a rascal."

"A rascal because I am not wounded! Good Heaven! here's a consequence
with a vengeance!"

"This is an impudent interference," continued Don Lope, "and dearly
shalt thou rue it."

"An impudent interference do you call it? A marvellous good one, in
sooth, for I have saved the fruitless effusion of noble Christian blood,
and I have separated two enraged combatants better than a whole posse of
alguazils: and now, all the reward I am likely to obtain for such an
important service, is threats and abuse. Here is my dear master sorely
exasperated, because I have a greater regard for his safety than he has
himself, and quite disappointed at not being run through the body by
that sanguinary Don Rodrigo."

"Basta, basta," said angrily Don Lope;--then in a gentler tone he
continued, "I am really concerned for Don Rodrigo,--full of anxiety for
my supposed death, I venture to say he is now flying from the abode of
man, to seek a shelter in the wilderness of the Alpujarras.

"It is very Christian-like in you, Senor," interposed Roque, "to show so
much solicitude for the fate of Don Rodrigo. Well, the ways of honorable
gentlemen are to me unaccountable. Here was my honorable master, but a
short while since, eagerly seeking the life of Don Rodrigo at the point
of his rapier, and now he is equally anxious that his adversary should
not be exposed to the inconvenience of a nocturnal ramble into the
mountains of Alpujarras."

Monteblanco could not but inwardly congratulate himself upon the
fortunate termination of an adventure which threatened such serious
results; for he by no means liked the idea of having a corpse in his
house, with all the unpleasant appendages necessarily attendant on such
an inmate. He certainly felt concerned for the safety and comfort of Don
Rodrigo, but he very judiciously opined it was better his dear friend
should suffer the inconvenience of passing a night in the mountains,
than that he himself should be exposed to the unpleasant consequences
which would inevitably attend a fatal result to either party, especially
had the event occurred in his own _Zaguan_; for he would be thus
compelled to take a part in the drama, with which he would very
willingly dispense--that of explaining the catastrophe to the officers
of justice. This consideration induced him to approve in his own mind
the stratagem of Roque, although he would by no means audibly testify
his approbation, thinking very properly that