CHAPTER IX
How Sancho paid the Reckoning at the Inn which Don Quixote supposed was a Castle
Now whilst Sancho Panza lay groaning in his bed, Don Quixote, who, as we have said, felt somewhat eased and cured, made up his mind to set off in search of new adventures. And full of this desire he himself saddled Rozinante and put the pack-saddle on his Squire's beast, and helped Sancho to dress and to mount his Ass. Then getting a-horseback he rode over to the corner of the Inn and seized hold of a pike which stood there, to make it serve him instead of a lance.
All the people that were staying at the Inn, some twenty in number, stood staring at him, and among these was the Innkeeper's daughter. Don Quixote kept turning his eyes towards her and sighing dolefully, which every one, or at least all who had seen him the night before, thought must be caused by the pain he was in from his bruises.
HOW SANCHO PAID THE RECKONING
When they were both mounted and standing by the Inn gate, he called to the Innkeeper and said in a grave voice: 'Many and great are the favours, Sir Constable, which I have received in this your Castle, and I shall remain deeply grateful for them all the days of my life. If I am able to repay you by avenging you on some proud miscreant that hath done you any wrong, know that it is my office to help the weak, to revenge the wronged, and to punish traitors. Ransack your memory, and if you find anything of this sort for me to do, you have but to utter it, and I promise you, by the Order of Knighthood which I have received, to procure you satisfaction to your heart's content.'
'Sir Knight,' replied the Innkeeper with equal gravity, 'I have no need that your Worship should avenge me any wrong, for I know how to take what revenge I think good when an injury is done. All I want is that your Worship should pay me the score you have run up this night in mine Inn, both for the straw and barley of your two beasts, and your suppers and your beds.'
'This then is an Inn?' exclaimed Don Quixote.
'Ay, that it is, and a very respectable one, too,' replied the Innkeeper.
'All this time then I have been deceived,' said Don Quixote, 'for in truth I thought it was a Castle and no mean one. But since it is indeed an Inn and no Castle, all that can be done now is to ask you to forgive me any payment, for I cannot break the laws of Knights Errant, of whom I know for certain that they never paid for lodging or aught else in the Inns where they stayed. For the good entertainment that is given them is their due reward for the sufferings they endure, seeking adventures both day and night, winter and summer, a-foot and a-horseback, in thirst and hunger, in heat and cold, being exposed to all the storms of heaven and the hardships of earth.'