from the river Tagus up a vast hill, to serve the city Toledo, had done nothing; for he was now contriving to bring the whole river up to that city a much easier way; and when he came to explain the method, it was to be by a spell; pray do but mind whether ever such follies were heard of in the world; but he went on, and added, "Yet I do not design to put this in execution, unless the king will first settle a good estate upon me, and knight me, for I am capable enough of that honour, because I have good testimonials of my gentility." This rambling, wild discourse lasted us to Torrejon, where he stayed to see a kinswoman. I went on very well pleased, and laughing heartily at the projects he spent his time in. [Illustration] I had not gone far before I spied at a distance a mule loose, and a man by her a-foot, who looking into a book, drew some lines, and measured them with a pair of compasses. He leaped and skipped about from side to side, and now and then laying one finger upon the other, made several extravagant motions. I must confess, that stopping at a good distance some time to observe him, I at first concluded he was a conjurer, and was almost afraid to go on. At last I resolved to venture, and drawing near, he spied me, shut his book, and going to mount, his foot slipped out of the stirrup and he fell. I helped him up, and he said, "I took not the due proportion in rising, to make the half circumference of mounting." I did not understand what he meant, but presently guessed what he was, for a more extravagant distracted man was never born of a woman. He asked whether I was going to Madrid in a direct line, or took a circumflex road? Though I did not understand him, yet I answered, "That by circumflex." Next he asked me whose sword that was by my side? and having answered it was mine, he viewed it, and said, "That bar ought to be longer, to ward off the cuts that are made upon the centre of the thrusts." And thus he went on, sputtering out such a parcel of big words, that I was fain to ask him what his profession was? He told me that he was a solid master of the noble science of defence, and would make it good upon any ground in Spain. I could not forbear laughing, and answered, "By my troth, Sir, I rather took you for a conjurer, when I saw you describing circles, and making such antic motions in the field." "The reason of that," replied he, "was because there occurred to me a thrust in quart, fetching the greater compass, to engage my adversary's sword, and killing him before he can say his soul is his own, that he may not discover who did it; and I was then reducing of it to mathematical rules." "Is it possible," said I, "that the mathematics should be concerned in that affair?" "Not only the mathematics," quoth he, "but divinity, philosophy, music, and physic." "I do not question it as to the last," said I, "since that art aims at killing." "Do not make a jest of it," continued he, "for I will now teach you an excellent