"Last night, in going my rounds, I met with a mighty handsome damsel in boy's clothes, and a brother of hers in woman's apparel. My gentleman-waiter fell in love with the girl, and intends to make her his wife, as he says. As for the youth, I have pitched on him to be my son-in-law. To-day we both design to talk to the father, one Diego de la Llana, who is a gentleman, and an old Christian every inch of him.
"I visit the markets as you advised me, and yesterday found one of the hucksters selling hazel-nuts. She pretended they were all new; but I found she had mixed a whole bushel of old, empty, rotten nuts among the same quantity of new. With that, I adjudged them to be given to the hospital boys, who know how to pick the good from the bad, and gave sentence against her that she should not come into the market for fifteen days; and people said I did well.
"I am mighty well pleased that my lady duchess has written to my wife Teresa Panza, and sent her the token you mention. It shall go hard but I will requite her kindness one time or other. Pray give my service to her; and tell her from me, she has not cast her gift in a broken sack, as something more than words shall shew.
"If I might advise you, and had my wish, there should be no falling out between your worship and my lord and lady; for, if you quarrel with them, it is I must come by the worst for it. And, since you mind me of being grateful, it will not look well in you not to be so to those who have made so much of you at their castle.
"If my wife Teresa Panza writes to me, pray pay the post age, and send me the letter; for I mightily long to hear how it is with her, and my house and children.
"Your worship's servant,
"Sancho Panza, the Governor."
The secretary made up the letter, and immediately despatched it. Then those who carried on the plot against Sancho combined together, and consulted how to release him from the cares of government; and Sancho passed that afternoon in making several regulations for the better establishment of that which he imagined to be an island.
In short, he made so many wholesome ordinances, that, to this day, they are observed in that place, and called "The Constitutions of the great Governor Sancho Panza."