erself to him with
matrimonial bonds, and he had no wish to find himself engaged foot to
foot and alone in such an encounter; accordingly, he requested his
comrades to quit the place that night. Complying with his wishes as they
always did, they set to work at once, took up their securities again
that evening, and decamped. Carducha, seeing that Andrew was going away
and half her soul with him, and that she should not have time to obtain
the fulfilment of her desires, resolved to make him stop by force, since
he would not do so of good will. With all the cunning and secrecy
suggested to her by her wicked intentions, she put among Andrew's
baggage, which she knew to be his, a valuable coral necklace, two silver
medals, and other trinkets belonging to her family. No sooner had the
gipsies left the inn than she made a great outcry, declaring that the
gipsies had robbed her, till she brought about her the officers of
justice and all the people of the place. The gipsies halted, and all
swore that they had no stolen property with them, offering at the same
time to let all their baggage be searched. This made the old gipsy woman
very uneasy, lest the proposed scrutiny should lead to the discovery of
Preciosa's trinkets and Andrew's clothes, which she preserved with great
care. But the good wench Carducha quickly put an end to her fears on
that head, for before they had turned over two packages, she said to the
men, "Ask which of these bundles belongs to that gipsy who is such a
great dancer. I saw him enter my room twice, and probably he is the
thief."

Andrew knew it was himself she meant, and answered with a laugh, "Senora
doncella, this is my bundle, and that is my ass. If you find in or upon
either of them what you miss, I will pay you the value sevenfold, beside
submitting to the punishment which the law awards for theft."

The officers of justice immediately unloaded the ass, and in the turn of
a hand discovered the stolen property, whereat Andrew was so shocked and
confounded that he stood like a stone statue. "I was not out in my
suspicions," said Carducha; "see with what a good looking face the rogue
covers his villany." The alcalde, who was present, began to abuse Andrew
and the rest of the gipsies, calling them common thieves and highwaymen.
Andrew said not a word, but stood pondering in the utmost perplexity,
for he had no surmise of Carducha's treachery. At last, an insolent
soldier, nephew to the alcalde, steppe