him a detail of what had passed in 
 the desert between Monchique and myself. 
 
 Don Juan heard me without interruption ; after 
 which, embracing me with transport, " How agree- 
 able to me is this news!" cried he. "The obstacle 
 which opposed the repose of my life is then removed. 
 Nothing can now prevent us from joining the ties of 
 blood to those of friendship. I am at the height of 
 my wishes. In talking to you thus, I suppose that
 
 328 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 for my daughter, tuujn semper sauciat pectus amor: 
 for if, since }'0u have refrained from seeing her, \our 
 heart has become engaged elsewhere, it would be 
 melancholy for her to have a husband whose affec- 
 tions she would not possess." 
 
 I protested to Salzedo that I had not changed my 
 sentiments, and hereupon he again promised me the 
 hand of Donna Blanca. I returned him, as may be 
 supposed, the thanks which I owed to a man who, 
 while he had in his power to marry his daughter to 
 some lord of the court, or to some contador mayor, 
 did not disdain my alliance, or rather sought it with 
 as much ardour as if he would have derived consider- 
 able advantage from it. 
 
 I expressed x\\\ gratitude to him in terms which 
 gave him to understand that I was still more touched 
 by the affection he evinced for me than by Blanca's 
 dowry, great as it was. " I am persuaded," replied 
 he, "of the sincerity of your sentiments; and if I 
 only consulted m\' own desires, }ou should be in less 
 than a week the husband of my daughter ; but a 
 reason which I will state to you obliges me to defer 
 this marriage for some months. Don Alexis will 
 soon put on the virile robe, I mean that he will no 
 longer have a governor. I wait for that time in order 
 to procure \-ou a more important post than that which 
 you now hold, and, permit me to say, more worthy of 
 a cavalier who is to be my son-in-law, 
 
 "In the meantime," added he, "I permit you again 
 to see my daughter as before, and to hold with her 
 such conversation as is consistent for two persons 
 who are on the point of binding themselves together 
 by everlasting bonds." I did not neglect this per- 
 mission. I revisited Blanca, who, receiving me as a 
 lover who had the consent of her father, conceived
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA, 33; 
 
 a little affection for me, at the same time that she 
 inspired me with a great deal for her. 
 
 I was anxious to know what new place my destined 
 fath'jr-in-law wished I sliould possess, in order to 
 render me worthy of the honour he was desirous of 
 doing me ; when he, one morning, entered my room 
 with an air of gaiety. "My son," said he (for he no 
 longer called me by an\- other appellation), "albo 
 dies notcnida lapillo ! You are no longer governor of 
 Don Alexis. This young lord is now master of his 
 actions, and you are my colleague. The Viceroy, to 
 recompense the care you have taken of his son's 
 education, consents that you should take a part in 
 my labours, and share with me the title of principal 
 secretary to the Viceroyalty. It is a favour which I 
 have asked him, and have just obtained. Do not tell 
 me that, not feeling competent to acquit yourself well 
 of the employment, you have a repugnance to accept- 
 ing it. Let not my functions frighten you : there is 
 no black art in the case. To fill my place, regularity 
 and good sense alone are requisite. Be under no 
 uneasiness on that subject : I will soon qualify you 
 for the most difficult duties." 
 
 Upon this assurance, I lost all at once the aversion 
 I hitherto entertained for offices, and told Salzedo 
 that truly my incapacity frightened me, but, since he 
 was not alarmed, I would do what he desired, assured 
 that he would assist me with his advice, or, to speal; 
 more justly, that he would guide me by leading 
 strings. As soon as he found me determined on doing 
 as he desired, he conducted me to the Viceroy, to 
 whom he presented me as his colleague and son-in- 
 law. His Excellency approved his design of associat- 
 ing me in the ministry, and of giving me his daughter 
 Blanca ia marriage, " not thinking," said this nobleman,
 
 330 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 in a ver}' obliging way, " that he could find any person 
 more proper than myself to become his son-in-law and 
 his substitute." After this flattering discourse, the 
 Count told me that he exhorted me to take my father- 
 in-law for a model ; a thing which he might very well 
 have dispensed with recommending to me, as he knew 
 that I was well acquainted with Salzedo's merits. 
 
 " My lord needed not to have persuaded me to 
 walk in your footsteps," said I to the Secretary, when 
 we had quitted the Viceroy. " Who but you could I 
 have proposed to imitate.-' What guide could, better 
 than j'ourself, conduct me in the path which you have 
 opened to me, and on which I do not enter without 
 trembling.? Alas ! I fear that I have a capacity too 
 narrow to admit of my fulfilling your design." — " I 
 repeat to you again," replied Don Juan, "the matter 
 is much easier than you imagine. I have only one 
 advice of the last importance to give you. Be acces- 
 sible, obliging, and give every one a good reception. 
 An air of gravity does indeed become a person at the 
 head of an office, but there should be in it nothing of 
 ])ride. ' Gravity and foolish pride,' says a Castilian 
 author, ' are two sisters who very much resemble each 
 other, and who may notwithstanding be distinguished : 
 the one repays the politeness which is shown her; the 
 other is rendered by it only the more insolent.' " 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 DON CHERUBJN DE LA RONDA SHARES THE FUNCTIONS OF 
 SALZEDOy AND ACQUITS HIMSELF PERFECTLY WELL 
 
 HE MARRIES DONNA BLANC A — TRAGICAL HISTORY 
 
 OF THREE INDIAN BROTHERS. 
 
 As soon as I was declared colleague of Don Juan de 
 Salzedo, the clerks of all the offices of the Viceroyalty
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 331 
 
 came in haste to pay their respects to their superior ; 
 and I received abundance of visits, the greater part of 
 the gentlemen and principal citizens of Mexico having 
 come to see and form an acquaintance with a man 
 whom they knew to be the most particular friend of 
 Salzedo, and designed to be his son-in-law. 
 
 In the commencement I went on only step by step, 
 and did nothing without having first consulted my 
 oracle, that is to say my senior, who taking a pleasure 
 in instructing me, with which I was enchanted, daily 
 increased my taste for business. I applied myself to 
 it with so much ardour, that I had soon no need of a 
 guide. After three months' practice it would have been 
 said that I had all my life applied to nothing else but 
 what I was then engaged in. It is true that I devoted 
 my whole attention to copying my model; and I suc- 
 ceeded so well, that I was called in the town, by way 
 of excellence, Salzedo's ape. I know not whether I 
 did not surpass my original in the art of receiving 
 with politeness those persons who had recourse to our 
 ministry. It is at least certain that Don Juan had 
 nothing to reproach me with on this score. On the 
 contrary, he said to me one day, having seen the 
 politeness which I used to a simple citizen : " Ver\' 
 well, my son ; very well : that is the reception to be 
 given to all who apply to us. Whether their requests 
 be granted or refused, we ought always to send them 
 away satisfied with our manners." 
 
 I was then without the fault which is often the pro- 
 perty of principal secretaries, and sometimes even of 
 the lowest clerks ; I did not act the petty minister. I 
 will say more; I joined to my mild and civil demea- 
 nour, an obliging heart. I did all the services I could, 
 and principally to unfortunate persons, who came to 
 implore my support. By this I acquired the reputa-
 
 332 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 tion of an honest man, and gained the esteem and 
 friendship of the whole town. 
 
 My colleague applauded himself for his work. He 
 was delighted to see me so well justify his choice; 
 and the time at which he proposed to give me his 
 daughter having arrived, he caused me solemn!}' to 
 espouse her in the cathedral of Mexico, in presence 
 of the Count and Countess de Gelves, and all the 
 officers of the Chancery. The principal gentlemen 
 of the town were also present at this ceremony, and 
 among others, my friend Don Andre Alvarade. and 
 Don Josef de Sandoval, both of them descended in a 
 direct line from those brave captains of Cortez who 
 rendered their names so celebrated. There was also 
 Don Ch'i^'oval, the grandson of the famous Garcias 
 Holqum, who seized the canoe and persor. of King 
 Cuahutimoc, successor of Montezuma. In a word, 
 the most distinguished cavaliers were at our nup- 
 tials; forming a brilliant assembly. Blanca and I, 
 after having received the nuptial benediction from the 
 hand of the Archbishop, returned to the palace, and 
 our wedding was celebrated with splendour during 
 three days: feasts, balls, concerts and plays, every- 
 thing was resorted to to render it magnificent. 
 
 When the rejoicings were concluded, I applied my- 
 self to business still more closel}'' than before, and 
 my lord soon became so well pleased with me, that 
 he made scarcely any difference between the father 
 and the son-in-law. He consulted us both on the 
 important orders he received from court, and some- 
 times it happened that my opinion prevailed over 
 that ( f D )n Juan, who, far from showing himself 
 jealous, appeared deh'ghted at it. 
 
 The Count placed great reliance in our advice, but 
 he did not always follow it ; and when he had t.iken
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 333 
 
 a thiiiy into his head, neither one nor the other of us 
 could turn him from his design. T must relate an 
 instance of his obstinacy, from which may be seen 
 what kind of man this nobleman was. He learned 
 one da\- that in the province of Mechoacan there 
 were three Indian gentlemen, brothers, who dwelt 
 on the borders of a river, in some parts of which gold 
 was found, not unknown to them, since it was ascer- 
 tained that they had trafficked in gold dust with a 
 merchant of Seville. The Count de Gelves, prompt 
 to seize the opportunity of augmenting his riches, 
 sent some Spanish soldiers into the country of 
 Mechoacan, with an order to carry off the three 
 brothers, and bring them to Mexico; which was 
 executed with as much exactness as diligence. The 
 Indians were put into the prison of the palace. The 
 Viceroy interrogated them himself. They denied that 
 they had any knowledge of the parts of the river 
 where it was pretended there was gold. To engage 
 them to the discovery, they at first used mildness and 
 fine promises, afterwards threats, and even torments. 
 All was useless ; they could not obtain their secret. 
 
 If his Excellency would have been prevailed on 
 by Salzedo and myself, he would there have stopped. 
 He would have sent these unfortunate men back to 
 their country, and contented himself with having used 
 them ill. Such was our advice, which notwithstanding, 
 judicious as it was, was not followed. The Vicero\-, 
 unable to fore;o the hope of obtaining gold from 
 these prisoners, took the resolution of writing to the 
 court to inform the prime minister of what had passed, 
 and to ask him what should be done with the three 
 Indian gentlemen. The Duke de Olivarez, thinking 
 he bad alread\' twenty tons of gold dust, returned a 
 speedy answer to the Count de Gelves, and ordered
 
 334 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 him without ceremony to have the tliree brothers 
 beheaded if they persisted in keeping silence. 
 
 Although this order appeared cruel to the Viceroy, 
 he did not fail to prepare for the bloody execution, 
 notwithstanding all that my colleague and I could 
 say to him, to prevent him from staining himself with 
 the blood of three men who only persisted in silence 
 because, perhaps, they had nothing to reveal. He 
 opposed us by two arguments to which we were 
 obliged to yield. In the first place, he knew the 
 character of the Count Duke, a proud minister, and 
 one who wished to be obeyed without remonstrance : 
 then he was working upon him, to continue him in 
 his post some years beyond the term of his commis- 
 sion, which was near expiring ; for he had now been 
 four years governing Mexico, the Viceroyalty of 
 v»hich is but for five years, but is sometimes prolonged 
 to ten by means of presents which the Viceroy sends 
 to Spain, both to the prime minister and the mem- 
 bers of the Indian Council. 
 
 When I saw the three unfortunate victims of the 
 Count Duke's and the Viceroy's avarice menaced 
 with a speedy death, I had compassion on them. 
 " My lord," said I to his Excellency, " before the 
 blood of these unfortunate Indians be shed, let us 
 put address in practice, since the torture has been 
 unavailing. I know a Jacobin who is very eloquent, 
 and who speaks the Indian language very well ; I 
 think if he were to see the prisoners and to have some 
 interviews with them, he would succeed in getting 
 then to discover what they now conceal with so much 
 obstinacy." — " I approve of }'Our idea," said the Count, 
 " and nothing ought to prevent us from following it. 
 Go instantly in search of this monk, and bring him 
 to me : if he can succeed in this business, he has only
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 335 
 
 to be assured that I will get him a bishopric." I 
 immediately got into my carriage and proceeded to 
 the convent of the Jacobins, saying to myself as I went 
 along : " God be praised ! if my friend Carambola could 
 become a bishop, it would be laughable enough." 
 
 " What brings you here .' " said Father Cyril, as 
 soon as he saw me appear. " Is anything here for 
 your service?" — "The business is rather connected 
 with yours," replied I, ''since it concerns a mitre 
 which it is desired should be placed on your head." — 
 " I hope you will explain yourself,'' said he, "for I do 
 not understand ) ou. I do not think myself of the 
 wood from which bishops are made, although persons 
 of our order are every day raised to the episcopal 
 dignity." I made known to the monk the motive of 
 my visit, and on what condition it was promised that 
 he should become a prince of the church. " Oh, I 
 have not got the mitre yet," said he, shaking his head : 
 " what is expected from me is not easy to be per- 
 formed." — "You deceive yourself, Siguier Carneades," 
 replied I, laughing: "you who possess the happy 
 talent of persuading, you who speak so well the 
 Proconchi language ; you fear to be unable to induce 
 these prisoners to comply with the intentions of the 
 Court to save their lives !"—•" Yes," replied Father 
 Cyril, " I fear that I shall not be able to accomplish 
 it : you do not know the Indians. There are some 
 of them so firm in the resolutions they have taken, 
 that the most cruel execution cannot frighten them. 
 If these have agreed among themselves to die rather 
 than discover what they desire to conceal, it is in vain 
 to indulge the hope of forcing them to it. I will, 
 nevertheless," added he, " niake the proof to content 
 the Viceroy ; but I much dou^t of his Excellency 
 being well satisfied with the event,"
 
 336 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 I conducted the Jacobin to the palace, and pre- 
 sented him to the Viceroy, who said to him: " Father, 
 you understand the nature of the business. Don 
 Cherubin has, ot course, fully acquainted you with it ; 
 and as he has very much praised your eloquence to 
 mc, I have every reason to flatter m}'self that you 
 will induce these three Indians to break the silence 
 which they are so obstinate in maintaining, and which 
 wii] prove fatal to them if they do not attend to your 
 remonstrances. See them, I entreat you ; converse 
 with them in their own language; and proceed, if 
 possible, so that they may obey the orders of the 
 king in pointing out the parts of the river in which 
 there is gold. Represent to them that without this 
 indication their ruin is certain; instead of which, if 
 they make it with a good grace, I shall be grateful 
 to then\ for it, and will confer on them great favours. 
 As to yourself", Father," added he, "be assured that 
 if you succeed, the Court will be mindfal of your 
 services." — " My lord," replied Father Cyril, "I am 
 disposed to second your zeal for the king's service, 
 an 1 I will spare nothing to satisfy your Excellency; 
 but I have already told Don Cherubin I know not 
 if my exhortations will have the effect you promi-e 
 y ;urself.'" 
 
