“I would rather you had given the master a cut of seven stitches than the servant one of fourteen,” remarked the gentleman.  “You have not fulfilled the promise made me, but the thirty ducats which I gave you as earnest money, will be no great loss.”  This said, he saluted the two ruffians and turned to depart, but Monipodio detained him by the cloak of mixed cloth which he wore on his shoulders, saying:  “Be pleased to stop, Senor cavalier, and fulfil your promise, since we have kept our word with strict honour and to great advantage.  Twenty ducats are still wanting to our bargain, and your worship shall not go from this place until you have paid them, or left us something of equal value in pledge.”

“Do you call this keeping your word,” said the gentleman, “making a cut on the servant when you should have made it on the master?”

“How well his worship understands the business,” remarked Chiquiznaque.  “One can easily see that he does not remember the proverb which says:  ‘He who loves Beltran, loves his dog likewise.’”

“But what has this proverb to do with the matter?” inquired the gentleman.

“Why, is it not the same thing as to say, ’He who loves Beltran ill, loves his dog ill too?’ Now the master is Beltran, whom you love ill, and the servant is his dog; thus in giving the cut to the dog I have given it to Beltran, and our part of the agreement is fulfilled; the work has been properly done, and nothing remains but to pay for it on the spot and without further delay.”

“That is just what I am ready to swear to,” cried Monipodio; “and you, friend Chiquiznaque, have taken all that you have said from my mouth; wherefore let not your worship, Senor gallant, be making difficulties out of trifles with your friends and servants.  Take my advice and pay us what is our due.  After that, if your worship would like to have another cut given to the master, of as many stitches as the space can contain, consider that they are already sewing up the wound.”

“If it be so,” said the gentleman, “I will very willingly pay the whole sum.”

“Make no more doubt of it than of my being a good Christian, for Chiquiznaque will set the mark on his face so neatly, that he shall seem to have been born with it.”

“On this promise, then, and with this assurance,” replied the gentleman, “receive this chain in pledge for the twenty ducats before agreed on, and for forty other ducats which I will give you for the cut that is to come.  The chain weighs a thousand reals, and it may chance to remain with you altogether, as I have an idea that I shall want fourteen stitches more before long.”

Saying this, he took a chain from his neck, and put it into the hands of Monipodio, who found immediately by the weight and touch that it was not gold made by the chemist, but the true metal.  He received it accordingly with great pleasure and much courtesy, for Monipodio was particularly well-bred.  The execution of the work to be done for it was committed to Chiquiznaque, who declared that it should be delayed no longer than till the arrival of night.  The gentleman then departed, well satisfied with his bargain.