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her opponent。 As for Sancho； he went searching all over the floor
for the head of the giant； and not finding it he said； 〃I see now that
it's all enchantment in this house； for the last time； on this very
spot where I am now； I got ever so many thumps without knowing who
gave them to me； or being able to see anybody； and now this head is
not to be seen anywhere about； though I saw it cut off with my own
eyes and the blood running from the body as if from a fountain。〃
〃What blood and fountains are you talking about； enemy of God and
his saints？〃 said the landlord。 〃Don't you see； you thief； that the
blood and the fountain are only these skins here that have been
stabbed and the red wine swimming all over the room？… and I wish I saw
the soul of him that stabbed them swimming in hell。〃
〃I know nothing about that；〃 said Sancho； 〃all I know is it will
be my bad luck that through not finding this head my county will
melt away like salt in water；〃… for Sancho awake was worse than his
master asleep； so much had his master's promises addled his wits。
The landlord was beside himself at the coolness of the squire and
the mischievous doings of the master； and swore it should not be
like the last time when they went without paying； and that their
privileges of chivalry should not hold good this time to let one or
other of them off without paying； even to the cost of the plugs that
would have to be put to the damaged wine…skins。 The curate was holding
Don Quixote's hands； who； fancying he had now ended the adventure
and was in the presence of the Princess Micomicona； knelt before the
curate and said； 〃Exalted and beauteous lady； your highness may live
from this day forth fearless of any harm this base being could do you；
and I too from this day forth am released from the promise I gave you；
since by the help of God on high and by the favour of her by whom I
live and breathe； I have fulfilled it so successfully。〃
〃Did not I say so？〃 said Sancho on hearing this。 〃You see I wasn't
drunk； there you see my master has already salted the giant； there's
no doubt about the bulls； my county is all right！〃
Who could have helped laughing at the absurdities of the pair；
master and man？ And laugh they did； all except the landlord； who
cursed himself； but at length the barber； Cardenio； and the curate
contrived with no small trouble to get Don Quixote on the bed； and
he fell asleep with every appearance of excessive weariness。 They left
him to sleep； and came out to the gate of the inn to console Sancho
Panza on not having found the head of the giant； but much more work
had they to appease the landlord； who was furious at the sudden
death of his wine…skins； and said the landlady half scolding； half
crying； 〃At an evil moment and in an unlucky hour he came into my
house； this knight…errant… would that I had never set eyes on him； for
dear he has cost me； the last time he went off with the overnight
score against him for supper； bed； straw； and barley； for himself
and his squire and a hack and an ass； saying he was a knight
adventurer… God send unlucky adventures to him and all the adventurers
in the world… and therefore not bound to pay anything； for it was so
settled by the knight…errantry tariff： and then； all because of him；
came the other gentleman and carried off my tail； and gives it back
more than two cuartillos the worse； all stripped of its hair； so
that it is no use for my husband's purpose； and then； for a
finishing touch to all； to burst my wine…skins and spill my wine！ I
wish I saw his own blood spilt！ But let him not deceive himself；
for； by the bones of my father and the shade of my mother； they
shall pay me down every quarts； or my name is not what it is； and I am
not my father's daughter。〃 All this and more to the same effect the
landlady delivered with great irritation； and her good maid Maritornes
backed her up； while the daughter held her peace and smiled from
time to time。 The curate smoothed matters by promising to make good
all losses to the best of his power； not only as regarded the
wine…skins but also the wine； and above all the depreciation of the
tail which they set such store by。 Dorothea comforted Sancho；
telling him that she pledged herself； as soon as it should appear
certain that his master had decapitated the giant； and she found
herself peacefully established in her kingdom； to bestow upon him
the best county there was in it。 With this Sancho consoled himself；
and assured the princess she might rely upon it that he had seen the
head of the giant； and more by token it had a beard that reached to
the girdle； and that if it was not to be seen now it was because
everything that happened in that house went by enchantment； as he
himself had proved the last time he had lodged there。 Dorothea said
she fully believed it； and that he need not be uneasy； for all would
go well and turn out as he wished。 All therefore being appeased； the
curate was anxious to go on with the novel； as he saw there was but
little more left to read。 Dorothea and the others begged him to finish
it； and he； as he was willing to please them； and enjoyed reading it
himself； continued the tale in these words：
The result was； that from the confidence Anselmo felt in Camilla's
virtue； he lived happy and free from anxiety； and Camilla purposely
looked coldly on Lothario； that Anselmo might suppose her feelings
towards him to be the opposite of what they were； and the better to
support the position； Lothario begged to be excused from coming to the
house； as the displeasure with which Camilla regarded his presence was
plain to be seen。 But the befooled Anselmo said he would on no account
allow such a thing； and so in a thousand ways he became the author
of his own dishonour； while he believed he was insuring his happiness。
Meanwhile the satisfaction with which Leonela saw herself empowered to
carry on her amour reached such a height that； regardless of
everything else； she followed her inclinations unrestrainedly； feeling
confident that her mistress would screen her； and even show her how to
manage it safely。 At last one night Anselmo heard footsteps in
Leonela's room； and on trying to enter to see who it was； he found
that the door was held against him； which made him all the more
determined to open it； and exerting his strength he forced it open；
and entered the room in time to see a man leaping through the window
into the street。 He ran quickly to seize him or discover who he was；
but he was unable to effect either purpose； for Leonela flung her arms
round him crying； 〃Be calm； senor； do not give way to passion or
follow him who has escaped from this； he belongs to me； and in fact he
is my husband。〃
Anselmo would not believe it； but blind with rage drew a dagger
and threatened to stab Leonela； bidding her tell the truth or he would
kill her。 She； in her fear； not knowing what she was saying；
exclaimed； 〃Do not kill me； senor； for I can tell you things more
important than any you can imagine。〃
〃Tell me then at once or thou diest；〃 said Anselmo。
〃It would be impossible for me now；〃 said Leonela； 〃I am so
agitated： leave me till to…morrow； an