To make as little noise as possible our commander threw off his slippers, and the others their shoes, in which state they arrived at the gallery, the door of which they found open. Don Lewis advanced until he heard the voices; he then made a stand, to listen to what was said, and overheard the following words: “I have too much esteem for you to resolve to make you unhappy: It behoves me to consider your high birth, and you should reflect on the present condition of my fortune. I am a Cavalier who must seek to make my fortune at Court, where I have need of support. Who then would befriend me after having drawn upon myself the hatred of so powerful a lord as your father? let us not, therefore, do any thing of which we may repent as long as we live.” The Marquis immediately knew the voice of the pretended Ambrosio; and notwithstanding the spite which he felt towards him for having thus duped him, he could not but admire his virtue and prudence on this occasion. Thinking that this discourse was addressed to Daraxa, he was not a little curious to hear her answer. But how was he shocked, when he heard his own daughter, whose voice he could not mistake, reply to the cavalier in these words: “Can love reason thus? have you scrupled to deceive my father by a stratagem which subjects you to many dangers? have you then come hither at the risk of your life, merely to lose such precious time in teaching me my duty? instead of abandoning yourself to the joy with which my favourable sentiments ought to have inspired you, you are the one to throw difficulties in their way: I did not expect so cold an acknowledgement of your gratitude. Can the consideration of fortune withhold you, when I declare that the summit of all my desires is to be your’s? Why need you fear my father? the Court of Ferdinand is not the only Court in which a man of your merit may expect advancement. But may you ever seek in vain to establish yourself advantageously in any Court! Elvira would ever prefer living with you in the most obscure retreat, to the greatest pomp and splendor that can be conferred on her by her union with another.”