usual grace and agility; but
this time it shall be for the sake of the famous witch who is said to
belong to this place." The words were hardly out of his mouth, when the
matron of the hospital, an old woman, who seemed upwards of seventy,
screamed out, "Rogue, charlatan, swindler, there is no witch here. If
you mean Camacha, she has paid the penalty of her sin, and is where God
only knows; if you mean me, you juggling cheat, I am no witch, and never
was one in my life; and if I ever was reputed to be a witch, I may thank
false witnesses, and the injustice of the law, and a presumptuous and
ignorant judge. All the world knows the life of penance I lead, not for
any acts of witchcraft, which I have never done, but for other great
sins which I have committed as a poor sinner. So get out of the
hospital, you rascally sheep-skin thumper, or by all the saints I'll
make you glad to quit it at a run." And with that she began to screech
at such a rate, and pour such a furious torrent of abuse upon my master,
that he was utterly confounded. In fine, she would not allow the
entertainment to proceed on any account. My master did not care much
about the row, as he had his money in his pocket, and he announced that
he would give the performance next day in another hospital. The people
went away cursing the old woman, and calling her a witch, and a bearded
hag into the bargain. We remained for all that in the hospital that
night, and the old woman meeting me alone in the yard, said, "Is that
you, Montiel, my son? Is that you?" I looked up as she spoke, and gazed
steadily at her, seeing which, she came to me with tears in her eyes,
threw her arms round my neck, and would have kissed my mouth if I had
allowed her; but I was disgusted, and would not endure it.

_Scip._ You were quite right, for it is no treat, but quite the reverse,
to kiss or be kissed by an old woman.

_Berg._ What I am now going to relate I should have told you at the
beginning of my story, as it would have served to diminish the surprise
we felt at finding ourselves endowed with speech. Said the old woman to
me, "Follow me, Montiel, my son, that you may know my room; and be sure
you come to me to-night, that we may be alone together, for I have many
things to tell you of great importance for you to know." I drooped my
head in token of obedience, which confirmed her in her belief that I was
the dog Montiel whom she had been long looking for, as she afterwards
told m