The good duena caught up her petticoats, and ran with all her speed to the turning-box, where the whole party was impatiently awaiting her; and no sooner had she shown them the key in her hand, than they hoisted her upon their shoulders, and paraded up and down with her, crying “Viva! viva!” But still greater was their joy when she told them there was no need to have a false key made; for so soundly did the old man sleep after being anointed, that they might have the house-key as often as they required it.

“Quick then, good friend,” said one of the troop, “open the door, and let in this gentleman who has been waiting so long, and let us have a jolly bout of music, for that is all we have now to do.”

“Nay, but there is more to be done,” replied the duena; “for we must exact another oath of him; the same as last night.”

“He is so good,” said one of the slave girls, “that he won’t grudge taking as many oaths as we like.”

The duena now unlocked the door, and holding it ajar called to Loaysa, who had been listening at the aperture to all that had passed.  He was for springing in at a bound; but the duena stopped him, laying her hand on his breast, and said, “Fair and softly, senor; I would have you to know, as God is my judge, we are all of us virgins here as truly as the mothers that bore us, except my lady; and I am one too, the Lord forgive me, though you would take me for forty years old; but I am not thirty all out, wanting two months and a fortnight of my thirtieth birthday; and if I look older, it is that cares, and troubles, and vexations tell upon one more than years.  Now this being so, it does not stand to reason, that for the sake of hearing two or three songs we should risk the loss of so much virginity as is here collected together.  And so you see, my sweet sir, before you enter our domain, you must first take a very solemn oath, that you will do nothing beyond our orders.  If you think it is much we ask of you, do but consider how much more it is we risk; and if your intentions are good and proper, you will not be loth to swear; for a good paymaster does not mind giving security.”

“Well said, Marialonso,” cried one of the damsels; “spoken like a person of sense, and who knows what’s what.  If the senor won’t swear, then let him not come in here.”

“Tell you what,” said Guiomar, the negress, in her broken jargon, “s’ppose him no swear, let him in all the same, in devil’s name; for s’ppose him swear, once him in, him forget eberyting.”

Loaysa listened very demurely to the Senora Marialonso’s harangue, and replied with great gravity, “Be assured, ladies, my charming sisters and companions, my intention never was, is, or shall be other than to gratify and content you to the utmost of my powers; and therefore I make no difficulty with regard to this oath which is required of me, though I could have wished that some confidence had been reposed in my simple word, which, given by such a person as I