"No, faith," said Villafana, hastily, and with an air that looked like alarm; "I repeat the innuendoes of others, which may be slanders or not,--I know not. But it is certain, the young man so charged thee to Cortes; affirming that, but for his interference, the villany meditated--But, pho! thou growest angry! So much, certainly, he brought against thee?" "He did," replied Guzman, smiling as if in derision; "and I know not how any could have been induced to believe him, except that man,--each man,--being naturally a rogue himself, doth rather delight to entertain those aspersions which bring down his neighbour to his own level, than the commendations which acquaint him with a superior. He did!--He was a fool! I can explain this thing to your satisfaction." "Basta! it does not need," replied Villafana. "The rear-guard is passing,--there is a stir on the temple-top, and presently we shall hear the trumpet, which, like a curfew-bell, will command us to put out the fires of our fancy and the lights of our wit, on pain of having them, somewhat of a sudden, whipped out with switches. I must tell mine own story; the senor Camarga looks a little impatient. The end of this quarrel," continued the Alguazil, "was a duel; in which neither of the rivals in love and the general's favour, came to much hurt; since they were speedily seized upon and introduced to the Calabozo, for fighting against the express orders of the general. Then, being released, they were separated,--our excellent friend Don Francisco being sent on some duty to Tlascala, and the boy Juan to--heaven." "Saints!" exclaimed Camarga; "he was not executed?" "Not on the block or the gallows, to be sure," said Villafana; "but in a manner quite as effectual. He was sent on some fool's errand of discovery, or exploration, to the South Sea, which, it was told us, washed the distant borders of this mighty empire;--his companions, two unlucky dogs of La Mancha, and one Leonese of Medina-del-Campo,--" "Ay," said Bernal Diaz, with a groan,--"Gaspar Olea; he was my beloved friend and townsman, and--" But Villafana was in no humour to be interrupted: