It was the death of all these hopes, the dashing to earth of the fairy future he had dreamed of, that caused his proud lip to tremble for a moment.  It was no fear of bodily ill.

General Harero had accomplished his object, and had triumphed over the young officer, whose impetuosity had placed him within his power.  The sentence of death cancelled his animosity to Lorenzo Bezan, and he now thought that a prominent cause of disagreement and want of success between the Senorita Isabella Gonzales and himself was removed.  Thus reasoning upon the subject, and thus influenced, he called at the house of Don Gonzales on the evening following that of Captain Bezan’s sentence, expecting to be greeted with the usual courtesy that had been extended to him.  Ruez was the first one whom he met of the household, on being ushered to the drawing-room by a slave.

“Ah!  Master Ruez, how do you do?” said the general, pleasantly.

“Not well at all!” replied the boy, sharply, and with undisguised dislike.

“I’m sorry to learn that.  I trust nothing serious has affected you.”

“But there has, though,” said the boy, with spirit; “it is the rascality of human nature;” at the same moment he turned his back coldly on the general and left the room.

“Well, that’s most extraordinary,” mused the general, to himself; “the boy meant to hit me, beyond a doubt.”

“Ah, Don Gonzales,” he said to the father, who entered the room a moment after, “glad to see you; have had some unpleasant business on my hands that has kept me away, you see.”

“Yes, very unpleasant,” said the old gentleman, briefly and coldly.

“Well, it’s all settled now, Don Gonzales, and I trust we shall be as good friends as ever.”

Receiving no reply whatever to this remark, and being left to himself, General Harero looked after Don Gonzales, who had retired to a balcony in another part of the room, for a moment, and then summoning a slave, sent his card to Senorita Isabella, and received as an answer that she was engaged.  Repulsed in every quarter, he found himself most awkwardly situated, and thought it about time to beat a retreat.

As General Harero rose and took his leave in the most formal manner, he saw that his pathway towards the Senorita Isabella’s graces was by no means one of sunshine alone, but at that moment it presented to his view a most cloudy horizon.  The unfortunate connection of himself with the sentence of Captain Bezan, now assumed its true bearing in his eye.  Before, he had only thought of revenge, and the object also of getting rid of his rival.  Now he fully realized that it had placed him in a most unpleasant situation, as it regarded the lady herself.  Indeed he felt that had not the matter gone so far, he would gladly have compromised the affair by a public reprimand to the young officer, such as should sufficiently disgrace him publicly to satisfy the general’s pride.  But it was too late to regret now, too late for him to turn back-the young soldier must die!