The guide returned just as he had concluded speaking. Dishonesty is always suspicious. The fellow cast a glance upon us, and probably beholding in our countenances something which he did not like, he suddenly said, “Give me the horse-hire and my own _propina_, for Perico and I wish to be off instantly.” “How is this?” said I; “I thought you and Perico were both fatigued, and wished to rest here for the night: you have soon recovered from your weariness.” “I have thought over the matter,” said the fellow, “and my master will be angry if I loiter here: pay up, therefore, and let us go.” “Certainly,” said I, “if you wish it. Is the horse furniture all right?” “Quite so,” said he; “I delivered it all to your servant.” “It is all here,” said Antonio, “with the exception of the leathern girth.” “I have not got it,” said the guide. “Of course not,” said I. “Let us proceed to the stable; we shall perhaps find it there.” To the stable we went, which we searched through: no girth, however, was forthcoming. “He has got it buckled round his middle beneath his pantaloons, _mon maître_,” said Antonio, whose eyes were moving about like those of a lynx; “I saw the protuberance as he stooped down. However, let us take no notice: he is here surrounded by his countrymen, who, if we were to seize him, might perhaps take his part. As I said before, he is in our power, as we have not paid him.” The fellow now began to talk in Gallegan to the bystanders (several persons having collected), wishing the _Denho_ to take him if he knew anything of the missing property. Nobody, however, seemed inclined to take his part; and those who listened only shrugged their shoulders. We returned to the portal of the _posada_, the fellow following us, clamouring for the horse-hire and _propina_. We made him no answer, and at length he went away, threatening to apply to the _justicia_; in about ten minutes, however, he came running back with the girth in his hand. “I have just found it,” said he, “in the street: your servant dropped it.” I took the leather and proceeded very deliberately to count out the sum to which the horse-hire amounted, and having delivered it to him in the presence of witnesses, I said, “During the whole journey you have been of no service to us whatever; nevertheless, you have fared like ourselves, and have had all you could desire to eat and drink. I intended, on your leaving us, to present you, moreover, with a _propina_ of two dollars; but since, notwithstanding our kind treatment, you endeavoured to pillage us, I will not give you a _cuarto_: go, therefore, about your business.”