de Melida; I then took breath a little, and turning to the Alguazil: “What does it mean?” said I; “What! is it in the name of that lady I am arrested? what have I done to her?” “She pretends,” answered he, smiling, “that you have obtained by force, what her virtue had first refused to your desires.” “What do I hear?” cried I, quite surprised. “Has Helena impudence enough to affirm that I am guilty of such a crime?” “Why not,” replied the Alguazil; “she may have some design in accusing you of it. True she will be obliged to prove it, and you will be allowed to defend yourself, but what is the most disagreeable of it,” added he, “is, that by the duty of my function, I must carry you to prison.” By this time I had recollected myself, and I read the warrant over again; and after considering what I should do, I rose and took the Alguazil aside: “Sir,” said I, “I believe you to be a man of honour; consider, I pray, the unjust persecution I am suffering. I declare to you, that far from having used violent means to attain my happiness, the fair Helena has not been backward in promoting it: if you knew how much money I have spent”.... “I have not the least doubt of it,” said he; “I know this wench of old, as well as the roguish tricks of her mother. They have both lived here at Madrid these ten years, where they have no other trade but to ensnare young foreigners. You are the third they have served the very same trick you complain of, and between ourselves I believe you will not be able to get clear without a sum of money.” “I think as you do,” said I; “there can be no other means to hush it up quickly, and without noise; I entrust you,” I added, slipping privately a diamond ring, worth twelve or fifteen pistoles into his hand, “to accommodate matters.” He put the ring on his finger, and, with the tone of an Alguazil, he answered: “I will go and see the ladies, and if they refuse to desist in their action against you, I will threaten them with keeping an eye over their conduct, which will not fail to make them listen to reason.”