Page:Madrid shaver's singular adventures, and wonderful escape from the Spanish Inquisition (1).pdf/11

11 Sirrah! cried one of the puisne judges, respect the decency of the court. Produce the contents of the fellow's pockets before the court, said the president; lay them on the table.

Monster! resumed the aforesaid puisne judge, taking up the foreepsforceps [sic], what is the use of this diabolical machine? Please your reverence, replied Pedrosa, 'aptum est ad extrahendos foetus.'Unnatural wretch, again exclaimed the judge, you have murdered the mother.

The mother of God forbid! exclaimed Pedrosa. I believe I have a proof in my pocket that will aequitacquit [sic] me of that charge, and so saying he tendered the letter we have before made mention of. The secretary took it, and by command of the court read as follows:

"Senior Don Manuel de Herrerra,

"When this letter, which I send by Nicolas Pedrosa, shall reach your hands, you will know that I am safely delivered of a lovely boy, after a dangerous labour, in consideration of which I pray you to pay to the said Nicholas Pedrosa the sum of twenty gold pistoles, which sum his Excellency Hold, cried the Inquisitor-general starting hastily from his seat, and snatching away the letter, there is more in this than meets the eye; break up the court; I must take an examination of this prisoner in private.

As soon as the room was cleared, the Inquisitor-general, beckoning to the prisoner to follow him and retired into a private closet where throwing himself carelessly into an arm chair, he turned a gracious countenance upon the poor affrighted accoucheur, and bidding him sit down upon