thwith. The duena having reported all this to Loaysa, he sent away
his friends who were waiting without for the mould of the key.

Trembling in every limb, and scarcely daring to breathe, Leonora began
to rub the wrists of her jealous husband. Next she smeared his nostrils;
but as she did so, the old man jerked his head, and Leonora was
petrified with terror, believing that he was awake, and had caught her
in the fact. It was a false alarm, however, and she went on with her
task the best way she could, till she had completed it according to her
instructions. It was not long before its effects manifested themselves;
for presently the old man began to snore loud enough to be heard in the
street. This was music more delightful to Leonora's ears than the
maestro's voice or guitar; but still hardly trusting what she saw, she
ventured to shake him, a very little at first, to see if he would wake;
and then a wee bit more and more, till finding that he still snored on,
she made bold to turn him over from one side to the other, without his
showing any signs of waking. Seeing this, she stepped joyfully to the
door; and in a voice not so low as before, called out to the duena, who
was waiting with her ear to the trap-hole. "Good news, sister;
Carrizales is sleeping more soundly than the dead."

"What stops you then from taking the key, senora?" said the duena. "The
musico has been waiting for it this hour and more."

"Stay a moment, sister; I am going for it," said Leonora; and stepping
back to the bed, she put her hand between the mattresses, and drew out
the key without the old man's perceiving it. No sooner was the key in
her hands, than dancing with delight she unlocked the door, and gave it
to the exulting duena, bidding her let in the maestro, and bring him
into the gallery; but as for herself, she durst not stir from that spot,
for fear of what might happen. But before all things she insisted that
the maestro should ratify anew the oath he had taken not to do more than
they should order him; and if he would not give this renewed pledge, he
was not to be let in on any consideration.

"Never fear," said the duena; "not a bit shall he come in until he has
sworn, and sworn again, and kissed the cross at least six times."

"Don't bind him to any fixed number," said Leonora; "but let him kiss
the cross as many times as he pleases; but be sure that he swears by the
life of his father, and by all he holds dear; for then we shall