Never, never, for me! I show Don
Luis what's whata, she say. I give myself up to justice; then 'e keepa
quiet--say, That's all right. So she say to Paquita--that big girl who
sleep with 'er when--when----" he was embarrassed. "Mostly always
sleep with 'er," he explained--"She say, 'Give me your veil, Paquita de
mi alma.' Then she cover 'erself and say to me, 'Come, Gil Perez.' I
say, 'Senorita, where you will.' We go to the Carcel de la Corte.
Three or four alguazils in the court see 'er come in; saluta 'er,
'Good-day, senora--at the feet of your grace,' they say; for they think
''ere come a dam fine woman to see 'er lover.' She eshiver and lift
'erself. 'I am no senora,' she essay. 'Bad girl. Nama Manuela. I
estab Don Bartolome Ramonez de Alavia in the wood of La Huerca. You
taka me--do what you like.' Sir, I say, thata very fine thing. I
would kissa the 'and of any girl who do that--same I kiss your 'and."
His voice broke. "By God, I would!"

"What next?" said Manvers, moved himself.

"Sir," said Gil Perez, "those alguazils clacka the tongue. 'Soho, la
Manola!' say one, and lift 'er veil and look at 'er. All those others
come and look too. They say she dam pretty woman. She standa there
and look at them, lika they were dirt down in the street. Then I
essay, 'Senores, you pleasa conduct this lady to the carcelero in two
minutes, or you pay me, Gil Perez, 'er esservant. Thisa lady 'ave
friends,' I say. 'Better for you, senores, you fetcha carcelero.'
They look at me sharp--and they thinka so too. Then the carcelero 'e
come, and I espeak with him and say, 'We 'ave too much money. Do what
you like.'"

"And what did he do?" Manvers asked.

"He essay, 'Lady, come with me.' So then we go away witha carcelero,
and I eshow my fingers--so--to those alguazils and say, 'Dam your eyes,
you fellows, vayan ustedes con Dios!' Then the carcelero maka bow. 'E
say to Manuela, 'Senora, you 'ave my littla room. All by yourself. My
wifa she maka bed--you first-class in there. Nothing to do with them
dogs down there. I give them what-for lika shot,' say the carcelero.
So I pay 'im well with your bills, sir, and see Manuela all the time
every day."

He took rapid strides across the room--but stopped abruptly and looked
at Manvers. There was fire in his eyes. "She lika saint, sir. I
catch 'er on 'er knees before our Lady of Atocha. I 'ear 'er words all
broken to bits. I see 'er estrike 'er breasts--