"Excellency, I was."

"You were promoted eleven months since in compliment for duty."

"Yes, excellency."

"Captain Bezan, here is a new commission for you."

"Excellency you are only too kind to an humble soldier."

A calm, proud inclination of the head on the part of the
governor-general, indicated that the audience was over, and the
young officer returned, knowing well the character of the
commander-in-chief. Not a little elated, Lorenzo Bezan felt that he
was richly repaid for the risk he had run by this promotion alone;
but there was a source of gratification to him far beyond that of
having changed his title to captain. He had served and been noticed
by Isabella Gonzales, and it is doubtful if he could have met with
any good fortune that would have equalled this, in his eye; it was
the scheme of his life-the realization of his sleeping and waking
dreams.

This good fortune, as pleasant to him as it was unexpected, was
attributed by the young officer to the right source, and was in
reality enhanced and valued from that very fact.

"A bumper," exclaimed his brother officers, that day at the
mess-table, when all were met. "A bumper to Captain Lorenzo Bezan.
May he never draw his sword without cause; never sheathe it without