so the
alguazil snatched away the handkerchief. "My son, Don Diego!" cried the
astonished father. "What is the meaning of all this? How came you in
that dress? What, you have not yet left off your scampish tricks?"
Carriazo fell on his knees before his father, who, with tears in his
eyes, held him long in his embrace. Don Juan de Avendano, knowing that
his son had accompanied Carriazo, asked the latter where he was, and
received for answer the news that Don Tomas de Avendano was the person
who gave out the oats and straw in that inn.

This new revelation made by the Asturiano put the climax to the
surprises of the day. The corregidor desired the innkeeper to bring in
his hostler. "I believe he is not in the house, but I will go look for
him," said he, and he left the room for that purpose. Don Diego asked
Carriazo what was the meaning of these metamorphoses, and what had
induced him to turn water-carrier, and Don Tomas hostler? Carriazo
replied, that he could not answer these questions in public, but he
would do so in private. Meanwhile Tomas Pedro lay hid in his room, in
order to see thence, without being himself seen, what his father and
Carriazo's were doing; but he was in great perplexity about the arrival
of the corregidor, and the general commotion in the inn. At last some
one having told the landlord where he was hidden, he went and tried half
by fair means and half by force to bring him down; but he would not have
succeeded had not the corregidor himself gone out into the yard, and
called him by his own name, saying, "Come down, senor kinsman; you will
find neither bears nor lions in your way." Tomas then left his hiding
place, and went and knelt with downcast eyes and great submission at the
feet of his father, who embraced him with a joy surpassing that of the
Prodigal's father when the son who had been lost was found again.

The corregidor sent for Costanza, and taking her by the hand, presented
her to her father, saying, "Receive, Senor Don Diego, this treasure, and
esteem it the richest you could desire. And you, beautiful maiden, kiss
your father's hand, and give thanks to heaven which has so happily
exalted your low estate." Costanza, who till that moment had not even
guessed at what was occurring, could only fall at her father's feet, all
trembling with emotion, clasp his hands in hers, and cover them with
kisses and tears.

Meanwhile the corregidor had been urgent with his cousin Don Juan that
the w