At the Presidio

When Lolita's parents returned to Don Diego's house, she told them about Captain Ramon's visit.

" Señ or Zorro saved me from the captain, " she said. But she did not tell them about her love for Zorro.

Lolita's father, Don Carlos, was very angry. He wanted to fight Captain Ramon. But Doñ a Catalina stopped him.

The next day, Don Diego came back to his house in Los Angeles. Lolita talked to him about Captain Ramon.

" Captain Ramon came here to your house and he insulted me, " she said. He behaved very badly. What are you going to do? "

" I'll talk to the governor about him, " said Don Diego. He spoke in a bored voice.

" Is that all you are going to do? " said Lolita. " Won't you go to the presidio? Aren't you going to fight the captain? "

" I don't like violence, " said Don Diego. " Perhaps I will talk to Captain Ramon. Now—have you thought about our wedding? "

Lolita was very angry. Why was Don Diego so weak? She thought about Zorro. How different he was! How brave and strong he was! Zorro was not afraid of Captain Ramon.

" I'm sorry, Don Diego, " she said, " but I can't marry you. There is no love for you in my heart. Please don't talk to me again about marriage."

She ran out of the room. Don Diego was very surprised. Why did Lolita not want to marry him? He went to her father.

" Don Carlos, " he said, " your daughter doesn't want to marry me. I'll go the presidio and I'll speak to Captain Ramon. Perhaps that will please Señ orita Lolita."

Don Diego walked slowly towards the presidio. Captain Ramon saw him coming and stared in surprise. Don Diego had no sword with him.

" Come into my office, Don Diego, " he said coldly.

" Please sit down." Don Diego sat down.
" You went to my house, Captain, " he said politely.

" You insulted a young lady there. I have asked that young lady to be my wife. Perhaps you did not know about that."

Captain Ramon thought quickly. How could he make Don Diego hate Lolita? He had an idea.

" I did go to your house, " he said. " But I didn't want to see Señ orita Pulido. I wanted news of Señ or Zorro. I must tell you something about the Pulido family. They are friends of this man, Zorro. They help him a lot. Think very carefully before you marry the daughter of that family! "

" Is this true? " asked Don Diego in surprise. " I didn't know that. This is terrible news. Thank you very much for telling me about the Pulidos, Captain."

Don Diego stood up and moved towards the door. Then he stopped.

" But what about the insult to the señ orita, Captain? "

" I apologize to you, caballero, " replied the captain, smiling. " I'm very sorry about it."

" Well, please don't do such a thing again, " replied Don Diego. " My servant was very frightened."

When Don Diego had gone, Captain Ramon laughed for a long time. How could a man be so weak and stupid?

The next day, the Pulido family went back to their hacienda. Don Diego promised to visit them there. Later, he went to the inn. The fat landlord hurried to bring him some wine. Don Diego sat by the window and drank the wine slowly.

Suddenly, he saw two horsemen riding slowly along the street. A third man was with them. This man was walking between them and he was tied to their horses with ropes.

" What is happening there? " Dоn Diego asked the landlord. He pointed through the window.

" They're bringing a prisoner to the judge, " replied the landlord. " The prisoner is a brother from one of the missions. This priest cheated a man. He tricked him and took his money."
Don Diego looked at the prisoner. It was his friend, Fray Felipe. Don Diego was very surprised. He hurried outside.

Fray Felipe was taken to the town's courtroom. The judge was sitting in the courtroom. A large crowd of people was there too. Don Diego spoke to the judge.

" Why is this man here? " he asked the judge. " He's Fray Felipe. He's a good man."

" He's a thief, " said the judge. " Please go home now, Don Diego.”

An ugly little man stepped forward.

" I'm a hide dealer, " he said. " I buy and sell animal skins. I bought ten hides from this brother. But they were not good hides. I want my money back, but the brother will not give it to me."

" The hides were very good hides, " said Fray Felipe. " But this man didn't give them back to me. So I couldn't give him back his money."

" The hides smelled bad, so I burned them, " said the dealer. " And now I want my money back."

" Have you anything to say, brother? " asked the judge.

" I'm telling the truth, " said Fray Felipe. " The hides were good."

" You're a thief, " said the judge. " You cheated this man. You took his money. You will receive a whipping in the town square. You will be hit fifteen times with a whip across your back! "