“For what was he famous?” asked my uncle.

“For being a priest, and yet preaching so good a sermon on love.  It is told in it that in the kingdom of Valencia there lived an hidalgo, young and rich, who fell in love with a virtuous lady, ill treated by her husband:  and she with him, howbeit without the least thought of evil.  But, as evil suspects its like, so this husband doubted the fidelity which was his without his deserving, and laid a plot to be revenged.  On the pretext of the summer heats he removed with his household to a country house; and there one day he entered a room where his wife sat alone, turned the key, and, drawing out a dagger, ordered her to write what he should dictate.  She, being innocent, answered him that there was no need of daggers, but she would write, as her duty was, what he commanded:  which was, a letter to the young hidalgo telling him that her husband had left home on business; that if her lover would come, she was ready to welcome him; and that, if he came secretly the next night, he would find the garden gate open, and a ladder placed against the window.  This she wrote and signed, seeing no escape; and, going to her own room, commended her fears and her weakness to the Virgin.

“The young hidalgo, on receiving the letter (very cautiously delivered), could scarcely believe his bliss, but prepared, as you will guess, to embrace it.  Having dressed himself with care, at the right hour he mounted his horse and rode out towards his lady’s house.  Now, he was a devout youth, as youths go, and on his way he remembered—­which was no little thing on such an occasion—­that since morning he had not said over his rosary as his custom was.  So he began to tell it bead by bead, when a voice near at hand said ‘Halt, Cavalier!’ He drew his sword and peered around him in the darkness, but could see no one, and was fumbling his rosary again when again the voice spoke, saying, ‘Look up, Cavalier!’ and looking up, he beheld against the night a row of wayside gibbets, and rode in among them to discover who had called him.  To his horror one of the malefactors hanging there spoke down to him, begging to be cut loose; ‘and,’ said the poor wretch, ’if you will light the heap of twigs at your feet and warm me by it, your charity shall not be wasted.’  For Christian charity then the youth, having his sword ready, cut him down, and the gallows knave fell on his feet and warmed himself at the lit fire.  ‘And now,’ said he, being warmed, ’you must take me up behind your saddle; for there is a plot laid to-night from which I only can deliver you.’  So they mounted and rode together to the house, where, having entered the garden by stealth, they found the ladder ready set.  ‘You must let me climb first,’ said the knave; and had no sooner reached the ladder’s top than two or three pistol shots were fired upon him from the window and as many hands reached out and stabbed him through and through until he dropped into