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that I have got anything of yours； Master Pedro。〃
〃What！〃 returned Master Pedro； 〃and these relics lying here on the
bare hard ground… what scattered and shattered them but the invincible
strength of that mighty arm？ And whose were the bodies they belonged
to but mine？ And what did I get my living by but by them？〃
〃Now am I fully convinced；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃of what I had many
a time before believed； that the enchanters who persecute me do
nothing more than put figures like these before my eyes； and then
change and turn them into what they please。 In truth and earnest； I
assure you gentlemen who now hear me； that to me everything that has
taken place here seemed to take place literally； that Melisendra was
Melisendra； Don Gaiferos Don Gaiferos； Marsilio Marsilio； and
Charlemagne Charlemagne。 That was why my anger was roused； and to be
faithful to my calling as a knight…errant I sought to give aid and
protection to those who fled； and with this good intention I did
what you have seen。 If the result has been the opposite of what I
intended； it is no fault of mine； but of those wicked beings that
persecute me； but； for all that； I am willing to condemn myself in
costs for this error of mine； though it did not proceed from malice；
let Master Pedro see what he wants for the spoiled figures； for I
agree to pay it at once in good and current money of Castile。〃
Master Pedro made him a bow； saying； 〃I expected no less of the rare
Christianity of the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha； true helper
and protector of all destitute and needy vagabonds； master landlord
here and the great Sancho Panza shall be the arbitrators and
appraisers between your worship and me of what these dilapidated
figures are worth or may be worth。〃
The landlord and Sancho consented； and then Master Pedro picked up
from the ground King Marsilio of Saragossa with his head off； and
said； 〃Here you see how impossible it is to restore this king to his
former state； so I think； saving your better judgments； that for his
death； decease； and demise； four reals and a half may be given me。〃
〃Proceed；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃Well then； for this cleavage from top to bottom；〃 continued
Master Pedro； taking up the split Emperor Charlemagne； 〃it would not
be much if I were to ask five reals and a quarter。〃
〃It's not little；〃 said Sancho。
〃Nor is it much；〃 said the landlord； 〃make it even； and say five
reals。〃
〃Let him have the whole five and a quarter；〃 said Don Quixote；
〃for the sum total of this notable disaster does not stand on a
quarter more or less； and make an end of it quickly； Master Pedro； for
it's getting on to supper…time； and I have some hints of hunger。〃
〃For this figure；〃 said Master Pedro； 〃that is without a nose； and
wants an eye； and is the fair Melisendra； I ask； and I am reasonable
in my charge； two reals and twelve maravedis。〃
〃The very devil must be in it；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃if Melisendra and
her husband are not by this time at least on the French border； for
the horse they rode on seemed to me to fly rather than gallop； so
you needn't try to sell me the cat for the hare； showing me here a
noseless Melisendra when she is now； may be； enjoying herself at her
ease with her husband in France。 God help every one to his own； Master
Pedro； and let us all proceed fairly and honestly； and now go on。〃
Master Pedro； perceiving that Don Quixote was beginning to wander；
and return to his original fancy； was not disposed to let him
escape； so he said to him； 〃This cannot be Melisendra； but must be one
of the damsels that waited on her； so if I'm given sixty maravedis for
her； I'll be content and sufficiently paid。〃
And so he went on； putting values on ever so many more smashed
figures； which； after the two arbitrators had adjusted them to the
satisfaction of both parties； came to forty reals and
three…quarters； and over and above this sum； which Sancho at once
disbursed； Master Pedro asked for two reals for his trouble in
catching the ape。
〃Let him have them； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃not to catch the
ape； but to get drunk； and two hundred would I give this minute for
the good news； to anyone who could tell me positively； that the lady
Dona Melisandra and Senor Don Gaiferos were now in France and with
their own people。〃
〃No one could tell us that better than my ape；〃 said Master Pedro；
〃but there's no devil that could catch him now； I suspect； however；
that affection and hunger will drive him to come looking for me
