PART 3
Felipe trotted into the library with a broad smile on his face. He had just finished taking a leisurely bath and changing his clothes, following the siesta hour. His white, unbleached cotton shirt smelled fresh, having been washed and ironed the day before. He found Don Diego leaning against the wall near the window and Miguel dusting the bookshelves.
Felipe smiled wryly. It feels strange to see someone else performing my duties.
Don Diego turned around and smiled at him fondly. "Well, amigo, it's a lovely day for your adoption. And your fiesta." Crossing his arms in front of his chest, he gazed out the library window. "Look at the bright-blue sky. And the fluffy wisps of clouds floating toward the west." He sighed with contentment.
Felipe nodded. He made some signs as his patrón watched. "Yes. The breeze does feel good, doesn't it? Tonight will be a wonderful night to host a party."
The boy grinned. The heavy burden of guilt had disappeared the night before, and in its place was eager excitement. He had scarcely been able to eat his breakfast or his dinner. The cook, Maria, had scolded him both times to eat.
"Miguel." Diego turned toward the new servant boy. "Fetch my father's inkwell and a quill pen from his desk, and set them on the dining table, would you? Father and the governor's magistrate will be here any moment."
"And Señorita Escalante?" Miguel laid the dustcloth on the shelf he had been dusting.
Don Diego chuckled. "Si, amigo. Señorita Escalante is coming, too."
As Felipe watched, his co-worker scampered to the far end of the drawing room to fetch the inkwell. No sooner did Miguel set it on the dining table than the dark-brown mahogany door swung open. Don Alejandro strode into the entry, followed by Señorita Escalante and Don Manuel.
The elderly caballero smiled broadly at the sight of his son and his soon-to-be grandson. "Well, you two, are you ready?"
Chuckling, Diego put an arm around Felipe's shoulders. "Father, Felipe's been ready and waiting all day. And so have I!"
The magistrado laughed and laid the papers on the dining table. "Well, Diego, here are the adoption papers all ready to sign, so you don't have to wait another minute."
Diego pulled out a chair and perched on its edge. Don Alejandro put an arm around a nervous Felipe. Miguel stood nearby, fidgeting. The two boys grinned at each other.
A long moment passed while Don Diego carefully read the documents. In his nervousness, Felipe scratched his forearm, then rubbed the back of his neck. Don Alejandro patted his shoulder. Meanwhile, Miguel shifted from foot to foot.
Don Manuel pointed at a line near the bottom of one of the pages. "Sign there, Diego, and Felipe will become your son."
Felipe took a deep breath while Diego picked up the pen. Felipe's palms felt sweaty and his heart pounded. Silently, Don Diego dipped the quill into the inkwell and signed his name.
When he rose to his feet, estatic joy etched his expressive face. "My son," he said, hoarsely. "My firstborn son!" Everyone clapped while he hugged his newly adoptive son tightly for a long moment.
"As his newly adoptive grandfather, I get the next hug!" Don Alejandro announced. He clasped Felipe tightly to his chest, patting his back. When he let go, Victoria embraced him next, then kissed his cheek.
Don Alejandro poured six crystal goblets with wine and handed them out. "Diego, a toast," he announced. "To our newest de la Vega. The finest young man anyone could be privileged to love and raise!"
Everyone raised his or her goblet in a toast, including Miguel. As his new family sipped the wine, Felipe gazed around the dining room for a long moment. Suddenly, a knock on the door startled them all.
Don Alejandro opened the door. A servant stood in the doorway. "Patrón, Felipe's new clothes are in the wagon."
The aged don nodded. "Bring them in, Pablo. I'll show you where to put them."
For the next several minutes, Pablo and another servant delivered crates of clothes to the boy's new suite. That morning, the servants had moved Felipe's possessions to his new rooms.
In his new dressing room, Felipe fingered each article of clothing as it was removed from a crate. Mine, he thought. These are mine!
Within minutes, the servants had arranged Felipe's new wardrobe in his dressing room. "Felipe, I want you to change your clothes, all right?" Don Diego said. "I'll have our seamstress make your old clothes over for Miguel." Felipe nodded acquiescence, glancing at Miguel. "I'll help you, since you've never worn these kinds of clothes before."
Hours later, Felipe stood in the patio with his adoptive father and grandfather, waiting for their guests to arrive. Victoria had returned to the tavern to change her clothes. With his adoptive father's help, the new de la Vega had donned a light-blue charro jacket, a matching pair of trousers, a snow-white ruffled linen shirt, and a white silk cravat. Don Diego had then donned his own light-blue tailcoat, and Don Alejandro had donned his grayish-blue frockcoat. Both men looked very distinguished.
Diego smiled at his new adoptive son. "You look very nice, my son." He hugged Felipe to his side.
Don Alejandro nodded agreement. "You certainly do. You look like a true caballero in that outfit."
