be safe
and sure, and we may take our fill of hearing him sing and play; and
exquisitely he does so, upon my word. There now, get you gone without
more delay, and let us not waste the night in words."

The good duena caught up her petticoats, and ran with all her speed to
the turning-box, where the whole party was impatiently awaiting her; and
no sooner had she shown them the key in her hand, than they hoisted her
upon their shoulders, and paraded up and down with her, crying "Viva!
viva!" But still greater was their joy when she told them there was no
need to have a false key made; for so soundly did the old man sleep
after being anointed, that they might have the house-key as often as
they required it.

"Quick then, good friend," said one of the troop, "open the door, and
let in this gentleman who has been waiting so long, and let us have a
jolly bout of music, for that is all we have now to do."

"Nay, but there is more to be done," replied the duena; "for we must
exact another oath of him; the same as last night."

"He is so good," said one of the slave girls, "that he won't grudge
taking as many oaths as we like."

The duena now unlocked the door, and holding it ajar called to Loaysa,
who had been listening at the aperture to all that had passed. He was
for springing in at a bound; but the duena stopped him, laying her hand
on his breast, and said, "Fair and softly, senor; I would have you to
know, as God is my judge, we are all of us virgins here as truly as the
mothers that bore us, except my lady; and I am one too, the Lord forgive
me, though you would take me for forty years old; but I am not thirty
all out, wanting two months and a fortnight of my thirtieth birthday;
and if I look older, it is that cares, and troubles, and vexations tell
upon one more than years. Now this being so, it does not stand to
reason, that for the sake of hearing two or three songs we should risk
the loss of so much virginity as is here collected together. And so you
see, my sweet sir, before you enter our domain, you must first take a
very solemn oath, that you will do nothing beyond our orders. If you
think it is much we ask of you, do but consider how much more it is we
risk; and if your intentions are good and proper, you will not be loth
to swear; for a good paymaster does not mind giving security."

"Well said, Marialonso," cried one of the damsels; "spoken like a person
of sense, and who knows what's what. If the senor w