refused to take it in my hand."

"Well, Pedro, you were right; the next time he offers you a letter take
it, and bring it to me."

"I will, madam," said I. "Here are two reals for you, child--have you
spent the last I gave you?"

I left the room--when Donna Emilia met me outside, and put a note into
my hand for Don Perez. I first took it to my friend Teresa, who opened
it:--"At last my affection has borne down my resolution, and I consent
to see you. There is no other way but in the saloon. Be careful not to
offend me, or it will be for the last time."

"This may go, Pedro," said Teresa, "and you may call at Don Florez's
lodgings as you pass by."

I delivered the note to Don Perez, and before he had finished it, Don
Florez entered the room.--"Congratulate me, my dear friend," said he.
"I was received as kindly as I could wish."

"And my fair one has not taken long to relent," answered Perez, "for I
have an appointment with her this evening. Pedro, tell your mistress,
that I do not write, but that I bless her for her kindness, and shall
not fail to meet her.--Do you understand? Well, what are you waiting
for? Oh! you little rogue, I understand," and he threw me a
doubloon.--"Florez, you give that boy too much money, and I am obliged
to do the same." Florez laughed, and I again took my departure.

Thus did I continue in my vocation for some time, when the old lady fell
sick and died. She divided her fortune between her two nieces, and as
they were now independent, they married their respective lovers; but the
old lady forgot to mention me in her will, and I should have been turned
adrift on the world had it not been for Donna Teresa, who immediately
appointed me as her own attendant. I was as happy as before, although
no more doubloons fell into my hands, after the marriages took place.
It appears that Don Perez was so much afraid of offending Donna Emilia,
that he never ventured to speak of the meeting, which he supposed he had
with her in the saloon, until after marriage then, feeling himself quite
at liberty, he had laughed at her on the subject. Donna Emilia was all
astonishment, declared most positively that it had not taken place; and
although he at first ridiculed the idea of her denial, yet recollecting
that he still had her notes in his possession, he brought them out, and
showed her the one in which she had prohibited him from speaking on the
subject. Donna Emilia protested that it was not he