"The following day, Francillo returned to Madrid, after leaving with his father a purse of three hundred pistoles. But, this morning, he was not a little astonished at beholding master Jacobo suddenly enter his room. 'Ah! my father what brings you here!' 'Why, my son,' replied the old man, 'I bring you back your purse. There, take your money; I am determined to live by my trade: I have been miserable ever since I left off work.' 'Ah, well! my father,' said Francillo, 'return to the village, and continue to work as you will: but, at all events, let it be only to amuse you. Take back your purse, too, and do not spare mine.' 'And what, then, do you think I can do with so much money?' asked master Jacobo. 'It will enable you to relieve the poor,' replied the banker: 'do with it as the curate and your own conscience shall dictate.' The cobbler, satisfied to accept it on these terms, immediately departed for Mediana." [Illustration: the cobbler attempts to return the purse to his son] Don Cleophas had listened, with pleasure, to the history of Francillo; and he was about to express his admiration of the good-hearted banker's filial affection, when, at the very moment, his attention was distracted by the most piercing shrieks. "Signor Asmodeus!" he exclaimed, "what frightful noises do I hear?" "Those cries, which rend the air," replied the Devil, "proceed from a receptacle for madmen, who tear their throats with shouting, or with singing." "We are not far from the place of their confinement, then," said Leandro; "so let us look at them at once." "By all means," replied the Demon: "I will afford you that amusement and inform you of the causes of their madness." It was no sooner said than done; and, in a moment, the Student found himself on the _Casa de los locos_. CHAPTER IX. THE MADHOUSE, AND ITS INMATES. Zambullo surveyed, by turns, with much curiosity, the several rooms and the unfortunate creatures they contained; and while he was reflecting on the scene thus presented to his eyes, the Devil said to him: "There they are, my master! You see insanity in every form there;--men and women, laughing idiots and raging maniacs, locks grey with age, and cheeks which still retain their bloom. Well! now I will tell you what has turned their heads: we will go from room to room, but will begin with the men. "The first whom you observe, and who appears so violent, is a political fanatic of Castile. He is a proud citizen of Madrid, in the heart of which he was born; and he is more jealous of the honour of his country than was ever citizen of ancient Rome. He went mad with chagrin at reading in the gazette, that twenty-five Spaniards had suffered themselves to be beaten by a party of fifty Portuguese. "His neighbour is a licentiate, who was so anxious to obtain a benefice, that he played the hypocrite at court during ten long years; and whose brain was turned by despair at finding himself constantly