سه خواستگار

CHAPTER THREE

Three suitors

Don Carlos did not want to offend either Ramon or Don Diego.

‘Senor,’ he answered the soldier quietly, ‘only this morning I gave Don Diego my permission to court Lolita. But if she doesn’t agree to marry him.’

‘Then I can try!’ smiled the captain.

While Lolita sat with Don Diego, she watched Ramon. She knew that he liked her, but she did not like him.

Just then, Gonzales and his men arrived.

‘We followed Zorro into the hills,’ the sergeant explained. ‘Ten other outlaw friends of his came and fought us there, and in the end they all escaped.’

‘But the captain fought Senor Zorro here while you were away,’ said Don Diego.

‘Yes, Sergeant. You were just following Zorro’s clever horse which left here without a rider,’ went on Ramon. ‘I met the criminal himself when he came out of that closet over there and fought against me.’

‘No’ cried Gonzales. ‘Then we must catch and kill the outlaw. Captain, do I have your permission to take some soldiers and go after him?’

The captain agreed, but Don Diego asked to go too.

‘It’ll be hard work,’ said the sergeant.

‘Mmm, then perhaps it’s better for me to stay in town,’ said Don Diego. ‘But I’m worried for the Pulidos. So please give me news of where you ride, and of Zorro.’

Soon after this, Ramon and Gonzales left with their men for the fort. Lolita took Don Diego to the door.

‘Well, will you marry me’ he asked.

‘I’m still thinking about it.’

‘Goodnight then, Senorita. I’ll visit again soon. Will it offend you if I don’t kiss your hand? I’m so tired. Excuse me!’

‘Father,’ cried Lolita, when the family was alone, ‘I can’t marry Don Diego. There’s no life in him.’

‘Captain Ramon has also asked to court you’ said her mother.

‘He’s nearly as bad. I don’t like the look in his eyes.’

‘You’re difficult to please, Lolita,’ said her father. ‘Don Diego’s rich and from a good family. I think that he was jealous when he found Captain Ramon here. Make him more jealous, and please try to like him.’

‘Yes, Father,’ cried Lolita. ‘But I don’t want to marry him yet.’ And with that, she ran to her room.

In bed, she remembered Zorro kissing her hand. ‘What a man, But why is he an outlaw’ she said to herself.

The next morning Don Diego left his house to find his friend, Sergeant Gonzales, and twenty more soldiers in the town square.

‘You’re up early’ the sergeant said.

‘Yes, I’m leaving for my house in the country,’ answered Don Diego. ‘But where’s Zorro these days?’

‘Nowhere near your country house,’ laughed his friend. ‘We’ve heard that he’s in Pala. We’re going after him there.’

‘Well, good luck!’

Soon after that, Gonzales and his men rode away.

Just before Don Diego left, he wrote a letter and sent his servant Bernardo with it to the Pulidos’ house.

Don Carlos, The soldiers have gone after Senor Zorro in Pala. I’m worried for you and your family. I must travel to my country house, but I’d like to invite you, your wife and daughter to stay in my town house while I’m away. You’ll be safe there.

Don Diego

When the letter arrived, Don Carlos read it to his family. ‘What a wonderful plan,’ said Dona Catalina. ‘What do you say, Lolita?’

‘Well, I’d like to visit the town, but is it right? Won’t people talk about Don Diego and me?’

‘My child, don’t worry about that. He won’t be there. And we can come home when he arrives back.’

So that afternoon, the Pulido family travelled into town.

Don Diego s house was full of beautiful, expensive things.

‘This will all belong to Lolita if she decides to marry him’ thought Dona Catalina.

That evening, Don Carlos took his wife out to visit some friends. Lolita stayed behind, reading a book of love poetry that was on Don Diego’s table. Strangely, all the books in the house were about love, dangerous adventures, horse-riding, and sword-fighting. ‘Perhaps I’ve made a mistake about him,’ she said to herself.

Just then. Captain Ramon knocked at the front door. ‘I’ve heard that the Pulido family’s staying here,’ he told the servant who opened it.

‘Don Carlos and his wife are out at the moment,’ replied the servant. ‘Please call tomorrow.’

But Ramon pushed past him and walked into the room where Lolita sat reading.

‘Senor’ she cried, standing. ‘Why are you here?’

‘Last night your father gave me permission to court you.

I know that Don Diego wants to marry you too, but surely you can’t prefer him to me!’

‘Captain, you must leave. I’m alone.’

‘Good,’ laughed Ramon. ‘Then nobody can stop me kissing you!’ He caught her and pulled her quickly to him. Angrily she slapped his face.

‘Stop there Senor,’ cried a deep voice behind them.

Ramon turned, and Lolita gave a happy cry when she saw Zorro at the door. ‘On your knees, man,’ said Zorro angrily. ‘And say sorry to the Senorita.’

With a bad shoulder and no sword to fight with, what could Ramon do? He went on his knees and said sorry, and then Zorro kicked him out of the house.

‘Thank you, Senor,’ cried Lolita. Then she suddenly went over to the outlaw and kissed him on the mouth.

‘I love you. Leave your criminal life and marry me!’

‘Senorita,’ Zorro answered, ‘I cannot. I love you, but I must go now. Goodnight!’

And. saying that, he climbed out of the window into the dark night.