owledge of the world, as to expect that a man's displeasure should
be strictly confined to the object by which it has been caused. Besides,
Don Alonzo has other reasons: our fair guest, who was so sacredly
beholden to him, is gone."

"What fair guest?" demanded Gomez Arias, with feigned curiosity.

"Did you never hear me speak of her?"

"If I did, I really do not remember."

"And what is become of Roque?" abruptly demanded Leonor: "he did not
attend you upon your departure yesterday, and search has been made after
him without effect. Is he ill?"

"Why, to say the truth, his health is rather precarious," answered Don
Lope, "and he has so repeatedly been entreating me to allow him to
retire to Toledo, where I believe he has a brother or sister, that I was
at length obliged to consent to his wishes; which, in sooth, I did the
more willingly, as he was growing of late so careless and impertinent,
that his attendance became more troublesome than serviceable to me."

"Why, Don Lope," returned Leonor, "you must have been strangely
surprised that he should wish to quit your service precisely on the eve
of your wedding day. Moreover, you will be still more amazed when I
inform you that it was this identical Roque that eloped with our guest
Theodora de Monteblanco."

"Impossible!" exclaimed Don Lope, affecting to be thunderstruck.

"Repollo, our old gardener," continued Leonor, "saw them leave the
palace, and instigated by a feeling of curiosity, followed them at a
distance, as well as the speed of their pace would permit. He saw them
at length halt at the public walks, where another person awaited with
horses. But this is the most extraordinary part of the tale, for the
gardener said that the person who was so complaisantly attending upon
the fugitives, appeared so exactly to resemble you, Don Lope, that he
would swear to the identity, were he not certain that you set out in the
morning for the seat of Count de Urena."

Great as was at all times Don Lope's presence of mind, and prepared as
he seemed for all contingencies, this last intelligence somewhat
deranged his composure; a circumstance which did not escape the keen and
scrutinizing eyes of Leonor.

"The insolent rascal," cried Gomez Arias after a pause: "It was for this
then that he appeared so anxious to quit my service; but I told you that
his behaviour had become of late most impertinent, and even arrogant.
The reason is now plainly discovered. But after all,