fight. Heimbert therefore made his mighty sword gleam in the moonlight,
and said, "Dear sirs, you will not surely oblige me to execute that of
which I previously assured you? I pray you not to compel me to do so;
but if it cannot be otherwise, I must honorably keep my word, you may
rely upon it." The two young men remained from that time motionless,
surprised both at the decision and at the true-hearted friendliness that
lay in Heimbert's words.

Meanwhile Don Fadrique, although pressing hard upon his adversary,
had generously avoided wounding him, and when at last by a dexterous
movement he wrested his sword from him. Lucila's husband, surprised at
the unexpected advantage, and in alarm at being thus disarmed, retreated
a few steps. But Fadrique threw the weapon adroitly into the air, and
catching it again near the point of the blade, he said, as he gracefully
presented the hilt to his opponent, "Take it, Senor, and I hope
our affair of honor is now settled, as you will grant under these
circumstances that I am only here to show that I fear no sword-thrust in
the world. The bell of the old cathedral is now ringing twelve o'clock,
and I give you my word of honor as a knight and a soldier that neither
is Dona Lucila pleased with my attentions nor am I pleased with paying
them; from henceforth, and were I to remain a hundred years in Malaga,
I would not continue to serenade her in this spot. So proceed on your
journey, and God be with you." He then once more greeted his conquered
adversary with serious and solemn courtesy, and withdrew. Heimbert
followed him, after having cordially shaken hands with the two youths,
saying, "No, dear young sirs, do not let it ever again enter your heads
to interfere in any honorable contest. Do you understand me?"

He soon overtook his companion, and walked on by his side so full of
ardent expectation, and with his heart beating so joyfully and yet so
painfully, that he could not utter a single word. Don Fadrique Mendez
was also silent; it was not till Heimbert paused before an ornamented
garden-gate, and pointed cheerfully to the pomegranate boughs richly
laden with fruits which overhung it, saying, "This is the place, dear
comrade," that the Spaniard appeared as if about to ask a question,
but turning quickly round he merely said, "I am pledged to guard this
entrance for you till dawn. You have my word of honor for it." So saying
he began walking to and fro before the gate, with drawn s