“We are very sure,” replied Chiquiznaque, “that such admonitions neither have been nor will be uttered for our benefit; otherwise, or if it should be imagined that they were addressed to us, the tambourine is in hands that would well know how to beat it.”

“We also, Sor Chiquiznaque, have our drum of Biscay,” retorted Repolido, “and, in case of need, can make the bells as well as another.  I have already said, that whoever jests in our matters is a liar:  and whoever thinks otherwise, let him follow me; with a palm’s length of my sword I will show him that what is said is said.”  Having uttered these words, Repolido turned towards the outer door, and proceeded to leave the place.

Cariharta had meanwhile been listening to all this, and when she found that Repolido was departing in anger, she rushed out, screaming, “Hold him, hold him,—­don’t let him go, or he will be showing us some more of his handiwork; can’t you see that he is angry? and he is a Judas Macarelo in the matter of bravery.  Come here, Hector of the world and of my eyes!” With these words, Cariharta threw herself upon the retiring bravo, and held him with all her force by his cloak.  Monipodio lent her his aid, and between them they contrived to detain him.

Chiquiznaque and Maniferro, undetermined whether to resume the dispute or not, stood waiting apart to see what Repolido would do, and the latter perceiving himself to be in the hands of Monipodio and Cariharta, exclaimed, “Friends should never annoy friends, nor make game of friends, more especially when they see that friends are vexed.”

“There is not a friend here,” replied Maniferro, “who has any desire to vex a friend; and since we are all friends, let us give each other the hand like friends.”  “Your worships have all spoken like good friends,” added Monipodio, “and as such friends should do; now finish by giving each other your hands like true friends.”

All obeyed instantly, whereupon Escalanta, whipping off her cork-soled clog, began to play upon it as if it had been a tambourine.  Gananciosa, in her turn, caught up a broom, and, scratching the rushes with her fingers, drew forth a sound which, if not soft or sweet, yet agreed very well with the beating of the slipper.  Monipodio then broke a plate, the two fragments of which he rattled together in such fashion as to make a very praiseworthy accompaniment to the slipper and the broom.

Rinconete and Cortadillo stood in much admiration of that new invention of the broom, for up to that time they had seen nothing like it.  Maniferro perceived their amazement, and said to them, “The broom awakens your admiration,—­and well it may, since a more convenient kind of instrument was never invented in this world, nor one more readily formed, or less costly.  Upon my life, I heard a student the other day affirm, that neither the man who fetched his wife out of hell—­Negrofeo, Ogrofeo, or what was he called—­nor that