THE TWO CAPTAINS.
Page: 3

native city from our foreign wanderings, a few weeks ago, I found my
mistress married to a rich and noble knight residing here. Fiercer
far than love had been was the jealousy--that almost almighty child
of heaven and hell--which now spurred me on to follow Lucila's steps,
from her home to the church, from thence to the house of a friend,
from thence again to her home or to some noble circle of knights and
ladies, and all this as unweariedly and as closely as was possible.
When I had at length assured myself that no other young knight
attended her, and that she devoted herself entirely to the husband
chosen for her by her parents rather than desired by herself, I felt
perfectly satisfied, and I should not have troubled you at this
moment had not Lucila approached me the day before yesterday and
whispered in my ear that I must not provoke her husband, for he was
very passionate and bold; that not the slightest danger threatened
her in the matter, because he loved and honored her above everything,
but that his wrath would vent itself all the more furiously upon me.
You can readily understand, my noble comrade, that I could not help
proving my contempt of all personal danger by following Lucila more
closely than ever, and singing nightly serenades beneath her flower-
decked windows till the morning star began to be reflected in the
sea. This very night Lucila's husband sets out at midnight for
Madrid, and from that hour I will in every way avoid the street in
which they live; until then, however, as soon as it is sufficiently
dark to be suitable for a serenade, I will have love-romances
unceasingly sang before his house. It is true I have information
that not only he but Lucila's brothers are really to enter upon a
quarrel with me, and it is for this reason, Senor, that I have
requested you to bear me company with your good sword in this short
expedition."

Heimbert seized the Spaniard's hand as a pledge of his readiness,
saying as he did so, "To show you, dear sir, how gladly I will do
what you desire of me, I will requite your confidence with
confidence, and will relate a little incident which occurred to me in