 At the same time our Jacobin, to show that he 
 desi'cd nothing more than to contribute to the acc^ - 
 pHshment of the Count's desire, or rather to a 
 bishop, had himself conducted to the prison where the 
 three Indians were shut up, and remained with them 
 four hours. His lordship and myself both drew a 
 favourable omen frc^n -o long a visit, and we could 
 ot imagine that oe Indians would be mad enough 
 to prefer death ' life. However, we deceived our- 
 ,selves. The m iuber of the Petapa Academy returned
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 337 
 
 to us with a mortified air. " These unhappy men," 
 said he, " are not capable of hearing reason, in the 
 despair which possesses them. I have in vain ex- 
 horted them to comply with the will of the Court; 
 my discourse only served to irritate their fury. They 
 persist in maintaining that they are ignorant whether 
 there be gold in this river in which it is pretended 
 that it is found, and they add that if they did know 
 it, they would not acknowledge it, to punish the 
 avidity of the Court and the Vicero}-." — "Very well," 
 said his Excellency, irritated at the firmness of the 
 prisoners, " they shall perish, since they desire to 
 appropriate to themselves the riches which belong to 
 the king." 
 
 These words of the Count's were followed by a 
 sentence of death which he pronounced against them, 
 in conformity to the sanguinary order of the Court, 
 and that without opposition from the judges of the 
 Chancery, though these officers are entitled to oppose 
 the unjust designs of the Viceroy; a circumstance 
 which is doubtless to be attributed to their fear of 
 displeasing the minister, with whose vindictive spirit 
 they were acquainted. 
 
 A scaffold was therefore set up in the market- 
 place, on which the eldest of the three brothers was 
 first made to mount. They were accompanied by 
 Father Cyril, who exhorted them in Proconchi to 
 satisfy the Vicero}', while the executioner stood by 
 with a large cutlass in his hand, of which he studied 
 to make the steel sparkle in the eyes of the unfortunate 
 men whom he menaced : but the Indian, viewing with 
 an eye of firmness the preparations for his execution, 
 and more fatigued than moved by the exhortation of 
 the monk, hastened to offer his throat to tlie execu- 
 tioner, who inflicted on him the mortal blow. 
 
 Y
 
 338 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. ' 
 
 The second was immediately brought forward, whom 
 the monk would have persuaded that he ought not to 
 follow the example of his elder. " Useless talk ! " said 
 the Indian, who spoke a little Spanish. " My friend/' 
 pursued he, addressing the executioner, "do thy duty 
 quickly; consummate the unjust and barbarous work 
 of thy superiors." At these words he laid his head 
 on the block, and the executioner severed it from his 
 body. 
 
 There remained to be executed only the youngest 
 of the three brothers. He had no sooner appeared on 
 the scaffold, than there arose a murmur among those 
 who were present, who were very numerous ; and this 
 murmur was the effect of the general compassion 
 which the sight of him excited. It is certain that it 
 was impossible to contemplate him without pitying 
 his misfortune. He was a youth of about twenty at 
 most, well made and of good mien. The ladies, who 
 are naturally compassionate, pitied his youth, and 
 wished that he might not imitate his brothers. All 
 the spectators put up prayers for him to Heaven. 
 For my part, I expected, and my lord flattered him- 
 self with the hope, that this young Indian would lose 
 his firmness on seeing the steel raised over his head, 
 and the bodies of his brothers extended on the scaf- 
 fold. Even Father Cyril, in spite of the knowledge 
 which he had of the resolution of the Indians, did not 
 despair of snatching this one from his fate ; and to 
 this end, redoubling his efforts, he exhausted the most 
 eloquent discourses with which his book of academical 
 collections supplied him: but he was not more fortu- 
 nate in this enterprise than he had been at Guatimala 
 in the affair of the Abbess's election ; for when the 
 young Indian saw on the ground the heads of his 
 two brothers separated from their bodies, he gathered
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 339 
 
 them up* in a transport of rage, and kissing one after 
 the other, "Wait," cried he, in his own language, 
 " wait, my dear brothers ; I am about to follow )-ou. 
 Death has nothing but charms for me, since it is 
 about to reunite me to you." The Jacobin, judging 
 by these words that this furious man was determined 
 to perish, ceased to exhort him to live, and abandoned 
 him to the executioner, who struck off his head. 
 
 The market-place immediately re-echoed with a 
 cry of horror. The populace burst out in confused 
 murmurs. The\' pity these three Indians, and their 
 judges are accused of injustice. It is certain that 
 this event did little honour to the Count de Gelves 
 and the prime minister; but I believe that these two 
 noblemen were less mortified at having unjustly 
 caused the death of three gentlemen, than at having 
 committed a bad action to no puq^ose. As for Don 
 Juan Salzedo and myself, we were really afflicted at 
 it, as was also little Father Cyril, who returned to his 
 monastery as one who had lost a bishopric. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 BY WHAT ACCIDENT TOSTON ALL AT ONCE MADE HIS FOR- 
 TUNE, AND OF THE LAUDABLE RESOLUTION WHICH 
 HE TOOK SHORTLY AFTER DON ALEXIS PARTS WITH- 
 OUT REGRET FROM HIS CREOLE, TOSTON's WIFE. 
 
 On the day after this tragical event, one of a more 
 joyful nature happened in the palace. Blandina 
 finding that Don Alexis had abused her weakness 
 for him, confided in Toston the secret of her situa- 
 tion, and that domestic immediately informed the 
 Vice-Queen. 
 
 This lady appeared as much astonished as if she
 
 340 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. ■, 
 
 ought not to have foreseen the accident. "Ah, my 
 friend!" cried she, "what is it thou tellest me? 
 This news pierces my heart. I should never have 
 thought Blandina capable of forgetting herself so far." 
 — " Madam," replied Toston, "you know that a tender 
 engagement goes farther than is calculated on. When 
 the mistress is softened and the lover very warm, reason 
 and virtue easily lose their influence over them." 
 
 "Ah, feeble Blandina!" resumed the Countess, 
 "what hast thou done? Oughtest thou to have 
 allowed my son liberties which are only permitted 
 to husbands ? But why reproach thee with it ? It 
 is to my imprudence alone that thy misfortune must 
 be attributed, Alas! it is I wh© have ruinjd thee 
 in exposing thee to the '. eril und^r which thou hast 
 fallen. After this tirade of dolorous exclamations, I 
 should be inconsolable," pursued she, "if there were 
 no remedy for this evil. Happily there is one: yes, 
 doubtless, it is a certain mode of saving Blandina's 
 honour. We have but to marry her quickly to some 
 honest man, to thyself, for instance: thou appearest 
 to me to be suitable for her." — " Madam," replied 
 Toston, " I thank you for the preference." 
 
 "Thou hast reason to thank me," cried the Vice- 
 Queen ; "lear'n, my friend, that thou wilt be doing 
 no bad business in uniting thyself with Blandina. 
 In the first place, tliis Creole is very pretty, and I 
 will give her a large dowry ; with that I promise thee 
 a considerable employment, and, what ought not 
 to pass for nothing, my protection." — " Candidlx', 
 madam," said Toston with much vivacity, "you 
 dazzle me : I must be an enemy to my fortune if I 
 were to refuse a similar establishment. The business 
 i."' done ; I am ready to preserve the honour of 
 Blandina at the expense of my own."
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 341 
 
 The Vice-Queen, charmed to see the young man 
 in these sentiments, made haste to get him united to 
 the Creole, whose honour, in consequence of this 
 marriage, received no taint, for no one was astonished 
 to see a valet- de-chambre to Don Alexis marry an 
 attendant of the Countess. The best thing for the 
 husband in this precipitate match w7.s Uiat he touched 
 a thousand Spanish pistoles, which che Vice-Queen 
 caused to be told out to him. Aod to this three 
 thousand crowns, which he received from me iax 
 services he had rendered me. 
 
 When this domestic saw himself so wfi;ll supplied 
 with money, he took an inclination to return to his 
 own country, and carry thither his wife, of whom he 
 had long been enamoured, and more beloved by her 
 than Don Alexis; so that he might flatter himself, 
 as well as the young lord, with being in reality the 
 father of Blandina's child. He communicated his 
 design to me. "Sir," said he, "though the residence 
 of Mexico is perhaps the most beautiful on the habit- 
 able globe, I have resolved to leave it, to go and see 
 once more my country and my parents. My father 
 who as you know was a schoolmaster in the village 
 of Alcaraz, is still alive, as well as my mother; if, 
 at least, death has not carried thern both off since 
 our separation. They are not rich, and you will of 
 course judge that the return of a generous son who 
 has made his fortune will be very agreeable to them. 
 
 " Besides the pleasure which I propose to myself," 
 continued he, " in rendering their circumstances more 
 easy, I feel that I shall not have less in carrying 
 news of you to Siguier Don Manoel de Pedrilla, you 
 brother-in-law and friend, who m 1st be in mortal im- 
 ])atience to hear something o\ \-ou." — " It is not to 
 be doubted," replied I ; " Don Manoel loves :ne too
 
 342 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 well not to be in pain about me; and, on my side, 1 
 should be unworthy of his friendship if I were longer 
 to delay informing him of the happ\' situation in which. 
 I am. It is accordingly my design to make him 
 acquainted with it as early as possible, by a letter 
 which shall contain an ample detail," 
 
 " No, no, sir," interrupted Toston ; " that is a charge 
 which I take upon myself. J shall better inform them 
 by word of mouth than you can by a letter, of all 
 that has happened to you since your departure from 
 Alcaraz. Besides, I shall be able to reply to the 
 questions which they may desire to ask, and you 
 need not doubt they will ask me an infinite number." 
 - — " It is certain," replied I, " that a report from }ou 
 will be preferable to the longest despatch ; but I fear 
 one thing : Don Alexis will not consent to the depar- 
 ture of Blandina." — " Oh yes/' returned Toston, " this 
 nobleman's love has considerably relaxed ; he begins 
 to detach himself from the Creole; and, walking in 
 his father's steps, in spite of all we have been able to 
 do, he is taken with the sight of an Indian coquette, 
 whose acquaintance one of his pages has procured 
 him. I am delighted that he is grown inconstant, 
 for, without vanity, Blandina has a greater liking for 
 me than for him. She will readily abandon Mexico 
 to follow me to my own country, where we shall live 
 at our ease, bringing up the little family which her 
 fecundity promises." 
 
 In reality, Don Alexis, very far from wishing to 
 retain his Creole, received her adieux with an un- 
 moistened eye; but in default of the grief which the 
 young ingrate ought to hav^e had at losing a person 
 who had had so much kindness for him, he made her 
 a present of some jewellery. After this Toston having 
 taken charge of the despatches which I gave him for
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 343 
 
 Don ]\Ianoel and my sister, set out with Blandina for 
 Vera Cruz by the muleteer's road. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF THE CONFIDENCE WHICH DON JUAN SALZEDO REPOSED 
 IN HIS SON-IN-LAW, OF A PROJECT FORMED BY THE 
 VICEROY — WHAT THIS PROJECT WAS, AND HOW IT 
 WAS EXECUTED — THE ARCHBISHOP OF MEXICO TAKES 
 THE PART OF THE PEOPLE, AND EXCOMMUNICATES 
 
 DON PEDRO AND THE VICEROY VIOLENCE WHICH 
 
 THIS LAST RESORTED TO, IN HAVING HIM CONDUCTED 
 TO VERA CRUZ. 
 
 Had my father-in-law been ever so little inclined to 
 jealousy, he could not without pain have seen the 
 gentlemen press as they did for my friendship in 
 preference to his own ; but he was a man who took 
 pleasure in seeing me esteemed and honoured by 
 every one. Perhaps, also, in attributing to the con- 
 sideration they had for him that which they mani- 
 fested to me, his vanity might find its account. 
 However this be, he loved me as if I had been his 
 own son. He had no secrets with me, and sometimes 
 he confided to me matters of great importance. This 
 is one of which he one day informed me. 
 
 " The Count de Gelves," said he, " begins to lose 
 the hope of getting his government prolonged. One 
 of his friends, a courtier, well informed of the measures 
 which several noblemen are taking at Court to obtain 
 the Viceroyalty of Mexico, informs him that the 
 Count Duke de Olivarez has directed the king's 
 choice to the Marquis de Serralvo. Another, less 
 avaricious than the Count de Gelves," continued he, 
 " would console himself, and return satisfied to Madrid
 
 344 T^HE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 with the fish he has caught : but he cannot moderate 
 his views; he is desirous of making one good cast of 
 his net. He expects by raising the price of salt that 
 he shall gain immense sums; and, in order to throw 
 on another the public odium which this monopoly 
 must excite, he has in hand a man born for executing 
 such enterprises: this is Don Pedro Mexio, one of 
 the richest gentlemen in Mexico, and perhaps the 
 most audacious of mortals. 
 
 "I esteem his lordship," pursued Don Juan, " and 
 cherish his glory and honour too much to applaud 
 his design when he communicated it to me. I com- 
 bated it, like a sincere friend and zealous servitor; 
 but although the Count commonly listens to me and 
 follows my advice, I can tell you there are occasions 
 like this on which he will not be contradicted , he is 
 determined on executing his project, whatever may 
 be the consequence of it." Thus spoke my father- 
 in-law, and then asked what I said to this project. 
 "I say," replied I, "that it makes me tremble, and 
 that it may have consequences very disagreeable for 
 his Excellency and for us." — "That is what I feared," 
 replied he, "and I am much mortified that I cannot 
 prevent them." Salzedo and I, then, disapproved of 
 this enterprise, and we were in despair when we beheld 
 preparations making for executing it. I will detail 
 in what manner the undertakers of it commenced this 
 work of iniquity. The reader will see by the event 
 the truth of the proverb, la codicia qiiebra el saco* 
 
 Don Pedro Mexio, according to the agreement 
 made between the Count and him, bought up all the 
 salt he could find for sale in the country, and filled 
 the stores which he had hired with that intention. 
 By this means salt grew scarce, and became every 
 
 * Covetousness bursts the bag.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 345 
 
 day dearer. Don Pedro then beginning to sell his 
 own, daily augmented the price, so that the poor 
 began to complain and the rich to murmur; and so 
 much the more, as both classes knew what to think 
 of this dearness. Tiiey did not confine themselves 
 to plaints and murmurs. A petition was presented, 
 in the name of the people in general, to the judges 
 of the Chancery, demanding that salt should be 
 reduced to its former price : but the Viceroy, who 
 was at the head of these judges, of whom the greater 
 part dared not be of an opinion different from his, gave 
 them to understand that this dearness would not last 
 long, and that they must have patience. Thus, no 
 one having the boldness to oppose his avarice, Mexio 
 was suffered to continue his plunder at his ease. 
 
 At last the people, tired at seeing no end to the 
 monopoly, implored the assistance of the Archbishop, 
 setting forth in a memorial to his lordship, that he 
 ought to interpose his pastoral authority to preserve 
 his flock from the tyranny of Don Pedro. The pastor, 
 touched with their distress, or to speak more justl\-, 
 urged b\' a secret hatred to the Viceroy, seized this 
 opportunity for mortifying him, under the specious 
 pretext of solacing the people. He resolved to employ 
 the censures of the Church against Mexio, knowing 
 that this would be indirectly attacking the Count. 
 This violent prelate was named Don Alonzo de 
 Zcrna. He was the son of a hidalgo of New Castile. 
 He had obtained, I know not how, the archbishopric 
 of Mexico, wiiich is wortii sixty thousand crowns of 
 rent ; and, proud of the possession of so rich a benefice, 
 he thought himself at least equal to the Viceroy. 
 
