Don Perez was delighted at Donna Emilia’s having at last yielded to his entreaties 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 senor 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 senor 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.”

I answered, “that I had, as I had already delivered Emilia’s note to the dark gentleman.”  Donna Teresa put her hands over her face and wept bitterly,—­“Pedro, you must now keep this secret, for it is of the greatest importance.—­My God, what will become of me?” cried she, and for some time she was in the greatest distress:  at last she wiped her eyes, and after much reflection, she took up paper and wrote a note.—­“Pedro, take this note to the direction; recollect it is for the dark cavalier that it is intended.”  Teresa had read the note of Emilia to Don Perez, which had been received by Don Florez—­in consequence her present note ran thus:—­“You may think me harsh for having refused to see you last night, but I was afraid.  Do not accuse me with trifling with your feelings, I will meet you in the saloon that leads to the garden, which was last night occupied; come at ten this evening.”

I went out with the note and gave it into the hands of Don Florez.  “My dear boy, tell Donna Teresa I will not fail; I know now why she could not receive me last night; I only hope I may be as fortunate as Don Perez.”  He put a doubloon in my hand, and I went away.  I had not quitted the street when I met Don Perez.

“Ah! my little page, this is indeed lucky; just step to my rooms while I write a note to Donna Emilia.”  I did so, and he gave me a quarter-doubloon as before.  “I thank you, senor,” replied I; what with the doubloons of Don Florez and your quarter-doubloons, I shall soon be a rich man.”