By this time Don Felipe had remounted his steed and with a supercilious smile as watching the transaction. “Seeing that I am of no use I will go on and leave you to follow with your valuable purchase,” he said in an amused tone, and the next minute he was clattering along the road. Patty gently stroked the donkey’s soft nozzle. “He will soon learn that there is such a thing as kindness in the world,” she said. “I wouldn’t put too much faith in his good qualities; they can be nasty little beasts,” Robert told her. “Because they are often so badly treated. I know this one will be good. You must let me pay for him, you know.” “No, if you refuse to take him as a gift I shall keep him myself, and the beggar’s treatment of him won’t be a patch upon my abuse.” “Tell that to the marines. I will take him if Tina will let me, but very likely she will not.” “Why should you not accept from me a scrubby little donkey, worth less than eight dollars, as well as a silver cup, worth much more, from Don Felipe?” “Because that is a horse of another color, or rather, I should say donkey. However, we shall see.” “Do you want to take the burro home now?” “No, I think I should first like to take him to the chapel of Our Lady of Pity where I was going. I shall ask her to bless him.” “Is there a need? He has already been blessed by a lady of pity, though I could wish she would not confine her compassionate acts to donkeys.” “There are donkeys and--” “Donkeys, you would say. I admit that, but why be kind to one variety and cruel to another?” “When was I cruel?” “Didn’t you promise to go to the cave of the _inxanos_ with me, and then only perform half of what you said?” “I kept my promise. I said I would go with you, but I didn’t say I would come back in your company.” “Oh, I see. It was the donkey in me which prevented my taking that in.” “Please don’t cast reflections on the dear burros. They are really very clever.” “And I am not?” Patty laughed. “I can’t say that when you are so quick to draw conclusions. I had a good reason for not wanting to come home with you.” “What was it?” “I can’t tell you now.” “Will you some day? On the day you tell me the wishes? By the way, when are we to look for our answers?” “Oh, I don’t know. I shall have to ask Tomás about it. He knows a queer witch woman who tells him all sorts of curious things.” “If I may inquire, how did you and the old don happen to be on the _carretera_ in company with a beggar?”