Ozmin, as much surprised at hearing himself styled Don Jaymé, as at meeting with so obliging a stranger, answered: “I know not who you are, nor why you interest yourself in my behalf; but whoever you be, you cannot but be a Cavalier of great worth: I will request the loan of some of your arms, having but a poniard to defend myself with; but can accept of no other assistance from you, without abusing your extreme kindness. I can by no means suffer so brave a man to expose his life for my sake.” “No, no,” replied the unknown, “do not imagine that I will leave you to perish, when I may render you assistance. I have two good pistols, one of which is at your service, and I will fight at your side; or, if you wish me to retire, you must accompany me.” “I believe,” said Ozmin, “that it will be the wiser way. We shall get no great honour in employing our valour against such rascals. But how can we quit the garden?” “That you shall see,” replied the stranger, “you have only to follow me.”
These two Cavaliers then ran together to that part of the garden where the wall had been repaired, against which was erected a long ladder. They had here some slight difference as to who should first ascend, each yielding the precedence to the other. After many compliments which two such courageous men could not fail to make on such an occasion, Ozmin was prevailed on to ascend first, to complete the noble behaviour of his companion. The Gendarmerie of Don Lewis had taken quite an opposite direction, so that they had abundance of time to get over the wall by means of this ladder, which they drew up after them to prevent the Marquis from ascertaining in what manner the pretended Ambrosio had escaped his fury. On the other side of the wall was another ladder by which they descended into the street, and which was guarded by five or six stout footmen well armed, who had been kept in readiness to throw themselves into the garden on the first signal. Ozmin, judging from this that his generous friend was not a man of common rank, requested to be informed to whom he was so much obliged. But the unknown gentleman answered that he would explain this to him at his house. “As you are a stranger,” added he, “you cannot be aware what sort of a man Don Lewis is, of whom, I assure you, you cannot be too cautious. I make you an offer, therefore, of my house, where you will be secure from his resentment by remaining with me, until we see in what manner the Padillas resolve to prosecute this affair.”
Ozmin was charmed with the generous and noble manner in which this offer was made, and not being able to resist the earnest entreaties of the Cavalier to accept of his house, accompanied him thither. When they beheld each other by the light of the flambeaux, they each looked at the other with an attention mingled with surprise, as if they thought they had met somewhere before. The master of the house was the first to distinguish Ozmin, by an imperfect recollection that he had of his features; and being convinced that he was not mistaken, he cried with transport, embracing him: “what happiness do I experience in thus meeting a man to whom I owe my life! I cannot be mistaken: you must be he who preserved me from the fury of the bull on the last day of the sports.” “My lord,” answered the Moor, smiling with a modest air, “you have now well repaid me for that service in retrieving me from a danger, in which, without your assistance, I must inevitably have perished.” “No, no,” replied Don Alonso de Zuniga, “I am still in arrears with you. At the very time that you rescued me from certain death, I had given you but little cause to expose your own life for the preservation of mine.”
They passed the remainder of the night in conversing together. Don Alonso, who had no doubt that Ozmin was really Don Jaymé Vivez, and that he was enamoured of Donna Elvira, related to him in what manner he had heard of his intrigue. “This made me desire,” added he, “to form an acquaintance with you, to commence which was the object of my entering Don Lewis’s garden to-night. Besides which, as I love Daraxa, the intimate friend of your mistress, I considered that our friendship might become useful to both our loves.”
Although Ozmin felt great repugnance in concealing his real sentiments, he did not wish to undeceive Don Alonso, thinking it more prudent to pass for Don Jaymé. After a long conversation, Zuniga conducted his guest to the apartment that was prepared for him, and leaving him to his rest, retired also to his own. But Ozmin not being able to sleep, sent for Orviedo as soon as it was day, to impart to this faithful servant his last night’s adventure, as well as to desire him to bring him some apparel more suitable than Ambrosio’s to support the character of Don Jaymé.
It is a misfortune to which all great houses that keep a number of servants are liable, that whatever happens cannot long remain a secret. The story of the pretended Ambrosio was known all over the town the very next day, where it was related in various ways; but all at the expence of Donna Elvira; at which Ozmin was extremely mortified.
Don Alonso and Ozmin became in a few days the best friends in the world; sympathy seemed to attach them to each other, or rather, they each made daily discoveries of the other’s amiable qualities. They were both most anxious to know how things went on at the Marquis de Padilla’s. This they could only learn from Claricia, from whom they received no tidings; for this servant, who was known to be most in Elvira’s confidence, was more strictly watched than the others. She managed, however, at length to elude their vigilance, and brought Don Jaymé a letter at Don Alonso’s, containing the detail they so ardently longed for. Claricia informed Vivez that his old patron, enraged that the pretended Ambrosio had escaped his fury, had employed ten or a dozen men to go through Seville in search of him, who till then had sought him in vain: that Elvira was very ill, and that Daraxa had also been much indisposed from the share she took in her friend’s affliction: that, lastly, Don Lewis was so much ashamed and vexed at the whole affair, that he would see nobody, but had made up his mind to retire into the country until all these unpleasant rumors had blown over.
Claricia’s letter was a fresh topic of conversation for the two Cavaliers, and amused Don Alonso exceedingly, who, having no regard for the house of Padilla, was delighted at the recital of this adventure. Ozmin having so good an opportunity of giving some account of himself to Daraxa, wrote her a very long letter in the Moorish language, which he sent by Claricia. Daraxa, who was most anxious on his account, fearing that he had been wounded by the many musket shots which, as she thought, had been fired at him, was overjoyed to hear of his good luck, and that she might now have the means of returning him an answer by the same messenger.
A few days after this, the old Marquis set out with his family and all his servants, for a country house of his own at about a league beyond Seville. This would have proved very vexatious to Ozmin, who feared that by this absence he should be deprived of Claricia, whose mediation was so great an advantage to him, had not Don Alonso consoled him by saying; “we ought to rejoice at Don Lewis’s being in the country. Within about two miles from his house, I have a pretty little seat which I visit occasionally. We have nothing to do but to get there as privately as possible. We shall find it more easy to obtain accounts of our mistresses there, than in this city, and may even find occasional opportunities of seeing and conversing with them.”
Vivez was much pleased with this design, and the two friends left Seville the next morning before day light, accompanied by Orviedo and two footmen only. As soon as they arrived at Don Alonso’s country house, the young lord employed a sharp peasant lad to deliver a letter into Claricia’s own hands, by which she was apprized that the following day she would meet in the wood, which is about two hundred paces from the Marquis’s house, two young shepherds who were dying with desire to have a little chat with her.