Donna Virginia said she would excuse the major his ungenerous triumph, as she believed these were the greatest victories the French had ever won in Spain. The duke frowned; the count would have done so too, had gallantry permitted him; the little major looked big, and twirled up his moustaches; while his subs, like well-bred cavaliers, laughed as in duty bound at the young lady’s retort. On Lisle inquiring for Donna Olivia, Virginia blushed, and tears glittered in her dark eyes; while her father replied coldly that she had retired to a convent in Galicia, but did not add that it was to the _monasterio de los Arrepentidas_, he had so ruthlessly consigned her. As soon as dinner was over, Virginia withdrew, and cigars, wine, and gaming-tables were introduced. The duke and his intended son-in-law sat down to chess, at which they were as great enthusiasts as the celebrated Don Pedro Carrera[*] himself, while the Frenchmen took to trictrac, and quickly became absorbed in all the mystery of _tour à bas—tour d’une_, &c. &c.; but Lisle, who had neither money nor inclination to gamble, begged to be excused, and withdrew, receiving as he retired a keen glance from the count, to whom he replied by another of contempt, for rivals soon discover each other. Louis again returned to his solitary promenade on the lower works of the fortress, and continued to pace among the cannon and pyramids of shot which lined the stockades, until he heard his name called, and by a voice which he should have known amongst ten thousand. "Luiz! Don Luiz!" [*] A Spaniard, who in 1617 published a treatise on the origin of chess, carrying its antiquity back to the era of the Trojan war. "Virginia!" cried he; and springing to the grated loop at the base of the keep, he kissed the little hand she extended towards him. "Retire now, senor," said she. "Ah, why so soon?" said Louis. "But you must not senor me,—it sounds so distant." "_Mi querida_, then." "Ah! that is better. Dear Virginia!" and he kissed her hand again. It was indeed such a hand as one would never tire of holding. So tiny, and so delicate,—and set off by the handsome black bracelet round the slender wrist. "Why would you leave me so soon, Virginia?" said he, gazing on her beautiful Spanish features. "It is long,—very long since we last met!" "Only a few months, Luiz; and yet the time does appear very long. But we may be observed; these sharp-sighted French _soldados_ keep guard on every nook and corner, and my father may hear that I have met you." "He is busy over the chess-board; and no Frenchman would spoil pleasure such as ours." "I must indeed leave you. Alas! I am not so free here as at pleasant Aranjuez." "Hear me, before you go,—but one word, Virginia?" "Well, then,—one only." "Who is this Don Felix,—this Count of Aranjuez?" "You have spoken a dozen, and broken your covenant." "Who is he?"