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My efforts continued; and I was made Comte de Villamares, and afterwards Duke de Armada " "Oh! Senor Duke," interrupted Despilfarro, in a humble voice, "permit me but I " "I have not yet finished," calmly continued the Spaniard; "when you have heard all, you will no longer doubt my words.

"Upon my word, Don Estevan," replied Despilfarro, "you are cruel to mystify one in this manner. I I Carramba! it is very embarrassing." Don Estevan interrupted him. This hesitation on the part of Despilfarro told the Spaniard what he wished to know. An ironical smile played upon his lips, and laying aside his pleasantry, he resumed in a serious tone: "Listen to me, Tragaduros!

"Ah! just as I expected," answered Don Estevan; "it is the human heart. I knew you would make some objection of this kind, but I thought you were more a man of the world than to trouble yourself about the past with such a splendid fortune before you. Ah! my poor Despilfarro," added the Spaniard, with a laugh, "I thought you were more advanced."

Now hear me, Don Vicente! as to your own share in this business. The Senator Despilfarro is already a rich man, with a lady for his wife of whom a prince might be proud. He will be made noble a count a Grandee of Spain. A lucrative post will attach him to the person of the new king, and nothing is to hinder him from rising to the very summit of his ambition.

Don Estevan put this question for the purpose of sounding the morality of the man, or rather to try the strength of a tool, which he meant to make use of. Despilfarro returned no reply. "Now, then, I await your answer," said Don Estevan, after a pause, appearing to take pleasure in the Senator's embarrassment.

"That does honour to your penetration," said the Spaniard, with a disdainful smile. "Well, then, since I have already demanded the hand of Dona Rosarita for the illustrious senator Tragaduros y Despilfarro, of course I cannot now take his place." "But why, senor, did you not make the demand on your own account?"

I am not one of those who sell the skin of the bear before the animal is caught. It is enough for you to know, Don Vicente Tragaduros y Despilfarro, that I have a hundred thousand dollars at your disposal the moment you say the word it only remains for you to hear my conditions, and subscribe to them."

"The Senor Tragaduros y Despilfarro, will find the shade of one of these cottages more agreeable," interposed Cuchillo, who knew the senator of Arispe. He knew, moreover, that the latter had attached himself to the fortunes of Don Estevan, in default of better cause: and in hopes of repairing his own fortune, long since dissipated.

"Why, because, my dear friend, were this young lady three times as beautiful, and three times as rich as she is, she would neither be beautiful enough nor rich enough for me!" Despilfarro started with astonishment. "Eh! and who are you then, senor, may I ask in my turn?" "Only, as you have said, Don Estevan Arechiza," coolly replied the Spaniard.