, they
made no scruple of talking before me. The next day, when their aunt left
the room, they began arguing upon the personal merits of the respective
cavaliers. After a good-humoured controversy, they appealed to me.
"Come, Pedro," said Teresa, "you shall decide.--Which do you think the
handsomest cavalier?"

"Why," answered I, "I think that your senor is, for a fair man, the
handsomest I ever saw--but still the beautiful dark eyes of the Donna
Emilia's cavalier are equally prepossessing."

"Why Pedro, you have mistaken the two," said Emilia, "it is Don Perez,
the fair one, who is my admirer, and the dark senor is Don Florez, who
is in love with my sister." I perceived that I had made a mistake when I
delivered the notes, and Teresa coloured up. But I had sense enough to
answer--"Very true, madam, you are right, I now recollect that I am
confounding the two."

Shortly afterwards the aunt came into the room, and Teresa quitted it,
beckoning me to follow her. As soon as I had joined her, she said, "Now,
Pedro, tell the truth: did you not make the mistake that you stated, and
deliver my note to the fair cavalier, Don Perez."

I answered, "that I had, as I had already delivered Emilia's note to the
dark gentleman." Donna Teresa put her hands over her face and wept
bitterly,--"Pedro, you must now keep this secret, for it is of the
greatest importance.--My God, what will become of me?" cried she, and
for some time she was in the greatest distress: at last she wiped her
eyes, and after much reflection, she took up paper and wrote a
note.--"Pedro, take this note to the direction; recollect it is for the
dark cavalier that it is intended." Teresa had read the note of Emilia
to Don Perez, which had been received by Don Florez--in consequence her
present note ran thus:--"You may think me harsh for having refused to
see you last night, but I was afraid. Do not accuse me with trifling
with your feelings, I will meet you in the saloon that leads to the
garden, which was last night occupied; come at ten this evening."

I went out with the note and gave it into the hands of Don Florez. "My
dear boy, tell Donna Teresa I will not fail; I know now why she could
not receive me last night; I only hope I may be as fortunate as Don
Perez." He put a doubloon in my hand, and I went away. I had not quitted
the street when I met Don Perez.

"Ah! my little page, this is indeed lucky; just step to my rooms while I
write a note to Donna Emi