الفصل الفصل 2 · RINCONETE AND CORTADILLO; OR, PETER OF THE CORNER AND THE LITTLE CUTTER

_Or, Peter of the Corner and the Little Cutter._

At the Venta or hostelry of the Mulinillo, which is situate on the

confines of the renowned plain of Alcudia, and on the road from Castile

to Andalusia, two striplings met by chance on one of the hottest days of

summer. One of them was about fourteen or fifteen years of age; the

other could not have passed his seventeenth year. Both were well formed,

and of comely features, but in very ragged and tattered plight. Cloaks

they had none; their breeches were of linen, and their stockings were

merely those bestowed on them by Nature. It is true they boasted shoes;

one of them wore alpargates,[6] or rather dragged them along at his

heels; the other had what might as well have been shackles for all the

good they did the wearer, being rent in the uppers, and without soles.

Their respective head-dresses were a montera[7] and a miserable

sombrero, low in the crown and wide in the brim. On his shoulder, and

crossing his breast like a scarf, one of them carried a shirt, the

colour of chamois leather; the body of this garment was rolled up and

thrust into one of its sleeves: the other, though travelling without

incumbrance, bore on his chest what seemed a large pack, but which

proved, on closer inspection, to be the remains of a starched ruff, now

stiffened with grease instead of starch, and so worn and frayed that it

looked like a bundle of hemp.

[6] The _alpargates_ are a kind of sandal made of cord.

[7] _Montera_, a low cap, without visor or front to shade the eyes.

Within this collar, wrapped up and carefully treasured, was a pack of

cards, excessively dirty, and reduced to an oval form by repeated paring

of their dilapidated corners. The lads were both much burned by the sun,

their hands were anything but clean, and their long nails were edged

with black; one had a dudgeon-dagger by his side; the other a knife with

a yellow handle.

These gentlemen had selected for their siesta the porch or penthouse

commonly found before a Venta; and, finding themselves opposite each

other, he who appeared to be the elder said to the younger, "Of what

country is your worship, noble Sir, and by what road do you propose to

travel?" "What is my country, Señor Cavalier," returned the other, "I

know not; nor yet which way my road lies."

"Your worship, however, does not appear to have come from heaven,"

rejoined the elder, "and as this is not a place wherein a man can take

up his abode for good, you must, of necessity, be going further." "That

is true," replied the younger; "I have, nevertheless, told you only the

veritable fact; for as to my country, it is mine no more, since all that

belongs to me there is a father who does not consider me his child, and

a step-mother who treats me like a son-in-law. With regard to my road,

it is that which chance places before me, and it will end wherever I may

find some one who will give me the wherewithal to sustain this miserable

life of mine."

"Is your worship acquainted with any craft?" inquired the first speaker.

"With none," returned the other, "except that I can run like a hare,

leap like a goat, and handle a pair of scissors with great dexterity."

"These things are all very good, useful, and profitable," rejoined the

elder. "You will readily find the Sacristan of some church who will give

your worship the offering-bread of All Saints' Day, for cutting him his

paper flowers to decorate the Monument[8] on Holy Thursday."

[8] The Monument is a sort of temporary theatre, erected in the churches

during Passion Week, and on which the passion of the Saviour is

represented.

"But that is not my manner of cutting," replied the younger. "My father,

who, by God's mercy, is a tailor and hose maker, taught me to cut out

that kind of spatterdashes properly called Polainas, which, as your

worship knows, cover the fore part of the leg and come down over the

instep. These I can cut out in such style, that I could pass an

examination for the rank of master in the craft; but my ill luck keeps

my talents in obscurity."

"The common lot, Señor, of able men," replied the first speaker, "for I

have always heard that it is the way of the world to let the finest

talents go to waste; but your worship is still at an age when this evil

fortune may be remedied, and the rather since, if I mistake not, and my

eyes do not deceive me, you have other advantageous qualities which it

is your pleasure to keep secret." "It is true that I have such,"

returned the younger gentleman, "but they are not of a character to be

publicly proclaimed, as your worship has very judiciously observed."

"But I," rejoined the elder, "may with confidence assure you, that I am

one of the most discreet and prudent persons to be found within many a

league. In order to induce your worship to open your heart and repose

your faith on my honour, I will enlist your sympathies by first laying

bare my own bosom; for I imagine that fate has not brought us together

without some hidden purpose. Nay, I believe that we are to be true

friends from this day to the end of our lives.

"I, then, Señor Hidalgo, am a native of Fuenfrida, a place very well

known, indeed renowned for the illustrious travellers who are constantly

passing through it. My name is Pedro del Rincon,[9] my father is a

person of quality, and a Minister of the Holy Crusade, since he holds

the important charge of a Bulero or Buldero,[10] as the vulgar call it.

I was for some time his assistant in that office, and acquitted myself

so well, that in all things concerning the sale of bulls I could hold my

own with any man, though he had the right to consider himself the most

accomplished in the profession. But one day, having placed my affections

on the money produced by the bulls, rather than on the bulls themselves,

I took a bag of crowns to my arms, and we two departed together for

Madrid.

[9] Peter of the Corner; _rincon_ meaning a corner, or obscure nook.

[10] The Spanish authorities, under the pretext of being at perpetual

war with Infidels, still cause "Bulls of the Crusade," to the possession

of which certain indulgences are attached, to be publicly sold in

obscure villages. The product of these sales was originally expended on

the wars with the Moors, but from the time when Granada fell into the

hands of the Spaniards, it has been divided between the church and

state. The bulls are carried about by hawkers, who are called

"Buleros."--_Viardot_.

"In that city, such are the facilities that offer themselves, I soon

gutted my bag, and left it with as many wrinkles as a bridegroom's

pocket-handkerchief. The person who was charged with the collection of

the money, hastened to track my steps; I was taken, and met with but

scant indulgence; only, in consideration of my youth, their worships the

judges contented themselves with introducing me to the acquaintance of

the whipping-post, to have the flies whisked from my shoulders for a

certain time, and commanding me to abstain from revisiting the Court and

Capital during a period of four years. I took the matter coolly, bent my

shoulders to the operation performed at their command, and made so much

haste to begin my prescribed term of exile, that I had no time to

procure sumpter mules, but contented myself with selecting from my

valuables such as seemed most important and useful.

"I did not fail to include this pack of cards among them,"--here the

speaker exhibited that oviform specimen already mentioned--"and with

these I have gained my bread among the inns and taverns between Madrid

and this place, by playing at Vingt-et-un. It is true they are somewhat

soiled and worn, as your worship sees; but for him who knows how to

handle them, they possess a marvellous virtue, which is, that you never

cut them but you find an ace at the bottom; if your worship then is

acquainted with the game, you will see what an advantage it is to know

for certain that you have an ace to begin with, since you may count it

either for one or eleven; and so you may be pretty sure that when the

stakes are laid at twenty-one, your money will be much disposed to stay

at home.

"In addition to this, I have acquired the knowledge of certain mysteries

regarding Lansquenet and Reversis, from the cook of an ambassador who

shall be nameless,--insomuch that, even as your worship might pass as

master in the cutting of spatterdashes, so could I, too, take my degrees

in the art of flat-catching.

"With all these acquirements, I am tolerably sure of not dying from

hunger, since, even in the most retired farm-house I come to, there is

always some one to be found who will not refuse himself the recreation

of a few moments at cards. We have but to make a trial where we are; let

us spread the net, and it will go hard with us if some bird out of all

the Muleteers standing about do not fall into it. I mean to say, that if

we two begin now to play at Vingt-et-un as though we were in earnest,

some one will probably desire to make a third, and, in that case, he

shall be the man to leave his money behind him."

"With all my heart," replied the younger lad: "and I consider that your

excellency has done me a great favour by communicating to me the history

of your life. You have thereby made it impossible for me to conceal

mine, and I will hasten to relate it as briefly as possible. Here it is,

then:--

"I was born at Pedroso, a village situate between Salamanca and Medina

del Campo. My father is a tailor, as I have said, and taught me his

trade; but from cutting with the scissors I proceeded--my natural

abilities coming in aid--to the cutting of purses. The dull, mean life

of the village, and the unloving conduct of my mother-in-law, were

besides but little to my taste. I quitted my birthplace, therefore,

repaired to Toledo to exercise my art, and succeeded in it to

admiration; for there is not a reliquary suspended to the dress, not a

pocket, however carefully concealed, but my fingers shall probe its

contents, or my scissors snip it off, though the owner were guarded by

the eyes of Argus.

"During four months I spent in Toledo, I was never trapped between two

doors, nor caught in the fact, nor pursued by the runners of justice,

nor blown upon by an informer. It is true that, eight days ago, a double

spy[11] did set forth my distinguished abilities to the Corregidor, and

the latter, taking a fancy to me from his description, desired to make

my acquaintance; but I am a modest youth, and do not wish to frequent

the society of personages so important. Wherefore I took pains to excuse

myself from visiting him, and departed in so much haste, that I, like

yourself, had no time to procure sumpter-mules or small change,--nay, I

could not even find a return-chaise, nor so much as a cart."

