daughter with our supper;both dainty morsels, I doubt not."
"Of the latter you may taste at will, but with my Rosa I should adviseyou not to attempt to make free; for she uses but scant ceremony towardsthose who offend her," answered the Landlord.
"Not I! I never offended a pretty girl in my life. Hey, my brightRosa?" said the guest, chucking her under the chin as she placed a dishof rice and stewed fowls on the table; but in return for the liberty, hereceived a sound box on the ear; and she tripped off, laughing, beforehe could catch her to renew the offence.
"Carramba! but your daughter does hit hard," exclaimed the man; "thoughlet us see if her cookery will make amends for her cruelty."
As Rosa, having placed another dish on the table, was again hasteningaway, she encountered from a personage who just then entered the room afresh attack of the same sort, but, it must be confessed, with scarcethe same obduracy; for "Oh, Senhor Frade!" and a loud giggle, was theonly answer she gave to the salute, which sounded through the apartment.
"Pax vobiscum!" exclaimed the person who had committed this atrocity, ashe advanced out of the obscurity towards the group among whom he espiedthe landlord, well knowing that there would the best cheer be found. Asthe light fell on him, he exhibited a broad, sinewy figure; and throwingback his cowl, his shorn crown and coarse brown robes, with satchel byhis side, proclaimed him to belong to the mendicant order of theCapuchins, his well-filled cheeks showing how assiduously he pursued hisavocation. His bullet-shaped head was encircled by a rim of coarse redhair, to which colour his features assimilated; a broad snubby nose, anda pair of blear, though keen, roving eyes, made up the man. He waswelcomed by all the party, with whom he appeared to be on the mostintimate terms.
"Now, for the love of the saints, my pretty Rosa," he exclaimed, as hetook his seat at the post of honour near the master, "bring me somethingto eat, for I am almost dead with hunger and thirst;--anything willserve; a stewed pullet or so, or some broiled pork and lemon; you knowthat I am not particular as to the things of the appetite;--and harkyou, my Rosa dear, if you can find the remains of a bottle or so of oldwine, bring it, in the name of the Virgin; for I am thirsty and tired."
The holy Father's request was not disregarded, and he was soon busilyemployed in discussing the viands set before him, failing not to doample justice to Rosa's cookery, during which time he would not answer aword to the numerous questions put to him; but, having finished, andwiped his mouth on the sleeve of his gown, giving a last pull at hisbottle of wine, his tongue was loosened, and all the party bent theirheads forward to listen to what he had to communicate; the subject ofthe conversation being such as to oblige them to speak in tones not loudenough to be heard beyond their immediate circle.
"What news do you bring us, Senhor Padre?" asked one of those who hadlost at cards. "Have we a chance of picking up a little booty? for weare very low in the world."
"Ah, my son, always thinking of lucre and worldly gain," answered theFriar, laughing, "but I am in an amiable humour, and will not tantaliseyou long."
"Well, Padre, no delay; out with your news," exclaimed several of theparty, bending still closer round him, with eager expression ofcountenance.
"Know then, my sons, that there is a chance of some work to-morrowmorning which may fill our empty pockets; but recollect, we all sharealike; I am not to employ my wits, and to wear myself into a phantom togain all the information, and then to allow my convent to be deprived ofthe just profits."
"Never fear, Senhor Padre, your convent shall not suffer in thedivision," said the Innkeeper; "but come, let us hear your news."
"'Tis this, then. As I passed through the village of Santa Cruz, Ilearned that the noble Senhor Goncalo Christovao and his family arestaying at the Quinta of the Conde de Villarey, on their way to Lisbon,and their mules and litters are to be in readiness to start to-morrowmorning at daybreak, they having the intention of breakfasting here. Sothere's a double chance for you, Senhor Estalajadeiro. You first getwell paid in an honest way for the stewed cats and tough old cocks youfurnish them; and then our friends here will reap the harvest thatremains, no slight one, if I mistake not; for there are, besides SenhorChristovao and and his fair daughter, Donna Clara, so I learned, threemaid-servants, all of whom, depend on it, will be decked out in theirgold ornaments, though they will make some slight fuss in deliveringthem; and then there are the escudeiro and three other servants, whowill run away on the first show of a blunderbuss, as will, probably, thewhole troop of muleteers who accompany them."
