ill double Leonora's jointure, and recommend
her, after my death, which will not be long delayed, to marry that young
man whom these gray hairs have never offended. Thus she will see that,
as in life I never departed in the slightest particular from what I
thought could please her, so I wish her to be happy when I am no more,
and to be united to him whom she must love so much. The rest of my
fortune I will bequeath to pious uses, after leaving to you both
wherewith to live honourably for the rest of your days. Let the notary
come instantly, for the anguish I am now suffering is such that, if it
continues, my time here will be very short."

Here Carrizales was seized with a terrible swoon, and sank down so close
to Leonora that their faces touched. During this scene the duena stole
out of the room, and went to apprize Loaysa of all that had happened.
She advised him to quit the house immediately, and she would take care
to keep him informed of all that was going on, for there were no locked
doors now to hinder her from sending the negro to him whenever it was
necessary. Astounded at this news, Loaysa took her advice, put on his
beggar's rags again, and went away to make known to his friends the
strange issue of his amour.

Leonora's father, meanwhile, sent for a notary, who arrived soon after
both husband and wife had recovered their senses. Carrizales made his
will in the manner he had stated, without saying anything of his wife's
transgressions; he only declared that, for good reasons, he advised, and
begged her to marry, should he die, that young man of whom he had spoken
to her in private. When Leonora heard this, she threw herself at her
husband's feet, and cried, while her heart throbbed as if it would
burst, "Long may you live, my lord and my only joy; for though you may
not believe a word I say, indeed, indeed I have not offended you, except
in thought."

More she would have said, but when she attempted to exculpate herself by
a full statement of what had really occurred, her tongue failed her, and
she fainted away a second time. The poor old man embraced her as she
lay; so, too, did her parents--all three weeping bitterly; and even the
notary could not refrain from tears. Carrizales gave the negro and the
other slaves their liberty, and left all the servants enough to maintain
them; the perfidious Marialonso alone was to have nothing beyond the
arrears of her wages. Seven days afterwards Carrizales was laid in