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〃It would be impossible for me now；〃 said Leonela； 〃I am so
agitated： leave me till to…morrow； and then you shall hear from me
what will fill you with astonishment； but rest assured that he who
leaped through the window is a young man of this city； who has given
me his promise to become my husband。〃
Anselmo was appeased with this； and was content to wait the time she
asked of him； for he never expected to hear anything against
Camilla； so satisfied and sure of her virtue was he； and so he quitted
the room； and left Leonela locked in； telling her she should not
come out until she had told him all she had to make known to him。 He
went at once to see Camilla； and tell her； as he did； all that had
passed between him and her handmaid； and the promise she had given him
to inform him matters of serious importance。
There is no need of saying whether Camilla was agitated or not；
for so great was her fear and dismay； that； making sure； as she had
good reason to do； that Leonela would tell Anselmo all she knew of her
faithlessness； she had not the courage to wait and see if her
suspicions were confirmed； and that same night； as soon as she thought
that Anselmo was asleep； she packed up the most valuable jewels she
had and some money； and without being observed by anybody escaped from
the house and betook herself to Lothario's； to whom she related what
had occurred； imploring him to convey her to some place of safety or
fly with her where they might be safe from Anselmo。 The state of
perplexity to which Camilla reduced Lothario was such that he was
unable to utter a word in reply； still less to decide upon what he
should do。 At length he resolved to conduct her to a convent of
which a sister of his was prioress； Camilla agreed to this； and with
the speed which the circumstances demanded； Lothario took her to the
convent and left her there； and then himself quitted the city
without letting anyone know of his departure。
As soon as daylight came Anselmo； without missing Camilla from his
side； rose cager to learn what Leonela had to tell him； and hastened
to the room where he had locked her in。 He opened the door； entered；
but found no Leonela； all he found was some sheets knotted to the
window； a plain proof that she had let herself down from it and
escaped。 He returned； uneasy； to tell Camilla； but not finding her
in bed or anywhere in the house he was lost in amazement。 He asked the
servants of the house about her； but none of them could give him any
explanation。 As he was going in search of Camilla it happened by
chance that he observed her boxes were lying open； and that the
greater part of her jewels were gone； and now he became fully aware of
his disgrace； and that Leonela was not the cause of his misfortune；
and； just as he was； without delaying to dress himself completely；
he repaired； sad at heart and dejected； to his friend Lothario to make
known his sorrow to him； but when he failed to find him and the
servants reported that he had been absent from his house all night and
had taken with him all the money he had； he felt as though he were
losing his senses； and to make all complete on returning to his own
house he found it deserted and empty； not one of all his servants；
male or female； remaining in it。 He knew not what to think； or say； or
do； and his reason seemed to be deserting him little by little。 He
reviewed his position； and saw himself in a moment left without
wife； friend； or servants； abandoned； he felt； by the heaven above
him； and more than all robbed of his honour； for in Camilla's
disappearance he saw his own ruin。 After long reflection he resolved
at last to go to his friend's village； where he had been staying
when he afforded opportunities for the contrivance of this
complication of misfortune。 He locked the doors of his house；
mounted his horse； and with a broken spirit set out on his journey；
but he had hardly gone half…way when； harassed by his reflections；
he had to dismount and tie his horse to a tree； at the foot of which
he threw himself； giving vent to piteous heartrending sighs； and there
he remained till nearly nightfall； when he observed a man
approaching on horseback from the city； of whom； after saluting him；
he asked what was the news in Florence。
The citizen replied； 〃The strangest that have been heard for many
a day； for it is reported abroad that Lothario； the great friend of
the wealthy Anselmo； who lived at San Giovanni； carried off last night
Camilla； the wife of Anselmo； who also has disappeared。 All this has
been told by a maid…servant of Camilla's； whom the governor found last
night lowering herself by a sheet from the windows of Anselmo's house。
I know not indeed； precisely； how the affair came to pass； all I
know is that the whole city is wondering at the occurrence； for no one
could have expected a thing of the kind； seeing the great and intimate
friendship that existed between them； so great； they say； that they
were called 'The Two Friends。'〃
〃Is it known at all；〃 said Anselmo； 〃what road Lothario and
Camilla took？〃
〃Not in the least；〃 said the citizen； 〃though the governor has
been very active in searching for them。〃
〃God speed you； senor；〃 said Anselmo。
〃God be with you；〃 said the citizen and went his way。
This disastrous intelligence almost robbed Anselmo not only of his
senses but of his life。 He got up as well as he was able and reached
the house of his friend； who as yet knew nothing of his misfortune；
but seeing him come pale； worn； and haggard； perceived that he was
suffering some heavy affliction。 Anselmo at once begged to be
allowed to retire to rest； and to be given writing materials。 His wish
was complied with and he was left lying down and alone； for he desired
this； and even that the door should be locked。 Finding himself alone
he so took to heart the thought of his misfortune that by the signs of
death he felt within him he knew well his life was drawing to a close；
and therefore he resolved to leave behind him a declaration of the
cause of his strange end。 He began to write； but before he had put
down all he meant to say； his breath failed him and he yielded up
his life； a victim to the suffering which his ill…advised curiosity
had entailed upon him。 The master of the house observing that it was
now late and that Anselmo did not call； determined to go in and
ascertain if his indisposition was increasing； and found him lying
on his face； his body partly in the bed； partly on the
writing…table； on which he lay with the written paper open and the pen
still in his hand。 Having first called to him without receiving any
answer； his host approached him； and taking him by the hand； found
that it was cold； and saw that he was dead。 Greatly surprised and
distressed he summoned the household to witness the sad fate which had
befallen Anselmo； and then he read the paper； the handwriting of which
he recognised as his； and which contained these words：
〃A foolish and ill…advised desire has robbed me of life。 If the news
of my death should reach the ears of Camilla； let her know that I
forgive her； for she was not bound to perform miracles； nor ought I to
have required her to perform them； and since I have been the author of
my own dishonour； there is no reason why…〃
So far Anselmo had written； and thus it was plain that at this
point； before he could finish what he had to say； his life came to
an end。 The next day his friend sent intelligence of his death to
his relatives； who had already ascertained his misfortune； as well
as the convent where Camilla lay almost on the point of accompanying
her husband on that inevitable journey； not on account of the
tidings of his death； but because of those she received of her lover's
departure。 Although she saw herself a widow； it is said she refused
either to quit the convent or take the veil； until； not long
afterwards； intelligence reached her that Lothario had been killed
in a battle in which M。 de Lautrec had been recently engaged with
the Great Captain Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordova in the kingdom of
Naples； whither her too late repentant lover had repaired。 On learning
this Camilla took the veil； and shortly afterwards died； worn out by
grief and melancholy。 This was the end of all three； an end that
came of a thoughtless beginning。
〃I like this novel；〃 said the curate； 〃but I cannot persuade
myself of its truth； and if it has been invented； the author's
invention is faulty； for it is impossible to imagine any husband so
foolish as to try such a costly experiment as Anselmo's。 If it had
been represented as occurring between a gallant and his mistress it
might pass； but between husband and wife there is something of an
impossibility about it。 As to the way in which the story is told；
however； I have no fault to find。〃
CHAPTER XXXVI
WHICH TREATS OF MORE CURIOUS INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THE INN
JUST at that instant the landlord； who was standing at the gate of
the inn； exclaimed； 〃Here comes a fine troop of guests； if they stop
here we may say gaudeamus。〃
〃What are they？〃 said Cardenio。
〃Four men；〃 said the landlord； 〃riding a la jineta； with lances
and bucklers； and all wi