Cardenioproposedtocarryouttheschemetheyhadbegun, andsuggestedthatLuscindawouldactandsupportDorothea'spartsufficientlywell.
"No," saidDonFernando, "thatmustnotbe, forIwantDorotheatofollowoutthisideaofhers; andiftheworthygentleman'svillageisnotveryfaroff, IshallbehappyifIcandoanythingforhisrelief."
"Itisnotmorethantwodays' journeyfromthis," saidthecurate.
"Evenifitweremore," saidDonFernando, "Iwouldgladlytravelsofarforthesakeofdoingsogoodawork.
"AtthismomentDonQuixotecameoutinfullpanoply, withMambrino'shelmet, alldintedasitwas, onhishead, hisbuckleronhisarm, , hisarmourofallsorts, , andhe, fixinghiseyesontheairDorothea, addressedherwithgreatgravityandcomposure:
"Iaminformed, fairlady, bymysquireherethatyourgreatnesshasbeenannihilatedandyourbeingabolished, since, fromaqueenandladyofhighdegreeasyouusedtobe, , throughfearthatIshouldnotaffordyoutheaidyouneedandareentitledto, Imaytellyouhedidnotknowanddoesnotknowhalfthemass, andwaslittleversedintheannalsofchivalry; for, ifhehadreadandgonethroughthemasattentivelyanddeliberatelyasIhave, hewouldhavefoundateveryturnthatknightsoflessrenownthanminehaveaccomplishedthingsmoredifficult: itisnogreatmattertokillawhelpofagiant, howeverarroganthemaybe; foritisnotmanyhourssinceImyselfwasengagedwithone, and-Iwillnotspeakofit, thattheymaynotsayIamlying; time, however, thatrevealsall, willtellthetalewhenweleastexpectit."
