6 The A D VENTUR ES of
fear: we were apprehenfive, that in lefs than thre£ days, the true fon of Juan Velez dc Menbrilla would arrive, and crofs our good fortune.
This fear was by no means ill founded : for, the very next day, a kind of pcafant, loaded with a portmanteau, came to the houfe of Florcntina’s father, when I was not at home, though my comrade was prefent. “ Sir (faid the pcafant, to the old man) I belong to a young gentleman of Calatrava, called Sig- nior dc Menbrilla, who is to be vour fon-in-law. We are jull arrived, and he wilL be here presently.
I came before to give you notice of his approach.” He had i'carce fpokc thefe words when his mailer appeared : a circumllance that furprized the old man very much, and difconcertcd Morale?, a little,
Pedro, who was a very genteel young fellow, ad-v drelied himfelfto Florcmina’s father; but the honeft citizen did not give him time to finilli his difeourfe, and turning to my companion, alkcd the meaning of all this. Then Moralez, who was fecond to no man on earth in impudence, affumed an air of a durance, and faid to t?he old man, “ Sir, thefe two men belong to the troop of thieves, who robbed us on the highway; I recollect them both very well, particularly him who has the audacity to call himfelf the fon of Signior Juan Velez de la Menbrilla.” Tim old citizen believed Morales, and, perluaded that the ft rangers were cheats, faid to thenv, “ Gentlemen, you are come too late, your fcheme is prevented! Pedro de la Menbrilla has been in my houfe fince yefterday.” “ Take care what you fay (anfwer- ed the young man of Calatrava) you have got an im* poftor in your family ; for you mull know, that Juan Velez de la Menbrilla has no other fon than me.** “ I know better (replied the old man) and am not ignorant of your profeflion : don’t you recollctl this young man, and remember his mailer whom you robbed?” “ If I was notin your houfe (faid Pedro) I' would puinlh tic mfolsuce of than cheat, who has..