cret?"

I told her--"Yes, if I was paid for it."

"And what do you want to induce you to keep it, you little miser?"

I replied--"From her, only a kiss."

She called me a little rogue, gave me the kiss, and then told me, that a
cavalier would be under the window a little after vesper bell, and that
I must give him a billet, which she put into my hand. Of course, having
received my payment before hand, I consented. At the time mentioned I
looked out of the gate, and perceiving a cavalier under the window, I
accosted him, "What ho, Senor, what is it you expect from a fair lady?"

"A billet, my little page," replied he.

"Then here you have it," replied I, pulling it out of my vest. He put a
doubloon in my hand, and immediately disappeared.

I liked the gold very much, but I preferred the other payment more. I
put the money into my pocket, and returned into the house. I had hardly
come into the hall, when Donna Teresa, the other young lady, accosted
me. "Pedro, I have been looking for you--can you keep a secret?"

"Yes, if I am paid for it," replied I, as before.

"And what must it be that will keep that little tongue of yours from
chattering?"

"From you," replied I, "it must be a kiss."

"Oh! you little mannikin--I'll give you twenty;" and she did so, until
she almost took away my breath. "And now," said she, "there is a senor
waiting below for a note, which you must take him." I took the note, and
when I came to the gate, found a cavalier there, as she had mentioned.
"Oh, Senor," said I, "what are you waiting for, is it a billet-doux from
a sweet lady?"

"It is, my pretty boy," answered he.

"Perhaps this will interest you," replied I, handing him the note. He
snatched it from me, and would have departed. "Senor," said I, "I cannot
allow my mistress to be affronted. Her favours are beyond all price, but
still they are always coupled with gold. Since you are so poor, and gold
must pass, here is a piece for you," and I offered him the doubloon
which I had received from the other cavalier.

"You are a witty boy," replied he, "and have corrected my negligence,
for it was nothing more, I assure you. Add this to the other,"--and he
put a quarter-doubloon in my hand and disappeared. I returned to the
house, and as I had been some time away from my mistress I went into
the saloon--where she was sitting alone.

"Pedro, come hither, child, you know how good I have been to you, and
how carefully I have brought yo