Don Rodrigo quickly followed him, and full of impatience to learn what had passed between him and Daraxa, whom he began to suspect strongly of some extraordinary understanding together, he asked him whether he had acquitted himself of his commission, and whether he had any good tidings to communicate. “My Lord,” answered Ambrosio, “you allowed me so short a time to converse with the beautiful Moor, that it has not been possible for me to render you any important service.” “I grant,” replied Don Rodrigo, “that you cannot have had a very long discourse with her, but you must needs have made good use of that time; since Daraxa appears to be so much moved by what you have imparted to her, that I am well convinced she must even have been shedding tears.” “Those tears,” replied the false gardener, “may possibly have been the bitter fruits of the liberty I took in speaking to her of your passion, with which she was perhaps not well pleased.” “Have you no better reasons than these to tell me?” cried Don Rodrigo. “No, my Lord,” said Ambrosio; “I shall merely add that this lady’s heart may probably be already engaged. A young lady who has been educated in so gallant a Court as that of Granada may, very likely, have become sensible to the sighs of some nobleman of that country.” “I agree with you,” replied the jealous Don Rodrigo sharply; “and, moreover, I think your object in being here is less to serve me than that happy rival.” “You do me an injustice,” replied the gardener; “you wrong me much by suspecting that I would betray you for an Infidel.” “Infidel or Christian,” cried Don Rodrigo imperatively; “I begin to suspect you; you are rather too wise for a gardener; and when I call to mind all your interesting little Moorish discourses together, I am the more confirmed in my suspicions. But look to it,” added he in a menacing tone; “you are in a family where knaveries are not long concealed.” Having thus said, he returned to the arbour to the ladies, who still preserved the most profound silence. No sooner had he arrived, than they rose and retired to their own apartments.