nner," replied the Sevillian, "the conde laid a trap for
them, got them under his jurisdiction--for they were soldiers, and once
having them in his gripe, the court of appeal could never get them out
of it. I tell you what it is, friend, he has a devil within him, that
same conde de Punonrostro. Seville, and the whole country round it for
ten leagues, is swept clear of swash-bucklers; not a thief ventures
within his limits; they all fear him like fire. It is whispered,
however, that he will soon give up his place as corregidor, for he is
tired of being at loggerheads at every hand's turn with the senores of
the court of appeal."

"May they live a thousand years!" exclaimed he who was going to
Seville; "for they are the fathers of the miserable, and a refuge for
the unfortunate. How many poor fellows must eat dirt, for no other
reason than the anger of an arbitrary judge of a corregidor, either
ill-informed or wrong-headed! Many eyes see more than two; the venom of
injustice cannot so soon lay hold on many hearts as on one alone."

"You have turned preacher!" said he of Seville; "but I am afraid I can't
stop to hear the end of your sermon. Don't put up to night at your usual
place, but go to the Posada del Sevillano, for there you will see the
prettiest scullery-wench I know. Marinilla at the Venta Tejada is a
dishclout in comparison with her. I will only tell you that it is said
the son of the corregidor is very sweet upon her. One of my masters gone
on ahead there, swears, that on his way back to Andalusia, he will stop
two months in Toledo, and in that same inn, only to have his fill of
looking at her. I myself ventured once to give her a little bit of a
squeeze, and all I got for it was a swinging box on the ear. She is as
hard as a flint, as savage as a kestrel, and as touch-me-not as a
nettle; but she has a face that does a body's eyes good to look at. She
has the sun in one cheek, and the moon in the other; the one is made of
roses and the other of carnations, and between them both are lilies and
jessamine. I say no more, only see her for yourself, and you will see
that all I have told you is nothing to what I might say of her beauty.
I'd freely settle upon her those two silver gray mules of mine that you
know, if they would let me have her for my wife; but I know they won't,
for she is a morsel for an archbishop or a conde. Once more I say, go
and see her; and so, good-bye to you, for I must be off."

The two m