Although I had not been trusted by either, I had an idea of what was going on; but with more prudence than most boys of my age, I made no remarks either to my mistress or to the young ladies. We had returned to Seville about a month, when Donna Emilia called me aside, and said, Pedro, can you keep a secret?
I told herYes, if I was paid for it.
And what do you want to induce you to keep it, you little miser?
I repliedFrom her, only a kiss.
She called me a little rogue, gave me the kiss, and then told me, that a cavalier would be under the window a little after vesper bell, and that I must give him a billet, which she put into my hand. Of course, having received my payment beforehand, I consented. At the time mentioned I looked out of the gate, and perceiving a cavalier under the window, I accosted him, What ho, senhor, what is it you expect from a fair lady?
A billet, my little page, replied he.
Then here you have it, replied I, pulling it out of my vest. He put a doubloon in my hand, and immediately disappeared.
I liked the gold very much, but I preferred the other payment more. I put the money into my pocket, and returned into the house. I had hardly come into the hall, when Donna Teresa, the other young lady, accosted me. Pedro, I have been looking for youcan you keep a secret?
Yes, if I am paid for it, replied I, as before.
And what must it be that will keep that little tongue of yours from chattering?
From you, replied I, it must be a kiss.
Oh! you little manikinIll give you twenty; and she did so, until she almost took away my breath. And now, said she, there is a senhor waiting below for a note, which you must take him. I took the note, and when I came to the gate, found a cavalier there, as she had mentioned. Oh, senhor, said I, what are you waiting for, is it a billet-doux from a sweet lady?
It is, my pretty boy, answered he.
Perhaps this will interest you, replied I, handing him the note. He snatched it from me, and would have departed. Senhor, said I, I cannot allow my mistress to be affronted. Her favours are beyond all price, but still they are always coupled with gold. Since you are so poor, and gold must pass, here is a piece for you, and I offered him the doubloon which I had received from the other cavalier.
You are a witty boy, replied he, and have corrected my negligence, for it was nothing more, I assure you. Add this to the other;and he put a quarter-doubloon in my hand, and disappeared. I returned to the house; and, as I had been some time away from my mistress, I went into the saloonwhere she was sitting alone.
Pedro, come hither, child; you know how good I have been to you, and how carefully I have brought you up. Now tell me, can you keep a secret?
Yes, madam, replied I, I can keep yours, for it is my duty.
Thats a good child. Well then, I have an idea that my two nieces are followed by some of the gay cavaliers, who saw them at Madrid, and I wish you to find out if it is true.Do you understand?
Oh, yes, madam, replied I; I do perfectly.
Well then, do you watch,and Pedro, here are two reals for you, to buy sugar-plums.
Thus did I enter in one day into the real occupation of a page. I added the two reals to the gold, and, as you may suppose, meant to serve as I was paid. But, as I found out afterwards, I had made a terrible mistake with the two billets-doux. That of Donna Emilia I had given to Don Florez, who was Donna Teresas admirer; that of Donna Teresa I had given to Don Perez, who was the lover of Donna Emilia; but I had better explain to you, before I go on, what did not come to my knowledge until the dénouement took place. Don Perez, the lover of Emilia, was a young man who was entitled to large property, at the death of an uncle, to whom he was heir by entail. Don Florez, on the contrary, was in possession of a splendid fortune, and able to choose for himself.
From fear of discovery, the notes were both in a disguised hand, and not signed by the respective christian names of the ladies. Donna Emilias ran thus: I found your note in the spot agreed, but my aunt has taken away the key of the shrubbery, and is I believe suspicious.Why are you so urgent?I trust your affection, like mine, will but increase from delay. It will be impossible to meet you to-night; but I have entered the page in my service, and will write soon. That of Donna Teresa, which I put in the hands of Don Perez, ran as follows: I can no longer refuse your solicitations for an interview. My aunt has locked up the shrubbery, but if you have courage enough to scale the garden wall, I will meet you in the saloon which opens upon the garden; but not a word must be said, as the servants are continually passing the doorneither can we have a lightI must trust to your honour.
Don Perez was delighted at Donna Emilias having at last yielded to his intreaties for a meeting; and Don Florez, as much annoyed at the reserved conduct of his mistress, went home accusing her of coquetry. At the appointed hour, Don Perez met his supposed mistress in the saloon. The two sisters were confidantes; and, as I was in their secret, they made no scruple of talking before me. The next day, when their aunt left the room, they began arguing upon the personal merits of the respective cavaliers. After a good-humoured controversy, they appealed to me.
Come, Pedro, said Teresa, you shall decide. Which do you think the handsomest cavalier?
Why, answered I, I think that your senhor is, for a fair man, the handsomest I ever sawbut still the beautiful dark eyes of the Donna Emilias cavalier are equally prepossessing.
Why, Pedro, you have mistaken the two, said Emilia, it is Don Perez, the fair one, who is my admirer, and the dark senhor is Don Florez, who is in love with my sister. I perceived that I had made a mistake when I delivered the notes, and Teresa coloured up. But I had sense enough to answer: Very true, madam, you are right; I now recollect that I am confounding the two.
Shortly afterwards the aunt came into the room, and Teresa quitted it, beckoning me to follow her. As soon as I had joined her, she said, Now, Pedro, tell the truth: did you not make the mistake that you stated, and deliver my note to the fair cavalier, Don Perez?
I answered, that I had, as I had already delivered Emilias note to the dark gentleman. Donna Teresa put her hands over her face, and wept bitterly,Pedro, you must now keep this secret, for it is of the greatest importance.My God, what will become of me? cried she; and for some time she was in the greatest distress: at last she wiped her eyes, and after much reflection, she took up paper and wrote a note. Pedro, take this note to the direction; recollect it is for the dark cavalier that it is intended. Teresa had read the note of Emilia to Don Perez, which had been received by Don Florezin consequence her present note ran thus: You may think me harsh for having refused to see you last night, but I was afraid. Do not accuse me with trifling with your feelings, I will meet you in the saloon that leads to the garden, which was last night occupied; come at ten this evening.
I went out with the note and gave it into the hands of Don Florez. My dear boy, tell Donna Teresa I will not fail; I know now why she could not receive me last night; I only hope I may be as fortunate as Don Perez. He put a doubloon in my hand, and I went away. I had not quitted the street when I met Don Perez.