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of having done a good deed。 At length a thought struck him。 〃It is not
yet day；〃 said he； 〃I can convey the dead body out of the city； and
bury it in the sands on the banks of the Xenil。 No one saw the Moor
enter our dwelling； and no one will know any thing of his death。〃
So said； so done。 The wife aided him； they rolled the body of the
unfortunate Moslem in the mat on which he had expired； laid it
across the ass； and Peregil set out with it for the banks of the
river。
As ill luck would have it； there lived opposite to the water…carrier
a barber named Pedrillo Pedrugo； one of the most prying； tattling； and
mischief…making of his gossip tribe。 He was a weasel…faced；
spider…legged varlet； supple and insinuating； the famous barber of
Seville could not surpass him for his universal knowledge of the
affairs of others； and he had no more power of retention than a sieve。
It was said that he slept but with one eye at a time； and kept one ear
uncovered； so that； even in his sleep； he might see and hear all
that was going on。 Certain it is； he was a sort of scandalous
chronicle for the quid…nuncs of Granada； and had more customers than
all the rest of his fraternity。
This meddlesome barber heard Peregil arrive at an unusual hour at
night； and the exclamations of his wife and children。 His head was
instantly popped out of a little window which served him as a
look…out； and he saw his neighbor assist a man in Moorish garb into
his dwelling。 This was so strange an occurrence； that Pedrillo Pedrugo
slept not a wink that night。 Every five minutes he was at his
loophole； watching the lights that gleamed through the chinks of his
neighbor's door； and before daylight he beheld Peregil sally forth
with his donkey unusually laden。
The inquisitive barber was in a fidget； he slipped on his clothes；
and； stealing forth silently； followed the water…carrier at a
distance； until he saw him dig a hole in the sandy bank of the
Xenil； and bury something that had the appearance of a dead body。
The barber hied him home； and fidgeted about his shop； setting every
thing upside down； until sunrise。 He then took a basin under his
arm； and sallied forth to the house of his daily customer the alcalde。
The alcalde was just risen。 Pedrillo Pedrugo seated him in a
chair； threw a napkin round his neck； put a basin of hot water under
his chin； and began to mollify his beard with his fingers。
〃Strange doings！〃 said Pedrugo； who played barber and newsmonger
at the same time… 〃Strange doings！ Robbery； and murder； and burial all
in one night！〃
〃Hey！… how！… what is that you say？〃 cried the alcalde。
〃I say；〃 replied the barber； rubbing a piece of soap over the nose
and mouth of the dignitary； for a Spanish barber disdains to employ
a brush… 〃I say that Peregil the Gallego has robbed and murdered a
Moorish Mussulman； and buried him； this blessed night。 Maldita sea
la noche… accursed be the night for the same！〃
〃But how do you know all this？〃 demanded the alcalde。
〃Be patient； senor； and you shall hear all about it；〃 replied
Pedrillo； taking him by the nose and sliding a razor over his cheek。
He then recounted all that he had seen； going through both
operations at the same time； shaving his beard； washing his chin；
and wiping him dry with a dirty napkin； while he was robbing；
murdering； and burying the Moslem。
Now it so happened that this alcalde was one of the most
overbearing； and at the same time most griping and corrupt curmudgeons
in all Granada。 It could not be denied； however； that he set a high
value upon justice； for he sold it at its weight in gold。 He
presumed the case in point to be one of murder and robbery；
doubtless there must be a rich spoil； how was it to be secured into
the legitimate hands of the law？ for as to merely entrapping the
delinquent… that would be feeding the gallows； but entrapping the
booty… that would be enriching the judge； and such； according to his
creed； was the great end of justice。 So thinking； he summoned to his
presence his trustiest alguazil… a gaunt； hungry…looking varlet； clad；
according to the custom of his order； in the ancient Spanish garb： a
broad black beaver turned up at its sides； a quaint ruff； a small
black cloak dangling from his shoulders； rusty black under…clothes
that set off his spare wiry frame； while in his hand he bore a slender
white wand； the dreaded insignia of his office。 Such was the legal