[11] An _alguazil_, who, while in the service of justice, is also in

that of the thieves. He betrays them, nevertheless, whenever it suits

his purpose to do so:

"Console yourself for these omissions," replied Pedro del Rincon; "and

since we now know each other, let us drop these grand and stately airs,

and confess frankly that we have not a blessed farthing between us, nor

even shoes to our feet."

"Be it so," returned Diego Cortado, for so the younger boy called

himself. "Be it so; and since our friendship, as your worship Señor

Rincon is pleased to say, is to last our whole lives, let us begin it

with solemn and laudable ceremonies,"--saying which, Diego rose to his

feet, and embraced the Señor Rincon, who returned the compliment with

equal tenderness and emotion.

They then began to play at Vingt-et-un with the cards above described,

which were certainly "free from dust and straw,"[12] as we say, but by

no means free from grease and knavery; and after a few deals, Cortado

could turn up an ace as well as Rincon his master. When things had

attained this point, it chanced that a Muleteer came out at the porch,

and, as Rincon had anticipated, he soon proposed to make a third in

their game.

[12] "Clean from dust and straw"--_limpios de polvo y paja_--is a phrase

equivalent to "free of the king's dues."

To this they willingly agreed, and in less than half an hour they had

won from him twelve reals and twenty-two maravedis, which he felt as

sorely as twelve stabs with a dagger and twenty-two thousand sorrows.

Presuming that the young chaps would not venture to defend themselves,

he thought to get back his money by force; but the two friends laying

hands promptly, the one on his dudgeon dagger and the other on his

yellow handled knife, gave the Muleteer so much to do, that if his

companions had not hastened to assist him, he would have come badly out

of the quarrel.

At that moment there chanced to pass by a company of travellers on

horseback, who were going to make their siesta at the hostelry of the

Alcalde, about half a league farther on. Seeing the affray between the

Muleteer with two boys, they interposed, and offered to take the latter

in their company to Seville, if they were going to that city.

"That is exactly where we desire to go," exclaimed Rincon, "and we will

serve your worships in all that it shall please you to command."

Whereupon, without more ado, they sprang before the mules, and departed

with the travellers, leaving the Muleteer despoiled of his money and

furious with rage, while the hostess was in great admiration of the

finished education and accomplishments of the two rogues, whose dialogue

she had heard from beginning to end, while they were not aware of her

presence.

When the hostess told the Muleteer that she had heard the boys say the

cards they played with were false, the man tore his beard for rage, and

would have followed them to the other Venta, in the hope of recovering

his property; for he declared it to be a serious affront, and a matter

touching his honour, that two boys should have cheated a grown man like

him. But his companions dissuaded him from doing what they declared

would be nothing better than publishing his own folly and incapacity;

and their arguments, although they did not console the Muleteer, were

sufficient to make him remain where he was.

Meanwhile Cortado and Rincon displayed so much zeal and readiness in the

service of the travellers, that the latter gave them a lift behind them

for the greater part of the way. They might many a time have rifled the

portmanteaus of their temporary masters, but did not, lest they should

thereby lose the happy opportunity of seeing Seville, in which city they

greatly desired to exercise their talents. Nevertheless, as they entered

Seville--which they did at the hour of evening prayer, and by the gate

of the custom-house, on account of the dues to be paid, and the trunks

to be examined--Cortado could not refrain from making an examination, on

his own account, of the valise which a Frenchman of the company carried

with him on the croup of his mule. With his yellow-handled weapon,

therefore, he gave it so deep and broad a wound in the side that its

very entrails were exposed to view; and he dexterously drew forth two

good shirts, a sun-dial, and a memorandum book, things that did not

greatly please him when he had leisure to examine them. Thinking that

since the Frenchman carried that valise on his own mule, it must needs

contain matters of more importance than those he had captured, Cortado

would fain have looked further into it, but he abstained, as it was

probable that the deficiency had been already discovered, and the

remaining effects secured. Before performing this feat the friends had

taken leave of those who had fed them on their journey, and the

following day they sold the two shirts in the old clothes' market, which

is held at the gate of the Almacen or arsenal, obtaining twenty reals

for their booty.

Having despatched this business, they went to see the city, and admired

the great magnificence and vast size of its principal church, and the

vast concourse of people on the quays, for it happened to be the season

for loading the fleet. There were also six galleys on the water, at

sight of which the friends could not refrain from sighing, as they

thought the day might come when they should be clapped on board one of

those vessels for the remainder of their lives. They remarked the large

number of basket-boys, porters, &c., who went to and fro about the

ships, and inquired of one among them what sort of a trade it

was--whether it was very laborious--and what were the gains.

An Asturian, of whom they made the inquiry, gave answer to the effect

that the trade was a very pleasant one, since they had no harbour-dues

to pay, and often found themselves at the end of the day with six or

seven reals in their pocket, with which they might eat, drink, and enjoy

themselves like kings. Those of his calling, he said, had no need to

seek a master to whom security must be given, and you could dine when

and where you please, since, in the city of Seville, there is not an

eating-house, however humble, where you will not find all you want at

any hour of the day.

The account given by the Asturian was by no means discouraging to the

two friends, neither did his calling seem amiss to them; nay, rather, it

appeared to be invented for the very purpose of enabling them to

exercise their own profession in secresy and safety, on account of the

facilities it offered for entering houses. They consequently determined

to buy such things as were required for the instant adoption of the new

trade, especially as they could enter upon it without undergoing any

previous scrutiny.

In reply to their further inquiries, the Asturian told them that it

would be sufficient if each had a small porter's bag of linen, either

new or second-hand, so it was but clean, with three palm-baskets, two

large and one small, wherein to carry the meat, fish, and fruit

purchased by their employers, while the bag was to be used for carrying

the bread. He took them to where all these things were sold; they

supplied themselves out of the plunder of the Frenchman, and in less

than two hours they might have been taken for regular graduates in their

new profession, so deftly did they manage their baskets, and so jauntily

carry their bags. Their instructor furthermore informed them of the

different places at which they were to make their appearance daily: in

the morning at the shambles, and at the market of St. Salvador; on

fast-days at the fish-market; every afternoon on the quay, and on

Thursdays at the fair.

All these lessons the two friends carefully stored in their memory, and

the following morning both repaired in good time to the market of St.

Salvador. Scarcely had they arrived before they were remarked by numbers

of young fellows of the trade, who soon perceived, by the shining

brightness of their bags and baskets, that they were new beginners. They

were assailed with a thousand questions, to all which they replied with

great presence of mind and discretion. Presently up came two customers,

one of whom had the appearance of a Student, the other was a Soldier;

both were attracted by the clean and new appearance of their baskets;

and he who seemed to be a student beckoned Cortado, while the soldier

engaged Rincon. "In God's name be it!"[13] exclaimed both the novices in

a breath--Rincon adding, "It is a good beginning of the trade, master,

since it is your worship that is giving me my hansel." "The hansel shall

not be a bad one," replied the soldier, "seeing that I have been lucky

at cards of late, and am in love. I propose this day to regale the

friends of my lady with a feast, and am come to buy the materials."

"Load away, then, your worship," replied Rincon, "and lay on me as much

as you please, for I feel courage enough to carry off the whole market;

nay, if you should desire me to aid in cooking what I carry, it shall be

done with all my heart."

[13] This is a formula used in Spain by those who do a thing for the

first time.--_Viardot_.

The soldier was pleased with the boy's ready good-will, and told him

that if he felt disposed to enter his service he would relieve him from

the degrading office he then bore; but Rincon declared, that since this

was the first day on which he had tried it, he was not willing to

abandon the work so soon, or at least until he had seen what profit

there was to be made of it; but if it did not suit him, he gave the

gentleman his word that he would prefer the service offered him even to

that of a Canon.

The soldier laughed, loaded him well, and showed him the house of his

lady, bidding him observe it well that he might know it another time, so

that he might be able to send him there again without being obliged to

accompany him. Rincon promised fidelity and good conduct; the soldier

gave him three quartos,[14] and the lad returned like a shot to the

market, that he might lose no opportunity by delay. Besides, he had been

well advised in respect of diligence by the Asturian, who had likewise

told him that when he was employed to carry small fish, such as sprats,

sardines, or flounders, he might very well take a few for himself and

have the first taste of them, were it only to diminish his expenses of

the day, but that he must do this with infinite caution and prudence,

lest the confidence of the employers should be disturbed; for to

maintain confidence was above all things important in their trade.

[14] The Quarto contains four Maravedis.

But whatever haste Rincon had made to return, he found Cortado at his

post before him. The latter instantly inquired how he had got on. Rincon

opened his hand and showed the three quartos; when Cortado, thrusting

his arm into his bosom, drew forth a little purse which appeared to have

once been of amber-coloured silk, and was not badly filled. "It was with

this," said he, "that my service to his reverence the Student has been

rewarded--with this and two quartos besides. Do you take it, Rincon, for

fear of what may follow."

