man was visible whose dress and bearing
proclaimed him a warrior and Fadrique, as master of the house, at once
addressed him. "Senor," said he, "why you come here, intruding into a
strange garden, we will inquire at another time. For the present I
will only request you to leave us free from further interruption by
immediately retiring, and to favor me with your name." "Retire I will
not," replied the stranger, "but my name I will gladly tell you. I
am the Duke of Alba." And as he spoke, by a movement of his charger a
bright moonbeam fell upon his pale thin face, the dwelling-place of all
that was grand and worthy and terrible. The two captains bowed low and
dropped their weapons.

"I ought to know you," continued Alba, looking at them with his
sparkling eyes. "Yes, truly, I know you well, you are the two young
heroes at the battle of Tunis. God be praised that two such brave
warriors, whom I had given up for lost, are still alive; but tell me,
what is this affair of honor that has turned your good swords against
each other? For I hope you will not hesitate to declare to me the cause
of your knightly contest."

They complied with the great duke's behest. Both the noble youths
related the whole circumstances, from the evening previous to their
embarkation up to the present moment, while Alba remained between them,
in silent thought, almost motionless, like some equestrian statue.

CHAPTER XIX.

The Captains had already long finished their story, and the duke still
remained silent and motionless, in deep reflection. At last he began to
speak, and addressed them as follows:

"May God and his holy word help me, my young knights, when I say that I
consider, after my best and most conscientious belief, that this affair
of yours is now honorably at an end. Twice have you met each other in
contest on account of those irritating words which escaped the lips of
Don Fadrique Mendez and if indeed the slight wounds you have hitherto
received are not sufficient compensation for the angry expression, there
is still your common fight before Tunis, and the rescue in the desert
afforded by Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen to Don Fadrique Mendez, after he
had gained his bride for him. From all this, I consider that the Knight
of Waldhausen is entitled to pardon any offence of an adversary to whom
he has shown himself so well inclined. Old Roman history tells us of two
captains of the great Julius Caesar who settled a dispute and c