55

my houfe two of the moft handfome noblemen in Spain. This Don Lewis (replied my miftrefs) has doubtlcfs a thoufand love intrigues in Salamanca i* Yes, Ill a flu re you (faid the old wom^n) he is a brilk gallant, upon my word. He has no more to do, but (hew hirrifelf and conquer ; and among others, be has quite captivated a lady of youth and beauty, whofe name is Ifabclla, an old lawyers daughter, who is fond of him to diftra&ion. And tell me, good mother (cried Aurora, interrupting her with precipitation) is he as much in love with her ? He was (replied Bernarda Ramirez) before his departure for Madrid ; but I know not if he retains his paifion for her (till ; for in thefe points he is not much to be depended upon, but {kips from woman to woman, as all young gentlemen ufually do.

The good widow had fcarce done fpcaking* when hearing a noife in the court-yard, wc looked through the window, and perceived two men alighting from their hoifes: thefe were no other than Don Lewis de Pacheco himfelf, juft arrived from Madrid, with his valet de chambre. Upon which the old woman left us in order to receive him, and my miftrefs pre­pared hcrfelf, not without emotion, to play the part of Don Felix. Don Lewis, in a fhort time, entered our apartment in his boots, and falutcd Aurora, fav- ing, Underftanding that a young nobleman of'To­ledo is a lodger here, I beg leave to exprefs my joy in having him for a companion. While my mi ft rets ; returned this compliment, Pacheco feemed furprized to fee fuch an amiable cavalier ; and could not help telling her, that he had never before beheld.any man lo handlome and genteelly made. A gieat many ci*

! viliiies patted on both Tides, after which Don Lewi* retired to the apartment allotted for him.

While he was fhifting and diefting, a fort of page who wanted to deliver a letter to him, meeting Au­rora on the (lair cafe by accident, miftook her for Don Lew is, and giving her the billet, faid, li Signior C 4 cavalier,