to…night； but to…morrow will soon be here and we shall see。〃
In short； the puppet…show storm passed off； and all supped in
peace and good fellowship at Don Quixote's expense； for he was the
height of generosity。 Before it was daylight the man with the lances
and halberds took his departure； and soon after daybreak the cousin
and the page came to bid Don Quixote farewell； the former returning
home； the latter resuming his journey； towards which； to help him； Don
Quixote gave him twelve reals。 Master Pedro did not care to engage
in any more palaver with Don Quixote； whom he knew right well； so he
rose before the sun； and having got together the remains of his show
and caught his ape； he too went off to seek his adventures。 The
landlord； who did not know Don Quixote； was as much astonished at
his mad freaks as at his generosity。 To conclude； Sancho； by his
master's orders； paid him very liberally； and taking leave of him they
quitted the inn at about eight in the morning and took to the road；
where we will leave them to pursue their journey； for this is
necessary in order to allow certain other matters to be set forth；
which are required to clear up this famous history。
CHAPTER XXVII
WHEREIN IT IS SHOWN WHO MASTER PEDRO AND HIS APE WERE； TOGETHER WITH
THE MISHAP DON QUIXOTE HAD IN THE BRAYING ADVENTURE； WHICH HE DID
NOT CONCLUDE AS HE WOULD HAVE LIKED OR AS HE HAD EXPECTED
CIDE HAMETE； the chronicler of this great history； begins this
chapter with these words； 〃I swear as a Catholic Christian；〃 with
regard to which his translator says that Cide Hamete's swearing as a
Catholic Christian； he being… as no doubt he was… a Moor； only meant
that； just as a Catholic Christian taking an oath swears； or ought
to swear； what is true； and tell the truth in what he avers； so he was
telling the truth； as much as if he swore as a Catholic Christian；
in all he chose to write about Quixote； especially in declaring who
Master Pedro was and what was the divining ape that astonished all the
villages with his divinations。 He says； then； that he who has read the
First Part of this history will remember well enough the Gines de
Pasamonte whom； with other galley slaves； Don Quixote set free in
the Sierra Morena： a kindness for which he afterwards got poor
thanks and worse payment from that evil…minded； ill…conditioned set。
This Gines de Pasamonte… Don Ginesillo de Parapilla； Don Quixote
called him… it was that stole Dapple from Sancho Panza； which； because
by the fault of the printers neither the how nor the when was stated
in the First Part； has been a puzzle to a good many people； who
attribute to the bad memory of the author what was the error of the
press。 In fact； however； Gines stole him while Sancho Panza was asleep
on his back； adopting the plan and device that Brunello had recourse
to when he stole Sacripante's horse from between his legs at the siege
of Albracca； and； as has been told； Sancho afterwards recovered him。
This Gines； then； afraid of being caught by the officers of justice；
who were looking for him to punish him for his numberless
rascalities and offences （which were so many and so great that he
himself wrote a big book giving an account of them）； resolved to shift
his quarters into the kingdom of Aragon； and cover up his left eye；
and take up the trade of a puppet…showman； for this； as well as
juggling； he knew how to practise to perfection。 From some released
Christians returning from Barbary； it so happened； he bought the
ape； which he taught to mount upon his shoulder on his making a
certain sign； and to whisper； or seem to do so； in his ear。 Thus
prepared； before entering any village whither he was bound with his
show and his ape； he used to inform himself at the nearest village； or
from the most likely person he could find； as to what particular
things had happened there； and to whom； and bearing them well in mind；
the first thing be did was to exhibit his show； sometimes one story；
sometimes another； but all lively； amusing； and familiar。 As soon as
the exhibition was over he brought forward the accomplishments of
his ape； assuring the public that he divined all the past and the
present； but as to the future he had no skill。 For each question
answered he asked two reals； and for some he made a reduction； just as
he happened to feel the pulse of the questioners； and when now and
then he came to houses where things that he knew of had happened to
the people living there； even if they did not ask him a question；
not caring to pay for it； he would make the sign to the ape and then
declare that it had said so and so； which fitted the case exactly。
In this way he acquired a prodigious name