Page:Tales of old Lusitania.djvu/166



a lonely part of the country there lived a man who had a daughter, and one man-servant. A gentleman from Brazil, who was travelling alone, happened to pass this man's house; he went in, and asked him to let his man-servant accompany him as far as the other side of a mountain he had to cross, because he carried much money with him, and was afraid of being robbed.

The man agreed to this, and ordered his servant to go with the gentleman. After a few hours the servant returned, and said, "Oh, master! will you give me your daughter in marriage, for I like her very much."

"I never heard of such impudence," said his master; "if I had not a friendly feeling towards you on account of your long service, I would pack you out of my house this minute, with only a loaf of bread, that you might not starve on the way."

"But listen, master; I am a rich man now, for I have murdered the Brazilian, and taken his money," replied the servant, showing him a large bag of gold.