She looked straight into the man's eyes.
"Señora Valentino, if I can do anything for you, I am thereby most happy."
"Many thanks, Señor Soldier. I shall begin."
Morando was all attention.
"Señor Capitan, the traditions, the art, the faith of Spain live very near to my heart. They have made old Spain glorious. The world's history would be vastly poorer without them."
"Truly, señora."
"This province, even now, is smiling under their influence. The future has splendid things in store for us here if the heritage from across the sea has way unimpeded. May there not be another Castile beside this Western coast only less magnificent than the first?"
"Señora Valentino, you give my own thoughts."
"I rejoice, Señor Capitan. But on whom rests the duty of safeguarding this heritage? Is it not on us, the sons and daughters of Castile?"
"Most unquestionably, señora."