I am yours with life and limb。 But come； noble brother； the hour for
my adventure is arrived。〃
And wrapped in their mantles； the youths walked hastily toward the
city； Fadrique carrying his beautiful guitar under his arm。
CHAPTER II。
The night…smelling flowers in Lucila's window were already beginning
to emit their refreshing perfume when Fadrique； leaning in the shadow
of the angle of an old church opposite； began to tune his guitar。
Heimbert had stationed himself not far from him； behind a pillar； his
drawn sword under his mantle； and his clear blue eyes； like two
watching stars； looking calmly and penetrating around。 Fadrique
sang：
〃Upon a meadow green with spring；
A little flower was blossoming；
With petals red and snowy white；
To me； a youth； my soul's delight
Within that blossom lay；
And I have loved my song to indite
And flattering homage pay。
〃Since then a wanderer I have been；
And many a bloody strife have seen；
And now returned； I see
The little floweret stands no more
Upon the meadow as before；
Transplanted by a gardener's care；
And hedged by golden trellis there；
It is denied to me。
〃I grudge him not his trelllsed guard；
His bolts of iron； strongly barred；
Yet； wandering in the cool night…air；
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 errandnamely； 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 bis 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 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 sword； like a sentinel； and Heimbert； trembling with
joy； glided within the gloomy and aromatic shrubberies。
CHAPTER III
He was not long in seeking the bright star； which he indeed felt was
destined henceforth to guide the course of his whole life。 The
delicate form approached him not far from the entrance； weeping
softly； it seemed to him； in the light of the full moon which was
just rising； and yet smiling with such infinite grace； that her tears
were rather like a pearly ornament than a veil of sorrow。 In deep
and infinite joy and sorrow the two lovers wandered silently together
through the flowery groves； now and then a branch waving in the
night…air would touch the guitar on the lady's arm； and it would
breathe forth a slight murmur which blended with the song of the
nightingale； or the delicate fingers of the girl would tremble over
the strings and awaken a few scattered chords； while the shooting
stars seemed as if following the tones of the instrument as they died
away。 Oh； truly happy was this night both to the youth and the
maiden； for no rash wish or impure desire passed even fleetingly
across their minds。 They walked on side by side； happy that
Providence had allowed them this delight； and so little desiring any
other blessing that even the transitoriness of that they were now
enjoying floated away into the background of their thoughts。
In the middle ot the beautiful garden there was a large open lawn；
ornamented with statues and surrounding a beautiful and splashing
fountain。 The two lovers sat down on its brink； now gazing at the
waters sparkling in the moonlight； and now delighting in the
contemplation of each other's beauty。 The maiden touched her guitar；
and Heimbert； impelled by a feeling scarcely intelligible to himself；
sang the following words to it：
〃There is a sweet life linked with mine；
But I cannot tell its name；
Oh； would it but to me consign
The secret of that life divine；
That so my lips in whispers sweet
And gentle songs might e'en repeat
All that my heart would fain proclaim！〃
He suddenly paused； and blushed deeply； fearing he had been too bold。
The lady blushed also； touched her guitar…strings with a half…
abstracted air； and at last sang as if dreamily：
〃By the spring where moonlight's gleams
O'er the sparkling waters pass；
Who is sitting by the youth；
Singing on the soft green grass？
Shall the maiden tell her name；
When though all unknown it be；
Her heart is glowing with her shame；
And her cheeks burn anxiously；
First； let the youthful knight be named。
'Tis he that on that glorious day
Fought in Castilla's proud array；
'Tis he the youth of sixteen years；
At Pavia； who his fortunes tried；
The Frenchman's fear； the Spaniard's pride。
Heimbert is the hero's name；
Victorious in many a fight！
And beside the valiant knight；
Sitting in the soft green grass；
Though her name her lips shall pass；
Dona Clara feels no shame 〃
〃Oh！〃 said Heimbert； blushing from another cause than before； 〃oh；
Dona Clara； that affair at Pavia was nothing but a merry and
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