AY eae 
1829.) a Tale of the South. 593 
Cariharte, not wishing to pass over in silence the pleasure she felt 
from the return and repentance of her lover, took off her shoe likewise, 
and, beating it in time, she accompanied the others, singing — 
« We ne’er should lay the stick, love, 
Upon the beauty we adore ; 
In her ourselves we strike, love— 
Then, dearest, strike thyself no more.” 
« Agreed ;” replied Repolido, “so no more of it. The past is past. 
Let us take a new theme, and have done with the old.” They had no 
notion, however, of so soon having done with their couplets, when 
they heard a thundering knock at the gate. Monopadis went forthwith 
to see who was there ; and the sentinel told him that, at the end of the 
street, there appeared the alcalde of justice, and before him Tordillo 
and Cornicola, the under alguazils. Those within, hearing this advice, 
were so troubled at it, that Cariharte and Esculante shoved on their 
shoes wrong side out—Gamenciosa flung down her broom—Monopadis 
his bits of platter—and the whole orchestra, dumb through fear, rested 
in profound silence—Chiquisnaque lost his sight—Repolido fainted— 
Maniferro sprang up the wall to escape into the next street. Never 
sudden shot more terrified a flock of pigeons, than did the news of the 
alcalde’s apparition this assembly of honest folks. The two novices, 
not knowing what part to take, stood quite quiet, awaiting the result of 
the hurricane, which subsided at the second report of the sentinel, that 
the alcalde had passed on without betraying any suspicion. As the 
youth gave this information, a young coxcomb of a cavalier came up. 
Monopadis brought him in with him to the little hall, and calling 
“* Chiquisnaque—Maniferro, and Repolido,” desired all the others to stay 
where they were. Bincon and Costado got so near as to hear the 
conversation with the new comer. The latter asked Monopadis “ why 
he had so ill executed his orders?” Monopadis replied “ he was igno- 
rant how it had been done, but that he who was charged with the affair 
was on the spot to answer in person.” Chiquisnaque then came for- 
ward, and Monopadis demanded of him “if he had not done as he 
was ordered about the picado* of the fourteen points ?”—< What !” 
exclaimed the bravo, “ the picado for the litle merchant of the cross- 
way ?”——“ The very same,” replied the cavalier. “ What passed on that 
occasion, you shall hear,” returned the bravo. “I waited him from 
dusk at his own door ; he arrived just a little before night. I looked in 
his face, and saw it so small, that it was the impossible of impossibilities 
to grave there the fourteen pointed picado; and so—not to fail my 
destruction—’—“ Instruction,” said the cavalier.—« Just so,” continued 
the bravo. “ Well, finding I could do nothing with such a scrap of 
visage as the master’s, I printed the fourteen points on the servant’s, 
which was full large for my purpose.”—“I had much rather,” re- 
turned the cavalier, “that you had given even seven pinks to the 
master, than fourteen to the man ; it was not acting honourably by me ; 
but, no matter, I shall not forget the thirty ducats you got as a whet.” 
And so saying, he turned to go away; Monopadis catching him by the 
cloak, said to him, “ Stop, Senor, if you please, and keep your word 
with us, as we have loyally kept ours with you ; there are still due to 
* Picase, to pink. 
> 
M.M. New Series—Vou. VII. No. 42. 4G 
