SCENE IV.—_Outside Zalamea.

_Enter Captain, Sergeant, REBOLLEDO, and CHISPA._

_Capt._ March you on, Sergeant, with the troop. I shall lie here till sun-down, and then steal back to Zalamea for one last chance.

_Serg._ If you are resolved on this, sir, you had better do it well attended, for these bumpkins are dangerous, once affronted.

_Reb._ Where, however, (and you ought to tip me for my news,) you have one worst enemy the less.

_Capt._ Who’s that?

_Reb._ Isabel’s brother. Don Lope and the lad took a fancy to each other and have persuaded the old father to let him go for a soldier; and I have only just met him as proud as a peacock, with all the sinew of the swain and the spirit of the soldier already about him.

_Capt._ All works well; there is now only the old father at home, who can easily be disposed of. It only needs that he who brought me this good news help me to use it.

_Reb._ Me do you mean, sir? So I will, to the best of my power.

_Capt._ Good; you shall go with me.

_Serg._ But if Don Lope should happen on you?

_Capt._ He is himself obliged to set off to Guadalupe this evening, as the king is already on the road. This I heard from himself when I went to take his orders. Come with me, Sergeant, and settle about the troops marching, and then for my own campaign.

[_Exeunt Captain and Sergeant._

_Chis._ And what am I to do, Rebolledo, meanwhile? I shan’t be safe alone with that fellow whose face I sent to be stitcht by the barber.

_Reb._ Ah, how to manage about that? You wouldn’t dare go with us?

_Chis._ Not in petticoats; but in the clothes of that run-away stable boy? I can step into them free of expense.

_Reb._ That’s a brave girl.

_Chis._ (_singing_).

And now who shall say The love of a soldier’s wife lasts but a day?

[_Exeunt._