. ."
Thus and much more in the same manner wrote the niece of King
Philip of Spain to Gabriel Espinosa, the pastry-cook, in his
Valladolid retreat. How he filled his days we do not know,
beyond the fact that he moved freely abroad. For it was in the
streets of that town that meddlesome Fate brought him face to
face one day with Gregorio Gonzales, under whom Espinosa had been
a scullion once in the service of the Count of Nyeba.
Gregorio hailed him, staring round-eyed; for although Espinosa's
garments were not in their first freshness they were far from
being those of a plebeian.
"In whose service may you be now?" quoth the intrigued Gregorio,
so soon as greetings had passed between them.
Espinosa shook off his momentary embarrassment, and took the hand
of his sometime comrade. "Times are changed, friend Gregorio. I
am not in anybody's service, rather do I require servants
myself."
"Why, what is your present situation?"
Loftily Espinosa put him off. "No matter for that," he answered,
with a dignity that forbade further questions. He gathered his
cloak about him to proceed upon his way. "If there is anything
you wish for I shall be happy, for old times' sake, to oblige
you.
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