 Don Alonzo, to vex his enemy, excommunicated 
 Don Pedro, and fixed his excommunication on the 
 doors of all the churches, that no one might be
 
 346 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 itinerant of it. Mexio only laughed when he was 
 informed of it. He derided the Archbishop, and to 
 let him see how little value he set upon his excom- 
 munication, he continued to sell his salt, and even 
 raised the price. This boldness did not fail to irritate 
 the impetuous prelate, who, on his side, listening to and 
 following nothing but his own boiling humour, pushed 
 his resentment so far as to interdict divine service. 
 
 Nothing is more considerable in New Spain than 
 this interdiction. It is, as one may say, to sound 
 the tocsin to apprise the people that the house of 
 the Lord is on fire: for, from the moment it is pu'i- 
 lished, the doois of the churches are closed ; no more 
 masses, no more prayers are said in them ; it is a 
 general suspension of all the ecclesiastical functions. 
 Rightly to conceive the importance of this formidable 
 censure, it r»:iust be known that there are more than a 
 thousand priests in Mexico, both regular and secular, 
 who subsist only on masses, which they say at a dollar 
 apiece, which daily amounts to more than a thousand 
 crowns ; and this the excommunicated person has 
 to pay. 
 
 Don Pedro, rightly judging that the Archbishop 
 wished to ruin him, by rendering him odious to the 
 people, and perceiving besides that they began to 
 insult him in the streets, lost part of his firmness, 
 and retired to the palace to entreat the Viceroy to 
 protect him, since after all he had only complied 
 with his orders. On this the Count de Gelves sent 
 the greater part of his servants to tear down from 
 the doors of the churches the excommunication and 
 interdiction papers, which w^ere there put up. He 
 then caused the superiors of convents to be told that 
 he orvicred them to open their churches and perform 
 masses, under penalty for disobedience. But the
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 347 
 
 monks replied, that on this occasion it appeared to 
 them they ought rather to obey their pastor than 
 the Viceroy. On their refusal, his Excellency called 
 me and said: "Don Cherubin, go immediately to the 
 Archbishop, and tell him from me that I order him 
 to revoke his censures." 
 
 I repaired in haste to the archiepiscopal palace, 
 and made known my commission to the prelate, 
 who tod me bluntly, that he could not do what the 
 Count commanded until Mexio, the disturber of the 
 public peace, should have previously submitted to the 
 Church, and reimbursed the priests in the sums whicii 
 he had been the cause of their losing. I wished to 
 represent to his irritated lordship that he did not 
 reflect it was disoLieynig the king to refuse sub- 
 mission to the orders ot his minister; but the furious 
 Don Alonzo haughtily interrupted me. " Hold \'our 
 tongue, my friend,'' said he; "I have no need of your 
 remonstrances. I know what I owe to a Viceroy 
 who makes so bad a use of his power, and who 
 would deserve to be treated like Don Pedro." I did 
 not deem it seasonable to reply, whatever mind I 
 had to do so, and retired for fear of being m\'self 
 excommunicated. 
 
 The Viceroy, who was scarcely less violent than 
 the Archbishop, was transported with rage when I 
 informed him what the prelate had said to me ; and, 
 giving way to his first impulse, cal.ed the captain of 
 his guards. "Tirol," said he, " I order you to go and 
 seize the person of the Archbishop, in whatever place 
 he may be, the immunity of the Church itself not 
 being worthy of respect on this occasion. Conduct 
 this priest to Vera Cruz, and place him under the 
 castle guard, until he can be embarked for Spain." 
 
 Whilst Tirol was assembling his people to execute
 
 348 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 the order of his Excellency, the Archbishop was 
 apprised of it. He immediately left the town, avid 
 took refuge in the suburb of Guadaloupe, accompanied 
 by several ecclesiastics. He there made out himself an 
 excommunication, which he charged one of his priests 
 to have stuck up on the door of the cathedral. Then, 
 having learned that he u^as pursued, he rook refuse 
 in a church, where he had the candles lighted on the 
 altar, and dressed himself in his pontifical robes, too 
 fully persuaded that in this state no man would dare 
 to hi}^ his hand on him. But he was soon undeceived. 
 Tirol, at the head of his people, entered the church ; 
 and having respectfully approached the prelate, 
 begged him to hear read the king's order, of which 
 he was the bearer, and to submit to it quietl}% to 
 avoid scandal. Upon this our Archbishop began 
 cr\ ing out that the privilege of the church was vio- 
 lated, and took all his priests to witness the outrage 
 that was done him. Nevertheless, after having 
 stoutly declainied against the Viceroy, he took off 
 his habiliments, and gave himself up to Tirol, who 
 immediately conducted him to Vera Cruz. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 OP THR MELANCHOLY CONSEQUENCES WHICH AROSE FROM 
 
 CARRYING OFF THE ARCHBISHOP OF MEXICO THE 
 
 VICEROY IS OBLIGED TO RETIRE TO THE MONASTERY 
 
 OF THE CORDELIERS DON CHERUBIN, HIS WIFE, AND 
 
 HIS FATHER-IN-LAW RETIRE THERE ALSO, DON 
 
 CHERUBIN SETS OUT FROM MEXICO. 
 
 Don Juan and I were afflicted at this seizure of the 
 
 Archbishop, foreseeing that it would have disastrous 
 consequences. We hatl sp'es about, who rendered us
 
 THE BACHELOR OE SALAMANCA. 349 
 
 an exact account of all that was said in the town, and 
 we had reason to judge by their reports that the 
 inhabitants did not ai)prove of the catidjjct which tlie 
 Count had pursued, and even that they pronounced 
 him in the wrong. 
 
 We soon learned that the ecclesiastics, above all, 
 were animated against his ExceUenc}' ; that the\' 
 diffused among the people a spirit of revolt, and 
 excited the Creoles, the Indians, and the Mulattoes, 
 the secret enemies of the government, to begin the 
 sedition. Insensibly the number of the malcontents 
 increased to such a pitch, that it seemed the whole 
 town had taken part against the Viceroy. His 
 servants could not appear without exposing them- 
 selves to insult. Even Salzedo and myself had our 
 share in the hatred of the people, who imagined, 
 doubtless, that we had a part in the monopoly of salt. 
 In short, ever\-thing announced approaching sedition, 
 which the return of Tirol to Mexico caused to bun>t 
 forth. The first who raised the buckler was a priest, 
 w ho, seeing this captain passing on horseback through 
 the market-place, took it into his head to cry out, 
 " Tiiere goes the man who dared to la\' his impious 
 hand on the minister c/f the Lord." 
 
 At the voice of this priest, the populace were 
 roused. They assembled and pursued Tirol witii 
 stones as far as the palace, where he, fearing a general 
 insurrection, ordered the gates to be closed. The 
 precaution was not unnecessary, for the affair became 
 serious. In less than a quarter of an hour there were 
 in the square more than six thousand persons of all 
 conditions, who, loading Tirol with abuse, began 
 crying, as in emulation of each other, that he ought 
 to be exterminated. 
 
 Hitherto the seditious had only made a noise; and
 
 350 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 the Viceroy believing that to appease them he had 
 only to send and request them to retire to their 
 houses, assuring them that Tirol had escaped from 
 the palace by a back gate, charged me with this 
 commission, the honour of which I would willingly 
 ha\'e \-ielded to another, and of which I, notwith- 
 standing, acquitted myself boldly enough for a man 
 who exposes himself to be stoned, which I expected 
 to happen to me ; for, having shown m\-self at a 
 balcoiu', for the purpose of addressing the mutineers, 
 I saw a shower of missiles fall around me, of which 
 happily none took effect. As nothing but blows were 
 to be gained by preaching reason to these madmen, 
 I wisely retired, and, by my abrupt retreat, avoided 
 the fate of the Emperor Montezuma.* 
 
 Things did not rest here. Some priests having 
 joined the party, irritated the fury of the malcontents, 
 some of whom being armed with fusees, began firing 
 at the windows, and made the balls whistle about the 
 palace, whilst others with levers began battering down 
 the wall to gain admittance. Du-rino- five or six hours 
 which this tumult lasted, a page and two of the 
 Count's guards who appeared at the balconies with 
 their carbines to return the fire of those without, had 
 the misfortune to perish, after having themselves 
 brought down some of the seditious. We should have 
 made a great carnage among them if we had had 
 some pieces of cannon ; but there were none, either in 
 the palace or the town, the Spaniards having no 
 apprehension of being attacked by foreign nations. 
 
 In default of cannon, the Count de Gelves ordered 
 the ro}-al standard to be displayed on the balconies, 
 and the trumpet sounded to call the inhabitants to 
 
 * This prince was killed by the blow of a stone, as he was addressing 
 his subjects from a balcony to induce lliem to lay down their arms.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 351 
 
 the succour of the king, of whom he was the repre- 
 sentative. This was unavaiHng, since no one of his 
 friends or of the officers of the Chancery came to his 
 assistance. However, the night approached, and the 
 malcontents awaited it with impatience to increase 
 the disorder. As they had observed that the gate of 
 the prison could easily be forced, they burst it open, 
 or rather the gaoler opened it to them. They set the 
 prisoners at liberty, who, joining them, assisted them 
 to set fire to the prison, and burn a part of the palace. 
 Then the principal inhabitants, fearing that the town 
 would be reduced to ashes, came out of their houses, 
 and, for their own interest, appeased the populace. 
 They got them to extinguish the fire ; and but for 
 that, Mexico would have had the same fate as the 
 city of Troy. 
 
 But if they had authority enough to prevent the 
 mob from burning the palace of the Viceroy, they had 
 not the power of preserving from pillage all that 
 nobleman's effects. A part of his furniture was 
 carried off, and, to secure the safety of his person, he 
 v/as himself obliged to take refuge with his wife and 
 son in the monastery of the Cordeliers, who were the 
 onl\- monks not among the number of his enemies. 
 These fathers assigned him a commodious lodging 
 enough in their convent, which is of vast extent. This 
 consisted of the apartments belonging to the provincial 
 of the order, who was not at that time in Mexico. 
 It was a large co7'ps de logis, which contained several 
 suites of apartments ver}- small and very plainly 
 furnished, excepting where his reverence slept. For 
 this last it was composed of five or six rooms, and it 
 may be said of it that nothing was there seen which 
 spoke of religious poverty. 
 
 Salzedo, Blanca, and I joined the Count in the
 
 352 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 convent the same night. His lordship's principal 
 domestics and our own also came there ; and, in short, 
 we were all provided with lodging, some well, some ill. 
 On the morrow, at the break of day, my lord sent for 
 my father-in-law and myself to deliberate with us on 
 what was to be done in this melancholy conjuncture. 
 " There is no other course to take," said Don Juan, 
 "than promptly to send a man of spirit and confidence 
 to the Duke de Olivarez to inform him of this revolt ; 
 and I do not think j'ou can make choice of a person 
 better calculated for executing this commission than 
 Don Cherubin." — " I am of your opinion, Salzedo," 
 said the Count: "Don Cherubin must immediately 
 set out for Madrid : it is impossible to use too much 
 haste." 
 
 The Viceroy employed the whole of the day in 
 preparing despatches for the Court, and giving me 
 instructions ; and on the morrow I took the route to 
 Vera Cruz, w^ith a valet-de-diambre and a lackey. I 
 left his Excellency, the Countess, Don Juan, and 
 my wife in the convent of the Cordeliers at Mexico ; 
 and making all possible haste, arrived at Vera Cruz, 
 where I learned that the Archbishop Don Alonzo de 
 Zerna had sailed for Spain two days before. As 
 there is always in the harbour of this town a vessel 
 prepared for the service of the Viceroy, I embarked 
 on board it without loss of time, and set sail for 
 Cadiz, where I arrived after a short and succ-essful 
 passage.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 353 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN HAVING ARRIVED AT MADRID, GOES TO 
 WAIT ON THE DUKE DE OLIVAREZ, AND GIVES HIM A 
 
 DETAIL OF THE INSURRECTION A T MEXICO HOIV THE 
 
 PRIME MINISTER IVAS AFFECTED BY THIS REPORT, 
 AND OF THE RESOLUTIONS WHICH WERE TAKEN IN 
 CONSEQUENCE IN THE COUNCIL OF HIS CATHOLIC 
 MAJESTY — THE VICEROY RETURNS IN TRIUMPH TO 
 
 HIS PALACE HIS DISGRACE HE RETURNS TO MADRID 
 
 DON CHERUBIN AND HIS FAMILY FOLLOW HIM. 
 
 I HAD no sooner set my foot on shore in Cadiz, than 
 hastening to traverse Andalusia and New Castile, I 
 was speedily at Madrid. I flew immediately to the 
 prime minister, who gave me audience the moment 
 my arrival was announced to him. I delivered to 
 him the despatches with which I was charged. He 
 read them with the attention which they deserved, 
 and seeing the Count de Gelves stated that I could 
 instruct him in all the circumstances of the revolt, he 
 failed not to demand from me an ample detail. I 
 obeyed him, like one who was well prepared with his 
 story. I will in good faith confess, that in my relation 
 I did as much disservice as I could to the Archbishop 
 Don Alonzo. I painted him in the blackest colours, 
 and finished by throwing on the arrogance of this 
 prelate all the blame of this fatal event. 
 
 The Duke de Olivarez read in full Council the 
 despatch of the Count de Gelves, and all considered 
 the affair important. It was judged absolutely neces- 
 sary to punish the most guilty of the rioters, in order 
 to confirm in thetr duty the other provinces of 
 America, the which, seeing themselves with regret 
 under the yoke of Spain, might be tempted to follow 
 the bad example of the Mexicans. It was decreed 
 
 Z
 
 354 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 in Council that Don Martin de Carillo, a priest and 
 inquisitor of Valladolid, should be sent to Mexico in 
 quality of commissioner, to take the necessary infor- 
 mations, with power rigidly to punish some of the 
 principal inhabitants, for not having- pressed forward 
 at the sound of the trumpet to range themselves 
 under the royal standard. They resolved also to 
 change the officers of the Chancery, for having seen 
 the Viceroy in danger without taking the slightest 
 step to bring him out of it. 
 
 With regard to the Archbishop Don Alonzo, it 
 was in vain for him to solicit at Court: not one of 
 the Council would undertake his defence, so much 
 did they consider his conduct deserving of censure. 
 They even deprived him of his rich benefice to make 
 him Bishop of Zamora, a small diocese of four thousand 
 crowns a year. It was in a manner from a bishop 
 becoming a miller; but it was still thought that the 
 Court showed sufficient consideration for the house 
 of Zerna. 
 
 The prime minister, who was troubled at the sedition 
 of the Mexicans, did not retain me long- at Madrid. 
 He speedily sent me back with a despatch for the 
 Viceroy. I returned to Mexico with Don Martin de 
 Carillo, whose arrival spread terror through that city. 
 The citizens, feeling themselves for the most part 
 culpable, were in dread of punishment. Everybody 
 judged that the Court would make an example, and 
 every one was trembling for himself or for his friends. 
 But they were quit for their fear: Don Martin reas- 
 sured them by declaring to them, on the part of the 
 King, that his Majest)', choosing rather to listen to 
 his clemency than his justice, accorded them a general 
 amnesty. 
 