Felipe grinned. For a long moment, he gazed at the hanging paper lanterns, all glowing with lit candles, and at the musicians standing at the other side of the patio. Two buffet tables, covered with snow-white tablecloths, stood end-to-end. Apples, oranges, grapes, and pineapple slices formed a small mountain rising from a silver bowl. Enchiladas, tamales, appetizers, flan, olives, pastries, and slices of wheat bread were arranged on silver trays.
A glass pitcher of lemonade stood on one buffet table, and a crystal decanter of champagne stood on the other. Roast chicken lay on another silver tray, next to yet another tray on which lay roast quail.
Felipe reached into his new jacket to finger his rosary. Everything has changed, he thought. I have a new family, and a last name! Silently, he thanked God for this new blessing.
Within minutes, the guests began to arrive. Victoria had donned a white blouse and a red skirt. Earrings dangled from her ears.
"Hola, Don Diego. Don Alejandro," she said. "Felipe, you look so dashing!" She hugged the boy and smiled at him affectionately.
When all the guests who had accepted the invitation had arrived, Don Alejandro raised his hands for silence. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "as you all know by now, my son Diego has adopted Felipe. For seven years, this young man has worked for us, and we love him dearly." He smiled at Felipe, who grinned shyly.
"This afternoon, Diego signed the adoption papers. Our erstwhile servant boy is now my legal grandson, Felipe de la Vega. The purpose of this fiesta is to celebrate his adoption, and we're pleased that you have all come here to help us do so." The guests clapped vigorously.
"And now, on with the entertainment!" The aged don inserted his fingers into his vest pockets. A beaming Don Diego put an arm around his son's shoulders.
A black-haired flamenco dancer stepped into the middle of the patio. For the next several minutes, as one of the musicians played a flamenco guitar, the dancer performed a lively flamenco dance for the entertainment of the guests and the de la Vegas. When she finished, everyone applauded.
Don Alfonso de la Calderon approached Don Diego and Felipe with his own grandson in tow. "Diego, I just wanted to congratulate you on adopting Felipe." His eyes twinkled as he gazed at the former servant boy. "It's been a real privilege to watch him grow up. He is, indeed, a fine young man." Felipe smiled bashfully and looked down.
His adoptive father put an arm around his shoulders again. "On that point, Don Alfonso, I quite agree."
Felipe smiled at Don Diego. My father! he marveled silently. Don Diego is my father!
The tall caballero glanced at Don Alfonso's teenage grandson. "Felipe, maybe Paco, here, would like some company. Why don't you show him around?"
Felipe nodded enthusiastically. For the next few hours, as the adults danced the contradanza, the fandango, the waltz, the jarabe, the jota, and the son, Felipe and the other young people played a succession of games. In between games, they chatted, roughhoused, and snacked on the food served at the buffet tables. All the while, the musicians played a variety of tunes on their guitars, violins, and mandolins.
At one point, Miguel stepped onto the terrace surrounding the patio. For a long moment, as he pressed his index finger against his nose, rubbing it, he gazed at Felipe and the other boys.
He's having fun, the new servant boy thought wistfully. I'm glad he is. I hope he won't forget the good times we've had!
As Miguel ambled back inside, he thought about the one occasion Felipe had visited his parents' tenant farm, a year before. All afternoon, the two boys had played outside while Don Diego had sat inside the adobe hut with Señor and Señora Sapillo, chatting. That visit had been the beginning of the boys' friendship.
Will he even want to be with me, now that he's a caballero? Miguel wondered. A lump rose in his throat at the prospect that Felipe might not.
Determined not to think about that any further, Miguel trotted toward the library. He had no tasks at the moment, so he was determined to examine every nook and cranny while he had the chance. Minutes passed as he picked up every ivory chess piece, ran his fingers over the books' soft leather covers, and held Don Alejandro's ceremonial sword out in front of him.
At last, he hung the sword back on the wall and leaned against the fireplace mantle. As he pressed his palm against the wood underneath the mantle, a door in the back of the fireplace swung open.
Miguel froze. He removed his hand and the door swung shut. He pressed his thumb against the same spot he had touched before. Again, the door swung open.
"A secret passage!" he whispered. "Where does it go? I've just got to see it!"
The boy scampered through the threshold and raced into a laboratory--only to halt at the sight of Zorro's things. Stunned, he just stood there and gazed at the black stallion, the black costume, the swords and whips on the walls, and the science equipment that stood on the long tables.
This is Zorro's hideout! he thought. Now I know who Zorro is--it's Don Diego!
ZZZZZ
Felipe excused himself to the group of boys and hurried toward Don Diego. For the last 15 minutes, a yearning to check on Toronado had been growing inside of him. He had not yet had a chance to groom the stallion that evening. Careful to make sure nobody was watching, he signed his intent to his father. Don Diego nodded.
"All right, son, but only for a minute," he said in a low voice. "I need to check on an experiment anyway, so I'll go with you. We'll look after Toronado together when the party's over."
