"
"Not always," said Rodriguez somewhat curtly, for it struck him
that Morano spoke somehow too lightly of sacred things.
"Not always?" asked Morano.
"No," said Rodriguez.
"Master, I implore you tell me," said Morano, "when they may kill
you and when they may not, so that I may never offend again."
Rodriguez cast a swift glance at him but found his face so full of
puzzled anxiety that he condescended to do what Morano had asked,
and began to explain to him the rudiments of the laws of Chivalry.
"In the wars," he said, "you may defend me whoever assails me, or
if robbers or any common persons attack me, but if I arrange a
meeting with a gentleman, and any knave basely interferes, then is
he damned hereafter as well as accursed now; for, the laws of
Chivalry being founded on true religion, the penalty for their
breach is by no means confined to this world."
"Master," replied Morano thoughtfully, "if I be not damned already
I will avoid those fires of Hell; and none shall kill you that you
have not chosen to kill you, and those that you choose shall kill
you whenever you have a mind."
Rodriguez opened his lips to correct Morano but reflected that,
though in his crude and base-born way, he had correctly
interpreted the law so far as his mind was able.
So he briefly said "Yes," and rose and returned to the road,
giving Morano no order to follow him; and this was the last
concession he made to the needs of Chivalry on account of the sin
of Morano.
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