All these lessons the two friends carefully stored in their memory, and the following morning both repaired in good time to the market of St. Salvador.  Scarcely had they arrived before they were remarked by numbers of young fellows of the trade, who soon perceived, by the shining brightness of their bags and baskets, that they were new beginners.  They were assailed with a thousand questions, to all which they replied with great presence of mind and discretion.  Presently up came two customers, one of whom had the appearance of a Student, the other was a Soldier; both were attracted by the clean and new appearance of their baskets; and he who seemed to be a student beckoned Cortado, while the soldier engaged Rincon.  “In God’s name be it!"[13] exclaimed both the novices in a breath—­Rincon adding, “It is a good beginning of the trade, master, since it is your worship that is giving me my hansel.”  “The hansel shall not be a bad one,” replied the soldier, “seeing that I have been lucky at cards of late, and am in love.  I propose this day to regale the friends of my lady with a feast, and am come to buy the materials.”  “Load away, then, your worship,” replied Rincon, “and lay on me as much as you please, for I feel courage enough to carry off the whole market; nay, if you should desire me to aid in cooking what I carry, it shall be done with all my heart.”

[13] This is a formula used in Spain by those who do a thing for the first time.—­Viardot.

The soldier was pleased with the boy’s ready good-will, and told him that if he felt disposed to enter his service he would relieve him from the degrading office he then bore; but Rincon declared, that since this was the first day on which he had tried it, he was not willing to abandon the work so soon, or at least until he had seen what profit there was to be made of it; but if it did not suit him, he gave the gentleman his word that he would prefer the service offered him even to that of a Canon.

The soldier laughed, loaded him well, and showed him the house of his lady, bidding him observe it well that he might know it another time, so that he might be able to send him there again without being obliged to accompany him.  Rincon promised fidelity and good conduct; the soldier gave him three quartos,[14] and the lad returned like a shot to the market, that he might lose no opportunity by delay.  Besides, he had been well advised in respect of diligence by the Asturian, who had likewise told him that when he was employed to carry small fish, such as sprats, sardines, or flounders, he might very well take a few for himself and have the first taste of them, were it only to diminish his expenses of the day, but that he must do this with infinite caution and prudence, lest the confidence of the employers should be disturbed; for to maintain confidence was above all things important in their trade.

[14] The Quarto contains four Maravedis.