as one of those old Spanish cavaliers, who, when deprived of every
other satisfaction, took a melancholy pleasure in inflicting his
vengeance on the object of his wrath. But even this solitary consolation
was now denied him, and the idea that he had been so grossly imposed
upon by an old beldame, added to the galling reflections which his
misfortune had inflicted.

Gomez Arias exerted his utmost endeavours to sooth his emotion,
employing for this purpose all the established maxims resorted to under
similar circumstances--maxims profoundly wise no doubt, but which
unluckily are often lost upon their object.

"In order then," said Gomez Arias, "to unravel this mystery, it is of
the first importance to set about the inquiry from the commencement, in
order to discover the authors. We have now the agent of this nefarious
enterprise, but we must seek for the actual culprit. There can be no
doubt that when a young girl is induced to elope from her home, there is
generally a lover who prompts her to so objectionable a measure. Now,
Don Manuel, is there no person on whom suspicion may attach with any
probability?"

Monteblanco pondered for a while, and then replied--"Really, Don Lope,
if there exists such a man, I am totally unacquainted with his person."

"What, are you unable to hazard even a conjecture?"

"I am, Don Lope," sorrowfully answered the father.

"Indeed! this is surprising;--look, Senor, around the circle of your
acquaintance, and perchance you may find a clue to guide your
investigation."

Don Manuel mechanically looked around, and then shook his head
despondingly.

"I would not willingly," continued Gomez Arias, "throw an aspersion on
the reputation of any one, but what are we to surmise from the visit of
Don Rodrigo de Cespedes? Certainly, there was something unaccountable in
his chivalric expedition against me. Besides, why require the assistance
of an aged cavalier, when he might have commanded that of more suitable
agents for that description of undertaking?"

Gomez Arias met with no great difficulty in deceiving the man he had
injured; for one under Don Manuel's distressing situation, is of all
others the most easy to be imposed upon. His own wounded feelings, in
some measure, paved the way to the deception;--as a man who has lost his
purse, is apt to throw the charge on the very first individual who
unfortunately happens to attract his notice.

"In addition to this," proceeded Gomez Arias, "we m