"That may be," said the Landlord; "but you must remember the respectability of my house. I might lose my customers, if it were known I had the honour of your friendship. No offence to you at the same time." "Well, well, Senhor Bernardo; say no more on the subject," said the other, laughing. "Ah! see, here comes your daughter with our supper; both dainty morsels, I doubt not." "Of the latter you may taste at will, but with my Rosa I should advise you not to attempt to make free; for she uses but scant ceremony towards those who offend her," answered the Landlord. "Not I! I never offended a pretty girl in my life. Hey, my bright Rosa?" said the guest, chucking her under the chin as she placed a dish of rice and stewed fowls on the table; but in return for the liberty, he received a sound box on the ear; and she tripped off, laughing, before he could catch her to renew the offence. "Carramba! but your daughter does hit hard," exclaimed the man; "though let us see if her cookery will make amends for her cruelty." As Rosa, having placed another dish on the table, was again hastening away, she encountered from a personage who just then entered the room a fresh attack of the same sort, but, it must be confessed, with scarce the same obduracy; for "Oh, Senhor Frade!" and a loud giggle, was the only answer she gave to the salute, which sounded through the apartment. "Pax vobiscum!" exclaimed the person who had committed this atrocity, as he advanced out of the obscurity towards the group among whom he espied the landlord, well knowing that there would the best cheer be found. As the light fell on him, he exhibited a broad, sinewy figure; and throwing back his cowl, his shorn crown and coarse brown robes, with satchel by his side, proclaimed him to belong to the mendicant order of the Capuchins, his well-filled cheeks showing how assiduously he pursued his avocation. His bullet-shaped head was encircled by a rim of coarse red hair, to which colour his features assimilated; a broad snubby nose, and a pair of blear, though keen, roving eyes, made up the man. He was welcomed by all the party, with whom he appeared to be on the most intimate terms. "Now, for the love of the saints, my pretty Rosa," he exclaimed, as he took his seat at the post of honour near the master, "bring me something to eat, for I am almost dead with hunger and thirst;--anything will serve; a stewed pullet or so, or some broiled pork and lemon; you know that I am not particular as to the things of the appetite;--and hark you, my Rosa dear, if you can find the remains of a bottle or so of old wine, bring it, in the name of the Virgin; for I am thirsty and tired."