in.  We went up stairs to a small room in which there were two beds so close together that they seemed but one, for the bed-clothes actually touched each other.  There we remained six days, during which not an hour passed in which we did not quarrel; for I was always telling her what a stupid thing she had done in giving up her house and goods, though it were to her own mother.  One day, when Dona Estefania had gone out, as she said, to see how her business was going on, the woman of the house asked me what was the reason of my wrangling so much with my wife, and what had she done for which I scolded her so much, saying it was an act of egregious folly rather than of perfect friendship.  I told her the whole story, how I had married Dona Estefania, the dower she had brought me, and the folly she had committed in leaving her house and goods to Dona Clementa, even though it was for the good purpose of catching such a capital husband as Don Lope.  Thereupon the woman began to cross and bless herself at such a rate, and to cry out, “O, Lord!  O, the jade!” that she put me into a great state of uneasiness.  At last, “Senor Alferez,” said she, “I don’t know but I am going against my conscience in making known to you what I feel would lie heavy on it if I held my tongue.  Here goes, however, in the name of God,—­happen what may, the truth for ever, and lies to the devil!  The truth is, that Dona Clementa Bueso is the real owner of the house and property which you have had palmed upon you for a dower; the lies are every word that Dona Estefania has told you, for she has neither house nor goods, nor any clothes besides those on her back.  What gave her an opportunity for this trick was that Dona Clementa went to visit one of her relations in the city of Plasencia, and there to perform a novenary in the church of our Lady of Guadalupe, meanwhile leaving Dona Estefania to look after her house, for in fact they are great friends.  And after all, rightly considered, the poor senora is not to blame, since she has had the wit to get herself such a person as the Senor Alferez for a husband.”

Here she came to an end, leaving me almost desperate; and without doubt I should have become wholly so, if my guardian angel had failed in the least to support me, and whisper to my heart that I ought to consider I was a Christian, and that the greatest sin men can be guilty of is despair, since it is the sin of devils.  This consideration, or good inspiration, comforted me a little; not so much, however, but that I took my cloak and sword, and went out in search of Dona Estefania, resolved to inflict upon her an exemplary chastisement; but chance ordained, whether for my good or not I cannot tell, that she was not to be found in any of the places where I expected to fall in with her.  I went to the church of San Lorente, commended me to our Lady, sat down on a bench, and in my affliction fell into so deep a sleep that I should not have awoke for a long time if others had not roused