lso. When I told her yesterday that our departure was
so near, her heavenly eyes seemed to me suffused with tears. I must also
have looked sorrowful, for she said to me, in a consoling tone, 'Oh,
pious, childlike warrior! one may trust you as one trusts an angel.'
After midnight, before the morning dawn breaks for your departure, I
give you leave to take farewell of me in this very spot. If you could,
however, find a true and discreet comrade to watch the entrance from the
street, it would be well, for many a soldier may be passing at that hour
through the city on his way from some farewell carouse. Providence has
now sent me such a comrade, and at one o'clock I shall go joyfully to
the lovely maiden."

"I only wish the service on which you require me were more rich in
danger," rejoined Fadrique, "so that I might better prove to you that
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,