Tacon was one of the wisest and best governors that Cuba ever had, as ready to reward merit as he was to signally punish trickery or crime of any sort, and when the case was fairly laid before him, by reference to the rolls of his military secretary, he discovered that Lieutenant Bezan had already been promoted twice for distinguished merit, and replied to Don Gonzales that, as this was the case, and the young soldier was found to be so deserving, he should cheerfully comply with his request as it regarded his early promotion in his company.  Thus it was, that scarcely ten days subsequent to the meeting in the Paseo, which we have described, Lieutenant Bezan was regularly gazetted as captain of infantry, by honorable promotion and approval of the governor-general.

The character of Tacon was one of a curious description.  He was prompt, candid, and business-like in all things, and the manner of his promoting Lieutenant Bezan was a striking witness of these very qualities.  The young officer being summoned by an orderly to his presence, was thus questioned: 

“You are Lieutenant Lorenzo Bezan?”

“Yes, your excellency.”

“Of the sixth infantry?”

“Excellency, yes.”

“Of company eight?”

“Of company eight, excellency.”

“Your commander is General Harero?”

“Excellency, yes.”

“You were on the quay night before last, were you not?”

“Excellency, I was.”

“And leaped into the water to save a boy’s life who had fallen there?”

“I did, excellency.”

“You were successful.”

“Excellency, I was.”

“You were promoted eleven months since in compliment for duty.”

“Yes, excellency.”

“Captain Bezan, here is a new commission for you.”

“Excellency you are only too kind to an humble soldier.”

A calm, proud inclination of the head on the part of the governor-general, indicated that the audience was over, and the young officer returned, knowing well the character of the commander-in-chief.  Not a little elated, Lorenzo Bezan felt that he was richly repaid for the risk he had run by this promotion alone; but there was a source of gratification to him far beyond that of having changed his title to captain.  He had served and been noticed by Isabella Gonzales, and it is doubtful if he could have met with any good fortune that would have equalled this, in his eye; it was the scheme of his life-the realization of his sleeping and waking dreams.

This good fortune, as pleasant to him as it was unexpected, was attributed by the young officer to the right source, and was in reality enhanced and valued from that very fact.

“A bumper,” exclaimed his brother officers, that day at the mess-table, when all were met.  “A bumper to Captain Lorenzo Bezan.  May he never draw his sword without cause; never sheathe it without honor!”