Next Morning the Nuns of the Nunnery opposite, having taken Notice of the _Clerico's_ Ingress, long Visit, and late Egress, sent to know whether he was my Countryman; with many other Questions, which I was not then let into the Secret of. To all which I return'd, that he was no Countryman of mine, but an _Irish-man_, and so perfectly a Stranger to me, that I knew no more of him than what I had from his own Mouth, that he was going into _Murcia_. What the Meaning of this Enquiry was, I could never learn; but I could not doubt, but it proceeded from their great Care of their _Vicino_, as they call'd me; a Mark of their Esteem, and of which I was not a little proud.
As was my usual Custom, I had been taking my Morning Walk, and had not been long come home in order to Dinner, when in again drops my _Irish Clerico_; I was confounded, and vexed, and he could not avoid taking Notice of it; nevertheless, without the least Alteration of Countenance, he took his Seat; and on my saying, in a cold and indifferent Tone, that I imagin'd he had been got to _Murcia_ before this; he reply'd, with a natural Fleer, that truely he was going to _Murcia_, but his Conscience pricked him, and he did find that he could not go away with any Satisfaction, or Peace of Mind, without making me a perfect Convert; that he had plainly discovered in me a good Disposition, and had, for that very Reason, put himself to the Charge of Man and Mule, to the Bishop of _Cuenca_ for a Licence, under his Hand, for my Conversion: For in _Spain_, all private Missionaries are obliged to ask Leave of the next Bishop, before they dare enter upon any Enterprize of this Nature.
I was more confounded at this last Assurance of the Man than at all before; and it put me directly upon reflecting, whether any, and what Inconveniences might ensue, from a Rencounter that I, at first, conceiv'd ridiculous, but might now reasonably begin to have more dangerous Apprehensions of. I knew, by the Articles of War, all Persons are exempted from any Power of the Inquisition; but whether carrying on a Part in such a Farce, might not admit, or at least be liable to some dangerous Construction, was not imprudently now to be considered. Though I was not fearful, yet I resolv'd to be cautious. Wherefore not making any Answer to his Declaration about the Bishop, he took Notice of it; and to raise a Confidence, he found expiring, began to tell me, that his Name was _Murtough Brennan_, that he was born near _Kilkenny_, of a very considerable Family. This last part indeed, when I came to _Madrid_, I found pretty well confirm'd in a considerable Manner. However, taking Notice that he had alter'd his Tone of leaving the Town, and that instead of it, he was advancing somewhat like an Invitation of himself to Dinner the next Day, I resolv'd to show my self shy of him; and thereupon abruptly, and without taking any Leave, I left the Room, and my Landlady and him together.