and tall? Ah!
I thought so. I have noticed that men and women love their opposite in
colour, no invariable rule indeed, but good for a guess.'

'You are very clever, senor.'

'No, not clever, but trained, as you will be when you have been a year
in my hands, though perchance you do not intend to stop so long in
Seville. Perhaps you came here with an object, and wish to pass the time
profitably till it is fulfilled. A good guess again, I think. Well, so
be it, I will risk that; object and attainment are often far apart. Do
you take my offer?'

'I incline to do so.'

'Then you will take it. Now I have something more to say before we come
to terms. I do not want you to play the part of an apothecary's drudge.
You will figure before the world as my nephew, come from abroad to learn
my trade. You will help me in it indeed, but that is not all your duty.
Your part will be to mix in the life of Seville, and to watch those whom
I bid you watch, to drop a word here and a hint there, and in a hundred
ways that I shall show you to draw grist to my mill--and to your own.
You must be brilliant and witty, or sad and learned, as I wish; you must
make the most of your person and your talents, for these go far with my
customers. To the hidalgo you must talk of arms, to the lady, of love;
but you must never commit yourself beyond redemption. And above all,
young man'--and here his manner changed and his face grew stern and
almost fierce--'you must never violate my confidence or the confidence
of my clients. On this point I will be quite open within you, and I
pray you for your own sake to believe what I say, however much you may
mistrust the rest. If you break faith with me, YOU DIE. You die, not by
my hand, but you die. That is my price; take it or leave it. Should you
leave it and go hence to tell what you have heard this day, even then
misfortune may overtake you suddenly. Do you understand?'

'I understand. For my own sake I will respect your confidence.'

'Young sir, I like you better than ever. Had you said that you would
respect it because it was a confidence, I should have mistrusted you,
for doubtless you feel that secrets communicated so readily have
no claim to be held sacred. Nor have they, but when their violation
involves the sad and accidental end of the violator, it is another
matter. Well now, do you accept?'

'I accept.'

'Good. Your baggage I suppose is at the inn. I will send porters to
discharge your score