Garcilaso, who had been his companion in the expedition
against Mohabed--

"My young friend," he said, "you are a gallant and most promising
soldier, but be careful how you use the favors of the ladies; for not
all your services rendered to a queen will compensate the most trivial
disregard offered to the woman; and above all, be cautious how you
meddle with rings."

Count de Tendilla did not think proper to resent these remarks, for the
present situation of Gomez Arias precluded the propriety of replying to
the imprudent effusion of his irritated feelings.

"Don Lope," resumed the governor, "I will place your person under no
unnecessary restraint, but you must pardon the disagreeable necessity to
which my responsibility reduces me of stationing a guard within your
apartment."

"The presence of soldiers, Count," replied Don Lope, "was never
unpleasant to Gomez Arias; on the contrary, I shall feel particularly
gratified; they will, perhaps, tend to dispel the cloud that hangs over
my mind by recalling to memory my former glory; besides, they will
acquire a new stimulus to serve their Queen by witnessing the
encouraging reward she has in store for her servants."

He now folded his arms and began to pace the room with an affected
indifference, but his inward feelings baffled even the powers of his
superior mind. No man can feel calm and indifferent under such
circumstances; it is against the principles of his nature; pride and a
due sense of honorable feeling may help him to assume a dignified
composure, or ferocity and callousness may adopt an insolent demeanor or
a gloomy tranquillity; but real philosophic evenness of mind exists more
in theory than in practice. Nevertheless Gomez Arias manifested no
symptoms of weak regret, and his exclamations bespoke more his
resentment against the queen than the dread of relinquishing life in the
midst of a brilliant career. He now seemed to be absorbed in thought and
the governor prepared to take his leave, when--

"Stay," he cried, "upon better reflection, perhaps it will be more
respectful not to refuse the kind offer of my sovereign; I shall
therefore make one request."

"Name it," said Tendilla, kindly; "it shall be granted."

"It is," resumed Don Lope, "that upon my way to the scaffold I may be
allowed to head a party of my own gallant soldiers, mounted on my
charger and attended with all military honors."

Count de Tendilla gave an involuntary start at so strange a