Cortado had scarcely given the purse in secret to his companion, before

the Student returned in a great heat, and looking in mortal alarm. He no

sooner set eyes on Cortado, than, hastening towards him, he inquired if

he had by chance seen a purse with such and such marks and tokens, and

which had disappeared, together with fifteen crowns in gold pieces,

three double reals, and a certain number of maravedis in quartos and

octavos. "Did you take it from me yourself," he added, "while I was

buying in the market, with you standing beside me?"

To this Cortado replied with perfect composure, "All I can tell you of

your purse is, that it cannot be lost, unless, indeed, your worship has

left it in bad hands."

"That is the very thing, sinner that I am," returned the Student. "To a

certainty I must have left it in bad hands, since it has been stolen

from me." "I say the same," rejoined Cortado, "but there is a remedy for

every misfortune excepting death. The best thing your worship can do

now is to have patience, for after all it is God who has made us, and

after one day there comes another. If one hour gives us wealth, another

takes it away; but it may happen that the man who has stolen your purse

may in time repent, and may return it to your worship, with all the

interest due on the loan."

"The interest I will forgive him," exclaimed the Student; and Cortado

resumed:--"There are, besides, those letters of excommunication, the

Paulinas;[15] and there is also good diligence in seeking for the thief,

which is the mother of success. Of a truth, Sir, I would not willingly

be in the place of him who has stolen your purse; for if your worship

have received any of the sacred orders, I should feel as if I had been

guilty of some great crime--nay of sacrilege--in stealing from your

person."

[15] _Paulinas_ are the letters of excommunication despatched by the

ecclesiastical courts for the discovery of such things as are supposed

to be stolen or maliciously concealed.

"Most certainly the thief has committed a sacrilege," replied the

Student, in pitiable tones; "for although I am not in orders, but am

only a Sacristan of certain nuns, yet the money in my purse was the

third of the income due from a chapelry, which I had been commissioned

to receive by a priest, who is one of my friends, so that the purse

does, in fact, contain blessed and sacred money."

"Let him eat his sin with his bread," exclaimed Rincon at that moment;

"I should be sorry to become bail for the profit he will obtain from it.

There will be a day of judgment at the last, when all things will have

to pass, as they say, through the holes of the colander, and it will

then be known who was the scoundrel that has had the audacity to plunder

and make off with the whole third of the revenue of a chapelry! But tell

me, Mr. Sacristan, on your life, what is the amount of the whole yearly

income?"

"Income to the devil, and you with it,[16]" replied the Sacristan, with

more rage than was becoming; "am I in a humour to talk to you about

income? Tell me, brother, if you know anything of the purse; if not, God

be with you--I must go and have it cried."

[16] (This footnote is missing from the printed edition.)

"That does not seem to me so bad a remedy," remarked Cortado; "but I

warn your worship not to forget the precise description of the purse,

nor the exact sum that it contains; for if you commit the error of a

single mite, the money will never be suffered to appear again while the

world is a world, and that you may take for a prophecy."

"I am not afraid of committing any mistake in describing the purse,"

returned the Sacristan, "for I remember it better than I do the ringing

of my bells, and I shall not commit the error of an atom." Saying this,

he drew a laced handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away the

perspiration which rained down his face as from an alembic; but no

sooner had Cortado set eyes on the handkerchief, than he marked it for

his own.

When the Sacristan had got to a certain distance, therefore, Cortado

followed, and having overtaken him as he was mounting the steps of a

church, he took him apart, and poured forth so interminable a string of

rigmarole, all about the theft of the purse, and the prospect of

recovering it, that the poor Sacristan could do nothing but listen with

open mouth, unable to make head or tail of what he said, although he

made him repeat it two or three times.

Cortado meanwhile continued to look fixedly into the eyes of the

Sacristan, whose own were rivetted on the face of the boy, and seemed to

hang, as it were, on his words. This gave Cortado an opportunity to

finish his job, and having cleverly whipped the handkerchief out of the

pocket, he took leave of the Sacristan, appointing to meet him in the

evening at the same place, for he suspected that a certain lad of his

own height and the same occupation, who was a bit of a thief, had stolen

the purse, and he should be able to ascertain the fact in a few days,

more or less.

Somewhat consoled by this promise, the Sacristan took his leave of

Cortado, who then returned to the place where Rincon had privily

witnessed all that had passed. But a little behind him stood another

basket-boy, who had also seen the whole transaction; and at the moment

when Cortado passed the handkerchief to Rincon, the stranger accosted

the pair.

"Tell me, gallant gentlemen," said he, "are you admitted to the Mala

Entrada,[17] or not?"

[17] _Mala Entrada_, the evil way.

"We do not understand your meaning, noble Sir," replied Rincon.

"How! not entered, brave Murcians?" replied the other.

"We are neither of Murcia[18] nor of Thebes," replied Cortado. "If you

have anything else to say to us, speak; if not, go your ways, and God be

with you."

[18] In the slang dialect of Spain, _Murcian_ and _Murcia_, mean thief,

and the land of thieves.

"Oh, your worships do not understand, don't you?" said the porter; "but

I will soon make you understand, and even sup up my meaning with a

silver spoon. I mean to ask you, gentlemen, are your worships thieves?

But why put the question, since I see well that you are thieves; and it

is rather for you to tell me how it is that you have not presented

yourselves at the custom-house of the Señor Monipodio."

"Do they then pay duty on the right of thieving in this country, gallant

Sir?" exclaimed Rincon.

"If they do not pay duty, at least they make them register themselves

with the Señor Monipodio, who is the father, master, and protector of

thieves; and I recommend you to come with me and pay your respects to

him forthwith, or, if you refuse to do that, make no attempt to exercise

your trade without his mark and pass-word, or it will cost you dearly."

"I thought, for my part," remarked Cortado, "that the profession of

thieving was a free one, exempt from all taxes and port dues; or, at

least, that if we must pay, it is something to be levied in the lump,

for which we give a mortgage upon our shoulders and our necks; but since

it is as you say, and every land has its customs, let us pay due respect

to this of yours; we are now in the first country of the world, and

without doubt the customs of the place must be in the highest degree

judicious. Wherefore your worship may be pleased to conduct us to the

place where this gentleman of whom you have spoken is to be found. I

cannot but suppose, from what you say, that he is much honoured, of

great power and influence, of very generous nature, and, above all,

highly accomplished in the profession."

"Honoured, generous, and accomplished! do you say?" replied the boy:

"aye, that he is; so much so, that during the four years that he has

held the seat of our chief and father, only four of us have suffered at

Finibusterry;[19] some thirty or so, and not more, have lost leather;

and but sixty-two have been lagged."

[19] _In finibus terræ_, that is to say, at the gallows, or garotte,

which to the thief is the end of the earth and all things.

"Truly, Sir," rejoined Rincon, "all this is Hebrew to us; we know no

more about it than we do of flying."

"Let us be jogging, then," replied the new-comer, "and on the way I will

explain to you these and other things, which it is requisite you should

know as pat as bread to mouth;" and, accordingly, he explained to them a

whole vocabulary of that thieves' Latin which they call Germanesco, or

Gerigonza, and which their guide used in the course of his lecture,--by

no means a short one, for the distance they had to traverse was of

considerable length.

On the road, Rincon said to his new acquaintance, "Does your worship

happen to be a Thief?"

"Yes," replied the lad, "I have that honour, for the service of God and

of all good people; but I cannot boast of being among the most

distinguished, since I am as yet but in the year of my novitiate."

"It is news to me," remarked Cortado, "that there are thieves for the

service of God and of good people."

"Señor," the other replied, "I don't meddle with theology; but this I

know, that every one may serve God in his vocation, the more so as daddy

Monipodio keeps such good order in that respect among all his children."

"His must needs be a holy and edifying command," rejoined Rincon, "since

it enjoins thieves to serve God."

"It is so holy and edifying," exclaimed the stranger, "that I don't

believe a better will ever be known in our trade. His orders are that we

give something by way of alms out of all we steal, to buy oil for the

lamp of a highly venerated image, well known in this city; and we have

really seen great things result from that good work. Not many days ago,

one of our _cuatreros_ had to take three _ansias_ for having come the

Murcian over a couple of _roznos_, and although he was but a poor weak

fellow, and ill of the fever to boot, he bore them all without singing

out, as though they had been mere trifles. This we of the profession

attribute to his particular devotion to the Virgin of the Lamp, for he

was so weak, that, of his own strength, he could not have endured the

first _desconcierto_ of the hangman's wrist. But now, as I guess, you

will want to know the meaning of certain words just used; I will take

physic before I am sick--that is to say, give you the explanation before

you ask for it.

"Be pleased to know then, gentlemen, that a _cuatrero_ is a stealer of

cattle, the _ansia_ is the question or torture. _Roznos_--saving your

presence--are asses, and the first _desconcierto_ is the first turn of

the cord which is given by the executioner when we are on the rack. But

we do more than burn oil to the Virgin. There is not one of us who does

not recite his rosary carefully, dividing it into portions for each day

of the week. Many will not steal at all on a Friday, and on Saturdays we

never speak to any woman who is called Mary."

