Upon this, Nicoleta came to seek for me, and, as if the excess of her joy had almost deprived her of her senses, she threw her arms round my neck, crying out, “My dear friend, you will be transported at the agreeable news I bring you: my mistress resists no longer, but is willing to make your master the happiest of men.” I was so delighted at hearing these words, which I little expected, that I took Nicoleta by the hand, and led her like a triumphant general into my master’s closet, where we began to congratulate ourselves on the change that we had wrought in Fabia. His Excellency presented a purse of Spanish pistoles to the waiting-woman, who received them with a very good grace, after a little ceremonious reluctance, as is usual upon such occasions.
This officious agent at length retired, after she had carefully instructed me concerning the place where I was to meet her that night, and the hour of rendezvous when I was to be introduced to Fabia; and my master and I were left alone. We passed the whole afternoon in conversation on this intrigue, he relating to me how he first obtained a sight of the lady, and I congratulating him on his having made so agreeable an acquaintance.
At the appointed hour I hastened to the rendezvous, at the place fixed upon by Nicoleta, who came at last to inform me that her mistress could not see me that night, and this disappointment happened for three or four nights following. My patron and I did not augur very favorably from this beginning; nevertheless we did not totally despair; and, at last, one night the confidante informed me, through a small window on the ground-floor, that in a few minutes she could introduce me to her mistress.
You must know that the passage in which I stood was extremely muddy, and it poured with rain so as to wet me to the skin. I bore all this for two hours with a patience which nothing but my extreme zeal and attachment for my master could have inspired. At length I heard Nicoleta call me. I obeyed her summons instantly, and was led by her through a little door, which was shut to again as softly as it was opened. “Guzman,” said she, “I will just run and let Fabia know that you are here, and she will be with you in an instant.” The voice of my charmer soon made me forget my late wetting, and I thought of nothing but the happy moment in which I should behold the lady who had so captivated my master, and the extreme joy with which I should acquaint him that I had been so happy as to obtain an interview. It was not long before Fabia really came with her maid. “Nicoleta,” said she, “while I am conversing with Signor Guzman, do you watch my husband’s chamber, and should he perchance ask for me, lose no time in letting me know.”