was lost to me； and mine not kept from him； would take too long to
tell； especially at a moment when I am in dread of the cruel cord that
threatens me interposing between tongue and throat； I will only say；
therefore； that Don Gregorio chose to accompany me in our
banishment。 He joined company with the Moriscoes who were going
forth from other villages； for he knew their language very well； and
on the voyage he struck up a friendship with my two uncles who were
carrying me with them； for my father； like a wise and far…sighted man；
as soon as he heard the first edict for our expulsion； quitted the
village and departed in quest of some refuge for us abroad。 He left
hidden and buried； at a spot of which I alone have knowledge； a
large quantity of pearls and precious stones of great value；
together with a sum of money in gold cruzadoes and doubloons。 He
charged me on no account to touch the treasure； if by any chance
they expelled us before his return。 I obeyed him； and with my
uncles； as I have said； and others of our kindred and neighbours；
passed over to Barbary； and the place where we took up our abode was
Algiers； much the same as if we had taken it up in hell itself。 The
king heard of my beauty； and report told him of my wealth； which was
in some degree fortunate for me。 He summoned me before him； and
asked me what part of Spain I came from； and what money and jewels I
had。 I mentioned the place； and told him the jewels and money were
buried there； but that they might easily be recovered if I myself went
back for them。 All this I told him； in dread lest my beauty and not
his own covetousness should influence him。 While he was engaged in
conversation with me； they brought him word that in company with me
was one of the handsomest and most graceful youths that could be
imagined。 I knew at once that they were speaking of Don Gaspar
Gregorio； whose comeliness surpasses the most highly vaunted beauty。 I
was troubled when I thought of the danger he was in； for among those
barbarous Turks a fair youth is more esteemed than a woman； be she
ever so beautiful。 The king immediately ordered him to be brought
before him that he might see him； and asked me if what they said about
the youth was true。 I then； almost as if inspired by heaven； told
him it was； but that I would have him to know it was not a man； but
a woman like myself； and I entreated him to allow me to go and dress
her in the attire proper to her； so that her beauty might be seen to
perfection； and that she might present herself before him with less
embarrassment。 He bade me go by all means； and said that the next
day we should discuss the plan to be adopted for my return to Spain to
carry away the hidden treasure。 I saw Don Gaspar； I told him the
danger he was in if he let it be seen he was a man； I dressed him as a
Moorish woman； and that same afternoon I brought him before the
king； who was charmed when he saw him； and resolved to keep the damsel
and make a present of her to the Grand Signor； and to avoid the risk
she might run among the women of his seraglio； and distrustful of
himself； he commanded her to be placed in the house of some Moorish
ladies of rank who would protect and attend to her； and thither he was
taken at once。 What we both suffered （for I cannot deny that I love
him） may be left to the imagination of those who are separated if they
love one an。 other dearly。 The king then arranged that I should return
to Spain in this brigantine； and that two Turks； those who killed your
soldiers； should accompany me。 There also came with me this Spanish
renegade〃… and here she pointed to him who had first spoken… 〃whom I
know to be secretly a Christian； and to be more desirous of being left
in Spain than of returning to Barbary。 The rest of the crew of the
brigantine are Moors and Turks； who merely serve as rowers。 The two
Turks； greedy and insolent； instead of obeying the orders we had to
land me and this renegade in Christian dress （with which we came
provided） on the first Spanish ground we came to； chose to run along
the coast and make some prize if they could； fearing that if they
put us ashore first； we might； in case of some accident befalling
us； make it known that the brigantine was at sea； and thus； if there
happened to be any galleys on the coast； they might be taken。 We
sighted this shore last night； and knowing nothing of these galleys；
we were discovered； and the result was what you have seen。 To sum
up； there is Don Gregorio in woman's dress； among women； in imminent
danger of his life； and here am I； with hands bound； in expectation；