"All these things fill me with admiration," replied Cortado; "but may I

trouble your worship to tell me, have you no other penance than this to

perform? Is there no restitution to make?"

"As to restitution," returned the other, "it is a thing not to be

mentioned; besides, it would be wholly impossible, on account of the

numerous portions into which things stolen have to be divided before

each one of the agents and contractors has received the part due to him.

When all these have had their share, the original thief would find it

difficult to make restitution. Moreover, there is no one to bid us do

anything of that kind, seeing that we do not go to confession. And if

letters of excommunication are out against us, they rarely come to our

knowledge, because we take care not to go into the churches while the

priests are reading them, unless, indeed, it be on the days of Jubilee,

for then we do go, on account of the vast profits we make from the

crowds of people assembled on that occasion."

"And proceeding in this manner," observed Cortado, "your worships think

that your lives are good and holy?"

"Certainly! for what is there bad in them?" replied the other lad! "Is

it not worse to be a heretic or a renegade? or to kill your father or

mother?"

"Without doubt," admitted Cortado; "but now, since our fate has decided

that we are to enter this brotherhood, will your worship be pleased to

step out a little, for I am dying to behold this Señor Monipodio, of

whose virtues you relate such fine things."

"That wish shall soon be gratified," replied the stranger, "nay even

from this place we can perceive his house: but your worships must remain

at the door until I have gone in to see if he be disengaged, since these

are the hours at which he gives audience."

"So be it," replied Rincon; and the thief preceding them for a short

distance, they saw him enter a house which, so far from being handsome,

had a very mean and wretched appearance. The two friends remained at the

door to await their guide, who soon reappeared, and called to them to

come in. He then bade them remain for the present in a little paved

court, or patio,[20] so clean and carefully rubbed that the red bricks

shone as if covered with the finest vermilion. On one side of the court

was a three-legged stool, before which stood a large pitcher with the

lip broken off, and on the top of the pitcher was placed a small jug

equally dilapidated. On the other side lay a rush mat, and in the middle

was a fragment of crockery which did service as the recipient of some

sweet basil.

[20] The _Patio_, familiar to all who have visited Seville, as forming

the centre of the houses, and which serves in summer as the general

sitting-room, so to speak, of the family.

The two boys examined these moveables attentively while awaiting the

descent of the Señor Monipodio, but finding that he delayed his

appearance, Rincon ventured to put his head into one of two small rooms

which opened on the court. There he saw two fencing foils, and two

bucklers of cork hung upon four nails; there was also a great chest, but

without a lid or anything to cover it, with three rush mats extended on

the floor. On the wall in face of him was pasted a figure of Our

Lady--one of the coarsest of prints--and beneath it was a small basket

of straw, with a little vessel of white earthenware sunk into the wall.

The basket Rincon took to be a poor box, for receiving alms, and the

little basin he supposed to be a receptacle for holy water, as in truth

they were.

While the friends thus waited, there came into the court two young men

of some twenty years each; they were clothed as students, and were

followed soon afterwards by two of the basket boys or porters, and a

blind man. Neither spoke a word to the other, but all began to walk up

and down in the court. No long time elapsed before there also came in

two old men clothed in black serge, and with spectacles on their noses,

which gave them an air of much gravity, and made them look highly

respectable: each held in his hand a rosary, the beads of which made a

ringing sound. Behind these men came an old woman wearing a long and

ample gown, who, without uttering a word, proceeded at once to the room

wherein was the figure of Our Lady. She then took holy water with the

greatest devotion, placed herself on her knees before the Virgin, and

after remaining there a considerable time, first kissed the soil thrice,

and then rising, lifted her arms and eyes towards heaven, in which

attitude she remained a certain time longer. She then dropped her alms

into the little wicker case--and that done, she issued forth among the

company in the patio.

Finally there were assembled in the court as many as fourteen persons of

various costumes and different professions. Among the latest arrivals

were two dashing and elegant youths with long moustachios, hats of

immense brims, broad collars, stiffly starched, coloured stockings,

garters with great bows and fringed ends, swords of a length beyond that

permitted by law, and each having a pistol in his belt, with a buckler

hanging on his arm. No sooner had these men entered, than they began to

look askance at Rincon and Cortado, whom they were evidently surprised

to see there, as persons unknown to themselves. At length the new-comers

accosted the two friends, asking if they were of the brotherhood. "We

are so," replied Rincon, "and the very humble servants of your worships

besides."

At this moment the Señor Monipodio honoured the respectable assembly

with his welcome presence. He appeared to be about five or six-and-forty

years old, tall, and of dark complexion; his eyebrows met on his

forehead, his black beard was very thick, and his eyes were deeply sunk

in his head. He had come down in his shirt, through the opening of which

was seen a hairy bosom, as rough and thick set as a forest of brushwood.

Over his shoulders was thrown a serge cloak, reaching nearly to his

feet, which were cased in old shoes, cut down to make slippers; his legs

were covered with a kind of linen gaiters, wide and ample, which fell

low upon his ankles. His hat was that worn by those of the Hampa,

bell-formed in the crown, and very wide in the brim.[21] Across his

breast was a leather baldric, supporting a broad, short sword of the

_perrillo_ fashion.[22] His hands were short and coarse, the fingers

thick, and the nails much flattened: his legs were concealed by the

gaiters, but his feet were of immoderate size, and the most clumsy form.

In short, he was the coarsest and most repulsive barbarian ever beheld.

With him came the conductor of the two friends; who, taking Rincon and

Cortado each by a hand, presented them to Monipodio, saying, "These are

the two good boys of whom I spoke to your worship, Señor Monipodio. May

it please your worship to examine them, and you will see how well they

are prepared to enter our brotherhood." "That I will do willingly,"

replied Monipodio.

[21] The Braves of the Hampa were a horde of ruffians principally

Andalusians; they formed a society ready to commit every species of

wrong and violence.

[22] The _perrillo_, or "little dog," was the mark of Julian del Rey, a

noted armourer of Toledo, by birth a Morisco.

But I had forgotten to say, that when Monipodio had first appeared, all

those who were waiting for him, made a deep and long reverence, the two

dashing cavaliers alone excepted, who did but just touch their hats, and

then continued their walk up and down the court.

Monipodio also began to pace up and down the patio, and, as he did so,

he questioned the new disciples as to their trade, their birthplace, and

their parents. To this Rincon replied, "Our trade is sufficiently

obvious, since we are here before your worship; as to our country, it

does not appear to me essential to the matter in hand that we should

declare it, any more than the names of our parents, since we are not now

stating our qualifications for admission into some noble order of

knighthood."

"What you say, my son, is true, as well as discreet," replied Monipodio;

"and it is, without doubt, highly prudent to conceal those

circumstances; for if things should turn out badly, there is no need to

have placed upon the books of register, and under the sign manual of the

justice-clerk, 'So and so, native of such a place, was hanged, or made

to dance at the whipping-post, on such a day,' with other announcements

of the like kind, which, to say the least of them, do not sound

agreeable in respectable ears. Thus, I repeat, that to conceal the name

and abode of your parents, and even to change your own proper

appellation, are prudent measures. Between ourselves there must,

nevertheless, be no concealment: for the present I will ask your names

only, but these you must give me."

Rincon then told his name, and so did Cortado: whereupon Monipodio said,

"Henceforward I request and desire that you, Rincon, call yourself

Rinconete, and you, Cortado, Cortadillo; these being names which accord,

as though made in a mould, with your age and circumstances, as well as

with our ordinances, which make it needful that we should also know the

names of the parents of our comrades, because it is our custom to have a

certain number of masses said every year for the souls of our dead, and

of the benefactors of our society; and we provide for the payment of the

priests who say them, by setting apart a share of our swag for that

purpose.

"These masses, thus said and paid for, are of great service to the souls

aforesaid. Among our benefactors we count the Alguazil, who gives us

warning; the Advocate, who defends us; the Executioner, who takes pity

upon us when we have to be whipped, and the man who, when we are running

along the street, and the people in full cry after us bawling 'Stop

thief,' throws himself between us and our pursuers, and checks the

torrent, saying, 'Let the poor wretch alone, his lot is hard enough; let

him go, and his crime will be his punishment.' We also count among our

benefactors the good wenches who aid us by their labours while we are in

prison, or at the galleys; our fathers, and the mothers who brought us

into the world; and, finally, we take care to include the Clerk of the

Court, for if he befriend us, there is no crime which he will not find

means to reduce to a slight fault, and no fault which he does not

prevent from being punished. For all these our brotherhood causes the

_sanctimonies_ (ceremonies) I have named to be _solecised_ (solemnised)

every year, with all possible _grandiloquence_.

"Certainly," replied Rinconete (now confirmed in that name), "certainly

that is a good work, and entirely worthy of the lofty and profound

genius with which we have heard that you, Señor Monipodio, are endowed.

Our parents still enjoy life; but should they precede us to the tomb,

we will instantly give notice of that circumstance to this happy and

highly esteemed fraternity, to the end that you may have 'sanctimonies

solecised' for their souls, as your worship is pleased to say, with the

customary 'grandiloquence.'"

