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account allow him to accompany her； and thanking him for his offers as
well as she could； took leave of him in tears。 The servants of Don
Vicente carried away his body； and Roque returned to his comrades； and
so ended the love of Claudia Jeronima； but what wonder； when it was
the insuperable and cruel might of jealousy that wove the web of her
sad story？
Roque Guinart found his squires at the place to which he had ordered
them； and Don Quixote on Rocinante in the midst of them delivering a
harangue to them in which he urged them to give up a mode of life so
full of peril； as well to the soul as to the body； but as most of them
were Gascons； rough lawless fellows； his speech did not make much
impression on them。 Roque on coming up asked Sancho if his men had
returned and restored to him the treasures and jewels they had
stripped off Dapple。 Sancho said they had； but that three kerchiefs
that were worth three cities were missing。
〃What are you talking about； man？〃 said one of the bystanders； 〃I
have got them； and they are not worth three reals。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but my squire values them at
the rate he says； as having been given me by the person who gave
them。〃
Roque Guinart ordered them to be restored at once； and making his
men fall in in line he directed all the clothing； jewellery； and money
that they had taken since the last distribution to be produced； and
making a hasty valuation； and reducing what could not be divided
into money； he made shares for the whole band so equitably and
carefully； that in no case did he exceed or fall short of strict
distributive justice。
When this had been done； and all left satisfied； Roque observed to
Don Quixote； 〃If this scrupulous exactness were not observed with
these fellows there would be no living with them。〃
Upon this Sancho remarked； 〃From what I have seen here； justice is
such a good thing that there is no doing without it； even among the
thieves themselves。〃
One of the squires heard this； and raising the butt…end of his
harquebuss would no doubt have broken Sancho's head with it had not
Roque Guinart called out to him to hold his hand。 Sancho was
frightened out of his wits； and vowed not to open his lips so long
as he was in the company of these people。
At this instant one or two of those squires who were posted as
sentinels on the roads； to watch who came along them and report what
passed to their chief； came up and said； 〃Senor； there is a great
troop of people not far off coming along the road to Barcelona。〃
To which Roque replied； 〃Hast thou made out whether they are of
the sort that are after us； or of the sort we are after？〃
〃The sort we are after；〃 said the squire。
〃Well then； away with you all；〃 said Roque； 〃and bring them here
to me at once without letting one of them escape。〃
They obeyed； and Don Quixote； Sancho； and Roque； left by themselves；
waited to see what the squires brought； and while they were waiting
Roque said to Don Quixote； 〃It must seem a strange sort of life to
Senor Don Quixote； this of ours； strange adventures； strange
incidents； and all full of danger； and I do not wonder that it
should seem so； for in truth I must own there is no mode of life
more restless or anxious than ours。 What led me into it was a
certain thirst for vengeance； which is strong enough to disturb the
quietest hearts。 I am by nature tender…hearted and kindly； but； as I
said； the desire to revenge myself for a wrong that was done me so
overturns all my better impulses that I keep on in this way of life in
spite of what conscience tells me； and as one depth calls to
another； and one sin to another sin； revenges have linked themselves
together； and I have taken upon myself not only my own but those of
others： it pleases God； however； that； though I see myself in this
maze of entanglements； I do not lose all hope of escaping from it
and reaching a safe port。〃
Don Quixote was amazed to hear Roque utter such excellent and just
sentiments； for he did not think that among those who followed such
trades as robbing； murdering； and waylaying； there could be anyone
capable of a virtuous thought； and he said in reply； 〃Senor Roque； the
beginning of health lies in knowing the disease and in the sick
man's willingness to take the medicines which the physician
prescribes； you are sick； you know what ails you； and heaven； or
more properly speaking God； who is our physician； will administer
medicines that will cure you； and cure gradually； and not of a
sudden or by a miracle； besides； sinners of discernment are nearer
amendment than those who are fools； and as your worship has shown good
sense in your remarks； all you have to do is to keep up a good heart
and trust that the weakness of your conscience will be strengthened。
And if you have any desire to shorten the journey and put yourself
easily in the way of salvation； come with me； and I will show you
how to become a knight…errant； a calling wherein so many hardships and
mishaps are encountered that if they be taken as penances they will
lodge you in heaven in a trice。〃
Roque laughed at Don Quixote's exhortation； and changing the
conversation he related the tragic affair of Claudia Jeronima； at
which Sancho was extremely grieved； for he had not found the young
woman's beauty； boldness； and spirit at all amiss。
And now the squires despatched to make the prize came up； bringing
with them two gentlemen on horseback； two pilgrims on foot； and a
coach full of women with some six servants on foot and on horseback in
attendance on them； and a couple of muleteers whom the gentlemen had
with them。 The squires made a ring round them； both victors and
vanquished maintaining profound silence； waiting for the great Roque
Guinart to speak。 He asked the gentlemen who they were； whither they
were going； and what money they carried with them； 〃Senor；〃 replied
one of them； 〃we are two captains of Spanish infantry； our companies
are at Naples； and we are on our way to embark in four galleys which
they say are at Barcelona under orders for Sicily； and we have about
two or three hundred crowns； with which we are； according to our
notions； rich and contented； for a soldier's poverty does not allow
a more extensive hoard。〃
Roque asked the pilgrims the same questions he had put to the
captains； and was answered that they were going to take ship for Rome；
and that between them they might have about sixty reals。 He asked also
who was in the coach； whither they were bound and what money they had；
and one of the men on horseback replied； 〃The persons in the coach are
my lady Dona Guiomar de Quinones； wife of the regent of the Vicaria at
Naples； her little daughter； a handmaid and a duenna； we six
servants are in attendance upon her； and the money amounts to six
hundred crowns。〃
〃So then；〃 said Roque Guinart； 〃we have got here nine hundred crowns
and sixty reals； my soldiers must number some sixty； see how much
there falls to each； for I am a bad arithmetician。〃 As soon as the
robbers heard this they raised a shout of 〃Long life to Roque Guinart；
in spite of the lladres that seek his ruin！〃
The captains showed plainl