Meantime the Cid had taken two chests, which were covered with leather of red and gold, and the nails which fastened down the leather were well gilt; they were ribbed with bands of iron, and each fastened with three locks; they were heavy, and he filled them with sand.  And when Rachel and Vidas entered his tent with Martin Antolinez, they kissed his hand; and the Cid smiled and said to them, “Ye see that I am going out of the land, because of the King’s displeasure; but I shall leave something with ye.”  And they made answer, “Martin Antolinez has covenanted with us, that we shall give you six hundred marks upon these chests, and keep them a full year, swearing not to open them till that time be expired, else shall we be perjured.”  “Take the chests,” said Martin Antolinez; “I will go with you, and bring back the marks, for my Cid must move before cock-crow.”  So they took the chests, and though they were both strong men they could not raise them from the ground; and they were full glad of the bargain which they had made.  And Rachel then went to the Cid and kissed his hand and said, “Now, Campeador, you are going from Castille among strange nations, and your gain will be great, even as your fortune is.  I kiss your hand, Cid, and have a gift for you, a red skin; it is Moorish and honourable.”  And the Cid laid, “It pleases me:  give it me if ye have brought it; if not, reckon it upon the chests.”  And they departed with the chests, and Martin Antolinez and his people helped them, and went with them.  And when they had placed the chests in safety, they spread a carpet in the middle of the hall, and laid a sheet upon it, and they threw down upon it three hundred marks of silver.  Don Martin counted them, and took them without weighing.  The other three hundred they paid in gold.

When Martin Antolinez came into the Cid’s tent he said unto him, “I have sped well, Campeador! you have gained six hundred marks.  Now then strike your tent and be gone.  The time draws on, and you may be with your Lady Wife at St. Pedro de Cardena, before the cock crows.”

The cocks were crowing again, and the day began to break, when the good Campeador reached St. Pedro’s.  The Abbot Don Sisebuto was saying matins, and Dona Ximena and five of her ladies of good lineage were with him, praying to God and St. Peter to help my Cid.  And when he called at the gate and they knew his voice, God, what a joyful man was the Abbot Don Sisebuto!  Out into the courtyard they went with torches and with tapers, and the Abbot gave thanks to God that he now beheld the face of my Cid.  And the Cid told him all that had befallen him, and how he was a banished man; and he gave him fifty marks for himself, and a hundred for Dona Ximena and her children.  “Abbot,” said he, “I leave two little girls behind me, whom I commend to your care.  Take you care of them and of my wife and of her ladies:  when this money be gone, if it be not enough, supply them abundantly; for every mark which you spend upon