"And so shall it be done," returned Monipodio, "if there be but a piece

of me left alive to look to it."

He then called their conductor, saying, "Hallo! there, Ganchuelo![23] Is

the watch set?" "Yes," replied the boy; "three sentinels are on guard,

and there is no fear of a surprise." "Let us return to business, then,"

said Monipodio. "I would fain know from you, my sons, what you are able

to do, that I may assign you an employment in conformity with your

inclinations and accomplishments."

[23] _Ganchuelo_ is the diminutive of _gancho_, a crimp.

"I," replied Rinconete, "know a trick or two to gammon a bumpkin; I am

not a bad hand at hiding what a pal has prigged; I have a good eye for a

gudgeon; I play well at most games of cards, and have all the best turns

of the pasteboard at my finger ends; I have cut my eye teeth, and am

about as easy to lay hold of as a hedgehog; I can creep through a

cat-hole or down a chimney, as I would enter the door of my father's

house; and will muster a million of tricks better than I could marshal a

regiment of soldiers; and flabbergast the knowingest cove a deal sooner

than pay back a loan of two reals."

"These are certainly the rudiments," admitted Monipodio, "but all such

things are no better than old lavender flowers, so completely worn out

of all savour that there is not a novice who may not boast of being a

master in them. They are good for nothing but to catch simpletons who

are stupid enough to run their heads against the church steeple; but

time will do much for you, and we must talk further together. On the

foundation already laid you shall have half a dozen lessons; and I then

trust in God that you will turn out a famous craftsman, and even,

mayhap, a master."

"My abilities shall always be at your service, and that of the gentlemen

who are our comrades," replied Rinconete; and Monipodio then turned

towards Cortadillo.

"And you, Cortadillo, what may you be good for?" he inquired; to which

Cortadillo replied, "For my part I know the trick called 'put in two,

and take out five,' and I can dive to the bottom of a pocket with great

precision and dexterity." "Do you know nothing more?" continued

Monipodio. "Alas, no, for my sins, that is all I can do," admitted

Cortadillo, "Do not afflict yourself, nevertheless," said the master;

"you are arrived at a good port, where you will not be drowned, and you

enter a school in which you can hardly fail to learn all that is

requisite for your future welfare. And now as to courage: how do you

feel yourselves provided in that respect, my children?" "How should we

be provided," returned Rinconete, "but well and amply? We have courage

enough to attempt whatever may be demanded in our art and profession."

"But I would have you to possess a share of that sort which would enable

you to suffer as well as to dare," replied Monipodio, "which would carry

you, if need were, through a good half dozen of _ansias_ without opening

your lips, and without once saying 'This mouth is mine.'" "We already

know what the _ansias_ are, Señor Monipodio," replied Cortadillo, "and

are prepared for all; since we are not so ignorant but that we know very

well, that what the tongue says, the throat must pay for; and great is

the grace heaven bestows on the bold man (not to give him a different

name), in making his life or death depend upon the discretion of his

tongue, as though there were more letters in a No than an Aye."

"Halt there, my son; you need say no more," exclaimed Monipodio at this

point of the discourse. "The words you have just uttered suffice to

convince, oblige, persuade, and constrain me at once to admit you both

to full brotherhood, and dispense with your passing through the year of

novitiate."

"I also am of that opinion," said one of the gaily-dressed Bravos; and

this was the unanimous feeling of the whole assembly. They therefore

requested that Monipodio would immediately grant the new brethren the

enjoyment of all the immunities of their confraternity, seeing that

their good mien and judicious discourse proved them to be entirely

deserving of that distinction.

Monipodio replied, that, to satisfy the wishes of all, he at once

conferred on those new-comers all the privileges desired, but he

exhorted the recipients to remember that they were to hold the favour in

high esteem, since it was a very great one: consisting in the exemption

from payment of the _media anata_, or tax levied on the first theft they

should commit, and rendering them free of all the inferior occupations

of their office for the entire year. They were not obliged, that is to

say, to bear messages to a brother of higher grade, whether in prison or

at his own residence. They were permitted to drink their wine without

water, and to make a feast when and where they pleased, without first

demanding permission of their principal. They were, furthermore, to

enter at once on a full share of whatever was brought in by the superior

brethren, as one of themselves--with many other privileges, which the

new comers accepted as most signal favours, and on the possession of

which they were felicitated by all present, in the most polite and

complimentary terms.

While these pleasing ceremonies were in course of being exchanged, a boy

ran in, panting for breath, and cried out, "The Alguazil of the

vagabonds is coming direct to the house, but he has none of the

Marshalsea men with him."

"Let no one disturb himself," said Monipodio. "This is a friend; never

does he come here for our injury. Calm your anxiety, and I will go out

to speak with him." At these words all resumed their self-possession,

for they had been considerably alarmed; and Monipodio went forth to the

door of his house, where he found the Alguazil, with whom he remained

some minutes in conversation, and then returned to the company. "Who was

on guard to-day," he asked, "in the market of San Salvador?" "I was,"

replied the conductor of our two friends, the estimable Ganchuelo.

"You!" replied Monipodio. "How then does it happen that you have not

given notice of an amber-coloured purse which has gone astray there this

morning, and has carried with it fifteen crowns in gold, two double

reals, and I know not how many quartos?"

"It is true," replied Ganchuelo, "that this purse has disappeared, but

it was not I took it, nor can I imagine who has done so." "Let there be

no tricks with me," exclaimed Monipodio; "the purse must be found, since

the Alguazil demands it, and he is a friend who finds means to do us a

thousand services in the course of the year." The youth again swore

that he knew nothing about it, while Monipodio's choler began to rise,

and in a moment flames seemed to dart from his eyes. "Let none of you

dare," he shouted, "to venture on infringing the most important rule of

our order, for he who does so shall pay for it with his life. Let the

purse be found, and if any one has been concealing it to avoid paying

the dues, let him now give it up. I will make good to him all that he

would have been entitled to, and out of my own pocket too; for, come

what may, the Alguazil must not be suffered to depart without

satisfaction." But Ganchuelo could do no more than repeat, with all

manner of oaths and imprecations, that he had neither taken the purse,

nor ever set eyes on it.

All this did but lay fuel on the flame of Monipodio's anger, and the

entire assembly partook of his emotions; the honourable members

perceiving that their statutes were violated, and their wise ordinances

infringed. Seeing, therefore, that the confusion and alarm had now got

to such a height, Rinconete began to think it time to allay it, and to

calm the anger of his superior, who was bursting with rage. He took

counsel for a moment with Cortadillo, and receiving his assent, drew

forth the purse of the Sacristan, saying:--

"Let all questions cease, gentlemen: here is the purse, from which

nothing is missing that the Alguazil has described, since my comrade

Cortadillo prigged it this very day, with a pocket-handkerchief into the

bargain, which he borrowed from the same owner." Thereupon Cortadillo

produced the handkerchief before the assembled company.

Seeing this, Monipodio exclaimed "Cortadillo the Good! for by that title

and surname shall you henceforward be distinguished. Keep the

handkerchief, and I take it upon myself to pay you duly for this

service; as to the purse, the Alguazil must carry it away just as it is,

for it belongs to a Sacristan who happens to be his relation, and we

must make good in his case the proverb, which says, 'To him who gives

thee the entire bird, thou canst well afford a drumstick of the same.'

This good Alguazil can save us from more mischief in one day than we can

do him good in a hundred."

All the brotherhood with one voice approved the spirit and gentlemanly

proceeding of the two new comers, as well as the judgment and decision

of their superior, who went out to restore the purse to the Alguazil.

As to Cortadillo, he was confirmed in his title of the _Good_, much as

if the matter had concerned a Don Alonzo Perez de Guzman, surnamed the

Good, who from the walls of Tarifa threw down to his enemy the dagger

that was to destroy the life of his only son.[24]

[24] Our readers will perceive that this relates to the atrocity

committed by the Infant Don Juan of Castille, who, while in revolt

against his brother, Sancho IV., appeared before the city of Tarifa with

an army, chiefly composed of Mahometans; finding the infant son of the

governor, Don Alonzo Perez de Guzman, at nurse in a neighbouring

village, he took the child, and bearing him to the foot of the walls,

called on Guzman to surrender the place on pain of seeing his infant

slaughtered before his eyes in case of refusal. The only reply

vouchsafed by Don Alonzo was the horrible one alluded to in the text. He

detached his own dagger from its belt, and threw it to Don Juan, when

the sanguinary monster, far from respecting the fidelity of his

opponent, seized the weapon, and pierced the babe to the heart as he had

threatened to do This anecdote is related, with certain variations, in

Conde, "La Dominacion de los Arabes en Espana."--See English

Translation, vol. iii.

