a firm Roman Catholic. It was a faith which exactly
suited him. He found it so easy for a person of his wealth to clear off
any sins which might trouble his conscience.

The other young man who has been spoken of seemed to be a stranger in
the place, though several affectionate greetings which he received
showed that he was not so altogether. He was dressed in black, the
usual costume of a lawyer in those days, and though not so handsome as
Don Francisco, his broad forehead, clear eye, and firm mouth, showed
that he was far his superior in intellect. Dona Leonor no longer turned
away her head when he approached her, as she had done when Don Francisco
drew near, but received him with a friendly smile, while an acute
observer might have discovered that a blush suffused her cheek while he
spoke. Don Francisco watched him at a distance, and an expression
denoting angry jealousy came over his countenance as he saw the intimate
terms which existed between the two. He little dreamed, however, of the
cause of the earnest love which one felt for the other: it was the pure
holy faith which both enjoyed, the same common trust, the same hope, the
same confidence in the one ever-loving Saviour. They believed that they
were to be united, not only for a time, but for eternity. Their
acquaintance had commenced during a visit Dona Leonor had paid to some
relatives residing in the town of Toro, of which place Antonio
Herezuelo, the young man who has been described, was an advocate. It
soon ripened into affection. No barrier existed between them, for the
acute lawyer had already been converted to the truth, and, head and
heart alike convinced, held firmly to it as the anchor of his soul.
Dona Mercia did not oppose their union, for she perceived that Antonio
Herezuelo possessed courage, determination, and a superior intellect,
beside a gentle and loving disposition--qualities calculated to secure
her daughter's happiness, and which would enable him to protect her
during the troublous times which she feared might be coming on Spain.
She knew well what had happened, and what was occurring in the
Netherlands, as did all the educated persons in Spain; but that did not
prevent those who had the Gospel offered to them from accepting its
truths, or from endeavouring to make them known among their companions.
Those who were in the Church, and whose position enabled them to preach,
promulgated Gospel truth openly, while laymen spoke of it