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honest Peregil in frippery； and laying the very donkey under
requisition for junketing parties into the country on Sundays； and
saints' days； and those innumerable holidays which are rather more
numerous in Spain than the days of the week。 With all this she was a
little of a slattern； something more of a lie…abed； and； above all；
a gossip of the first water； neglecting house； household； and every
thing else； to loiter slipshod in the houses of her gossip neighbors。
He； however； who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb； accommodates
the yoke of matrimony to the submissive neck。 Peregil bore all the
heavy dispensations of wife and children with as meek a spirit as
his donkey bore the water…jars； and； however he might shake his ears
in private； never ventured to question the household virtues of his
slattern spouse。
He loved his children too even as an owl loves its owlets； seeing in
them his own image multiplied and perpetuated； for they were a sturdy；
long…backed； bandy…legged little brood。 The great pleasure of honest
Peregil was； whenever he could afford himself a scanty holiday； and
had a handful of marevedis to spare； to take the whole litter forth
with him； some in his arms； some tugging at his skirts； and some
trudging at his heels； and to treat them to a gambol among the
orchards of the Vega； while his wife was dancing with her holiday
friends in the Angosturas of the Darro。
It was a late hour one summer night； and most of the
water…carriers had desisted from their toils。 The day had been
uncommonly sultry； the night was one of those delicious moonlights；
which tempt the inhabitants of southern climes to indemnify themselves
for the heat and inaction of the day； by lingering in the open air；
and enjoying its tempered sweetness until after midnight。 Customers
for water were therefore still abroad。 Peregil； like a considerate；
painstaking father； thought of his hungry children。 〃One more
journey to the well；〃 said he to himself； 〃to earn a Sunday's
puchero for the little ones。〃 So saying； he trudged manfully up the
steep avenue of the Alhambra； singing as he went； and now and then
bestowing a hearty thwack with a cudgel on the flanks of his donkey；
either by way of cadence to the song； or refreshment to the animal；
for dry blows serve in lieu of provender in Spain for all beasts of
burden。
When arrived at the well； he found it deserted by every one except a
solitary stranger in Moorish garb； seated on a stone bench in the
moonlight。 Peregil paused at first and regarded him with surprise； not
unmixed with awe； but the Moor feebly beckoned him to approach。 〃I
am faint and ill；〃 said he； 〃aid me to return to the city； and I
will pay thee double what thou couldst gain by thy jars of water。〃
The honest heart of the little water…carrier was touched with
compassion at the appeal of the stranger。 〃God forbid；〃 said he； 〃that
I should ask fee or reward for doing a common act of humanity。〃 He
accordingly helped the Moor on his donkey； and set off slowly for
Granada； the poor Moslem being so weak that it was necessary to hold
him on the animal to keep him from falling to the earth。
When they entered the city； the water…carrier demanded whither he
should conduct him。 〃Alas！〃 said the Moor； faintly； 〃I have neither
home nor habitation； I am a stranger in the land。 Suffer me to lay
my head this night beneath thy roof； and thou shalt be amply repaid。〃
Honest Peregil thus saw himself unexpectedly saddled with an infidel
guest； but he was too humane to refuse a night's shelter to a fellow
being in so forlorn a plight； so he conducted the Moor to his
dwelling。 The children； who had sallied forth open…mouthed as usual on
hearing the tramp of the donkey； ran back with affright； when they
beheld the turbaned stranger； and hid themselves behind their
mother。 The latter stepped forth intrepidly； like a ruffling hen
before her brood when a vagrant dog approaches。
〃What infidel companion；〃 cried she； 〃is this you have brought
home at this late hour； to draw upon us the eyes of the Inquisition？〃
〃Be quiet； wife；〃 replied the Gallego； 〃here is a poor sick
stranger； without friend or home； wouldst thou turn him forth to
perish in the streets？〃
The wife would still have remonstrated； for although she lived in
a hovel she was a furious stickler for the credit of her house； the
little water…carrier； however； for once was stiff…necked； and
refused to bend beneath the yoke。 He assisted the poor Moslem to
alight； and spread a mat and a sheep…skin for him； on the ground； in
the coolest part of the house； being the only kind of bed that his
poverty afforded。
In a little while the Moor was seized with violent convulsions；
which defied all the ministering skill of the simple water…carrier。
The eye of the poor patient acknowledged his kindness。 During an
interval of his fits he called him to his side； and addressing him
in a low voice； 〃My end；〃 said he； 〃I fear is at hand。 If I die； I
bequeath you this box as a reward for your charity〃： so saying； he
opened his albornoz； or cloak； and showed a small box of sandalwood；
strapped round his body。 〃God grant； my friend；〃 replied the worthy
little Gallego； 〃that you may live many years to enjoy your
treasure； whatever it may be。〃 The Moor shook his head； he laid his
hand upon the box； and would have said something more concerning it；
but his convulsions returned with increasing violence； and in a little
while he expired。
The water…carrier's wife was now as one distracted。 〃This comes；〃
said she； 〃of your foolish good nature； always running into scrapes to
oblige others。 What will become of us when this corpse is found in our
house？ We shall be sent to prison as murderers； and if we escape
with our lives； shall be ruined by notaries and alguazils。〃
Poor Peregil was in equal tribulation； and almost repented himself
of having done a good deed。 At length a thought struck him。 〃It is not
yet day；〃 said he； 〃I can convey the dead body out of the city； and
bury it in the sands on the banks of the Xenil。 No one saw the Moor
enter our dwelling； and no one will know any thing of his death。〃
So said； so done。 The wife aided him； they rolled the body of the
unfortunate Moslem in the mat on which he had expired； laid it
across the ass； and Peregil set out with it for the banks of the
river。
As ill luck would have it； there lived opposite to the water…carrier
a barber named Pedrillo Pedrugo； one of the most prying； tattling； and
mischief…making of his gossip tribe。 He was a weasel…faced；
spider…legged varlet； supple and insinuating； the famous barber of
Seville could not surpass him for his universal knowledge of the
affairs of others； and he had no more power of retention than a sieve。
It was said that he slept but with one eye at a time； and kept one ear
uncovered； so that； even in his sleep； he might see and hear all
that was going on。 Certain it is； he was a sort of scandalous
ch