Johnston McCulley

“ And Malpartida, his daughter clinging to his arm and wishing she dared look back, and with the duenna tripping along behind, walked across the plaza toward the governor's house, his head held high, like the grandee he was in reality.
Botello turned aside with Ruiz, not once looking in Garabito's direction, for there remained some ladies in the plaza, and it was not the proper time to settle differences or pick a quarrel. Near one end of the church wall they stood to watch men flinging the dice, Botello laughing as loud as any at the mishaps of the unlucky ones. ”

“ Thus for the space of five minutes without advantage to either, and then Botello took a step forward and began to force the fighting, his blade darting in and out like the tongue of a snake. Garabito gave ground, for he was growing weak already, and his wrist was tiring, and he was haunted by the knowing smile of Botello that expressed how this combat was to end.
"Too much high living, señor!" Botello taunted. "Already your wind is gone! Your wrist tires! ”

“ Ruiz said.
"Perchance he thought of that when he dared show himself in the plaza."
"Moreover, he is one of his excellency's closest friends. To quarrel with him may go hard with you."
"Yet there must be some justice, even in such a governor as this we have. This is the year fifteen hundred and fifteen, my friend, an enlightened age."
"I pick no quarrel with the age, Bartolmeo. But there be men living in it—"
"Who should cease to live—I agree with you!"
"You'd not dare—"
"The pretty caballero has gone too far, I vow. Lying braggart, eh? ”

“ Garabito exclaimed to his friend. "And this fellow—this Botello— to push a quarrel in furtherance of his suit for a lady—"
"Hah!" Botello roared, springing forward again. "No lady has been mentioned save by your lips. And those same lips of yours are too foul, señor—"
"When his excellency removes his edict!" Garabito promised; and he whirled on one heel to continue across the plaza. ”

“ This is not Seville, señor, where intrigues are smiled at and kept under cover. This is the wilderness where but a few of us reside, and where a man may make no ulterior move without it becoming known. ”