Captain from Castile Page #2

- Gracias.

But it's gold.

It's a gold ducat.

I've never had one before.

It would buy 10 dresses.

Then buy yourself a trousseau.

If you can't find a husband, call on me.

We need her kind in the Indies.

- Adis, Lopez.

- Adis, seor.

- Good-bye, seor.

- Adis, Catana.

- Thank you again, caballero.

- It was a pleasure, seorita.

- Did you give my animal his oats as I told you?

- S, seor.

Gracias, seor.

- What magic is this?

- Clever, isn't it?

There's a rascal at Sanlcar

makes a specialty of such tricks.

Tips you off what disguise to use

and teaches you how to put it on.

They say he's been schoolmaster

to the ablest rogues in Spain.

One thing you can be sure of,

I paid him a fat price. But what the devil?

Anything that saves your life

is worth money. Adis, Lopez.

Adis, seor.

Adis, seor.

When Christopher Columbus

made his first voyage 26 years ago...

he took the prison scum

of Cdiz with him.

Rascals. Deserters.

Lawbreakers.

And it's been that way ever since.

I don't know about that, sir.

But, Father, this man I met today...

tells me that there are new lands, empires,

gold, just waiting to be taken.

That proves he's a rogue.

Columbus discovered some islands

peopled with naked savages.

What little gold they found

hasn't even paid for the good ships wrecked...

or the funds wasted,

let alone brought in a return.

Don't listen

to such gossip.

Yet, Father, this man says he left Spain

poor and came back with 2,000 ducats.

Probably a lie.

Why not make it 50,000?

Ah, Seor de Silva.

Seor de Vargas.

Your servant, seora.

Seorita.

- Pedro.

- Diego.

I apologize for stopping

in unexpectedly...

but I was passing

and could not resist the temptation.

- A cup of wine with us, seor?

- Gracias.

By your leave, seora.

This weather, while excellent for the crops,

is a little warm for much riding.

I confess I feel slightly fatigued

after the hunt for my servant.

You found no trace of him?

Excellent wine.

Unfortunately not.

It's my belief that

someone gave him aid.

It's not the loss of a servant

alone that concerns me.

Rather, it's that a heretic, an unbeliever, should

have been permitted to escape unredeemed.

But he'll be taken...

at which time the Inquisition

will deal with him.

You are an intimate of the inquisidor general,

are you not, seor?

I have the honor to be el supremo

of the Santa Hermandad...

which is entrusted by

His Majesty, Don Carlos...

with the duty of passing sentence

on those poor sinners...

whom the Holy Office have

found guilty of heresy.

A great privilege, seor.

By the way...

it seems strange to me that a man of your

name and fame should not be one of us.

- I am not a theologian.

- Nor am I.

Of course, I regret that at times we must

use severity. But what would you have?

Bloodletting and dosing

are often necessary to save the body.

Surely one cannot object to

medicine that saves the soul.

With your permission, we will

not pursue this conversation.

There are ladies present.

The subject is most unpleasant.

Unpleasant to know that there are

those who are defending Christianity...

by spending themselves to uproot

the detestable sin of heresy?

Is it possible, seor, you do

not approve the Santa Hermandad?

I do not approve, sir.

I am a Catholic and have given more blood

for the faith than you have in your entire body...

and I regard

the Santa Hermandad as an evil.

I am against any

organization, sir...

which turn friend against friend,

child against father.

Do I make myself plain?

Quite plain, Don Francisco.

But why do you wish to

pick a quarrel with me?

I came here peaceably and alone,

though injured by your son.

Perhaps I should have

brought witnesses.

- Injured? How injured?

- If I attacked two of your servants...

opened the face of one and slashed one of

your dogs, wouldn't you call it injury?

Add to it that your men set their dogs

on a girl, seor. That makes a difference.

Oh, yes, I forgot.

I believe my men were having some innocent fun

with a wench at the Rosario Inn...

of whom, it appears,

your son is unduly fond.

- That's a lie!

- A lie?

That you stayed behind to fondle the wench

and ride with her to the privacy of Rosario?

Or did my fellow see wrong?

At least I'm sure that

the Lady Luisa de Carvajal

Be careful not to bring

the Lady Luisa into this.

And her father, the marquis,

will not be amused to hear of it, either.

Seor, my son's conduct is

a matter I'll settle with him.

If your men were innocent,

I shall pay any proper claim.

But that has nothing to do

with what we were discussing.

If anything I have said

displeases you...

I shall be glad to give you

satisfaction at your pleasure.

And I, seor.

Thank you.

But suppose you leave the question

of satisfaction to me.

What did he mean by leaving

the satisfaction to him?

Nothing. The man is a coward.

Excuse us, my dear.

Come, dear.

Now, about this girl.

It's true, Father. She rode with me

on my horse to the Rosario.

- Who is she?

- A servant girl, sir. She works at the inn.

Son, I'm no hypocrite.

I've had sweethearts in my time.

But I warn you. It's unbefitting your name

to have such stories spread abroad...

especially now since you've openly paid

your respects to the Lady Luisa de Carvajal.

- Yes, sir.

- By the by, are you calling on

the Lady Luisa this evening?

- With your permission, Father.

- With it or without it, I warrant.

- Give her my respects.

- Yes, sir.

That was beautiful, seorita.

Thank you, Seor de Vargas.

May I tell you something, seorita?

If you wish.

Yesterday in church...

a ray of sunlight, slanting through one of

the narrow windows, rested on your face.

I held my breath, seorita.

- I knew at once that it was a divine revelation.

- Pedro.

That you were destined

to be my lady of ladies.

I knew then that I would

always adore you, serve you...

and and I hope that one day

I may be worthy.

That you may care for me...

- and love me as I love you.

- Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.

Is it the custom of a gentleman

to forget the proper distance?

It was the enchantment, seora.

I didn't realize what I was doing.

Well, at least

you're a charming liar.

We must go in, Luisa. There are lights

in the upper floor. Your father has returned.

Oh, yes, seora.

May I keep this as a token,

as a favor to wear?

Yes. Though I wish I had

something better to give you.

Better? The Golden Fleece from the hands

of His Majesty could not mean half so much.

Tomorrow night, seorita?

Perhaps.

Good night.

Seora.

Did you notice the way his eyes

light up when he smiles?

Yes.

He's not unattractive.

- Seor. Pedro de Vargas.

- What do you want?

- Who is it?

- It's me, Catana Perez. Manuel.

We've been here for an hour

hoping to head you off.

- Head me off? From what?

- You mustn't go home. They've laid a trap for you.

- They? Who?

- The Inquisition.

Your father, mother and sister

have been arrested.

- What?

- This is my brother, Manuel, turnkey at the prison.

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