Meanwhile keep thyself from tripping: 
      Where thou walkest, many a snare
    For the feet of pretty ladies
      Naughty gallants lay:  beware!

    Other things still more surprising
      Shall on Friday next be told,
    Things to startle and delight thee,
      When I’ve crossed thy palm with gold.

Preciosa having finished this oracular descant for the lady of the house, the rest of the company were all eager to have their fortunes told likewise, but she put them off till the next Friday, when they promised to have silver coin ready for crossing their palms.  The senor lieutenant now came in, and heard a glowing account of the charms and accomplishments of the leading gitana.  Having made her and her companions dance a little, he emphatically confirmed the encomiums bestowed on Preciosa; and putting his hand in his pocket he groped and rummaged about in it for a while, but at last drew his hand out empty, saying, “Upon my life I have not a doit.  Give Preciosa a real, Dona Clara; I will give it you by and by.”

“That is all very well, senor,” the lady replied; “but where is the real to come from?  Amongst us all we could not find a quarto to cross our hands with.”

“Well, give her some trinket or another, that Preciosa may come another day to see us, when we will treat her better.”

“No,” said Dona Clara, “I will give her nothing to-day, and I shall be sure she will come again.”

“On the contrary,” said Preciosa, “if you give me nothing.  I will never come here any more.  Sell justice, senor lieutenant, sell justice, and then you will have money.  Do not introduce new customs, but do as other magistrates do, or you will die of hunger.  Look you, senor, I have heard say that money enough may be made of one’s office to pay any mulets that may be incurred,[70] and to help one to other appointments.”

[70] It was formerly the custom in Spain that a civil officer on giving up his post, should remain for a certain time in the place where he had served, to answer any charges of maladministration that might be brought against him.

“So say and do those who have no conscience,” said the lieutenant; “but the judge who does his duty will have no mulet to pay; and to have well discharged his office, will be his best help to obtain another.”

“Your worship speaks like a very saint,” replied Preciosa; “proceed thus, and we shall snip pieces off your old coats for relics.”

“You know a great deal, Preciosa,” said the lieutenant; “say no more, and I will contrive that their majesties shall see you, for you are fit to be shown to a king.”

“They will want me for a court fool,” said the gitanilla, “and as I never shall learn the trade, your pains will be all for nothing.  If they wanted me for my cleverness, they might have me; but in some palaces fools thrive better than the wise.  I am content to be a gitana, and poor, and let Heaven dispose of me as it pleases.”