nt, thou hypocritical dog!" cried Don Lope; "thou canst not deceive
me: however, I am now too deeply engrossed with more important matters;
but mark me--should I find out any double dealing, any imposition on thy
part, thou mayest well tremble!"

"Tremble!" exclaimed Roque, in a shrill tone, and affecting
indifference. "An honest man has no reason to tremble."

And he trembled and quivered like the aspen leaf, which doubtless did
not look as if he had yet possessed himself of the attributes of an
honest man. They had by this time arrived at the gardens, and Gomez
Arias was exceedingly surprised when he observed that the strange Moor
had followed them thither, though keeping always the same respectful
distance.

"By my honor," exclaimed Gomez Arias, "such conduct cannot be merely
accidental. Roque, _maldito_,[39] some mystery lies in this."

"In what, Senor Don Lope?" demanded the valet, with much simplicity.

"Attempt not to impose on me, thou base-born and ungracious varlet. Why
does that Moor follow us in this manner?"

"My dear master," replied Roque, "is it in my power to stop the man?
What dominion have I over him? These places are public, and I suppose
that he, though a Moor, considers that he has the same right to walk
here as we faithful Christians. Now, good Senor, could you prevail upon
the queen to limit the privileges of those infidels, and allot them a
piece of ground for their own use, aloof from all public places,
certainly much abomination and contamination would be spared; and
thus----"

"Cease, thou graceless dog!" interrupted Don Lope. "Cease, for I can no
longer endure thy interminable prosing; a more talkative varlet never
intruded on the patience of an indulgent master. See! there is the
mysterious Moor again; and if I mistake not, it is the very same who has
followed me already twice before. Yes, surely he is the same, although
he has somewhat altered his attire."

"What!" cried Roque thrown off his guard; "has he followed you too,
Senor?"

"Ah!" returned Don Lope, "then you have seen him before. Now, rascal,"
he added, grasping roughly the poor valet by the collar--"Leave off this
foolish dissembling, or by _Santiago_, I'll strangle thee on the spot!"

"Sweet master, you surely don't mean to harm your faithful Roque?"

"Art thou, then, prepared to confess thy knowledge of the Moor?"
demanded Gomez Arias.

"Like a good Christian, I am always prepared to confess."

"Well, then, begi