“I would do it,” said Sancho; “but I am not at all covetous, for I gave up an office this morning in which, if I was, I might have made the walls of my house of gold and dined off silver plates before six months were over; and so for this reason, and because I feel I would be guilty of treason to my king if I helped his enemies, I would not go with thee if instead of promising me two hundred crowns thou wert to give me four hundred here in hand.”
“And what office is this thou hast given up, Sancho?” asked Ricote.
“I have given up being governor of an island,” said Sancho, “and such a one, faith, as you won’t find the like of easily.”
“And where is this island?” said Ricote.
“Where?” said Sancho; “two leagues from here, and it is called the island of Barataria.”
“Nonsense! Sancho,” said Ricote; “islands are away out in the sea; there are no islands on the mainland.”
“What? No islands!” said Sancho; “I tell thee, friend Ricote, I left it this morning, and yesterday I was governing there as I