This story, to which Don Alonso listened with the greatest attention, much surprised him, and he was curious to know the most minute circumstances of it. Of these Claricia was well able to inform him, and she told him every thing that she herself knew on the subject. Thus she was not able to tell him of the share that the beautiful Daraxa had in this adventure. Alonso could not possibly conceive who this Don Jaymé Vivez could be, of whom he had never heard, either at court or in the army. He would willingly have made acquaintance and acted in conjunction with him, to make a party of four, the mistresses of both, as he conceived, being in the same house. This thought gave rise to many others. He reproached himself that he had not been as courageous as Don Jaymé, and also gained admission at Don Lewis’s under some disguise or other, which would have procured him the opportunity of speaking with Daraxa. His imagination grew upon this point, and he amused his mind by forming a thousand designs on the subject. Let us return to the ladies. Elvira, persuaded that it was not usual to love merely for the sake of sighing, and that there must be an end to every thing, resolved to be united to her dear Don Jaymé, who appeared so worthy to possess her. But she felt considerable hesitation and trouble in being the first to make such a proposal. It was a step that revolted against propriety too much for her to think of. She reflected that it would be much preferable to avail herself of the assistance and mediation of her friend, by whom she considered herself sufficiently beloved, to expect her service on such an occasion. She addressed herself, therefore, to Daraxa, and besought her, in the strongest terms, to undertake her cause for her. Daraxa was now truly grieved; for she found that Elvira would willingly consent to elope, and actually meditated a clandestine marriage. Having, however, somewhat recovered herself, she said to her friend, “I am disposed to do what you desire; but before I speak to Don Jaymé, my real friendship will not permit me to dispense with this question: whether you have well reflected on what you are daring to venture upon? No, no,” added she, “you cannot have considered into how many troubles you must infallibly plunge yourself. Suffer me to point out to you what you owe to your family, as well as to yourself. You are willing to put yourself in the power of a man of whom you know neither the birth nor fortune. Can you, with any sort of prudence, rely on him so entirely as to make such advances to him as are by no means suitable, under any circumstances, to one of your noble birth? and if, unfortunately, as is not impossible, these advances be not received agreeable to your wishes, what shame and regret must follow so indiscreet a line of conduct!”