he was in
nowise anxious to distinguish himself."

"Thy speech," said Theodora, "is enigmatical, and wherefore it is so I
cannot surmise. But his very enemies confessed that he fought bravely,
and fell like a hero. Aye, Roque, they further added, that had you not
abandoned him in that critical moment, their victory would not have been
so easily effected."

"_Santa Barbara!_" cried Roque, more astounded than ever, "the Moors
said that? Well it was very kind of the _malandrines_ to speak in such
good terms of my honored master.--Good God! good God!" he then
continued, in a confused incoherent manner--"My lady, pray forgive my
impertinence, but will you tell me if I am awake?"

"Awake!" repeated Theodora.

"Yes, my dear lady, for either I must be now asleep, or you must have
been dreaming when the facetious Moors favored you with such an
extraordinary story."

"Oh, Roque! cease this ribaldry, so unbecoming in thee when we speak of
_him_ whom thou knowest I so much loved--when we speak of his untimely
death."

"The death of Gomez Arias, say you!" exclaimed Roque, retreating with
increased amazement. "My master dead?--in the name of Heaven! what say
you lady!"--

"The truth;--with these unhappy eyes did I see his murdered body in the
Alpujarras:--art thou then, Roque, so ignorant of his fate?"

"Oh, quite so," replied Roque; "this is the very first intelligence I
received of such an event;--and I suppose you will tell me next that you
have seen his ghost."

"Alas!" returned Theodora, "it was but last night that I beheld his
figure as perfectly as when I saw him last in the Alpujarras!"

Roque assumed as much gravity as he was able, considering the difficulty
he had to restrain his risibility; and, supposing that the intellect of
the poor lady was impaired, in a comic serious tone observed:--"Well, my
master is a most wonderful man, that his murdered body should be food
for the ravens of the Alpujarras, and his troubled spirit be haunting
Don Alonso's garden; when at the same time I saw him myself not long
since, in perfect sanity of body and soul, parading the promenades of
Granada."

Theodora gasped for breath; she gazed on Roque with astonishment. The
valet was in the greatest perplexity; but thinking that Theodora still
doubted the veracity of his statement, he again, in a serious tone and
asseverating manner, said--"Yes, my lady, you are deceived--my master is
alive."

"Alive!" screamed aloud Theodora,