"Many thanks for your attention; but are you not afraid of being apprehended yourself as a suspicious character? You heard that the Minister has issued an order to the corregidors of all the towns in the south, to stop every one who has no pass from him, in case they should be carrying off any property stolen from the city." "Oh yes, senhor, I heard of the order, and am provided with a pass, if necessary; but I should think it would not be asked for in such worshipful company as yours." "Then you had some other motive in favouring me with your company?" said Luis, scarcely refraining from laughing at the man's impudence. "People generally have more than one motive for their good actions," returned the Friar. "Now, if I, being a rogue, preserve you from the rogues, you, in return, being an honest man, are bound to preserve me from the fangs of the law; therefore, the obligation is mutual, and I have the satisfaction of performing a good action, and receiving a service from you besides. Don't think I am the less honest on that account. I tell you my motives, whereas another man would keep them secret, or, at all events, give you only one of them; but I scorn such hypocrisy." "You are honest," said Luis. "You flatter me, senhor," interrupted the Friar. "It is the first time, for many a long year past, that I have been told so; and I will endeavour to merit the good opinion you have formed of me." "I shall be indeed glad to hear that you have foresworn the very suspicious companions with whom I have so frequently met you," said Luis. "I have already bidden farewell to most of them. There they hang, like fruit on the trees, thanks to the mild clemency of the Minister!" As the Friar spoke, he pointed towards Lisbon. "I am glad enough to get beyond the sight of those ghastly corpses. Ah, senhor! it is a dreadful thing to hang people up in that way; and many an innocent man is among them. Thank Heaven, I have not such deeds on my conscience! That reminds me, senhor, that I have gained some information which may assist you in discovering what you spoke to me about. I was speaking to one of those poor fellows the night before he was caught and hung,--and, by-the-bye, he no more deserved hanging than I do!--he told me that he had been employed, some time ago, in carrying a young fidalgo, who had been wounded in a night-fray, to a house in the outskirts of Lisbon; but that he could not exactly tell where it was, and who was the person. He had been hired by Rodrigo, who did not mention the name of their employer. The poor fellow was to have accompanied me the next day to try and find out the house, but he was hung instead. Ah! I am a great enemy to the system of hanging."