wonderful
things of the sweetness of the music, and the engaging manners of the
poor musician, whom, without having seen him, they extolled above
Absalom and Orpheus, that they persuaded her to do what she would never
have done of her own accord. Their first act was to bore a hole in the
turning-box through which they might peep at the musician, who was no
longer clad in rags, but in wide breeches of buff silk, cut sailor
fashion, a jacket of the same material, a satin cap to match, and a
starched double-pointed ruff, all which he had brought in his wallet,
expecting that he would have to show himself on an occasion which would
require him to change his costume. Loaysa was young, good-looking, and
of pleasing deportment; and as the eyes of all the women had been so
long accustomed only to the sight of old Carrizales, they fancied as
they looked at Loaysa that they beheld an angel.

Each of them took her turn at the peephole, and that they might see him
the better, the negro stood by him with a lighted flambeau, which he
moved up and down before the maestro's body. After all the women, from
the lady of the house down to the two negresses, had thus gratified
their eyes, Loaysa took his guitar, and played and sang more
bewitchingly than ever. Leonora's women were bewildered with delight,
and all besought Luis to contrive so that the senor maestro should come
in through the inner door, so that they might hear and see him better,
instead of squinting at him through a gimlet-hole, and without the risk
they ran of being caught in the fact by their master, which would not be
so great if they had the musician concealed inside. Their lady
strenuously opposed this proposition, declaring she would not permit any
such thing. She was shocked to hear them mention it, for they could hear
and see him well enough as it was, without danger to their honour.
"Honour," exclaimed the duena; "the king has plenty. Your ladyship may
shut yourself up with your Methusalem, if you have a mind, but leave us
to amuse ourselves as well as we can; the more so since this senor
appears to be too much the gentleman to ask anything of us but what
would be pleasing to ourselves."

"Never!" interposed Loaysa. "I came hither, ladies, with no other
intention than to offer you my humble services, with all my heart and
soul, moved by commiseration for the unparalleled rigour of your
confinement, and for the precious moments that are lost to you through
this re