 This declaration prodiiced an admirable effect.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 5^5 
 
 The people, who every wlieie change like the wind, 
 were touched with the kindness of their sovereign, 
 and cried: "Long live our good King Philip! long 
 live the Count de Gelves, his minister ! " There might 
 be seen those same rioters, who would have massacred 
 this nobleman, running in crowds to fetch him from 
 the monaster}- of the Cordeliers, and conduct him to 
 his palace with acclamations and excessive demon- 
 trations of joy. 
 
 The Viceroy, who hitherto had not left the convent 
 since the time he had taken refuge in it, seeing he 
 could now with impunity show himself in public, 
 returned home, where (what afforded him an agree- 
 able surprise) he found everything in the same order 
 he had left it when he went to the monks ; for, by 
 the greatest good fortune in the world, the gentlemen 
 who had had power enough over the populace to calm 
 their fury and make them extinguish the fire, had, 
 at the same time, had the precaution of having the 
 palace doors guarded by the mutineers themselves, 
 forbidding them to plunder, lest there should come 
 orders from the Court which might make them re- 
 pent it. 
 
 I forgot to sa}% that when, on my return from 
 Spain, I was giving an account of my journey to 
 ni}' lord, he asked me one question. " How did the 
 Duke de Oiivarez receive \ou?" said he; "how do 
 }ou consider him disposed towards me ? " — " He gave 
 me a most gracious reception," replied I; "and as 
 far as one can guess the mind of this minister, he 
 appears full of esteem and friendship for you. More- 
 over, I can tell j'ou that I heard him pronounce your 
 
 eulogium in terms " — " So much the worse," 
 
 interrupted the Vicero)' with precipitation; "that 
 makes me suspect him, as does also the letter you
 
 356 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 have brought nie from him. This letter is too flatter- 
 ing not to alarm me. I do not know, but I have an 
 idea that he wishes to put the Count de Serralvo in 
 my place, and I do not think I am influenced b\' a 
 false presentiment." — " You deceive \-ourself, perhaps," 
 said I; "and the Duke rather thinks of prolonging 
 your government." — " I dare not," said he with a 
 sigh, " I dare not flatter myself with such a hope. I 
 expect no other than orders to recal me to Court." 
 
 In effect, three months after, there arrived from 
 Madrid a courier, who placed in the Count's hand a 
 packet from the Duke de Olivarez. Tlie prime 
 minister informed him that his Majesty, wishing to 
 have him near his person, appointed him to one of 
 tiie principal employments in his household, and had 
 just named the Marquis de Serralvo for the Vice- 
 royalty of New Spain. The Count de Gelves, then 
 losing the hope of being continued in his post, took 
 his part with a good grace. He now thought only 
 of returning to Madrid with all his wealth, and of 
 making preparations for his departure. On our part, 
 Don Salzedo and I prepared to follow him with our 
 small efi'ects, which amounted to the worth of two 
 hundred thousand crowns. By this it may be judged 
 how much his Excellency carried off. Finally, we 
 set out from Mexico ; and it may be said that the 
 day of our departure we presented a spectacle to the 
 Americans, which gave ample scope for their curses. 
 The wags, at seeing two hundred mules loaded with 
 bales of go\:)ds, made themselves a little merry at 
 our expense, and we repaired with their money to 
 Vera Cruz. 
 
 We now awaited in this town the arrival of the new 
 Viceroy, to embari^ on board the \'essel in which he 
 should arrive. As roon a> he disembarked, the Count
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 357 
 
 and he had a conversation together. During two 
 da\'s they held repeated conferences on the affairs of 
 New Spain ; after which they sep.'.rated with more 
 politeness than friendship, one of them proceeding, 
 meagre enough, to Mexico, and the other returning 
 well fattened to Madrid. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 IN WHAT MANNER THE COUNT DE G ELVES WAS RECEIVED 
 
 AT COURT HIS VISIT TO I HE PRIME MINISTER — THE 
 
 DUKE DE OLIVAREZ MAKES HIM GRAND EQUERRY 
 
 OF THE COURSE TAKEN BV SAl.ZEDO AND DON 
 
 CHERUBIN — ONE BECOMES STEWARD AND THE OTHER 
 SECRETARY TO THE DUKE DE G ELVES. 
 
 We now set sail for Cadiz, and if we had met on our 
 way some large vessel from Algiers or Salee, as occa- 
 sionally happens, the rencounter would have b en 
 fortunate for its crew; but we had the happiness of 
 completinL:^ our voyage without meeting an}' ship of 
 unfavourable omen. Arrived at Cadiz, we remained 
 there no longer than was necessary to put ourselves 
 in a state for proceeding to Madrid, to which we 
 proceeded by easy journeys. We alighted at the 
 Hotel de Gelves, in the Square of Servada, near the 
 Church of Our Lady of the Peace. It is not the best 
 in the town, but it is commodious, and we found our- 
 selves more comfortably lodged there than we had 
 been with the Cordeliers in Mexico. 
 
 On the morrow after our arrival, the Count went to 
 wait on the prime minister, by whom he was received 
 with distinction. He took him into his closet, and 
 embracing him in a manner whicli ciispla\ed esteem 
 and friendship, ''You doubtless," said he, "think that 
 it is I v/ho desired to put the Marquis de Serralvo in
 
 358 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 your place ; but learn that }'0U are mistaken. If you 
 have not been ;Dntinued in your post, you have nobody 
 to blame but yourself; it is your own fault. All 
 the Council were no less unanimous in blaming your 
 conduct than that of the Archbishop ; and as that 
 prelate had been punished, they have deemed it 
 necessary to punish }'ou also, in order to satisfy the 
 Mexicans, who have the affair of the salt at heart. 
 
 "I dared not," pursued the Duke, "undertake your 
 defence ; far from doing so successfully, I should but 
 have incensed the Council against you. But if I have 
 not been able to get your government prolonged, I 
 have at least obtained the King's consent to your 
 filling the place of Grand Equerry, and this ought to 
 console you for the loss of a place which has not been 
 unproductive to you during five good years." The 
 Count de Gelves, mistrustful as he naturally was, 
 took the minister's word ; and imagining that he owed 
 him nothing but thanks, vowed an eternal attachment 
 to him, and became one of his best friends. 
 
 The Duke then conducted him to the King, to 
 whom he said, on presenting him : " Sire, I bring \'ou 
 one of the most zealous of }'Our servants, and of all 
 Viceroys him who has perhaps best known how. to 
 make your royal authority respected in the Indies. 
 He comes to thank your Majesty for having hon- 
 oured him with the office of Grand Equerry, with 
 which he is so much the more pleased, as it will 
 procure him every day the happiness of seeing his 
 master." The young monarch gave the Count de 
 Gelves a reception of the most flattering kind ; and, 
 as he was very curious, did not fail to ask him a 
 number of questions about the Mexicans, and, among 
 others, the following. "Count," said he, "is it possible 
 that among the Indian women, there are any sufifi-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 359 
 
 ciently attractive to merit the notice of Europeans?" 
 Our Viceroy reddened at this question, imaLjining 
 that his Majesty asked it with a malicious motive ; 
 and to reproach him for his taste for the blacks. 
 "Sire," replied he, a little agitated, "there are some 
 among them who maybe looked upon without horror ; 
 but after all, the prettiest of them ceases not to be a 
 disagreeable object to eyes accustomed to the beauties 
 of Madrid." If the Countess de Gelves had heard 
 her spouse talk thus, I believe she would not have 
 answered for his sincerity. 
 
 The Count de Gelves having entered upon his 
 office of Grand Equerry, augmented his household 
 by the addition of several officers, though he had 
 before a number sufficiently large, and spared nothing 
 to make a figure at Court becoming his rank. As 
 for Don Juan Salzedo and myself, we begged that 
 we might be allowed to quit him, and establish our- 
 sclves°as private gentlemen in Madrid, having, thanks 
 to his bounties, enough to support us honourably ; 
 but this nobleman refused his consent to our wishes. 
 " My friends," said he, " let us not separate. I have 
 too much accustomed myself to the pleasure of bemg 
 in your society, to consent to your leaving me. Con- 
 descend, I entreat you both, to take a part in my 
 affairs. Let one take upon himself the administra- 
 tion of my rents, and the other be my secretary." 
 
 It was impossible to refuse, and we accordingly 
 yielded to his solicitations, and accepted the offices 
 for which he had designed us. Rich as I was, I 
 would willingly have foregone this secretaryship ; but 
 I accepted it out of compliance to Salzedo, who, 
 being too much attached to this nobleman to refuse 
 his rliquest, was very glad at the same time to retain 
 near him his daughter and his son-in-law.
 
 360" THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DON CHERUBIN MEETS TOSTON AT MADRID — OF THE 
 INTERVIEW HE HAD WITH HIM, AND THE DISASTROUS 
 
 ADVENTURE WHICH HAPPENED TO TOSTON DON 
 
 CHERUBIN RENDERS HIM AN IMPORTANT SERVICE. 
 
 I HAD another reason also for acting as I did : Blanca 
 had paid her court so well to the Countess de Gelves, 
 that she had become her favourite. The Vice-Queen 
 ■would have been in despair at losing her; and my 
 wife on her side, delighted with this lady's attention 
 to her, repayed her with the most lively and sincere 
 attachment. This was the principal reason which 
 induced me to sacrifice to the Count the pleasure of 
 being master of my time. 
 
 As my employment did not occupy me much, I 
 led an agreeable life enough. I went almost every 
 morning to the King's levee, to see the concourse 
 of noblemen wlio came to pa}' their court to the 
 monarch ; and in the evenings, in St Jerom's Meadows, 
 I had the pleasure of contemplating the ladies, among 
 whom I found many who appeared to me fully equal 
 to those of Mexico. One day, as I was just going 
 out to this promenade, I was not a little surprised at 
 meeting Toston in the street. " How !" said I, "is it 
 thou .' what art thou doing in Madrid ? I thought 
 thee in Alcaraz." — " My dear master," replied he, 
 *' you know that our projects do not always succeed. 
 I had proposed to return to my own county, there to 
 pass with Blandina the rest of my days; but Heaven 
 has not thought fit to allow me that satisfaction. I 
 happened to meet at Cadiz a Gabriel Monchique, 
 who carried off my wife, without my having it in my 
 pov^cr to oppose him."
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 361 
 
 ** Is it possible," cried I, " that this misfortune has 
 happened to you ? Recount to me, I entreat )'OU, in 
 what \vay it occurred." — " It is a recital," replied 
 Toston, " which I shall make you in a few words. 
 On disembarking at Cadiz, it happened to me for 
 my sins, that I went to lodge in St. Francis Street, 
 at the sign of the Pelican. There was in this inn a 
 young English captain, whose ship was at anchor in 
 the ba\'. As soon as this rogue saw my wife, he was 
 taken with her ; and forming the design of robbing 
 me of her, it was thus he executed his intentions : he 
 took good care not to betray his passion, lest I should 
 suspect and disappoint him by changing my lodging, 
 which I should not have failed immediately to do ; 
 and he affected so sober a demeanour that I was 
 astonished at it. ' Is it possible,' said I to myself, 
 that a naval officer of that nation should be so mild 
 and polished in his behaviour ? ' This captain, whose 
 name was Cope, offered me a thousand little civili- 
 ties, without appearing to take the least pleasure in 
 seeing Blandina, and, in fact, scarcely looking at her 
 at all. I was the dupe of this manoeuvre. I treated 
 him with corresponding politeness, and we supped 
 together the first day, as familiarly as if we had been 
 the best friends in the world. 
 
 " Cope, while at supper, asked me from what part 
 of Spain I came .'' ' From the village of Alcaraz,' 
 replied I, 'near the province of Murcia.'--'That is 
 fortunate,' replied the Captain. 'I am to sail in two 
 days from Cadiz for Alicant. I will land you, if you 
 please, at Vera, which I believe is not far from your 
 liome.' I accepted this offer with joy, imagining that 
 I could not do a better thing, and returning thanks to 
 Heaven for having afforded me so fine an opportunity 
 of speedily returning to my own countrJ^ I therefore
 
 362 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 carried Blandina two days after on board Cope's 
 vessel, and he received us with manners so open, that 
 I congratulated myself on having made such a good 
 acquaintance. ' Come,' said he, when we were fairly 
 out at sea, ' let us live well. I have an ample supply 
 of all kinds of eatables, and some excellent wines. 
 Let us be always at table : that is the way to prevent 
 the voj'age from growing tedious.' 
 
 "You know my weakness," continued Toston ; "I 
 love a sprightly life. Captain Cope had no difficulty 
 in persuading me to drink, and I got as drunk as a 
 German. While I was in this pretty state, he had 
 me carried on shore by his sailors, who left me on 
 the ground extended at my length. There I lay 
 in a profound sleep; from which awakening about 
 sunrise, and seeing nothing of a vessel, I had abund- 
 ance of leisure to reflect upon the politeness of the 
 Englishman, whom I cursed with so much the more 
 reason, as he had in his power, together with my wife, 
 the coffer in which was all my money, and I was left 
 with only twelve pistoles, which I had in my pocket. 
 I thought myself still fortunate that the sailors had 
 not robbed me even of this sum, to repay themselves 
 for the trouble of bringing me on shore, and aban- 
 doning me to Providence. 
 
 " Not knowing where I was, nor in what direction 
 to turn my steps, I followed at hazard a path which 
 conducted me to the village of Alzira near Gibraltar, 
 from whence I proceeded to the city of Ronda. I 
 here reposed myself two or three days : then, instead 
 of going to my parents, to whom I was no longer in 
 a state to be useful, I took the route to Seville on a 
 hired mule, with a resolution to go again to service, if 
 I could meet with a master who would suit me. 1 
 did not find one, and judging that it was at Madrid I
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 363 
 
 must seek him, I took the road to this town, where I 
 have again become a lackey, after having been valet- 
 de-chambre to the son of a Viceroy." 
 
 " I am sorry for you, my friend," said I, when Toston 
 had finished his recital, "and I am still more con- 
 cerned for the misfortune of Blandina. What an 
 unhappy adventure for her! I can conceive the grief 
 with which she must have been seized when sensible 
 of the treason of the perfidious Cope. Perhaps she 
 actually died of regret." — "No, no," replied Toston, 
 "Blandina is not a woman to imitate those heroines 
 of romance, who, when they find themselves in the 
 clutches of corsairs, choose rather to die than yield 
 to their desires. I know very little of the Creole, or 
 Cope had not much trouble in prevailing on her ; 
 and I do not believe, between ourselves, that he 
 wanted any Colibri powder to triumph over her 
 virtue." 
 
 "What is it you tell me.?" cried I. "By this 
 account it appears that Blandina is a jilt." — "Past a 
 doubt," replied Toston. " I suspected it at Mtxico; 
 but she converted my suspicions into certainty on 
 our voyage to Cadiz. There was among the pas- 
 sengers a young cavalier, who amused himself with 
 ogling her; and I remarked more than once that 
 she replied to his advances with glances of invitation. 
 In a word, she is a little personage, the care of whom 
 would have given me abundance of trouble at Alcaraz, 
 where the young cavaliers are distinguished for spright- 
 liness and gallantry. In fact, I can console myself 
 for the loss of her. I would only that Captain Cope 
 had made a fair division with me — that he had re- 
 turned me my coffer and kept my wife." 
 
