“My father is good,” said Mariquilla. “I believe that if his neighbors in the city had not worried him so much that he would have been kinder. But they cannot bear the sight of him. This afternoon he was badly maltreated again in the cloister of San Francisco, and when he joined me in the Coso he was furious, and swore that he would be revenged. I tried to quiet him, but all in vain. They drive us away from everywhere. He doubled up his fists, and angrily threatened those who were there near us. Afterwards, he ran away and came here. I thought he was coming to see if they had destroyed this house, which is ours. I followed him. He turned towards me as if frightened at hearing my footsteps, and said to me, ‘Stupid meddler, who told you to follow me?’ I answered nothing; but seeing that he advanced to the French lines, as if he meant to cross over, I tried to detain him, and said to him, ‘Father, where are you going?’ Then he answered, ‘Do you know that my friend who served last year in Saragossa, the Swiss Captain Don Carlos Lindener, is in the French army? I am going to see him. I remember that he owes me a certain amount.’ He made me stay here, and went on. I am afraid that if his enemies know that he crossed over into the French lines, they will call him a traitor. I do not know whether it is the great affection that I have for him, but he seems to me incapable of such action. I am afraid though that there is something wrong, and for this reason I long for the end of the siege. Is it not true that it will soon be finished, Augustine?”
“Yes, Mariquilla, it will soon be finished, and we will be married. My father wishes me to marry.”
“Who is your father? What is his name? Is it not time yet to tell me that?”
“You shall know it another time. My father is one of the principal personages in Saragossa, and much beloved. Why wish to know more?”
“Yesterday I tried to inquire. I was curious. I asked several people I know that I met in the Coso, ‘Do you know what gentleman it is who has lost his eldest son?’ But so many are like that, that they only laughed at me.”