On the road, Rincon said to his new acquaintance, “Does your worship happen to be a Thief?”

“Yes,” replied the lad, “I have that honour, for the service of God and of all good people; but I cannot boast of being among the most distinguished, since I am as yet but in the year of my novitiate.”

“It is news to me,” remarked Cortado, “that there are thieves for the service of God and of good people.”

“Senor,” the other replied, “I don’t meddle with theology; but this I know, that every one may serve God in his vocation, the more so as daddy Monipodio keeps such good order in that respect among all his children.”

“His must needs be a holy and edifying command,” rejoined Rincon, “since it enjoins thieves to serve God.”

“It is so holy and edifying,” exclaimed the stranger, “that I don’t believe a better will ever be known in our trade.  His orders are that we give something by way of alms out of all we steal, to buy oil for the lamp of a highly venerated image, well known in this city; and we have really seen great things result from that good work.  Not many days ago, one of our cuatreros had to take three ansias for having come the Murcian over a couple of roznos, and although he was but a poor weak fellow, and ill of the fever to boot, he bore them all without singing out, as though they had been mere trifles.  This we of the profession attribute to his particular devotion to the Virgin of the Lamp, for he was so weak, that, of his own strength, he could not have endured the first desconcierto of the hangman’s wrist.  But now, as I guess, you will want to know the meaning of certain words just used; I will take physic before I am sick—­that is to say, give you the explanation before you ask for it.

“Be pleased to know then, gentlemen, that a cuatrero is a stealer of cattle, the ansia is the question or torture. Roznos—­saving your presence—­are asses, and the first desconcierto is the first turn of the cord which is given by the executioner when we are on the rack.  But we do more than burn oil to the Virgin.  There is not one of us who does not recite his rosary carefully, dividing it into portions for each day of the week.  Many will not steal at all on a Friday, and on Saturdays we never speak to any woman who is called Mary.”

“All these things fill me with admiration,” replied Cortado; “but may I trouble your worship to tell me, have you no other penance than this to perform?  Is there no restitution to make?”

“As to restitution,” returned the other, “it is a thing not to be mentioned; besides, it would be wholly impossible, on account of the numerous portions into which things stolen have to be divided before each one of the agents and contractors has received the part due to him.  When all these have had their share, the original thief would find it difficult to make restitution.  Moreover, there is no one to bid us do anything of that kind, seeing that we do not go to confession.  And if letters of excommunication are out against us, they rarely come to our knowledge, because we take care not to go into the churches while the priests are reading them, unless, indeed, it be on the days of Jubilee, for then we do go, on account of the vast profits we make from the crowds of people assembled on that occasion.”