 " I '.m\ very glad, my child," said I, " that you are 
 not more afflicted at this loss of your wife; and, in
 
 364 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 reality, you have not much cause to be so, if Blandina 
 be such a character as you have described. As to 
 my part, you may be assured that I shall refuse 
 nothing which may contribute to replace you in a 
 state for performing your journey to Alcaraz, in a 
 manner agreeable with your wishes. I am also per- 
 suaded that Don Alexis will not fail to pity }-our 
 misfortune. He may probably take you back into 
 his service ; but perhaps you may be too much 
 attached to your present master to be desirous of 
 leaving him." — " Oh, as to that, indeed I am not," 
 cried he, laughing. " My master," who is called Don 
 Tomas Trasgo, is an original without a copy : he is 
 a visionary who is possessed with a most laughable 
 kind cT faiitasy. He says, and actually believes, that 
 he has, like Socrates, a familiar spirit. ' My friend,' 
 said he, when he engaged me in his service, 'know 
 that a geni has taken a liking to me, and instructs 
 me in all I am desirous of knowing. I have an 
 interview with him every morning, and I warn you 
 to retire when you hear us in conversation with each 
 other; for he chooses to speak to me without witnesses.' 
 " In realit}', one morning when Don Tomas was 
 in his closet, I heard him talking aloud, and imagined 
 that he had some person with him. Not at all ; he 
 was entirely alone. He was speaking to and answer- 
 ing himself, conceiving that the geni was actually 
 present." I burst out laughing at this most extra- 
 ordinary portrait, and finally quitted Toston, after 
 desiring him to come to me on the following day ; 
 which \\L failed not to do, perfectly persuaded that 
 he would be retained in the family. He first cau.-:ed 
 himself to be announced to the Countess, who did not 
 refus^t to see him. He related to her his misfortune, 
 and she appeared to pity him, though in reality she
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALALIANCA. 365 
 
 cared very little about the matter. " My friend," 
 said she, "we will do something for you. It is 
 enough that you have eaten our bread, for us not to 
 abandon you in your distress. Go and see my son : 
 I doubt not that he is well disposed to serve you." 
 
 Don Alexis, to whom I had already spoken of 
 him, and whom I had engaged to take him back into 
 hi s service on the same footing as before, received 
 him very well. "Welcome back, Signior Toston," 
 sail he, with an air of raillery, "how do you get on 
 with Captain Cope .-' He pla}'ed you, I think, rather 
 an ugly prank, but have patience ; perhaps he may 
 send you back both your \\ife and mone}'. Perhaps 
 he has only served }"ou so for a joke, and to try how 
 you would bear it. Tell me the whole; I like to 
 hear you tell comic stories; you acquit yourself 
 admirably." 
 
 " And wh\', sir," said Toston, " would you have me 
 relate a story which you are already acquaii^ted with, 
 and which I cannot recollect without renewing my 
 grief?" — " Never mind," said Don Alexis, "you must 
 absolutely tell it me ; the detail from your own 
 mouth will amuse me exceedingly." Toston, to 
 satisf}' him, complied with his wish, to the infinite 
 diversion of the young lord, who interrupted him 
 more than once to give way to the most immoderate 
 laughter, as if the adventure had been the most 
 pleasant in the world. 
 
 When Don Alexis was tired of diverting himself at 
 Toston's expense, he resumed his gravity, and said : 
 " Well, my friend, to console you for the loss which 
 has happened to you, come and resume the employ- 
 ment about my person which you had before )our 
 marriage. Be again my principal valet, and the 
 depositary of my secrets, I shall soon give you
 
 366 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 something to do,** added he. " I have a conquest in 
 view, and I have need of \our advice to enable me 
 to complete it." This speech highly rejoiced Toslon, 
 who that very day quitted Don Tornas and his geni, 
 to reside in the Hotel de Gelves. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 BY WHAT ACCIDENT TOSTON MET WITH HIS WIFE, WHEN 
 
 HE HAD ENTIRELY FORGOTTEN HER ACCOUNT WHICH 
 
 SHE GIVES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES A TTENDING THEIR 
 
 SEP A RA TION HER JUS TIFICA TION FRESH CHA NGE 
 
 WHICH THIS RECITAL PRODUCED IN HIS HE AFT — HIS 
 AFFAIRS ASSUME A BETTER ASPECT. 
 
 Don Alexis, as soon as he rose the following morning, 
 said to Toston : "You must know, my friend, that I 
 have been making a very interesting acquaintance. I 
 will tell you how. One morning when I was walking 
 all alone on the Prado, I saw coming out of a house 
 a lady covered with a veil, whose noble and majestic 
 air prepossessed me in favour of her quality. She 
 took two or three turns in the walk; and, perceiving 
 that I was advancing towards her for the purpose of 
 surveying her more conveniently, retired towards the 
 garden to disappoint my curiosity ; but, whether my 
 haste prevented her, or whether she was desirous of 
 giving me time to join her, I was at the garden gate 
 before her. 
 
 "'Madam,' said I, saluting her with respectful 
 politeness, 'I must be extremely deficient in gallantry, 
 if, meeting a person so charming as yourself, I omitted 
 to testify to her the pleasure which the sight of her 
 affords me.' — ' Signior Cavalier,' replied the lady, 
 *you are extremely liberal with your soft sayings. 
 Far from refusing adoration to those ladies who are
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 367 
 
 worthy of it, you have very much the air of one who 
 offers it to those who do not deserve it' Upon this 
 I ansv\'ered, the lady retorted, and we separated after 
 a tolerably long conversation." 
 
 "Have you ever seen her since that time?" asked 
 Toston. "No," replied the young Count, "I have 
 not, although I go almost every day to the Prado. If 
 she have not come out of the garden since that day, 
 it is in all probability because she is desirous of 
 proving me, for, without vanity, I think she is satisfied 
 with me." — " I cannot doubt it," said Toston ; " a 
 cavalier of your figure is sure to please. What is her 
 name } " — " That I do not yet know," said Don 
 Alexis. " She forbid me to inquire who she was ; 
 and, for fear of displeasing her, I dared not take any 
 measures to obtain that information." — " The devil ! " 
 cried Toston, "you are a rigid observer of ladies' 
 commands; but }'OU must know that they sometimes 
 find it convenient to be disobeyed. Faith, sir," con- 
 tinued he, " you are still far enough out of your 
 reckoning. I see very well that I must have a hand 
 in this business, or it will turn out badly for you. Let 
 us go directly to the Prado, and show me the garden 
 from which you saw }'our princess come out : I require 
 nothing more." Don Alexis took him at his word, 
 and led him immediately to the garden gate. 
 
 When they had got there, Toston said to the 
 young Count: "Leave me here, and return home ; I 
 will speedily rejoin you, and be assured that I will 
 inform you who are the inhabitants of this house : 
 we will then take our measures." Upon this assur- 
 ance Don Alexis returned to the Hotel de Gelves, 
 and his confidant seated himself near the garden gate, 
 Vi^aiting until perhaps some servant might come out, 
 from whom something might probably be learned.
 
 368 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA 
 
 He had been there more than an hour, when all at 
 once the gate opened, and presented to his astonished 
 e\-cs a }'oung person whom he took for Blandina; as, 
 in effect, she it was who appeared before him. She 
 immediately recollected him, and running to him 
 transported with jo}', threw herself into his arms and 
 fainted. The bad opinion which he then had of the 
 virtue of his wife prevented him from sharing in the 
 delight which she experienced at this meeting. He 
 thought that it was a pretence, and that the hussy 
 was perhaps rather sorry than pleased at having found 
 him. He did not, however, neglect the necessary 
 assistance, and when she had recovered the use of 
 her senses, " Is it you, my dear husband," cried she, 
 " is it you whom I behold ? you whom I thought at 
 the bottom of the sea .'' you whom I believed to be 
 numbered with the dead .-*" So saying, she embraced 
 her husband with manifestations of affection with 
 which he would have been most sensibly touched, if 
 he could have believed them to be sincere; but 
 instead of yielding to this with a good grace, he 
 gently repulsed his wife, saying, in a serious tone : 
 '• No tricks, Blandina. Wherefore all these transports 
 of joy, or rather all these false demonstrations of 
 affection } Are you not about to tell me a finely 
 invented tale, to make me believe that Cope foolishly 
 relinquished his prey .^ No, no, do not believe that 
 I am credulous enough to place confidence in your 
 assertion. Either you yielded to the solicitations of 
 this captain, or were at least forced to submit to his 
 violence." 
 
 " Toston," replied the Creole, " listen to me without 
 interruption ; I may appear before you without a blush. 
 If my honour was exposed to imminent peril, know 
 that it was proof against it. I will give you a faithful
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 369 
 
 account of what took place between Cope and me, and 
 you s'liall see that instead of betra}-ing you, I carried 
 my love of virtue even farther than Lucretia herse'f. 
 
 "You recollect," continued she, "that perfidious 
 supper which the Englishman gave us on board his 
 ship. While you were drinking with him I retired to 
 a small cabin, which he told me had been prepared for 
 you and me, and slept there tranquilly till the morn- 
 inf]^. When I awoke, and found that you were not 
 by my side, I arose to seek you. At this moment 
 Cope entered my cabin, affecting an air of the most 
 excessive sorrow. ' Madam,' said he, * you behold 
 me in despair; an accident has this night happened 
 for which I shall never be able to console myself. 
 Signior Toston, your husband, while leaning over the 
 side in his drunken state, fell into the sea and was 
 drowned. I shall never get over this fatal accident.' 
 
 " At this melancholy intelligence I made the vessel 
 resound with my piercing shrieks. I tore my hair, I 
 was like one mad. In the meantime our captain, act- 
 ing the part of a man in deep affliction, sighed, groaned, 
 and seemed desirous of giving encouragement to my 
 grief He had during two entire days the patience to 
 hear me utter my complaints and witness the flowing 
 of m\' tears, without venturing to say an}'thing to me 
 in the way of consolation. On the contrary, the traitor 
 irritated my affliction by the regret he manifested at 
 having taken }'ou on board his vessel. He bitterly 
 accused himself of having been the cause of your death, 
 with which he was incessantly reproaching himself. 
 
 " But on the third day he deemed it time to throw 
 off the mask; and assuming a different character, 
 ' Beautiful Blandina,' said he, ' it is no doubt melan- 
 choly to lose a person whom one loves ; nevertheless, 
 whatever reason we may have to mourn such a loss, 
 
 2 A
 
 370 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 it is better to listen to the voice of consolation than 
 obstinately to persist in grief. After all, at your age 
 the death of a husband ought not to give you so 
 much uneasiness. Young and handsome as }'Ou are, 
 you cannot long be in want of a new one: I am even 
 sensible of having one to propose to you ; it is my- 
 self. If you have no aversion to my person, I am a 
 candidate for the preference.' I thanked Cope for 
 the honour he intended me, and rejected witliout 
 hesitation his proposal. Besides that he was not at 
 all to my liking, I was at that moment in a disposi- 
 tion very unfavourable for a lover. 
 
 " The Englishman employed five or six days in 
 making love to me very politely; but judging that 
 by so doing he was taking the longest metiiod of 
 arriving at his object, he changed his courteous 
 manners for the rough deportment of a sailor; and I 
 confess I then had need of all the resolution with 
 ■which Heaven inspired me, to be able to resist him. 
 Fortunately for me, my opposition, instead of in- 
 creasing his violence, caused it to relax. He suddenly 
 passed from love to contempt. He ceased to torment 
 me, and, viewing me with a disdainful air, ' For a 
 servant maid,' said he, ' methinks you are extremely 
 inexorable. Recover yourself, my love ; I will not be 
 indebted to violence for a victory which I despise.* 
 At the same time he caused me to be taken on shore 
 by two of his sailors, whom he ordered to convey me 
 to the nearest village, and there leave me. The men 
 did not fulfil with perfect honour the commands of 
 their captain. They did indeed conduct me to the 
 village, and then abandoned me; but, considering 
 that I was a woman whom, in all probability, they 
 would never see again, they carried off with them the 
 trunk in which our money was deposited.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 371 
 
 *' I had happily about thirty pistoles in my purse, 
 and a large diamond on my finger. With such re- 
 commendations, assistance may be found in any 
 place inhabited by man. The master and mistress of 
 the village inn to which I had gone, took an interest 
 in m\' misfortunes. I had no sooner related to them 
 my story, than they pitied and offered me their 
 .'^ervices, with abundance of execrations on the captain 
 and his sailors. I inquired in what part of Spain I 
 was. "You are in the village of Molina,' replied my 
 host, 'on the coast of Grenada, between Marbellin 
 and Malaga, about twelve leagues from the city of 
 Antequerra, to which I will, if you please, m\self 
 conduct you.' — 'You will oblige me,' replied I, ' my 
 design being to go again to service in the family of 
 some person of quality, if I can there meet with any 
 sucii who will engage me.' — 'You need not doubt it,' 
 replied he; ' Antequerra is a populous town, in which 
 there are resident a great number of nobility. I have 
 acquaintance there,' added he ; ' I know, among othe>'<;, 
 a good lady who .was formerly duenna in a house 
 where I was servant : I will take you to her, and I am 
 sure she will very soon obtain you a place.' 
 
 " I accordingly set out with my host for Antequerra, 
 and as soon as we arrived there, he went to see the 
 old governante. He told her my unhappy story, at 
 which she was so much affected that she said to him. : 
 ' Bring this unfortunate woman hither ; I offer her 
 bed and board; I espouse her interests; I take her 
 under my protection.' To suppress superfluous cir- 
 cumstances, this lady placed me with Donna Leonora 
 de Pedrera, daughter of a gentleman of Antequerra, 
 with whom, after the death of her father, I came to 
 Madrid, to the house of Donna Helena de Toralva, 
 her aunt, whose sole heiress she is.
 
 372 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 "I have nothing more to tell you," continued Blan- 
 dina. "I have given you an account of m\' conduct, 
 and I think you ought to be satisfied with your wife." 
 — "I am perfectly so," said Toston, "and things being 
 as you have related, it would be unjust in me not to 
 be so. I will confess to you (excuse my candour) 
 that I should not have expected so much resistance 
 on 3^our part ; but, between ourselves, the delicacy of 
 Cope astonishes me greatly ; and it must be confessed, 
 that if your tale be truth, it does not look very much 
 like it." — " I am perfectly of your opinion," said slie ; 
 " my escape was a narrow one." — " That I am sure 
 of," returned the husband; "I was seized during your 
 recital with a cold sweat, from which I have i;ot yet 
 recovered. Independent of the risk you ran from 
 this captain, \-ou were scarcely exposed to less danger 
 from the two rogues of sailors who conducted you to 
 Molina. You were very lucky that they only robbed 
 you of your money. 
 
 " Come, then, my dear wife," continued he, *' let us 
 say no more about it. We at last have met together 
 again, with the exception of property, much in the 
 same state as on our departure from Cadiz. God be 
 praised for it. What ought to console us, my child, 
 isj that we are about to make a new fortune. The 
 Count de Gelves has returned from the Indies with 
 immense riches, and has been made Grand Equerry. 
 Don Cherubin de la Ronda, my old master, is his 
 secretary, and I am once more valet-dc-chainbre to 
 Don Alexis. As this young nobleman advances in 
 age, he is furnished with more money for his pleasures; 
 and as I have become administrator of his money, my 
 place will be every da\' grooving better." 
 
