A Visit From Captain Ramon

Very early the next morning, Sergeant Gonzales and his soldiers were in the town square in Los Angeles. They were getting ready for a long journey.

The door of Don Diego's house opened and Don Diego himself came out.

" Why have you left your bed so early, my friend? " asked Sergeant Gonzales.

" I couldn't sleep, " replied Don Diego. " Your soldiers were making a lot of noise. What's happening? "

" We're going to ride after that thief, Zorro, " said Gonzales. " He escaped from us last night."

" Did he? " said Don Diego, looking worried. " I have to ride to my hacienda today. I don't want to meet Zorro on the road."

" Don't worry, señ or, " said Gonzales. " Somebody saw him on the road to Pala. That's in the opposite direction to your hacienda."

" So you're going to look for him on the Pala road, " said Don Diego.

" Well, good luck! Perhaps you'll catch him today! "

Later that morning, Don Diego started to ride towards his hacienda. But before he left Los Angeles, he sent a letter to Don Carlos Pulido.

Dear Don Carlos,

I will be away from Los Angeles for two or three days.

I have some business at my hacienda.

I'm very worried about this man, Zorro.

Perhaps he will come to your house again.

He is very dangerous.

Please take your family to my town house.

Stay there for a few days. You will be safe there.

My servants will take care of you.

Don Diego Vega

When Don Carlos read this letter, he was very pleased.

" It will be good for us to stay in Don Diego's house, " he said to his wife and daughter. People will say, 'The Pulidos are guests of the great Vega family.' We will go to the town today."

Не met some important people of the town there. He told them about Don Diego's invitation to his family. After that, everybody wanted to be friends with Don Carlos. One man invited Don Carlos and Dona Catalina to his home that evening.

" We will talk and we will listen to musiс, señ or, " the man said.

Don Carlos went back to Don Diego's house. When he told his wife about the invitation, she was worried.

" But what will Lolita do this evening? " she asked.

" She must stay here, " replied Don Carlos. " She'll be safe here. The servants will take care of her."

After her parents had left the house, Lolita went to the library. There were many fine books there. She opened a book and stared in astonishment at the words on the pages.

" This is a book of love poems, " she thought. " But Don Diego isn't interested in love. Why does he have this book in his house? "

Suddenly, somebody knocked loudly at the front door. Lolita heard a servant open the door. Then she heard a man's voice—the voice of Captain Ramon.

" I want to talk to Señ orita Lolita Pulido, " the captain said.

" I'm sorry, señ or, but you сan't talk to her, " replied the servant. " The señ orita's parents have gone out this evening and she is alone."

" That's good! " said Gaptain Ramon.

A moment later, the captain entered the library. Lolita jumped up from her chair. She was surprised and afraid. Why did the soldier want to speak to her?

" Good evening, señ orita, " Captain Ramon said. " I have something to say to you. I want to marry you. Don Diego wants to marry you too. But Don Diego is not the right man for you. He is a weak man. Everybody laughs at him. You must have a fine soldier like me as your husband! Can I win your love? "

Lolita's black eyes flashed with anger.

" Don't say bad things about Don Diego, " she said. " He's my father's friend. Now, please leave this house, Captain Ramon. You are alone here with me and it isn't right. What will people think about me? "

Captain Ramon laughed.

" I'm not going to leave, " he said. " I'm waiting for your answer. But first—kiss me! " Ramon pulled Lolita towards him. She hit him across the face. But he held her tightly.

" You'll be sorry for that, my darling! " he said.

Lolita screamed, but she could not move. Captain Ramon laughed again and he bent his head towards hers. His mouth was near her lips.

Suddenly, from a corner of the room, a deep voice spoke. " One moment, señ or! "

Captain Ramon looked up in astonishment. Señ or Zorro was walking towards him.

" What are you doing here? " the captain whispered. " I heard a lady scream and I came to help her, " said Zorro. " You are attacking this lovely girl. You are not a caballero, senor—you are not a gentleman. Get down on the floor and apologize to the señ orita. Then leave this house and don't come here again."

Captain Ramon had no sword. He could not fight Zorro. He had to do what Zorro told him. Zorro followed him to the front door and watched him walk away.

When Zorro returned to the library, Lolita ran towards him.

" Thank you, señ or—oh, thank you! " she said. " That terrible man wanted a kiss from me. But now I offer that kiss to you—I offer it freely."

Zorro kissed Lolita gently on the lips. " Señ orita, " he said. " My heart is full of love for you." " And mine is full of love for you, " whispered Lolita. " But you must go now. Go quickly, before my parents return."

Zorro kissed her again. " I love you, " said Lolita.

They looked into each other's eyes. Zorro pulled his cloak around him. Then he jumped through a window and disappeared into the night.

Later that evening, Captain Ramon was sitting in his office at the presidio—the building where the soldiers lived. He was very angry with Lolita. He wanted to punish her and her family. What could he do? He thought for a long time. Then he had an idea. He took a pen and paper and he wrote a letter. When he had finished, he wrote out a copy of the letter. He called one of his soldiers and gave the first letter to him.

" Take this to San Francisco. Give it to the Governor of California immediately, " he said.

The man left the room. Captain Ramon read the copy of the letter and he smiled.

To the Governor of California

Your Excellency,

I am sorry to give you bad news. We have not captured Zorro yet.

A famity in Los Angeles is helping him.

This makes my job very difficult. This family is the Pulido family

—Don Carlos Pulido and his wife and daughter.

Zorro ate and drank at their hacienda last night. I tried to capture him there,

but he wounded me in the shoulder and he ran away.

The Pulidos did not help me, they helped Zorro.

Captain Ramon (Comandante)

The Presidio, Los Angeles