The Lady Romalda smiled coldly. "You may become a self-styled prince among a barbarous and rebellious people. Be assured I shall never be a princess of such dishonor."
She swept in disdain from the room.
Mendoza returned to Madrid. Calling on the commander-in-chief of the Spanish army, he held before him the written letters of his colonelcy.
"This paper means I am a colonel in the army of this kingdom. I am such no more." He tore in halves the commission.
"Are you a madman, Colonel Mendoza?" asked the general.
"Behold!"
Bending his sword over his knee he broke it into pieces and cast them on the floor. "By this act I forswear Spain forever."
The old general began to remonstrate with him, but Mendoza turned on his heel and was gone.
Great preparations were under way for the return to California of the lord of the rancho Mendoza with his lady bride. The whole valley was ready to make the occasion a gala time.
Alone, and by night, he came. Calling his major-domos and head peons together, he gave orders which were to be executed early on the morrow, by his thousand vassals.