Sooth, I do not like to say it, Yet it may as well be said; Thou wilt be a buxom widow; Twice again shalt thou be wed. Do not weep, my sweet senora; We gitanas, you must know, Speak not always true as gospel Weep not then sweet lady so. If the thought is too distressing, Losing such a tender mate, Thou hast but to die before him, To escape a widow's fate. Wealth abundant thou'lt inherit, And that quickly, never fear: Thou shalt have a son, a canon, --Of what church does not appear; Not Toledo; no, that can't be; And a daughter--let me see-- Ay, she'll rise to be an abbess; --That is, if a nun she be. If thy husband do not drop off From this moment in weeks four, Burgos him, or Salamanca, Shall behold corregidor. Meanwhile keep thyself from tripping: Where thou walkest, many a snare For the feet of pretty ladies Naughty gallants lay: beware! Other things still more surprising Shall on Friday next be told, Things to startle and delight thee, When I've crossed thy palm with gold. Preciosa having finished this oracular descant for the lady of the house, the rest of the company were all eager to have their fortunes told likewise, but she put them off till the next Friday, when they promised to have silver coin ready for crossing their palms. The señor lieutenant now came in, and heard a glowing account of the charms and accomplishments of the leading gitana. Having made her and her companions dance a little, he emphatically confirmed the encomiums bestowed on Preciosa; and putting his hand in his pocket he groped and rummaged about in it for a while, but at last drew his hand out empty, saying, "Upon my life I have not a doit. Give Preciosa a real, Doña Clara; I will give it you by and by." "That is all very well, señor," the lady replied; "but where is the real to come from? Amongst us all we could not find a quarto to cross our hands with." "Well, give her some trinket or another, that Preciosa may come another day to see us, when we will treat her better." "No," said Doña Clara, "I will give her nothing to-day, and I shall be sure she will come again." "On the contrary," said Preciosa, "if you give me nothing. I will never come here any more. Sell justice, señor lieutenant, sell justice, and then you will have money. Do not introduce new customs, but do as other magistrates do, or you will die of hunger. Look you, señor, I have heard say that money enough may be made of one's office to pay any mulets that may be incurred,[70] and to help one to other appointments." [70] It was formerly the custom in Spain that a civil officer on giving up his post, should remain for a certain time in the place where he had served, to answer any charges of maladministration that might be brought against him.