that has been executed in this city for many years. Give me the book,
boy, I know there is nothing more, and it is certain that business is
very slack with us just now; but times will mend, and we shall perhaps
have more to do than we want. There is not a leaf on the tree that moves
without the will of God, and we cannot force people to avenge
themselves, whether they will or not. Besides, many a man has the habit
of being brave in his own cause, and does not care to pay for the
execution of work which he can do as well with his own hands."

[45] The flat-nose.

[46] The _tilde_ is the mark placed over the Spanish letter n, as in
Señor.

"That is true," said Repolido; "but will your worship, Señor Monipodio,
see what you have for us to do, as it is getting late, and the heat is
coming on at more than a foot-pace."

"What you have now to do is this," rejoined Monipodio: "Every one is to
return to his post of the week, and is not to change it until Sunday. We
will then meet here again, and make the distribution of all that shall
have come in, without defrauding any one. To Rinconete and Cortadillo I
assign for their district, until Sunday, from the Tower of Gold, all
without the city, and to the postern of the Alcazar, where they can work
with their fine flowers.[47] I have known those who were much less
clever than they appear to be, come home daily with more than twenty
reals in small money, to say nothing of silver, all made with a single
pack, and that four cards short. Ganchuelo will show them the limits of
their district, and even though they should extend it as far as to San
Sebastian, or Santelmo, there will be no great harm done, although it is