When Monipodio returned to the assembly he was accompanied by two girls,

with rouged faces, lips reddened with carmine, and necks plastered with

white. They wore short camlet cloaks, and exhibited airs of the utmost

freedom and boldness. At the first glance Rinconete and Cortadillo could

see what was the profession of these women. They had no sooner entered,

than they hurried with open arms, the one to Chiquiznaque, the other to

Maniferro; these were the two bravos, one of whom bore the latter name

because he had an iron hand, in place of one of his own, which had been

cut off by the hand of justice. These two men embraced the girls with

great glee, and inquired if they had brought the wherewithal to moisten

their throats. "How could we think of neglecting that, old blade!"

replied one of the girls, who was called Gananciosa.[25] "Silvatillo,

your scout, will be here before long with the clothes-basket, crammed

with whatever good luck has sent us."

[25] The winner.

And true it was; for an instant afterwards, a boy entered with a

clothes-basket covered with a sheet.

The whole company renewed their rejoicings on the arrival of Silvatillo,

and Monipodio instantly ordered that one of the mats should be brought

from the neighbouring chamber, and laid out in the centre of the court.

Furthermore he commanded that all the brotherhood should take places

around it, in order that while they were taking the wrinkles out of

their stomachs, they might talk about business.

To this proposal the old woman, who had been kneeling before the image,

replied, "Monipodio, my son, I am not in the humour to keep festival

this morning, for during the last two days I have had a giddiness and

pain in my head, that go near to make me mad; I must, besides, be at our

Lady of the Waters before mid-day strikes, having to accomplish my

devotions and offer my candles there, as well as at the crucifix of St.

Augustin; for I would not fail to do either, even though it were to snow

all day and blow a hurricane. What I came here for is to tell you, that

last night the Renegade and Centipede brought to my house a basket

somewhat larger than that now before us; it was as full as it could hold

of fine linen, and, on my life and soul, it was still wet and covered

with soap, just as they had taken it from under the nose of the

washerwoman, so that the poor fellows were perspiring and breathless

beneath its weight. It would have melted your heart to see them as they

came in, with the water streaming from their faces, and they as red as a

couple of cherubs. They told me, besides, that they were in pursuit of a

cattle-dealer, who had just had some sheep weighed at the

slaughter-house, and they were then hastening off to see if they could

not contrive to grab a great cat[26] which the dealer carried with him.

They could not, therefore, spare time to count the linen, or take it out

of the basket but they relied on the rectitude of my conscience; and so

may God grant my honest desires, and preserve us all from the power of

justice, as these fingers have refrained from touching the basket, which

is as full as the day it was born."

[26] A large purse made of cat-skin.

"We cannot doubt it, good mother," replied Monipodio. "Let the basket

remain where it is; I will come at nightfall to fetch it away, and will

then ascertain the quantity and quality of its contents, giving to every

one the portion, due to him, faithfully and truly, as it is my habit to

do."

"Let it be as you shall command," rejoined the old woman; "and now, as

it is getting late, give me something to drink, if you have it

there--something that will comfort this miserable stomach, which is

almost famishing for want."

"That you shall have, and enough of it, mother," exclaimed Escalanta,

the companion of Gananciosa; and, uncovering the basket, she displayed a

great leather bottle, containing at least two arrobas[27] of wine, with

a cup made of cork, in which you might comfortably carry off an

azumbre,[28] or honest half-gallon of the same. This Escalanta now

filled, and placed it in the hands of the devout old woman, who took it

in both her own, and, having blown away a little froth from the surface,

she said,--

[27] The _arroba_ holds about thirty-two pints.

[28] The _azumbre_ is two quarts.

"You have poured out a large quantity, Escalanta, my daughter; but God

will give me strength." Whereupon, without once taking breath, and at

one draught, she poured the whole from the cup down her throat. "It is

real Guadalcanal,"[29] said the old woman, when she had taken breath;

"and yet it has just a tiny smack of the gypsum. God comfort you, my

daughter, as you have comforted me; I am only afraid that the wine may

do me some mischief, seeing that I have not yet broken my fast."

[29] A favourite wine, grown on the shore of the Manzanares.

"No, mother; it will do nothing of the kind," returned Monipodio, "for

it is three years old at the least."

"May the Virgin grant that I find it so," replied the old woman. Then

turning to the girls, "See, children," she said "whether you have not a

few maravedis to buy the candles for my offerings of devotion. I came

away in so much haste, to bring the news of the basket of linen, that I

forgot my purse, and left it at home."

"Yes, Dame Pipota,"--such was the name of the old woman,--"I have some,"

replied Gananciosa; "here are two cuartos for you, and with one of them

I beg you to buy a candle for me, which you will offer in my name to the

Señor St. Michael, or if you can get two with the money, you may place

the other at the altar of the Señor St. Blas, for those two are my

patron-saints. I also wish to give one to the Señora Santa Lucia, for

whom I have a great devotion, on account of the eyes;[30] but I have no

more change to-day, so it must be put off till another time, when I

will square accounts with all."

[30] The Virgin Martyr, Santa Lucia, had her eyes burnt out of her head,

and is regarded, in the Catholic Church, as particularly powerful in the

cure of all diseases of the eyes. She is usually represented as bearing

her eyes on a salver, which she holds in her hand.

"And you will do well, daughter," replied the old woman. "Don't be

niggard, mind. It is a good thing to carry one's own candles before one

dies, and not to wait until they are offered by the heirs and executors

of our testament."

"You speak excellently, Mother Pipota," said Escalanta; and, putting her

hand into her pocket, she drew forth a cuarto, which she gave the old

woman, requesting her to buy two candles for her likewise, and offer

them to such saints as she considered the most useful and the most

likely to be grateful. With this old Pipota departed, saying,

"Enjoy yourselves, my dears, now while you have time, for old age will

come and you will then weep for the moments you may have lost in your

youth, as I do now. Commend me to God in your prayers, and I will

remember you, as well as myself, in mine, that he may keep us all, and

preserve us in this dangerous trade of ours from all the terrors of

justice." These words concluded, the old woman went her way.

Dame Pipota having disappeared, all seated themselves round the mat,

which Gananciosa covered with the sheet in place of a table-cloth. The

first thing she drew from the basket was an immense bunch of radishes;

this was followed by a couple of dozens or more of oranges and lemons;

then came a great earthen pan filled with slices of fried ling, half a

Dutch cheese, a bottle of excellent olives, a plate of shrimps, and a

large dish of craw-fish, with their appropriate sauce of capers, drowned

in pepper-vinegar: three loaves of the whitest bread from Gandul

completed the collation. The number of guests at this breakfast was

fourteen, and not one of them failed to produce his yellow-handled

knife, Rinconete alone excepted, who drew his dudgeon dagger instead.

The two old men in serge gowns, and the lad who had been the guide of

the two friends, were charged with the office of cupbearers, pouring the

wine from the bottle into the cork cup.

But scarcely had the guests taken their places, before they were all

startled, and sprang up in haste at the, sound of repeated knocks at the

door. Bidding them remain quiet, Monipodio went into one of the lower

rooms, unhooked a buckler, took his sword in his hand, and, going to the

door, inquired, in a rough and threatening voice, "Who is there?"

"All right Señor! it is I, Tagarote,[31] on sentry this morning,"

replied a voice from without. "I come to tell you that Juliana de

Cariharta[32] is coming, with her hair all about her face, and crying

her eyes out, as though some great misfortune had happened to her."

[31] The quill-driver.

[32] Fat-face, puff-cheeks, or any other term describing fulness of

face, in the least complimentary manner.

He had scarcely spoken when the girl he had named came sobbing to the

door, which Monipodio opened for her, commanding Tagarote to return to

his post; and ordering him, moreover, to make less noise and uproar when

he should next bring notice of what was going forward,--a command to

which the boy promised attention.

Cariharta, a girl of the same class and profession with those already in

presence, had meanwhile entered the court, her hair streaming in the

wind, her eyes swollen with tears, and her face covered with contusions

and bruises. She had no sooner got into the Patio, than she fell to the

ground in a fainting fit. Gananciosa and Escalanta[33] sprang to her

assistance, unfastened her dress, and found her breast and shoulders

blackened and covered with marks of violence. After they had thrown

water on her face, she soon came to herself, crying out as she did so,

"The justice of God and the king on that shameless thief, that cowardly

cut-purse, and dirty scoundrel, whom I have saved from the gibbet more

times than he has hairs in his beard. Alas! unhappy creature that I am!

see for what I have squandered my youth, and spent the flower of my

days! For an unnatural, worthless, and incorrigible villain!"

[33] The clamberer.

"Recover yourself, and be calm, Cariharta," said Monipodio; "I am here

to render justice to you and to all. Tell me your cause of complaint,

and you shall be longer in relating the story than I will be in taking

vengeance. Let me know if anything has happened between you and your

_respeto_;[34] and if you desire to be well and duly avenged. You have

but to open your mouth."

[34] Protector, or more exactly "bully,"--to defend and uphold in acts

of fraud and violence.

"Protector!" exclaimed the girl. "What kind of a protector is he? It

were better for me to be protected in hell than to remain any longer

with that lion among sheep, and sheep among men! Will I ever eat again

with him at the same table, or live under the same roof? Rather would I

give this flesh of mine, which he has put into the state you shall see,

to be devoured alive by raging beasts." So saying, she pulled up her

petticoats to her knees, and even a little higher, and showed the wheals

with which she was covered. "That's the way," she cried, "that I have

been treated by that ungrateful Repolido,[35] who owes more to me than

to the mother that bore him.

