Volume VI Part 12 (1/2)
”Then you know this gentleman?”
”I have never seen him, and I suppose he has never seen me”
”You speak the truth, senora”
The father asked me my name and address, and promised I should have a decisive answer by dinner-tied him to excuse the liberty I had taken, and to let ht have tiet another partner if it were unfavourable toto dine my man appeared I asked hihter would accept my offer, but that her e I said that she ht do so if she liked, but I should be sorry for her on account of the cold ”She shall have a good cloak,” said he; and he proceeded to inform me that he was a cordwainer
”Then I hope you will take my measure for a pair of shoes”
”I daren't do that; I'o, and if I were to take anyone's measure I should have to touch his foot, and that would be a degradation I am a cobbler, and that is not inconsistent with my nobility”
”Then, will you mend me these boots?”
”I will make them like new; but I see they want a lot of work; it will cost you a pezzo duro, about five francs”
I told hiht his terms very reasonable, and he went out with a profound bow, refusing absolutely to dine with me
Here was a cobbler who despised bootmakers because they had to touch the foot, and they, no doubt, despised him because he touched old leather
Unhappy pride how many forms it assumes, and who is without his own peculiar forentleloves; but I took care not to go e, for whom I had an aversion which ale to seat four, and at nightfall I drove to the house of my pious partner, as quite ready for me The happy flush on her face was a sufficient index to e with the mother, rapped up in a vast cloak, and at the door of the dancing-rooe As soon as ere alone nazia
CHAPTER IV
My Anazia--My Imprisonment At Buen Retiro--My Triumph--I Am Commended to the Venetian Ambassador by One of the State Inquisitors
We entered the ball-roonazia was in such a state of ecstasy that I felt her treh liberty, nay, license, seeuard of soldiers ready to arrest the first person who created any disturbance We danced several minuets and square dances, and at ten o'clock ent into the supper-roo very li e of the Spanish language I left her alone for a moment after supper, and went to the box, where I expected to find Madame Pichona, but it was occupied by maskers, ere unknown tothe o was announced I took my place with my partner, who danced it admirably, and seener This dance had excited both of us, so, after taking her to the buffet and giving her the best wines and liqueurs procurable, I asked her if she were content with me I added that I was so deeply in love with her that unless she found so me happy I should undoubtedly die of love I assured her that I was ready to face all hazards
”Byyou happy,” she replied, ”I shall make myself happy, too I rite to you to-morrow, and you will find the letter sewn into the hood of , fair Ignazia, if you will give me hope”
At last the ball was over, and ent out and got into the carriage
Thethe girl's hands, would have kissed them However, she seemed to suspect that I had other intentions, and held htly that I believe I should have found it a hard task to pull thenazia proceeded to tell her iven her She did not let go ot to the corner of their street, when theto give her neighbours occasion for slander by stopping in front of their own house
The next day I sent for the donazia, in which she told me that a Don Francisco de Ramos would call on me, that he was her lover, and that he would inform me how to render her and myself happy
Don Francisco wasted no tie sent in his nanazia, ho at herand he in the street, had inforether She had also told him that she felt sure I had conceived a fatherly affection for her, and she had consequently prevailed upon hi certain that I would treat hied him to ask me to lend hiet married before the end of the carnival
”I am employed at the Mint,” he added, ”but et an increase before long, and then I shall be in a position to nazia happy All my relations live at Toledo, and I have no friends at Madrid, so e set up our only friends will be the father and mother of hter”