or rather in dread； of losing my life； of which I am already weary。
Here； sirs； ends my sad story； as true as it is unhappy； all I ask
of you is to allow me to die like a Christian； for； as I have
already said； I am not to be charged with the offence of which those
of my nation are guilty；〃 and she stood silent； her eyes filled with
moving tears； accompanied by plenty from the bystanders。 The
viceroy； touched with compassion； went up to her without speaking
and untied the cord that bound the hands of the Moorish girl。
But all the while the Morisco Christian was telling her strange
story； an elderly pilgrim； who had come on board of the galley at
the same time as the viceroy； kept his eyes fixed upon her； and the
instant she ceased speaking he threw himself at her feet； and
embracing them said in a voice broken by sobs and sighs； 〃O Ana Felix；
my unhappy daughter； I am thy father Ricote； come back to look for
thee； unable to live without thee； my soul that thou art！〃
At these words of his； Sancho opened his eyes and raised his head；
which he had been holding down； brooding over his unlucky excursion；
and looking at the pilgrim he recognised in him that same Ricote he
met the day he quitted his government； and felt satisfied that this
was his daughter。 She being now unbound embraced her father；
mingling her tears with his； while he addressing the general and the
viceroy said； 〃This； sirs； is my daughter； more unhappy in her
adventures than in her name。 She is Ana Felix； surnamed Ricote；
celebrated as much for her own beauty as for my wealth。 I quitted my
native land in search of some shelter or refuge for us abroad； and
having found one in Germany I returned in this pilgrim's dress； in the
company of some other German pilgrims； to seek my daughter and take up
a large quantity of treasure I had left buried。 My daughter I did
not find； the treasure I found and have with me； and now； in this
strange roundabout way you have seen； I find the treasure that more
than all makes me rich； my beloved daughter。 If our innocence and
her tears and mine can with strict justice open the door to
clemency； extend it to us； for we never had any intention of
injuring you； nor do we sympathise with the aims of our people； who
have been justly banished。〃
〃I know Ricote well；〃 said Sancho at this； 〃and I know too that what
he says about Ana Felix being his daughter is true； but as to those
other particulars about going and coming； and having good or bad
intentions； I say nothing。〃
While all present stood amazed at this strange occurrence the
general said； 〃At any rate your tears will not allow me to keep my
oath； live； fair Ana Felix； all the years that heaven has allotted
you； but these rash insolent fellows must pay the penalty of the crime
they have committed；〃 and with that he gave orders to have the two
Turks who had killed his two soldiers hanged at once at the
yard…arm。 The viceroy； however； begged him earnestly not to hang them；
as their behaviour savoured rather of madness than of bravado。 The
general yielded to the viceroy's request； for revenge is not easily
taken in cold blood。 They then tried to devise some scheme for
rescuing Don Gaspar Gregorio from the danger in which he had been
left。 Ricote offered for that object more than two thousand ducats
that he had in pearls and gems； they proposed several plans； but
none so good as that suggested by the renegade already mentioned；
who offered to return to Algiers in a small vessel of about six banks；
manned by Christian rowers； as he knew where； how； and when he could
and should land； nor was he ignorant of the house in which Don
Gaspar was staying。 The general and the viceroy had some hesitation
about placing confidence in the renegade and entrusting him with the
Christians who were to row； but Ana Felix said she could answer for
him； and her father offered to go and pay the ransom of the Christians
if by any chance they should not be forthcoming。 This； then； being
agreed upon； the viceroy landed； and Don Antonio Moreno took the
fair Morisco and her father home with him； the viceroy charging him to
give them the best reception and welcome in his power； while on his
own part he offered all that house contained for their
entertainment； so great was the good…will and kindliness the beauty of
Ana Felix had infused into his heart。
CHAPTER LXIV
TREATING OF THE ADVENTURE WHICH GAVE DON QUIXOTE MORE UNHAPPINESS
THAN ALL THAT HAD HITHERTO BEFALLEN HIM
THE wife of Don Antonio Moreno； so the history says； was extremely
happy to see Ana Felix in her house