Chapter 26

Diego slanted his eyes towards the man who had been staring at him for several minutes. He could feel Ignacio's eyes on him. The man was up to something of that he was certain…I wonder if he is taking notes…comparing me to Zorro, perhaps. That had to be the purpose behind Mendoza's not too subtle attempts to question others about Diego and his connection to Zafira. The young don watched as Senor Peralta greeted DeSoto and then sat at the table with him. The caballero was not overly fond of Senor Peralta or his son and he suspected that the feeling was mutual. The old don envied Don Alejandro's position in the community and the regard that the townspeople had for his father. Whatever Senor Peralta had to say could not be good….

ZZZ

"I don't know how I can help you, alcalde. Yes, I did know Don Diego as a boy but I don't see how that has to do with anything." Why would anyone want to ask questions about Don Diego? The de la Vega heir was not the most interesting man in the pueblo. He didn't hold a candle to my son or to any of the other caballero's sons. All he had going for him was his good looks, his family name and his wealth…

"I am just curious…You have known the de la Vegas for years."

"My family goes back several generations. I raised my family here. My son is the same age as Don Diego. They played together as boys…I suppose that gives me some insight into Don Diego."

"There must be something that you can tell me. I am curious, Senor Peralta. I was wondering how the apple could have fallen so far from the tree. Don Alejandro is so outspoken…so willing to take a stand. While Diego, shall we say, is not quite so outspoken."

"You went to university with him, Alcalde. Maybe the time away from home…changed him somehow. Why are you interested in Diego's childhood? Surely, it has no bearing on how the man is now."

"Diego and I were students together at Madrid University but we did not run in the same circles…I was a senior and he was a freshman. We were both in the university dramatic group for a time. We played in a passion play together. As I recall, Diego played Jesus."

I suspect you played Juda Iscariot...

"Was Diego the same way as a boy? Overly concerned with the sciences, his head always in a book, I suspect or am I wrong?"

The caballero laughed at DeSoto's remarks. "I am not saying that he was not interested in the arts and sciences. Diego takes after his mother in looks and temperament but he is quite different than the boy I remember. He reminded me so much of Alejandro back then… Diego was always getting into some kind of trouble. Once, he and my son stole some of Don Rafael's seed melons. Typical behavior for a caballero's son. Boys will be boys. Isn't that the old saying? He came back from Spain totally different. More studious…less impulsive…"

For Zorro to be effective, he would have to be a completely different person for the ruse to be effective. Are you masking your face as well as your personality, my clever fox? "I suppose everyone changes in some way."

"The old adage…like father like son does not appear to be true, Alcalde. His father sent him to Spain to become a man, to prepare for a place of leadership among the caballeros and the community but Diego has his own ideas. He tends to shy away from the very thought of violence...I suppose Alejandro is used to it by now."

"I suppose so," DeSoto interrupted, "Thank you for your time, Senor. I have some important matters to tend to. Gracias."

Senor Peralta watched as the alvalde left the tavern. The caballero was not all that fond of the de la Vegas but he did not trust the alcalde or his motives…The man was up to something...

ZZZ

So what is DeSoto up to now? He has been spending a lot of time with Senor Peralta asking questions. The man hates me and my family. Heaven knows what Peralta told him, Diego thought. Probably something about his son Miguel and all the trouble we got into but that is common knowledge. That was in the past. It would be quite a stretch to connect the boy I was to the man Zorro is now. Interrogating Peralta is the first step in his plan…

ZZZ

Hours later...

The alcalde sat in his office… There must be something…perhaps in the young man's past. Something that he had overlooked. It was well known that Diego always missed Zorro's appearances. The cowardly caballero was known to disappear at the slightest hint of trouble. Ignacio took out a sheet of paper and listed the similarities between the masked man and Don Diego…both tall, educated, a mustache, expensive clothing...most caballeros could ride horses almost before they could walk…That is still not sufficient evidence to support my suspicions. All of this is purely circumstantial… I would be the laughing stock of the pueblo even if I dare to accuse the man of such a thing…The de la Vegas were influential enough to have him removed if he openly accused Diego of being the masked bandit…Diego…Zorro…there is something that I have overlooked, he thought as he put the list away.