ntered La Mancha, and gradually traversed the
kingdom of Murcia. In all the villages and towns they passed through,
they had matches at ball-playing, fencing, running, leaping, and
pitching the bar; and in all these trials of strength, skill, and
agility Andrew and Clement were victorious, as Andrew alone had been
before. During the whole journey, which occupied six weeks, Clement
neither found nor sought an opportunity to speak alone with Preciosa,
until one day when she and Andrew were conversing together, they called
him to them, and Preciosa said, "The first time you came to our camp I
recognised you, Clement, and remembered the verses you gave me in
Madrid; but I would not say a word, not knowing with what intention you
had come among us. When I became acquainted with your misfortune, it
grieved me to the soul, though at the same time it was a relief to me;
for I had been much disturbed, thinking that as there was a Don Juan in
the world who had become a gipsy, a Don Sancho might undergo
transformation in like manner. I speak this to you, because Andrew tells
me he has made known to you who he is, and with what intention he turned
gipsy." (And so it was, for Andrew had acquainted Clement with his whole
story, that he might be able to converse with him on the subject nearest
to his thoughts.) "Do not think that my knowing you was of little
advantage to you, since for my sake, and in consequence of what I said
of you, our people the more readily admitted you amongst them, where I
trust in God you may find things turn out according to your best wishes.
You will repay me, I hope, for this good will on my part, by not making
Andrew ashamed of having set his mind so low, or representing to him how
ill he does in persevering in his present way of life; for though I
imagine that his will is enthralled to mine, still it would grieve me to
see him show signs, however slight, of repenting what he has done."

"Do not suppose, peerless Preciosa," replied Clement, "that Don Juan
acted lightly in revealing himself to me. I found him out beforehand:
his eyes first disclosed to me the nature of his feelings; I first told
him who I was, and detected that enthralment of his will which you speak
of; and he, reposing a just confidence in me, made his secret mine. He
can witness whether I applauded his determination and his choice; for I
am not so dull of understanding, Preciosa, as not to know how omnipotent
is beauty; and yours, which