“But they grew suspicious and soon I found myself at outs with white men and red. Then came word for Captain Fly-by-Night to be taken dead or alive at all costs. To everyone here I was Fly-by-Night, of course. The description sent——”
“A fool of a cleric copied your description from the pass record by mistake,” cried the Governor. “I’ll send him packing when I return!”
“It was at San Juan Capistrano that I first met discourtesy,” the caballero went on. “They knew of this Fly-by-Night’s insult to the señorita, assumed I was the man come to win her, and gave me to understand how they regarded me. Sorry trouble I faced by pretending to be another man.
“Then the real Fly-by-Night came, and because Rojerio Rocha was due, he was hailed as such. It amused him, no doubt, to be called Rocha and introduced to the señorita, placed in a position to win her. Moreover, it gave him a chance to continue plotting in security—for who would suspect Rojerio Rocha? You understand? And I could say nothing then, being known as Fly-by-Night. Oh, it was a pretty mess! Things were happening with such rapidity that he was not asked to show credentials, of course——”
“And you faced death,” said the Governor, “became fugitive, allowed people to call you despicable in order to be of service to the state? A worthy caballero!”
“That was not all the object,” the caballero replied, laughing lightly and looking at Anita again. “I had heard of Fly-by-Night’s boast, you see; and when they took me for him I thought it would be a lark to approach the señorita in that guise. I was coming to wed her at her father’s request, you see. We were as good as wed, you might say, yet never had seen each other. How much better—I am sure you will understand, excellency—to win her true love under another name, to be sure she was wedding the man, not the distant relative her father had commanded her to wed.
“You see my point? And, if I could win her love as Captain Fly-by-Night, the man she despised—if I could turn her hatred and repugnance to affection, would I not be sure it was real love?”
“Hah!” the Governor cried, and looked at the blushing girl.
“It was done,” the caballero said. “And—thank the saints, it has been proved the love is real!”
And then he crossed before them, and Anita, seeing him coming, got upon her feet, and he took her into his arms and kissed her there before them all.