A Stormy Night

One dark night in February, a group of soldiers were sitting in a small inn. The inn was on one side of Los Angeles town square. Outside, the weather was wild and stormy. Rain was crashing on the roof and the wind was making a terrible noise. But inside, it was bright and comfortable. The soldiers sat in front of a warm fire, drinking wine and playing cards.

" Bring more wine, landlord! " showed a big man with a moustache, to the owner of the inn. The man with the moustache was the soldiers' leader, Sergeant Gonzales.

" Yes, señ or! " said the fat landlord. He hurried to fill Gonzales's cup with wine. He was afraid of the big sergeant. Sergeant Gonzales was a strong man and he beсаmе аngry very easily. He often fought with other soldiers.

" Talking is better than fighting, " thought the landlord " What can I say that will interest Gonzales? "

" People in the town are talking about Senior Zorro, " he said quickly. " He has been seen in Los Angeles again."

Gonzales threw his cup of wine onto the floor.

" Señ or Zorro! " he cried out in a terrible voice. " Must I always hear that name? I hate it! This man, Zorro, is very clever. Nobody knows who he is. Nobody has seen his face. He wears a black mask with two holes for his eyes. He cuts the faces of his enemies with his sword. He marks them with a shape like the letter Z. People call it the Mark of Zorro."

" But Zorro has never visited us here, Sergeant, " said the landlord nervously.

" No, " said Gonzales. " And why not! Because I'm here and he's afraid of me. I'm the best soldier in the Governor of California's army! "

" Has Señ or Zorro ever killed anybody? " asked the landlord.

" No—not yet, " replied Gonzales slowly. " He tells people, 'I'm not a real thief. I only punish the enemies of the poor and the weak." But Zorro's days will soon be over, " Gonzales went on. The governor has offered a reward for him. He'll pay a lot of money to the man who kills Zorro."

" I don't want Zorro to come here, " said the landlord.

" Let him come! " shouted Gonzales. " I'm waiting for him. I'll kill him and I'll get the reward. I'll—"

Suddenly the door opened, and a man walked into the inn.

Everybody stared at him in surprise. Gonzales pulled his sword from its scabbard. He was ready to fight. But the man was not Zorro—it was Don Diego Vega.

The Vega Family was one of the richest families in southern California. They had lived there for many years. They owned a large amount of land, and a huge number of cattle and horses. Don Diego—the only son of the noble family—was twenty-four years old and he was very handsome. He owned a beautiful hacienda—а large coun­try house—and also a fine house in Los Angeles. This town house was opposite the inn.

Dun Diego was different from most of the other young men in the town. He did not enjoy loud talk or fighting. He was not interested in winning the love of women. He liked music, poetry and quiet conversation.

Don Diego and Sergeant Gonzales were very different kinds of men, but they were friends. Don Diego often bought wine for Gonzales, and he liked to listen to the sergeant's conversation. Sergeant Gonzales put his sword back into its scabbard.

" I'm sorry, my friend, " he said to Don Diego. " I didn't want to frighten you. I couldn't see your face in the darkness. We were just talking about that thief, Zorro."

" Not Zorro again! " said Diego in a tired voice. He looked bored. " I don't like stories about blood and violence. You know that! I really don't want to hear about Zorro."

" But the governor has offered a very good reward for him, " Gonzales answered. " And I'm going to get it. I'm going to catch Zorro. I'll tell you all аbout it when I get the reward. I'll tell you how I caught him, how I killed him—"

" Gonzales, please don't talk about killing, " 1 said Don Diego. " I've heard enough! "

He called to the landlord. " Give Sergeant Gonzales more wine, " he said. " Then perhaps he'll stop talking."

The landlord hurried to bring wine for the two men. Don Diego drank his wine slowly, but Gonzales drank very quickly. After half an hour, Don Diego stood up.

" I have to go home now, " he said.

" But the weather is very bad, " said Gonzales. " My soldiers will go with you. They'll take you home safely."

" No, no, " replied Don Diego. " Let them stay here by the fire. I don't need soldiers. Give your men some more wine. I will pay for it later. Good night."

" Good night, señ or, " everybody said.

When Don Diego had gone, Gonzales spoke to his soldiers,

" That young man is very unusual, " he said. " He isn't interested in fighting. He isn't interested in winning the love of women. But he is mу good friend. He's a fine young man! "

All the soldiers agreed with Gonzales. Don Diego was going to pay for their wine, so they were very happy. The fat landlord was happy too.

Sergeant Gonzales stood up and he pulled out his sword again. He waved it in the air.

" Don Diego doesn't like fighting, " he shouted, " but I do. Why doesn't Zorro come now? I'm ready for him! "

At that moment, the door opened again and a stranger entered the room!