 •■ Is T)o\\ Alexis still gallant .'' " inquired Blandina. 
 'More than ever,"' replied Toston: "he is at present
 
 THt, BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 373 
 
 enamoured of a lady whom he saw come out of this 
 garden a few days ago, and this lady may very pro- 
 bably be Donna Leonora, your mistress." — "It is she 
 herself," said the Creole ; " for she told me that one 
 morning a cavalier accosted her in the walk, and that 
 she had a long conversation with him." — "And how," 
 asked Toston, " did she appear to be affected by the 
 said interview .'' " — " Not unfavourably," replied the 
 attendant. " I assure you that if he had another, he 
 might succeed in obtaining her affections. Moreover, 
 I can tell you, I do not know whether my mistress 
 be not afraid of again seeing this cavalier ; she has 
 not gone out of the garden since the day she spoke 
 to him, most likely lest she should meet with him." 
 
 " Fine news for my master," cried Toston ; " I will 
 carry them to him forthwith, I bid you not adieu, 
 my dear Blandina, my faithful love ; we shall see each 
 other again. Remain with Donna Leonora; the 
 interest of Don Alexis requires it. Second with your 
 good offices the endeavours we are about in order to 
 win her." After this conversation this couple separated, 
 protesting on both sides that they pardoned fortune 
 the trick she had pla\'ed them, in consideration of the 
 pleasure they experienced in meeting each other again. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 CONTINUATION OF THE PRECEDING CHAPTER BLANDINA 
 
 INTRODUCES HER HUSBAND TO HER MISTRESSES — ■ 
 
 THEIR INTERVIEW WHAT WAS RESOLVED ON BY 
 
 TOSTON AND HIS WIFE IN FAVOUR OF THE YOUNG 
 COUNT DE G ELVES. 
 
 Toston, before he returned to Don Alexis, came to 
 inform n^.e that he had found Blandina ; and after
 
 374 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 relating to me all the conversation he had with her, 
 " Well, sir," said lie, " what do }'Ou think of that ? Do 
 you think that all she told me about Captain Cope is 
 to be taken literally ? As for me, I tell you candidl\-, 
 I do not believe it at all." 
 
 "It is true," replied I, "that one may doubt it 
 without being- thought particularly incredulous; how- 
 ever, the best thing a husband can do in such a case, 
 is to persuade himself that his wife has told him the 
 truth : that is what I would do to rid myself of all 
 uneasiness. But, m\- friend," said I, " you made no 
 mention in your story of the child which Blandina 
 must have brought into the world since she quitted 
 INIexico."^ — " Ah, truly, you bring it to my recollec- 
 tion," cried Toston ; "my wife forgot to tell me, and 
 I to ask anything about it. When I see her again 
 I will not fail to inquire about this child, though 
 nature does but half speak to me in his favour." 
 
 Toston here took leave of me, saying: "Will you 
 allow me. sir, to leave you now, in order to wait on 
 Don Alexis, who doubtless is expecting me with 
 impatience.'* I shall delight him with the information 
 I got from Blandina about his mistress." — ''Go. run 
 my lad," said I; "when agreeable news are to be 
 carried to a lover, one cannot make too much haste. 
 I doubt not but Don Alexis will speedily place Donna 
 Leonora de Pedrera among his conquests, since he has 
 the advantage of your assistance and your wife." 
 
 As soon as Don Alexis saw his confidant, he hastily 
 advanced towards him. "Well," said he, "have \'ou 
 discovered who are the inhabitants of the house from 
 which I saw my divinity come out .-* " — "I have done 
 more than that," replied the valet ; " I have learned 
 the name and quality of your goddess. She is called 
 Donna Leonora de Pedrera, the daughter of a gentle-
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 375 
 
 man of Antequerra, after whose death she came to 
 Madrid, and is now living at the house you saw 
 with Donna Helena de Toralva, whose niece and 
 sole heiress she is." — "You have become very well 
 informed in a short time," said the Count. "And 
 I have not yet told you all," returned Toston ; " I 
 know, from good authority, that she has taken a 
 liking for you." 
 
 " Hey ! how the deuce," cried Don Alexis, " have 
 you been able to discover even the sentiments of this 
 lady .^ who could have i^iven you the information.?" 
 — "Chance," replied Toston; "that served me much 
 better than my own ingenuity, if indeed it may be 
 called a service, to have brought my wife unexpectedly 
 to my eyes." — "What say you?" cried the young 
 lord in surprise ; " have you found Blandina.'' " — " Yes, 
 sir; Heaven had the kindness to restore her to me, 
 without my having asked the favour," replied the 
 confidant, " and, what is very fortunate for you, she 
 is waiting-maid to Donna Leonora." — "You enchant 
 me," cried Don Alexis, in transport, "by informing 
 me that Blandina is in the way to serve me. I am 
 sure she will not refuse to carry a note from me to 
 Leonora." — " No, I will answer for that," said the 
 valet; "and you may assure yourself of all the ser- 
 vices which depend upon her interference." 
 
 The young Count de Gelves, profiting by the op- 
 portunity which thus presented itself of declaring his 
 love to Leonora, wrote a letter which he charged 
 Toston to get delivered to the lady. The confidant 
 went accordingly on the following morning to the 
 Prado, and there found his wife awaiting him at the 
 garden gate. He accosted her with a gallant and affec- 
 tionate air. " My dear Blandina," said he, " before 
 we enter upon ray master's affairs, permit me to con-
 
 376 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 verse witli you a moment about my own. Yesterday, 
 if you remember, you did not say the least word about 
 the child with which you were pregnant when fortune 
 separated us near Gibraltar." — "Alas!" replied she, 
 " my poor girl died almost in the moment of her 
 birth, a short time after I had entered into the service 
 of Donna Leonora, and hec death would have been 
 infallibly succeeded by my own, had not the most 
 particular care been taken of me ; but my mistress, who 
 had conceived an esteem for me, omitted nothing for 
 m\' preservation. I owe my life to her ; and, out of 
 gratitude, have vowed eternal fidelity to her," 
 
 " You have done very properly," replied Toston ; 
 "such a mistress well deserves your love. Does she 
 know that you have met with your husband .-' " — " I 
 have informed her," replied Blandina, " and she has 
 permitted me to introduce you to her, whicli I will 
 do immediately : follow me." So saying, she ushered 
 him into the garden, and pointing to two ladies who 
 were walking there, "These," said she, " are Donna 
 Leonora and her aunt. Let us join them, and give 
 them to see that I have not married a man ill made 
 or destitute of merit." 
 
 Thus saying, she took him by the hand and con- 
 ducted him to the ladies, and accosted them jocularly. 
 "Ladies," said she, "here is the husband whom I 
 thought dead, and for whom I shed so many tears. 
 Look at him, and tell me if }ou do not think he 
 was worthy of them." — " Assuredly," replied Donna 
 Helena; "husbands less agreeable are often deeply 
 lamented." Here Toston made a profound reverence 
 to the lady who had spoken, and cast his eyes towards 
 the ground in respectful silence. " They are both 
 well matched," said Leonora, "and I am very happy 
 that Heaven has again brought them together."
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 377 
 
 Donna Helena, desirous of making Toston talk, 
 said: "You are, then, with the Count de Gelves?" — 
 "Yes, madam," replied Toston; "I have the honour 
 to be principal valet-de-cJiambre to Don Alexis, his 
 only son." — "And you are apparently satisfied with 
 your situation ? ' said she. " Very much so, madam," 
 replied he; "my master is a perfect cavalier: I know 
 no fault he has. Although he is young, he possesses 
 consummate prudence; he is wise without assuming 
 the air of a Cato, and sprightly without being a cox- 
 comb : he is a model of a young nobleman. 
 
 " Besides a thousand good qualities," he continued, 
 "with which Don Alexis is endowed, he will one day 
 be possessed of considerable wealth ; the Count, his 
 father, having amassed great riches in the government 
 of New Spain. Happy the high-born maiden for 
 whom his hand is destined." 
 
 Thus pronouncing his master's eulogium, Toston, 
 the adroit Toston, carefully examined Leonora, and 
 conceived that she took pleasure in listening to him, 
 altiiough she affected to hear him with an air of in- 
 difference. This observation encouraging him to go 
 on in praise of Don Alexis, he drew so flattering a 
 picture of him, that Donna Helena could not help 
 sax'ing : " But, my friend, you go beyond bounds, you 
 exaggerate. It is not possible that the young Count 
 de Gelves should have all the merit you ascribe to 
 him." — " Pardon me, madam," replied he with great 
 effrontery, " he is a most accomplished person, an 
 '^^pitome of all that is amiable." 
 
 At this part of the conversation they were inter- 
 rupted by a page, who came to deliver a billet to 
 Donna Helena. She read it, and, as it demanded an 
 immediate answer, she went into th'-. house in order 
 to prepare it. Leonora followed her, leaving her
 
 378 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 attendant with her husband in the garden. This 
 couple finding themselves alone, gave way to the 
 laughter which they could no longer repress. " It 
 must be confessed," said Blandina, " that you are 
 admirably expert in drawing handsome portraits ; but, 
 between ourselves, they are not exactly likenesses." — 
 " I confess/' replied he, " that I have flattered Don 
 Alexis a little, but I do not think that that has 
 done much harm. I am sure that your mistress is 
 enamoured of my master already ; for, though she did 
 not tell me so, I dare be sworn you have told her that 
 Don Alexis is the cavalier with whom she conversed 
 one morning on the Prado." — "It is true I did so," 
 said Blandina, " and Twill again privately speak to 
 her about him. I will ascertain her mind, and inform 
 yo:\ of it to-morrow." — "Very well," said Toston ; 
 "and if by chance you find the lady disposed to 
 receive a letter from Don Alexis, here is one contain- 
 ing a most elegantly conceived declaration of his love, 
 and in which I have myself had a hand." Blandina 
 took charge of the letter, telling her husband that he 
 might assure his master of all the good offices she 
 could render him with Leonora. Hereupon they 
 separated, with a promise of meeting again on the 
 same spot the following morning. 
 
 They did not fail in their appointment. "Victory!" 
 cried the Creole, "victory! I have spoken with my 
 mistress about Don Alexis, and given her much about 
 the same description of him as you did yesterday. 
 She at first dissembled; but I attacked her in so 
 many ways, that she could not help discovering her 
 sentiments. ' Yes, my dear Blandina,' said she, ' I love 
 Don Alexis ; T have thought of nothing but him since 
 the da\- I saw him at the garden gate; and all the 
 good I hear of him serves to complete his conquest.'
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 379 
 
 " Let us come to my master's letter," intetr.iptvd 
 Toston ; "did Leonora read it?" — "With avidity/' 
 replied the attendant, " and we both admired it. You 
 had reason to say that you had put your hand to it : 
 I very plainly perceived it. This letter has made 
 an impression on my mistress." — " Bravo ! " cried 
 the enraptured valet-de-chambre, "nothing could go 
 better. Let us go forward with this business ; let 
 us contrive a nocturnal meeting between these two 
 lovers. They want nothing more to make them 
 irretrievably in love with each other. Get Donna 
 Leonora to walk to-night in the garden, and I will 
 bring Don Alexis thither : they will have a long 
 interview, after which they will breathe of nothing 
 but marriage." 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE YOUNG COUNT DE GELVES AND 
 
 DONNA LEONORA ITS CONSEQUENCES THE COUNT 
 
 DE GELVES PROPOSES AN ADVANTAGEOUS MATCH TO 
 HIS S(UY — SECOND INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO 
 
 LOVERS WHAT PASSES AT IT BLANDINa's GOOD 
 
 ADVICE DON ALEXIS FOLLOWS IT WHO WAS THE 
 
 PERSON WHOM IT WAS WISHED HE SHOULD MARRY. 
 
 Blandina approved of the design, which was ac- 
 cordingly executed. The young Count de Gelves, 
 accompanied by his confidant, arrived between eleven 
 and twelve o'clock at the garden gate, and was pre- 
 sently admitted by Leonora and her servant, who 
 were awaiting their arrival impatiently. Don Alexis 
 respectfully accosted the lady. She received him in 
 the same way ; and, after some compliments of pure 
 politeness on both sides, tliey began to assume the 
 tone of love. Toston and his Creole seeing them
 
 380 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 about to enter upon a tender conversation, retired to 
 talk in private of their own affairs. 
 
 Love, which renders hours so long to lovers when 
 separated from the objects of their affection, by way 
 of equivalent, causes them to pass with rapidity 
 enough when they are together. It was already day 
 ere Don Alexis and his mistress thought of separating. 
 It was necessary for the confidants to remind them 
 of it ; a charge which was willingly undertaken by 
 Toston, to whom the night had not appeared so short 
 as to his master. The two lovers parted at last, with 
 a promise of meeting again on the following night. 
 
 This interview, just as the husband of the Creole 
 had predicted, increased their passion. As soon as 
 Don Alexis was out of the garden, he began to extol 
 the charms of Leonora, particularly her wit; and did 
 nothing' but repeat the same thing all the morning. 
 His mind was occupied the whole day with the 
 pleasure he was to derive from his assignation in the 
 evening, but, before he could enjoy the promised 
 happ\- interview, he was constrained to go through 
 one of a less agreeable nature. The Count, his father, 
 taking him after supper into his closet, addressed him 
 thus : " My son, I have an affair of the greatest im- 
 portance to communicate to you. The prime minister, 
 in proof of the sincere friendship he entertains for me, 
 has told me that he wishes to have you married, and 
 give you a wife from his own hand." 
 
 Don Alexis, at these words, was much embarrassed, 
 and remained unable to speak. " How then!" said 
 his father; "does matrimony frighten you.'' Ah! 
 when you shall know the person whom the minister 
 })roposes for you, you will feel no repugnance to ful- 
 fiiiing his wishes." The young Count, a little recovered 
 fiom his embarrassment, replied: "My lord, I ihall
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 381 
 
 implicitly obey \ou in all things; but deign to allow 
 me to represent to you that I feel an aversion to 
 marriage" — 
 
 "You are deceiving me," interrupted his Excellency, 
 " \'ou dissemble. I see well whence proceeds this 
 dislike to the match proposed ; your heart is other- 
 wise engaged. Formally entrapped by some she- 
 adventurer, you would make a point of honour of 
 remaining faithful to her." 
 
 " No, my lord," replied Don Alexis, " I burn not 
 with an unworthy flame. I love, it is true, and I 
 seek not to subdue my love; but the object of my 
 affections is not of a rank to make me blush for the 
 sentiments she has inspired. If )'Ou will, I will inform 
 you of her family " " I dispense with the infor- 
 mation," again interrupted the father; "I have no 
 curiosity to know the lady. I order you to renounce 
 her. I will have no other daughter-in-law than her 
 the min'ster has offered me; and know that she is a 
 person who joins to extreme youth and beauty a 
 noble origin and large estate. Go," added he, "go 
 and consult Don Cherubin de la Ronda, \our governor, 
 on the subject : I am persuaded that his advice will be 
 conformable to my intentions." 
 
