The night was starry. Victoria sighed with relief. The last guests were gone, finally.
But her work wasn't finished. Tiredly she rubbed down the last dished.
She was not only tired but also unhappy. Nobody has seen Zorro for over one week. And also, she hasn't seen him. Was he weary about her?
Suddenly there was a movement from the shadow behind her. Terrified she turned around. As she saw the dark figure, she was relieved.
"Zorro," she shouted. "You?"
"Buenas Noches, Victoria," he said with a bland smile.
"Oh, Zorro, I have been missing you so much. Where have you been so long?"
"I was thinking about us, Querida" he answered. Then he got serious. You have to give me up. Just here at the Pueblo in public"
Victoria frozen in terror. Her heart was pounding like mad. Tears welled in her eyes. He did not love her anymore.
"Please don't cry, mi amor," he shouted terrified. Cautiously, he wiped one teardrop away, using his thumb. "It's not as you think now. Please let me explain."
Still she was not moving. Quickly he clasped her in his arms. "Victoria, please, it's our only chance."
As she felt his body finally she could move again. She snuggled up against him, feeling his warmness, she needed so desperately. "Te quiero mucho," she whispered and pushed her forehead against his chest. Although she was he just breathing, he could hear that she was very frantic.
"As I do, mi Corazon" he said on her hair, quietly. "Please you have to list, mo corazon," he urged her, detaching her carefully from their embrace. He took his right hand under her chin and lifted her head because he wanted to look directly in her eyes. "This will be a difficult thing to do, for both of us. You will lose the man with the mask, but you will win the man behind it. Are you ready for this?" he asked and sharpened his voice. "Do you love the man behind the mask enough to give up the other man, Zorro?"
"SI" was her answer. She looked determined. "I do."
"I have an idea. I will tell you now. It's important that you trust me". The man with the mask began to explain what he wanted her to do.
Afterwards Diego returns to his cave. It had been right to do this, to begin with his idea. But he also was afraid of losing her. Because he would lose all if he wasn't able to steal her heart as Diego. Zorro was right – it was the only chance they had. He couldn't be with Victoria anymore as Zorro. Everybody knew about the romance of Zorro and Victoria, and it was too dangerous for her.
Felipe was not in the cave, so he had to take care of Tornado himself before he used the secret passage to get to the library.
He was rather tired when he entered the library. Felipe was waiting in an armchair and payed attention that no one except Diego would enter. With his gesture he explained that Don Alejandra thought Diego would give him a lesson from the books.
Thank Goodness Diego's Father did believe this and did not question it. This double life was sometimes difficult for Felipe, too.
"Is he still awake?" asked Diego.
The young man nodded. Both went to the adjacent room, where they found the old patron.
"Good evening, Father. I'm sorry for not having time, but I and Felipe we were such engrossed in the books so we…"
"Yes, yes, of course." His father interrupted abruptly. But then he stopped and continued with a gentle voice: "I'm sorry, Diego..."
As he saw his son was surprised, he said: "In the past I was very angry because I thought you were a coward. I'm regretting this now. I admit that I wished you were a little more like Zorro, my son." He hesitated before he went on," But perhaps we need both; The sword and the brain to persist against the alcalde. I was too blind to see it until now."
He reached for his glass of wine that was standing on the table. He drained it and said: „I will go to bed now, - it is late. Good night, Diego," He looked at him with a thoughtfully, then he smiled and got of his chair.
"Good night, Father."
"Felipe, I know that can't be true, but I just thought he waited for me here" mumbled Diego as his father left the room.