Whilst these things were happening in the posada, Asturiano was going about the market in search of an ass.  He examined a great many, but did not find one to his mind; though a gipsy tried hard to force upon him one that moved briskly enough, but more from the effects of some quicksilver which the vendor had put into the animal’s ears, than from its natural spirit and nimbleness.  But though the pace was good enough, Lope was not satisfied with the size, for he wanted an ass big and strong enough to carry himself and the water vessels, whether they were full or empty.  At last a young fellow came up, and whispered in his ear, “If you want a beast of the right sort for a water-carrier’s business, I have one close by in a meadow; a bigger or a better you will not find in Toledo.  Take my advice, and never buy a gipsy’s beast, for though they may seem sound and good, they are all shams, and full of hidden defects.  If you want to buy the real thing, come along with me, and shut your mouth.”

Lope consented, and away went the pair shoulder to shoulder, till they arrived at the King’s Gardens, where they found several water-carriers seated under the shade of a water wheel, whilst their asses were grazing in an adjoining meadow.  The vendor pointed out his ass, which took Lope’s fancy immediately, and was praised by all present, as a very strong animal, a good goer, and a capital feeder.  The bargain was soon struck, and Lope gave sixteen ducats for the ass, with all its accoutrements.  The bystanders congratulated him on his purchase, and on his entrance into the business, assuring him that he had bought an exceedingly lucky ass, for the man who had sold him had, in less than a year, without over-working himself, made enough to buy two suits of clothes, over and above his own keep, and that of the ass, and the sixteen ducats, with which he intended to return to his native place, where a marriage had been arranged with a half kinswoman of his.  Besides the water-carriers who assisted at the sale of the ass, there was a group of four stretched on the ground, and playing at primera, the earth serving them for a table, and their cloaks for a table cloth.  Lope went up to watch their game, and saw that they played more like archdeacons than like water-carriers, each of them having before him a pile of more than a hundred reals in cuartos and in silver.  Presently two of the players, having lost all they had, got up; whereupon the seller of the ass said, that, if there was a fourth hand, he would play, but he did not like a three-handed game.

Lope, who never liked to spoil sport, said that he would make a fourth.  They sat down at once, and went at it so roundly that, in a few moments, Lope lost six crowns which he had about him, and finding himself without coin, said if they liked to play for the ass he would stake him.  The proposal was agreed to, and he staked one quarter of the ass, saying they should play for him, quarter by quarter.