hasty movement to leave the place.

"Stay, Roque, stay!" eagerly cried Theodora; "thou surely dost not mean
to leave me thus:--What alarms thee? Is it my dejected and forlorn
appearance? Alas! it may well awaken thy surprise; for deep and bitter
anguish has left its sad traces on my features."

Roque then approached, but not without casting a look around, as if
fearful of being observed.

"What ails thee, Roque?" demanded Theodora surprised; "thou
tremblest,--wherefore? What mystery is here?"

"_El cielo, San Pedro y San Pablo me valgan!_" ejaculated Roque, again
crossing himself.

"Oh!" cried Theodora, clasping her hand in eager supplication--"do not
harrow up my feelings with this suspense:--Speak!--"

"Good heavens! my lady, how came you here?"

"Alas!" answered Theodora, "the tale of my sufferings is as tedious in
length as it has been deep in sorrow; rather inform me of matters far
more interesting to my heart: tell me," she then proceeded, with
vehement earnestness, "tell me the circumstances of that horrid event
which has doomed me for ever to despair."

"That horrid event!" re-echoed Roque, with a look of marvellous
stupidity.

"Ah! Roque, it was a fearful deed, and not in vain did my heart warn me
with ominous forebodings."

"Yes, gentle lady," said Roque, in a tone of compunction, "it was a
fearful deed, I confess."

"And thou, Roque," continued Theodora, "thou hast to answer for a great
share of the misery which ensued."

"Alas, my dear lady! I know that my courage failed me in that dreadful
moment, but perhaps I am not wholly undeserving of pardon, for what
other course could I then pursue?"

"To fight," resolutely said Theodora.

"Fight," returned the valet, "fight! good God! you would not have had me
fight a host of ruffian Moors, would you, lady? A thousand they might
have been, for aught I know. Indeed, at the time, I lost my talent for
calculation, but they looked as many, and as for poor Roque, whom Heaven
has been pleased to endow with a most pacific temperament, thinking of
fighting a thousand Moors, he might as well be expected to engage
against Satan, backed by a whole legion of his infernal subjects."

"But was it well," rejoined Theodora, "to abandon thy master in the
hour of danger?"

"Abandon my master!" exclaimed Roque, "_valgame el cielo!_ Under favor,
Senora, it was my master that abandoned me."

"Out upon thee, fellow! I thought thee possessed of more manly feelings
t