Montezuma's Daughter

ar or so that I remained in Spain, for were I to set out everything at length, th

ble, I bethought me that it would be well if I could find means of continuing my studies of medicine, and to this end I obtained certain introductions from the firm of merchants to whose care I had been recommended, addressed to doctors of medicine in Seville. These letters at my request were made out not in my own name but in that of 'Diego d'Aila,' for I did not wish it to be known that I was an Englishman. Nor, indee

street I noticed a man sitting in the shade on a stool in the doorway of his patio. He was small and withered, with keen black eyes and a wonderful air of wisdom, and he watched me as I went by. Now the house of the famous physician whom I sought was so placed that the man sitting at this doorway could command it with his eyes and take note of all who went in and came out. When I had found the house I returned again into the quiet street and walked to and fro there for a while, thinking of what tale I

said in a full and gentle voice.

foreigner, senor?' I asked,

d know it now,' he answered, smiling gra

ut to pass on, when

ir? Step in and take a cup o

my mind that I had nothing to do, and that per

hot, senor,

around it. Here were chairs and a little table placed in the shade of the vines. When he had closed the door of the patio and we were seat

ne,' said

te wine of Oporto such as

st stopped, his glass in his ha

Aila,' I

ps an imitation Spanish name, for I do not

or to leave, senor?'-And

's business except their owners'. I see that you are a stranger in this city-no need to look surprised, senor, one who is familiar with a town does not gaze and stare and ask the path of passers-by, nor does a native of Seville walk o

art by plying openly for patients that they may capture their fees. 'Still, I will tell you. I am also a physician, though not yet fully q

he nodded towards the physician's house. 'Such as he will take no appre

a livelihood elsew

more important, of human nature, for of the first none of us can ever know much,

the matter in hand, that I marvelled at his sagacity. Some of these questions were medical, dealing chiefly

ears, you lack experience. There is stuff in you, senor, and you have a heart, which is a good thing, for the blunders of

ld back my satisfaction at his

l at the bottom, or bad tempered and destined to the dogs, as for aught I know you may be also. But I take my chance of that because you suit me in another way. Perhaps you

ht I ask what all these compliments may

most of all one which I can only guess you to possess-discretion. That assistant would not be ill-paid; this house w

I am expected to assist. Your offers sound too liberal, and I fear that I m

, if I have earned so much, I am not content to rest from my labours. Good, I will tell you. I earn it by ministering to the vanities of women and sheltering them from the results of their own folly. Has a lady a sore heart, she comes to me for comfort and advice. Has she pimples on her face, she flies to me to cure them. Has she a secret love affair, it is I who hide her indiscretion; I consult the future for her, I help her to atone the past, I doctor her for imaginary ailments, and often enough I cure her of real ones. Half the secrets of Seville are in my hands; did I

y-three poun

. Talk of romances and adventure! What romance or adventure is half so wonderful as those that come daily to my notice? A

help of an unknown lad, a stranger of

of you, young man, do you think that I have followed this strange trade of mine for forty years without learning to judge at sight? Perhaps I know you better than you know yourself. By the way, the fact that you are deeply enamoured

now?' I began

s when your Castilian failed you. Then for the maid, is not that a betrothal ring upon your hand? And when I spoke to you of the ladies of this country, my talk did not interest you overmuch as at your age

very clev

op so long in Seville. Perhaps you came here with an object, and wish to pass the time profitably till it is fulfilled. A go

ine to

shall show you to draw grist to my mill-and to your own. You must be brilliant and witty, or sad and learned, as I wish; you must make the most of your person and your talents, for these go far with my customers. To the hidalgo you must talk of arms, to the lady, of love; but you must never commit yourself beyond redemption. And above all, young man'-and here his manner changed and his face grew stern and almost fierce-'you must never viola

own sake I will resp

istrusted you, for doubtless you feel that secrets communicated so readily have no claim to be held sacred. Nor have they, b

acc

your score and bring it here. No need for you to go, nephew, let us stop and

that I, the narrator, was sowing a plentiful crop of troubles for myself in having to deal with him, setting him down as a rogue of the deepest, such as sometimes, for their own wick

he forgot nothing. In part he was a quack, but his quackery always had a meaning in it. He fleeced the foolish, indeed, and even juggled with astronomy, making money out of their superstition; but on the other hand he did many a kind act without reward. He would make a rich lady pay ten gold pesos for the dyeing of her hair, but often he

e best houses of Seville. Here I took that share of our business which my master could not take, for now he never mixed among the fashion of the city. Money I was supplied with in abundance so that I could ruffle it with the best, but soon it became known that I looked to business as well as to pleasure. Often and often during some

d the satisfaction of all. By degrees it became known that though I was so young yet I had discretion, and that nothing which went in at my ears came out of my lips; that I neither brawled nor drank nor gambled to any length, and that though I was friendly with many fair ladies, there were none who were entitled to know my secrets. Also it became known that I had some skill in my art of healing, and it was said among the ladies of Seville that there lived no man in

ions of wickedness that would be thought impossible, did not her story prove itself; the secret murder perchance of a spouse, or a lover, or a rival; now some aged dame who would win a husband in his teens, now some wealthy low-born man or woman, who desired to buy an alliance with one lacking money, but of noble blood. Such I did not care to help indeed, but to the love-si

who thought of my Englis