priest, at the instance of
Teodosia, who dreaded lest any untoward chance should rob her of her
new-found hopes. The appearance of Don Rafael and Leocadia, and the
account given by the former of what had passed between them, augmented
the general joy, and the master of the house rejoiced as if they were
his own near relations; for it is an innate characteristic of the
Catalonian gentry to feel and act as friends towards such strangers as
have any need of their services.

The priest, who was still present, desired that Leocadia should change
her dress for one appropriate to her sex, and the knight at once
supplied both the ladies with handsome apparel from the wardrobe of his
wife, who was a lady of the ancient house of the Granolliques, famous in
that kingdom. The surgeon was moved by charity to complain that the
wounded man talked so much and was not left alone; but it pleased God
that Marco Antonio's joy, and the little silence he observed, were the
very means of his amendment, so that when they came to dress his wound
next day, they found him out of danger, and in a fortnight more he was
fit to travel. During the time he kept his bed he had made a vow that if
he recovered he would go on a pilgrimage on foot to Santiago de Galicia,
and in the fulfilment of that vow he was accompanied by Don Rafael,
Leocadia, Teodosia, and even by the muleteer Calvete, unusual as such
pious practices are with men of his calling; but he had found Don Rafael
so liberal and good-humoured that he would not quit him till he had
returned home. The party having to travel on foot as pilgrims, the mules
were sent on to Salamanca.

The day fixed for their departure arrived, and equipped in their
dalmaticas and with all things requisite, they took leave of their
generous and hospitable friend, the knight Don Sancho de Cardona, a man
of most illustrious blood and personally famous; and they pledged
themselves that they and their descendants, to whom they should bequeath
it as a duty, should perpetually preserve the memory of the singular
favours received from him, in order that they might not be wanting at
least in grateful feeling, if they could not repay them in any other
way. Don Sancho embraced them all, and said it was a matter of course
with him to render such services or others to all whom he knew or
supposed to be Castilian hidalgos. They repeated their embraces twice,
and departed with gladness, mingled with some sorrow. Travelling by ea