han to make light with so sad a subject, and introduce an unseemly
jest."

"By all the saints in the calendar, lady--but I am in no mood for
merriment. I am not in very truth, and may the first jest I attempt to
utter strangulate me outright, before it escapes from my lips. But
really, with respect to abandoning my master, thank the blessed virgin,
that is a crime of which no one can accuse me. A man cannot help feeling
shy at engaging in broils and combats, if his star doth not propel him
thereto,--and that in verity is pretty nearly my case; but if any one is
tempted to question my fidelity, this miserable carcass of mine can bear
witness to the contrary, by displaying the honorable bruises I have
reaped in the service of my master.--Alack! had I been less constant in
following my Senor Gomez Arias, certain cudgellings and beatings without
number would not so continually have fallen to the lot of Roque."

"Darest thou speak in this strain," interposed Theodora, "when thou
betookest thyself to a shameful flight, at the very first appearance of
the Moors, leaving thy gallant and unfortunate master to be murdered at
their hands?"

At this unexpected accusation, Roque appeared astounded, and for some
time could collect no adequate term to express his surprise. He cast a
look of mixed amazement and compassion, shrugged up his shoulders, and,
in a scarcely audible tone, muttered to himself:--"Poor thing! may the
Lord preserve her--sorrow hath brought this about."

Theodora, heedless of his manner, continued;--"Alas! what was the
courage of a single man against the united force of so many enemies?"

"Aye--aye--nothing," responded Roque, "nothing certainly;--but under
favor, my good lady, though my master's courage stood ever the fairest
test, yet I do not clearly perceive how he is entitled to encomiums for
feats which, though he might, he _did_ not actually achieve."

"What!" exclaimed Theodora, with warmth, "would you even defraud his
memory of its too-well merited guerdon, the possession of a glorious
name?"

"Good my lady," humbly replied Roque, "I would not defraud my master of
a single _maravedi_, much less of so valuable a treasure as a glorious
name. But I am strangely puzzled to determine how I can deprive him of a
commodity which in my hands would lose its worth. Nor indeed can I
perceive why you bestow such commendations on the deeds of my master,
since, in the instance to which you allude, I rather suspect