[35] Dandy.

"And why do you suppose he has done this? Do you think I have given him

any cause?--no, truly. His only reason for serving me so was, that being

at play and losing his money, he sent Cabrillas, his scout, to me for

thirty reals, and I could only send him twenty-four. May the pains and

troubles with which I earned them be counted to me by heaven in

remission of my sins! But in return for this civility and kindness,

fancying that I had kept back part of what he chose to think I had got,

the blackguard lured me out to the fields this morning, beyond the

king's garden, and there, having stripped me among the olive trees, he

took off his belt, not even removing the iron buckle--oh that I may see

him clapped in irons and chains!--and with that he gave me such an

unmerciful flogging, that he left me for dead; and that's a true story,

as the marks you see bear witness."

Here Cariharta once more set up her pipes and craved for justice, which

was again promised to her by Monipodio and all the bravos present.

The Gananciosa then tried her hand at consoling the victim; saying to

her, among other things--"I would freely give my best gown that my fancy

man had done as much by me; for I would have you know, sister Cariharta,

if you don't know it yet, that he who loves best thrashes best; and when

these scoundrels whack us and kick us, it is then they most devoutly

adore us. Tell me now, on our life, after having beaten and abused you,

did not Repolido make much of you, and give you more than one caress?"

"More than one!" replied the weeping girl; "he gave me more than a

hundred thousand, and would have given a finger off his hand if I would

only have gone with him to his posada; nay, I even think that the tears

were almost starting from his eyes after he had leathered me."

"Not a doubt of it," replied Gananciosa; "and he would weep now to see

the state he has put you into: for men like him have scarcely committed

the fault before repentance begins. You will see, sister, if he does not

come here to look for you before we leave the place; and see if he does

not beg you to forgive what has passed, and behave to you as meek and as

humble as a lamb."

"By my faith," observed Monipodio, "the cowardly ruffian shall not enter

these doors until he has made full reparation for the offence he has

committed. How dare he lay a hand on poor Cariharta, who for cleanliness

and industry is a match for Gananciosa herself, and that is saying

everything."

"Alas! Señor Monipodio," replied Juliana, "please do not speak too

severely of the miserable fellow; for, hard as he is, I cannot but love

him as I do the very folds of my heart; and the words spoken in his

behalf by my friend Gananciosa have restored the soul to my body. Of a

truth, if I consulted only my own wishes, I should go this moment and

look for him."

"No, no," replied Gananciosa, "you shall not do so by my counsel; for to

do that would make him proud; he would think too much of himself, and

would make experiments upon you as on a dead body. Keep quiet, sister,

and in a short time you will see him here repentant, as I have said; and

if not, we will write verses on him that shall make him roar with rage."

"Let us write by all means," returned Juliana, "for I have a thousand

things to say to him."

"And I will be your secretary, if need be," rejoined Monipodio, "for

although I am no poet, yet a man has but to tuck up the sleeves of his

shirt, set well to work, and he may turn off a couple of thousand verses

in the snapping of a pair of scissors. Besides, if the rhymes should not

come so readily as one might wish, I have a friend close by, a barber,

who is a great poet, and will trim up the ends of the verses at an

hour's notice. At present, however, let us go finish our repast; all the

rest can be done afterwards."

Juliana was not unwilling to obey her superior, so they all fell to

again at the O-be-joyful with so much goodwill that they soon saw the

bottom of the basket and the dregs of the great leather bottle. The old

ones drank _sine fine_, the younger men to their hearts' content, and

the ladies till they could drink no more. When all was consumed, the two

old men begged permission to take their leave, which Monipodio allowed

them to do, but charged them to return punctually, for the purpose of

reporting all they should see or hear that could be useful to the

brotherhood; they assured him they would by no means fail in their duty,

and then departed.

After these gentlemen had left the company, Rinconete, who was of a very

inquiring disposition, begged leave to ask Monipodio in what way two

persons so old, grave, and formal as those he had just seen, could be of

service to their community. Monipodio replied, that such were called

"Hornets" in their jargon, and that their office was to poke about all

parts of the city, spying out such places as might be eligible for

attempts to be afterwards made in the night-time. "They watch people who

receive money from the bank or treasury," said he, "observe where they

go with it, and, if possible, the very place in which it is deposited.

When this is done, they make themselves acquainted with the thickness of

the walls, marking out the spot where we may most conveniently make our

_guzpataros_, which are the holes whereby we contrive to force an

entrance. In a word, these persons are among the most useful of the

brotherhood: and they receive a fifth of all that the community obtains

by their intervention, as his majesty does, on treasure trove. They are,

moreover, men of singular integrity and rectitude. They lead a

respectable life, and enjoy a good reputation, fearing God and regarding

the voice of their consciences, insomuch that not a day passes over

their heads in which they have not heard mass with extraordinary

devotion. There are, indeed, some of them so conscientious, that they

content themselves with even less than by our rules would be their due.

Those just gone are of this number. We have two others, whose trade it

is to remove furniture; and as they are daily employed in the conveyance

of articles for persons who are changing their abode, they know all the

ins and outs of every house in the city, and can tell exactly where we

may hope for profit and where not."

"That is all admirable," replied Rinconete, "and greatly do I desire to

be of some use to so noble a confraternity."

"Heaven is always ready to favour commendable desires," replied

Monipodio.

While the two were thus discoursing, a knock was heard at the door, and

Monipodio went to see who might be there. "Open, Sor[36]

Monipodio--open," said a voice without; "it is I, Repolido."

[36] _Sor_ the contraction of Señor.

Cariharta hearing this voice, began to lift up her own to heaven, and

cried out, "Don't open the door, Señor Monipodio; don't let in that

Tarpeian mariner--that tiger of Ocaña."[37]

[37] "Ocaña" is a city at no great distance from Madrid; and if the lady

has placed her tiger there, instead of in Hyrcania, as she doubtless

intended, it is of course because her emotions had troubled her memory.

The "Tarpeian mariner" is a fine phrase surely, but its meaning is not

very clear.

Monipodio opened the door, nevertheless, in despite of her cries; when

Cariharta, starting to her feet, hurried away, and hid herself in the

room where the bucklers were hung up. There, bolting the door, she

bawled from her refuge, "Drive out that black-visaged coward, that

murderer of innocents, that white-livered terror of house-lambs, who

durst not look a man in the face."

Repolido was meanwhile kept back by Maniferro and Chiquiznaque, as he

struggled with all his might to get into the room where Cariharta was

hidden. But when he saw that to be impossible, he called to her from

without, "Come, come, let us have done with this, my little sulky; by

your life, let us have peace, as you would wish to be married."

"Married!" retorted the lady, "married to you too! Don't you wish you

may get it? See what kind of a string he's playing on now. I would

rather be married to a dead notomy." "Oh, bother!" exclaimed Repolido;

"let us have done with this, for it is getting late; take care of being

too much puffed up at hearing me speak so gently, and seeing me so meek;

for, by the light of heaven, if my rage should get steeple-high, the

relapse will be worse than the first fit. Come down from your stilts,

let us all have done with our _tantrums_, and not give the devil a

dinner."

"I will give him a supper to boot, if he will take you from my sight to

some place where I may never set eyes on you more," exclaimed the gentle

Juliana from within.

"Haven't I told you once to beware, Madame Hemp-sack? By the powers, I

suspect I must serve out something to you by the dozen, though I make no

charge for it."

Here Monipodio interposed: "In my presence," he said, "there shall be no

violence. Cariharta will come out, not for your threats, but for my

sake, and all will go well. Quarrels between people who love each other

are but the cause of greater joy and pleasure when peace is once made.

Listen to me, Juliana, my daughter; listen to me, my Cariharta. Come out

to us, for the love of your friend Monipodio, and I will make Repolido

beg your pardon on his knees."

"Ah! if he will do that," exclaimed Escalanta, "we shall then be all on

his side, and will entreat Juliana to come out."

"If I am asked to beg pardon in a sense of submission that would

dishonour my person," replied Repolido, "an army of lansquenets would

not make me consent; but if it be merely in the way of doing pleasure to

Cariharta, I do not say merely that I would go on my knees, but I would

drive a nail into my forehead to do her service."

At these words Chiquiznaque and Maniferro began to laugh, and Repolido,

who thought they were making game of him, cried out in a transport of

rage, "Whoever shall laugh or think of laughing at anything whatsoever

that may pass between Cariharta and myself, I say that he lies, and that

he will have lied every time he shall laugh or think of laughing."

Hearing this, Chiquiznaque and Maniferro looked at each other and

scowled so sternly, that Monipodio saw things were likely to come to a

crisis unless he prevented it. Throwing himself, therefore, into the

midst of the group, he cried out, "No more of this, gentlemen! have done

with all big words; grind them up between your teeth; and since those

that have been said do not reach to the belt, let no one here apply them

to himself."

