a very
perilous occupation, full of risks and accidents; and there is no
defence that affords us more ready shelter and succour than the
invincible arms of the great Philip: nothing beats the _plus ultra_.[71]
For the two faces of a doubloon, a smile comes over the grim visage of
the procurator and of all the other ministers of mischief, who are
downright harpies to us poor gitanas, and have more mercy for highway
robbers than for our poor hides. Let us be ever so ragged and wretched
in appearance, they will not believe that we are poor, but say that we
are like the doublets of the gavachos of Belmont, ragged and greasy and
full of doubloons."

[71] After the discovery of America the Spanish dollar was marked with
the pillars of Hercules and the legend "PLUS ULTRA."

"Say no more, for heaven's sake, grandmother," said Preciosa; "do not
string together so many arguments for keeping the money, but keep it,
and much good may it do you. I wish to God you would bury it in a grave
out of which it may never return to the light, and that there may never
be any need of it. We must, however, give some of it to these companions
of ours, who must be tired of waiting so long for us."

"They shall see one coin out of this purse as soon as they will see the
Grand Turk," the old woman replied. "The good senor will try if he has
any silver coin or a few coppers remaining, to divide amongst them, for
they will be content with a little."

"Yes, I have," he said, and he took from his pocket three pieces of
eight which he divided among the gitanas, with which they were more
delighted than the manager of a theatre when he is placarded as victor
in a contest with a rival. Finally it was settled that the party should
meet there again in a week, as before mentioned, and that the young
man's gipsy name should be Andrew Caballero, for that was a surname not
unknown among the gipsies. Andrew (as we shall henceforth call him)
could not find courage to embrace Preciosa, but darting his very soul
into her with a glance, he went away without it, so to speak, and
returned to Madrid. The gipsies followed soon after; and Preciosa, who
already felt a certain interest in the handsome and amiable Andrew, was
anxious to learn if he was really what he said.

They had not gone far before they met the page of the verses and the
gold crown. "Welcome, Preciosa," he said, coming up to her. "Have you
read the lines I gave you the other day?"

"Before I answe