ing in my heart. When we returned to my
native city from our foreign wanderings, a few weeks ago, I found my
mistress married to a rich and noble knight residing here. Fiercer
far than love had been was the jealousy--that almost almighty child of
heaven and hell--which now spurred me on to follow Lucila's steps,
from her home to the church, from thence to the house of a friend, from
thence again to her home or to some noble circle of knights and ladies,
and all this as unweariedly and as closely as was possible. When I had
at length assured myself that no other young knight attended her, and
that she devoted herself entirely to the husband chosen for her by her
parents rather than desired by herself, I felt perfectly satisfied, and
I should not have troubled you at this moment had not Lucila approached
me the day before yesterday and whispered in my ear that I must not
provoke her husband, for he was very passionate and bold; that not the
slightest danger threatened her in the matter, because he loved and
honored her above everything, but that his wrath would vent itself
all the more furiously upon me. You can readily understand, my noble
comrade, that I could not help proving my contempt of all personal
danger by following Lucila more closely than ever, and singing nightly
serenades beneath her flower-decked windows till the morning star began
to be reflected in the sea. This very night Lucila's husband sets out
at midnight for Madrid, and from that hour I will in every way avoid
the street in which they live; until then, however, as soon as it
is sufficiently dark to be suitable for a serenade, I will have
love-romances unceasingly sang before his house. It is true I have
information that not only he but Lucila's brothers are really to enter
upon a quarrel with me, and it is for this reason, Senor, that I have
requested you to bear me company with your good sword in this short
expedition."

Heimbert seized the Spaniard's hand as a pledge of his readiness, saying
as he did so, "To show you, dear sir, how gladly I will do what you
desire of me, I will requite your confidence with confidence, and will
relate a little incident which occurred to me in this city, and will beg
you after midnight also to render me a small service. My story is short,
and will not detain us longer than we must wait before the twilight has
become deeper and more gloomy.

"On the day after we arrived here I amused myself with walking in the
bea