ot to receive you as nay wife, for that I
cannot, there is nothing else which I will not do, if it be in my power,
to please you."

Marco Antonio, who had raised himself on one arm while he spoke, now
fell back senseless. Don Rafael then came forward. "Recover yourself,
dear senor," he said, embracing him affectionately, "and embrace your
friend and your brother, since such you desire him to be."

Marco Antonio opened his eyes, and recognising Don Rafael, embraced him
with great warmth. "Dear brother and senor," he said, "the extreme joy I
feel in seeing you must needs be followed by a proportionate affliction,
since, as they say, after gladness comes sorrow; but whatever befals me
now I will receive with pleasure in exchange for the happiness of
beholding you."

"To make your happiness more complete," replied Don Rafael, "I present
to you this jewel as your own." Then, turning to look for his sister, he
found her behind the rest of the people in the room, bathed in tears,
and divided between joy and grief at what she saw and what she had
heard. Taking her by the hand, her brother led her passively to the
bed-side, and presented her to Marco Antonio, who embraced her with
loving tears.

The rest of those present stared in each others' faces in speechless
amazement at these extraordinary occurrences; but the hapless Leocadia,
seeing her whom she had mistaken for Don Rafael's brother locked in the
arms of him she looked on as her own husband, and all her hopes mocked
and ruined, stole out of the room unperceived by the others, whose
attention was engrossed by the scene about the bed. She rushed wildly
into the street, intending to wander over the world, no matter whither;
but she was hardly out of doors before Don Rafael missed her, and, as if
he had lost his soul, began to inquire anxiously after her; but nobody
could tell what had become of her. He hastened in dismay to the inn
where he was told Calvete lodged, thinking she might have gone thither
to procure a mule; but, not finding her there, he ran like a madman
through the streets, seeking her in every quarter, till the thought
struck him that she might have made for the galleys, and he turned in
that direction. As he approached the shore he heard some one calling
from the land for the boat belonging to the general's galley, and soon
recognised the voice as that of the beautiful Leocadia. Hearing his
footsteps as he hastened towards her, she drew her sword and st