endid fortune, and able to choose for himself.

From fear of discovery, the notes were both in a disguised hand, and not
signed by the respective christian names of the ladies. Donna Emilia's
ran thus:--"I found your note in the spot agreed, but my aunt has taken
away the key of the shrubbery, and is I believe suspicious.--Why are you
so urgent?--I trust your affection, like mine, will but increase from
delay. It will be impossible to meet you to-night; but I have entered
the page in my service, and will write soon." That of Donna Teresa,
which I put in the hands of Don Perez, ran as follows:--"I can no longer
refuse your solicitations for an interview. My aunt has locked up the
shrubbery, but if you have courage enough to scale the garden wall, I
will meet you in the saloon which opens upon the garden; but not a word
must be said, as the servants are continually passing the door--neither
can we have a light--I must trust to your honour."

Don Perez was delighted at Donna Emilia's having at last yielded to his
intreaties for a meeting; and Don Florez, as much annoyed at the
reserved conduct of his mistress, went home accusing her of coquetry.
At the appointed hour, Don Perez met his supposed mistress in the
saloon. The two sisters were _confidantes_; and, as I was in their
secret, they made no scruple of talking before me. The next day, when
their aunt left the room, they began arguing upon the personal merits of
the respective cavaliers. After a good-humoured controversy, they
appealed to me.

"Come, Pedro," said Teresa, "you shall decide. Which do you think the
handsomest cavalier?"

"Why," answered I, "I think that your senhor is, for a fair man, the
handsomest I ever saw--but still the beautiful dark eyes of the Donna
Emilia's cavalier are equally prepossessing."

"Why, Pedro, you have mistaken the two," said Emilia, "it is Don Perez,
the fair one, who is my admirer, and the dark senhor is Don Florez, who
is in love with my sister." I perceived that I had made a mistake when
I delivered the notes, and Teresa coloured up. But I had sense enough
to answer:--"Very true, madam, you are right; I now recollect that I am
confounding the two."

Shortly afterwards the aunt came into the room, and Teresa quitted it,
beckoning me to follow her. As soon as I had joined her, she said,
"Now, Pedro, tell the truth: did you not make the mistake that you
stated, and deliver my note to the fair cavalier, Don Perez?"