"Bravo, most holy friar! you deserve our warmest thanks for yourservices to us," exclaimed one of the party; "and where would you adviseus to wait till our friends pass?"
"Has not your own sense pointed that out to you?" answered the Friar."At the edge of the moor where the pine grove commences, I should adviseyou to watch, and you can then have a clear view over the common on oneside, while you must place a scout to see that no one approaches on theother."
"Admirable generalship!" exclaimed he who had before spoken. "Were itnot for your shaven crown, you would make us a capital leader, if youhad courage enough to face the danger."
"Courage!" cried the Friar, casting an angry look at the speaker."Because I do not bluster and bully, you think I have not courage. Ihave done, and would do, many a deed you dare not!"
"Ah, friar, you boast already, do you? Remember, what are you, but thejackal to our prey? I'll venture you would turn pale at the sight of afew drops of blood."
"Fool, 'tis you will turn pale at sight of your own blood!" exclaimedthe Friar, springing up, and drawing from a sheath under his gown, along sharp stiletto, which he plunged with a steady hand into the fleshypart of the shoulder of the man who had spoken. "Now remember not totaunt me again; and recollect your life was in my power; an inch more ofthe steel would have silenced your tongue for ever."
"Peace, Senhores, peace!" exclaimed the Landlord, seizing the arm of thefriar, who without effort shook him off. "Remember the credit of myhouse; and if you wish to shed blood, let it be outside my doors."
"Do not fear, my friend," answered the Friar coolly; "'Tis but a slightlesson I gave to Senhor Joze here, to speak more respectfully to one ofmy cloth in future. Come, man, I can cure as well as kill;" sayingwhich, he bound up the arm of the wounded man, who, like a cowed hound,submitted without another word.
"Bravo, Frade, bravo! you are a fine fellow, and shall have all youwish," cried the rest of the respectable assemblage.
"Well then, my friends," said the Friar, "to convince you that if I am ajackal, I am a lion also, I will lead you in person to this adventure;but then remember I must have the lion's share also."
"Agreed! agreed!" exclaimed the party. "With so holy a guide we must besuccessful."
"The plan is then arranged, senhores," said the Landlord; "and now tobed. Remember you must rise betimes to be in readiness for the work, asit will not do to be observed quitting my respectable house on such anerrand after the sun is up."
The party now broke up, some stealing off to make their couches in thestable, others in different corners of the room; while the landlord,dismissing his daughter and the rest of his household to their places ofrepose, drew a seat near the fire, where he and the friar remained forsome time in earnest conversation. The latter then rolling himself upin his gown, and pulling his cowl over his head, fell fast asleep on thebench, the host retiring to an upper room which he inhabited.
We have, as yet, described only the lower part of the house; but itpossessed also an upper story intended for the accommodation of anyguests of higher rank who might honour it with their presence. Thegreater part was occupied by one large chamber, surrounded by smallrecesses, in which were placed beds of most execrable hardness,invented, one might suppose, to counteract any tendency to effeminacywhich the climate might have caused. As if in mockery, over the bedswere thrown gaily worked cover lids, beneath which, alas! by theuninitiated traveller, neither peace nor quiet was to be found, asswarms of fierce
inhabitants of two rival races were ever ready, likethe Lilliputians on that renowned voyager Captain Lemuel Gulliver, toavenge on the body of the intruder any inroad made on their territory.Curtains were hung across some of the recesses intended for the guestsof most consideration, and a rough table and benches were placed downthe room, the windows, as we have before said, being destitute of glass,and the walls of aught but the rough mortar. Such were the onlyaccommodations afforded even to the highest ranks; but the inns receivedlittle patronage from any, for, in the first place, no one moved aboutmore than was absolutely necessary, and, when they were obliged to makea journey, the house of any gentleman on the