housekeeper had to fly to a neighbor's; and it was only after many entreaties, and performing a rigorous quarantine, that she was received back again.
CANO'S RULING PASSION STRONG IN DEATH.
His passion for art, and his eccentric notions respecting
the Jews, were strongly manifested in his
last sickness. He lived in the parish of the city
which contained the prison of the Inquisition. The
priest of the parish visited him upon his death-bed,
and proposed to administer the sacraments to him
after confession, when the artist quietly asked him
whether he was in the habit of administering it to
the Jews on whom penance was imposed by the Inquisition.
The priest replying in the affirmative,
Cano said, "Senor Licenciado, go your way, and
do not trouble yourself to call again; for the priest
who administers the sacraments to the Jews shall
not administer them to me." Accordingly he sent
for the priest of the parish of St. Andrew. This
last, however, gave offence in another form; he put
into the artist's hands a crucifix of indifferent execution,
when Cano desired him to take it away.
The priest was so shocked at this, that he thought
him possessed, and was at the point of exorcising
him. "My son," he said, "what dost thou mean?
this is the Lord who redeemed thee, and who must
save thee."—"I know that well," replied Cano,
"but do you want to provoke me with that wretched
thing, so as to give me over to the devil? let me
