He was, I soon learned, the son of one of the royal judges of the Kingdom of New Spain, and immensely wealthy. But neither his birth nor his wealth prevented him from being the most courteous gentleman I have ever met. That he was a daring and dashing officer was evident from his modest account of that remarkable excursion through the heart of the Comanche country and north to the Pawnees. The question of his expedition chanced to come up within a week after my arrival, and having already gauged his gallant character, I felt free to rally him upon his invasion of our domain. "_Nom de Dieu!_" I mocked, as he concluded by telling how his party had returned southward from the Arkansas, along the outer face of the front range of mountains, and into Santa Fe through an easy pass eastward of that town. "_Nom de Dieu!_ you invade territory indisputably ours with a force little short of a regiment; yet when I would repay the compliment,--one lone man, lost in the Western wilds, your righteous Governor has a mind to garrotte me!" "Not he, senor," replied Malgares. "Rest assured he will leave that to the decision of the Governor-General." "He will send me to Chihuahua!" I exclaimed. "I fear as much, senor. There can be little doubt that General Salcedo will order you before him." "_Quien sabe?_" I muttered, affecting a doleful tone. My fear had been that I might be sent the other way. A sudden thought brought my hand to my bosom. "_Perdone_, senor lieutenant, if I seem impertinent, but is it usual for Spanish officers to present savages with banners embroidered by the ladies?" He stared at me blankly. "Embroidered banners?" "I chanced to visit that Pawnee town some three weeks after yourself. Examining the flag you left, I observed upon its lower corner--" "Ah!" he interrupted, "I comprehend. The flag from Senorita Vallois. But I assure you, Senor Robinson, it was the lady's own whim. She requested me to fly her banner at the point where I should make nearest approach to your settlements." "Ah!" I exclaimed, in turn, masking my delight with difficulty. "So your Spanish senoritas still send out their knights errant bearing their colors." "True," he replied. "Yet you mistake in part. It was not Senora Malgares who gave me the banner in question, but her friend, Senorita Vallois." "Vallois?" I repeated;--"Vallois? That is a French name." "No less is it Spanish, senor; though it is in point that my friend Don Pedro claims descent from French royalty. One can well believe the claim in the presence of his niece." "My word to that!" I cried. "She's the most beautiful lady under heaven!" "_Santisima Virgen!_" he exclaimed. "You know her?" "I had the honor of meeting her in my own country." By a flash of intuition he divined all on the instant. "_Dios!_" he murmured, and he swept me a wide bow. "A love that could draw a man across that vast desolation of desert and sierra! Most unjust the fate that would not requite the deed!"