s of reals, all net and
clear as if they were winnowed and sifted? The plan, moreover, instead
of a loss to his majesty's subjects, would be a real advantage to them;
for by means of their fasts they would make themselves acceptable to God
and would serve their king, and some of them even might find it
beneficial to their health. The project is in every way admirable, as
you must confess; the money too might be collected by parishes, without
the cost of tax gatherers and receivers, those plagues and bloodsuckers
of the realm."

The others all laughed at the projector's scheme, and even he himself
joined in the laugh at last. For my part I found much matter for
reflection in the strange conversation I had heard, and in the fact that
people such as these usually end their days in a hospital.

_Scip._ That is true, Berganza. Have you anything more to say?

_Berg._ Two things more and then I shall have done, for I think day is
beginning to dawn. One day I accompanied Mahudes to ask for alms in the
house of the corregidor of this city, who is a great cavalier and a very
great Christian. We found him alone, and I thought fit to take advantage
of that opportunity to give him certain counsels which I had gathered
from the lips of an old invalid in this hospital, who was discussing the
means of saving from perdition those vagabond girls who take to a life
of vice to avoid labour,--an intolerable evil demanding an immediate and
effectual remedy. Wishing to impart what I had heard to the corregidor,
I lifted up my voice, thinking to speak; but instead of articulate
speech I barked so loudly that the corregidor called out in a passion to
his servants to drive me out of the room with sticks; whereupon one of
them caught up a copper syphon, which Was the nearest thing at hand, and
thrashed me with it so, that I feel it in my ribs to this hour.

_Scip._ And do you complain of that, Berganza?

_Berg._ Nay; have I not reason to complain, since I feel the pain even
now; and since it appears to me that my good intentions merited no such
chastisement?

_Scip._ Look you, Berganza, no one should interfere where he is not
wanted, nor take upon himself a business that in no wise is his concern.
Besides, you ought to know, that the advice of the poor, however good it
may be, is never taken; nor should the lowly presume to offer advice to
the great, who fancy they know everything. Wisdom in a poor man lies
under a cloud, and cannot be seen