I have no more of my story to tell you, gentlemen;
whether it be an interesting or a curious one let
your better judgments decide; all I can say is I would
gladly have told it to you more briefly; although my
fear of wearying you has made me leave out more than
one circumstance.
WHICH TREATS OF WHAT FURTHER TOOK PLACE IN THE INN, AND OF SEVERAL OTHER
THINGS WORTH KNOWING
With these words the captive held his peace, and Don
Fernando said to him, “In truth, captain, the
manner in which you have related this remarkable adventure
has been such as befitted the novelty and strangeness
of the matter. The whole story is curious and
uncommon, and abounds with incidents that fill the
hearers with wonder and astonishment; and so great
is the pleasure we have found in listening to it that
we should be glad if it were to begin again, even though
to-morrow were to find us still occupied with the same
tale.” And while he said this Cardenio
and the rest of them offered to be of service to him
in any way that lay in their power, and in words and
language so kindly and sincere that the captain was
much gratified by their good-will. In particular
Don Fernando offered, if he would go back with him,
to get his brother the marquis to become godfather
at the baptism of Zoraida, and on his own part to
provide him with the means of making his appearance
in his own country with the credit and comfort he was
entitled to. For all this the captive returned
thanks very courteously, although he would not accept
any of their generous offers.
By this time night closed in, and as it did, there
came up to the inn a coach attended by some men on
horseback, who demanded accommodation; to which the
landlady replied that there was not a hand’s
breadth of the whole inn unoccupied.
“Still, for all that,” said one of those
who had entered on horseback, “room must be
found for his lordship the Judge here.”
At this name the landlady was taken aback, and said,
“Senor, the fact is I have no beds; but if his
lordship the Judge carries one with him, as no doubt
he does, let him come in and welcome; for my husband
and I will give up our room to accommodate his worship.”
“Very good, so be it,” said the squire;
but in the meantime a man had got out of the coach
whose dress indicated at a glance the office and post
he held, for the long robe with ruffled sleeves that
he wore showed that he was, as his servant said, a
Judge of appeal. He led by the hand a young girl
in a travelling dress, apparently about sixteen years
of age, and of such a high-bred air, so beautiful
and so graceful, that all were filled with admiration
when she made her appearance, and but for having seen
Dorothea, Luscinda, and Zoraida, who were there in
the inn, they would have fancied that a beauty like
that of this maiden’s would have been hard to
find. Don Quixote was present at the entrance