 The young lord immediately left the closet without 
 making any answer, but instead of coming to me, he 
 thought it more to his purpose to go and consult with 
 Toston. He informed him of the violence which his 
 father wished to do to his feelings; and, after having 
 complained of this tyrann)-, " My friend," said he, 
 "what must I do to preserve my faith to Leonora? 
 how am I to rid mj'sclf of this embarrassment.''"— 
 "Sir," replied Toston, 'the thing is not easy. My 
 lord, your lather, as you know, is confoundedly ob- 
 stinate: he has resolved that you shall espouse the
 
 382 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 person proposed by the minister, and he will not 
 be turned from his purpose. But it is not yet time 
 to despair. Let us first exert our ingenuity. Dis- 
 semble ; afiect to consent to this marriage, while I 
 inventsome expedient to break it off." — " Ah, Toston," 
 cried Don Alexis at these word.s, which appeared in 
 sonic sort to flatter his love with a dawn of hope, "if \-ou 
 can accomplish that object, there is nothing which you 
 may not expect from my gratitude. Haste," added he, 
 "let us fly to the rendezvous; I will inform Leonora 
 of the misfortune which threatens us, will assure her of 
 using every exertion to avert it, and renew the oath I 
 have made never to be united to any one but her." 
 
 They both returned to the garden, where Leonora 
 and her attendant amused themselves, while awaiting 
 their arrived, with conversing on the good qualities of 
 Don Alexis. Blandina, who knew him best, was 
 praising him to the skies. The lovers gained the 
 verdant enclosure in which they had passed the 
 former night, and the married pair retired to another 
 spot, where Toston thus addressed Blandina: "My 
 child, life is a continued succession of good and evil, 
 of joy and of grief. Yesterday, for instance, we came 
 here gay as larks, and now we arrive as melanchob- 
 as owls." — " Hey! what cause for grief can there be ? " 
 said his wife; "have you heard any bad news?" — 
 "The most distressing possible," replied he; "they 
 want to separate Don' Alexis and Donna Leonora." 
 At the same time he gave her an account of what had 
 passed between the Count de Gelves and his son. 
 
 Blandina was penetrated with grief at this recital. 
 " You have cause," said she to her husband, " }-ou 
 have cause to distress yourself; nothing can be more 
 mortifying than what you tell me. Unhapp\- Leo- 
 nora," continued she, apostrophising her nii-tress.
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 383 
 
 'what a clap of thunder will this be to you ! But is 
 it then impossible to avert this evil ? Will Toston, 
 who possesses wit and ingenuity, make no exertions 
 to preserve the lovers from the frightful destiny which 
 is preparing for them ? " — " Pardon me," said he, " I 
 am beating my brains for some expedient to prevent 
 it, but I will confess to you that I can think of nothing 
 with which I am satisfied." — " An idea this moment 
 presents itself to me," >-aid the Creole, "and I think 
 it ought not to be rejected : you are not ignorant that 
 the Countess loves her son most affectionately ; do 
 you think that nothing may be done in that quarter?" 
 — " Quite the contrary," replied Toston ; " I embrace 
 the idea. I will go to-morrow to the Countess's levee, 
 and request a private interview with her : I will give 
 her a pathetic description of the situation in which 
 Don Alexis is placed, and may perhaps be able to 
 soften her, so that she may interest herself in favour 
 of him and Leonora." 
 
 While this conversation passed between the confi- 
 dants, the two lovers were promising, swearing to 
 each other an affection which should be proof against 
 every obstacle that fortune could place in their way. 
 In these sentiments they parted. The young noble- 
 man proceeded with Toston, who on the way informed 
 him of his design to try if, by his eloquence, he could 
 prevail on the Countess, his mother, to protect his 
 love. " I approve of your project," said Don Alexis, 
 " and to render it the more efficacious, I will myself 
 accompany you, I will throw myself at the feet of 
 my mother, and embrace her knees, while you shall 
 plead for me : I am sure that we shall gain our point." 
 
 In this opinion, they determined on having recourse 
 to the measure proposed ; and this is the detail of 
 their succes-. They found the Countess de Gelves
 
 584 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 at her toilet. As soon as she saw her son and his 
 confidant, she sent all her women out of the room, 
 and first addressing herself to Toston, " My friend," 
 said she, " in what disposition has my son come 
 hither? has he still any repugnance to linking his 
 destiny with that of an amiable person offered him 
 by the prime minister of the kingdom ? " — " Madam," 
 said Toston, "my master has vowed implicit obedience 
 to your will ; he is ready to do whatever you order 
 him : but if you oblige him to marry the lady you 
 propose, you may crdculate on losing your only son." 
 — " Yes, mother," said Don Alexis, throwing himself 
 at her feet and kissing one of her hands, "Toston 
 has told \'ou the truth : if }-ou force this wife on me 
 against my inclination, you will kill me." — " This is a 
 strange thing," cried the Countess. " Is it possible 
 to become prejudiced in so high a degree, against a 
 person one has never seen ? Wait till you have been 
 introduced to the lady in question, and then, if you 
 find her disagreeable, I have enough of a mother's 
 fondness to oppose a union which must destroy your 
 happiness, although in marriages among persons of 
 our rank, the want of beauty is not thought a matter 
 of much importance. But," added she, " if I may 
 believe the description I have heard of this lady, she 
 is extremely handsome." — " Though she were more 
 lovely than Venus," said Toston, "let us if you please, 
 madam, say no more about her. Love has been 
 beforehand with the minister, by presenting to us a 
 kind of divinity with whom we are enchanted." 
 
 "She must, indeed," said the Countess, " be pos- 
 sessed of a most uncommon beaut}' to have made so 
 strong an impression. Does her birth correspond with 
 her charms } I fear that on that side she has reason 
 to complain. "—" Qhj no, madam," returned Toston,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 385 
 
 "she is a young lady of quality. Leonora de Pedrera 
 owes her birth to a gentleman of Antequerra, and is, 
 besides, niece to Donna Helena de Toralva." 
 
 The Countess no sooner heard these last words, 
 than she burst int so violent a fit of laughter as com- 
 pletely disconcerted Toston and her son. " Madam," 
 said the astonished young lord, "pray be kind enough 
 to acquaint me with the cause of this extraordinary 
 merriment; do you suspect us of wishing to impose 
 on you with regard to Leonora's quality.?" — "Let me 
 laugh without interruption," cried she, and redoubled 
 her mirth, while the master and the valet, not know- 
 ing what construction to put on such behaviour, stared 
 at her in stupid silence. 
 
 At length it pleased Heaven that her laughter 
 should have an end ; and when she had resumed her 
 gravity, " Don Alexis," said she, " do not alarm your- 
 self any more : you will not be obliged to renounce 
 your beloved Leonora, for it is she herself whom the 
 prime minister has destined for your wife. Donna 
 Helena de Toralva is related to the Duchess de Oli- 
 varez, and it is these two ladies who have caused this 
 match to he proposed to the Count de Gelves by the 
 Count Duke. Had I n t cause to laugh.''" pursued 
 she. " Do you not think this a very droll adventure .?" 
 She then again burst into laughter, while her son and 
 Toston now followed her example. The young lord 
 and his confidant then returned transported with joy, 
 and proceeded immediately to Dortna Helena's, where 
 they found everybody in a good humour, the report 
 of the approaching marriage of Donna Leonora and 
 Don Alexis having already transpired there. To sum 
 up all in a few words, the nuptials were solemnised a 
 few days after, with abundance of demonstratir^ns oi 
 joy, both at the Hotels de Gelves and de Toralva. 
 
 2 U
 
 386 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 OF WHA7 TOOK PLACE AFTER THE MARRIAGE OF DON 
 
 ALEXIS DE G ELVES TOSTON's JOURNEY TO ALCARAZ, 
 
 AND HIS RETURN TO MADRID DON CHERUBIN HAS 
 
 THE SATISFACTION OF HEARING GOOD NEWS OF DON 
 MA NO EL AND HIS FAMILY. 
 
 Donna Helena, at whose house the wedding took 
 place, loved her niece as much as if she were an only 
 daughter ; and, wishing not to part with her, this kind 
 aunt gave up the half of her mansion for her accommo- 
 dation. The first care of Don Alexis was to reward 
 Toston for having contributed to his happiness. 
 Not satisfied with making him a present of three 
 hundred pistoles, he appointed him his steward, a 
 post less considerable from what it was worth at that 
 time, than from what it was likely to be at a future 
 day. Leonora was not less generous to Blandina, 
 who, more sensible to her mistress's friendship than 
 to her own interest, was attached to her from heart 
 and inclination, an extraordinary thing in a waiting- 
 woman. 
 
 One morning Toston, coming to me, said : " Signior 
 Don Cherubin, I am going to take leave of you, and 
 receive your commands. I shall set out in two days 
 for Alcaraz, to grastify my desire of again beholding 
 the authors of my existence. Don Alexis, my 
 master, has allowed me to take this journey, on con- 
 dition that I return in two months." — " Aly child," 
 said I, " the desire by which you are actuated is 
 laudable, and it is right that you should be gratified; 
 but when you shall have passed a few days with 
 persons so dear to you, return quickly to Madrid. 
 You know the inconstancy of men of high rank ; you
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 387 
 
 ma}' lose your place, which is one that cannot fail to 
 con :uct you to a considerable fortune." — "Oh, never 
 fear," said he, " that ' hall be much diverted by the 
 company of my old Uicnds. I have already imbibed 
 the spirit of the Court ; I could not live in the 
 coui;try." — "And by what conveyance," said I, " do 
 you c;esign going ? "— " On one of the best horses in 
 our biables," replied he; "and followed by a lackey 
 from the house, who will be dressed in the livery of 
 Gelves, and as well mounted as myself. The steward 
 of a great house must not travel like a beggar." In 
 effect, two days after, Toston set out upon an elegant 
 horse, followed by a lackey in brilliant livery, anc' 
 charged with despatches from me to my brothers 
 in-law. 
 
 During his absence, some changes took place 
 favourable for the house of Gelves. Don Alexis, 
 having paid assiduous court to the Count Duke de 
 Olivarez, was fortunate enough to please him so 
 much, that that minister got him appointed Gentle- 
 man of the King's Bedchamber ; which was the most 
 sine re testimony of regard which he could possibly 
 give him, it being the disposition of his Excellency 
 to place no one near the person of the monarch but 
 such, as he could repose confidence in himself. This 
 was not all : Donna Leonora became at the same 
 time maid of honour to the Queen, through the 
 interest of the Lady Olivarez, who was camarera 
 mayor;* so that Toston, at his return, found his 
 master and mistress holding a rank at Court higher 
 than when he left them. 
 
 The impatience of this new stev/ard to give me an 
 account of his journey would not permit him to visit 
 his wife, nor even to wait on Don Alexis before he 
 * Principal Lady of the Bedchamber,
 
 388 THE B.iCHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 had come to me, with a haste expressive of his regard. 
 It was not without emotion that I saw him enter my 
 room ; and, not knowing what he might have to tell 
 me, T asked him trembhngly if his news were calcu- 
 lated to please or distress me. " I bring you," replied 
 he, " no news but what are good : Don Manoel and 
 Don Gregorio are in the most perfect health, as are 
 also their wives. These ladies, who are still very 
 lovely, have enlarged the family : your sister, besides 
 Francillo and the two daughters she had, she has 
 now another son, who is at nurse ; and her friend, 
 Desides the boy she had immediately after her 
 marriage, has brought Don Manoel two sons in less 
 than twenty months. All these children," added he, 
 "both male and female, are in wonderful good health, 
 and are extremely genteel. Your daughter, among 
 the rest, is as beautiful as the day." 
 
 " All this gives me pleasure, my friend," replied I ; 
 "but tell me, I entreat )-ou, how my sister and my 
 brothers-in-law listened to the recital which you, of 
 course, gave them of my adventures. Did they 
 appear to be much interested in my fortune .-*" — 
 " Assuredly," replied Toston ; " they asked me a 
 thousand questions, and I found it no easy matter to 
 answer all their questions, each of them interrogating 
 me in turn, and sometimes all together. But when I 
 related to them the meeting with Monchique, and 
 the manner in which he told us he had seduced 
 Donna Paula, my auditors began to shed tears, 
 particularly the ladies, who, seeing your wife fully 
 justified, bitterly deplored her misfortune. They then 
 questioned me about Donna Blanca: they asked me 
 what was her character ; and they had room to 
 judge from my replies, that of all the favours Don
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 380 
 
 Juan de Salzedo has conferred on you, that of giving 
 )-ou Ills daughter was not the least, 
 
 "I have now no more to do," added Toston, "than 
 to dehv^er to you the despatches of whicli I am t'ne 
 bearer, from \-our famil\'; and then allow me to quit 
 \-ou in order to wait upon my master. I shall see 
 whetlier my absence has injured me in his esteem." 
 — "No, my child," replied I, "you will find Don 
 Alexis just such as you left him. I took care, during 
 your absence, to preserve you in his good graces. I 
 have also some good news to announce to j^ou ; the 
 King has honoured this young nobleman with the 
 post of Gentleman of the Bedchamber, a thing which 
 will be to the advantage of your stewardship." 
 
 I also informed the steward that Donna Leonora 
 was in attendance on the Queen. "Good!" cried 
 he, full of joy; "my wife is then at Court: that will 
 fix me in Madrid." — ''I hope so," said I, "and that 
 yoQ will never again be troubled by the desire of 
 seeing \-our own country." — "Oh, sir," said he, "that 
 is all over, I have bid it an eternal adieu, I went 
 there, as }ou know, only to see my father and motiier; 
 I found them both dead and buried. I have shed 
 over their graves the tears which were due to them, 
 and now I am entirely detached from the place of 
 my birth." So saying, he delivered me his despatches 
 and left me.
 
 390 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA,' 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 •yF VHE SECRET AND CURIOUS CONVERSATION WHICH D0\ 
 CliHRVDIN HAD ONE DAY WITH THE COUNT DE GELVES 
 
 RELATION OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE DUKE 
 
 DE OSSUNA ENTERED MADRID^ WtiiCU PROVED THE 
 
 CAUSE OF HIS DJWNFALL. 
 
 ALTilt^UGH the Count de Gelves had, as has been 
 stated, brought immense wealth from the Indies, he 
 had affected, through avarice and poHcy, not to 
 imitate other viceroys n their return from their 
 gover'T relents. He appeared in the streets with but 
 few attendants, and paid his visits, it may be said, 
 without noise, and in a manner too modest f r a 
 govcniur' of Mexico. With recjard to the presents he 
 had made both to the King and the infants Don 
 Fernando nnd Don Carlos, the\' are not worth speak- 
 ing of, as tliey consisted only in some ornaments of 
 feathers, and such like trifles. For this reason, the 
 public, who sometimes censure without cause, c'id not 
 applaud his magnificent humour. 
 
 This nobleman was not I'^norant of what was said 
 of him in the world, and said to me one day: "I had 
 rather pass for a miser than expose myself to ruin by 
 a display which would onl)^ serve to excite env)'. The 
 example of the Duke de Ossuna, who has just died 
 in ;-rison, ought to aflfo/d instruction t ^ viceroys. This 
 great man would probably still have been alive, if he 
 had not had the imprudence to make his entry into 
 Madrid with a pomp more suitable to a sovereign 
 Ihan to a governor who is recalled in order that he 
 may give an account of his administration; if he had 
 not made such n,,h presents t ' the Court, and if, in 
 fine, he had n t exposed his wealth to the eyes of his
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 391 
 
 enemies, and those who were envious of him. Perhaps 
 you never heard of this pompous entry. I must give 
 you a detail of it, less to excite your admiration at its 
 magnificence, than to show you the ostentation of the 
 Viceroy of Sicily and Naples. 
 
