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young lady was his daughter； whose mother had died in giving birth
to her； and that he was very rich in consequence of the dowry left
to him with the daughter。 He asked their advice as to what means he
should adopt to make himself known； or to ascertain beforehand
whether； when he had made himself known； his brother； seeing him so
poor； would be ashamed of him； or would receive him with a warm heart。
〃Leave it to me to find out that；〃 said the curate； 〃though there is
no reason for supposing； senor captain； that you will not be kindly
received； because the worth and wisdom that your brother's bearing
shows him to possess do not make it likely that he will prove
haughty or insensible； or that he will not know how to estimate the
accidents of fortune at their proper value。〃
〃Still；〃 said the captain； 〃I would not make myself known
abruptly； but in some indirect way。〃
〃I have told you already；〃 said the curate； 〃that I will manage it
in a way to satisfy us all。〃
By this time supper was ready； and they all took their seats at
the table； except the captive； and the ladies； who supped by
themselves in their own room。 In the middle of supper the curate said：
〃I had a comrade of your worship's name； Senor Judge； in
Constantinople； where I was a captive for several years； and that same
comrade was one of the stoutest soldiers and captains in the whole
Spanish infantry； but he had as large a share of misfortune as he
had of gallantry and courage。〃
〃And how was the captain called； senor？〃 asked the Judge。
〃He was called Ruy Perez de Viedma；〃 replied the curate； 〃and he was
born in a village in the mountains of Leon； and he mentioned a
circumstance connected with his father and his brothers which； had
it not been told me by so truthful a man as he was； I should have
set down as one of those fables the old women tell over the fire in
winter； for he said his father had divided his property among his
three sons and had addressed words of advice to them sounder than
any of Cato's。 But I can say this much； that the choice he made of
going to the wars was attended with such success； that by his
gallant conduct and courage； and without any help save his own
merit； he rose in a few years to be captain of infantry； and to see
himself on the high…road and in position to be given the command of
a corps before long； but Fortune was against him； for where he might
have expected her favour he lost it； and with it his liberty； on
that glorious day when so many recovered theirs； at the battle of
Lepanto。 I lost mine at the Goletta； and after a variety of adventures
we found ourselves comrades at Constantinople。 Thence he went to
Algiers； where he met with one of the most extraordinary adventures
that ever befell anyone in the world。〃
Here the curate went on to relate briefly his brother's adventure
with Zoraida； to all which the Judge gave such an attentive hearing
that he never before had been so much of a hearer。 The curate；
however； only went so far as to describe how the Frenchmen plundered
those who were in the boat； and the poverty and distress in which
his comrade and the fair Moor were left； of whom he said he had not
been able to learn what became of them； or whether they had reached
Spain； or been carried to France by the Frenchmen。
The captain； standing a little to one side； was listening to all the
curate said； and watching every movement of his brother； who； as
soon as he perceived the curate had made an end of his story； gave a
deep sigh and said with his eyes full of tears； 〃Oh； senor； if you
only knew what news you have given me and how it comes home to me；
making me show how I feel it with these tears that spring from my eyes
in spite of all my worldly wisdom and self…restraint！ That brave
captain that you speak of is my eldest brother； who； being of a bolder
and loftier mind than my other brother or myself； chose the honourable
and worthy calling of arms； which was one of the three careers our
father proposed to us； as your comrade mentioned in that fable you
thought he was telling you。 I followed that of letters； in which God
and my own exertions have raised me to the position in which you see
me。 My second brother is in Peru； so wealthy that with what he has
sent to my father and to me he has fully repaid the portion he took
with him； and has even furnished my father's hands with the means of
gratifying his natural generosity； while I too have been enabled to
pursue my studies in a more becoming and creditable fashion； and so to
attain my present standing。 My father is still alive； though dying
with anxiety to hear of his eldest son； and he prays God unceasingly
that death may not close his eyes until he has looked upon those of
his son； but with regard to him what surprises me is； that having so
much common sense as he had； he should have neglected to give any
intelligence about himself； either in his troubles and sufferings；
or in his prosperity； for if his father or any of us had known of
his condition he need not have waited for that miracle of the reed
to obtain his ransom； but what now disquiets me is the uncertainty
whether those Frenchmen may have restored him to liberty； or
murdered him to hide the robbery。 All this will make me continue my
journey； not with the satisfaction in which I began it； but in the
deepest melancholy and sadness。 Oh dear brother！ that I only knew
where thou art now； and I would hasten to seek thee out and deliver
thee from thy sufferings； though it were to cost me suffering
myself！ Oh that I could bring news to our old father that thou art
alive； even wert thou the deepest dungeon of Barbary； for his wealth
and my brother's and mine would rescue thee thence！ Oh beautiful and
generous Zoraida； that I could repay thy good goodness to a brother！
That I could be present at the new birth of thy soul； and at thy
bridal that would give us all such happiness！〃
All this and more the Judge uttered with such deep emotion at the
news he had received of his brother that all who heard him shared in
it； showing their sympathy with his sorrow。 The curate； seeing；
then； how well he had succeeded in carrying out his purpose and the
captain's wishes； had no desire to keep them unhappy any longer； so he
rose from the table and going into the room where Zoraida was he
took her by the hand； Luscinda； Dorothea； and the Judge's daughter
following her。 The captain was waiting to see what the curate would
do； when the latter； taking him with the other hand； advanced with
both of them to where the Judge and the other gentlemen were and said；
〃Let your tears cease to flow； Senor Judge； and the wish of your heart
be gratified as fully as you could desire； for you have before you
your worthy brother and your good sister…in…law。 He whom you see here
is the Captain Viedma； and this is the fair Moor who has been so good
to him。 The Frenchmen I told you of have reduced them to the state of
poverty you see that you may show the generosity of your kind heart。〃
The captain ran to embrace his brother； who placed both hands on his
breast so as to have a good look at him； holding him a little way
off but as soon as