us
matters, cast on the face, person, or clothes.

[43] Most of our readers will remember that the "sanbenito" is the long
coat or robe, painted over with flames, which is worn by heretics whom
the Inquisition has condemned and given over to the civil power.

[44] _Calomels_, for calumnies

"What do you find lower down?" inquired Monipodio. "I find, 'Greasing
with oil of juniper at the house in--'" "Don't read the place or name
of the house," interrupted Monipodio, "for we know where it is, and I am
myself the _tuautem_ and _secutor_ of this trifling matter; four crowns
have already been given on account, and the total is eight." "That is
exactly what is here written," replied Rinconete. "A little lower down,"
continued the boy, "I find, 'Horns to be attached to the house--'" "Read
neither the name nor the place where," interrupted Monipodio. "It is
quite enough that we offer this outrage to the people in question; we
need not make it public in our community, for that would be an
unnecessary load on your consciences. I would rather nail a hundred
horns, and as many sanbenitos, on a man's door, provided I were paid for
my work, than once tell that I had done so, were it to the mother that
bore me." "The executor of this is Nariqueta,"[45] resumed Rinconete.
"It is already done and paid for," said Monipodio; "see if there be not
something else, for if my memory is not at fault, there ought to be a
fright of the value of twenty crowns. One half the money has already
been paid, and the work is to be done by the whole community, the time
within which it is to come off being all the current month. Nor will we
fail in our duty; the commission shall be fulfilled to the very letter
without missing a tilde,[46] and it will be one of the finest things
that has been executed in this city for many years. Give me the book,
boy, I know there is nothing more, and it is certain that business is
very slack with us just now; but times will mend, and we shall perhaps
have more to do than we want. There is not a leaf on the tree that moves
without the will of God, and we cannot force people to avenge
themselves, whether they will or not. Besides, many a man has the habit
of being brave in his own cause, and does not care to pay for the
execution of work which he can do as well with his own hands."

[45] The flat-nose.

[46] The _tilde_ is the mark placed over the Spanish letter n, as in
Senor.

"That is true," said Repolido; "but wil