to appear before his reverence, for certain reasons which I will afterwards explain." After a little more instruction, the good woman did not fail to repair on the day fixed to the Dominican's Church, where she heard the father publish the purse as he had promised, not forgetting to bestow the greatest eulogiums on the honesty of the poor man who had found it and delivered it to him. My mother, who knew as well as I did the contents of the purse, had but little difficulty in getting it restored her, after leaving two pistoles with his reverence as a reward for the honesty of the person who found it.

My purse then was restored to me with the loss of two pistoles only. Tuesday had no sooner arrived than I waited upon the Dominican again, who received me very kindly. "My son," said he, "a good old woman, who has claimed the purse which you found, has left two pistoles with me in charge for you." I affected to be scrupulous of receiving this present, as I had only done what was my duty, for which I did not deserve or desire to be remunerated ; but the good father told me that he thought I well deserved it, and obliged me to accept of it; which, as you will suppose, I no longer refused, purely in obedience to his commands.

He then informed me that he had some better news to communicate, which was, that he had obtained for me the situation as steward in the family of one of the principal ladies in Seville. "You cannot but be happy in this family," said he, "for the remainder of your days, if you perform your duty conscientiously, for which I entertain so good an opinion of you that I have passed my word." At

words like these, so flattering to such a rogue, I prostrated myself at his reverence's feet, and embraced his knees with transport. He assisted me to rise, and assured me of his protection. Then charging me with a letter to the lady, who proved to be the widow before-mentioned, he told me that he had already prepared her to receive me.

She

I went immediately to pay my respects to my new mistress, and it was not difficult to perceive, by the reception I met with, that the friar had told wonders of me. She addressed me, not as a man who was to be her servant, but as one of whom she already entertained the highest opinion. The good father had also taken care to fix my salary and perquisites. asked me if I was satisfied. I answered with a modest air, "that it was more than I deserved, but that I would endeavour to render myself worthy of her bounty by my care and fidelity in her service." My person and conversation pleased her infinitely, and she desired me to consider myself in her service from that moment. Accordingly, I had my trunk carried in that evening, in which was all I possessed.

A very handsome room was assigned me, and I remarked with pleasure that the other servants looked upon me as their superior, and as one whom their lady would have respect paid to. All her private papers were entrusted to me, and I applied myself so assiduously in discharge of my trust, that I despatched as much business in fifteen days as my mistress expected would have taken up six months. Overjoyed at the acquisition of so expeditious an accountant, she never saw the Dominican but she praised me exceedingly, which afforded the good

father great pleasure, who really thought me a young man of integrity and virtue.

I was frequently obliged to consult my lady on affairs which could not be settled without her approbation, and these interviews sometimes lasted for some hours. On these occasions I always behaved myself with so much respect, softness, and insinuation, that I perceived I was daily gaining ground in her good will. At first she had fixed certain times for me to speak with her on domestic affairs, which were in the morning at her toilet, and in the evening after supper. This did not last long, for she would come into my room after dinner, under some pretence or other, and spend hours with me in discourse which had no relation to business. Her fondness for me increased daily, and I could not but foresee the happiness she designed me. I affected for a long time not to understand her kind intentions; but flesh is flesh ; and she having condescended to make advances at least half way, I could not forbear meeting her the other half. She excused her frailty by saying she designed to marry me privately, and I abandoned myself entirely to my good fortune, from which I should undoubtedly have reaped considerable advantage had I been prudent enough to maintain my ground.

CHAPTER LIII.

HOW GUZMAN SUDDENLY LOSES HIS MISTRESS'S FAVOUR,

AND IS CONDEMNED TO THE GALLEYS.

No sooner had I found in any part

of my life that

I might swim in deep water, than I was drowned.

Finding that I was now beloved by my mistress, and looked upon by the servants as one whose favour was of consequence, I began to act quite a different character in the family, and set myself up to be absolute lord of all. I bought the most expensive clothes, spent money like a gentleman, and, to crown all, took an under steward to look after the business of the house. Madam herself was not a whit more prudent, and, consulting her love rather than her reason, approved of everything I did.

This was by no means the case with her relations, who, as they had an eye to the succession, observed her steps most vigilantly. They had conceived no great liking for me when I first entered the service, being rather suspicious, and not without reason, of the very devout air I assumed; but when they learnt that I carried all before me in the family, they began to reflect seriously upon it. They knew who I was, and not thinking that I was married, became very apprehensive lest the too tender widow should eventually take me into the place of the defunct governor, if she had not already done so; especially when they recollected that she had some years before contracted marriage clandestinely with one of my predecessors, who, fortunately for the lady's heirs, had thought proper to die shortly afterwards. This made them very uneasy, and they had many meetings among themselves to deliberate upon the most efficacious mode of ridding themselves of so formidable a rival in the lady's favour. All their endeavours, however, would have been ineffectual had I not ruined myself in my mistress's opinion by my imprudent conduct.

The tender connection I had formed with the love

sick lady became daily less lively on my part; for, to say the truth, she was far from possessing qualities calculated long to attach the inclinations of a gallant man. Unfortunately, also, for our amours, I had cast my eyes on a young girl in the house, a pretty merry wench of about sixteen or seventeen years of age. A man who had money unlimited at his command, and the entire government of the family, was not a conquest to be despised by a waiting-maid, so that I soon lured her to my purpose, and we concerted measures so well, that we kept our correspondence secret for a considerable time. There were, however, other women in the house, and it was not possible, therefore, that we could remain long undiscovered. Celia, which was the damsel's name, soon began to dress herself out in the jewels and ornaments I had given her, and to boast of her money. Her companions, in consequence, became jealous of her, and informed their mistress, who ordered them to watch her, and neglect nothing to ascertain the source of all this finery. These directions were punctually obeyed; and it was soon discovered that Celia had nocturnal conversations with me for three or four hours in my chamber. This news struck like a dagger to the lady's heart, for she had hitherto been confident of my fidelity. She could not think me guilty of such perfidy, and determined to be thoroughly convinced herself before she satisfied her vengeance.

I lay in a chamber which communicated with my mistress's by a closet in which there was a private door covered with tapestry. In addition to this, there was an opening which I knew nothing of, directly against my bed's-head, so that a person listening