he sun, although
they had not slept all night in consequence of a circumstance which had
occurred at supper, and which had more surprised and interested the
brother and sister than they were themselves aware. As they sat at
table, and the youth with them whom they had taken under their
protection, Teodoro fixed her eyes intently on his face, and
scrutinising his features somewhat curiously, perceived that his ears
were bored. From this and from a certain bashfulness that appeared in
his looks, she suspected that the supposed youth was a woman, and she
longed for supper to be over that she might verify her suspicion.
Meanwhile Don Rafael asked him whose son he was, for he knew all the
principal people in the town he had named as his birth place. The youth
said he was the son of Don Enrique de Cardenas. Don Rafael replied that
he was well acquainted with Don Enrique, and knew for certain that he
had no son; but that if he had given that answer because he did not
choose to make known his family, it was of no consequence, and he should
not be questioned again on that subject.

"It is true," said the youth, "that Don Enrique has no children, but his
brother Don Sancho has."

"He has no son either," replied Don Rafael, "but an only daughter, who,
by the bye, they say is one of the handsomest damsels in Andalusia; but
this I know only by report; for though I have been often in her town I
have never seen her."

"It is quite true, as you say, senor, that Don Sancho has only a
daughter, but not one so handsome as fame reports; and if I said that I
was the son of Don Enrique it was only to give myself some importance in
your eyes; for in fact, I am only the son of Don Sancho's steward, who
has been many years in his service, and I was born in his house. Having
displeased my father, I carried off a good sum of money from him, and
resolved to go to Italy, as I have told you, and follow the career of
arms, by which men even of obscure birth have been known to make
themselves illustrious."

Teodoro, who listened attentively to all this conversation, was more and
more confirmed in her suspicion, both by the manner and the substance
of what the youth said. After the cloth was removed, and while Don
Rafael was preparing for bed, she made known to him her surmise, and
then, with his permission, took the youth aside, and, going out with him
upon a balcony which looked on the street, addressed him thus:--

"Don Francisco," for that wa