h, what a
good thought it was of mine to make him swear!"

They were now met by the whole party advancing in procession, with the
musico in the midst of them, and the negro and Guiomar lighting the way.
As soon as Loaysa saw Leonora, he threw himself at her feet to kiss her
hands; but without saying a word, she made signs to him to rise, and he
obeyed. Observing then that they all remained as mute as if they had
lost their tongues, Loaysa told them they might talk, and talk aloud
too; for there was no fear that their lord-master would wake and hear
them, such being the virtue of the ointment, that without endangering
life it made a man lie like one dead.

"That I fully believe," said Leonora; "for were it not so, he would have
been awake twenty times before this, such a light sleeper he is, in
consequence of his frequent indispositions; but ever since I anointed
him, he has been snoring like a pig."

"That being the case," said the duena, "let us go into the saloon, where
we may hear the gentleman sing, and amuse ourselves a little."

"Let us go," said Leonora; "but let Guiomar remain here on the watch, to
warn vis if Carrizales wakes."

"Ay," said Guiomar, "black woman stay, white woman go: God pardon all."

Leaving the negress behind, the rest all went to the saloon, where they
seated themselves on a rich carpet, with Loaysa in the centre of the
group. Marialonso took a candle, and began to examine the figure of the
musician from bead to foot. Every one had something to say in his
commendation: "Oh, what a nice curly head of hair he has!" said one.
"What nice teeth!" cried another; "blanched almonds are nothing to
them." "What eyes!" exclaimed a third; "so large and full, and so green!
By the life of my mother, they look for all the world like emeralds."
Leonora alone said not a word; but as she looked at the maestro, she
could not help thinking that he was better looking than her good man.
Presently the duena took the guitar out of the negro's hands, and
putting it into Loaysa's, begged he would sing to it a villanetta then
in high fashion at Seville. He complied; the women all jumped up, and
began to dance; whilst the duena sang the words of the song with more
good will than good voice.

Close you watch me, mother mine,
Watch me, and immure me:
Don't you know without my help
You can not secure me?

Appetite, 'tis said with truth,
By privation groweth;
Thwarted love, like