well received by the King and all his Court. The Governor of Catalonia
often came to visit her, and Amadour failed not to accompany him that
he might have the pleasure of merely seeing Florida, for he had no
opportunity of speaking with her. In order to establish himself in this
goodly company he paid his addresses to the daughter of an old knight,
his neighbour. This maiden was named Avanturada, and was so intimate
with Florida that she knew all the secrets of her heart. Amadour,
as much for the worth which he found in Avanturada as for the three
thousand ducats a year which formed her dowry, determined to address her
as a suitor, and she willingly gave ear to him. But as he was poor and
her father was rich, she feared that the latter would never consent
to the marriage except at the instance of the Countess of Aranda. She
therefore had recourse to the lady Florida and said to her--

"You have seen, madam, that Castilian gentleman who often talks to me.
I believe that all his aim is to have me in marriage. You know, however,
what kind of father I have; he will never consent to the match unless he
be earnestly entreated by the Countess and you."

Florida, who loved the damsel as herself, assured her that she would
lay the matter to heart as though it were for her own benefit; and
Avanturada then ventured so far as to present Amadour to her. He was
like to swoon for joy on kissing Florida's hand, and although he was
accounted the readiest speaker in Spain, yet in her presence he became
dumb. At this she was greatly surprised, for, although she was only
twelve years old, she had already often heard it said that there was no
man in Spain who could speak better or with more grace. So, finding that
he said nothing to her, she herself spoke.

"Senor Amadour," she began, "the renown you enjoy throughout all the