After Don Diego excused himself to his father, he and Felipe hurried toward the library. Felipe pressed the hidden lever, and the door swung open. He followed his adoptive father into the cave.
Upon entering the laboratory, the two de la Vegas froze. To their horror, they discovered Miguel fingering one of the test tubes!
Felipe was shocked. Miguel had discovered Zorro's cave! I can't believe it! he thought. How will we hide Zorro's secret, now?!
Miguel whirled around and froze. For a long moment, the servant boy stood in frozen terror, open-mouthed. Felipe, for his part, stood stock-still, gaping at Miguel.
At last, Don Diego glanced at his son, then at Miguel. "Amigo, you've got some explaining to do." He approached Miguel and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Miguel gazed down at the stone-tile floor. "Si, señor. I didn't have no tasks, so I came to the library to look around." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I leaned against the fireplace, and a secret door opened. I just wanted to see what was behind it, patrón."
Miguel gazed beseechingly up at Don Diego, then at Felipe. "Señor de la Vega, I'd never tell no one your secret!" He swallowed hard. "I didn't tell Felipe he was goin' to be adopted, did I?" Smiling, Don Diego shook his head. "Well, I'll never tell the alcalde or no one else about you bein' Zorro, either. I can keep secrets as well as Felipe can!" He shifted his weight as he spoke.
Smiling kindly, Don Diego squeezed Miguel's shoulder. "Of course you can. You've already proved that to my satisfaction." His expression sobered. "However, Miguel, I must make certain you understand something. Knowing my secret puts you in danger, and us as well. Do you know what would happen to Felipe and me if the alcalde ever did find out?"
Miguel nodded. "He'd hang you."
"That's right." Don Diego glanced at his son. "And if the alcalde ever suspected that you knew who Zorro was, he wouldn't hesitate to torture you to make you tell him. Therefore, you must not tell anyone. Not even your parents or your sisters. No one." He raised his index finger for emphasis. "Is that understood?"
Miguel nodded solemnly. "Si, patrón."
"Bueno." Diego smiled. "Not even my own father knows--it's for his own safety. Felipe, here, has been in on the secret from the beginning."
The caballero glanced at his son again and clasped his hands behind his back. "Miguel, there's one more secret you may as well know about. Felipe regained his hearing shortly before I returned from Madrid. He still can't speak, though." Miguel gaped at Felipe, who nodded. "He pretends he's still deaf, so he can spy for Zorro."
Miguel smiled. "I'll keep that secret as I will yours, Don Diego. That's a promise." He paused. "Now that I know all about it, maybe I can help you! Maybe I could also spy for you." He fidgeted as he spoke.
Don Diego chuckled. "Spying for Zorro is a danger-filled job, amigo. The only reason Felipe can do it safely is because everyone but you and I believe him to be deaf. You would face the very real risk of arrest, kidnapping, or murder if you took it on. I couldn't face your parents if I exposed you to that risk." He laid a hand on Miguel's shoulder again. The boy reluctantly nodded his acquiescence.
"However--" Don Diego paused. "Felipe needs someone to take over his old tasks of taking care of Toronado and cleaning the laboratory and cave every day. If you'll agree to add those duties to your schedule, I'll increase your salary."
Miguel nodded. "Will Toronado let me take care of him?"
Don Diego glanced at Felipe and chuckled. "Well, why don't we go ahead and find out?" Felipe grinned in response.
Diego led Miguel torward Toronado. "There, boy," Diego said soothingly, as the stallion pawed and snorted. "Miguel, here, is a friend of yours."
Miguel stroked Toronado's withers. "It's all right, boy. I won't hurt you." Toronado relaxed. "You're a wonderful horse. I won't hurt you. Don't be scared."
The servant boy patted the stallion's left cheek. With a nicker, Toronado nuzzled his hand. Don Diego and Felipe smiled at each other, relieved.
"Miguel, Felipe and I have been too busy to groom Toronado this evening. Would you see to that and sweep the cave floor?"
Miguel patted Toronado's back. "Si, señor."
Slowly, Felipe approached him. As Miguel and Don Diego watched, the boy pantomimed fishing.
"Si! I'd love to go fishing tomorrow." Miguel glanced at Don Diego as he spoke.
The caballero chuckled. "I have no objection. I'd rather you went in the afternoon, though. Felipe and I have some errands to run in the morning."
Felipe and Miguel nodded agreement. Don Diego glanced at his gold watch. "And now, Felipe, we must return to the party, or Father's going to start wondering what's going on. I'll see you later, Miguel." He paused. "After you've finished your tasks here in the cave, come to the patio. We might need your help there, and I suspect Felipe will welcome your company." With a broad grin, Felipe nodded agreement, and Miguel shone his response.
"Si, patrón! I will."
As Don Diego and Felipe left the cave to return to the fiesta, Miguel picked up the brush hanging on a nail and began to groom Toronado. Smiling, he brushed the stallion's ebony fur. I will help, he vowed. I will help Zorro and Felipe all I can. That's a promise.
THE END