the hood
of his cloak, and as he himself could not read, he handed it to
Rinconete, who opened it, and read as follows:--

"Memoranda of the cuts to be given this week.

"The first is to the merchant at the Cross-ways, and is worth fifty
crowns, thirty of which have been received on account. _Secutor_,[39]
Chiquiznaque.

[39] _Secutor_ for executor.

"I believe there are no others, my son," said Monipodio; "go on and look
for the place where it is written, 'Memoranda of blows with a cudgel.'"
Rinconete turned to that heading, and found under it this entry:--"To
the keeper of the pot-house called the Trefoil, twelve blows, to be laid
on in the best style, at a crown a-piece, eight of which crowns have
been received; time of execution, within six days. _Secutor_,
Maniferro."

"That article may be scratched out of the account," remarked Maniferro,
"for to-night I shall give the gentleman his due."

"Is there not another, my son?" asked Monipodio.

"There is," replied Rinconete, and he read as follows:--

"To the hunch-backed Tailor, called by the nick-name Silguero,[40] six
blows of the best sort for the lady whom he compelled to leave her
necklace in pledge with him. _Secutor_, the Desmochado." [41]

[40] The goldfinch.

[41] The lop-eared, or mutilated; alluding, generally, to losses
suffered at the hands of justice.

"I am surprised to find this article still on the account," observed
Monipodio, "seeing that two days have elapsed since it ought to have
been taken off the book; and yet the secutor has not done his work.
Desmochado must be indisposed."

"I met him yesterday," said Maniferro. "He is not ill himself, but the
Hunchback has been so, and being confined to the house on that account,
the Desmochado has been unable to encounter him."

"I make no doubt of it," rejoined Monipodio, "for I consider the
Desmochado to be so good a workman, that but for some such reasonable
impediment he would certainly before this have finished a job of much
greater importance. Is there any more, my boy?" "No, Senor," replied
Rinconete. "Turn over, then, till you find the 'Memorandum of
miscellaneous damages.'"

Rinconete found the page inscribed "Memorandum of miscellaneous
damages," namely, Radomagos,[42] greasing with oil of juniper, clapping
on sanbenitos[43] and horns, false alarms, threatened stabbings,
befoolings, _calomels_,[44] &c. &c.

[42] _Radomagos_, phials or bottles of ink, vitriol, and other injurio