The polished duke was more inexorable than the stern hidalgo.

I flew to Beatriz; I told her I had nothing but my heart and right hand to offer.

She wept, and she refused me." "Because you were not rich ?" "Shame on you, no! but because she would not consent to mar my fortunes, and banish me from my native land.

The next day I received a peremptory order to rejoin the army, and with that order came a brevet of promotion.

Lover though I be, I am a Spaniard: to have disobeyed the order would have been dishonour.