I touch my zither's string,
And as afore her beauties rare,
Her wondrous graces sing,
And e'en the gardener shall not dare
Refuse the praise I bring."

"That depends, Senor," said a man, stepping close, and as he thought
unobserved, before Fadrique; but the latter had already been informed
of his approach by a sign from his watchful friend, and he was therefore
ready to answer with the greater coolness, "If you wish, Senor, to
commence a suit with my guitar, she has, at all events, a tongue of
steel, which has already on many occasions done her excellent service.
With whom is it your pleasure to speak, with the guitar or the
advocate?"

While the stranger was silent from embarrassment, two mantled figures
had approached Heimbert and remained standing a few steps from him,
as if to cut off Fadrique's flight in case he intended to escape. "I
believe, dear sirs," said Heimbert in a courteous tone, "we are here on
the same errand--namely, to prevent any intrusion upon the conference of
yonder knights. At least, as far as I am concerned, you may rely upon it
that any one who attempts to interfere in their affair will receive my
dagger in his heart. Be of good cheer, therefore; I think we shall both
do our duty." The two gentlemen bowed courteously and were silent.

The quiet self-possession with which the two soldiers carried on the
whole affair was most embarrassing to their three adversaries, and
they were at a loss to know how they should begin the dispute. At last
Fadrique again touched the strings of his guitar, and was preparing
to begin another song. This mark of contempt and apparent disregard of
danger and hazard so enraged Lucila's husband (for it was he who had
taken his stand by Don Fadrique) that without further delay he drew his
sword from his sheath, and with a voice of suppressed rage called out,
"Draw, or I shall stab you!" "Very gladly, Senor," replied Fadrique
quietly; "you need not threaten me; you might as well have said so
calmly." And so saying he placed his guitar carefully in a niche in the
church wall, seized his sword, and, bowing gracefully to his opponent,
the fight, began.

At first the two figures by Heimbert's side, who were Lucila's brothers,
remained quite quiet; but when Fadrique began to get the better of their
brother-in-law they appeared as if they intended to take part in the