“Study!” cried the woman, “what study?  There is no study in this house now, nor any books.”

“No,” said his niece.  “When you were away, a famous enchanter came along, mounted on a dragon, and he went into your study.  What he did there we know not.  But after a time he flew out of the roof, leaving the house full of smoke, and ever since then we have not been able to find either books or study.”

“Ha!” said Don Quixote.  “That must have been Freston.  He is a famous enchanter, and my bitter enemy.  But when I am again well I shall get the better of him.”

III

How don Quixote and Sancho Panza started on their search for adventures; and how don Quixote fought with the windmills

For some weeks the poor Knight stayed very quietly at home.  But he had not forgotten the things for which he had come back to his village.

There was a farm laborer who lived near by, a fat, good-natured, simple man.  To him Don Quixote talked long and often, and made many promises; among others that if he would but come with him as squire, he should be made governor of any island which the Knight might happen to conquer during his search after adventures.

This seemed so grand a thing to the man (whose name was Sancho Panza), that he willingly promised to come.

Having got together some money, and having made other preparations, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza one dark night stole out of the village without a word to any one, and began their adventures.

Don Quixote rode “Rozinante;” Sancho Panza was mounted on an ass.  That his squire should ride an ass at first troubled the Knight not a little, for in none of his books could he remember to have read of any squire being so mounted.  However, he gave Sancho leave to bring the ass, thinking that in no great time a better mount would surely be found for him.

As they rode along in the cool of the morning, Sancho Panza spoke to his master about their journey, and asked him to be sure not to forget his promise about the governorship of the island.

“It may even happen,” answered Don Quixote, “that I may by some strange chance conquer a kingdom.  And then presently, I may be able to crown thee King.”

“Why,” said Sancho, “if by some such miracle as your worship speaks of, I am made a King, then would my wife be Queen?”

“Certainly,” answered Don Quixote, “who can doubt it?”

“I doubt it,” replied Sancho, “for I think if it should rain kingdoms upon the face of the earth, not one of them would sit well on my wife’s head.  For I must tell you, sir, she’s not worth two brass jacks to make a Queen of.  No, no! countess will be quite good enough; that’s as much as she could well manage.”