WHICH TREATS OF MORE CURIOUS INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THE INN

Just at that instant the landlord, who was standing at the gate of the

inn, exclaimed, "Here comes a fine troop of guests; if they stop here we

may say gaudeamus."

"What are they?" said Cardenio.

"Four men," said the landlord, "riding a la jineta, with lances and

bucklers, and all with black veils, and with them there is a woman in

white on a side-saddle, whose face is also veiled, and two attendants on

foot."

"Are they very near?" said the curate.

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"So near," answered the landlord, "that here they come."

Hearing this Dorothea covered her face, and Cardenio retreated into Don

Quixote's room, and they hardly had time to do so before the whole party

the host had described entered the inn, and the four that were on

horseback, who were of highbred appearance and bearing, dismounted, and

came forward to take down the woman who rode on the side-saddle, and one

of them taking her in his arms placed her in a chair that stood at the

entrance of the room where Cardenio had hidden himself. All this time

neither she nor they had removed their veils or spoken a word, only on

sitting down on the chair the woman gave a deep sigh and let her arms

fall like one that was ill and weak. The attendants on foot then led the

horses away to the stable. Observing this the curate, curious to know who

these people in such a dress and preserving such silence were, went to

where the servants were standing and put the question to one of them, who

answered him.

"Faith, sir, I cannot tell you who they are, I only know they seem to be

people of distinction, particularly he who advanced to take the lady you

saw in his arms; and I say so because all the rest show him respect, and

nothing is done except what he directs and orders."

"And the lady, who is she?" asked the curate.

"That I cannot tell you either," said the servant, "for I have not seen

her face all the way: I have indeed heard her sigh many times and utter

such groans that she seems to be giving up the ghost every time; but it

is no wonder if we do not know more than we have told you, as my comrade

and I have only been in their company two days, for having met us on the

road they begged and persuaded us to accompany them to Andalusia,

promising to pay us well."

"And have you heard any of them called by his name?" asked the curate.




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