bloodhound of the ancient Spanish breed； that he put upon the traces
of the unlucky water…carrier； and such was his speed and certainty；
that he was upon the haunches of poor Peregil before he had returned
to his dwelling； and brought both him and his donkey before the
dispenser of justice。
The alcalde bent upon him one of the most terrific frowns。 〃Hark ye；
culprit！〃 roared he； in a voice that made the knees of the little
Gallego smite together… 〃hark ye； culprit！ there is no need of denying
thy guilt； every thing is known to me。 A gallows is the proper
reward for the crime thou hast committed； but I am merciful； and
readily listen to reason。 The man that has been murdered in thy
house was a Moor； an infidel； the enemy of our faith。 It was doubtless
in a fit of religious zeal that thou hast slain him。 I will be
indulgent； therefore； render up the property of which thou hast robbed
him； and we will hush the matter up。〃
The poor water…carrier called upon all the saints to witness his
innocence； alas！ not one of them appeared； and if they had； the
alcalde would have disbelieved the whole calendar。 The water…carrier
related the whole story of the dying Moor with the straightforward
simplicity of truth； but it was all in vain。 〃Wilt thou persist in
saying；〃 demanded the judge； 〃that this Moslem had neither gold nor
jewels； which were the object of thy cupidity？〃
〃As I hope to be saved； your worship；〃 replied the water…carrier；
〃he had nothing but a small box of sandalwood which he bequeathed to
me in reward for my services。〃
〃A box of sandalwood！ a box of sandalwood！〃 exclaimed the alcalde；
his eyes sparkling at the idea of precious jewels。 〃And where is
this box？ where have you concealed it？〃
〃An' it please your grace；〃 replied the water…carrier； 〃it is in one
of the panniers of my mule； and heartily at the service of your
worship。〃
He had hardly spoken the words； when the keen alguazil darted off；
and reappeared in an instant with the mysterious box of sandalwood。
The alcalde opened it with an eager and trembling hand； all pressed
forward to gaze upon the treasure it was expected to contain； when； to
their disappointment； nothing appeared within； but a parchment scroll；
covered with Arabic characters； and an end of a waxen taper。
When there is nothing to be gained by the conviction of a
prisoner； justice； even in Spain； is apt to be impartial。 The alcalde；
having recovered from his disappointment； and found that there was
really no booty in the case； now listened dispassionately to the
explanation of the water…carrier； which was corroborated by the
testimony of his wife。 Being convinced； therefore； of his innocence；
he discharged him from arrest； nay more； he permitted him to carry off
the Moor's legacy； the box of sandalwood and its contents； as the
well…merited reward of his humanity； but he retained his donkey in
payment of costs and charges。
Behold the unfortunate little Gallego reduced once more to the
necessity of being his own water…carrier； and trudging up to the
well of the Alhambra with a great earthen jar upon his shoulder。
As he toiled up the hill in the heat of a summer noon； his usual
good humor forsook him。 〃Dog of an alcalde！〃 would he cry； 〃to rob a
poor man of the means of his subsistence； of the best friend he had in
the world！〃 And then at the remembrance of the beloved companion of
his labors； all the kindness of his nature would break forth。 〃Ah；
donkey of my heart！〃 would he exclaim； resting his burden on a
stone； and wiping the sweat from his brow… 〃Ah； donkey of my heart！
I warrant me thou thinkest of thy old master！ I warrant me thou
missest the water…jars… poor beast。〃
To add to his afflictions； his wife received him； on his return
home； with whimperings and repinings； she had clearly the
vantage…ground of him； having warned him not to commit the egregious
act of hospitality which had brought on him all these misfortunes；
and； like a knowing woman； she took every occasion to throw her
superior sagacity in his teeth。 If her children lacked food； or needed
a new garment； she could answer with a sneer… 〃Go to your father… he
is heir to King Chico of the Alhambra： ask him to help you out of
the Moor's strongbox。〃
Was ever poor mortal so soundly punished for having done a good
action？ The unlucky Peregil was grieved in flesh and spirit； but still
he bore meekly with the railings of his spouse。 At length； one
evening； when； after a hot day's toil； she taunt