“You swear it, your Majesty?”
“I promise it,” responded the king. “I promise it, if you prove to me beforehand that you are something more than man.”
“Elena, you will be mine,” murmured Tito.
The king, calling the captain, gave him some orders.
“Now,” said he, “while they arrange your trip to Madrid, tell me your history and explain your science.”
“I desire to please you, Sire, but I fear that you would understand neither the one nor the other.”
An hour later the Captain was travelling post haste to Madrid with our hero, who for the time being had discarded his rags, and was dressed in a magnificent costume of black velvet and lace, a plumed hat, and a sword at his side.
Philip had supplied him with money and these clothes, after concluding his strange contract with Death.
We will follow the good Tito, notwithstanding his haste, for he may meet his idolized Elena or the odious Countess of Rionuevo in the queen’s chamber, and we do not wish to be ignorant of the slightest details of such interesting encounters.