"We are very sure," replied Chiquiznaque, "that such admonitions neither

have been nor will be uttered for our benefit; otherwise, or if it

should be imagined that they were addressed to us, the tambourine is in

hands that would well know how to beat it."

"We also, Sor Chiquiznaque, have our drum of Biscay," retorted

Repolido, "and, in case of need, can make the bells as well as another.

I have already said, that whoever jests in our matters is a liar: and

whoever thinks otherwise, let him follow me; with a palm's length of my

sword I will show him that what is said is said." Having uttered these

words, Repolido turned towards the outer door, and proceeded to leave

the place.

Cariharta had meanwhile been listening to all this, and when she found

that Repolido was departing in anger, she rushed out, screaming, "Hold

him, hold him,--don't let him go, or he will be showing us some more of

his handiwork; can't you see that he is angry? and he is a Judas

Macarelo in the matter of bravery. Come here, Hector of the world and of

my eyes!" With these words, Cariharta threw herself upon the retiring

bravo, and held him with all her force by his cloak. Monipodio lent her

his aid, and between them they contrived to detain him.

Chiquiznaque and Maniferro, undetermined whether to resume the dispute

or not, stood waiting apart to see what Repolido would do, and the

latter perceiving himself to be in the hands of Monipodio and Cariharta,

exclaimed, "Friends should never annoy friends, nor make game of

friends, more especially when they see that friends are vexed."

"There is not a friend here," replied Maniferro, "who has any desire to

vex a friend; and since we are all friends, let us give each other the

hand like friends." "Your worships have all spoken like good friends,"

added Monipodio, "and as such friends should do; now finish by giving

each other your hands like true friends."

All obeyed instantly, whereupon Escalanta, whipping off her cork-soled

clog, began to play upon it as if it had been a tambourine. Gananciosa,

in her turn, caught up a broom, and, scratching the rushes with her

fingers, drew forth a sound which, if not soft or sweet, yet agreed very

well with the beating of the slipper. Monipodio then broke a plate, the

two fragments of which he rattled together in such fashion as to make a

very praiseworthy accompaniment to the slipper and the broom.

Rinconete and Cortadillo stood in much admiration of that new invention

of the broom, for up to that time they had seen nothing like it.

Maniferro perceived their amazement, and said to them, "The broom

awakens your admiration,--and well it may, since a more convenient kind

of instrument was never invented in this world, nor one more readily

formed, or less costly. Upon my life, I heard a student the other day

affirm, that neither the man who fetched his wife out of hell--Negrofeo,

Ogrofeo, or what was he called--nor that Marion who got upon a dolphin,

and came out of the sea like a man riding on a hired mule--nor even that

other great musician who built a city with a hundred gates and as many

posterns--never a one of them invented an instrument half so easy of

acquirement, so ready to the touch, so pleasing and simple as to its

frets, keys, and chords, and so far from troublesome in the tuning and

keeping in accord; and by all the saints, they swear that it was

invented by a gallant of this very city, a perfect Hector in matters of

music."

"I fully believe all you say," replied Rinconete, "but let us listen,

for our musicians are about to sing. Gananciosa is blowing her nose,

which is a certain sign that she means to sing."

And she was, in fact, preparing to do so. Monipodio had requested her to

give the company some of the Seguidillas most in vogue at the moment.

But the first to begin was Escalanta, who sang as follows, in a thin

squeaking voice:--

"For a boy of Sevilla,

Red as a Dutchman,

All my heart's in flame."

To which Gananciosa replied, taking up the measure as she best might--

"For the little brown lad,

With a good bright eye,

Who would not lose her name?"

Then Monipodio, making great haste to perform a symphony with his pieces

of platter, struck in--

"Two lovers dear, fall out and fight,

But soon, to make their peace, take leisure;

And all the greater was the row,

So much the greater is the pleasure."

But Cariharta had no mind to enjoy her recovered happiness in silence

and fingering another clog, she also entered the dance, joining her

voice to those of her friends, in the following words--

"Pause, angry lad! and do not beat me more,

For 'tis thine own dear flesh that thou dost baste,

If thou but well consider, and--"

"Fair and soft," exclaimed Repolido, at that moment, "give us no old

stories, there's no good in that. Let bygones be bygones! Choose another

gait, girl; we've had enough of that one."

The canticle, for a moment interrupted by these words, was about to

recommence, and would not, apparently, have soon come to an end, had not

the performers been disturbed by violent knocks at the door. Monipodio

hastened to see who was there, and found one of his sentinels, who

informed him that at the end of the street was the alcalde of criminal

justice, with the little Piebald and the Kestrel (two catchpolls, who

were called neutral, since they did the community of robbers neither

good nor harm), marching before him.

The joyous company within heard the report of their scout, and were in a

terrible fright. Escalanta and Cariharta put on their clogs in great

haste, Gananciosa threw down her broom, and Monipodio his broken plate,

every instrument sinking at once into silence. Chiquiznaque lost his

joyous grin, and stood dumb as a fish; Repolido trembled with fear, and

Maniferro looked pale with anxiety. But these various demonstrations

were exhibited only for a moment,--in the next, all that goodly

brotherhood had disappeared. Some rushed across a kind of terrace, and

gained another court; others clambered over the roof, and so passed into

a neighbouring alley. Never did the sound of a fowling piece, or a

sudden peal of thunder, more effectually disperse a flock of careless

pigeons, than did the news of the alcalde's arrival that select company

assembled in the house of the Señor Monipodio. Rinconete and Cortadillo,

not knowing whither to flee, stood in their places waiting to see what

would be the end of that sudden storm, which finished simply enough by

the return of the sentinel, who came to say that the alcalde had passed

through the whole length of the street without seeming to have any

troublesome suspicions respecting them, or even appearing to think of

their house at all.

While Monipodio was in the act of receiving this last report, there

came to the door a gentleman in the prime of youth, and dressed in the

half-rustic manner suitable to the morning, or to one residing in the

country. Monipodio caused this person to enter the house with himself;

he then sent to look for Chiquiznaque, Repolido, and Maniferro, with

orders that they should come forth from their hiding places, but that

such others as might be with them should remain where they were.

Rinconete and Cortadillo having remained in the court, could hear all

the conversation which took place between Monipodio and the gentleman

who had just arrived, and who began by inquiring how it happened that

the job he had ordered had been so badly done. At this point of the

colloquy, Chiquiznaque appeared, and Monipodio asked him if he had

accomplished the work with which he had been entrusted--namely, the

knife-slash of fourteen stitches.[38]

[38] "At that time," remarks Viardot, "while wounds were still sewed up

by the surgeons, the importance or extent of the cut made was estimated

by the number of the stitches."

"Which of them was it," inquired Chiquiznaque, "that of the merchant at

the Cross-ways?" "Exactly," replied the gentleman. "Then I'll tell you

how the matter went," responded the bravo. "Last night, as I watched

before the very door of his house, and the man appeared just before to

the ringing of the _Ave Maria_, I got near him, and took the measure of

his face with my eyes; but I perceived it was so small that it was

impossible, totally impossible, to find room in it for a cut of fourteen

stitches. So that, perceiving myself unable to fulfil my

destructions"--"Instructions you mean," said the gentleman;--"Well,

well, instructions if you will," admitted Chiquiznaque,--"seeing that I

could not find room for the number of stitches I had to make, because of

the narrowness, I say, and want of space in the visage of the merchant,

I gave the cut to a lacquey he had with him, to the end that I might not

have my journey for nothing; and certainly his allowance may pass for

one of the best quality."

"I would rather you had given the master a cut of seven stitches than

the servant one of fourteen," remarked the gentleman. "You have not

fulfilled the promise made me, but the thirty ducats which I gave you as

earnest money, will be no great loss." This said, he saluted the two

ruffians and turned to depart, but Monipodio detained him by the cloak

of mixed cloth which he wore on his shoulders, saying: "Be pleased to

stop, Señor cavalier, and fulfil your promise, since we have kept our

word with strict honour and to great advantage. Twenty ducats are still

wanting to our bargain, and your worship shall not go from this place

until you have paid them, or left us something of equal value in

pledge."

"Do you call this keeping your word," said the gentleman, "making a cut

on the servant when you should have made it on the master?"

"How well his worship understands the business," remarked Chiquiznaque.

"One can easily see that he does not remember the proverb which says:

'He who loves Beltran, loves his dog likewise.'"

"But what has this proverb to do with the matter?" inquired the

gentleman.

"Why, is it not the same thing as to say, 'He who loves Beltran ill,

loves his dog ill too?' Now the master is Beltran, whom you love ill,

and the servant is his dog; thus in giving the cut to the dog I have

given it to Beltran, and our part of the agreement is fulfilled; the

work has been properly done, and nothing remains but to pay for it on

the spot and without further delay."

"That is just what I am ready to swear to," cried Monipodio; "and you,

friend Chiquiznaque, have taken all that you have said from my mouth;

wherefore let not your worship, Señor gallant, be making difficulties

out of trifles with your friends and servants. Take my advice and pay us

what is our due. After that, if your worship would like to have another

cut given to the master, of as many stitches as the space can contain,