 " Four trumpeters, with twelv» Neapolitan and 
 twelve Sicilian guards, began the march. The maitre 
 d'hotel on horseback, and twenty-four mules with 
 gold embroidered housings,, conducted by twenty 
 grooms, preceding three litters and three superb 
 carriages belonging to the Duchess de Ossuna, which 
 the maitres d'hotel of herself and her son followed, 
 with twenty horses led by as many grooms. After 
 these came the major-domo of the Duke, accompanied 
 by twelve pages on horseback dressed in the Spanish, 
 and twelve halberdiers in the Sicilian costume. Then 
 Don Juan Telles, at the head of thirty Spanish, Nea- 
 politan, and Sicilian gentlemen, all richly dressed in 
 the Hungarian fashion, and mounted upon valuable 
 horses. Afterwards the Duke, in the same costume, 
 appeared in a most magnificent carriage with Donna 
 Isabella de Sandoval, his daughter-in-law, having four 
 tail footmen at each door, and twenty halberdiers, 
 followed by thirty carriages full of relations and 
 friends, without counting six other in reserve. Finally, 
 this indiscreet and silly procession was concluded by 
 a crowd of officers, pages, and Turkish slaves. 
 
 " It was thus," continued the Count de Gelves, 
 "that the Duke de Ossuna entered Madrid, amid the 
 acclamations of an immense concourse of spectators 
 attracted from all parts by the sight. You may well 
 conceive that such an entry did not diminish the 
 number of his secret enemies; and, to add to his 
 indiscretion, he exposed during three days at his 
 house, to the curiosity of the public, the riches he
 
 392 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 had brought from Italy, taking a foolish pleasure in 
 showing them to the Spaniards as spoils taken from 
 the Turks, and glorious monuments of the victories 
 he had obtained over those infidels. I havxj not, 
 therefore, done ill," added the Grand Equerry, "in 
 pursuing a conduct the reverse of his, especially as 
 I have come from a government in which all the 
 world suspects me of having acquired immense wealth. 
 By m\' modest entry, I have disappointed th^ envy 
 which I should not have failed to excite by s:a air oi 
 greater opulence." 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 OF DON MA.XOEL^S ARRIVAL AT MADRID THE EXTREME 
 
 yOV WHICH THA T CA VALIER AND DON CHE RUBIN FELT 
 AT AGAIN MEETING AFTER SO LONG A SEPARATION^ 
 AND OF THE ANRA.NGEMENTS WHICH THEY MADE NOT 
 TO PART AGAIN. 
 
 TOSTON had not been a week returned to Ma<lrid, 
 when one morning, while I was writing in my closet, 
 I was informed that Don Manoel de Pedrilla had 
 arrived. I immediately started up to receive a man 
 who was so dear to me. We held each other long in 
 a mutual embrace, and both testified by tears rather 
 than by words the joy we felt at meeting. The 
 remembrance of Donna Paula affected us at first, and 
 we could not refuse our tears to the memory ot" that 
 innocent adulteress, in spite of the grief which she 
 had caused us both ; but we speedily passed from 
 grief to joy, and began to converse about our family, 
 "We have some lovely children," said Don Manoel. 
 "If Toston has given you a faithful description, he 
 must have told you that Donna Teresa, your daughter,
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 393 
 
 is excessively pleasing, and that my son, Don Tgnacio, 
 is a pretty boy. As for your nephew, Francillo, who 
 is now called Don Franciscc de Clevillente, he is no 
 longer a child ; he is a well-grown cavalier, and fit 
 to serve the King. 
 
 " Having spoken of the children," continued Don 
 Manoel, " let us now speak of their mothers. Ismenia 
 and Donna Francisca are still pretty women. I am 
 more fond than ever of one, and Don Gregorio has for 
 the other an attachment, the warmth of which seems 
 daily to augment." — "You uelight me, my friend," 
 interrupted I, "by informing me that you all four 
 live in such a perfect union. Why can I not go and 
 partake the sweets of your society ? " — " Why, what 
 hinders you .'' " said Don Manoel ; " are you not 
 master of your actions.'" — "No," replied I, "the 
 Count de Gelves will not aliow my father-in-iaw to 
 leave him ; and he, a slave to that nobleman's desires, 
 has the complaisance to sacrifice to him the inclina- 
 tion he has to repose himself after his long labours. 
 On my part, gratitude and friendship bind me so 
 strongly to Don Juan, that I make it a point of duty 
 not to abandon him." — "In these sentiments," said 
 Don Manoel, " I recognise my friend. So then, it 
 seems, our ladies and myself must be disappointed 
 in the hope we had formed of having your company 
 and your wife's." — " I should ask nothing better," 
 replied I, "than to pass with them and you the rest 
 of my days ; but you see what obstacles are opposed 
 to such a desire." — "Well," said Don Manoel, after 
 having reflected some minutes, " since we cannot 
 engage you to leave Madrid, I must prevail on our 
 ladies to come and settle here : this is what 1 shall 
 propose to them, and I think they will readily comply 
 with my suggestion."
 
 394 'J^HE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 *' I applaud the idea," said I, " and hope that they 
 may be pleased with the project. If you be eloquent 
 enough to persuade them to that, I will undertake to 
 hire a house sufficiently large to contain our whole 
 family: I am in a situation to do so, and evsn to 
 defray all the expenses of living in it. Return, then, 
 as speedily as possible to Alcaraz; persuade, if you 
 can, the ladies to come and live in Madrid, and bring 
 them hither with you. We shall lead a delicious hfe 
 together. In our house will be seen only joy, and 
 there the best of company will be met with." 
 
 Don Manoel, impatient for the arrival of so happy 
 a period, hastened home ; but, before his departure, I 
 introduced him to Salzedo, who received him in a 
 manner that enchanted him. Nor was he less satis- 
 fied with the civilities he received from my wife, who, 
 looking upon him as my best friend, thought she 
 could never treat him with sufficient attention. 
 When we parted, he said to me : " Don Cherubin, I 
 admire your happiness. You have entered into a 
 most amiable family. You have a wife worthy of 
 your tenderness, and a father-in-law who merits all 
 your devotion to him. I shall describe these two in 
 such terms to Clevillente and our ladies, as will con- 
 tribute no little towards the success of my design."
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 395 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 ly CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT EVENT THE PROJECT OF DON 
 MANOEL AND DON CHERUBIN WAS NOT CARRIED INTO 
 
 EXECUTION DON JUAN DE SALZEDO IS MADE COR- 
 
 REGIDOR OF ALCARAZ. 
 
 I HOPED, or rather I entertained no doubt, that 
 PedrilJa would be able to prevail on the ladies, and 
 Avas already employed in looking out for a house ; 
 but it was an unnecessary trouble, as I shall presently 
 explain. One day after the Count de Gelves had 
 been with the prime minister, he closeted himself with 
 Salzedo, and addressed him thus: "D'^n Juan, you 
 will be surprised at what I am about to say to y u. 
 I have just been with the Count Duke, with whom 
 I had a conversation which turned upon }'ourself. 
 'Count,' said he, 'you have about }'ou a man who is 
 not agreeable to me ; it is D n Juan de Salzed©. He 
 was secretary to the Duke de Lerma, and afterwards 
 to the Duke de Uzeda; in a word, he is a creature 
 ( f the house of Sandoval. I think this is saying 
 enough to induce you to get rid of him. However, 
 as I know that y^w esteem him, and that he deserves 
 to be recompensed for the services which he has done 
 the state, the King appoints him Corregidor of the 
 city of Alcaraz, in New Castile.' 
 
 "You know this minister," continued the Grand 
 Equerry. "You know that he is full of whims, and 
 that he is absolute in anything which he commands. 
 If, consulting only my own friendship for you, I 
 were to refuse compliance on this or^casion, I must 
 make up my mind to break with him for ever; a 
 thing which might be disastrous to me in its con- 
 sequences, as it is dangerous to have for an enemy
 
 396 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 a minister who governs both the monarchy and the 
 monarch. 
 
 " I am sorry to lose you," continued he, " but we 
 must separate. You see plainly it is a matter of 
 necessity." — " My lord," replied Salzedo, "to that I 
 have nothing to reph'. It would not be right that 
 you should quarrel for such a trifle with a man who 
 has everything in his power. With regard to the 
 place with which it is intended to honour me, I could 
 well do without it, being, thanks to your bounty. 
 in a situation which leaves me nothing to wish for. 
 Nevertheless, I have reasons for not refusing it. 
 Alcaraz is a city well known to my son-in-law, and 
 there reside his famih' and friends, who will do every- 
 thing to make me happy. Since I must depart from 
 your Excellency and from Madrid, it is a consolation 
 to be sent to the very place in Spain which I would 
 choose in preference to any other." — " I am glad it is 
 so," said the Count ; " if I regret parting with you, at 
 least I shall have the satisfaction of believing th it 
 you are comfortable." 
 
 After this interview, Don Juan came to me. " Here 
 are some great news," said he, recounting to me at 
 the same time what had been just said to him by the 
 Grand Equerry. He then asked me what I thought 
 of it .'' " It appears to me," replied I, " that the Count 
 is terribly afraid of losing the good graces of the 
 minister, and that he seems well disposed to sacrifice 
 everything to his fear. As to the rest, we ought to 
 rejoice at this event. We have been a long while 
 attached by complaisance alone to this nobleman; 
 and s'nce he himself affords us the opportunity of 
 quitt'ng him with honour, let us avail ourselves of it 
 without ceremon}'. Let us go and join my brothers- 
 in-law. They will be delighted, as will likewise their
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 397 
 
 wives, at seeing their society increased by three per- 
 sons whose company will be so far from tiresome. I 
 will, if you think fit, send this day an express to Don 
 Manoel, to apprise him that, having been gratified by 
 the King with the post of Corregidor of Alcaraz, )-ou 
 ;;re going to set out in order to take possession of it. 
 lie will be charmed with this intelligence; for I am 
 sure he would rather bid us welcome in Alcaraz, than 
 come to us in Madrid." 
 
 ]\ry father-in-law had no sooner informed me that 
 he was ready to follow me, than I despatched a 
 courier to Pedrilla, to inform him of our design ; and, 
 in the letter which I sent him, I pointed out that we 
 should pass near Cuenga. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 DON JUAN DE SALZEDO SETS OUT FROM MADRID WITH HIS 
 DAUGHTER AND DON CHERUBIN — THEIR ARRIVAL AT 
 
 ALCARAZ THE RECEPTION THEY MET WITH END OP 
 
 THE HISTORY OF THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 Don Juan de Salzedo, after having returned thanks 
 to the prime minister, and taken before the King the 
 necessary oaths, set about the preparations for his 
 journey, which were speedily finished. Our departure 
 from Madrid was not quite so splendid as the entry 
 o<"the Duke de Ossuna ; but it had, notwithstanding, 
 an air of opulence that did us honour. Three litters, 
 one of which was filled with the Corregidor, //^«a ipso, 
 the other with my wife and myself, and the third with 
 two waiting-women, followed twelve mules laden 
 with oi:r effects, and ornamented with fine sounding 
 bells. Add to this five or six servants mounted on
 
 398 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANC . 
 
 very handsome horses, of which the Grand Equerry 
 had made us a present. Indeed, our equipage some- 
 what resembled that of a Viceroy who is going to 
 take possession of his government. 
 
 We proceeded by short stages to Cuenga, where 
 we found Don Manoel, who had been awaiting our 
 arrival two days. After a thousand embraces on 
 both sides, this cavalier informed us that the moment 
 he received my letter he had set out to Cuenga, whence 
 he proposed to conduct us to the village of Bonillo, to 
 a farm which belonged to him there, and in which he 
 had left his wife, with my sister and Don Gregorio. 
 The more speedily to reach this farm, we hastened 
 to resume our journey; and there, in effect, we met 
 Clevillcnte and the two ladies, who were no less 
 anxious to see me than I to embrace them. Here 
 were embraces and compliments in abundance. 
 " Signior Don Juan," said my sister to Salzedo, 
 "what pleasure it is to me to see a gentleman to 
 whom my brother has so man}' obligations! But of 
 all the good you have bestowed on him, that which I 
 most value is having united his destiny to that of this 
 amiable child." At these words, she threw her arms 
 round the neck of Blanca, whom she had alread}' more 
 than once embraced. Ismenia was equally lavish of 
 her caresses to my wife, who, not to be behindhand 
 A ith these ladies, returned them kiss for kiss. 
 
 On the other hand, Don Manoel, Salzedo, Gregorio, 
 and myself were acting nearly the same scene. We 
 had all four, for about an hour, nothing but a con- 
 fused conversation intermingled with embraces. 
 
 After this we resumed our gravity, and the new 
 Corregidor had every reason to be satisfied with the 
 oblio-inor discourse which was addressed to him both 
 by ladies and gentlemen. He told me two or three
 
 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 399 
 
 times in private that he was charmed with my 
 brothers-in-law, and still more with their wives, who 
 appeared to him, he said, to have the manners of 
 princesses. I was inwardly amused with this idea, 
 for I thought at the moment of the source whence 
 they derived these airs of grandeur. We rested 
 some days at the farm, where, by Don Manoel's pre- 
 caution, nothing was wanting ; and at length repaired 
 to Alcaraz, which is only about five or six leagues 
 distant. 
 
 Our equipage dazzled the eyes of the citizens of 
 Alcaraz. " This is not," said one, " our poor defunct 
 Corregidor, whose whole equipage consisted in two 
 old mules." — " No, faith," said another, " it is not an 
 ordinary Corregidor, but a Viceroy who is sent us." 
 The populace, who had placed themselves under 
 arms, the more honourably to receive their new 
 magistrate, now gave a triple discharge of musketry. 
 We alighted at the Hotel de Pedrilla, where we had 
 no sooner entered, than all the Superiors of the 
 religious orders came to harangue my father-in-law 
 in Latin ; who, in order to let them see whom they 
 addressed, replied to each in the same language, and 
 thus gave his visitors a favourable opinion of him. 
 After the monks, the nobility came with their com- 
 pliments, and he replied in the tone of a courtier. 
 
 To say the rest in a i&w words, he took possession 
 of his charge ; and soon, by his vigilance, his integrity, 
 his equitable judgments, and his extensive informa- 
 tion, he made the inhabitants of Alcaraz sensible that 
 they had for Corregidor a man capable of governing 
 a kingdom. As he joined to his merit as a judge all 
 the qualities of an elegant man, he gained, without 
 difficulty, the esteem and friendship of ever} body. 
 
 With such a father-in-law have I now the happiness
 
 400 THE BACHELOR OF SALAMANCA. 
 
 of livincj, sometimes at Alcaraz, at Don Manoel's, 
 sometimes at the castle of Elche, which is but three 
 small leagues distant, and which we purchased with 
 some of the Mexicans' money, or at the castle of Don 
 Gregorio de Clevillente, whose wife agrees wonder- 
 fully well with my own, although they are sisters-in 
 law. 
 
 THE END.
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 000 865 722 3
 
 ^'w 
 
 
 -■■'— ^ _>...A.>^..»._.»^ 1.-