The young gitanas began their dance in the shade, in the Calle de Toledo, and were soon encircled by a crowd of spectators.  Whilst they danced, the old woman gathered money among the bystanders, and they showered it down like stones on the highway; for beauty has such power that it can awaken slumbering charity.  The dance over, Preciosa said, “If you will give me four quartos, I will sing by myself a beautiful romance about the churching of our lady the Queen Dona Margarita.  It is a famous composition, by a poet of renown, one who may be called a captain in the battalion of poets.”  No sooner had she said this, than almost every one in the ring cried out, “Sing it, Preciosa; here are my four quartos;” and so many quartos were thrown down for her, that the old gitana had not hands enough to pick them up.  When the gathering was ended, Preciosa resumed her tambourine, and sang the promised romance, which was loudly encored, the whole audience crying out with one voice, “Sing again, Preciosa, sing again, and dance for us, girl:  thou shalt not want quartos, whilst thou hast the ground beneath thy feet.”

Whilst more than two hundred persons were thus looking on at the dance, and listening to the singing of the gitana, one of the lieutenants of the city passed by; and seeing so many people together, he asked what was the occasion of the crowd.  Being told that the handsome gitana was singing there, the lieutenant, who was not without curiosity, drew near also to listen, but in consideration of his dignity, he did not wait for the end of the romance.  The gitanilla, however, pleased him so much, that he sent his page to tell the old crone to come to his house that evening with her troop, as he wished his wife Dona Clara to hear them.  The page delivered the message, and the old gitana promised to attend.

After the performance was ended, and the performers were going elsewhere, a very well-dressed page came up to Preciosa, and giving her a folded paper, said, “Pretty Preciosa, will you sing this romance?  It is a very good one, and I will give you others from time to time, by which you will acquire the fame of having the best romances in the world.”

“I will learn this one with much willingness,” replied Preciosa; “and be sure, senor, you bring me the others you speak of, but on condition that there is nothing improper in them.  If you wish to be paid for them, we will agree for them by the dozen; but do not expect to be paid in advance; that will be impossible.  When a dozen have been sung, the money for a dozen shall be forthcoming.”

“If the Senora Preciosa only pays me for the paper,” said the page, “I shall be content.  Moreover, any romance which does not turn out so well shall not be counted.”