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1829]. a Tale of the South. 581 
soldier, “ I cannot but be lucky in the trade, since it is you that handsel 
me, Senor.” The soldier replied to him, “ that the handsel would not 
be bad, because he was full of money and in love, and was that day to 
give an entertainment to his mistress and her friends.” Good,” said 
Bincon, “laud me to your fantasy—there is not wanting to me either 
strength or spirit to carry away the whole market; and, if you choose, 
I can even help to prepare your entertainment with all good will.” The 
soldier, charmed with the youth’s fair manner, said, “ that if he would 
serve him, he would withdraw him from such a wretched occupation.” 
Bincon replied to him, “ that this being the first day of his exercising it, 
he did not wish to give it up so soon, before he had learned its good and 
bad by experience ; but that whenever he was wearied of it, he pledged 
him his honour that he would serve him in preference to a canon.” 
The soldier laughed, loaded him well, and pointed out his mistress’s 
house to him, that he might know where to go now and in future, 
without his being obliged to look after him. incon promised fidelity 
and good service, and the soldier gave him three sols. Bincon with 
one spring was back again in the square, for the Asturian had advised 
him never to lose time—that so he might never lose occasion ; and, 
also, that when he carried small fish, as anchovies, sardinias, &c., he 
might fairly set a few aside for himself, but that it must be dexterously 
done, or they would lose their credit—the base of their profession. 
Though Bincon was not a minute out of the square, on his return he 
found Costado at his post, who, approaching, asked of him “ how much 
he had earned?” Bincon opened his hand and showed him the three 
sols. Costado put his into his breast, and pulled a purse out of it that 
looked tolerably swelled. “ There,” said he, “ is what his reverence, 
the student, rewarded me with—two more sols; take them, Bincon, 
for fear of accidents:” and he slyly slipped the purse on him. In the 
instant ran the student up, all in a sweat, and pale as death. As soon as 
he perceived Costado, he demanded of him “ if, by chance, he had not 
seen with him a purse of such and such a fashion, in which were fifteen 
crowns in gold, three silver doubloons, and as many copper maravedis ?” 
Costado, without changing countenance or colour, replied with the 
greatest coolness—“ All that I know of your purse is, that you would 
not have lost it if you had taken better care of it.’—“ Just so: wretched 
man that I am,” replied the student— but if I had not been among 
_ thieves, I had not been robbed.”—< So think I, too,” said Costado ; 
“but there is a remedy for all things but death—the first you should 
take is patience. See how much Heaven has left with us. It may be, that 
some day, he who took your purse will repent of it, and restore it to 
you with interest.” We will excuse him the interest,’ said the stu- 
dent, “ for the sake of the principal.” Costado continued—* Alas ! what 
excommunications—what monitories—what bulls—and—more — useful 
than all—what vigilance against this crime—and nothing can turn the 
hearts of its perverted agents. I would not have your purse, Senor, 
for the world; as you are in holy orders, I should fancy I had com- 
mitted some sacrilege or blasphemy.”—‘ How—holy orders?” said the 
student ; “ not quite yet; though there is sacrilege in the case, sure 
enough, for the purse contained the dues of a chapel, that a priest, a 
friend of mine, begged me to secure for him during his absence. So it 
is blessed and sacred money.’— All the better for him who gets it,” 
returned Bincon, “ though I don’t envy him his gain; there is a day 
