"Why then," said Cortes, "if thou knowest not the donor, it is the more remarkable; for nobody else does. Very strange! Two horses, the worst of which is worth full nine hundred crowns, and Bobadil almost priceless;--a suit of armour so well chosen to thy stature, that never a man of us all but is as loose in the cuirass as a shrivelled walnut in the shell,--all very positively sent to _thee_ from Santiago,--for thee, senor, and for nobody else!" "They are saint's gifts," said Alvarado, devoutly: "the young man has suffered much, and has found favour with heaven." "Senor," said Juan, mildly, "you are jesting with me. I will hope, by and by, to discover this benevolent patron. What I have to say now, is that my wants will be content with but one of the horses; the return of which will cause your excellency no trouble,--the same being in the hands of the senor Guzman, who has already signified his intention to restore him." "Ha! has he so, indeed? Why thy very enemies have become thy friends!" "As for the armour, senor," continued the youth, without thinking fit to notice the latter exclamation, "I will make no claim to it, if you have bestowed it away. A simple morion and breastplate,--or indeed a good cap and doublet of escaupil, if iron be scarce,--will content me, provided I have but a good sword and steed." "Thou shalt have both," said Cortes, "and the plate-mail also; which being somewhat too gigantic for any cavalier, and too good for a common soldier, I have preserved, thinking some day to bestow it upon the Tlascalan Xicotencal.--Thou art not loath to undertake this business? I will give thee a day to think of it." "Not an hour, senor," said Juan, ardently. "Give me but time to exchange these heathen weeds and sandals for good armour and a warhorse, and I will depart instantly, with whatsoever force you may think fit to entrust to me." "Art thou really, then, so hot after danger?" "God is my protection," said Juan; "I thank heaven, that this duty _is_ the most dangerous your excellency could charge me with: it is, for that reason, the most honourable." "Sayst thou so?" cried the Captain-General, quickly. "There is _one_ duty, at least, I could impose upon thee, which thou wouldst not be so hasty to accept? No, faith; for the very name of it has caused the boldest soldier in the army to turn pale.--Get thee to the armory; rest and refresh thyself: to-morrow thou shalt to Tochtepec." "Senor, for your love I will do what others will not: I have years of benefaction to repay. I claim to be appointed to that task which is so dreadful to others." "By my conscience, no," said Don Hernan: "_this_ would be sending thee to execution indeed. And yet I know none so well fitted as thyself: Thou art fearless, cunning, discreet,--at least thou canst be so; and thou art a master of the barbarous language, I think?"