This statement was not altogether without foundation. He had formerly lived upon such a footing with the great, but by dealing with, and trusting those great men rather too extensively, he had run himself so far in debt, that he only supported himself by his wits, which were such, at any rate, that he kept up his credit. My jewels were a great help to him in his embarrassment; for he was just at this time extremely straightened for a considerable sum of money, and raised half by them; having seized the opportunity of the marriage of the Duke of Medina Sidonia’s daughter to dispose of them advantageously. As I could then only judge of his circumstances by appearances, I considered myself very happy in having made an acquaintance with him; and even secretly blamed myself for having conceived so bold an idea as that of aspiring to the hand of his only daughter, who appeared to be a match worthy of a prince. Don Andrea, on his side, was not without surprise at my mode of proceeding. He therefore sent a trusty person to inquire my character from my landlady, and in what style I was living at Madrid. From all sides, however, he obtained favourable reports of me; for though no one was acquainted with my family, I might easily pass for a man of quality, as far as my mode of living, manners, and conversation, would impress such a belief. After such good accounts of me, he concluded that I was the man heaven had intended for his son-in-law. He mentioned it to his daughter who told him that I had followed her from the Dominican’s church to her house; that I continually passed under the windows; in a word, that by all my actions I had given her to understand that I had conceived a passion for her. The father had too much experience not to believe the same thing, and the confidence I had placed in him by giving him my diamonds without a note, could only be the effect of my love for his daughter. They both rejoiced at it in their private conversations, and concluding that I was richer than a Jew, they resolved to manage it so well as not to miss so fair an opportunity of advancing themselves again in the world.