h a pair would render him the most satisfied man in the
world.

This young man was the _right hand_ of the alcalde--his name Gregorio
Cagatinta.

On reaching the door, he gave a modest knock with his horn ink-bottle,
which he carried hanging to his button. The door was opened by an old
housekeeper.

"Ah! it is you, _Don_ Gregorio?" cried the housekeeper, with that superb
courtesy so peculiar to the Spaniards--that even two shoeblacks on
meeting lavish upon each other the epithet _Don_, as if each were a
grand noble.

"Yes, it is I, Dona Nicolasa," replied Gregorio.

"_Santisima Virgen_!--since it is you, then I must be late, and my
master will be waiting for his pantaloons that are not yet aired. Take
a seat, Don Gregorio: he will soon be down."

The chamber into which the notary's clerk had been introduced would have
been a large one, had it not been for the singular conglomeration of
objects with which it was more than half filled. Nets of all sizes,
masts, yards, and rudders of boats, oars, sails of every kind--both
square and lateen--woollen shirts worn by sailors or fishermen, and a
variety of other marine objects, were placed pellmell in every corner of
the room. Notwithstanding, there was space enough left to hold three or
four chairs around a large oaken table, upon which last stood a large
cork ink-stand, with several goose-quill pens; with some sheets of half
dirty paper placed ostentatiously around it to awe the visitors, who
might have business with the alcalde.

The presence of this odd assortment of objects, it would have been
difficult for a stranger to explain--though there was no mystery about
it. The fact is, that besides his official character as first
magistrate, the alcalde had another _role_ which he played, of rather an
unofficial character. He was the _pawnbroker_ of the place--that is, he
lent out money in small sums, charging a _real_ for every dollar by the
week--in other words, a simple interest of twenty per cent, by the
month, or two hundred and fifty per cent, per annum! His clients being
all fishermen, will account for the nautical character of the "pledges"
that filled the chamber of audience.

Cagatinta scarce deigned to cast a look at this miscellaneous collection
of objects. Had there been a pair of pantaloons among them, it might
have been different; for to say the truth, the probity of Don Gregorio
was scarce firm enough to have resisted so strong a temptation as t